Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ A Mother's Son ❯ I'll Miss You ( Chapter 20 )

He couldn't see out his left eye, due to the large amount of blood that was bleeding down that side of his face. Sasuke had a gash on his scalp, a gift from Naruto's sharp claws, and it was bleeding profusely.

The pair had torn apart the kitchen and were fighting among the rubble. Sasuke had perched himself atop the toppled refrigerator, while Naruto prowled the other side of the room, trying to figure his way past the fallen ceiling pieces. Sasuke could hear his swearing, still in that harsh demon voice that sounded so familiar but so alien as well. Sasuke figured it wouldn't take long for Naruto to decide to just blast his way through, and his theory was proven correct as the dust and metal and glass whipped past him suddenly.

Naruto tore through the cloud, his eyes blazing a fiery red. Energy crackled in his palm as he ran towards Sasuke, who had already leapt away, and was now moving along the walls of the room. Naruto matched his movement, drawing ever closer. Soon, Sasuke found himself trapped.

“Rasengan!”

The shriek tore through the air and Sasuke watched the light move towards him. He leapt to the side, feeling his body crunch against the hard wall. Naruto growled his frustration.

“Will you not fight me, Uchiha?” he cried, tearing towards him. Sasuke worked to evade him, a difficult task in such a small room.

“Naruto, stop.” Sasuke said, not for the first time. He did not see what he was saying as pleading, but as a favor to his friend. When Naruto woke up from whatever trance he was in, and saw that he had killed Sasuke, he would be crushed. So really, Sasuke was just looking out for Naruto.

“I told you, I am not Naruto. I am something much more powerful. But the boy, he is quite upset with you.” Sasuke could no longer see his opponent; he had been able to position himself behind another obstacle. He could hear the demon's ragged breathing and his raspy whisper was unmistakable.

Suddenly, there was a burst of air behind Sasuke, and he could feel Naruto's hands on his throat. Naruto's lips were right next to his ear, and Sasuke could feel his hot breath. “He would not care if I killed you now, Sharingan. Not after what you did to his woman.”

Sasuke felt his jealously swell, and did something decidedly stupid. He snorted. “Sakura doesn't belong to him.” He spat. The hand holding Sasuke clenched minutely, before pulling violently. Sasuke felt himself soar through the air, his body heading towards the window. He crashed through it, the glass and splinters tearing at his skin. He cursed himself for getting into a fight in the one room in the whole base with windows to outside. It was just asking for trouble.

Naruto came through the window after him; landing nimbly near Sasuke's shaking body. Before Sasuke could stand, Naruto grabbed his jacket and held him above his head. “You've made me very angry, Sharingan. It's about time that you learned why the Hidden Village of the Leaf, strongest in the Land of Fire, fears my power.”

The seconds ticked by quietly, until Sasuke's world was enveloped in black.

“No, no, no…” Sakura was mumbling frantically, trying to pull herself from Kakashi's arms. He ignored her, not letting go. “Sensei, please.” She whispered. He said nothing. In frustration, Sakura slammed her palm against his chest. That got his attention. His eyes flicked down to her. The crimson eye reminded her chillingly of Sasuke, while his slate grey one reminded her of comfort. “Sensei! Please! Take me back!” Sakura whispered.

Kakashi shook his head, continuing to fly through the forest. Sakura gave a sob of defeat. “Daisuke…”

Kakashi's mind was flying just about as fast as his feet. He knew that Sakura would be much angrier later, when she realized that Naruto and Sasuke were fighting, and that Kyuubi had taken over Naruto, while Daisuke's location was uncertain. He hoped desperately that Itachi had not relocated with the small toddler, but he also hoped that someone had thought to move the boy before the fight began.

“It's going to be alright, Sakura.” Kakashi murmured “You've been injured; we need to get you back to the village. It won't be long.”

Sakura was barely listening. The pain in her torso and face was ignorable now, for she had bigger things to think about. She tried desperately to block the mage of Sasuke leering over her, before placing another well-aimed kick to her abdomen.

