Disclaimers: Naruto is not mine, sadly. This is purely a fanfic using someone else's characters.

Warnings: This story includes strong language, violence, sexual assault, torture, sexual content (yaoi), & angst.

It's All In Your Head

Chapter 71: Capture

--

"I.. I don't understand. What are you-"

Naruto barely got the words out before something in the air shifted before him. It became more distorted in a way that he very quickly recognized, but by then it was already too late. Not that he stood a chance against it either way- he wasn't sure there even was a way to stop Obito's Kamui.

Naruto managed half a step back before he was suddenly yanked towards the portal. His mouth flew open, but his horrified scream snagged in his throat and refused to break free. He looked to Kakashi as he struggled against its insistent pull, and saw him staring blankly back. He didn't seem surprised by any of this. Almost as if.. as if.. he planned this.

Fuck, then- Sasuke!

The Uchiha saw huge blue eyes dart over to him, a flicker of fear just beneath the surface as his mind reached out for him, and then.. nothing. That was it. Just a wisp of a thought, and then he was gone.

Again.

No.. No, no- "No!"

Sasuke screamed as he ran to the distortion his blonde had disappeared into, but it was different from the last time this happened to him. It didn't close as he reached out, desperate to get Naruto back. He didn't fall through empty space and stare into the nothingness that was left, wondering where Obito took him. No- this time the Akatsuki leader was intent on having Sasuke join him.

He could feel the swirling void drawing him in, taking him to who knows where, but he didn't fight it. Naruto was in there, and he refused to leave him behind. A sharp gasp still slipped past him, despite his steel resolve, as he was violently torn away from the clearing and the watchful gaze of the men who had so easily captured them. And then he was falling- straight into whatever madness the Uchiha's sharingan had in store for him.

For both of them.

--

"It's pretty hard to believe I'm doing the right thing when they react like that.." Kakashi said quietly, taking a step closer to the portal both of his former students had been pulled into.

Obito could feel him move to his side and was tempted to reach out for him, but something stopped him. The heaviness in Kakashi's voice, the pain he struggled to hide.. to bear- he knew he was the cause of all of it. He wanted Kakashi to be comforted, but he was just too ashamed to do it himself.

Obito didn't want to admit to the mistakes that he had made, didn't want to see the resentment that was bound to be there when he gazed into his eyes, but he knew he couldn't avoid it. There was no point. They both knew why this was all happening now. And why Sasuke and Naruto responded the way they did.

"They wouldn't question your loyalty if it wasn't for me.." Obito murmured, the truth of it as sharp and unforgiving as a severed blade.

He finally found the nerve to gaze over at his forlorn silver fox, and instantly regretted it. He felt sick with guilt, and irritated by the sudden unwanted weakness it left him with. But he was trying to turn over a new leaf, so to speak, and part of that process was learning to be honest- with Kakashi and with himself.

"I'm the cause of all of this, Kashi" he forced himself to say. "It's my fault- all of it. It's my fault…"

Kakashi pulled himself from his own worries and went to relieve the dejected brunette of his instead. He stepped in front of him, blocking his view of the ominous portal swirling before them, and gently cupped his cheek. He was glad that he had managed to convince Obito to ditch the mask, but he hated the way he flinched everytime he touched his face, everytime his fingers grazed his scars. Kakashi's love for him had not changed. His adoration and attraction was still just as relentless as it had been fifteen years ago, but Obito couldn't help but doubt it. And it bothered Kakashi, immensely.

He did see the scars, of course he did- it would be foolish to pretend otherwise- but it truly didn't bother him. Battle scars were part of their line of work, he was used to seeing them- on himself and others. And he was used to looking past them. It wasn't like he was intentionally trying to ignore them, he just didn't focus on them when he looked at Obito. He could still see so much of the kid he fell for and the adult he started to build a life with. His shaggy chestnut hair was still smooth to the touch, his eyes still held so much innocence, his lips were still full and tempting, and he still felt an inexplicable need to taste the freckles sprinkled across his cheek. His Tobi had faced a lot of pain, and it showed, but he was still beautiful. And Kakashi wished he saw it the way he did.

