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

Warnings: This story includes strong language, violence, sexual assault, reference to rape, angst, & later- delicious yaoi lemon.

Like Night and Day

~

Chapter 14

Kabuto froze, his scalpel hovering mere inches above cold tender flesh. He could hear his master's shrieks of outrage and pain, and immediately knew something was wrong.

He had become quite numb to the cries of agony that constantly echoed throughout these halls, but it was rather rare to hear them coming from Orochimaru. Especially if his victim had been bound by the snake's latest creation.

So, the Nine Tails Jinchuriki managed to break free..

Kabuto couldn't help but smirk as he pushed his spectacles back into place. You really are full of surprises, aren't you.

The silver-haired apprentice considered aiding his master, but quickly decided against it. He would not suffer the backlash of Uzumaki's escape. He had suffered enough when Uchiha had slipped through the snake's grasp. And when the last villager from Kirigakure managed to flee from them… when his master had forced him to-

... to take his place.

Kabuto shivered at the thought.

He would not put himself through that again. Not intentionally at least. He would always be loyal to Orochimaru. No matter what he did to his mind.. or to his body.. Kabuto knew that wouldn't change. But that didn't mean he had to step in and face his wrath every time something went wrong.

Kabuto had worked tirelessly for months on Orochimaru's precious collars. He had strengthened the metal and perfected the design. He had tested the prototype on countless villagers, and looked the other way as Orochimaru.. enjoyed them. He had even redirected his master's focus on his original prey- Uzumaki.

Any failures past that were not his own.

Let him deal with his own mistakes this time.

He glanced back down at the corpse splayed out on the metal slab before him. Waiting for him.

His eyes flashed with excitement.

I have my own experiments to finish.

~

Naruto's energy was beginning to wane. His legs felt like lead, slowing his steps as Sai continued to pull him through the long snaking corridors. He felt like he had been walking forever.

Sai had explained that these hidden passages didn't follow parallel to Orochimaru's hideout- that they jutted out a lot further, which was part of the reason the snake didn't know about them. And why he didn't detect the two of them as they quietly traversed these halls. Though Sai did warn him that at some point it would lead them back- which is where they would find Sai's hidden supplies, the exit to this horrible place, and likely- Orochimaru, waiting for him.

Naruto was terrified of the repulsive snake. Terrified to face him again after everything that happened.. and everything that almost happened. But he was also feeling horribly claustrophobic in this place, and was desperate to reach the exit.

The darkness, the narrow passageways, the excruciating silence.. It was driving him mad. And he seemed to be the only one.

Sai had seemingly retreated in on himself again, leaving the space between them uncomfortably silent. Which made every labored step, every gasp of pain, every nudged rock exceedingly loud. Naruto flinched every time, afraid that he had given away their position. Sai didn't comment on any of it, but Naruto had a feeling that he was becoming irritated by the blonde's ineptitude.

"I.. I'm not usually like this" Naruto said quietly, shame reddening his face. "I guess the collars are throwing me off.. and-"

His eyes fell to his bandaged foot. It was agonizing to walk on it. He tried to keep his movements steady, to not show it, to not come off as any more helpless than he already did. But he had a feeling he wasn't all that convincing.

Sai had to have noticed how injured he was by now.

Blood and bruises marred his tanned skin, and his entire body echoed with pain- from the gash in his scalp and his bloodied lip, to his scraped knees and the welts on his hips where Orochimaru had mercilessly grabbed him, down to his lacerated foot. He knew he had to keep going, but the metal restraints weighed him down and his wounds weakened him.

He could feel himself fading.

"Sai.." he breathed. His voice sounded far away, like he was calling up to him from the bottom of a deep, dark well. A place only he had fallen into. A place that continued to pull him down- further and further away…

"I-I'm not usually so... so…"

weak.

Naruto's feet slid out from under him. He could feel his body falling forward, his eyes rolling back. Darkness was closing in, and he wasn't sure he had the strength to stop it.

Strong arms closed around him, bearing his weight as his body went completely limp.

"Naruto..? Hey- come on. Naruto, stay with me."

Hazy blue eyes peered up into the murky shadows, making out the faintest shape. A face, pale and angular, with heavy obsidian eyes. Concern made his voice sharp.

Naruto tried to stay there for him, but the shadows were growing denser, blocking out the man holding him.

"S-Sa…"

Sai watched as a lone tear slipped free of its deep blue prison before heavy lids trapped the rest inside. Naruto's mouth moved, fighting to utter one final thought before his consciousness completely slipped away.

"Sasuke..."

~

Kakashi led Sasuke and Sakura through a tangled path, moving further into the dense forest to the far East of Kirigakure. As they leapt past the spot the man had been gathering herbs, where Orochimaru had found him, Kakashi felt his stomach clench into tight knots. His mind flickered back to the image of the villager chained to that bed.. crying out as Orochimaru violently thrust into him over and over and over..

Stop. This isn't going to help us find Naruto. This isn't going to help us get to him before Orochimaru-

He shook his head. He was glad he had discovered the snake's hidden base, that his sharingan had caught the movements of his jutsu to lower the barrier, but he regretted ever following that memory.

