Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Between A Rock And A Hard Place ❯ Drawn Apart ( Chapter 32 )

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

"Let me go!" Naruto's strained voice rang through his captures ears, but was ignored. He could feel every grain of sand clench tighter to him without mercy. He could all but keep down a frail whimper as the weight began to crush his insides. Just his wrist reddened from the impact as he tugged and jerked at the sanded chains. Naruto had given up on trying to move his legs awhile ago, seeing as how they were tied together like racks of hay. Even the hot gravels below scrapped at his back so carelessly. Try as he might, the urge to beg for release was growing more frequent in his thoughts.

"Calm down boy, your suffering should be over soon." Orochimaru replied knowingly. Given the new chakra power, he had much to spare. So when summoning his enormous snake minimum to transport him to Konoha, the beats had been hesitant in smart mouthing him about summoning him as he had done the last time. While Kabuto and Orochimaru road on the head of the snake, Naruto was forced to be dragged along the ground, pulled by his chain of sand. "You mustn't wear yourself out now boy, at least not until we reach the Leaf village. I don't want you to miss a single moment of slaughter. Can't you see it now Kabuto, the terrified screams of the villagers as we ride into town; their fates already set." He smugly bragged.

Kabuto nodded contently. "Yes Lord Orochimaru. It will certainly be a sight to see. As for you Naruto, you might as well enjoy your last moments of life. We won't need you alive after removing Kyuubi's spirit from you as well." Kabuto explained. Finally all those years of studying and searching for new jutsu's had paid off when him and his lord were fortunate enough to come across one technique for the extraction of demon spirits. The price for it was well worth it. All it required was the condemned souls of the previous demon containers. Gaara was simply on a clock when they left him. He could only survive for so long without his chakra life force. Naruto would soon be next. Perhaps the young Kazekage would make it in time to see his love one final time before they are both taken by Shinigami.

All hope of escape was futile. Kabuto looked proudly down as the blond was dragged tumbling in the dirt. His hands were securely bond above his head; surely his legs would become dislocated from being dragged in such a matter. As if that was the most of the boy's worries. Despite the pleasure Kabuto received from seeing his victims in pain, he had to admit it was a shame such a great spirit and body would be lost to the world after today. There was a time he had truly admired Naruto's determination. Not to mention he was a delicious prize to be taken. But it simply wasn't meant to be. All things most be sacrificed for a larger cause. He turned back solemnly. "You two better hurry up..." He mumbled to himself. Who could have possibly imagined... a raccoon as well as a dog could so easily fall for the natural charm of a fox?

"Not so rough you bastard!" Gaara snapped fiercely. Sasuke merely rolled his eyes. It killed him inside to say he needed Gaara's help to save Naruto. But he would have never thought he would stoop so low as to actually give his arch rival a piggy back ride. They wouldn't make it on time if he actually waited for Gaara to walk all the way there, so he had no other choice but to carry Gaara on his back. Naturally, he would show no other compassion. He ran as swiftly as he could with the extra weight, but that didn't ensure the journey was at all comfortable much less safe. Gaara would have accused Sasuke of purposely making the run rough to annoy him. And several times, Sasuke's hands slipped out from under the redhead as if trying to make him fall off.

"Quit complaining!" Sasuke spat back. "If I slowed down for your comfort, Naruto would be dead by the time we get there." Gaara merely sneered, however he still agreed. They weren't making great time as it was, no need to hold them up any longer. Sasuke wasn't pleased though. Gaara was soaking him through with blood and the irritation was getting the best of him. His over inflated arrogance finally took hold, breaking the lock on his mouth. "I have to say, I feel real sorry for your lame ass. Getting beat by Kabuto or Orochimaru, has got to be some really shameful defeats." That should have been enough for his pride boost, but Sasuke couldn't contain the list to brag much less destroy Gaara's entire being. "I mean I kicked Kabuto's ass just last night when he tried to get his grubby hands into Naruto's pants." He said with a smirk.

Though it was faint, it was certainly there. Sasuke had felt the sudden jolt of Gaara's heart, his breath had faltered only slightly. "What are you talking about?" Gaara asked. Sasuke had been too concerned about his own matters to even notice how desperate Gaara's tone was just now. The chill had left him completely as though he put away all resentment for the Uchiha to focus all on Naruto's condition. It would have been too kind of Sasuke to even address Gaara's feelings with a sense of sympathy or at least empathy, but he hadn't and in fact dived in for the kill.

"I talking about how your selfish ass left Naruto all alone last night." Sasuke hissed. "You nearly got him raped by that creep with that stunt of yours. If not for me, Naruto would probably be bleeding out his ass in an ally somewhere." Sasuke exaggerated. That did it certainly. Sasuke suddenly stumbled forward as he felt a sharp pain in his shoulder. "Gah! What the hell?!"

Gaara shoved himself off of the other's back immediately. Just at the edge of his mouth has a small trail of blood form where he had broke skin at Sasuke's shoulder. "How dare you put any of this on me!" Gaara yelled. It was very rare he ever raised his voice, but he was beyond furious. "Wasn't it your job to guard Kabuto! He probably wouldn't have been Naruto if you were doing your fucking job and watching him! And you have the nerve to put this on me!" Gaara fell forward in a sudden coughing spell. Both hands cupped over his lips desperately as a trickle of blood passed his lips. He was exerting himself enough as it was, but being angry certainly took a lot of a person. He breathed deeply in and out as the coughing finally subsided. "You...call yourself...his savior...yet you mock him so bluntly..." Gaara breathed out in a struggle.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed in disgust as he rubbed away the blood on his shoulder. "I'm only stating the truth! He wouldn't even be here looking for Kabuto if you haven't gotten yourself sick! Don't play the innocent when you know he would have been much safer if he had stayed in Konoha! This is all your fault!" Sasuke accused. For a brief moment, neither teen could tell what happened just before they were rolling around on the ground, delivering stray punches to one another.

