Disclaimers: Naruto is someone else's, this is purely a fanfic using someone else's characters.
Warnings: This story includes strong language, violence, angst, hopefully some decent jokes, and (of course) beautiful SasuNaru love.
Chapter 28: Kage Bunshin no Jutsu
"Kissing is like drinking salted water. You drink, and your thirst increases."
-Chinese Proverb
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Naruto slowly closed his eyes as warmth traveled through his body.
He could feel chakra flowing within him- returning his strength and mending his wounds. It pulsed behind his eyes and tightened in his temples. His finger tips tingled with the sensation, and he had to bite his lip to hold back the victorious grin that so desperately wanted to spread.
Focus, he reminded himself. You need to take advantage of this. This might be our only shot at escaping this place.
You need a plan.
He glanced up. Itachi was watching him closely, eyes narrowed with suspicion. He felt small beneath his gaze, vulnerable.
Naruto quickly looked away.
He couldn't afford to alert the Uchiha- couldn't risk that he wouldn't try to stop him. He might have Sasuke's back, but that didn't automatically mean he had Naruto's. Besides, he was still part of the Akatsuki, and Naruto was very aware of what they wanted from him.
He needed to find a solution on his own, and he needed time to do that.
Don't heal me too fast, he begged in his mind, hoping the nine tails would hear him. Please, for both of our sakes, go slow.
Buy me some time.
At first he wasn't sure if the kyuubi had heard him or not, or maybe he did and he's just ignoring me, but then he abruptly felt a change. His chakra was still there, swirling through him, but the relief from his pain slowed to a stop.
Thank you, he thought, somewhat ironically, gritting his teeth as he fought to bear through it.
Naruto pushed himself up to his hands and knees, letting long blonde locks fall forward to hide his face. He moved his fingers ever so slightly, and hoped he had not drawn any attention to it. A piercing wave of pain shot through him, and he knew what he had to do.
Now's my chance.
He let his body fall to the ground, moving his hands to "catch himself", but failing in his "attempt". He collapsed, slamming his forehead into the dirty surface with a heavy thud.
"Nnnn.." he groaned, his ears ringing, fresh blood pooling beneath him.
"Naruto!" Sasuke cried out from the cell, obsidian eyes locked on the blonde and filled with fear. "Naruto, are you- uhh!! Let go, bastard! I need to make sure he's-"
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu.." Naruto whispered as quietly as he could, using Sasuke's shouting to drown out his voice. He slammed his hands down on the floor and pushed himself back up again.
"I-I'm ok.." he said, his voice shaky from exertion, fatigue, and only slightly dulled pain.
Sasuke clenched his jaw, watching closely as Naruto moved his back to the wall, his hand pressed firmly against his stomach. The bleeding had slowed, but it hadn't stopped yet.
Why is it taking so long?! Sasuke's mind screamed. He should be healed by now!!
He grated his teeth together, eyes burning as he stared at his bleeding, barely healed, blonde. He felt so fucking helpless.. useless. It was driving him mad.
Naruto glanced over at the raven, noting the concern in his eyes and the new bruise forming on his cheekbone where one of the Akatsuki must have decked him.
"Don't worry, Sasuke", he breathed out. "I'm ok."
Sasuke knew Naruto- better than anyone. Hell, probably even better than Naruto did. They had been part of the same squad since they were kids, and became incredibly close when Sasuke returned to the Hidden Leaf. And now.. now they were lovers..
Sasuke knew Naruto.
Which was why, when he met the blonde's eyes, he noticed a slight spark in them- a message, letting Sasuke know that Naruto had something up his sleeves. Telling him to trust him.
Naruto was the only person Sasuke ever trusted. If he said he had a plan, then he had a plan.
Itachi studied the two of them, clearly distrustful, but he couldn't seem to find any clear deception. He had not noticed Naruto's carefully laid out plan, nor did he notice his sly shadow clone jutsu, and so was forced to just wait as the nine tails' chakra slowly healed the jinchuriki.
Which was making him incredibly impatient.
"Enough." He stormed over to Naruto, feeling a slight twinge of amusement when the blonde flinched at his approach.
Itachi might not be a complete monster, but that didn't mean he was a saint. He still enjoyed the rush of power and the look of fear in his prey. He had things he still wanted to protect, things he did protect- even if it meant betraying the people around him. But that didn't mean he wasn't still a rogue ninja. He still used his skill set to deceive, the Mangekyo to torture, and his strength to cause pain.
He was Akatsuki after all.
Itachi dropped down next to the blonde, his eyes momentarily flaring with excitement as deep blues widened with fear.
"Wh-what are you-?"
Ignoring him, Itachi grabbed Naruto's wrist and pulled his hand away from the wound on his stomach.
