The Newest Member (A Naruto-Akatsuki Fanfic)

Chapter 28: Aches and Pains

The early afternoon sounds and senses filled the air, pulling Naruto closer to conscience and away from drugged captivity. His yes opened and shut like malfunctioning blinds, he saw the treeline move past him as he stared into their green depths. Nagato carried him like a newly born baby or a newly married bride. Clutched in his arms, his eyes the first thing to wake up in his numb body. he saw Hinata, her face serene and beautiful as Konan chirped her gossip, he wanted to call out to here but his lips were heavy. Sasori, Deidara and Orochimaru were in front of the group, arguing about true art.

"Puppets, lasting throughout time as monuments to history"

"Explosions ! to have true beauty and have it vanish in a second"

"the forever shedding white snake, leaving behind its past life to live longer and more powerful than before, that is true art"

No one seemed to talk about Itachi, but it was all heavily on their minds, Tensei had dealt a massive blow by using their Sharingan user, operations would need to be planned more thoroughly. Naruto could feel Nagato's heartbeat, beating faster as he gazed at Konan, Naruto would smile had it been possible. Hinata turned to check on the two, her eyes growing wide at the sight of Naruto's. She dropped back and clutched his hand, her face warming

"He's awake ... Naruto, I'm sorry but ... we needed to leave, Jiraiya Sensei ... well"

Naruto, with great effort, spoke "I...I know, Just get me home. I'm so tired ..."

Nagato nodded "We all need some more time to review strategies"

Naruto's eyes widened "So what happened to Anbu and the Leaf Ninja ?"

"We don't know ... We left in a hurry, no doubt the battle is still raging on now"

Konan placed her index finger to Naruto's mouth, hushing him "Don't worry about that, just rest and we will be home soon, okay ?"

"Okay .."

As his eyes fluttered shut his mind drifted into deep thought, where was Sasuke now ? What was he thinking, would he act on his own hate and seek Naruto out ? he hoped that very much. He felt his limbs ache and burn with the wearing off of Adrenaline, all he wanted now was to sleep, and curled in his uncles arms, that was the one thing that never occurred, his hate like caffeine, sleep would not be so easy. He had to sort out the issues regarding his father, the Kyuubi and now Jiraiya, he just wanted to leave this world with Hinata and relax.

The early afternoon sounds and senses filled the air, pulling Sasuke closer to conscience and away from Genjutsu Captivity. Itachi carried him, his face not angry or cold, but warm as if a weight had been lifted off his chest. Sasuke wanted nothing more than too lunge up and bite out his brothers treacherous throat, but instead he found himself shaking, tears pouring down his cheeks and he remembered what had happened. His lips puckered and he let out a low moan, Itachi clutched him tighter and sighed

"We will be safe soon, Sasuke. I'm so sorry ... Had I been there sooner I could have saved Sakura and what was left of your heart"

Sasuke only shook his head, his teeth bared in the agony of mourning, the burned after image of Sakura's bloody smiling face a vivid image in his mind, unable to be cleared from his thoughts. All he could do was stare paralyzed into the depths of the Forrest and search for peace among their green shades, he found only Sakura's bloody stare.