Disclaimers: Naruto isn't mine. This is purely a fanfic using someone else's characters.

Warnings: This story includes strong language, violence, some forcefulness, angst, & delicious yaoi lemon.

Like Night and Day

~

Chapter 7

"Nnnnn!"

Ice shot down Sasuke's spine as Naruto's pained gasp echoed through the clearing. The raven quickly leapt away from the snake's attacks and turned to look at his blonde.

Kabuto.

Orochimaru's bespectacled pupil held a fistful of blonde hair, jerking Naruto's head back as he pressed a kunai firmly against his throat.

"Naruto!" Sasuke ran towards the two, panic rushing through him.

"Ah ah, I wouldn't do that if I were you."

Kabuto grinned as he pressed the blade closer, piercing the skin. Naruto bit his lip as a thin crimson line slipped down the his neck. His orange eyes flickered for a moment, then faded back to blue- his concentration on sage mode broken.

Sasuke froze. "Let him go" he snarled, eyes locked onto his blonde.

Kabuto tilted his head as he studied the raven, his master's past obsession. Old jealousy bubbled to the surface, curdling his grin and sending heat through his veins. He hated the Uchiha. For stealing Orochimaru's favor, for relentlessly finding ways to one-up him, for his constant lack of respect..

For doing what he couldn't.

He wanted to hurt him. He glanced down at the blonde- and now I know how.

"Kabuto!" Sasuke shouted. "Let. Him. Go!"

Something cruel flared behind his eyes. "I don't think I will.."

Without warning, Kabuto threw the kunai down, hard, sending it through Naruto's foot. The blonde clenched his teeth with breaking force, holding back the shriek of pain crawling up his throat. The hand in his hair tightened and jerked his head back. Naruto winced, screwing up his eyes tight against the pain, shutting out the tears.

"How bad does it hurt, Naruto.." Kabuto purred, enjoying the pained look on the boy's face.

"Fuck.. you.."

Naruto threw an elbow back, jamming it into the man's rib cage. Kabuto groaned; his grip loosening as he leaned in around his bruised torso. Naruto tightened his jaw and rammed his head back fast, bashing his skull into Kabuto's face.

Kabuto stumbled a step back, grunting in pain. "You'll pay for that" he growled.

Naruto hurriedly dropped to hIs knee to take care of the knife as Sasuke moved in. He shifted from view and appeared behind them, but not before Kabuto managed to lock something around the blonde's neck.

Sasuke roughly yanked the silver snake away and sent him flying. He crashed into a tree and fell in a heap to the forest floor. Blood slipped down his marred his face, past wide eyes and broken glasses. Despite the state he was in, though, he kept a tight grin plastered across his face. A terrifying sight that put Sasuke's teeth on edge.

He didn't know what that look meant, but he didn't like it.

Orochimaru didn't even react. He simply watched the chaos unfold before him, unaffected as his partner dropped to the ground.

Meanwhile, Naruto was fighting the consuming urge to pass out. His foot was screaming in pain, blood pooling beneath him as he blinked through the darkness blurring his vision.

Don't pass out.. don't pass out.. don't pass out..

Naruto grabbed the handle with trembling fingers, hoping he wasn't making the wrong call. He swallowed back his trepidations, took a shaky breath, then yanked the blade free.

A jagged cry tore from his throat as the kunai ripped through his flesh. Nausea rippled through him. He could feel his eyes roll back, on the verge of losing consciousness, but the sound of Sasuke's voice pulled him back from the darkness.

"Naruto.."

The raven dropped down in front of him, and raised his head. That's when he saw what Kabuto had managed to put on him.

"What the hell..?" He lifted the blonde's chin higher, taking a closer look.

A metal collar.

Why the fuck would he put a collar on Naruto?

He whipped his head over to lock eyes with Orochimaru. "What the fuck is this?"

The snake grinned. "A little experiment." His eyes slid over to the blonde.

"Pain."

A scream tore from Naruto's lips as a powerful electric shock surged through his body. He dropped to the ground, convulsing under the onslaught of pain. He could feel it in his temples, behind his eyes, under his skin- some unknown force rushing through him, setting his nerve endings on fire.

Sasuke's eyes filled with horror. "Stop! STOP!! Orochimaru, please! Stop this!"

The snake licked his lips with his reptilian tongue, eyes flashing with amusement. "Stop."

The collar's brutal attack halted, and Naruto's pained screams fell silent. His whole body shook, his skin still on fire from the shocks. He threw an arm over his eyes, hiding the tears that had finally slipped free.

Sasuke clenched his jaw tight as he looked back up at the snake. "Why are you doing this?!" he screamed. "What the fuck do you want?!"

"I want what you have, Sasuke. What you abandoned your goals for. What you betrayed me for." His eyes dropped to the tormented blonde. "I want him."

Obsidian eyes hardened. "You won't gain anything from hurting him."

"Maybe not, but that didn't seem to stop you."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes.

"What is it about him, Sasuke?" Orochimaru purred, taking slow steps towards them. "Why is that jinchuriki able to affect you like this?"

Sasuke gritted his teeth. "Naruto is not just some goddamn vessel. He's a fucking human being, and he doesn't deserve this!"

Orochimaru didn't seem swayed or moved by any of this. In fact, he seemed even more amused than before.

The raven rose to his feet and stepped in front of his blonde, shielding him from the approaching snake.

"You don't need to do this" Sasuke said quietly, his voice heavy and dejected. "I'll go with you. For real this time." He looked up at the monster before him, onyx eyes filled with sincerity and a sharp determination.

He meant what he said.

"I'll do whatever you want. Just leave him be."

Naruto flinched at that. "No.." he choked out. He dropped his arm and slowly pushed himself up, ignoring his body's screaming protests.

"Sa-Sasuke.. don't-"

The Uchiha glanced over his shoulder, meeting terrified blue eyes. I can't let people keep hurting you, he thought.

I'll abandon you.. to protect you.

Just like I did before.

He shifted his gaze back to the snake.

I thought things would be different now, that we could be be different now.. but nothing's changed.

Nothing.

~

Author Note:

"Sorry for the short chapter! In my defense-"

Makes eye contact with Cinnamon*

"Ahem.. right.. Well. It had nothing to do with the angst horse, if that's what you're thinking!! He's innocent in all of this!"

Wink*

"Hehe- they didn't suspect a thing."

Exasperated neighing*

"Onward, Cinnamon! To the angst!"