At the very least, he wished he stopped trying to hide it. That he wouldn't look so scared every time Kakashi's gaze found his face. That his little Tobi would stop expecting his rejection- because it just wasn't going to happen.

The love of his life was back, and Kakashi was willing to do whatever it took to keep him. He thought that he had already proven that with the sacrifices he's made since his return and yet the doubt, the insecurities- they all remained. Just the thought that he would willingly walk away from this was absolutely absurd to Kakashi- he needed Obito to see that.

"Don't, Tobi" he murmured. "Don't do that to yourself. We have all made mistakes- I won't blame you for mine."

The brunette averted his gaze. He still didn't feel like he deserved the love he saw in Kakashi's eyes, and sometimes it was just too much to bear. "But you should.." he murmured. "I.. I don't deserve-"

"Don't do that either" Kakashi said firmly. "Don't put me on a pedestal. I haven't earned it."

He leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on his boyfriend's slightly parted lips. He pulled back just enough to see his eyes once more, eyes so much like his own. Partially the same, in fact, he thought wryly.

"Tobi, you deserve to be loved. And I do- more than you could know. Please don't doubt that."

The brunette swallowed hard.

His Kashi hadn't been like this before. He didn't used to be so.. forward with all of this. He was handsy, and often insatiable, but Obito was always the one who put words to it. Kashi used to be more guarded with his. He had a habit of keeping his emotions locked up tight and kept his heart close to the vest, unwilling to let it stray much further. It had been painful at times- struggling to get Kakashi to talk about their relationship, their feelings, their future. And now he was so open about it, so unabashed with his truths- it made Obito's head spin.

"You weren't like this before."

Kakashi wrapped his arms around his waist and held him close, his eyes never leaving his face. "Fifteen years is a long time" he said quietly. "I spent a lot of it thinking about my feelings for you."

Obito forced down the guilt that suddenly surged through him. More suffering that I caused. It seems to be endless.. especially when it comes to him.

He didn't like thinking it, but he knew it was true. How could it not be? He disappeared, presumed dead, for fifteen years and then just showed up- a villain and a threat in place of the silly Uchiha kid he used to be. Getting used to new Kakashi was difficult- he couldn't imagine the burden his new persona was on him too.

"And you had fifteen years to let those feelings fade" Obito said, still struggling to meet his gaze. "I know that all of this is fresh and new right now, Kashi, but you shouldn't throw away your life for me. And I don't know that it's such a good idea that you ask them to do the same."

Kakashi's eyes hardened.

"It's too late to push me away." His hold on him tightened, his fingertips digging against the brunette's hip- hard enough to leave a mark.

Obito refused to flinch, but that didn't mean it was painless. Just that Kakashi didn't know if wasn't.

"I refuse to lose you again" he said, his tone as firm and unwavering as his hands.

Obito swallowed. "What if they-"

"Trust me, Tobi." Kakashi forced his temper to cool, his fingers to loosen- though he wasn't ready to relinquish his hold on him just yet. "It won't take them long to realize that this is also for their sake."

Obito nodded, but it was obvious that he wasn't convinced. And whether his silver fox realized it or not, that same uncertainty flashed in his eyes too.

--

Sasuke dropped heavily to his knees and groaned at the jarring impact. His eyes shot open fast, desperate to find Naruto, but he didn't have to look far. He was directly in front of him, also on his knees and just as surprised.

"Naruto, hey- are you ok?"

The blonde nodded, but he still wasn't happy with him and refused to meet his concerned gaze.

Sasuke clenched his jaw tight, but kept his frustrations to himself. Instead, he focused on the space around them. The portal had sent them to some bizarre place made up of dark grey slabs and equally dismal walls. It was stifling, and that was the least of their problems. He tried to activate his sharingan but it, along with the rest of his chakra, was completely out of reach.

Sasuke tried not to panic, but it didn't stop his heart from slamming violently against his chest at the realization. They were trapped, and any means of escape had been taken from him. Naruto seemed well aware of this, which he supposed wasn't all that surprising considering he had been here only a few weeks ago.

"How do we get out of here..?" he wondered, already knowing it was useless to ask but hoping that Naruto would prove him wrong.

