Target
Ch. 18- Turnaround
A/N: Hey look a fucking update.
Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto and TV Tokyo.
xXx Beta'd by Miasen xXx
The purr of the engine was nearly inaudible. Sasuke contemplated turning on the radio to cut the pervasive silence that filled the car, but knew nothing would help. He was alone with his thoughts and there was nothing to distract him from the onslaught of what could be called a conscience.
His hands tightened and loosened around the steering wheel rhythmically, the leather squeaking with the motion. A quick glance to his right confirmed that the manila folder was still in the passenger seat, tossed not carelessly with a snap of his wrist. The smirk of satisfaction on Pein's face rankled, a small hit to his pride, but he brushed it off. Nothing was more important than what lay in that file.
Nothing.
Naruto's face flashed in his mind and the leather squeaked again. No. He had made his choice; there was no pity to be had, no regrets. This was his goal; this was the final step in his plan. He could not back out.
Naruto had gotten too close, it was best to cut things off. Besides, there was no future to be had between them.
No. No.
Memories of the blond in his lap, grinding on the mats, moaning his name, drifted in his ears and Sasuke cringed. He stared out at the road, trying desperately to ignore the guilt that had begun to grow in the back of his mind, clawing its way in and taking up stake. He could almost taste the tangible fear Naruto would be feeling the moment the Akatsuki found him. His confusion turning to shock, and then morphing into fear. He'd fight, but it wouldn't be enough.
Stop.
The cry of leather again.
The miles ticked by, taking him further and further from the city, from Naruto to Itachi. Pein's Mustang reeked of expensive cologne and cigarettes. Sasuke leaned over and after a blind rifle through the glove compartment he procured a pack along with lighter. Tapping out a stick, he stuck it between his lips and lit up, inhaling deeply. The nicotine did nothing to soothe him, instead bringing up yet another memory of Naruto, this one of the blond commenting on the odor of smoke that always clung to him. Naruto didn't mind the smell.
Fucking stop.
Frustrated, Sasuke relented and turned on the radio. He switched it off after a few minutes of fruitless searching for something suitable. Peace, he just wanted some goddamn peace. Why the fuck was it so hard? His thoughts should be filled with nothing by the methodical ways he'd kill Itachi, the countless ways he'd make that sonofabitch suffer for what he did, and yet Naruto and his promises were forefront, crowding his head and forcing everything else to the side.
His temporalmandibular joint ached terribly from how hard he was clenching his teeth, grinding his molars against each other. Who the fuck would want to own a noodle shop anyway? Considering how prevalent tasteless fast food joints were in a city, it was a bad investment. There was nothing special about him. He was a nobody. Nothing.
Goddammit, stop.
He almost hissed to himself, desperate, bordering on pleading. How far had Naruto gotten under his skin, in such a short amount of time? How weak was he that he couldn't fight this? Couldn't focus on that cold center inside him that blocked everything out. His rage at Itachi cooled, no longer fueling him. How fucking low he had come.
He was human, yes. It would be stupid to think he was different, something superior. He was subject to useless and petty feelings that he apparently couldn't handle, much like any other person. But there was something about Naruto that was sticking with him, clinging to him like a leech, invading his body like a cancer. It had no name, but it was there, going beyond what he expected. It was akin to having a healing wound, no longer painful but just an ache, a constant reminder.
Absentmindedly, he reached over and ran his left thumb over his right middle finger, a shiver of panic racing up his spine as he realized his ring was gone. The immediate tension in his muscles left as he remembered Naruto had it. Naruto, who was more than likely in the hands of the Akatsuki at this moment, possibly dead.
Jesus fucking Christ, he was sick of this shit.
How far he had come, to rely on the Pein's, on the Akatsuki's help to find Itachi. He who had relied on basically no one, going to those he reviled for assistance. It was pathetic.
Enough.
Sasuke slammed his boot down, jerking the steering wheel to the side as the car fishtailed. He hit the door with the momentum, quickly straightening out. With the screeching of the brakes and angry honking of other cars, Sasuke pressed the gas pedal to the floor of the car.
A flutter of papers rained down on the road behind him, falling into a small puddle.
xXx
Naruto handed a small steaming bowl of soup to his visitor. He moved to sit opposite Juugo, plopping down on the dusty couch and drawing his legs up.
"Thanks." Juugo blew across the broth, rippling the surface. "So he left?"
Naruto's lips pressed together tightly and he looked down at his hands. "Yea. Know where he could have gone?" It was close to two hours since Sasuke had walked out the door and Naruto had known nothing after that.
Juugo politely placed a napkin in his lap as he ate, biding his time. "I have my suspicions, none of which are good."
"He was being unreasonable."
"The Sasuke I know was reasonable to a fault." Juugo hummed contemplatively. "I wonder what could have happened."
"Well when you figure it out, let me know. The bastards getting worse every day and I know it's not me that's causing it."
"Sasuke can be difficult," Juugo allowed, "and can even be the enemy in certain situations."
"Is there a 'but' coming up?"
The other man smiled and tilted his head in acknowledgement. "But yes, he's an asshole. This is fantastic, by the way."
Naruto snorted, a reluctant grin curving his lips. "Thanks." He glanced down at his feet, feeling slightly awkward. "So, I assume you brought news…?"
