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, & later- delicious yaoi lemon.

Like Night and Day

Chapter 19

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Naruto knew that as soon as he opened his eyes he'd have to face something horrible and, truth be told, he'd like to avoid it for as long as possible. So, he kept his breathing stable, his eyes closed, and did his best to pretend to be unconscious.

While he waited for the opportune moment to fully awaken, he focused on the sounds around him. He could hear water dripping from the ceiling, and the grind of gravel beneath heavy feet. A metal door swung open and closed a couple times, and a few people whispered to each other, but for the most part the space was quiet. It made it rather difficult to read. He wasn't sure if he was alone somewhere, or if he was in some sort of room with a handful of observers. He forced himself to stay still and wait, but that was becoming increasingly more challenging.

The more conscious he was, the more aware he became of his situation, and fear was already bubbling in his chest and shooting down his limps. He could feel his hands shaking, and hoped it wasn't noticeable to anyone else.

Naruto turned his focus to the rest of his body, piecing together his current predicament. He was sitting up on a hard surface pressed against a wall. His arms were chained above his head, his hands kept apart- likely to make sure he couldn't do some sort of jutsu to break free. His head was hanging low, resting against one arm.

He had a feeling he was in some sort of cell, but he didn't dare open his eyes yet. He wasn't ready to give himself away.

Which seemed to be making his captives rather impatient. At one point, someone stormed up to him, grabbed a fistful of blonde hair, and jerked his head back. Naruto made sure to keep his face expressionless and his body limp. The man, disappointed, threw his head back down and stalked off- missing the tears that managed to slip free.

Control your breathing, he reminded himself. Keep your body limp, your eyes still, and just focus on breathing.

He was alone for a while more when the metal door before him suddenly slammed open and something was thrown unceremoniously to his feet. Naruto forced himself not to react, but his mind was spinning. What is this? What are they doing?

..What are they trying to get me to do?

He wanted so badly to open his eyes and find out, but the door had yet to close- which told him that he wasn't alone. Someone was waiting, watching to see how he would respond.

Something by Naruto's feet moved and he focused on his teeth digging into each other, fighting the urge to scream. Don't move. No matter what- just don't move.

"Mmphh.."

Naruto's heart leapt in his chest. That muffled, strangled sound- he had an idea of what it was. Despite the warning in his head screaming at him not to, Naruto slowly opened his eyes, blinking back the darkness. With his head down, thick blonde bangs helped hide his eyes, but he had a clear view of what lie before him.

Sasuke.

He was bound, with thick ropes forcing his legs together and his arms behind his back. A thick piece of cloth was tied around his mouth, keeping him silent. Huge onyx eyes stared up at the blonde, meeting his cloudy cerulean gaze. Naruto watched the raven scan his face, struggling to get a read on him. They slid up his arms, eyeing the shackles on his wrists and the chains forcing them above his head, before drifting back down. Naruto knew that he was trying to formulate a plan, because he was attempting to do the same.

Unfortunately, neither had one yet. That part they could read in each other's eyes- clear as day.

Naruto must have shifted ever so slightly, or the man just had a great sixth sense, because he suddenly made his way over, grabbed Naruto by the hair and jerked his head back. Naruto quickly slammed his eyes shut again, but it was too late at that point.

"Nice try, demon, but I know you're awake."

Naruto swallowed and slowly opened his eyes once more. He opened his mouth to speak, but his voice came out hoarse and broken. Defeated. A flash of pain in Sasuke's eyes told him he heard it too.

Naruto clenched his teeth together and tried again. "Th-this has nothing.. to- to do with him" he choked, eyes stinging from the pain in his throat.

He lifted his head and stared into the face of a nameless villager, meeting his hatred head on. "You have me.. just- just let Sasuke go.."

"Mmnnpph!! Mpphhh!" Sasuke struggled against the ropes, fighting to free himself, to get Naruto to hear him.

Naruto looked over at him with sad eyes and shook his head. "It's ok Sasuke."

The raven shook his head insistently, but Naruto turned his attention back to the man in front of him. "Please.. I'm the one at fault.. not- not him."

A malicious smile twisted the villagers face as he leaned towards him. Naruto tried to pull back, pressing into the wall, but he couldn't get much further. The man tightened his grip, forcing Naruto's head further back.

"Nnnn!" Naruto groaned. He tried to lift his head higher to relieve the tension on his scalp, but the fist twisted making him inhale sharply as the pain doubled.

Sasuke's eyes flared a deep crimson, but with his hands restrained back to back he couldn't perform a jutsu. He was helpless to stop this, and it infuriated him. He screamed behind his gag, but it went ignored.

The man leaned in, his smile curdling to a foul grimace. "Your little friend isn't going anyway" he growled. "We need to make sure both of you understand your place. Besides-" his eyes shot over to the Uchiha, "he broke a promise. He'll have to be punished for that."

Deep obsidian eyes widened with alarm.

"What are you bastards going to do to him?!" Naruto shouted.

