Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Between A Rock And A Hard Place ❯ Repressed Emotions ( Chapter 20 )

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

To avoid getting caught in this obviously private place, Sasuke made sure not to run into any of the staff that guarded some of the doors. He drifted away from the main stream of people as they slowly filed into a large auditorium type room. Sasuke was sure he would have better luck behind stage, but it would be hard to get back there when their were at least five guys standing watch. These people must be really paranoid about their products; then again who wouldn't be when they could escape on their own.

Sasuke nearly jumped out of his skin when a startling scream came from behind the steal doors that the guards were protecting. They seemed just as stunned when the sound echoed through the hallway. Now Sasuke was sure that was Naruto, as much as that blond yelled and screamed, the sound was programmed into Sasuke's memory. "When guess I'm going in." Sasuke told himself, preparing to use his jutsu's. With a plan quickly formed in his head, Sasuke produced a perfect copy and sent it on its way before the guards.

The five men stared up when they saw a black haired kid run down the hall. "Hey kid!" One of them called out. "What are you doing down here?" Whatever the reason, they followed after the imitation Sasuke, leaving only two behind. It would be bad if that kid released their location to any officials so they had to capture him and shut him up. "Those stupid guest probably lead him here." One of the remaining guards replied. Just then they saw the boy again but running of f in the opposite direction. "What the hell?! Those idiots lost him!" With their comrade no where in sight, the two raced after the boy themselves.

Sasuke couldn't help but snicker at their stupidity and quickly rushed over to the door. "I'm coming Naruto, so hold on." Sasuke murmured to himself as he pulled open the doors and ran through. But the very moment Sasuke stepped in he was surprised by the numerous cages aligning the walls completely down the hallway. Most of them were empty, but he suppose the captives had been transported to another room to await their chance to be shown on stage. Which means he had to hurry and get to Naruto before those creeps sold him to some perverted rich guy, which would only make the situation more complicated.

"Stop fidgeting you brat, your up next!" One man growled shoving Naruto forward despite his efforts to run back. This kid was certainly troublesome and he would be only more glad when the kid was sold and would be suffering an eternity in a pleasurable hell.

"No I am not! I don't belong here!" Naruto argued, flailing his arms against his chains. To shut him up quickly one of the men tugged violently on the chains around Naruto's neck causing the small boy to nearly choke. Seeing as how Naruto still continued to be a difficult victim, they agreed it would be in the interest of time to merely carry the slave rather than walk him to his own doom. "Put me down!" Naruto growled when a man scooted him up over his shoulder. It was getting real tired of this. He didn't have the time for this, Gaara was waiting for him to save Suna, so that was what he was going to do.

With determination as his fuel, Naruto roughly bit into the man's shoulder as hard as he could until the man threw him on the ground with a violent slam. "What the hell you like shit?!" Naruto scrambled up to his feet quickly and raced passed the man; his chains bouncing against the floor as he ran. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" In a second twenty Naruto replicas popped out of thin air, perfectly shrouding the real Naruto as he raced on by. "Get back here!" A guard yelled. They all went running after him, shoving past the fake ones that were easily to tell from with their clothes still on. Though it would have been more convenient to have them look exactly the same as the real Naruto, the blond was not to keen on the idea of giving those pervs a long look at several naked forms of his. So this would just have to do in distraction.

His copies did well in trying to fight the guys that came after him; allowing Naruto to at least make it farther down the hall. He suddenly panicked when he stopped another person coming straight for him from that direction. "Naruto!" The blond convulsed with recognition. That voice! Could it really be? Naruto hesitated in his escape when the other approached him. "Naruto!" The voice yelled again. No it couldn't be him? Sasuke didn't know where he was and he most certainly wouldn't have bothered to come all the way out here to see him. With this feeling of doubt, Naruto stepped back with intentions to run the other way.

"Hey there he is, get him!" Naruto heard the men from behind him yell as they finally got past his copies. In a careless panic, Naruto raced back toward the familiar form as the men came after him.

Sasuke sneered when he saw the creeps coming after Naruto. He should have known. Sasuke wasted no time in sending out a fireball as soon as his blond had made it safely to his side. "Run Naruto!" He directed, shoving the blond forward. There wasn't time to answer any of the questions Sasuke knew Naruto had. "You ass are going to pay for messing with him!" Sasuke exclaimed, jumping into a fighting stance. Before he rejoined Naruto he would kick these bastards back to kingdom come.

"Sasuke..." Naruto whispered glancing back as he ran forward. It must be him. At least Naruto hoped it was. Despite all the other times he wanted to believe he never needed Sasuke's help, he was grateful for it this time. Naruto safely made it out of the building since the guards were still occupied with their previous run-in. But to say Naruto was embarrassed when he headed up the stairs and came out in a bar with people all around in his unclad form, would be a drastic understatement. He ran past the startled pairs of eyes and came out into the town's night life.