Juugo hesitated, taking the time to finish his soup. "Well no, I simply dropped by to check up on you two and see how things were going."
"Fantastic as you can see." Naruto raised his hand, indicating around him.
"I assumed so," Juugo answered with a sigh. He rose to his feet and took his empty bowl to the kitchen.
Naruto followed him in. "How're Kakashi and Iruka?"
The bowl clinked as Juugo set it down carefully and turned to Naruto. "Perfectly fine despite minor injuries. Both are back at work, trying to get things sorted. Kakashi's decided to take some time away from the office, and Iruka is extremely preoccupied with the rising homicide cases caused by the Akatsuki. I haven't seen much of either of them lately."
Naruto blew out the breath he'd been holding in. "Good, I was worried."
"Rightfully so."
The blond wanted to ask the older man where the two had gone, but it was honestly better if he didn't know. A silence fell between them, and Naruto shifted uncomfortably, choosing to lean on the door. "So what happens now?"
Juugo pursed his lips. "Well, it would be prudent to wait for Sasuke to return. But after that, I'm afraid I have no idea."
"Didn't think so," Naruto huffed. "It feels like we can't do anything, and now that Sasuke's off being a lone wolf, I'm stuck here."
"How about I go bring him back then?" Juugo smiled, dusting his pants off from the wayward dirt that appeared.
"Can you?" Naruto asked, a little too quickly for his own liking.
"I'll certainly try. He should know how dangerous it is to be out right now." Juugo fished his keys out of his pocket. "I'm sure I can talk some sense into him."
"Kudos to you if you can." The blond grinned, wanting the sulky bastard back now. Maybe if he kept picking at him he'd figure out what was wrong with him. It had worked last time…sort of.
Juugo left with a cheery wave, promising to be back quickly. Naruto nodded. Unless Juugo was a magician, he anticipated they'd be back later, rather than sooner.
Once he was alone, Naruto trekked back to the kitchen, deciding to waste time whipping up something hot and fresh to eat later. If anything, a nice meal could put Sasuke in a better mood as he'd try to peek behind the curtain the other always kept up. Ramen would be the perfect dish.
Humming softly, he reveled in the small clinks and sounds he drummed up as he moved and cooked. The scent of spices and cooked vegetables soon wafted through the air, livening up the decrepit kitchen. The newly bought knives made quiet snicks as they tapped the wooden cutting board; Naruto counted the cuts, allowing the steady noise to keep him occupied. The noodles bubbled on the stove, the gurgling sound a pleasant companion to the taps.
The out-of-place crunch of tires on pavement had Naruto ceasing his snicks, knife mid-cut in a carrot. His head turned towards the front door, even though he couldn't see it from where he was standing. Where they back so soon? Maybe Juugo really was a magician. Car doors opened and shut. He counted ….three?
Naruto wiped his hands on a small dish towel and walked into the living room, listening; something wasn't right. He carefully peeked through one of the closed blinds, making sure to not to jostle the curtains to draw attention to himself. The gray skies made it hard to see, but three figures were walking towards the front door from an unfamiliar vehicle. He didn't recognize any of them.
He froze, fear seizing him. A voice piped up in his head, sounding strikingly like Sasuke. Don't panic, think. Cautiously, Naruto snuck back to the kitchen and grabbed the sharpest pair of knives he had. His hands were shaking. Taking deep, measured breaths, the blond crouched down and crept his way out of the kitchen just as the doorknob rattled. A sliver of alarm shot down his spine and Naruto jerked, taking off upstairs. He heard the door break open, pieces of wood clattering to the floor.
Aware he had mere seconds, Naruto shut the doors to the rooms in the hallway, hoping to fool the intruders into searching them if they came up stairs. He ran into Sasuke's bedroom, locking the door behind him and shoving the dresser beside the door in front. Dropping the knives on the bed in a hurry, he rummaged through the black duffel bag resting on the floor by the foot of the bed; the raven must have kept some sort of weapon here just in case!
Footsteps were marching up the stairs, clunking loudly.
He could hear the creaks of the wood, the murmur of strange voices. They were searching the bedrooms. Panic making his fingers jittery and unresponsive, Naruto dumped the contents of the bag onto the bed, finding nothing but junk as he shook it and scattered the items around.
"Shit!" he hissed, almost hyperventilating. He threw the bag down and grabbed the knives, sticking the handle of one in his mouth and setting the other on the window sill. He unlocked the window and rammed it up when it stuck fast, uncaring about the noise because they already knew he was in here. The bedroom door was shaking. They were kicking at it and the dresser was inching forward.
"He's in here!"
"Fuck off!" Naruto shouted, unable to help himself. His muffled cry seemed to invigorate them. The door was nearly open, failing to hold them back.
Naruto ripped the screen off the window with a jerk and took his shoe off, chucking it out the window and into a bush. The leaves shook loudly and the shoe rolled off the foliage. Naruto then dropped down and crawled under the bed, hunkering down and holding his breath as his heart hammered away in his chest.
The dresser was finally shoved aside and two different pairs of shoes bolted into Sasuke's room. Naruto's jaw nearly spasmed at the force he was biting the knife handle with. Unblinking, his eyes followed the feet as they ran to the window. Stab and run? But it was three against one; odds weren't on his side.
"Did he jump?"
"Where the fuck did he go!"
"By that bush, there's a shoe….he jumped."
