In rock and a hard place

13 - Recovering

Sasuke pov: We arrived in the clearing to find Naruto lying unconscious and naked on the cold, hard ground. My heart shattered at the sight of him, beaten and violated. Tears streamed down my face as I ran to him, my hands trembling. I quickly undid the bindings around his wrists, my fingers fumbling with the knots. "Come on, let's take him back to my village. He'll be safe there," Gaara said, his voice firm yet gentle. He draped his jacket over Naruto's battered body, covering him as best as he could. Naruto flinched at our touch but lay still, his breathing weak and labored. Blood streamed down his face, and his body was badly cut and bruised. As I wiped away the leftover semen around his mouth, I felt my blood begin to boil. The various scratches and bruises on his legs were everywhere reaching his hip. "We need to hurry," I said, my voice breaking with a mix of rage and sorrow. "He needs medical attention." Gaara nodded, helping me lift Naruto carefully. We carried him between us, moving as quickly as we could through the forest. Naruto's head lolled against my shoulder, his breaths shallow and ragged. The weight of his suffering pressed heavily on my heart. "We're almost there, Naruto. Just hold on," I whispered, more to reassure myself than him.
Gaara pov: As we made our way back to the village, I couldn't shake the anger and sorrow that filled me. Seeing Naruto like this, so vulnerable and broken, stirred a fierce protectiveness within me. He had saved me once, Now, it was my turn to save him. "We'll get you help, Naruto. You'll be safe with us," I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. Sasuke's grip on Naruto tightened, his face set with determination and fury. "Those bastards will pay for what they did to him," he muttered, his eyes burning with rage. "We need to focus on getting Naruto to safety first," I reminded him gently. "There will be time for justice later."
Sasuke pov: We finally reached the outskirts of the village, and Gaara led us to a safe house. We laid Naruto down on a soft bed, his body barely stirring. I sat beside him, holding his hand, my heart aching with every breath he took. Gaara called for a healer, and within minutes, a medic arrived. She gasped at the sight of Naruto's injuries but quickly set to work, her hands glowing with healing chakra. "He's going to be okay," she assured us, her voice calm and professional. "But he'll need time to recover, both physically and emotionally." As the healer worked, I stayed by Naruto's side, refusing to leave him. Gaara stood nearby, his expression grim and resolute."I can't believe the villagers would do this," I said, my voice barely a whisper. "How could they be so cruel?" Gaara's eyes darkened. "Hatred and fear can drive people to commit unspeakable acts. But we won't let them get away with this. Naruto will get justice."
Gaara pov: As the healer continued her work, I couldn't help but feel a deep sense of responsibility for Naruto's well-being. He had given me a new lease on life, and now it was my turn to protect him. "We'll get through this, Naruto," I said softly, more to myself than to him. "You have friends who care about you. We'll fight for you." Sasuke nodded, his eyes never leaving Naruto's face. "We'll make sure he gets justice," he said, his voice filled with determination. As we stood vigil over Naruto, I knew that this was just the beginning. There would be many challenges ahead, but with our combined strength, we would face them head-on. For Naruto, for our friend, we would fight to the end.

Sasuke pov: Hours passed, and the healer finally finished her work, leaving Naruto resting more peacefully than before. After receiving a blood transfusion and some medicine Naruto lay still his skin still so pale. I stayed by his side, my heart heavy with the weight of what he had endured."Thank you, Gaara," I said quietly, my gratitude genuine. "I don't know what I would have done without your help." Gaara nodded, his eyes softening. "Naruto is my friend too. We'll get through this together." As the first light of dawn began to filter through the window, I felt a renewed sense of hope. Naruto was safe for now, and with Gaara's help, we would ensure he stayed that way. Together, we would heal, and together, we would fight for the justice Naruto deserved.