Hello everyone! I hope you're ready to see what happens next to our favorite Naruto couple. I know that the last chapter was a long, emotional roller-coaster and probably turned out a lot different than what most of you were expecting. With that being said, I am dying to hear what others thought would happen in the last chapter. I want to see some of your predictions. I think it would be fun to see all of the guesses. I also hope all of you are ready for the rest of the ride because we're not done yet.
Author Shout-Out: The Unapologetic and Mirgeorgia. You guys are awesome. Keep the reviews coming.
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Chapter 28: Returning Home
Sasuke's P.O.V.
"I have to hurry. Hang on, Naruto, we're almost there. Just hang on,"
I have been carrying Naruto's unconscious body for what seems like forever. The combination of his entire weight and me running non-stop is tiring me out. Yes, Kurama gave me a chakra boost, but it doesn't stop my legs from feeling weak. I entered the Land of Fire about three hours ago and haven't stopped running. I don't know how much longer until I reach the Hidden Leaf, but it has to be soon. Kurama is keeping Naruto alive until I can reach the village. So far, I haven't run into any trouble which surprises me. Since Naruto nor I returned with the others, I would have thought they would have come looking for us. Maybe it is because they knew that Naruto was with me they are not worried. Ironically, this would have been the one time I wouldn't mind if the village itself found us.
I stop by a tree to lean against it. The bark is cool against my rising body temp. I keep my tight grip with my right hand on his leg while bringing my left arm to help me balance on the sturdy trunk. I can feel sweat dripping down my forehead and mixing with my already drenched back. Naruto's weight seems to increase with each step and I can feel my exhaustion setting in. But, despite everything, I know I can't give up.
"I need to get to the village and soon. I can't give up," I pant inwardly.
Using my Sharingan, I can sense the Hidden Leaf just another 64 kilometers (40 miles) from here.
"One more hour. I just need one more hour," I shift my gaze to the unconscious, bloodied blond behind me. Sighing, I turn my Sharingan off and try to straighten myself. "I've come this far. I can't fail now. I need to save Naruto, no matter what,"
I shifted his dead weight to a more comfortable position for me before taking off again.
"All this weight can't be his tails. I mean, they're heavy too, but damn. At least the good thing is that it's all muscle. However, that doesn't mean I have the strength to keep carrying his ass all over the lands. If I somehow survive this, we're going to have a long talk about his weight,"
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About another hour passes before I finally reach the front gate of the Hidden Leaf. The sky is dark with a few stars out. I slow to a walk, making sure to mask my chakra. When I reach the gates, I lean against them, getting the attention of the guards.
"Halt! You cannot enter here!" one of the guards says as both of them glare at me; their chakra spikes as they become more alert.
"Wait, Izumo. Isn't that Sasuke Uchiha?"
The one called Izumo walks around the desk with his partner. They both approach me. I growl protectively as my grip tightens on Naruto's legs.
"Sasuke Uchiha, you are trespassing on Hidden Leaf territory and are hunched forth arrested," the other guard says.
I try to straighten myself, but my legs refuse to move. Not knowing what else to do, I clear my throat as best as I can while giving them a hard glare.
"You can arrest me after you take me to see Lady Hokage Tsunade,"
"Are you begging for a death wish? Lady Tsunade will kill you before even stepping foot in the tower," the second guard glares back.
I shift both my and Naruto's weight one more time before finally steading myself.
"Wait Kotetsu, he has something," Izumo says as he gets closer to me. I growl while taking a step back. "Show us what you have, or we will arrest you,"
Thinking their demand over, I ease up slightly before turning to the side to reveal my mate, never taking my glare off of them.
"Naruto?! Is he alright?!" Kotetsu gasps.
"No, he's dying. And unless you want to face an angry Hokage and me, I suggest you take me to her,"
They look at each other in worry before nodding. Both look around before summoning one Shadow Clone each and turning to face me.
"Follow us,"
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They take me through the back alleys of the village before we finally reach the tower. They knock on the door, begging of an audience with Lady Tsunade. I can't hear anything they're saying to her over feeling the chakras of Iruka, Kakashi, Master Jiraiya, another woman and Lady Tsunade.
"Go away. We are discussing important matters," Lady Tsunade calls from the other side.
"Please, Lady Hokage, it's urgent! Please open the door!" Izumo says with his fist on the door.
"I don't care what it is! You can't just barge in here!" she shouts; sounds of her slamming her hand on her desk echoes off the walls.
"I don't have time for this," I growl before stepping towards the door.
I place my hand on the door to shove it open. Tsunade stands up to yell but stops when she sees me. I look around the room at all the wide eyes and shocked expressions. I can only guess I wasn't who they were expecting. Not trying to waste any more time, I clear my throat as I shift Naruto's weight again.
"Lady Tsunade… I need your help… please…"
She glares hard at me as she rounds her desk. "Uchiha… you have some nerve showing your face in my office,"
"I know~"
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't execute you myself right now!"
I turn slightly to show everyone Naruto who's still clinging to my back.
"Naruto?!" everyone gaps as they run towards me.
