Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Between A Rock And A Hard Place ❯ Two Parts Of A Whole ( Chapter 6 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Morning had brought uncomfortable surprises. One was particularly despairing. Upon waking, Sasuke had discovered everything was exactly how he had left it before falling asleep. Which meant Naruto hadn't come back during the night. His stuff was slowly collecting dust or rater sand in this case in the corner of the room where Sasuke had moved it to. He was expecting some pissed or injured blond to come bursting through the door at ungodly hours of the night, complaining about how he messed up again. In fact Sasuke would have looked forward to that, because at least it meant he was now safe. But instead Sasuke woke up to the same empty bed and there wasn't even a sleeping bag on the floor, not that Sasuke actually believed Naruto would obey his earlier made rule.

"He would do something stupid like this." Sasuke growled as he threw back the covers of the bed. He was just waiting for Naruto to jump out of the closet as though he were trying to play a trick on Sasuke. The Uchiha could imagine Naruto wanted some revenge or payback for how he treated him. And making him worry about him all night was the sure way to do it. Unfortunately, Sasuke was ready for the joke to be over. He wanted to see Naruto again, whether he was angry or laughing his obnoxious head off. "He better have not gotten himself killed." Sasuke hissed, stepping out of bed. Simply imagining Naruto bleeding to death on the cold ground somewhere made Sasuke shudder with fear. Despite how annoying he thought Naruto was, he did not want him dead nor did he ever want to really hurt the blond. So he hoped Naruto hadn't run off because of something he said.

Hopefully Kakashi or Gai would have had better luck of seeing Naruto last night, at least Sasuke could hope so. He dropped by eagerly at the older men's rooms, but the first things to come out of their mouth when they had heard he hadn't seen Naruto since yesterday was 'how could you be so careless as to let him go off on his own?!' This only succeed in making Sasuke feel more stupid than he had before, which didn't help his situation in the least. He would have better luck asking around town for Naruto, and yet he feared that he might not get an answer he was expecting. "Please be okay dobe." Sasuke replied almost regretfully as he raced off toward town.

Kankuro was simply repulsed by the thought of what he might walk in on as he headed for his brother’s room. He was surprised to see that Gaara was not already working at his desk like he usually found him in the morning, so he suspected the teen would still be in his own room doing who knows what to the punk he brought in last night. It wasn't that Kankuro was actually worried Gaara might have offended or abnormally harassed the blond, he was more worried about coming in and seeing several limbs scattered about the place and blood covering Gaara head to toe. Who knew what Gaara did in his free time? So Kankuro's biggest guest was that he experimented or just tortured others for fun. At least this might have had a chance of being true if it was about a year back. But Gaara was definitely changed in some way.

Fear stricken by the thought of his sadistic loving brother, Kankuro hesitated before letting himself into Gaara's room. Of course he didn't knock because this was his home just as much as Gaara's and he had never needed to knock before because Gaara was rarely ever in his room, obviously a result of his insomnia. The moment Kankuro glanced over to the far corner of the room, his heart shuddered in his chest. Was he really seeing what thought he was seeing? Gaara was actually in his bed, with his eyes closed. Usually he'd only stay in bed to read, so this as a great shock to Kankuro. Not only that, but his dear younger brother was caught in a very unmanly cuddle with the blond he had brought home last night. Kankuro definitely remembered the kid from the fight but his name always seemed to escape him, as if he really cared though.

A sudden smirk shrouded his features as he stepped further inside. "Why isn't this cute? My dear little brother asleep with his little kitsune plushie." Kankuro teased softly. It was only more amusing when those cold, lead like eyes appeared from beneath black eye liner and glared at him with the intensity of a thousand fires.

"You know good and well that I don't sleep." Gaara growled deeply. It was hard for Kankuro to take Gaara very seriously when he had such an adorable blond clinging to his brother's arm like a baby monkey to its mother. Noting this, Gaara quickly wiggled his arm loose a bit and brought himself up on his elbows. "What is it you want?" He asked and an unusually anger voice. Not only was it embarrassing period being like this with another guy, but being seen by his brother was even worse. Gaara just knew he would never ere the end of this.

