Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Hot Sand ❯ Inciting Gaara's Wrath ( Chapter 18 )

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Hot Sand

by thatreevesgirl

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Chapter 18: Inciting Gaara's Wrath

 

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“It's a simple mission, Kakashi. I'll be home within the week,” the chunin man told the copy-nin with a smile, “and then…”

 

The silver-haired man was seated at the table, perusing the latest novel he'd picked up in the bookstore that afternoon, but was distracted as his lover's smile curled into something completely devious. “Now you have me worried. What idiotic thing do you have planned? I'm not going to like it, am I?”

 

Iruka looked hurt, “Huh? Of course you'll like it. It's what you've wanted for a long time.”

 

Kakashi bent his lean frame over to the other man, wrapping his arms around Iruka's waist and pulling him onto his lap. Iruka chuckled and skillfully balanced himself on Kakashi, while straddling the copy-nin. “What I would like is to have you stay home with me…we'll get naked, climb into bed, and just remain there together all day.”

 

Iruka chuckled and ran his fingers over Kakashi's cheek, “Hmm, that is a tempting thought, but I think Tsunade would be a bit mad if I cut out on escort duty.”

 

Kakashi's mouth drooped into a pouty frown, “You are no fun, always work, work, work…”

 

“And you are always nothing but unserious until you have to be,” Iruka told his lover as he kissed Kakashi's uncovered eyelid and then stood, grabbing his pack and headed toward the door. “I'll be back in a few days, and then you'll get my surprise. Now come over here and say goodbye properly.”

 

Kakashi, not wanted to incite the wrath of a cranky Iruka, complied as he sauntered to the door, pulling Iruka close and kissing him thoroughly. Forcing himself to tear his lips away, the copy-nin whispered, “Be safe, I love you.”

 

“I love you more,” Iruka told him with a grin, and in an instant was gone, disappearing in a puff of smoke.

 

That was the last time Kakashi ever saw Iruka alive

 

***

 

Kakashi was pacing by the edge of the gorge. He didn't know why he was plagued by such things right now, but thoughts of Iruka seemed to flood his mind. At least the last time Kakashi lost someone important to him he'd been able to reaffirm his love to that person before they left. Iruka died knowing Kakashi loved him, something which may have seemed unimportant, but had been the only thing to comfort Kakashi when he received the news of Iruka's death.

 

Sasuke didn't know.

 

The last exchange between Kakashi and the Uchiha had been hateful and hurting. Sasuke couldn't die not knowing. Kakashi wished vehemently he could tell Sasuke how he really felt, but the young ninja might already be dead. No…that couldn't happen…not yet, not before Kakashi could tell Sasuke…

 

Kankuro watched the older-nin pace. “They'll be alright, I know they will be, both of them.”

 

Kakashi eyed the puppet-nin warily. Did Kankuro of the Sand really know about him and Sasuke? The way the other man said that last part told Kakashi that Kankuro did. Kakashi didn't reply, he only glared at the younger ninja who decided to walk over to where the silver-haired shinobi was.

 

“Sasuke will be fine,” Kankuro told him, laying a hand on Kakashi's shoulder.

 

“How?”

 

“My girlfriend is the apprentice of a certain female Hokage, a woman with great power and a rather large mouth. I've heard more gossip during the last two days than I have during my entire life in Suna, and that is saying something seeing how much gossip runs rampant in Sand.”

 

Kakashi didn't confirm Kankuro's suspicions, only added a quiet, “Oh, I see.”

 

“Trust Sakura and my brother, they will retrieve Sasuke and Naruto. I would trust them with my life.”

 

Kakashi scoffed, “Even with Gaara as he is now?”

 

“My brother is frightening when angered, but that only feeds him and gives him strength. I know he'll save them.”

 

“And if they're already dead?”

 

Kankuro stopped, he hadn't even considered that possibility, he couldn't, because of what Naruto's death would mean to Gaara. “If Naruto is dead, I don't see us being far behind him. Gaara might overreact a bit to something like that.”

 

Lee and Neji overheard this, and it put the two shinobi on edge. Gaara losing Naruto was unfathomable…it would mean more destruction than either of them had seen in a long time. Kakashi glanced over at the other ninja. “Lee, Neji, return to the village and give them a report. Kankuro and I will stay here and wait for Gaara's return.”