"You don't."

Sasuke whipped his head around to find Kakashi and his scarred accomplice calmly walking towards them. He wanted to trust him, but he couldn't ignore the anger burning in his gut, scathing and insistent. This wasn't like him, and he couldn't help but wonder if Obito had gotten to him. If Kakashi's loyalty had been swayed. If he should be protecting Naruto from the man he saw as a father figure..

The idea should be an absurd one, but he wasn't taking any chances.

Sasuke rose to his feet and stepped in front of Naruto, blocking their access to him. "What is this?" he snapped. "What are we doing here?"

A softness filled those familiar mismatched eyes, but it wasn't enough to cool the Uchiha's temper. "You don't need to protect him, Sasuke. Not from me."

It was as if their minds had been connected instead- though Kakashi was always able to read him, so he wasn't exactly surprised that he knew where his thoughts had gone to. The words were gentle, matching the sincerity in his gaze, but Sasuke wasn't buying it. Something about this was.. off.

He didn't like it.

He could hear Naruto rising to his feet behind him, and was tempted to force him to stay there, but he wasn't sure he'd listen to him. Not after how badly he had fucked up earlier. So, he didn't stop his blonde, but he was surprised when he joined him to face off against their possible opponents- side by side.

"Then why are we here?" Naruto asked, his confusion barely masking the pain that pulsed beneath it.

He was hurt. By all of it. Sasuke's outburst was still fresh in his mind, but the pain of Kakashi's abandonment was far stronger. He was the one person Naruto could always count on, and his sudden disappearance had taken that from him. He wanted to understand, to give him the benefit of the doubt, but doubt seemed to be all that he had left. Especially after this.

Kakashi could see it clearly, and it sent a sharp pang through his chest. "Naruto, I'm sorry. I.. never meant to hurt you."

"It's a little late for that" he choked. "You left, Kakashi. Without a word- you just fucking left. After everything.. knowing what happened when Sasuke-"

The raven flinched.

Naruto ignored it.

"How could you do that to me..?"

His sensei swallowed back his guilt and shame as he stepped closer. "I know" he said softly. "And I hope you can forgive me for it. I just-"

He glanced over at his quiet brunette before finding Naruto's accusatory stare once more.

"I couldn't let them hurt him."

Naruto dropped his gaze. That he could understand. He had had the same fear when they brought Sasuke back to Konoha, and Sasuke's crimes were no where near as significant as Obito's. Sasuke would have faced torment if he hadn't intervened, but Obito would undoubtedly been killed if he had been captured.

Naruto knew what it was like to love a Uchiha that the others were so eager to villianize. He would have done anything to keep Sasuke safe from that cruel fate.

Anything.

"I.. I just wish that you.."

That he what? Returned anyways? Turned his back on his person for my sake? What am I supposed to say to that? Am I really going to be this petty? This selfish?

Dark eyes flashed with anger. That doesn't make you selfish, Naruto. You didn't deserve to be abandoned like that. Not again.

It hurt to admit his faults, but Sasuke couldn't avoid it. Not at Naruto's expense. Not when he was so quick to lash out at himself for the mistakes other people have made.

Kakashi read the pained look in Naruto's eyes just as easily as he had the fierce protectiveness in Sasuke's. It was difficult to stomach, but it wasn't undeserved. He stepped closer and reached out for the blonde, firmly grasping his shoulder and pulling his attention back to him. "Naruto, I was always going to come back to you."

The blonde shook his head. "We came to you- not the other way around."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed on the hand on his blonde. He went to remove it, but Kakashi stopped him.

"I know you two aren't too happy with me right now, but this isn't the place to talk about it."

He glanced over his shoulder and murmured his partners name, which was all the convincing it took. Obito nodded and the four of them were suddenly shot out of his world of illusions and back into reality.

Naruto knew they eventually would be, but it still caught him off guard. So, when he jolted forward and suddenly flew out of the portal and across a room, he didn't catch himself in time. He dropped heavily to an apathetic floor- face first. "Nnnn.. dammit" he gasped, slowly pushing himself up onto all fours.