"Tell Sasori he's outside."
"Take the car and go around the neighborhood. He can't have gotten very far. He might be dumb enough to try to ask for help, too. Get rid of anyone who sees him."
"We'll have to tell Sasuke thank you."
How the fuck was he supposed to get out of this?! Naruto knew he had a small time frame; there was no way they wouldn't figure out he tricked them. He swallowed dryly. He could really jump out once they left the room….but if they were already looking for him outside, he'd get caught easily. Fuckfuckfuckfuck.
There was a sliver of a chance Sasuke and Juugo would be back soon. It was possible he could hold out until then…hopefully.
"He didn't jump, I'm out here. He's still inside the house." The shout came from the direction of the window. "Search the room."
Well there went that chance.
Wide blue eyes watched the two sets of shoes march to the closet and saw the small sliding doors ripped open. Dusty clothes and some of Sasuke's shirts were thrown on the ground as they rooted around for him.
Naruto closed his eyes for a long second, inhaling deeply as gathered every ounce of courage in his body. The only other hiding spot in the room was under the bed. In one swift movement he rolled out and sprang to his feet. A hand clutched at his arm and Naruto blindly brought the knife down, leaning away as the man screamed in pain. The hand let go and he scrambled out the bedroom door, slamming it shut behind him.
Transferring the remaining knife from his mouth to his hand, the blond nearly fell as he hopped down the stairs. Where was the third guy!? Naruto landed on the first floor, his head whipping around, hyperaware of the door opening upstairs and the two men shouting out a name he didn't know.
A short red head entered through the ruined front door, turning towards Naruto with a surprised expression. He reached into his coat, stepping forward.
Naruto surged away from him, trapped. The other two were closing in. Desperate, he let out a wordless cry and threw the last knife wildly at the stranger before running to the window facing the front of the house. Tucking his head down and lifting an arm for protection, Naruto threw himself forward, crashing through the glass and old wood. He landed heavily on the porch, grunting with the impact as debris rained down on him. His head screamed in pain as it bashed onto the hardwood. Shards of glass cut into his hands and arms and his shoulder burned. Dislocated?
There was no time! Naruto woozily lurched to his feet, stumbling down the lawn as he realized he had nowhere to go. Anyone he met would probably end up dead. Sasuke and Juugo were not around. Kakashi and Iruka were somewhere else. He was utterly alone with nowhere to go, nowhere to run.
The crushing sense of dread and fear inundated him, locking his legs up. What could he even possibly do? Run until he fell from exhaustion? Run to the police? He didn't even know if they were still looking for him. He was a dead man.
Fuck that. He hadn't come this far just to give up. A startlingly clear memory of Sasuke challenging Naruto to stay alive and fight rushed into his mind. He would live, dammit!
The blond dove for their car, wincing as sharp pain stung his arm. He probably had glass stuck inside his arm; he'd need to see a doctor.
The driver's side was open, and the car keys rested inside the cup holder. Naruto could have cried from relief as he jammed the key into the ignition and twisted. The roar of the engine rushed hope into him. He slammed his foot into the gas pedal, jerking back as the car shot forward.
Naruto's heart pounded in his chest and his breathes turned to quick, hiccupping exhales. He was alive! He made it! He burst out in a maniacal laugh that caused tears to well up in the corners of his eyes.
The streets whizzed by, blurring the further he drove. Where the fuck was he even going? He had no plan. The voice popped back up, speaking with Sasuke's voice again. Focus. Naruto ceased his borderline hysterical laughter, squinting as he tried to read the street signs for something familiar. The letters wouldn't clear, no matter how hard he blinked. Even the buildings and other cars were fuzzy, as if hidden behind a cloudy film. Shit he was tired. This whole ordeal was taking its toll, leaving him exhausted as the adrenaline exited his system. But he couldn't stop, not until he was safe.
He tried turning into a busy street, but found his arms lethargic and heavy to move, sluggishly grasping at the wheel. He groggily slowed to a stop, fatigue growing until he could barely keep his head up. That wasn't normal…the prick in his arm. Using the last bit of strength he could manage, Naruto fumbled and touched his arm. There, above his right elbow, was small metal dart. He pulled it off and it fell, clinking harmlessly as it hit the plastic door compartments.
Naruto let his head fall back against the seat, unable to do much else as his mind sank into the dark oblivion. Goddammit.
xXx
The door was broken open, splintered and cracked, barely hanging on the hinges. Shreds of it lay scattered on the concrete steps, giving Sasuke a good picture of how the Akatsuki entered. The window peering into the living room was shattered as well; clearly finesse hadn't been on their minds.
Gun in hand, he cautiously approached the entance and slipped inside quietly. A mess of wood chips decorated the carpet, accompanied by muddy footprints that trailed deeper into the abode. Counting in his head, there were 3 different sets, all scattering in different directions. One set scouted the first floor, two headed up the stairs.
His footsteps light, Sasuke ventured further into the house, his body tensed for a fight. A threat lingered in the air, making the hairs on his neck stand. The raven couldn't hear anything out of place in an old rickety house, but the feeling persisted. He suspected the house may not be as vacant as it appeared.