 

Neither Lee nor Neji were ones for disobeying orders, so in a flash the other two men were racing back to the Rock village.

”At least they'll be safe,” Kankuro muttered, “Maybe you should head back as well.”

 

“No, I'll wait, but you…”

 

“Sakura's down there, do you really think I'm going anywhere without her?”

 

“No, and I'm not leaving without Sasuke,” Kakashi quipped, folding his arm and staring down into the darkness.

 

“Good to hear you finally admit that. Maybe you should let him know.”

 

Kakashi groaned, getting thoroughly annoyed by Kankuro's presence, but the puppet-nin was right. If Sasuke was retrieved alive, Kakashi would do just that.

 

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Naruto's wounds were expanding slowly as the poison licked and ate at the breaks in the Hokage's skin. Sasuke tried cleaning the two areas again, “Why isn't Kyuubi healing you, dobe? What good is having a fox demon inside you if he can't even save your life?”

 

“Stupid fox is sleeping,” Naruto hissed quietly, “He's too far down…too far away. The poison is blocking our chakra.”

 

Sasuke smiled weakly, “Glad to see you back, I didn't think you'd wake up again.”

 

“Yeah, didn't mean to scare you there, but man this stuff is nasty. I'm even starting to see things.”

 

Sasuke was worried, what did Naruto mean by that? “Hallucinations?”

 

“Yeah, bad ones…doesn't feel real, none of this feels real.”

 

Naruto shuddered, his skin was clammy and grey, and even the Hokage's eyes seemed dim. Sasuke knew his own chakra reserves were lower than they had ever been in his life, horribly depleted by the transformation, but if he took the last ounce he had…maybe…

 

Sasuke laid his hands on Naruto's chest, ready to release the last of his chakra.

 

“Don't you dare, teme,” Naruto warned, “I know how low your levels are, you'll die.”

 

“And you'll live.”

 

Naruto glared at his friend and then jokingly added, “You suck at healing, you'll die and I'll die. What good would that do?”

 

“I don't know…I don't have a clue, Naruto.”

 

Naruto's eyes focused the best they could on Sasuke, trying to make out the Uchiha in the dim light of the ravine. “I forgive you.”

 

“What?”

 

Naruto whispered the words again, “I'm sorry and I forgive you. Ya'know, I told you that people always know when they're in love, and it's true, but there's something else you should know too. Love doesn't die, teme. It can fade and change, but it never really disappears. There is always a part of you that still loves that person, no matter how hard you try not to.”

 

“Do you still love me?” was the deafening whisper which fell from Sasuke's lips.

 

Naruto didn't answer, only closed his eyes and strained to stay conscious. The pain was getting worse, and he could feel himself slipping. Falling away from the world he knew and everything in it which was precious to him. Thoughts and memories and people flashed in Naruto's mind, flooding him as he tried to stay alive.

 

“Gaara,” the blond man murmured. This was Sasuke's answer. Naruto had all but admitted he still loved Sasuke, but in the end he wanted Gaara. How Sasuke hated being helpless and foolish.

 

“Hey Gaara?” Naruto asked again, now looking up at Sasuke.

 

“Not Gaara…Sasuke…it's me, dobe,” Sasuke told the Hokage, trying to hold back the ache in his heart which the young Uchiha was sure rivaled the physical pain that Naruto was going through.

 

Naruto reached up and touched Sasuke's cheek, “I love you, Gaara.”

 

Sasuke grimaced, stupid fox-boy, you're hallucinating, I'm not Gaara!

 

“Do you love me? Tell me you love me, love. I need to hear it before I die.”

 

“You are not going to die!” Sasuke shouted, digging his fingers into the ground beneath them.

 

“Tell me…please, Gaara.”

 

Sasuke gulped in a breath of stale air, trying not to break down once again. Naruto was really going to die, and this was his last request, to have Gaara tell him goodbye.

 

“I love you, Naruto”

 

“Be happy, love,” Naruto told Sasuke through muffled sobs, tears streaming down the blond's face.

 

“I will, I promise,” Sasuke lied. It tore him apart to pretend to be that damn Kazekage, but he would do it for Naruto.

