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), self-harm, & angst.

It's All In Your Head

Chapter 92: Press

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Sasuke came to a sudden halt, and everyone else immediately stopped with him. They noticed his blood-red eyes widen, watched as he stumbled forward- his hand outstretched and trembling- and knew that he had found something. They waited for him to comment on it, but Sasuke was silent in his discovery. And he stayed that way.

Sai turned to Kakashi and Obito instead, an expectant look on his face. The two activated their shared sharingans, and stepped forward.

Kakashi's mismatched eyes grew wide, full of that same shock that Sasuke's showed. "A barrier.."

Sai started at that. He took a fast step towards the ex-jonin. "You see one?"

Kakashi nodded, but Obito was the one who spoke. "Yes. It's not obvious at first glance, but there is definitely a barrier here."

Sai turned back to Sasuke as he moved closer to what had to be Naruto's latest prison. "Do you think it works the same way the last one did?" he wondered aloud.

When Sasuke didn't respond, Kakashi answered for him. "I doubt it." His eyes traveled over to the Uchiha, knowing he must have had the same thought. "But I suppose there's only one way to find out."

Sasuke needed no invitation. He already had his kunai out, his palm raised. The last barrier Itachi had encased his traumatized blonde behind required Uchiha blood to enter it- Itachi's way of ensuring that Sasuke would be the one to go in. He wanted his little brother to kill him, for the pain and confusion that came with the violent act and the knowledge of what really happened to their clan- a way for him to later activate the Mangekyou. But Sasuke has it now.

Itachi's goals were definitely not the same as they once were.

Even knowing that, Sasuke had to be sure. If there was any chance that his blood would be enough to grant him access, that he would be able to get to Naruto that way, he was more than willing to give it.

Sasuke wordlessly sliced the knife across his palm and placed it against the quivering air before him. Please, he thought with every fiber of his being, please let this work.

But of course it was too good to be true.

Itachi had different plans for Naruto, and this time he was intent on keeping Sasuke out of it.

Sasuke stared at the barrier, frustrated by his failure. He let his hand fall back to his side, leaving behind a smear of his blood to float before them. He grated his teeth together, forcing back fresh anger as the group collectively sighed behind him.

Sai considered the clearing before them, wondering over it, then suddenly turned to the other Uchiha. "Obito, do you have any ideas on how to break through the barrier?"

Sasuke spun around fast, his manic crimson eyes immediately seeking out the brunette. "Do you know something?!"

Sai held out a hand, hoping to calm Sasuke's rage. "I'm not saying he does, Sasuke. Only that he has experience with the Uchihas." He paused then quietly added, "and the Kyuubi."

He wasn't trying to set him off, but it was an undeniable truth. Obito knew how to control and imprison the fox demon, meaning he might know how to best keep Naruto sealed away. It made sense, and was exactly why Sasuke latched onto it.

The raven suddenly shifted out of view and instantly reappeared in front of the brunette. He made to grab him, but Kakashi stepped between them- making sure he couldn't.

"Let him answer, Sasuke" he said firmly.

"Then fucking do it!"

Kakashi narrowed his eyes, clearly prepared to say more, but Obito placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder to stop him. He didn't need his partner to start anything for him. He had never been that weak.

"Kakashi, enough."

He stepped away from his person and locked eyes with Sasuke. "I'm sorry, Sasuke. I don't recognize this kind of barrier."

"Then. Fucking. Guess." he growled between clenched teeth.

Obito didn't take offense to it. Instead he looked around the small clearing, considering the accessible space around them. "He may have put up wards or seals of some sort. If we can find and remove them that would give us access to the barrier. It may even take it down altogether."

The team decided that was their best bet and immediately leapt into action. They scoured through the clearing, checking every bush, boulder, and tree, but so far had come up empty-handed. It was disheartening, to say the least. And while they desperately searched for answers, Sasuke called out to Naruto through their mental connection, listening carefully for his thoughts. And was terrified when he heard nothing.

Maybe he's on the other side of the barrier, he thought. Maybe he's just far enough away that he can't hear me.

He wanted it to be true, but there was another possibility- one that seemed far more likely. Maybe he's in one of Itachi's Mangekyou illusions, and Itachi is purposely keeping me out.

He didn't want to think it, but he couldn't shake the feeling that that was exactly what was happening.

God, Naruto… what is he doing to you..

The team met back up after a while, their failure abundantly apparent in their downtrodden expressions, their hollow eyes.

"Does anyone have any other ideas?"

They didn't, and that made it far worse.

Sai pondered their situation a moment longer before speaking. "Kakashi, you had him in a barrier before didn't you?"

The man flinched, but he couldn't deny that it was true. And after a quiet pause he admitted as much.

Sai nodded, still deep in thought. "So how did Naruto break free of it?"