The stench of burnt food led him to the kitchen, where Sasuke grimaced at the blackened noodles smoking on the stove. He snapped the burner off, ignoring the image of Naruto happily whipping up food as the Akatsuki stormed in. If anything, that was probably what happened since he knew Naruto would never let food spoil. Sasuke's lips thinned as he pressed them together tightly. He left the kitchen, scouting the rest of the first floor before stealthily making his way to the stairs.
Sasuke quietly ascended, steeling himself for the worst. There was no guarantee Pein kept his word and kept Naruto safe. Finding Naruto's mangled corpse would be no surprise, but it would be cruel one; one he brought to fruition. He had abandoned the blond to the Akatsuki in a moment of desperation, but he admitted to regretting it now. It was beyond punishing, even for his standards. And now he would deal with the consequences for his decision.
Upon reaching the top of the stairs, he saw nothing out of the ordinary. Sasuke stepped onto the second floor, surprised that the mass of footprints led to his bedroom door. Had Naruto been in Sasuke's room when the Akatsuki came? Or had he been taken into Sasuke's room specifically? But then who had been in the kitchen if Naruto had been upstairs?
Unwanted thoughts of Naruto's bloody death crawled across his mind, painting vivid pictures that didn't fade. Gritting his teeth, Sasuke lost a little of his finesse as he stiffly moved to the bedroom door, shoved open and stepped inside only to jerk to a stop. A silhouette was standing by the window, turning to Sasuke slightly as he entered.
Red shaggy hair. Short stature. Dull, vacant gaze. Puppets. Poisons. Sasuke's mind whirred, spewing information in short, concise sentences. "Sasori." His finger caressed the trigger, tightening ever so slightly. The redhead tilted his head, his expression curious.
"Sasuke. I wasn't aware you'd be coming. Pein was confident we wouldn't be hearing from you anymore."
"Neither was I. Where is Naruto?"
"Gone."
"Where?"
Sasori snickered, reaching behind him. "As if I'd tell. You're not—"
Sasuke fired twice, the bullets entering Sasori's skull one after the other. Sasori's corpse crumpled to the ground with a thud. Sasuke wasn't in the mood to play around with some demented puppet-obsessed freak, nor was he willing to draw this out any more than it already was.
XxX
The cold of tiled floor seeping into his body was the first thing Naruto felt before he was assaulted with a variety of body aches and pains. His head pounded and throbbed in tune with his pulse; his stomach was a ball of agony, as was the left side of his face. His tongue felt heavy and dry; he was parched.
Naruto shifted to stand but found his arms tied behind his back with duct tape. "The fuck?" he rasped, sluggishly tugging at the bind; confused and disoriented, nothing was making sense. He gradually came online as the grogginess dissipated, leaving him with a pit of fear deep in his chest.
He was lying on the floor of Kakashi's kitchen. He recognized the minimalist décor that silver-haired appreciated, recognized the incredible amount of bullet holes shredding the cabinets and walls. He was back here?
"Good, you're awake."
Startled, the blond lifted his head off the floor and gazed up at his captor. It was a tall, dark-haired man with short spikey hair and with half of his face in a twisted mess of flesh. He was smiling, seemingly friendly. Naruto warily watched him, shrinking back.
Mr. Friendly raised his hands, palms up. "No need to worry, I'm not going to...that's a lie. I will hurt you, very badly, but if you tell me what I want to know, there can be compromise. Deal?"
The blond's eyes widened, pupils dilating. This man….he was bad. Alarm raised the hairs on his neck and arms, while his body screamed at him to be careful. Waves of threat and poured off the other; Sasuke at his worst wasn't even close to this. Naruto nodded the best he could, his neck getting tired in his awkward position.
"Good, we're making progress."
"The key, it—" Naruto blurted out, silencing abruptly when the stranger raised his hand. He winced and closed his eyes, waiting for a punishment.
"No need to worry about that, it's dealt with."
Naruto cracked an eye open. "What?"
"Here, this might help." The man meandered over to him and tugged him up by his bound arms. Now sitting up, Naruto got to his feet with the other's help, sliding into one of Kakashi's chairs. Terrified but grateful, Naruto muttered a quiet 'thank you'.
"Now, let's get back to business. Your medallion, where did you get it?"
The thought to lie crossed his mind but Naruto had a feeling things would only end very badly for him. He was at their mercy. "M-my mother and father. They gave it to me before they died, when I was younger," he rambled.
The stranger nodded. "The famed archaeologists. And your parents, did they ever bequeath you anything else? Another trinket perhaps, maybe a small box of some sort?"
The blond shook his head vigorously, noticing the growing frown on the man's face. "My grandfather—"
"An obstinate man. He didn't listen to me when I explained the…situation he was in. Not like you."
The warm blood coursing through his veins suddenly felt icy, freezing him to his core. Naruto blinked.
"But I'm sure you'll make much better choices, seeing as how he ended up. Tell me, where there any other artifacts passed down to you?" The playful smile on the scarred face was demonic in its innocence.
"N-no. Nothing. I only have the necklace," Naruto whispered, his chest feeling tight and his throat threatening to lock up. Jiraiya's sudden absence…..that meant he was gone. "Please…"
"I want to believe you, but I'm not sure I can," the man sighed overdramatically. "If I can't believe you, I have to hurt you, Naruto. You know that right? Do you want follow in Jiraiya's footsteps? In your parents' footsteps?"