The man released him then pulled his arm back and back-handed him across the face. Naruto's head snapped violently to the side. His jaw was on fire, his cheek already bruising. He quickly blinked tears away before the man could see them.

"Watch your tongue, demon. We will do whatever we see fit." His hand shot out and he grabbed Naruto's chin, jerking his head up. "Besides, if I were you I'd worry about myself."

Naruto glared up at him but kept quiet, hoping to avoid provoking the villager any further. The man studied him for a moment before finally letting his hand fall away. He straightened, turned around, and stepped out of the cell, slamming the door shut behind him.

Naruto dropped his gaze back down to the raven. "Sasuke? Are you ok?"

Sasuke looked up at him with sad eyes. His heart clenched tight with the blonde's concern for him. The villager was right about on thing.. he should be worried about himself.

Why is he always thinking about everyone else..?

Naruto mistook the look as Sasuke's face as his own pain, and immediately tried to comfort him. "It's going to be ok, Sasuke. I'm the one they want- not you. I'll get them to let you go."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "Hmmmphhh!"

Naruto looked up at his shackled wrists and gave them a tug. They seemed pretty secure, but that didn't mean he'd give up that easily. Naruto dropped and yanked his arms down as hard as he could. His wrists dug against the rough metal, but he ignored the pain and fought harder. "Nnnnn- fuck, come on!!"

He growled, reached up as high as he could, then yanked his arm down fast, slamming his wrists against his restraints. He kept that up, forcing his arms down over and over, scrapping skin, drawing blood, but still he fought to free himself. Sasuke tried to call out to him to stop, but Naruto was on a rampage. He refused to give up.

After all.. he had someone he needed to save.

The blood made his hands slick and Naruto was pleasantly surprised when he managed to pull one of them free. He gave Sasuke a wide, victorious smile then got to work on the other one.

He could hear footsteps approaching, and his efforts became frantic, but he couldn't seem to get the other one free.

"Fuck!" His eyes shot over to the raven. "Sasuke- hurry!! Get closer!" He rolled scooted closer and Naruto reached out as far as he could. He got ahold of the gag over his mouth and worked it free, shoving it down. Sasuke gasped and spun around so Naruto could work on the ropes on his wrist. He just got started on one of the knots when the door suddenly slammed open and several men rushed inside.

"Hey!!" Two ran up and grabbed Naruto's arm, while two others yanked Sasuke back out of reach.

"Fuck off!" he shouted, trying to jerk away from them.

One of them punched him in the face and Sasuke slammed down to the ground, bruising his cheek against the rough, unforgiving surface.

"Stop!!" Naruto screamed. "Leave him alone!"

"Shut up, beast." The man from earlier back-handed him again, effectively silencing him.

"Naruto!"

"Will you two shut the fuck up! Where is his gag?"

"Ahh- come on." One of the villagers walked over and grabbed Sasuke by his hair, forcing his head up. He grinned down at him. "I actually want to hear this one beg." He looked up at his friends, eyes gleaming wickedly, "don't you?"

A few smiled with him. "He is a looker" one remarked. He licked his lips.

"Too bad we can't touch him" another added. "People wouldn't be too happy with us if we tainted the Uchiha."

Another jerked his thumb back at Naruto. "You really think he's all that innocent? I hear he fucked the demon-kid."

Naruto flinched.

"Come on- there's no way."

"I don't know." One of them grabbed Naruto's chin and tilted his head up. "If you didn't know he was a fucking monster, you might want to try him out for yourself."

"I think I could forget for an hour" another chimed in.

The group laughed as Naruto's eyes widened, filled with horror. Sasuke's sharingan spun. "Don't you fucking dare" he growled.

The man who tormented Naruto when he was ten, forcing Sasuke to abandon his first and only friend, tilted his head to the side, studying him. "You know.. that might not be such a bad idea. And if we made the Uchiha watch, he might finally learn his lesson."

"No.." his throat clicked. He swallowed back his fear and disgust. "No! Don't- please! I'll do anything!!"

"We already gave you a chance" the man said smoothly, "and you went back on your word."

"Please- please!!" Sasuke screamed. "Just tell me what you want!" he screamed.

"We want to be rid of this fucking monster, once and for all."

Naruto's eyes shot between the two, his fear palpable. "Wait.." he breathed. "I- I'll leave the village" he said quickly. "I'll leave and I won't come back."

The man paused to consider his offer. "Hmmm.." he rubbed his chin. "An interesting idea." He glanced over to the door. "Let's see how our guest feels about it."

Sasuke's eyes shot over to Naruto. "Guest..?"

They could hear a new set of footsteps approaching. The two looked over at the door, terrified of what they'd find.

It was worse than they thought.

"Hello again.. Naruto."

A small fearful sound slipped from the blonde's lips. He could feel his hands trembling and quickly balled them into fists to hide it.

No.. he can't be here.

He can't be.

"Ahhh, welcome" the villager stepped towards their guest, a smile stretching taut across his face,

".. Orochimaru."