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 32: Stop

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Naruto's eyes widened as reality slammed into him. "Itachi..?" he breathed. "Wh-what are you doing here?"

The eldest Uchiha raised an eyebrow at the blonde, his crimson gaze slipping from his mused hair to his exposed chest before landing on the thick bandages wrapped around his hands and feet. Naruto quickly jerked his shirt back down wincing at the pain in his hands.

Itachi's brow rose higher.

"I could ask you the same question" he said, his voice cold and unfeeling, despite the curiosity still shining behind his fearsome sharingan.

Naruto pushed himself up on his elbows and looked over to where Sasuke had landed. He was starting to stir, and Naruto had yet to know if that was a good thing or not. He looked over at the other Uchiha and noticed that his eyes had narrowed in on his brother.

No. He can't do this.

I have to stop him.

Naruto dragged himself back fast, ignoring the pain in his feet as he shoved off against the ground. "Wa-wait!" he cried. He threw his arms out, hoping to stave off any possible threat to Sasuke. "Please, don't hurt him!"

Itachi eyed him closely, reading the blonde so thoroughly it made him shiver. "You would still protect him. After what I just saw."

Naruto flinched, shame reddening his cheeks. "That- that wasn't him. Orochimaru was controlling him." He could see the disbelief in his eyes, and something else.

He's angry. But at who..?

Itachi's expression went blank once more. "It doesn't matter."

He took another step towards him, and Naruto dragged himself back, his arm still out to bar his way. "Why are you here?!" he screamed. "What do you want from him?!"

Itachi stepped closer and when Naruto tried to scramble back, he stepped onto his chain, locking him in place. He took a knee before him and grasped his chin, forcing their eyes to meet. "And who ever said I was here for him?"

Naruto paled, but he didn't know what to say, what to do. I have no chakra, no Kyuubi, I can't use my hands and feet, and I'm still fucking chained to Sasuke's bed.

What the hell am I supposed to do..?

He looked down at the chain fastened to his ankle and Itachi did the same. Eyeing his metal restraint, he bit down on his thumb, hard- drawing blood. Without a word of explanation, Itachi dragged it across the shackle and chain imprisoning Naruto and muttered an incantation under his breath. A bright blue glow flared to life and dispersed around them.

"How did you.."

"My little brother still has a lot to learn."

He grabbed the blonde and tore a kunai free. Naruto brought his arm up to shield himself, but he didn't need to. Itachi sliced through the chain but left the shackle around his ankle. Freeing him.

In a way.

While still leaving him chakra-less.

The Uchiha eyed his bloodied bandages, then shoved his kunai back into his sleeve and scooped the blonde into his arms before rising to his feet.

"Wh-what the fuck are you doing?!" Naruto shrieked, horrified to be helpless in another man's arms. He threw his forearm against his chest, a pitiful attempt to force him back. "Let me go!"

"Sasuke."

That voice stabbed through the younger Uchiha, tearing through his chest and flooding his mind with every horrid memory from his past. His eyes slammed open, sharingan spinning. He leapt to his feet but stumbled back and had to brace himself against the wall. "Itachi" he growled, "you-"

Every thought, every threat, disintegrated on the tip of his tongue, leaving his mouth tasting like ash. Naruto..

The blonde was struggling in his brother's arms, trying to break free. The chain was gone, meaning.. meaning he can take him.

"Let him go, Itachi."

The older raven gave him an indiscernible look. "You should take better care of your things, little brother."

Something jagged and pained flashed in Sasuke's dark eyes, and straight through Naruto's heart. Sasuke, it wasn't you. Orochimaru was controlling you.

That doesn't change what I did.. what I would have done if Itachi hadn't.. He swallowed.

Sasuke, don't. That's not-

"I see.." Itachi looked between the two, eyes widening with understanding. "So, the two of you are still connected."

A rush of chakra flooded through Sasuke's body, down his arm, and flickered to life in his hands, morphing into something electric and dangerous. "Enough. Release him, Itachi."

"You can come for him when you've taken care of the mess you've made" Itachi said smoothly. "Kill Orochimaru and then you might be ready to face me." He glanced down at the struggling blonde in his arms. "And to reclaim him."

"What the fuck are you talking about?!" Naruto screamed.

"I wouldn't take too long if I were you" Itachi added, a spark flickering to life in his cold hollow gaze. "I might not be able to resist him either."

Blue eyes filled with new horror. "No.. no! Let go!"

Sasuke rushed towards them, screaming as he threw his arm up towards his target, his shadow clone racing up from the side to tear Naruto from his brother's arm. He could feel his shadow clone reach out, his fingertips brushing against soft hair as Sasuke sent a mass of chakra at Itachi. Naruto fell forward and the real Sasuke dropped down to catch him. He fell against his chest and erupted into a swarm of crows, their cries deafening in the small room. They rose up fast and slammed into the ceiling. Their bodies burst on impact and ash rained back down, like black lifeless tears.

Sasuke looked down at his empty arms then around the empty room. No.. I can't lose him..

I can't. He got to his feet and rushed through his door, scanning the halls for any sign of them. Naruto? Naruto! Can you hear me?! Tell me where you are!

Nothing.

Sasuke searched the hideout and the grounds, but there was no trace of them. His brother had disappeared, and Naruto with him. And he had no idea where he took him.

He thought about the Naruto that had fallen into his arms, the one who had burst into an angry murder of crows before becoming nothing at all. Itachi's fucking illusions.

He could have taken Naruto sooner and just used an illusion to distract me. And I didn't see through any of it.

He took him.

He fucking took him.

Sasuke forced back angry tears, letting them fall down his throat and settle in his gut with his sharp remorse and the heat of his shame.

I abandoned Naruto for nothing.

I still couldn't save him.

I still couldn't stop Itachi.

An image of Naruto slammed into his mind- terrified blue eyes looking up at him, screaming for him to snap out of it, while Sasuke's fist tightened in his hair and his fingers slipped under his clothes.

Fuck, he thought.

I couldn't even stop myself.