"Hey!" Naruto tried to push him back, but Itachi grabbed his other wrist and pulled it away. He jerked both arms up and pinned Naruto's wrists over his head with one powerful hand. Naruto struggled against him, but Itachi forced his wrists against the wall, his grip tightening.
The blonde winced, panicky eyes staring up at the Uchiha, suddenly terrified of him.
"Itachi! What the fuck are you doing?!!" Sasuke screamed.
He threw an elbow back, smashing into the face of one of the Akatsuki holding him back, and stumbled forward. Two more Akatsuki moved from the wall and joined in to restrain him, keeping him away from Naruto. As ordered.
"As I said before, little brother", Itachi said smoothly, glancing back at Sasuke from the corner of his eye. "This does not concern you."
He grabbed Naruto's shirt with his free hand, and ripped it open.
Naruto gasped, and tried to pull away, but Itachi's hold didn't give in the slightest.
Itachi ran his hand over the blonde's stomach, sending a shudder to course through him. He fingered the wound near his rib cage, and Naruto winced.
"St-stop!"
"Seems to be mostly healed" he said quietly. His hand dropped down to Naruto's thigh, and Naruto flinched like he was struck by lightening.
Itachi smiled, feeling more and more amused by the blonde's dramatic antics. He leaned in, his mouth close to Naruto's ear, his smile widening as the blonde jerked his face away.
"Itachi," Sasuke screamed, "I swear to god I will fucking-"
"I told you before- " Itachi whispered, his breath on the nape of Naruto's neck making him shiver. He pulled back and grabbed Naruto's chin, forcing him to meet his gaze.
"I am not Sasuke."
Itachi released his chin, and Naruto quickly moved his face away once more. The Uchiha dropped his hand back down to Naruto's thigh, and tore a hole in his pants above the wound. Sasuke's enraged growls and threats went ignored as he probed the mostly healed gash.
Kyuubi- I need you to heal me fast, Naruto thought desperately. Before he puts me back in the cell.
Hurry!
Itachi suddenly grabbed him by the throat and stood, dragging the blonde up with him.
"Nnnn!" Naruto groaned. He struggled against him, but both wrists were still wrapped in Itachi's other hand, and he couldn't break free.
Breathe. Just focus on breathing.
Itachi dragged him back to the cell and unceremoniously tossed him inside. Naruto yelped as his elbow smacked into the ground, pain radiating up his arm. The Akatsuki quickly filed out and threw down Sasuke before slamming the door closed behind them.
"Naruto!" Sasuke scrambled over to him as Naruto slowly pushed himself up. He cupped his scarred cheeks in his hands and stared deeply into his eyes. "Are you ok?"
Naruto placed his hands over Sasuke's, pressing them closer. "I'm ok."
Sasuke's eyes roamed over him, needing to see that for himself. He knew Naruto was far too proud to tell him when he was actually suffering- it was the cause of a lot of their fights.
Under Naruto's torn pants and ripped open shirt Sasuke could see that his wounds were pretty much healed, which was a relief. He had been horrified that Naruto would bleed to death in his arms, and was incredibly grateful that the nine tails was able to stop that from happening.
Reassured that his blonde was going to make it, Sasuke pressed his forehead against his and sighed.
"You worry too much" Naruto muttered.
He closed his eyes. "You give me too many reasons to worry."
"Hn."
Sasuke smiled. "That's my word, Dobe." He leaned back. "So, what's this plan of yours?"
Naruto grinned. "See for yourself."
He looked over his shoulder, and Sasuke followed his gaze out of the cell. He watched in amazement as several Naruto shadow clones clawed their way up from underground, pulling one another to the surface.
Sasuke stared, mouth open, as he tried to process what the hell he was seeing.
Naruto glanced over at him, eyes shining. "So, what do you think?"
"It's like watching a bunch of freaking badgers.." Sasuke replied with reluctant awe.
Naruto's grin widened. "People really need to stop underestimating me."
The hallway was now filled with dirt-covered Narutos high-fiving and brushing dirt off one another's shoulders.
"This is actually one of my fantasies."
Naruto punched him in the shoulder. "Shut up, perv!" He turned back to his people, "Hey, Naruto!"
All Narutos looked up in unison.
"Little help..?"
Fox grins and mischievous eyes spread throughout the corridor, and Sasuke couldn't help but feel excited. He knew what his Naruto could do.
They all paired up and moved their hands fast until every other clone had a spinning ball of chakra in their hands. Their partners flicked out a kunai and took their place beside them.
"Is everyone ready?" Original Naruto asked the team.
The Narutos smiled wickedly.
"Believe it."
Author Note:
I'm sorry, I had to. It just needed to be in here somewhere. And what better place to put in an old Naruto catch-phrase than with a fuck ton of grinning, dirty Narutos. ;)
.. I'm assuming Sasuke got rock hard in that moment. XD You're welcome, Sasuke.
