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 70: Breathe

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Sasuke frantically searched for Naruto all day and had yet to find him. They had discussed continuing west after the first hideout and so that was the direction he took. He figured his best bet was to head towards the nearest base and hope that Naruto was doing the same.

He berated himself along the way, frustrated that he had fucked up so bad after he had finally convinced Naruto to trust him enough to reconnect, and after a night of raw passion on top of that. His outburst had tainted it- all of it. Which was exactly what he had hoped to avoid. He didn't want to give his blonde a reason to keep his guard up, to avoid or distrust him, and that was all he did.

Naruto? Please- if you can hear me, just stop running. Let me talk to you. Let me..

Apologize?

Fix it?

Naruto had already made it perfectly clear that he wasn't interested in any of that. So what was he supposed to do?

He didn't know, but he could figure that out after he found him. First, he just had to be sure that his person hadn't just slipped away from him- again. He would find a way to piece everything together after that.

Naruto, he tried again, can you hear me?

He waited with bated breath, but there was still no answer, leaving him with no choice but to blindly continue his search and hope for the best.

God, Naruto.. where are you..

The day passed in a blur of frustration and panic, and before he knew it the sun was settling low in the sky- fresh bruises streaked across the horizon. He wouldn't be making camp tonight, but he was counting on Naruto doing so. If he did, he might be able to catch up to him.

Night crawled into place faster than he expected, and Sasuke quickened his pace with it. He leapt through trees, his sharingan scouring the ground, but there was still no sign of him. Hours passed and fatigue weighed heavy on the raven, slowing him and filling him with despair. He was on the verge of giving into it when he heard something. It was slight, barely even a whisper, but he was sure he had heard Naruto's voice in his head.

He would recognize it anywhere.

Sasuke was tempted to call out to him, but he wasn't so sure that he should. After a moment of consideration, he decided against it. He had a feeling that if Naruto heard his thoughts and realized that he was nearby he would just start running again. It wasn't worth the risk- especially when he was so close.

He refused to let his blonde slip past him again.

Sasuke continued in the same direction he was heading, hoping that it was the right call. As he moved through the pressing darkness images formed in his mind- memories that Naruto was unknowingly sharing with him. It irked him to know that they were on his mind, but he wouldn't block them out. He needed to know what he was thinking.

That was the whole point of reconnecting after all.

Solitary moments, glimps of the past, became an entire compilation of them- flashing by fast enough to make him dizzy. He breathed through it and minded his step as he focused inward, watching all of it. The memories seemed scattered, disconnected, and he wondered if Naruto might be asleep. It seemed random enough to be a dream.

Or a nightmare.

A lot of them were moments that Naruto shared with Itachi- some that seemed rather traumatic for him, and some that were.. entirely different. It was the more tender moments that really made Sasuke's heart race and his blood boil. But he kept his own thoughts locked away and continued to watch Naruto's unfold.

He saw Itachi roughly grab the back of Naruto's head and shove food down his throat, clapping a hand over his mouth to force him to swallow. Sasuke could see tears in his blonde's eyes and felt a fresh wave of anger roll through him. He didn't like seeing him treated like this by anyone, but it made it so much worse knowing his brother was the source.

The memory didn't stay for long though. Another quickly moved in to replace it.

It did little to calm his fury.

He could see the two of them standing in the kitchen, Naruto propped on the heel of his feet to avoid his tormented soles. His balance soon faltered, and those beautiful blues widened as he began to fall, but Itachi acted quickly. His hand shot out fast and grabbed hold of Naruto's arm, keeping him upright. Naruto stared at him, clearly surprised that he would bother to save him at all. That surprise grew as Itachi gently placed his hands on the counter, his touch lingering, obsidian eyes softening as they found Naruto's.

Sasuke own steps faltered at the sight of it. It made him sick with jealousy, and he had to breathe through it before he could go back to what he was doing. He forced back his thoughts, pushed off from the tree he had paused in, and took off as the memory changed once more.

This time Itachi had a firm grasp on his jaw, forcing their eyes to meet, forcing him into his Mangekyou. Naruto screamed and another memory took its place. Itachi was on top of him, pinning his wrists down on the bed, his eyes sharp as Naruto pleaded with him to let him go. It changed again, and this time Sasuke was sure it wasn't a memory but rather a projection from all the feelings rushing through him. Naruto was struggling to get through dense shrubbery, wincing as it clawed at him- thorny branches fighting to restrain him, to hold him back. He finally managed to break through and ran across a clearing to an old cabin. When he drew closer, he came to an abrupt stop- eyes wide with fear.

He knew this place.

Somehow, he had been thrown back in time and was once again Itachi's prisoner. He took a shaky step back, then another, terror building as the door slowly opened before him. His Fight or Flight instincts finally kicked in and he spun around, ready to flee before he had to face whoever was on the other side of that door. He ran hard across the clearing but had only made it about halfway before someone stepped in his path. He wasn't able to stop in time and slammed directly into them. His face collided with a firm chest, and he stumbled back. He staggered as he fought to keep his footing, but a hand reached out and grabbed him, steadying him. Naruto's eyes shot up and he found a familiar face looking down at him. "Sasuke..?"

He blinked and the face above him change. Crimson eyes gleamed down at him, and he watched as a soft smile tightened into something twisted and cruel. Naruto's breath snagged in his throat. He tried to pull away, but the hand on his arm squeezed down, forcing him to stay. He finally found his voice and breathed out his name.