"You…killed my parents?" Naruto's voice sounded small and tinny to his own ears. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.
The other lifted a hand and tilted it back and forth. "I may have had a hand in their disappearance. Nice people, very," the man's eyes slid to meet Naruto's, "protective. But your father, he was the real macho man. Didn't break once, even after I included your mother into our little game. What a shame she had to go as well."
The turmoil of emotions rampant inside him left Naruto speechless and cold. He didn't even know what to feel. Fear warred with anger; anger darkened into rage; rage diffused into sorrow; sorrow burned into terror.
"It seems I have your full attention now. Should I repeat the question?"
Don't lie, he'll know. Tell the truth and wait for chance. "I only have the necklace." Naruto spoke mechanically after a few seconds of silence, taking refuge in small corner of his mind where he knew the Sasuke-voice resided. He focused on the calm little zone, clawing his way in and shielding himself from the maelstrom of thoughts. He vaguely registered the man grimacing at his lack of reaction.
"I could kill you," the other offered, his tone implying a joke, but the threat lingered underneath.
"Like my parents," Naruto added, a bit put-off by his own morbid addition but still clinging to that small space of protection before he fucking lost his mind and sanity.
The man leaned forward, eyes widening. "Should I break you?"
"Oi Tobi, Hidan's back!" another voice was calling from the living room as Hidan entered the house. He passed by the kitchen, dragging something heavily behind him.
The blond couldn't get a good view from behind the man named Tobi, but it looked like a body. The thought was strengthened by the trail of blood smearing the floor behind the purported body as Hidan took it into the living room.
Tobi pulled back, seemingly miffed to have been interrupted. "Take it downstairs, Konan already put the set up in there."
"You fucking take it down, I've been carrying this shit around like a fucking pack mule!" Hidan yelled, letting it thump to the floor. He marched away, his heavy footsteps echoing through the ruined house. "I'm not a goddamn servant."
"Fine, calm down." The other voice sounded closer.
Tobi straightened, suddenly perking up. "Ah well, it was fun talking to you, Naruto." He turned to leave, beginning to whistle.
"What…are you—"
The other man glanced back at him, as if surprised Naruto spoke up. A pensive frown was gone in seconds. "We have a little biological experiment to try out." He brought out Naruto's medallion from his pants pocket, twirling it in his fingers. From his other pocket he procured a small, ancient looking box that was riddled with intricate designs. The image carved on top of the metal object seemed familiar. "They key was the second to final step. You gave us quite a struggle to get this, but all's well that ends well." Tobi reached forward and ruffled Naruto's hair, holding the two items closer to the blond's face. "Know it wasn't worth it."
Tobi pressed the medallion into a depression on the box's bottom and a small click was heard. Moving away from Naruto, he twisted the disk forward and back, creating a series of ticks that ended with a loud clunk. The top of the box popped open with a dusty hiss, revealing the inside. A strange, shimmery black powder rested within the package, shifting a tiny bit as Tobi shook it gently.
He grinned as Naruto looked on in abject horror and disgust as the powder seemingly moved on its own, lurching towards the other man. Tobi tugged back the sleeve of his shirt, exposing his forearm. Using a sharp knife from the set beside the dishwasher, he sliced into his arm, dragging it deep through his flesh to the crease of his elbow. "Looks familiar, does it not?"
Now an expected phenomenon, blood welled up and dripped down his arm steadily, soon joined by the mysterious black goo all the Akatsuki members housed inside their bodies. Naruto watched as the goop spread and sealed the wound easily, staunching the blood flow and leaving nothing but a bright pink line.
Did they need the black powder to do that? Is that what they had been after all along? Naruto leaned back, shying away from the freaky substance. He didn't want that shit anywhere near him.
"I'm sure you know what this little guy does, but you haven't seen anything yet. There are certain things we can't try on ourselves due to practical reasons. To test how far you can go, before you can't come back." Tobi grinned, a sly gleam in his eyes. "It would be boring if you weren't there to bear witness…hmm."
His hand speared through the air, jamming the small knife into the table beside Naruto. The blond jumped and nearly fell out of the chair in shock. The blade vibrated, releasing a whining hum before settling. Tobi withdrew his hand.
"Now if you excuse me, I'm off. I'll be seeing you and Sasuke very soon. If you can forgive him, that is."
He turned on his heel and left, marching into the living room. On the floor, the body of Kakashi's lover was painting the floor with the last pint of blood he had. Long dead now, rigor mortis was setting in, hardening the man's limbs. Tobi nudged the corpse as another Akatsuki member walked up beside him.
"Madara?"
Tobi smiled. "Itachi is having a nice conversation with him. We may have another corpse to play around with soon."
"Hm."
The other crouched down, grabbing the policeman by his arms. By the uneven angle they were splayed in, Tobi could tell Hidan had done some serious damage. The slices cutting cleaning through his chest were impressive. He wondered if the experiment would even work.
"Zetsu, tell Hidan he's heading off to the 5th base tomorrow. It won't be long until Kakashi wants his blood, so tell him to be prepared. We can't afford to keep losing members to careless mistakes. Sasori should be due soon; we'll need his puppets to complete the ritual."
The other shrugged, agreeing silently. Bisected into black and white halves right down his body, Zetu's darker half smiled while his lighter side kept a blank expression. He dragged the body away to the door leading the gym.