"What happened to him?!" Iruka asks, trying to decide if he wants to touch Naruto or not.
"I don't have time to explain. He's dying and doesn't have much time left. Please, help me. I don't care what you do to me, but please Save him first," I beg.
Tsunade does not lose her glare as she uses her two fingers to find his pulse. She waits a few moments before pulling away with a sigh.
"He's pulse is faint and failing," she looks around me with suspicion in her eyes. "Were you followed?"
"No. Kiba and his team should have brought my team back, but I came alone. I raced all the way here with the help of Kurama: The Nine-Tails' chakra. Please, I promise I'll explain everything and you can lock me up or execute me however way you please. But, for right now, we need to help him. He can't die,"
Everyone looks at each other before turning to look at me. Tsunade walks passed me and leads up out of the room and through a secret door.
"Follow me,"
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The rest of the events up to this point are a blur. I remember following Tsunade through some tunnels into the hospital. I remember her barking orders to medical nin and others alike. I remember falling to the ground as Naruto's weight and Kurama's chakra was lifted from my body. I remember Kakashi carrying me into a secluded room before he left to tend to Naruto. I remember being bathed and given a change of clothes and my katana was taken; which brings me to now.
Currently, a woman with short black hair is sitting in front of me. She was in the room earlier. She looks familiar, but I don't remember her name or anything about her. All I know is that she is giving me a final once over before placing stronger chakra suppressing cuffs on my wrists. The air around us is awkward a heavy. I have no reason to break it, but I guess she did.
"Your wounds seemed to have been healed. You just need to rest a while. You've must've been running a long time,"
I finish watching her put the cuffs on. She continues to talk while I just listen.
"You're going to be just fine. I know Naruto will be too, but I just don't know the extent of his injuries. If you said he was dying, I can only imagine that he is worse off than he looked,"
I still say nothing.
She looks up at me with a smile. I don't return it, but the awkwardness thickens. It's been a while since someone other than my team members or Naruto has smiled at me. It feels strange.
"You probably don't remember me?" she says sadly. I shake my head. She sighs while giving another sad smile. "It's alright. You've only seem me a few times before you left. My name is Shizune: Lady Tsunade's assistant. I know you're probably not going to hear this often but thank you. Thank you for bringing Naruto back safely. I know the journey had to have been hard on you, but you did it. Lady Tsunade may be angry right now, but I know she is thankful for your sacrifice,"
I only nod at he, feeling strange at her words. This woman is different than any others I have met. Small memories of her fill my head, making me remember her. I would never think that anyone here will thank me for saving Naruto, especially after I tell them the truth. But, before my execution, there is one thing I have to do. One person I have to see. One person I have to apologize to.
I look up to see she's still smiling at me. It feels as if she is waiting for me to ask her something. I open my mouth to ask my request. "Can you take me to him?"
"Him? Oh, you mean Naruto? You want to see Naruto?" I nod. "I can't promise you that Lady Tsunade will allow it, but I'll see what I can do,"
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She escorts me to an intensive care unit ward. The halls are empty, save for a few nurses rushing around the halls. Finally, we reach a door with the numbers 713 nailed to a plague on the side of the door. Shizune knocks three times softly. Tsunade muffles something before Shizune opens the door. We enter, and the tense air thickens in the room. Tsunade is sitting on the edge of the bed with Kakashi, Iruka, and Master Jiraiya standing around Naruto's hospital bed. Their harden glares burn into my empty eyes. I ignore them as I make my way over to Naruto's bedside.
I look down to see the blond fox is hooked to multiple wires and tubes. Bandages piratically cover his entire torso, face, neck, and hands. If you don't pay close enough attention, you will miss the small rise and fall of his chest. As I look down at my powerful mate, feelings of depression and regret fills every inch of my body and spreads through my core. I guess Tsunade can sense my emotions because she gives a sigh before answering my silent question.
"Whoever he fought did a number on him. He has internal bleeding, a large stab wound, some bruised ribs, and cuts all along his body. However, he will survive. I've given him a blood transfusion and treated what I could. So, for right now, he is going to be ok with some recovery time and continuous care,"
I nod in appreciation at her report. Not caring about anything or anyone else, I lift my cuffed hands to stroke a bandaged cheek; remorse breaking my heart strings.
"What I don't understand is why didn't the Nine-Tails heal him. Naruto is under its protection and I know it knows that if Naruto dies than so does it. What is it thinking?" Iruka askes.
"He was following Naruto's orders," I say suddenly.
"Oh, so he does speak," Master Jiraiya says with his arms folded over his chest.
"What do you mean it was following Naruto's order? You actually talked to the Nine-Tails, Sasuke?" Kakashi questions.
I nod. "Because Naruto and I are mates, I can sometimes communicate with him, but he has to be the one to reach out unless I use my Sharingan to enter Naruto's subconscious. The Nine-Tails' name is Kurama and that's what he likes to be called. He looks to Naruto as a son and would have protected and healed him like normal, but Naruto forbid him from doing so,"
"Wait a minute. You mean to tell me that Naruto actually has a relationship with the Nine-Tails~ I mean Kurama and the only reason he didn't save him was because Naruto told him not to?" I nod at Iruka's line of questions. "But why? Why would Naruto do that?"