A thud and low groan next to him told him Sasuke didn't fare any better. Their eyes met momentarily but Naruto turned away from him, still unwilling to forgive and forget. He could feel his boyfriend's remorseful thoughts pressing into his mind, but he forced them back.

He could only handle one fuck-up at a time, and Kakashi's had his full attention.

Naruto unsteadily got to his feet, still feeling light-headed from the shift out of Obito's illusion. He stumbled back a step, but a hand grabbed hold of his arm to keep him from falling. He met Sasuke's dark searching gaze once more, and again was quick to turn away from it. He wrenched his arm free and stepped away from him, trying not to think about the pained look on his boyfriend's face as he did so.

You're the one who fucked up, he thought. Why should I feel sorry for you?

Obsidian eyes hardened. I didn't ask you to feel sorry for me, he all but snarled.

Sure..

Naruto could feel him try to push more thoughts into his mind, but he blocked him out again as he turned his focus back to the other asshole in the room. "Where are we?"

Sasuke tore his eyes away from the distant blonde as he addressed their apparent captors, and instead turned to take in their new surroundings. It looked.. familiar.

Too familiar.

In fact, it looked a lot like the hideout that Itachi had kept Naruto in- a detail he hoped his blonde wouldn't notice, though that seemed pretty unlikely.

The four of them stood in the living room of a small, abandoned cabin. The open space was made up of a few aged bits of furniture- a nearly threadbare couch, a rickety looking end table with one small lamp, and a roughly constructed dresser tucked in the corner. He could see the kitchen off to the side and a small dining area beside it. Past that was a carpeted hallway, one that likely led to a bathroom and a bedroom or two- just like the other place had.

His eyes traveled back to the blonde and while he was keeping his thoughts tightly locked away, he could see a flash in his eyes as they fell on the familiar space. Fresh jealousy coursed through Sasuke, but he kept it to himself.

The way he should have before.

"A hideout" Naruto finally answered for him. Another fucking hideout.. He gave a humorless laugh. "Are we your prisoners then?"

Kakashi looked pained by the accusation. "Prisoner? You think so low of me now?"

Naruto crossed his arms over his chest, over his heart, protecting it. "I don't know what to think."

Kakashi sighed and stepped over to the kitchen. "I'll make us some tea" he murmured. "Let's talk."

"How about you just talk now?" Naruto snapped.

But Kakashi, ever the stubborn one, continued what he set out to do and eventually Naruto gave in. He stomped over to the dining room table and dropped down in a chair, making sure everyone was very away of how displeased he was. After a moment of hesitation, Sasuke moved to do the same. Once several mugs were full, their hosts- if you could call them that- carried them over and deposited one in front of each of them before settling into the empty chairs at the other end of the small wooden table.

Naruto didn't bother with the pleasantries. He shoved his cup out of the way and dropped his arms down on the table's roughly hewn surface as he leaned forward, his eyes locked on his sensei. "Will you just tell me what's going on already?" he huffed, impatient for answers.

Kakashi seemed.. nervous- a look neither of them had ever seen on his face before. A twinge of sympathy echoed through Naruto, but he wasn't ready to show it. Not until he knew what Kakashi was up to.

The silver-haired jonin, or rather ex-jonin, dragged his hand through his hair as he tried to collect his thoughts. Obito bit his lip, feeling uncomfortable sitting at the same table as the rest of them, and his boyfriend noticed. He let his fingers fall from starlight strands and found his hand instead. He gave him a reassuring squeeze, then looked over at his student.. his son.

"I would like it if both of you.. well, if you lived out here.." he cleared his throat, "ahemm.. with us."

Sasuke had finally given in and drank deeply from his steaming mug, which he now regretted. He choked on the burning liquid as Kakashi's words crashed into him. Naruto reached over and hit his back as Sasuke coughed out a lung and nearly dropped his cup as he helped it find its way back to its saucer. Did he seriously just ask us to stay here?! he thought.

Sasuke shot an incredulous look their way. "You're kidding right?"

Both sets of mismatched eyes turned his way, but neither held any semblance of humor in them.

Sasuke barked out a dry laugh. "You're the one who told me that I would never be able to talk Naruto into abandoning the Leaf- and now that you want him to it's different? What a fucking joke.."