Sasuke's heart leapt in his chest. "He was channeling power into it at the same time that Kabuto was. When he was pretending to be you."

Sai thought on that. "Well.." he said slowly, searching for the right words, "we can't do that from inside the barrier but maybe the combination between all of our chakras will have the same effect."

The four exchanged a look and immediately channeled as much chakra as they could into their hands.

Kakashi turned to the team. "Ready?"

They nodded, threw their hands out, and forced their combined energies into the same point on the barrier. Sasuke clenched his jaw hard, wanting so bad for it to work, but he could see that it was having no effect on the thing. Whatever power Itachi used on it, it was immense. And far outdid what they could do between the four of them.

Sasuke gripped his hair hard and screamed in his frustration, a cry that pierced through the air and sent crows flying.

"Goddamnit!! What the hell are we supposed to do?! Naruto is in there with that fucking monster and we are doing nothing!"

Sai gently placed a hand on the Uchiha's shoulder having seen Obito do the same for Kakashi, hoping that it would have a similar calming effect. It didn't. Sasuke just shoved his hand away and instead paced in front of the barrier, anger pulsing through his entire being.

Naruto. Naruto, please answer. Please, please, answer.

But there was nothing.

At first.

And then whatever void Naruto had been pulled into was suddenly lifted and Sasuke could see him in his head, clear as glass. It was so real it was like he was right in front of him. He wished he was. Especially when he realized that his blonde was lying on the floor, and that Itachi was lying there with him.

Sasuke froze midstep, his stomach tight as he watched everything unfold. He heard Naruto tell himself that he had to do whatever it took to stop Itachi, heard his guilt as he thought about him and whether or not Sasuke would forgive him for what he had to do.

Sasuke immediately tried to get through to him, to call out to him in his thoughts, but for some reason Naruto just couldn't hear him. He wasn't sure if Itachi was still interfering with their connection or if Naruto was so far gone that he didn't believe it was real. Whatever the reason, it was clear that he couldn't hear him, and it was driving Sasuke towards his breaking point.

Fuck, what the hell am I supposed to do?! How do I get through to him?

Naruto! Naruto- I'm right here! Please, just say something!

He saw his blonde kiss Itachi in his head, saw Itachi respond to it, and was revolted by the sight of it. His anger flared, but then he realized Naruto's true intent.

He's trying to distract him.

And it didn't take long for him to see why.

Naruto pulled something out from under his pillow, something jagged that tore at his own hand. Sasuke was still trying to make sense of what he was holding when Naruto suddenly rammed it deep into Itachi's eye. He watched Naruto shove past him and escape, watched as he ran out of the room and locked himself in the bathroom.

Sasuke tried to call out to him again, but Naruto still wasn't answering. It didn't seem like he was hearing him at all. So all he could do was just stand there and watch the rest of it through Naruto's eyes, through his mind.

He saw his panic in the bathroom, saw him resort to punching the mirror, and his horror grew when he heard his thoughts.

All the blood drained from Sasuke's face.

He's.. he's going to use it on himself.

No.

No, no, NO! Naruto please! Please don't- you don't have to do this!

But still, he didn't hear a word of it.

Sasuke.. I'm sorry.

Sasuke flinched, knowing what the love of his life meant to do- what he was apologizing for.

Naruto, please. Please, don't do this! I'm here, Naru. I'm right here!

Naruto's voice cut through his panic, words that instantly silenced him.

I love you.

Dark eyes widened as Naruto uttered those words- words that Sasuke had so callously discouraged all those years ago. Words he had been so reluctant to hear, knowing he had voiced them just before he abandoned Naruto, terrified that his blonde would do the same thing.

And now it looked like he was right to be afraid.

Naruto meant them, he could see that, but he was also saying goodbye.

When he dragged the shard of glass across his throat Sasuke screamed, over and over and the group grabbed him, pleading with him to tell them what he saw, to explain what was happening. But just like Naruto, he couldn't hear it. All he could hear were his own screams as blood gushed out of the gaping wound. Itachi rushed over to Naruto, alarmed and distracted enough for his control to slip.

And finally Sasuke's screams got through to him.

Sasuke..?

His voice sounded so weak.

It terrified him.

Naruto! Naruto, can you hear me??

Is this.. real..? Naruto thought, his voice steadily fading.

Sasuke slammed his fists into the barrier over and over as his love collapsed, as blood pooled down his chest and over the bathroom floor. He sensed Itachi pressing down on the wound to staunch off the bleeding, but it kept slipping between his fingers.

And Naruto's life with it.

Sasuke screamed in terror as bile surged from his gut, crawling up the back of his throat. He bent over, his bloodied palm pressed firmly against the barrier as he grabbed at the ache in his chest. He slipped and his hand brushed against his pocket; he felt something solid inside of it. Sasuke reached in and pulled out whatever it was, holding it tight in the palm of his hand. He wasn't sure what inspired him to do so- it was just a reflex really. He glanced down and found the remote he had taken from Kabuto's lab. The one that so far has been completely useless.