Instead, images of a howling Daisuke leaked into her brain. He had been sitting on the counter when Sasuke had come n, and by the time that Sakura was slumped in the corner, blood pouring from her nose, he had relocated to the empty kitchen sink. His eyes peeked over the stainless steel edge, wide with fear. When Sakura had started crying, he too, had lost control.

“Mommy!”

A casual toss to the left, and Sakura was a heap of flesh as Sasuke roughly moved her around the kitchen.

“No! Don't! You're hurting her! Mom!”

She had tried to calm him, but the sudden urge to vomit hit her, and she had shut her mouth, clenched her teeth and breathing through her bloody nose. The result was a series of wet coughs, but fortunately, she did not throw up.

“Sakura.”

Kakashi's smooth voice pushed through her hazy conscious state, and she flicked her tired eyes in his direction. “We're here.” He told her. She looked around, finding that they were already inside the village. Had time really gone that fast? She struggled in Kakashi's arms. He chuckled at her. “I'm sorry, Sakura, but you are in no condition to stand.”

He walked quickly along the sidewalk, before coming to her house. He carried her, bridal style, into the empty house, and set her gingerly on the bed. “I am going for a doctor.” He said clearly. “I will be back in less than five minutes. If you are not in this exact spot when I return, I will be most displeased.”

Sakura didn't have the energy to argue, so she allowed herself a small smile and sank back down into the bed's cushy softness. Her fingers twisted themselves in her lap, and she longed to be able to move. She felt useless, she wanted to be with Sasuke and Naruto, fighting. Why is it that I'm always knocked out before a big fight? She wondered. It must be a conspiracy.

She closed her eyes, willing her mind to be blank. Surprisingly, she didn't immediately think back to her recent assault, instead, her thoughts wandered back to Daisuke.

“Green is yucky.” He told her. Sakura rolled her eyes.

“When did you decide that?” she asked him, still cutting the broccoli on his plate.

“Yesterday. Dad says that green is made from boogers!”

Sakura snorted. “He would say something like that, wouldn't he?” She moved away from her kitchen counter, where she was preparing food, and Daisuke sat, watching her. Sakura stuck her head out the side window. “Naruto!” she bellowed. “Get in here!”

He was at the doorstep in less than thirty seconds, his wide smile lighting up his face. The way he looked at her made it hard for Sakura to chastise him. She tried anyway, her face pulling into a frown.

“Naruto,” she said sternly. “Dai says that you told him that green was made of boogers?” Naruto looked affronted, and his wide eyes swiveled to the young boy on the counter. Dai had the decency to look shamed.

“My own son,” Naruto whispered, the picture of betrayal. “Divulging secrets. I said not to tell!”

He looked at Daisuke. Sakura was close to laughing. Naruto's face was contorted with grief.

“Sorry Dad.”

A second passed, then two. After a few more silent moments, Naruto grinned widely. He scooped the boy into his arms, boosting his on his chest. “Ah, it's okay. Just don't go telling secrets to the enemy anymore.”

“Hey!” Sakura said, waving a wooden spoon at him. “I'll have you know that this enemy is making you dinner!”

Naruto smiled. He stepped up to Sakura, kissing her temple. “I appreciate it. Try not to poison me, my love.”

Sakura grumbled something unintelligible, before turning away, a smile tugging at the edges of her lips.

“Sakura.”

A pale man was talking to her, and Sakura felt her eyes slide back into focus. He was checking her fingers, looking for breaks. Finding none, he propped her torso, fingers finding her rips and sending shooting pains through her body when he touched them.

“One broken, whoops, make that two…this one's just a bruise…”

A small man stood behind him, taking notes. She looked around the room quizzically, finding Kakashi standing silently in the corner. She saw his face move and knew that, under his mask, he was smiling. She smiled back, before wincing in pain when a sharp poke brought her back to the doctor. He was examining her stomach, hands flat on the skin. His hands were cold beneath her shirt, but they quickly warmed at chakra flowed through them.

