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 33: React

--

Naruto sat on the forest floor, leaning back against a log and glaring at the fire crackling at his feet. He was half tempted to throw himself in it.

He had tried to escape, but without any chakra or Kyuubi he didn't make it very far. As soon as Itachi had put him down, he took off running. He had tried not to think about his tortured feet, but after a while he couldn't ignore it. Pain shot up from his torn soles and his legs gave out. He collapsed and Itachi simply threw him over his shoulder and brought him back.

Naruto was surprised at first that he didn't even bother to tie him up, but after that impressive display it made sense. Tied up or not- he wasn't going anywhere.

"Where are you taking me?" Naruto asked quietly, anger and fear and exhaustion making his words sharp.

Itachi glanced over at him, then turned back to stare at the stack of dry wood, searing and cracking under the heat of the ruthless flames. "Somewhere safe."

"You really expect me to believe that?"

"Do I have a reason to lie to you?"

Naruto shook his head, confused. "But- you're after the Nine Tails. You said it yourself!"

"I was."

"And now?"

Ignoring the question, Itachi silently rose to his feet and walked over to the nervous blonde.

"Stop!" Naruto snapped. "Don't come near me!"

Itachi could see past his posturing. He was clearly terrified, and he could see why. He was vulnerable, utterly defenseless, and he was with the feared Itachi Uchiha- the man who murdered his own clan. The man who had started his hunt for the Nine Tails jinchurki many years ago, who had aimed to hurt Sasuke for its power.

He had every right to fear him.

He may even be right to do so.

Itachi dropped down before the blonde and grabbed his jaw, forcing him to look back at him. "Are you afraid, Naruto?"

He flinched, then hardened his eyes- clearly wanting to compensate for his display of weakness. He gritted his teeth together as he glared back at the raven. "What reason do I have to be afraid if I'm going somewhere safe?"

Itachi studied the blonde, watching closely as his anger faded to discomfort, and worry began to claw at his face and seep into his gaze. "Hmm."

Fearful of how close Itachi was, and how he had yet to release his hold on his face, Naruto tried to pull back. He dug his wrist against the Uchiha's arm, avoiding his hand as he tried to wrench him away, but Itachi's grip held strong. "Let.. nnnn.. go!"

"I am curious to know more about you, Naruto."

"Don't bother" Naruto snapped, still shoving against the steel bar that seemed to be Itachi's arm. "You and your Akatsuki buddies will just kill me anyways. Don't waste your time acting like you care."

Itachi tilted his head slightly, eyeing the blonde like a scientist with his latest discovery- observing and handling with such care before dissecting it to see how it works. "When did I ever say that I care?" he said flatly. "I am merely curious about you, jinchurki."

Deep crimson slowly bled into his eyes- eyes that never left Naruto's face.

"Very curious."

--

Sasuke stormed back into his room and slammed the door hard. He needed something. Anything. Just something to go off of to find Naruto, to figure out where the Akatsuki were hiding this time. Over the years he had located several of their bases and had planned multiple attacks to test their strength and to lure Itachi out, but his brother seemed determined to avoid him. Clearly that was a ploy. He wanted to mess with his head, wait for his guard to be down.

He was just waiting for the chance to show me I'm still not good enough.

And he fucking did.

Sasuke grabbed his lamp and ripped it from the wall before slamming it down to the floor. "Fuck!!" He grabbed everything that wasn't nailed down and destroyed it, and when that wasn't enough he made more.

"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Sasuke conjured up shadow clone after shadow cloned and cut through every last one. His long blade gleamed in the faint light from the bathroom, reflecting in his blood-red eyes. They narrowed in on the few survivors and made short use of them, but it did little to cool his anger.

He spun around, looking for something else to take his anger out on, then suddenly stopped, his eyes locked on the bed. Where he had pinned Naruto down. Where the person he cared about most was forced to face his worst nightmare.

It wasn't you, he tried to remind his guilt and shame. It was-

His eyes flashed. Orochimaru.

He tried to force me to hurt Naruto. He taunted him and used my fucking body to make him feel afraid.

His grip on the long sword tightened.

I didn't see Itachi coming because Orochimaru was controlling me. If he hadn't interfered, I would have known, I would've been prepared.

I would have been able to stop him.

"He did this to Naruto" he growled through clenched teeth, "and he'll pay for it with his life."

--

"I don't like this."

Tsunade pinched the bridge of her nose, attempting to ease the tension building in her skull. It was easily the hundredth time that Kakashi had brought her to the point of a migraine since Naruto had left. And her patience had long since grown thin. She knew what the boy meant to him, and she could understand his concern. She didn't have the kind of connection that the two of them did, but she was worried about him too. She tried to make that clear, but Kakashi practically bit her head off when she did.

"If you care then why are you doing nothing about it?" he grated out, his revealed eye flashing with anger.

Tsunade was surprised to see him like this. Usually Kakashi was so composed, almost to a fault. It was different with Naruto though. Ever since the Uchiha kid left, he has been quite protective of the blonde. She even had to reprimand him for attacking several villagers who had attempted to stir up trouble. Actually, now that she thought about it, that had happened on multiple occasions over the last few years. Though she had also noticed a change in Naruto too- he had stopped tolerating the abuse.

Probably also has something to do with his sensei.

"Kakashi, I need you to calm down. I understand that you are upset- I know how much he means to you."

"I doubt that" he snapped, another out-of-character reaction for him.

"He explained to his team that he had unfinished business in Kirigakure. You know how close he got with the bridge builder there- don't you think it's likely that he's gone to spend some time with that family?"

The distressed jonin shook his head. "That's not where he went."

"And how do you know that?"

"Because he would have reported in! He would have told me if he was going to extend the mission."

Tsunade studied him, pondering over his concerns. If it was anyone else, she would have dismissed it as paranoia and sent him on his way. But Kakashi wasn't one to panic like this. If he said something was wrong, then something was wrong.

"Where would he go then?" she asked. "And why would he lie about it?"

She could see the man tense and prepared herself for the worse.

"I think he went after Sasuke."

Light chestnut eyes widened. "What makes you think that? How would he even know where to look?"

"He's been looking into Orochimaru lately" he said, noting the mix of emotions flickering in the Hokage's eyes. "I think he lured him out. Orochimaru wouldn't miss the opportunity to capture the host of the Nine Tails, especially with the Akatsuki's interest in him."

"What does that snake have to do with any of this?" she snarled.

"I think he is the one training Sasuke." He saw doubt in her face and added, "Sasuke wants more power so he can go after Itachi. And Orochimaru has had his sights set on getting a young shinobi from this village for a long time. A desperate one would be quick to make a deal with him, and I think you are well aware what he would want in return."

Another vessel.

"You want to go after him" she stated.

Kakashi nodded. "I'm going, one way or another, but I'd prefer to do it with your blessing."

The Hokage pinched the bridge of her nose again, trying not to focus on her throbbing temple. "I suppose I don't really have a choice then.." She looked up. "Assemble a team. A good one. Your directive is to retrieve Naruto. If you are able to bring Sasuke back, you have my permission. But if he resists, you will leave him behind."

Kakashi had no intention of doing that, especially since he knew it would be difficult to get Naruto to come back without him, but he would keep that to himself for now. "Understood."

He moved to leave her office when Tsunade called out to him, halting his retreat. "Oh, and Kakashi."

"Hm?"

"Good luck."

The jonin glanced over his shoulder, meeting her eyes once more. "With a competent enough team, I won't need luck."