In rock and a hard place

11 - Love

Sasuke pov: I woke up in my bed. I must have dreamed that Naruto was alive. Small movements distracted me. "It's good that you're awake now," he said, smiling. Memories came flooding back. My battle with Itachi, Naruto's death, how much I missed him and wanted to hug and kiss him. "Why did you leave me?" I cried out. Naruto moved closer. His eyes were shadowed with grief and sadness. "You remember that day you took me out on a picnic?" he asked, and I nodded. "Your brother came to me the night before and asked me if I wanted to join the Akatsuki." I blinked, the shock of his words sinking in. "Itachi? He... asked you to join the Akatsuki? Why?" Naruto took a deep breath, sitting down beside me. "He knew how much pain and suffering I had endured because of the village, and he said the Akatsuki was working towards world peace." I clenched my fists, anger and confusion boiling within me. "So, you joined them because you wanted to end your suffering and promote world peace? And then you left without a word, making me think you were dead all this time?" Naruto's hand reached out, gently touching mine. "It wasn't an easy decision, Sasuke. I knew what it would mean, how much it would hurt you. But I had enough with the village constantly living in fear and seeing them glare at me whenever I was with you and the..." Naruto paused, looking away from me.I reached for his hand, but he pulled away. "What is it that you aren't telling me?" I asked."Remember before Iruka-sensei asked you to look after me when I had disappeared from the academy?" Naruto asked, his voice low. I nodded; I remembered that day. "I didn't disappear. The villagers had kidnapped me and they... they sexually assaulted me several times. It also happened whenever you weren't with me, when I was alone in my apartment." The room seemed to spin as his words hit me. I felt a cold rage mixed with deep sorrow. "Naruto... why didn't you tell me?" My voice trembled with a mix of fury and helplessness. Naruto looked down, tears glistening in his eyes. "I was ashamed, Sasuke. I didn't want you to see me as weak or broken. And I was scared. The villagers told they'd do worse things to me if I said anything." I moved closer, my heart breaking for him. "I'm so sorry I wasn't there to protect you." Naruto finally looked up at me, his eyes filled with a painful mix of gratitude and sadness. "I didn't want to burden you with my pain, especially when you were dealing with your own. But joining the Akatsuki... I thought it was a way to escape, to find a purpose beyond the village that had caused me so much pain." I took his hand, this time he didn't pull away. "We're in this together now, Naruto. You don't have to face anything alone anymore." He nodded, a tear rolling down his cheek. "I know. And I'm sorry for leaving you, for making you think I was dead. It was the hardest thing I've ever done, but I thought it was the only way to keep you safe." I pulled him into a hug, holding him tightly. "We'll figure it out, Naruto. We'll find a way to move forward, together." Naruto buried his face in my shoulder, his body shaking with silent sobs. I held him, feeling a mix of anger for what he had endured and determination to make things right. After a long moment, Naruto pulled back slightly, his eyes meeting mine. "Thank you, Sasuke. For understanding." I nodded, wiping away a tear from his cheek. "Always, Naruto. We've both been through hell, but we'll come out stronger. Together." As we sat there, the pain of the past still lingered, but there was also a sense of hope. We had found each other again, and no matter what challenges lay ahead, we would face them side by side. For the first time in a long while, I felt a sense of peace, knowing that together, we could overcome anything.
Flashback: Naruto pov: I remember that night all too well. It was dark and cold, the kind of cold that seeped into your bones. I was alone in my apartment, as I often was. The villagers' glares and whispers had become a constant background noise in my life, but that night, it was different. I heard a knock on my door, and before I could react, a group of villagers burst in. They grabbed me roughly, and I was too shocked and scared to fight back. They dragged me into the alley behind my apartment. Their faces were twisted with hatred and malice. "You're a demon," one of them spat, and the others echoed his words, their voices filled with venom. "You don't deserve to live among us." I tried to scream, to call for help, but one of them covered my mouth. They beat me, their fists and feet landing on my body like a relentless storm. The pain was unbearable, but the worst was yet to come. They tore at my clothes, their hands rough and unforgiving. I felt their hands on my skin, and I tried to fight back, but there were too many of them. They pinned me down spreading my legs, and one by one, they violated me. Their laughter and taunts rang in my ears, each word a dagger in my soul. "Is this what a demon feels like?" one of them jeered, his breath hot and foul against my ear. "Do you like it, monster?" I felt broken, like a shattered piece of glass, every fragment of my soul being crushed under their cruelty. They flipped me roughly over on my stomach violating me from behind. It hurt really bad, each thrust breaking my spirit more. They didn't stop even forcing me to take them in my mouth. The were merciless. It felt like it lasted an eternity, and when they finally left, I was left lying in the dirt, broken and bleeding. The next day, I went to the academy as if nothing had happened. I forced a smile, pretending that everything was fine. But it didn't stop there. It happened again and again. Whenever I was alone, they would come for me. They would drag me away, beat me, and violate me. Each time, the hours stretched on, feeling like an endless nightmare. I would scream and cry, but no one ever came to help. I was completely alone in my suffering. They would always force me to do things I didn't want to do but if I didn't comply they'd beat me. One night, after a particularly brutal attack, I lay on the cold ground, staring up at the night sky. I wondered if this was my life now, if this was all I would ever know. The pain, the shame, the constant fear. I felt like I was drowning, and there was no one to pull me out. The assaults continued, each one more brutal than the last. They would always come at night, dragging me from my apartment, their faces masked with hate. They took pleasure in my pain, their eyes gleaming with sadistic delight. "Let's see how much more the demon can take," one of them sneered, grabbing my hair and yanking me to my feet. I was too weak to fight back, my body still aching from the previous attacks. They would beat me until I was too weak to stand, then threw me to the ground. They would spread my legs, their hands rough and unforgiving. "You like this, don't you, monster?" another taunted, his voice filled with venom. I bit back a scream as they violated me, each thrust tearing at my soul. They flipped me over, taking turns, their laughter echoing in my ears. They forced themselves into my mouth, their hands gripping my head painfully. "Swallow it, demon," they commanded, their voices harsh and cruel. I had no choice but to comply, the taste of their cruelty filling my mouth that left me coughing for air. The hours stretched on, each moment an eternity of pain and shame. When they finally left, I was left lying in the alley covered in their climax, bleeding and bruised. "Don't you dare say anything, or we'll make it worse, demon," they warned, their voices filled with menace. I didn't move for a long time, my body too battered and my spirit too shattered. Eventually, I crawled back to my apartment, my mind numb with pain and shame. I curled up in a corner, wishing for the darkness to swallow me whole.
Sasuke pov: I held Naruto tighter, the flashback of his pain and suffering filling me with a cold, burning rage. How could anyone do that to him? The villagers' hatred had gone too far, and the scars they left on him ran deeper than I could have ever imagined. "Naruto, I swear I will never let anyone hurt you again," I said, my voice trembling with emotion. Naruto looked up at me, his eyes filled with a mix of pain and hope. "Sasuke, you don't have to fight my battles for me." I shook my head, my resolve stronger than ever. "I'm not fighting your battles I just want to protect you because I love you," I said hugging him tighter. Naruto stirred sitting up. "I love you too Sasuke always have," Naruto said crying. We were back together but the future was uncertain. Naruto was alive and the villager's might come after him again. And this time, we would face it together, as friends, and maybe, just maybe, as something more.