Kankuro cupped his mouth to muffle an indignant snicker until he finally regained his composer. "Well I was expecting to find you in your office this morning so I hadn't thought twice before letting some pissed raven kid in, wanting to ask you something. But now he is angrily running a hole in the floor waiting for you because apparently you aren't up yet." Kankuro explained with a mischievous grin. "Shall I tell him to come back because you have other matters to 'attend' to?" He asked, a suspicious glint shining in his eye as he stared at Naruto.

Gaara groaned in displeasure. He should have known Sasuke would show up to kid his uncharacteristic good mood. He was actually hoping to rest the whole day, well not actually rest just watch Naruto sleep rather. But he slipped his arm out from Naruto's grasp and stepped out of bed. "You can leave now." Gaara informed his older brother without much notice as he headed for the door.

"What? Don't you want to make up some lame brain excuse as to why you were just sleeping or laying next to this kid over here?" Kankuro asked, chuckling amusingly. He wished to at least know some of the true pleasures of having a normal younger brother. It was every elder sibling's dream to mock the younger ones about their crushes. And since Gaara only had crushes once every blue moon, Kankuro was really falling behind. Since this was the first person Gaara had ever showed real interest in, Kankuro was going to milk this moment for everything it was worth.

"He asked me to" was Gaara's only explanation before he headed down stairs to confront Sasuke about last night. Kankuro on the other hand was in a fabulous mood now that he had heard Gaara's so called 'excuse'.

"Asked you huh?" Kankuro retorted to himself. Facing Naruto again, he walked over to the bed. Personally, he didn't see anything especially appealing about this boy. Sure he wasn't ugly, but he wasn't as hot as any girl Kankuro had thought Gaara had a chance with. But why should he be picky now, Gaara finally has someone to make him all bothered and that was definitely a plus for Kankuro. "Hey kid, wake up." Kankuro roughly nudged Naruto in the side with his finger only to have the blond turn over onto his other side and whine in a inaudible voice. Kankuro grunted at this. Without any courtesy for Naruto's consent, Kankuro hastily reached over and covered both Naruto's nose and mouth until his face turned blue with suffocation.

"Gah!" Naruto screamed at the top of his lungs, shooting up out of his position and punching Kankuro square in the face. Naturally such a loud voice could be heard throughout the whole building, which concerned the two testy males downstairs. Before Kankuro or Naruto had a chance to tell at each other for the events that just took place, the bedroom door went flying open. "Sasuke...Gaara?" Naruto panted, still trying to catch his much needed breath.

Both guys were standing at the doorway, about to kill each other to reach it first but luckily Kankuro's body was in their way from reaching the bed. "Naruto!" Sasuke gasped at seeing the blond...still alive. "Where the hell have you been you idiot?! You can't just go missing the entire night!" Sasuke yelled out, stumping right over Kankuro's body, causing the male to groan out in pain. Sasuke didn't care for that, he simply approached Naruto and jerked the blond off the bed by the wrist. "Are you fucking crazy?! You could have gotten yourself killed!" Of course Sasuke wasn't helping the situation with how harsh he was yelling and how hard he had gripped the other.

Gaara was beside him in no time, menacingly glowering at the Uchiha. "Release him." He hissed in a dark, malicious voice. He couldn't believe what nerve Sasuke had just waltzing in here like that and after not caring a thing about Naruto until now. "As for what he has been doing and where, that is none of your concern." Gaara explained. Sasuke couldn't help but try to counter Gaara's venomous glare with his own, but it was an unsuccessful attempt and Sasuke was finally urged to let Naruto go.

"Ow, that really hurt teme!" moaned Naruto as he quickly pulled his sore wrist to his chest. Now both of his hands hurt, this was just great. But as soon as Naruto cradled his freshly bruised wrist with his swollen hand, Sasuke's eyes had widened in surprise and once again the blonde’s palm was took back up. Sasuke stared in astonishment at the wound, half cursing himself and half cursing Naruto.

"What happened?" Sasuke asked. He was desperately trying to calm himself, but simply knowing Naruto was gone all night and still fine angered him so much. if he was this well, he could have walked back to the room, right? But some of Sasuke's fears had been realized. Naruto was hurt during his absence.