"Everything I have done has been for him!" Gaara screamed out hysterically, struggling as Sasuke managed to pin him down too the ground. His wound stung as sand collected there in there during the brawl. At least he got in several hits even with his weak strength, he had given the Uchiha several defined bruises and cuts.

Sasuke smirked with his busted lip as he straggled Gaara from above. "Oh yeah? And what has that done for you? If I recall last night right, Naruto was screaming my name repeatedly as we made love..." Sasuke whispered huskily as he leaned down closely to Gaara's ear. "You should have heard him. I doubt you were even in his thoughts..." Sasuke panted.

*crack*

Gaara's vicious thrashing almost instantly simmered down to a weak convulsion of fear. Sasuke pulled back only slightly to look at the others faces. The silence had settled in quick enough between the two of them, that Sasuke could barely make out a breath from the redhead. His proud grin had diminished into what was both a confused and timid grimace.

For the first time, Sasuke's jet eyes had stared intensely into Gaara's, searching for the delighted action he had been anticipating. But it was nothing like he expected. Those once determined and perhaps even caring jade eyes hollowed away with sadness. His eyes shivered more than his body, until finally...

"You're lying...?" Gaara murmured disbelievingly. They were there; the heart broken tears of a lost soul. Rounded droplets quickly cascaded down the side of his face. The greedy sand seemed offal hungry as it completely swallowed up the frantic tears into the ground as they came one by one. "Sasuke, tell me the truth..."

The raven haired teen was speechless. It had been the first time he had heard Gaara refer to him by his name; if not at least without malice.

Sasuke's silence had been enough for Gaara. He wetted his suddenly dry throat with a timely gulp. Tossing his head to the side to hide the already spared tears, Gaara thrust his hand into Sasuke's chest, forcing the other off him immediately. Sasuke fell back onto the ground with a stunned look as Gaara scrambled back up to his feet. "H-hey! Where are you going?" Sasuke finally asked with bewilderment. Gaara carelessly stepped forward, keeping his back to the other. He didn't speak again...not for that long venture they made.

Sasuke merely assumed Gaara was still planning to rescue Naruto in hopes of winning him over once and for all, since he continued to head toward the village as they were before. Sasuke had no other choice than to come along. Being that he was in a better condition than Gaara, he always remained several feet ahead. He only spared a few reluctant glances over his shoulder whenever he heard Gaara pause for another grunt or coughing fit.

"Lady Tsunade!" A few men shuffled into the office room, nearly falling as they made it through the door. Out of breath and tired from the room, they stammered with the message. Tsunade turned in the chair, looking at them with skeptical eyes. Everyone had been in a uproar since Gaara's disappearance. Tsunade herself was more worried about Naruto. She hadn't heard from him or Sasuke since they first left three days ago. Sure that didn't seem like a very long time considering all the other things that took forever, but it was nerve-wracking when she knew Naruto and Gaara were in no condition to be traveling far off in the first place.

"Do you have news of the Kazekage?" She asked sharply. The panting men all shook their heads. "Then what of Naruto and Sasuke?" Tsunade pushed on worriedly. Once again, there was a negative response. She sighed in frustration, settling more comfortably in her seat. "Then whatever it is, I don't want to hear it. Any more bad news might just kill me." Tsunade grumbled, crossing her arms.

"But Lady Tsunade, it's bout the villagers." One man continued. "Those that were diagnosed with the illness, all seem to be getting better!" He exclaimed in excitement. Tsunade rose a curious brow and stood up from her seat. "It's like a spell, all of a sudden everyone's alright." He as well as the others were excited about this news. Their family and loved ones, friends and neighbors were all getting better. But it was a little upsetting to see the Hokage wasn't the least bit pleased if not convinced that this message held any true value. In fact she looked at them as though they had all gone made.

"Cases like theirs, doesn't simply vanish." She snapped back firmly. There was no possible way. As long as Gaara had half of Shukaku's spirit in him, the aroma would remain around the villagers, making them sick. Even if he were to find a jutsu that would put Shukaku fully into him, there was no guarantee Gaara would be able to do it without a price to pay or even some assistance. So what was going on then? Had something happened to Gaara? If he were to die, that too would get rid of the spirit, but Tsunade never gave that thought much possibly when she knew how determined the boy was to kill others and live himself.

"Oh, and..." The man hesitated with what other news he had brought. Tsunade glared at him fully in the eyes, expecting him to grow some back bone already. "It seems...the Hokage's siblings; Kankuro and Temari got fed up with waiting for Gaara's return..." He admitted sadly. Tsunade's eyes narrowed at this meaning. "They've runaway as well."

"Damn it! When will all these snot nose brats learn their lesson?!" Tsunade exploded. Not only had to she to worry about her own ninja, but Suna's as well. They would surely screw up something! This just wasn't turning out to be her day.

To Be Continued...

AN: Happy Holidays everyone! I hope you are having as great a break as I am, though I just started it. I hope I will be able to get more done over break now that I have exams all out of the way. Then again, I have to spend a lot of time with my family. Not to mention, I have several new ideas for fics that I've wanted to do. So let's just see what the New Year brings!