Disclaimers: Naruto isn't mine. This is purely a fanfic using someone else's characters.
Warnings: This story includes strong language, violence, sexual assault, angst, & delicious yaoi lemon.
Like Night and Day
~
Chapter 12
"Shh."
Naruto was suddenly spun around and shoved up against the wall- the hand against his mouth still locked in place. He winced in pain as his head slammed back against the unforgiving rock. Naruto looked up and glared at his newest captor.
Cerulean eyes widened.
He didn't recognize this person.
When he was grabbed he assumed it was Kabuto or worse- maybe Orochimaru had managed to sneak up on him. What he hadn't expected was a complete stranger.
And he definitely didn't expect someone who had a resemblance to Sasuke.
The man placed a finger against pale lips, signaling for the blonde to stay quiet. Then he placed two fingers against the collar wrapped around Naruto's wrists and starting chanting under his breath. A light blue glow radiated from his fingertips as he slowly traced the dull metal.
Naruto watched with awe and fascination as the light left a thin blue layer around his shackles. He raised his eyes to look at the man's face, studying him. He didn't know yet if he was friend or foe, but he was leaning towards the former over the latter. He had a theory as to what that blue light was doing, but he didn't want to get his hopes up, and quickly pushed the thought back. What he did know was that he was trapped, and his only two options were to either stay here with the new mystery man or brave the halls Orochimaru was stalking.
He shivered at the thought. He would take his chances with the new guy.
When the man finished tracing around the restraint on his wrist, he raised his head and met Naruto's eyes. Deep onyx wells flickered back and forth between nervous azure ones. He must have approved of what he saw, because he slowly pulled back his hand from Naruto's lips.
Naruto opened his mouth, but the man shook his head, gesturing for him to stay quiet. Naruto did as he was told and kept still as he reached towards the collar around his neck.
I hope I don't regret trusting him..
The stranger chanted quietly once more, and once more the soft blue light fell across the metal, following the path left by his fingertips.
After he was done, he moved away from the blonde and stepped further into the room. When Naruto stayed pressed firmly against the wall he came back, grabbed his bound wrists, and pulled him forward.
"But-"
The man quickly placed his palm over his lips again, silencing him. He leaned close. Naruto stiffened.
"I released his command" he whispered. "He won't be able to control you anymore."
He leaned back and met Naruto's questioning gaze, but didn't elaborate any further. He grabbed the collar around Naruto's wrist and pulled him across the gloomy barren room and over to another hidden passageway behind a well camouflaged door. It was even darker beyond it, and Naruto had to squint his eyes to make out the walls on either side. He took a hesitant step back, but the man kept a firm hold on his wrist-restraint.
I guess I don't really have a choice..
He allowed himself to be pulled through the opening, forcing back the panic crawling up his throat as he watched the stranger replace the door, barricading them behind it.
Naruto was dragged further into the darkness, dread and doubt consuming his thoughts with every step until finally he couldn't take it anymore. He dug in his bare feet and jerked his wrists free. Even in the dim lighting, Naruto could make out the irritation in the man's inky black stare.
"Who are you?" he asked, keeping his voice low. "Where are you taking me?"
"I'm.. no one." Something flickered in those dark eyes, something heavy and broken, but the man blinked it away, forcing them to go blank once more. He looked over at the blonde. "And I'm taking you out of here."
Naruto felt a desperate need to believe him, but he was terrified that it was all just some intricate ruse to get him to let his guard down. It just seemed too good to be true.
"W-why?" he choked out. "Why would you help me..?"
"No one deserves" his eyes scanned Naruto's bloodied half-naked form, "..this."
Naruto felt his face heat up with embarrassment and shame. He looked away, biting the inside of his cheek to hold back the tears stinging the corners of his eyes.
"Thank you.." he said softly. He raised his head once more as the man stepped forward, reaching towards him. "Can you.. can you at least tell me your name..?"
His pale hand froze. "I.. I don't have one." Noticing the blonde's confusion he added, "but you can call me.."
He thought for a moment.
"Sai".
~
Team 7, minus one key member, finally made it to the hospital- though they all felt like it took far too long to get there.
After numerous threats from an extremely irate Uchiha, and some clever convincing from his silver-haired sensei, they were finally given access to the patient they had come there for. The only man who had escaped Orochimaru's new horrid experiments. He was still in a coma, but that was not going to hinder them from their interrogation. Kakashi didn't need him to be awake for this.