Not wanting to have any more unwanted encounters, Naruto ducked into the very next ally he saw, crouching into the protective barrier of the darkness. Panting heavily, Naruto lightly slid down against the rocky wall. He felt so incredibly stupid for ever trusting those guys. He should have known. There in the silent darkness, Naruto held close to his shivering form. He was useless to Gaara and the others if he always managed to mess up things like this. "I'm sorry..."

"You better be sorry! Do you have any idea what could have happened to you?!" Sasuke yelled angrily, not bothering to catch his breath after looking for Naruto again. The blond wearily lifted his head to look up at Sasuke. The other's hair was all over the place, not at all stiff yet fashionable as it had always had been. Sasuke's face was smudged with a bit of blond and Naruto had figured he had nearly killed those guys back there. AS if a sudden wave crashed into him, Naruto stood up, tears immediately gushing to his eyes and he threw himself against Sasuke.

"I really am sorry Sasuke..." He wailed. He violently shock his head deeper into Sasuke's chest. "You were right! You are always right!" His tan hand tightly squeezed the fabric of Sasuke's shirt from the back. But Sasuke felt as thought Naruto was squeezing his heart with his gentle sobbing. He didn't mean to scare Naruto that much, but he needed to grow up and see the world for what it truly was. It was simply too dangerous to live as Naruto did, imagining not everyone was going to hurt you or that everyone had a good enough reason for hurting others. For this, Sasuke had draped his arms softly around Naruto's trembling form.

"Shush, I'm not mad at you...just disappointed..." Sasuke tried his best to sound comforting, but it would always sound like he was hostile toward the blond. He lightly petted Naruto's damp hair and meekly smiled. "I'm just glad your alright, they didn't hurt you did they?" He asked with obvious concern. Naruto sniffled and shook his head without removing it from the careful shield of Sasuke's chest. Sasuke looked around for a moment. "We should probably find a place to stay for the night." Not to mention they were causing a scene with Naruto being out here naked and in chains.

With much effort, Sasuke gently pulled Naruto back and gave the blond the shirt he wore to cover himself up some. "I think there is a Inn just a few blocks form here." Sasuke explained, kneeling down so Naruto could climb on his back. Without much argument, Naruto got on. He was not much in a fighting mood. Not only had he used some of his chakra back there when he was already weak from the drug and the effects of Shukaku, he was frustrated with himself. it was useless chastising himself, but it somehow felt he desperately needed it.

For a long while the only sound near the two was the sound of Sasuke's footsteps and the jiggling of the chains as they dragged against the dirt or brushed against Sasuke's chest because Naruto's hands were clasped tightly around the teen's neck. Despite how awkward the moment was with all the regret going around, Sasuke couldn't keep his thoughts in check with Naruto pressed so tenderly against him with his sweet tears soaking his neck and back. And if that wasn't enough to make someone blush, than having his hands gripped firmly on Naruto's supple cheeks as he carried him, would. Try as Sasuke may, he couldn't seem to think sympathetic for Naruto's behalf. After all the blond was nearly choking with that chain around his neck that only further became a pain when it hung behind him and dragged.

Sasuke was relieved to finally see the Inn only a few feet ahead. It was a little more difficult to get a room when the clerk at the desk kept staring at him and Naruto with such disgust or suspicion. But once in the safety of their room, Sasuke lightly slid Naruto down onto the bed. He sighed in dismay when Naruto simply allowed himself to fall limp on the bed. Sasuke was glad Naruto was finally taking the time out to scold himself over his stupidity, but he wished Naruto would at least be more concerned about his appearance. For crying out loud the blond just laid their like a doll as he fell; with the shirt he wore riding up to his stomach.

"Naruto..." Sasuke wanted to beg the boy to at least turn over so he wouldn't have to stare directly at the shameless piece of flesh just begging for Sasuke’s attention. The only response he got that even showed Naruto had heard him was the slow rolling of the blue eyes toward him. There was such a depressing, empty stair Naruto gave him. It pissed Sasuke off like hell. With a furious grunt, Sasuke crawled over the blond, his legs on either side of Naruto's body and he quickly slapped the boy. "Stop it! How can you be so selfish and selfless at the same time?! I swear there are times when you only throw your own emotions into the mix and forget everyone else around you! I hate it!"

Startled by Sasuke's sudden outburst, Naruto stared up with obvious surprise. Cerulean eyes widened as Sasuke fell completely on top of Naruto. "I know you mean well when you just run off to help people, but you never consider how I may feel about that." Sasuke knew what he was saying made him out to be selfish as well, but he could care less right now. "I suppose its my own fault for pushing away and making you think I could never care about anything you do, but I do. I care about who you hang out with, what foods you like, what makes you smile your brightest. So when you didn't tell me about Gaara I was really upset, but whether you told me about it or not I probably would have been upset. I can't be happy with just being your friend...because I love you too, maybe even more than Gaara does!"