That one, he knew, would plague him for quite some time.

Moments later they found the clearing. Kakashi dropped down and signaled for the others to do the same. Sasuke moved to his side, and Sakura fell slightly back, scanning their surroundings.

"It's too quiet here," she said nervously.

"That's because beasts have better instincts than we do" Kakashi muttered, stepping towards the middle of the clearing. He held a hand out, reaching for the barrier, as he pushed up his headband with the other.

He turned to look at Sasuke, sharingan meeting sharingan. "When the barrier opens, we have to be smart."

The Uchiha rolled his eyes in annoyance. "I know-"

"Sasuke!" he cut in, silencing the raven. "If we just run in there- chakra flaring, blowing the place up.."

His voice softened.

".. he could hurt him."

Pain filled the raven's blood red eyes, and he quickly turned away. "I know.."

Kakashi turned back towards the barrier and calmed his breathing as he went back into his own mind, seeking out the memory. He was lucky that the villager had regained some consciousness long enough to see Orochimaru do this, or they would never have-

No. Now is not the time to get distracted.

Stay the course- find the memory.

He slipped further back into his own mind, his own memories, and there he was. The abhorrent snake. Staring out into the middle of the clearing, hands raised- ready to have his hidden base swallow up yet another victim.

Kakashi stepped towards him, keeping his sharingan locked onto the snake's movements.

Watching his hands closely.

Then, well.. he did what copycats do best.

~

When Naruto regained consciousness, his mind was still draped in darkness. He tried to open his eyes, but everything was a blur, and it made his head spin. It was like coming up to the surface after falling into an ocean, only to find yourself in the heart of a starless night.

He furrowed his brow, feeling disoriented, and quickly snapped his eyes shut.

Instead, he focused on the smells around him- dirt, stagnant air, and the faintest scent of pine.

What..? What happened..? Where am I?

He tried to open his eyes again, but his lids felt so heavy, like the metal around his throat and wrists covered them now too. His arms hung limp, still bound at the wrists, but there was something between them. His head bobbed up and down, his cheek dropping against something strong and sturdy. He felt it against his chest too. He focused in on his body lower. He could feel his legs swinging uselessly to either side, and-

A pair of strong arms holding him up by his bare thighs.

No!!

Naruto lurched up and jolted back, trying to pull away. His arms caught on something, forcing him to stop, and the hands around his legs tightened their hold, keeping him in place.

He tried to blink through the darkness, to make sense of what the fuck was happening, but all he could manage to do was panic. And it was getting him no where.

"No! L-let me go!"

He yanked his wrists back hard, slamming into tender flesh. Ignoring the pained gasps the man emitted, Naruto jerked his wrists back again, but this time a strong hand reached out and stopped him.

Naruto winced in pain as the man's grip tightened. His body was suddenly spun around, his back braced against an unforgiving rock wall. He groaned, but the sound shriveled up in his throat as his body pressed flush against another.

Naruto tried to pull away, but now realized that his restraints were wrapped around the man's neck. Every time he flinched back, all he managed to do was pull him in closer.

"D-don't.." he whimpered.

"Naruto-"

"Pl-please.."

"Naruto- look at me."

That's not him.

That's not Orochimaru.

Huge terrified blue eyes met intense onyx ones. "It's me" he said softly, "it's Sai." He carefully brushed back his long blonde hair, wanting Naruto to see him fully. To see who he was.

And who he wasn't.

"I'm not going to hurt you, Naruto."

Sai reached back, grasped Naruto's bound wrists from behind his neck, then pulled them over his head. He gently dropping them down in between them and took several steps back. He knew this was done with small animals, especially ones that had been hurt.

He eyed the blonde.

It wasn't all that far off to think of Naruto in the same way.

"You passed out" he explained, "likely from exhaustion and due to the extent of your injuries. Plus, those collars restrict chakra- which can cause you to feel weaker too."

Naruto nodded.

"I honestly don't mean you any harm, Naruto. I was carrying you so that we could keep moving. With your hands bound, it was the only way I could-"

"I know, Sai" Naruto said softly. "It's.. it's not you." He kept his head down, his eyes averted. "Thank you.. for carrying me.."

"Naruto, you still don't have your strength back yet," Sai added. "It'll be faster if I continue to carry you on my back."

Naruto shook his head. "Let's just go."

"Naruto-"

"Please, Sai. Let's- let's just go, ok?"

Sai bit back a retort. Instead, he simply stepped forward and took hold off the blonde's restrained wrists once more. "The path is moving back towards Orochimaru's lair. We will need to stay quiet and watch our step."

Naruto swallowed back the rush of fear that crawled up his skin at the sound of the snake's name. Unable to trust his voice, he simply nodded.

Sai pulled him along, leading him further into the darkness..

Hoping to eventually lead him back into the light.

Author Note:

Gahhhhh!!! I just love Sai so much!!

I hope you are enjoying his amazing Sai-ness, and the constant angst! Speaking of which.. should we perhaps add more angst..?

"Shall we, Cinnamon my dear?"

Angst-horse drops a dainty hoof in my hand. Graceful neighing*

"Haha, darling. You're awful."

Devilish smirk*

"Just... awful."

~