In fact, it would be better if he wasn't.
The three walked up to stand over the patient, studying his thin marred face and the various bruises peeking out from behind thick casts. Sasuke tried not to picture Naruto with the same injuries, but failed in his attempts. He pushed back his fear, and shot his head up to look at the jonin.
Kakashi met the raven's dark eyes. "Sasuke, you need to prepare yourself. There's no guarantee that this will work. Or that he will know where to find him.."
"It'll work."
"Sasuke-"
"It'll work!!" he shouted, slamming his fist against the wall.
A passing nurse raised an eyebrow and Sakura gave a friendly, apologetic smile before slowly closing the door. "Sensei, if we're going to do this we should probably start now."
Kakashi nodded and stepped closer to the man's bedside. He shoved up his Hidden Leaf headband, then reached out and forced open the man's eye. It stared blankly up at him as Kakashi revealed his sharingan. He quickly weaved the necessary signs with it, and forced his way into the man's mind, infiltrating his memories.
Sasuke watched with bated breath, hoping he'd find what they needed. Hoping they wouldn't be too late when he does.
Kakashi pushed through memories of childhood trauma, past lovers, long lost friends, and deep moments of grief to his most recent ones. When he saw Orochimaru's sinister grin and cold reptilian eyes, he paused.
Sasuke noticed the man stiffen. "Did you find something?"
"It's Orochimaru, but it's.. clouded. Like he's trying to block out the memories."
That's probably exactly what he's trying to do, Kakashi thought. He wasn't looking forward to seeing why. Kakashi delved deeper, readying himself for what he might find.
He wasn't ready for what he found.
The man was screaming in agony, eyes screwed up tight against the pain. His wrists and ankles were bound, chained to.. bedposts. And Orochimaru was-
Kakashi shoved himself back, tearing away from the gruesome scene. Bile rose in his throat and he quickly forced it back down. You can't tell Sasuke about this. You absolutely can not tell him.
"Anything..?" The Uchiha's voice cut through his thoughts.
He swallowed. "Not yet."
He didn't know how convincing that was, but Sasuke didn't respond. If he wasn't fooled, then he already had an idea of what Kakashi saw. And didn't need to know more.
Couldn't handle knowing more..
Kakashi turned down a different path in the man's mind and came across another memory with the perverse snake, though thankfully this one was not on the bed. The man's wrists were bound to a chair this time with thick leather straps. Orochimaru leaned forward and wrapped a thick piece of metal around his throat, letting the lock click in place. The man stared up at the snake with wide terrified eyes, which quickly filled with confusion as Orochimaru unbound his hands.
Kakashi was also confused, until the snake's commands began.
So that's the collar Sasuke was talking about.. that's how he was able to take control of Naruto.
Apparently, Naruto wasn't the first.
He moved away from the memory, hoping it would put him on the trail where the man first came in contact with Orochimaru, which would then lead him to the snake's hidden lair. It took him a moment, and then he found him.
There.
The unlucky villager had simply been collecting medicinal plants in the forest on the outskirts of town when he was captured.
Come on, Kakashi thought, anxiety and rage swirling deep in his gut. He ground his teeth together.
Where the hell are you- you sick fuck..
Orochimaru came up fast behind him and drugged the unsuspecting civilian. He never stood a chance. As soon as the effects kicked in, and the man was mostly unconscious, Kabuto stepped forward and dragged him off, following closely behind his master.
Kakashi followed the memory through dense foliage and past thick towering trees until they were finally in a small clearing, well hidden from the path. Orochimaru confidently walked up to the middle of it, to a seemingly empty space. It would have fooled most, but not Kakashi. His sharingan could see right through the snake's illusion.
Something was there.
The copycat ninja watched closely as Orochimaru did a series of complicated hand signs before slamming his palm against the barrier. A wide opening spread before him, revealing a dark tunnel that led deep underground. He watched them step inside, dragging the man with them before the barrier slid back in place.
Kakashi yanked himself free of the poor man's broken mind, and immediately locked onto the raven's anxious face. Sasuke stared back in anticipation, hopeful yet terrified.
"Did you find it..?"
The jonin's eyes burned with intensity, his rage and disgust apparent. But there was something else there..
A newfound determination.
Kakashi nodded. "Let's go get Naruto back."
Author Note:
Awww- yay! Thank you chaoticPie! That makes me so happy to hear. I really hope you like it :)
And thank you to anyone else still reading this little tale. You are also very much appreciated.