"I don't want you to be with him! I don't want you to risk your life for him! I just want you for myself! I never thought I would have a time limit on how long to figure it all out, but I fear...I might be too late." What could Naruto possibly say in response to this? It had never crossed his mind once that Sasuke could feel so strongly for him, and that even made Naruto feel more frustrated with himself. He couldn't tell Sasuke to dash those feelings because he was in love with Gaara and was with him now, because...Naruto wasn't all that sure anymore. Of course he cared about Gaara, but even now when he was suppose to be with Gaara, he couldn't help but think that Sasuke would save him just now. Now matter how hard he tried to push it off when he kept saying Sasuke didn't care about him, he was always wishing, always hoping that Sasuke would miraculously care about him and show up just in the nick of time like always.

For now, Naruto couldn't give Sasuke the answer he truly wanted to hear. "Can...I go to the bathroom?" Naruto asked deathly slow and empty. It was impossible for him to leave with Sasuke still on top of him. But he needed to get away form here before he lost his sanity. Sasuke sadly nodded and rolled over to let Naruto by. He watched with melancholy eyes as Naruto lifelessly walked over to the side door and into the bathroom. Sasuke wished he hadn't said anything at all. It was obvious by the way Naruto shuddered off his whole confession that he didn't feel the same. Though Sasuke knew this result was very high, he couldn't kill the feeling of somehow being betrayed. He had really hoped what Kakashi had told him was true...that it was never to late to tell someone you loved them.

"Sorry Lady Tsunade, we haven't had any luck in finding Naruto." A few ninjas reported before she sent them back on the search.

"Naruto what were you thinking?" She asked herself. It had been hours since she had last seen Sasuke and she wondered if the Uchiha was having better luck than them. Why would Naruto do something so careless? What would running away prove? Tsunade tiredly plopped down into a chair by Gaara's desk. She didn't know if it would be wise to inform the Kazekage of this, he would probably do something drastic as well. So it would be better for him to think Naruto went back to Konoha with Sasuke.

"Lady Tsunade!" Another guard rushed in unannounced. "The Kazekage is missing!" He exclaimed worriedly.

Tsunade's eyes popped out of her head and she shot forward, choking on her own breath. "What?! Gaara too! Shit!" She raced out the door. "He must have found out about Naruto and escaped too. I swear teenagers are nothing but idiotic brats!" She growled. This would definitely call for the entire shinobi population. Gaara was not safe out there at all. He was a hated and powerful figure so no one would hesitate in using him for their own selfish plans. "I want everyone searching for Gaara and Naruto." If she was lucky wherever they found Naruto they would find Gaara as well.

"Did you hear that?" A rough and amused voice asked. Glimmering eyes from behind glass frames narrowed with interest at the turn of events.

The form beside him smirked and nodded. "Everything is falling into place. And I have that little brat Uzumaki to thank for it." With that said, the two forms disappeared from the roof of the building, vanishing without a trace of their once being there.

Naruto unsuccessfully tried to slip his hands out of the tight chains around his wrist but they only hurt him more. He had no idea how he was going to get out of the neck chain if matters continued to get worse. He slammed his fist down on the sink fiercely and groaned. "This totally sucks..." He whined. Simply looking at his reflection in the mirror seemed to upset Naruto further. He looked a complete mess in Sasuke's shirt, mangled hair, and dirty skin from sitting on the dirt ground before. But he felt like crap inside as well. "I can't believe they burned my clothes." Naruto said with a sigh. And his bag was gone as well, so that ruled out changing into something else. He even had his kunai knives and throwing stars in there.

"Stop being such a baby." Sasuke ordered, throwing open the bathroom door without so much as a knock. Naruto merely glared at him with a pouting expression. He grabbed Naruto's wrist, examining the chains. "Stay still, I don't want you to get burned." Sasuke demanded as he concentrated enough of his chakra to produce a small flame at the tip of his finger. He ran it in a line down the chain and then quickly jerked Naruto's hand toward the sink and switched on the water. With just a little pull, Sasuke was able to brake the chain off. "Better?" Naruto nodded with amazement and gratitude. Sasuke only wished this was enough to win the blonde's heart. He quickly did the same for the other wrist and the chain around Naruto's neck.

"Thanks Sasuke." Naruto replied, smiling widely. Spite himself, Sasuke blushed at seeing such a friendly grin actually meant for him. Damn Naruto! He always made him forget ever being angry with him. Whether Naruto was doing something stupid that made Sasuke laugh or was simply too perky and made Sasuke actually smile, he couldn't hold his anger very long around this person.

"Don't thank me just yet." Sasuke corrected. "I went down the hall to see if anyone would loan you some clothes. Apparently there is a women's tea society in town and they have most of the Inn on reservation." Sasuke explained. He stepped out of the bathroom only to return a few moments later with a dark purple yukata in hand. "So you can imagine my luck with actually finding you any guy clothes." He said stoically. He was inwardly smirking because he had found one male residence in the area and pretty close to Naruto's size too, he just wanted some sort of payback for today. Naruto immediately started to groaned as he took the clothing from Sasuke.

To Be Continued...

A/N: What do you think? Things are certainly picking up I hope! Well thanks for sticking through the story this far! I can't believe how quickly I got here! Well see you all soon!