 

“Kiss me goodbye?” Naruto asked, his voice raspy, barely able to form words.

 

Sasuke froze, contemplating for only a microsecond and then his lips were on Naruto's, kissing him carefully but passionately, letting every ounce of emotion he'd hid for his old teammate pass between their lips. Naruto's body fell slack, and there was no breath which escaped the blond's lips.

 

“Naruto?” Sasuke cried, “Naruto!”

 

Sasuke leaned down and clutched his friend's body to his own, not even noticing as a wave of sand prepared to crash down on him and Naruto.

 

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Sakura tried to stop Gaara, but was thrown to the ground as wave after wave of angry sad rose up to attack.

 

“Stop it Gaara! Please!” she pleaded, trying to calm him. Gaara had been so happy to sense Naruto's faint chakra signature, but then he came across the two men and heard Naruto whisper…

 

“Kiss me goodbye.”

 

And that stupid, foolish Uchiha kissed him. Naruto and Sasuke were kissing. The anger which was tearing Gaara asunder was fueled further when like a candle the light disappeared, the last of Naruto's chakra dissipated and Gaara knew.

 

Sakura, being a highly skilled med-nin, knew Naruto had only gone into cardiac arrest, she could feel it. If only Gaara would stop and allow her to tend to Naruto, she might be able to save him, but not if Gaara continued his attack, the one which was aimed directly at Sasuke.

 

“Gaara, please, I can save him!” she screamed, trying to rise above the roar of sand which filled the crevasse.

 

The former Suna leader had a malicious look in his eye, but he had heard Sakura, and a limp body was presented to her by a large mass of sand. The kunoichi wasted no time and began working on Naruto, doing her best to get him breathing and his heart started once again. Sakura didn't realize Gaara was still attacking Sasuke.

 

One broken arm, a punctured lung, minor fractures in his foot…Sasuke winced as he felt the sand drip away. He was met with cruel green eyes, ones which seemed to delve into his very soul. “He is mine,” Gaara hissed.

 

Sasuke didn't answer, because not only was the statement true, but the extensive blood loss from earlier made him susceptible to unconsciousness. A quick glance over to Sakura showed the Uchiha that Naruto was being tended to, and thus there was no more need for him to stay awake. Gaara roared as Sasuke passed out, the sand whipping the dark-haired man's body away from him, then the Suna man ran to where Naruto was.

 

“Is he?” Gaara asked, wanting to touch Naruto, but at the same time he had been betrayed. Naruto had betrayed him with Sasuke, kissing and telling him that he wanted to say goodbye to Sasuke in such a way. Sasuke and Naruto…they were…

 

Gaara pulled away, letting Sakura work, not even relieved when a wet gasp was sucked into the Hokage's airway after Sakura got his heart and lungs working again. Sakura knew that Gaara was unstable, but she had to get Naruto and Sasuke back to the town. There was no way she could save them here, not without the right medical equipment and poison antigens. “Gaara, I need you to get Sasuke, and then the four of us need to go back up.”

 

“No…that one stays,” Gaara growled as he focused his narrowed eyes on Sasuke's broken body.

 

Sakura knew it was a long shot, but she had to try, “If he stays, I stay. If that happens, I guarantee Naruto will die. It will be all of us, or none of us. These are my teammates, my friends, your friends.”

 

“He betrayed me!” the Kazekage bellowed, sand whirling angrily around Sakura and Naruto.

 

“And they should die because of that?” she asked quietly.

 

Gaara didn't answer, only thought for a moment before a long tendril of sand was dragging Sasuke's body to where the other three ninja were. A cloud of sand wormed its way under the four people and lifted them off the ground. Gaara looked away, not able to face either Naruto or Sasuke. He wasn't sure if he loved Naruto or hated him at this point, but he wouldn't the Hokage or his friend die.

 

 

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END OF CHAPTER

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End of Chapter A/N's: This is a shorter chapter, but it was the only place I could break it off. The next chapter would have been way too long and rambly if I wouldn't have stopped it here. Hope that you are still enjoying it, even though I haven't had any smut in the last few chapters. Oh well, you can go read sex in some other fic if you need a smut fix.