"It's nothing Sasuke." Naruto insisted, drawing back his hand carefully. The two punctured wounds were still visible, so Naruto was sure Sasuke had already figured out 'what' had happened. An ounce of joy glowed deep within Naruto's heart as he knew this meant Sasuke had been worried about him, despite how rash and mean he was acting right now. "I'm sorry I didn't come back last night." Naruto apologized timidly. "I was really going to, but...well...I kind of passed out so I don't remember much. I'm fine now though, Gaara got me the medicine in time." As if to assure Sasuke of his health, Naruto grinned with pure mirth.

Unfortunately this was not calming to Sasuke in anyway. "How can you say things like that you idiot?!" Sasuke grumbled under his breath. He crossed his arms and glared back at Gaara. "You nearly died from poison and yet you don't care to worry about yourself. Why don't you use your head some times Naruto?" He was more frustrated because Naruto had been thinking about not worrying the others, he was sure of it. But that was entirely too unselfish of someone. Thoughts like that always managed to get people killed for stupid reasons.

Before Naruto had a chance to answer, a loud cough emitted from the nearly forgotten soul still on the floor. "Sorry to ruin this heart felt moment in which you both worried your asses off for this dimwit, but I think my own health is in worst condition than his. That little freak punched me." Kankuro complained, sitting up and cradling his bloody nose. As much as Sasuke and Gaara both wanted to punch Kankuro themselves for interrupting and making such weird assumptions, both were in their own bashful thoughts because of what Kankuro said.

Thankfully the eerie silence that had consumed the pair, was quickly interrupted by a sudden loud gust of sound. Sasuke could have sworn it was the last, pitiful cry of a dying cat, unfortunately when they both turned to Naruto the blond had bashfully took to cupping his growling stomach. Naruto had all but ran away at being caught in his lonely stage of hunger. "Sorry about that." He chuckled weakly. "I haven't eaten since before we got here." He tried to clear up, but that didn't cease any of Gaara and Sasuke's embarrassment from this situation.

"If you'd have stayed at the inn like the rest of us you would have been fed." Sasuke retorted smugly. He grabbed Naruto's hand a little more gracefully than he had before. But Gaara had taken immediate notice that it was more of a kind gesture in which you held a love one's hand rather than the impatient tugging of a rude friend. "I'll take you to eat somewhere, but we got to get to work on what we came here for afterwards." Sasuke explained, pulling Naruto toward the door. Naruto hurriedly stumbled behind his teammate before waving goodbye with a sincere smile to Gaara.

"I would have thought you were a painting if you stared any more intently." Kankuro chirped lowly once the two ninja were gone. Gaara nearly fell back at the recognition. Kankuro found it amusing that Gaara was so oblivious to the feeling everyone else could obviously see. "You, my dear brother, are a complete noobie when it comes to relationships." Kankuro teased with a sigh. "It looked like you were about to rip Sasuke's head off a moment ago, yet you are the only one who doesn't seem to know why. It's rather cute." Kankuro chuckled and took his leave as well. "Don't be afraid to come to me for advice if you should ever find out what it is you are clueless about." Kankuro was looking forward to that day.

"I still can't get over the fact you almost got yourself killed for some stupid reason or another." The raven haired teen monologue as they strolled through the near empty streets of Suna. Naruto was sadly keeping up with the one person who continued to harass him about the situation. He was terrified to actually tell Sasuke the whole situation, because it would probably only make him more mad that he went through all that trouble for a little kid. "You'd think being used as a hostage would get something through that thick brain of yours. You aren't that bright or strong Naruto, you can't simply do as you please without any regard for your safety." Sasuke warned, glaring ahead of him with flickering red eyes. This had him so pissed; and to know Naruto was just at Gaara's home this whole time made him more uneasy.

Naruto stared meekly at the ground, kidding a single pebble around in front of him with the tip of his sandals. He had learned to zone Sasuke out by now, but it didn't change how he felt about the situation. He could still see Sasuke's lips moving. It seemed Sasuke was only much of a talker when he was condemning him. "You don't really expect me to fight only for myself do you?" Naruto asked, instantly catching Sasuke off guard and successfully shut the teen up "It is our job as shinobi to protect the ones we care about, right? Well we do you get on my case for trying to do exactly that? Isn't that why you became a ninja. I know you want to kill your brother, but weren't you at least hoping to prevent something like that from ever happening again? How could you make it this far without figuring at least once you have to consider someone else's life of more value than your own?"