Tobi snapped the box closed, tucking it into this pocket. They had work to do.
xXx
Sasori groaned, his head lifting slowly from his head and gingerly moving around. Shifting around, he noticed something was keeping him from moving. He jerked around once he realized what was happening. He was strapped to a chair in the middle of another bedroom. Sasuke stood across from him, watching him like a hawk.
Sasuke took a long drag from his cigarette, staring down at Sasori impassively. He had tied the other man to a metal chair from the basement, binding his hands and legs, making it impossible to escape. He'd even taken the precaution of securing his torso to the chair's back. Reaching up casually, Sasuke removed the butt and flicked it away. He had work to do.
Keeping silent, Sasori watched Sasuke with a smirk on his face. "You're too late to save him. He's probably dead by now. You should be happy. No more playing bodyguard."
Sasuke leaned in, leveling their faces. Sasori's smirk faltered. "Where is he?"
"Again with the old question?" Sasori sighed. "I've told you, he's—"
Sasuke's hand snuck forward, sinking a six-inch blade right above Sasori's right kneecap. He twisted his wrist sharply. "Try again," he said calmly.
Sasori threw his head back and howled in pain. He jerked in his restraints, rattling the chair. "FUCK!"
Sasuke gave the blade another shove with the heel of his palm. "Focus. Where did they take Naruto?"
A pain-filled laugh croaked out of Sasori. "As if I'd tell…fuck you Uchiha shit..." he gasped.
The raven smiled, his lips curling in a way that had Sasori flinching from him. While he needed to hurry, he could take this chance to relieve some pent up aggression. Just how much could they regenerate? He had the perfect specimen right in front of him, at his mercy. Bloodlust raged in Sasuke's stomach, black and ugly.
"Fucking shit, go to hell!" Sasori yelled, redoubling his efforts to escape. He lurched to a stop when the tip of another razor sharp blade gently pressed to his stomach, right above his bellybutton.
"What's it going to be? Bowels in, or bowels out?" Sasuke stated, punctuating his words with a slight press of the blade, his obsidian eyes boring into Sasori's reddish-brown ones.
"He's fucking dead already! You fuck!" Sasori screamed, arching back desperately, trying to get away from the blade caressing over his tender stomach. "He's fucking dead!"
It was a relief Sasori was a fighter. Sasuke shrugged a shoulder and sunk the blade in to the handle, skin and fat splitting with no resistance. He dragged his hand in a line, creating a large gash across Sasori's stomach. "Surgery was never my field of expertise, but it's better to learn later than never." He commented lightly.
As Sasori screamed himself raw, Sasuke sawed calmly, uncaring of the sickly warm blood gushing out of the redhead. He named off sets of muscles as he sliced through the subcutaneous layer of fat and across the internal abdominal oblique muscle, transverse abdominis, and into the thin serous layer of the peritoneum where the abdominal organs rested. The pink and pale yellow viscera parted easily, sliding out and covering Sasori's lap in wet plops the further in he shoved the knife. With disgust Sasuke noted that the organs were decorated with small black splotches that pulsed the more he cut.
The thick, hot ropey length of intestines pooled in Sasori's lap before dropping heavily to the floor with a squelching noise, dripping with blood and bile-like fluid. The man's relatively healthy red liver was next, followed by a matching pair of bleeding kidneys with pieces of the inferior vena cava and aorta still attached. The fleshy pancreas was tossed away, accompanied with a splat by the spleen. Sasuke was past his wrists in Sasori's abdomen, latching onto what he could grab and ripping it out slowly.
Without anything to hold it up, Sasori's stomach sagged down, easily cut away and thrown to the side. Mindless of the ruby liquid gushing out and staining his own clothes, Sasuke stopped when he reached the spine, having hollowed out most of the man's stomach.
The only remaining organs rested snug in Sasori's chest, hidden by his ribs.
"Should I check your lungs?" Sasuke drew back, watching Sasori gurgle as blood bubbles dribbled down his chin and throat. He had gone ashen, his skin ghostly pale in contrast with his bright red hair. His eyes had rolled up, exposing the capillaries burst in the white sclera from screaming. "Or your heart?"
The raven wiggled the handle jutting from Sasori's knee. "Maybe a lobotomy would change your mind."
Sasori didn't respond, drooling black and red fluids as blood continued to spurt out from his evisceration.
Sasuke knew he was still alive. "Hn." A flick of his wrist dislodged the blade from Sasori's knee, causing the redhead to shudder and cry out. The bloodied tip then rested on Sasori's sternum, moving with each heave from his chest. He didn't know exactly if the damage would be reversible if he decided to prune Sasori's brain, so the lungs it was.
"I …can't die…" Sasori whispered, his voice hoarse. "No…point…
"You misunderstand." Sasuke tutted. "I don't want to kill you." Lowering his shoulder for added power, Sasuke pressed into the blade's handle, sinking it into Sasori's chest with a shove. The watery sound of pleural fluid and blood gushing into the redhair's lungs echoed in his high-pitched groan.
"….at…ashi."
Sasuke paused. Had he heard right? His metallic pointer finger pushed the knife, causing sharp keen to erupt in the air. "What was that?"
Sasori didn't respond, falling silent.