But maybe not.

Sasuke straigtened fast, pressed down hard on the button, and gave a command- desperate enough to try anything at this point.

"Take down the barrier."

He could sense Naruto's consciousness and his life slipping away, but there was just enough left for Sasuke to see Itachi through his eyes. He saw him move his hands fast as he performed a jutsu neither of them recognized.

Sasuke pulled himself away from what Naruto saw and looked back over at the barrier. He inhaled sharply, shocked to see that the thing was slowly starting to fall apart before his very eyes. He thought he was imagining it at first, but then he heard the three behind him pointing out the exact same thing.

"Holy shit" he breathed. "It actually worked."

He looked down at the remote still clenched tight in his hand.

Kabuto must have used this to control Itachi when he used his experiments to bring him back..

Sasuke quickly pocketed the device, assuming that it would prove to be useful in the near future. Then without waiting for the rest he leapt inside the barrier, just barely clearing the top that towered high above them.

Hang on, Naruto. I'm almost there.

Please, just hang on.

At first he heard nothing, and it sent sharp panic rushing through him. When Naruto's voice finally came through it didn't make him feel any better.

Forgive me.. 'ske..

Then there was only darkness.

"Naruto!"

Sasuke slammed his way into the cabin and bolted to the bathroom. He came to a screeching halt as soon as he stepped inside, and his legs almost gave out when he saw him. Naruto was so pale, covered in blood, and the man responsible for all of it was beside him, failing to make it any better.

Sasuke's eyes flashed with rage. "Get the fuck away from him!"

He threw his arms out in front of him and shot violent chakra out from his hands. It hit Itachi hard. He flew into the wall and then straight through it, falling in a heap of limbs in the center of the clearing.

Sasuke didn't waste another second on him. He immediately ran over to his blonde, dropping to his knees beside him. Blood was still pulsing from the wound- a lot of it. Sasuke quickly tore off his shirt and pressed it firmly against the cut, forcing the bleeding to stop as he pulled Naruto's limp body onto his lap.

"Naru, baby, please, please wake up. It's me- it's Sasuke. I'm here, I'm right here. Please-"

His voice fractured under the weight of his fear, forcing him to stop. He choked down a sob as he smoothed back Naruto's hair and finally his eyes fell to the collar around his throat. He had been so horrified by the blood he didn't even think about it.

He was relieved he finally did.

Sasuke quickly pulled a kunai out, carefully tucked it between Naruto's neck and the metal secured around it, and with an added flow of energy sliced through the collar.

It was too easy.

Itachi had to have put a chakra seal on the thing to keep Naruto from doing the exact same thing, so why..?

He looked across the blood splattered floor and saw a kunai lying among the rest of the wreckage. Then it dawned on him.

Itachi was going to free him.

He probably released the seal right before I got here, but I interrupted him before he could cut off the collar.

Sasuke brought his focus back to his blonde, waiting for Kurama to appear- for him to do the one thing Sasuke couldn't.

"Kurama" he called, growing even more desperate with each passing moment. "Naruto needs you. Please, you have to heal him!"

There was another terrifying moment where nothing happened, and Sasuke wondered if Itachi had been drugging Naruto's food again- just like he did the last time he was his captive. If the Kyuubi's powers were still buried deep inside, out of reach.

Just as he was beginning to completely panic, Sasuke felt a sudden heat under his hand. He slowly pulled his shirt back to look at the wound and saw that it was slowly closing.

Healing.

Thank fucking god.

And just as the wound completely disappeared, Naruto opened those beautiful blue eyes once more. He looked up, blinked as if he didn't believe what he was seeing, then looked up again.

"Sasuke?"

Tears slipped down Sasuke's pale face, one after the other, cascading down his jaw and falling to rest on Naruto's. "Yeah, Naru. I'm here."

His blonde gave him a weak smile- one filled with so much relief, so much pain. It broke his heart to see it.

Sasuke leaned down and pressed his forehead against Naruto's, a shaky sigh falling from his lips. There was so much he wanted to say, but he couldn't utter a single word of it. All he could do was hold him and breathe in his scent, feel his pulse under his hand, see the rise and fall of his chest- telling himself over and over that he's ok now. That he was finally safe.

Naruto leaned into Sasuke's touch and closed his eyes, half expecting that when he opened them again he'd find that none of it was real. That he was just imagining all of this. That Sasuke was still horribly out of reach and when he looked up he'd find Itachi looking back at him.

He decided to keep his eyes closed a little longer.

Just to be sure.

Author Note:

How about it, my lovely little centaurs, are you ready for more?