Not that Sasuke found this offending in any way, he just didn't like that Naruto didn't understand any of his meanings this entire time. "Are you that much of an idiot, dobe?" He asked harshly. "I suppose to a naive fool like you it does look like I only save your butt to make myself look good and for I can taunt you later." Sasuke assumed carelessly. Despite how cold his words were he couldn't but smile when he saw the softest and most timid look Naruto had ever given him. "It's taken me awhile to understand it, but I do want to protect you. I don't want to see someone like you die yet, not before you've done what you have come here for."

Naruto didn't seem to notice that his own face was turning into a gentle pink at Sasuke's surprisingly kind words. But what made it all the more different, Sasuke hadn't released his hand since they had left Gaara's place, only making the scene look more suspicious. "Hey creep!" A sudden high pitched yell emerged from the town. Sasuke frowned a little at seeing a furious looking brunet girl running right town him. She violently shoved him aside, parting him from Naruto instantly. "Stay away from Panda-san's boyfriend!" She shouted at him, quickly taking her spot in front of Naruto.

"Panda-san? Boyfriend?" Sasuke repeated irritatingly. "What is she talking about Naruto?" Sasuke lashed back at the other. But before he could receive an answer from the blond, another small kid came onto the scene, thankfully grabbing hold of what appeared to be his sister and tugging her back a few steps.

"Haruka, leave him alone." Kaito begged back. And without any warning he quickly latched onto Naruto. "You're back Naruto-chan! I thought I would never see again once you left last night." The boy explained. "I wanted to warn you about the snake but Haruko insisted if you had any brains you would have left before you got hurt. But when I woke up this morning Haruka told me you came back." He released Naruto for a second and hastily pulled out the hitai-ate from his pocket. "I want to thank you so much for getting my father's headband back. It means everything to me. I'm so glad you're much better than before."

"Naruto chuckled humbly and rubbed the back of his head. "It was no problem at all. I mean if it meant so much to you, I'm sure any one else would have done the same thing." Sadly they both knew the unlikelihood of that. Naruto simply didn't want to make a big deal about it though. Sasuke whoever was only growing more furious with each passing word. How was he suppose to take this? Naruto nearly got himself killed just to retrieve some brat's headband that he could have gotten on his own?

"By the way Naruto, where is Panda-san?" Haruko asked, looking around carefully. "Does he know this pervert has been bothering you?" She asked, pointing at Sasuke as though he was nothing more than the criminal he was claimed to be.

"What is she talking about Naruto?" Sasuke growled. He didn't like being called a pervert by random people, especially little girls and most definitely if they knew nothing about him. Second, why the hell didn't Naruto tell him he was with someone in this town? Surely Naruto would have told him if he was having a long distant relationship this important. "Who is this Panda-san?"

Naruto was just as confused as Sasuke. "You haven't seen him?!" The girl exclaimed in surprise. Sasuke suddenly choked on his own breath when he heard the word 'him'. Naruto gay?! Since when? Why was he the last one to know about this? "Panda-san is only the single most important and strongest person in this village. If you mess with his boyfriend, he is sure to kill you!" Haruka threatened, glaring daggers at Sasuke. Kaito blushed a little at all this talk of boyfriends. "You better stay away from Naruto right now!" Sasuke couldn't dare think of obeying the girl's command when he was still trying to comprehend Naruto having a boyfriend.

"Uh....Haruka..." Naruto nervously interrupted. "I don't-"

"Someone please!" A horrified scream filled the street. "Help, please, get a doctor!" A mid aged man yelled as he raced don't the street. The villagers that were outside had all managed to ignore the frightened cries for help and looked away. This worried Naruto immensely. How could they simply overlook someone begging for their help? Without his usual train of thought, Naruto broke away from the group and their conversation and caught up to the man, asking if he could help. "I need a doctor quick!" The man explained in panic. "My wife, she is terribly ill."