"To snap me back to reality. Naruto knew that I was hell bent on this road of revenge and wasn't coming off of it. So, he though the best way to snap be out of my spiral is by sacrificing himself. Stupid, but it worked,"
Everyone is silent for a few moments before Tsunade breaks it with a light chuckle.
"This kid will be the death of me one day," she shakes her head before turning to look at me. "So, since you've talked to this Kurama, what did he say?"
"He called me selfish and said I didn't deserve Naruto's love or loyalty; both of which are true. But, he also asked me to save him: save his son, he said. Kurama gave me some of his chakra to heal my wounds and give me a chakra boost enough to carry him all the way from the Land of Earth. Kurama and said Naruto forbid him from using his chakra to heal him so that I would have to save him. I could tell that he was against the whole plan, but he offered enough help to keep Naruto alive until I could get him back here. So that's what I did. I ran, and I didn't stop until I got here. My legs are killing me, and my body is racked with pain, but I'd do it all again to save him a million times over,"
"That's all well and good, Sasuke, but you still have yet to tell us how the two of you got into this situation," Tsunade says, demanding an answer.
"Naruto and his team caught up to us, we fought, Zetsu showed up and we fought them,"
"Them?" Kakashi asks.
"Zetsu can split into White and Black Zetsu. Two entities that can also be one. After we won, Naruto and his team arrested us and started escorting us back here. In the middle of the night, Naruto left after losing my charka suppressing restraints. When I woke up and realized this, I escaped but he lured me to him. We met, we argued, he tried to get me to come back with him, I refused, Danzo appeared~"
"Danzo?! You mean you two encountered and fought Danzo? No wonder he hasn't been showing his ugly mug around here," Tsunade sighs as he pinches the bridge of her noise. "So, I take it he's no longer with us if you two are here?"
"I killed him myself while Naruto stood back and watched. I told Naruto to stay out of it. He didn't fight. I was the one who killed Danzo myself and then I stabbed Naruto,"
The room is tense and silent once more. I tried not to show my nervousness as I prepare for them to barrage me with their questions.
"Sasuke… these are some pretty heinous crimes. It's only adding to your, already, long list of crimes," Tsunade says softly.
"I know, but it's the truth. I killed Danzo and tried to kill Naruto,"
"Tsunade's right, Sasuke. You're in deep kid and you're digging a bigger hole. But answer us this: why would you do it? Why go through all of this? What's your end goal?" Master Jiraiya asks.
"Right now, I don't have one, other than to see Naruto recover. I know I'm going to be executed for my crimes. I know what I am. I'm nothing but a monster who hasn't done anything but ruin those who've done nothing but love and devote their loyalty to me. I am nothing and deserve any punishment you give me, Lady Hokage Tsunade," I turn to face the slug queen before me. Signs of pity are laced in everyone's stares. It confused me, but I ignore them. "Please, I know that I don't have much time before you have to put me on trial. I have confessed my crimes and am no threat to anyone. I will not run away and will face my consequences like a man. I thought I could try to make things right, but there's nothing I can do to redeem my actions. So, the only thing I can ask for my dying wish is just to stay by Naruto's side, at least until he wakes up. If you grant me this, then my life is yours to do with as you please,"
She stares at me for a few moments; her eyes soft with worry and uneasiness.
"Sasuke… I don't know if I can grant you this~"
"Please, this is all I ask for. I just want the chance to apologize for my crimes. Naruto was the only one besides my brother who did not give up on me. He even scarified himself to make sure I could return her. I know he's an idiot who thinks that I can be pardon but I know better. I know that I have too many crimes to see the light of day ever again. But this… I need to do this. Please, if you just let me spend my remaining days with him and allow me to apologize, I will go willingly to my death,"
She bites her lip as she turns to look at Kakashi and Iruka before turning back to me.
"Fine. I will grant this for you. However, you will be on watch around the clock and Kakashi and Iruka will be on guard the whole time. Any nonsense or resistance from you and I'll personally kill you myself. Understood?" I nod, thanking her for her kindness. "Good. Shizune, Jiraiya, let's go. I'll be by to check on both of them later and will assign a nurse to watch over the both of them until Naruto wakes up,"
Master Jiraiya, Shizune, Kakashi, and Iruka all head to the door. I watch them all leave but my eyes meet the hard glare from Tsunade as she grips the doorframe. "Uchiha… I do not like that this is the second time you've put Naruto in the hospital. I don't know if I can forgive you for this. However, it won't matter when you're on trial. If I were you, I would pray for a miracle,"
Was all she said before closing the door behind her. I hold a breath until I only feel Kakashi and Iruka's chakra outside. I release my breath before pulling a chair to his bedside. Having nothing else I need to do, I make myself comfortable and rest my head on my folded arms. I stare at the unconscious blond as I feel myself drifting off to sleep. I slowly place one of my hands on top of his and allow myself to drift off, trying to ignore the pain throbbing through my whole body.
"I'm sorry, Naruto… I'm sorry…"
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To Be Continued…