"Itachi.."

Sasuke gritted his teeth together as he saw his brother in his mind, pulling Naruto close- as he grabbed a fistful of blonde hair and wrenched his head back.

Naruto gasped, closing his eyes against the sudden pain in his scalp. "St-stop!"

Sasuke froze. He heard his blonde's plea, but not in his head.

He finally found him.

Without hesitation, Sasuke dropped down into the small clearing Naruto had used to set up camp. He kept his chakra hidden as he stepped passed a doused fire and over to the tent. He could hear Naruto's cries from inside- a sound that sent a sharp pang of guilt through his chest. He knew it was his fault, and it tore at him. He hated seeing his person in pain, and he despised being the cause of it.

Sasuke held his breath as he unzipped the tent. He peered inside just as Naruto threw his head back and let out a terrified scream. Sasuke could see his nightmare in his head- Itachi throwing him down on the ground, tearing at his clothes. The face above him kept changing- from Itachi's to Sasuke's to Kabuto's to the men in the village, then back again. Over and over, and Sasuke couldn't stand it. He reached out and grabbed him, screaming for him to wake up.

Blue eyes shot open and a gasp tore from his throat as he fought to ground himself in what was real. At first he thought he was back in the nightmare- that Sasuke's face would become someone else's. He breathed a sigh of relief when it didn't, but reality soon followed and he quickly remembered why he had been avoiding him in the first place. And likely what was the root of his nightmare.

Naruto looked away as he slowly sat up, not interested in seeing the desperation in those dark eyes. He gave a heavy sigh. "What are you doing here, Sasuke?"

The Uchiha grabbed his blonde and pulled him into his arms. Naruto froze in his embrace, momentarily caught off guard. It thawed. "What are you doing?!"

"Comforting you."

"I don't want your comfort" he snapped.

Sasuke slid his hand into honey-colored locks, gently cradling his head to his chest. "Liar" he murmured.

"Stop, Sasuke! You can't- you can't just-"

"I saw" he said into his hair.

Naruto flinched.

"I hate that you're hurting, Naruto."

"Yeah, and who's fault is that!"

Now it was Sasuke's turn to flinch. "I know it's my fault. And I'm so sorry, so fucking sorry, for all of it. So please, Naru, just let me help you."

But Naruto wasn't having it.

He shoved him back hard, eyes flashing with rage. "I left to get away from you, Sasuke. Take a fucking hint!"

"Naruto, come on. Let me just talk to you!"

The blonde narrowed his eyes. "If you don't leave, I will."

He rushed out of the tent and Sasuke scrambled out after him. He grabbed hold of his wrist and spun him around to face him. "I can't lose you.." he whispered- as if afraid to shatter an illusion of hope. Like his voice alone could drive him away.

"Then fucking act like it, Sasuke! Stop- ughhh!!" He dragged his free hand through his hair, shoving back pesky strands and frustrating thoughts. "Stop being like this!!" You can't expect me to just shake it off everytime! I can only handle so much of this!

The raven swallowed. "I know. I know I keep messing up, I know it's not fair to you." He looked up and locked onto his blonde's tired eyes.

I know I don't deserve you..

"Looks like not a whole lot has changed- wouldn't you agree, Tobi?"

Naruto jumped at the sound of his voice and spun around, wide blue eyes searching the shadows. "Kakashi..?"

The brunette raised a brow at his silver fox. "How would I possibly know that?"

"Ahh- right. Sometimes I forget that you weren't there for it."

The two stepped out from the forest and into the moonlit clearing, their focus still on each other.

"That makes no sense, Kashi."

"Well, I talked to you all the time" Kakashi admitted. He lifted his headband, revealing his scarred eye.. or rather, his boyfriend's eye. "I showed my wizard eye all kinds of fun things while you were gone."

The brunette rolled his mismatched eyes. He was still getting used to this Kakashi, and his silly antics never failed to surprise him. "What in the world do I see you in?"

"Besides my striking good looks and-"

The impatient blonde stormed up to him and shoved him hard, finally drawing his attention. "What the fuck, Kakashi?!" he screamed. He took another step towards him, his rage rising. He shoved him again and the jonin let him. "How could you just bail on me like that?!"

A pained look flashed in his sensei's eyes, but Naruto wasn't about to be swayed. Him and Sasuke could both fuck off with that. He had every right to be angry, and he wasn't ready to forgive either of them.

"You abandoned me!" He swung his fist out, angry enough to pummel the guy, but Kakashi grabbed it before he could and held tight. Naruto tried to jerk his hand free, but Kakashi's grip was iron and insistent. He wasn't ready to let go.

"I'm sorry, Naruto" he said quietly. "It wasn't my intention to abandon you."

Blue eyes narrowed. "Then what was your intention" he snarled.

Kakashi glanced over at Obito. Naruto caught the look and was immediately wary of it.

They're planning something. He wasn't sure if he thought it or if Sasuke did, but they both could see it, and neither were sure what to make of it.

"To take you."

His grasp on the blonde tightened as his sharingan kicked in. The space around them shifted, distorted, as Obito joined in and activated his Kamui.

Shit. Sasuke's Mangekyou slammed into place, but he knew it wouldn't be enough to stop the Uchiha's transportation technique.

"What are you.. what do you mean take..?" Naruto breathed.

"I mean you're coming with us." Kakashi glanced at the raven and he looked up to meet his stare, crimson eyes widening at the intensity of it.

"Both of you."