In rock and a hard place

14 - The Painful Truth and Revenge

 Naruto pov: I drifted in and out of consciousness, the pain in my body a constant, throbbing presence. I felt hands on me, but these were gentle, soothing. I heard voices, but they were filled with concern and care, not malice or lust. "Sasuke... Gaara..." I whispered, my voice weak."We're here, Naruto. You're safe now," Sasuke said, his voice choked with emotion."We won't let anything happen to you," Gaara added, his tone firm and reassuring. I lurched forward, vomiting up the semen I had been forced to swallow. The taste and memory made me retch even harder. As I slipped back into darkness, I felt a glimmer of hope. I wasn't alone anymore. Sasuke and Gaara were with me, and together, we would overcome this nightmare.

Naruto pov: When I finally woke again, it was to the soft light of morning filtering through the window. My body ached with every movement, and the memories of what had happened crashed over me like a tidal wave. Tears welled up in my eyes, and I struggled to keep them at bay. "Naruto," Sasuke's voice was gentle, but there was an edge of desperation to it. "You're awake." I turned my head to see Sasuke and Gaara sitting by my side, their faces etched with worry and anger. "How do you feel?" Gaara asked, his voice soft. I tried to sit up, but the pain was too much. "Like hell," I managed to croak out, my voice barely above a whisper. "You don't have to talk about it if you're not ready," Sasuke said, his eyes pleading with me to stay silent. But I needed to say it. I needed them to know, to understand the depths of what I had endured. "No," I said, shaking my head slightly. "I'd rather get it off my chest." Sasuke's hand tightened around mine, and Gaara leaned in closer, his expression one of intense focus. "They dragged me into the forest," I began, my voice trembling. "They said I didn't deserve to live among them, that I was a demon. They beat me, over and over. Their fists and feet... it felt like it would never end." I paused, taking a shaky breath. "Then they... they ripped my clothes off. They pinned me down and... and raped me. One by one, they took turns. They laughed, taunted me, said horrible things." Gaara's eyes darkened with rage, and Sasuke's grip on my hand grew almost painfully tight. But I continued, needing to get it all out. "They forced themselves into my mouth," I said, tears streaming down my face. "They made me swallow... everything. I couldn't fight back, not with Sasuke's life on the line. I just... took it." The room was silent, the weight of my words hanging heavily in the air. "They left me there, bound and bleeding," I finished, my voice breaking. "They said if I told anyone, they'd make it worse." Sasuke's face was a mask of fury and pain, and Gaara's fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles were white. "We're going to make sure they never hurt you again," Gaara said, his voice shaking with barely suppressed anger. "They won't get away with this," Sasuke added, his eyes burning with a deadly determination. "I promise you, Naruto." I nodded, feeling a mix of relief and fear. I had told them everything, and now it was out in the open. The burden was no longer mine alone to bear. "Thank you," I whispered, my voice cracking. "For being here." Sasuke pulled me into a gentle embrace, careful not to aggravate my injuries. "We won't let you go through this alone," he said fiercely. "You're not alone anymore." Gaara nodded, his eyes softening as he looked at me. "We'll get through this together," he promised. "You have us now." As I lay there, surrounded by the warmth and support of my friends, I felt a flicker of hope. 

Sasuke pov: As Naruto drifted back into a fitful sleep, I felt my resolve harden. The villagers had committed an unspeakable atrocity, and they needed to pay. I couldn't let this go unpunished."Gaara, stay with Naruto," I said, my voice low and cold. "I have something I need to do." Gaara looked at me, his eyes understanding but concerned. "Sasuke, don't do anything rash." "They deserve to suffer," I replied, my eyes burning with fury. "I'll make sure they never hurt him again." Without another word, I left the room and made my way back to the village under the cover of night. My Sharingan activated, casting an eerie glow in the darkness. The villagers had made their choice, and now they would face the consequences. I moved silently through the streets, a shadow in the night. The first house I entered belonged to one of the men who had taken Naruto. He didn't even have time to scream before I silenced him, my blade swift and merciless. His blood stained my hands, but I felt no remorse. One by one, I hunted them down. Each face flashed in my memory, their jeers and taunts echoing in my mind. I was a ghost, a harbinger of death, moving from house to house, room to room. The villagers never stood a chance. Their fear tasted sweet, their pleas for mercy fell on deaf ears. "This is for Naruto," I whispered to each of them, my voice cold and devoid of emotion. "For every bruise, every tear, every drop of blood." By the time dawn broke, the village was eerily silent. Blood soaked the ground, the air thick with the stench of death. I stood amidst the carnage, my heart pounding with the aftermath of my rage. I had avenged Naruto, but at what cost? The darkness had consumed me, and there was no turning back. I returned to the safe house, my clothes stained with blood. Gaara looked up as I entered, his eyes filled with a mix of relief and concern. "It's done," I said simply, my voice devoid of emotion. Gaara nodded, understanding without words. "Naruto will need us now more than ever," he said softly. "We have to be strong for him.""I won't let him down," I promised, my eyes fixed on Naruto's sleeping form. "Not again."Together, we would face whatever came next. For Naruto, for our friend, we would find a way to heal. Even if it meant walking through the darkness, we would do it together.