Sasuke glanced down and dully noted that the gaping wound on Sasori's stomach was healing. The ruined organs on the outside were simply forgotten as the body worked to create new ones and close the opening, producing more of the black substance to save itself. A wasted effort. A knife in both hands, he yanked the one in Sasori's chest down, and the one in his stomach up, effectively opening the man up like a book as the lines connected. The cartilage gave more resistance than his stomach, but it was nothing Sasuke's improved arm couldn't handle.
The raven winced as the other's earsplitting screech dwindled into pathetic, warbled whimpers.
"You want to try again?" Sasuke offered, withdrawing the weapons inch by inch. He already had his next targets in mind, wondering if Sasori would play along.
"He's….at….Ka….kash…ii's..." Sasori whimpered, starting to cry once his lungs had healed enough for him to breathe again. Blood-tainted spittle dripped to his chin as he sobbed.
They had taken Naruto to Kakashi's place. Sasuke knew for a fact Iruka's was as off-the-grid as possible, leaving the bullet-riddled house as the only option. But why there? It could be as a way to dispose of Naruto without having to deal with the body. Or perhaps they thought the key was back at the mansion.
Whatever it was, Sasuke finally had his answer. He had no further use for Sasori and now needed to head over to find the blond. Sasuke threw the knives down carelessly and left the room. He hastily searched the house, gathering weapons and gear that hadn't been taken by the Akatsuki. There wasn't much he could salvage. He rummaged high and low, lastly getting down into the basement. Inside, Sasuke came across a certain bottle that sparked a theory he now had the opportunity to test out.
The red cap came off easily, thrown aside as Sasuke doused Sasori thoroughly. Barely conscious, the redhead groaned and coughed, furtively trying to get out of the way of the stream. The raven made it a point to pour more fire-starter over Sasori's head, completely soaking him.
"I told you what you wanted." Sasori cried out, realizing Sasuke's intentions. He pulled at his restraints, doubling his efforts when Sasuke didn't stop. "I'm not lying!"
Sasuke smirked and emptied the bottle onto the ruined organs piled on the floor before tossing it away. "I believe you."
"Stop! Please!" The chair scraped the floor with the frantic rocking.
Reaching into this back pocket, Sasuke withdrew the pack of cigarettes he'd kept. He lit a stick up, watching the terror in Sasori's eyes grow as he took his time, enjoying the rush of nicotine in his blood as he inhaled. He stepped back and flicked the rest of the cigarette at Sasori, watching the liquid catch fire quickly. In an instant, Sasori was burning, wickedly intense flames eating away at his body.
Sasuke hadn't thought the man could scream any louder, but he was impressed to say he was wrong. The raven stepped back, not wanting to risk catching fire as he watched the other twitch and burn. It was astonishing how fast his skin split and peeled away, melted and then tried to repair itself. Dark discolorations and splotches grew all over Sasori's skin as he progressed into 3rd degree burns.
The remaining charred skin fell away in clumps, revealing cooking meat and fat that slid down as well. Large blisters bubbled up before rupturing; the fabric of Sasori's clothes melded with the remaining flesh. His body tried to heal, but the rate at which the fire was roasting him overwhelmed its capabilities.
The putrid fetor of burning hair stung Sasuke's nose and caused his eyes to water; the underlying tantalizing smell of cooking meat did nothing to help. Sasuke's stomach flipped in revulsion.
With vague interest, he watched Sasori's eyes pop and the aqueous humor leak down his hissing cheeks. Sasori fell forward; the man was no longer moving, no longer screaming. It was over much faster than Sasuke anticipated. It didn't take long for the flames to reach the floor and ignite the old wood, spreading rapidly through the room.
Sasuke whirled around on his heel and left rapidly, the licks of fire already beginning to appear above him as he jogged down the stairs. This old house made the perfect kindling; it would burn down in minutes, and with it, so would Sasori.
The evening air was cool, tainted only by the strong aroma of smoke and fire. The street was empty of pedestrians, meaning the house would have ample time to become ashes before anyone noticed. Jumping into Pein's car, he drove off. Sasuke knew he wouldn't be seeing Sasori anymore.
xXx
The knife slipped, digging into his palm.
Hissing quietly, Naruto strained to adjust the position, aiming the blade blindly into the tape around his wrists. He worked it up and down awkwardly, feeling it finally beginning to give. A drop of sweat trailed down his temple. The blond rubbed it away with his shoulder, craning his head.
He could hear them talking, their voices faintly coming up from the gym to the first floor. No one was watching him; they knew he was no threat, which worked better for Naruto. He was no longer needed, meaning they wouldn't hunt him down anymore.
The urge to panic and call for help was shoved aside; the silver band around his finger reminded him that Juugo and Sasuke must have arrived back at the hideout. It wouldn't take a genius to know what happened; they must be looking for him now.
The blade broke through, nearly clattering to the ground before the blond managed to place it on the table. Naruto sagged in relief, rubbing his sore wrists. The nicks and cuts he had accumulated over the day ached as well, but there wasn't much he could do for them at the moment. Naruto surveyed his surroundings.
Tobi, Hidan, and someone named Konan, and some other guy were downstairs. Another guy, probably a lackey, was standing by the front door, tapping away on his phone. Naruto closed his eyes and listened, focusing to pick up the smallest noise. He could hear another set of footsteps by the entrance to the garage on the other side of the living room.
They might not need him anymore, which meant he was disposable. He had to be extremely careful.