It was by these little words that Naruto knew he could do nothing for the man. After all it was already made clear before they took on this mission that no one had the cure for this horrible epidemic so it would be pointless in trying to give the man false hope. Yet, Naruto tried to do so anyway. "The great medical nin Tsunade will be in Suna in no time, she'll be able to help your wife." Naruto insisted, but it provided the man with no comfort.

"No! I need help now!" He countered, dashing off to where he had come from. Curious about the situation, Naruto followed after him. Of course Sasuke had came along too because where ever Naruto went trouble was sure to be. The children however, avoided even looking at the man and didn't care to go after their blond hero. Before long, Naruto found himself standing before the man's home and fearful screams of pain emitting from within. The man did not stop the boy from coming in after him, but Naruto had soon enough regretted it.

The man stopped before his wife's bed, kneeling down to reduce her pain. But his gentle shushes did nothing to remove her from the unimaginable suffering she was experiencing. She wormed around on the bed, her back arching up and her hands clinching tightly at the sheets beneath her to take some of the intensity. Inner pain was not the only wounds evident. Her body was marred with a large rash that resembled more of burns rather than an allergic reaction. Her skin had long ago went dry and her face was deathly white with blue tracing her eyes. She convulsed repeatedly with no signs of stopping and it was only feeling the teens with more uneasiness.

Naruto felt a cold shiver run down his spine and even the sudden warmth of Sasuke's hand on his shoulder could not cease his worry and fear. Naruto could easily understand why the towns people would suspect Gaara of such a crime. When they flopped around with affliction like this, they were akin to that of a person being possessed by an evil spirit or in the case they thought; a demon. Naruto couldn't bring himself to stare any longer when her excessive struggling had finally stopped, but so had her pulse. There was a moment of dead silence before the man's great cry of sorrow was heard. By then, Naruto had dashed back out of the house, cupping his chest as though he were in the same pain.

"Naruto!" Sasuke followed after the blond. He came to a halt once he saw Naruto crouched over against the side wall of the home. "Naruto..." He hesitated. Sasuke was sure this shouldn't have affected him as bad as it did. They were ninjas after all; death was a common thing they would see. Unfortunately Sasuke was quickly reminded of one serious fact that he had neglected for so long: Naruto had never really taken a life with his own hands. Sasuke couldn't recall once in Naruto's time as a shinobi where he mercilessly had to strip a life from this world. Though he had tried, he had always failed. Haku was killed by Kakashi, Itachi was Sasuke's for the taking, Orochimaru was still alive and in hiding. So anyone that Naruto ever had reason enough to kill...was spared and no longer his responsibility.

"Sasuke..." The blond whispered in a choked sob. He poked at the ground timidly as his eyes clouded with a distant loneliness he could not yet escape. "She's dead isn't she?" Naruto asked. Sasuke had no choice but to nod as he kneeled down next to his teammate. "And the rest? They'll end up like that too?" Naruto shuddered at the thought of so many people dying after so much pain. Kaito and Haruka's mother...she had the disease too. They would be left alone in this world. "We just have to do something Sasuke..." Naruto whimpered. "What if Tsunade can't heal them? What will they do?"

"Let's not think of that." Sasuke sighed and tenderly laid his had on Naruto's head. He petted back the messy strands of blond hair, wincing at how Naruto stiffened at his touch. "I promise you...we'll find a way to save them...no matter what." Sasuke assured him. 'Please Naruto...don't let this change you. Don't let this ruin your innocence. Don't let it break you inside.' Sasuke begged inwardly.

To Be Continued...

A/N: Sorry about the little depressing scene at the end. But they all really need a wake up call. They need to see the importance of the real reason they came to Suna. I hoped ot balance this fic off a little bit, like how Naruto falls for each. Gaara is the gentle, unknowingly loving person for Naruto while Sasuke is the protective, aggressive and equally ambitious person for Naruto. Two sides of Naruto are each falling for the guy that best benefits that part of him. Lol, Gaara is the dreamer while Sasuke is the realist. Further more, I how you enjoyed this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it. You know the conditions, I update quick and you all should feel free to place in your opinion.