Obito shot to his feet, his sharingan bleeding back into darkness. "Watch your tone, Uchiha" he growled. "Kakashi is your superior."

"Uchiha" Sasuke echoed back. "Is that not what you are too, Obito? Or is that the half that already died?"

Kakashi slammed his hands down on the table and leapt to his feet, his own sharingan spinning.

"Kakashi wait-"

"Sasuke, stop-"

Obito and Naruto both pushed in front of their partners, attempting to calm the rising hostility between them, but neither were making it easy.

"You will need to start thinking before you speak, Sasuke" Kakashi said, his voice far more menacing than it had ever been with either of them. "I won't allow anyone to talk to him like that."

"Fucking traitor.."

"Call me what you want." Kakashi narrowed his eyes. "But that only applies to me."

"He didn't mean it" Naruto cut in, unable to keep his cold demeanor now that his peacemaking skills were of need. "He's just upset and-"

"Don't speak for me, Naruto" Sasuke snapped. "I have every right to talk to him like that. I don't care if he's with Kakashi- he fucking tortured you!"

"That.. that was-"

"A month ago! Why are you so quick to forgive and forget that, but not-"

Heat rushed up Naruro's neck and practically shot out of his eyes. "Are you fucking kidding me?! Is that what this is about?! Are you seriously trying to use this to get me to forgive you?"

"I'm not using anything! I'm just pointing out how quick you are to forgive every horrible thing anyone does except me!"

"So, what- I shouldn't expect more from my fucking boyfriend?"

"That's not what I'm saying."

Right.

It's not!

"You don't want me to be mad at you- then stop fucking up!" Naruto screamed, his attention now fully on the raven.

I'm trying! "You really can't see that?!"

You being nice doesn't cancel out the times that you're a prick, Naruto thought back angrily. It doesn't give you a free pass to talk to me like that!

I said I was sorry! "What else am I supposed to do?!"

"Woah- woah, wait. Are you.. did you..?"

Both boys froze. They had been so caught up in their fight that they forgot it came with an audience. Neither were sure how much of it was said out loud versus how much was a shared thought, but if they had to bet…

Kakashi's eyes flickered back and forth between the two, found his boyfriend's for a brief wide-eyed stare, then went back to them. "Did you two.. reconnect?"

Naruto paled and Sasuke looked surprisingly sheepish, which was answer enough.

Kakashi jerked his head over to study the blonde, trying to get a read on him. "Naruto- did you want this to happen?"

"What the hell are you implying?!" Sasuke shouted.

He took an angry step forward, but Naruto threw his arm out, barricading his way. He met his sensei's eyes and decided to answer him- hoping his honesty would inspire some in return. "Yes" he admitted. "I wanted to. But now.."

Naruto bit his lip.

".. now I'm not so sure."

Sasuke clenched his jaw and averted his eyes from all of the prying ones that suddenly turned his way.

"Looks like we have some catching up to do.." Kakashi said softly.

What? Sasuke's head shot up and he turned to stare at his blonde. Naruto- you're not actually thinking about staying here, are you?

"I never said I'd stay" Naruto said quietly- hating that he was just echoing Sasuke's thoughts, though he couldn't deny that his had already been quite similar.

Obito and Kakashi exchanged a look, one that immediately made their house guests uneasy.

Naruto took an involuntary step back. His shoulder collided with Sasuke's chest, halting his retreat- and making him aware of it. He blinked. "Kakashi.."

The ex-jonin sighed and dropped back down in his seat, though it did little to calm the blonde's nerves. It didn't look like he was giving up.

It looked like he already won.

"Naruto.." Kakashi tilted his head as he looked over at the boy he thought of as a son. Someone he didn't want to cause pain or fear for.. though he had a feeling his next words would inspire both.

Kakashi gave another heavy sigh and found those widening blues.

"I never said I was giving you a choice."

Author Note:

"What the fuck, Cinnamon?! It's chapter 71- how are you not done with the angst?!"

~*Angry neighing*

"No, you're right. I didn't mean a word of it. Please~ do what you do best." ;)