A plan formulated in his mind, constructed with the voice that resembled Sasuke's. It was risky, but it was his only shot. He rose, hiding the knife in his palm. The man by the door was too entranced by his phone to notice the blond creeping towards him.
Naruto stilled, waiting for the right moment. The man shifted, his back to Naruto as he rested on the door. The blond moved in. Darting forward, Naruto yanked the man's head back, drawing the blade across his throat in a swift movement. Blood spurted out instantly and the man gurgled in surprise. His phone fell to the floor.
Naruto jammed his hand across the man's mouth and hauled him into the kitchen, pressing down. He refused to look, closing his eyes as the visceral scent of iron invaded his nose. It made him gag, but he held on. Bloodied fingers grappled at his face and Naruto leaned back, cringing.
It was over earlier than he expected. The man on the floor soon slumped, dead.
The blond took a deep breath through his mouth, a crushing sense of horror coiling in his gut as he backed up. It was either him, or me. My life or his. Sasuke wouldn't have given a shit. Focus.
A small voice in the back of his head reminded him it wasn't the first time he'd killed. He should just be grateful the man wasn't a definite member with the black shit healing him.
No one ran in. He was still in the clear. Naruto retrieved the knife that had fallen from his hand. Wiping his blood-sticky hand on his shirt, Naruto peered into the living room cautiously. The other guy by the garage door had seen nothing.
The sudden squeal of tires and the thunder of an engine were the only warnings Naruto got before the front door and the wall surrounding it exploded inward, throwing chunks of door and plaster into the living room and hall. A sleek black car plowed into the house, roaring as the driver stomped on the gas.
Shouts and yells erupted as the Akatsuki members ran into the living room door, gaping at the car before drawing weapons.
Protected in the kitchen, Naruto blinked as he recognized a furious Sasuke at the wheel, the raven snarling as the car got stuck, wheels spinning in the air. Sasuke turned abruptly and froze, an incredulous look on his face as he laid eyes on Naruto.
He was still alive. Naruto was covered in blood, an ashen tinge to his skin, but overall he was still standing and staring at him in surprise. The relief in his system should not have been that strong. Ignoring that for now, Sasuke shifted the gear into reverse, foot hovering over the pedal. "Naruto, get in!"
Bullets slammed into the hood of the car and shattered the windshield as more members appeared. Sasuke noted they weren't coming after them, just hovering around the door to the gym. Were they protecting something? Regardless, he was going to get riddled the longer they stayed.
Naruto jumped in through the open window of the passenger seat, tumbling in right as Sasuke hit the gas. More squeals and screeches filled the air as the car lurched back, hitting some lackeys that tried to stop them, and running over their bodies.
Each bump jolted Naruto, forcing him to bounce up and down and smash his head on the dashboard. "Drive! Drive!" Naruto yelled, finally sitting up from his precarious position, steeling himself for more thumps. He ducked as more bullets thunked into the door in rapid succession. "Shit!"
"Hold on!" Sasuke snapped, jerking the steering wheel as he tried to drive straight. One of the tires had been shot; this car wouldn't last much longer. He peeled out of Kakashi's property, thanking the gods the Akatsuki had been dumb enough to disable the alarms and security systems. He would have been shot down the moment he entered the estate if they hadn't.
They shot down the road, racing past other vehicles and narrowly avoiding striking pedestrians as they entered the suburbs. Naruto glanced behind them, watching the road for cops and the Akatsuki. He didn't think they'd come after them and told Sasuke so, but the raven kept his maniacal pace until they were safely away.
He gazed at the sunset through the broken rear windshield, taking in the splotches of orange painting the sky. Dark grey clouds threatened to blot out the sun completely, promising more rain. He shifted and sat down, the events of the day catching up with him. The Akatsuki had found him unerringly quickly. How had they known where he was? It was damningly suspicious that they had come right when Sasuke and Juugo weren't there.
The raven slowed down as they entered a less populated area. He parked the car on a lonely boulevard, near an overpass that lead to the busy streets of the city. They sat in silence for a few moments before Sasuke opened his door, stepping out and motioning for Naruto to do the same.
"We'll draw more attention if we stay in the car. Come on."
Naruto wordlessly followed suit, rethinking his relationship with Sasuke. "We'll draw attention anyway," he muttered. His hands and shirt were coated with someone else's blood. Sasuke was just as bad, with his upper torso covered in the red substance. Come to think of it, how had Sasuke gotten so bloody? The raven had found him in the nick of time, as if he had known where Naruto was all along.
The raven marched to the trunk of the car, rummaging through several bags tucked inside. He pulled out a black hoodie and tossed it at Naruto. "Here. If anyone asks, we're actors on break. This is stage makeup and colored corn syrup."
The irony wasn't lost on Naruto. He slipped the hoodie on, grimacing at the dried blood on his hands. So many questions bubbled in his mind but he kept them behind closed lips. He had to think, truly think. Blue eyes stared hard at Sasuke's back. "Where are we going?" His own voice sounded funny.
Sasuke hesitated, a new mannerism to him. "I don't know. Just…just follow me."
xXx
A/N: Hey I started a new little SN fic while I took a break from this story. I've completed it already, so it will not be competing with Target for my attention. Maybe drop by and give it a read while you wait for an update? ~MTB