She watched the doctor, trying not to look anxious. When he pulled his hands back a fraction, his brow furrowed, she knew that he knew. “What do you see?” she whispered. The doctor's eyes flicked up.

“It's not good.” He said. Kakashi straightened.

“What?” he interjected.

The doctor looked up, withdrawing his hands from Sakura and taking the notepad from his assistant. “It seems that Miss Haruno is a few weeks with child. The assault has left the baby…wounded. Grievously. I am unsure that my healing powers are sufficient to save the child.”

Sakura felt the air leave her body. “No!” she said forcefully. “I won't lose this baby.”

The doctor, looked up. “I'm sorry.” He said sadly. Sakura didn't respond. What could she say to that?

Naruto was starting to freak out. He had let Kyuubi out, just for a test run, and now, he couldn't seem to get back in control. The demon seemed to be having a great time tossing Sasuke around, into trees, rocks, and down into the ground. The Uchiha was barely clinging onto consciousness, and Naruto found it hard to find the sympathy for him.

His main concern was that he had no clue where Daisuke was. As soon he found that out, his freak out meter would go down by about four notches. So, it was very important that Dai was found.

“Enough.” Sasuke coughed, blood spraying on the dusty ground where he crouched, on all fours, covered in dirt and debris. Naruto heard his voice laugh.

“Enough? You dare ask me for mercy?” the chilling laugh made Naruto angry. “The boy wants nothing less than your death, Sharingan. Give me one reason why I shouldn't give it to you.”

“You'll never find Daisuke if you kill me.”

Naruto's heart nearly stopped. His mind went blank with panic. Sasuke had hidden Dai. Daisuke was alone, with Itachi, scared as fuck, and Naruto couldn't do anything to help him. His distress was so much that the demon's control began to waver.

“You've hidden him?” the demon's voice hissed angrily, making Sasuke's heart accelerate.

“He's with my brother.”

Naruto demanded control now. It was a few tense minutes while Sasuke crouched on the ground, oblivious to the power struggle. Inside his own body, Naruto felt Kyuubi's chakra overwhelm him. Back in the cage, fox, back in the damn cage you stupid mangy animal…

Suddenly, the demon was gone. Naruto stumbled, falling to one knee. He took a large breath. “Sasuke.” He said, testing his voice. It was hoarse, but sounded like his own. Sasuke noticed the difference, looking up to see blue eyes boring into him from across the clearing.

“Sasuke. I will only ask you one time, before I kill you.” Naruto spoke quietly, but he knew that Sasuke could hear. He moved over to the bleeding man, moving to sit and whisper in his ear. “Where is my son?”

Sasuke willed his body not to convulse as he heard the dangerous timbre in Naruto's voice. Naruto was finally playing hardball. One wrong answer and the world was down another Uchiha. He cleared his throat, trying to buy himself time. “Naruto,” he tried.

“My son?” Naruto interrupted.

“I'm sorry.”

Naruto sat back for a moment, a calculating look on his face. “So, that's it. You're not going to tell me?” Sasuke hesitated briefly, before he nodded silently. Naruto sighed. “That's unfortunate, Sasuke. I don't want to kill you.” He looked away, into the distance. His hand went behind his back. “But I will. You were my best friend, but that means nothing now.”

He slipped a kunai from the pouch at his waist before standing and dragging Sasuke up by his hair. The larger man was too beaten to struggle.

The kunai's blade was pressed against the base of Sasuke's neck. Naruto held it steady, but he was trying not to cry. He had never thought it would actually come to this. Life or death. It was a lot to handle. “One more chance,” he said, willing his voice not to shake. “Where is Daisuke?”

Sasuke looked down at his friend, his crimson eyes bleeding back to their original slate. He shook his head slightly, just enough to nick his skin on the kunai on his neck. “Naruto,” he whispered. “Please, kill my brother. Avenge my clan.”

Naruto gasped out, the reality of the situation bearing down on him. Tears welled up in his eyes, and he tightened the grip on his kunai. “I'm going to miss you, Uchiha Sasuke.”

A scream tore through the forest, one of agony and pain, as Naruto pulled on the blade.