Naruto x Sasuke back together

Chapter 17

Naruto's heart hammered in his chest as Sasuke's grip weakened, blood seeping from a fresh wound on his side. Sasuke's breaths were shallow, his eyes drifting shut, and a wild panic seized Naruto. Desperation clawed at him as he turned inward, calling out to Kurama with a dark urgency. "Kurama, if he doesn't wake up, I swear I'll destroy everything," he growled, voice rough and unhinged.

Kurama's deep voice resonated within him, carrying an edge of dark approval. "I'm with you, Naruto. If this world dares to take him, it will pay the price."

But before Naruto could even gather his thoughts, a mocking voice drifted from the shadows. "He trusted you, you know," the voice taunted. A cloaked figure stepped forward, eyes gleaming with malicious satisfaction. "He let his guard down because he thought you were here to help him. Imagine his surprise when you struck him down."

Naruto's eyes widened, realization flooding him. "You... you disguised yourself as me?"

The attacker smirked, unphased by Naruto's rage. "That's right. It was almost too easy. He trusted you more than anyone, so he never suspected a thing. Until it was too late."

A feral snarl escaped Naruto, his rage rising uncontrollably. Kurama's power surged within him, mixing with Naruto's fury as they focused on a singular goal: obliteration. "You're going to regret ever touching him," Naruto hissed, his voice dark with a promise of vengeance.

The enemy barely had time to react as Naruto lunged forward, half-merged with Kurama's energy, claws forming at his fingertips. A ruthless storm of attacks followed as Naruto tore through the shinobi, each strike brutal and merciless. The power around him crackled, turning the forest into a battlefield painted in blood and dust. Every thought, every heartbeat was consumed by one need: to protect Sasuke and punish those who dared to hurt him.

When the last enemy fell, Naruto stood among the wreckage, his breath ragged. Blood and destruction stained the air, but his focus sharpened back onto Sasuke, lying still against a tree. Naruto's heart clenched as he rushed to him, gently lifting his limp form. His movements softened, filled with an uncharacteristic gentleness even as the power of Kurama's chakra still simmered within him. His protective instincts raged—he wouldn't let anyone touch Sasuke.

Just as he began to consider where to take Sasuke to treat his wounds, footsteps approached, snapping his attention to the edge of the clearing. Naruto's muscles tensed, ready to defend, but his eyes landed on familiar figures moving quickly toward them.

Kakashi and Sakura emerged from the trees, eyes widening at the scene. The blood-splattered ground, the fallen bodies, and Naruto standing protectively over Sasuke told them something terrible had happened. Kakashi was the first to speak, his voice steady but concerned. "Naruto, what happened here? Is Sasuke—"

Naruto shifted instinctively, his body blocking their approach. His face twisted with a mixture of defiance and protectiveness, and a low growl escaped his throat. "Don't touch him," he snarled, even surprising himself with the intensity of his words.

Sakura blinked, her hand halfway extended. "Naruto, please... I need to heal him. Let me help."

Before he could respond, Kurama's voice rumbled through him, more possessive than ever. "No one touches him! No one!" The raw authority in Kurama's words made Naruto's eyes flash red, the energy crackling around him so fierce that Sakura hesitated, her hand pulling back slightly in shock.

Kakashi, always attuned to the slightest change in Naruto, placed a calming hand on Naruto's shoulder, watching Naruto carefully. "Naruto, we need to help Sasuke. He's in bad shape."

Sakura tried again, her voice a mix of pleading and urgency. "If you don't let me heal him, he could die! Naruto, please—who else is going to save him?"

Kurama's growl surged through Naruto, the possessiveness undeniable. "I'll do it." The words felt almost foreign to Naruto, resonating through his chest, but the fierceness in them was also entirely his. "Just... stay back," Naruto added, his tone fierce but conflicted. He felt something primal, something he didn't fully understand, telling him to keep everyone else away.

Kakashi watched Naruto closely, his expression one of wary understanding. After a tense pause, he finally nodded, signaling Sakura to step back. "All right," he said quietly. "If Kurama can heal him, we'll trust you."

With Kakashi and Sakura at a safe distance, Naruto gently laid Sasuke on the ground, his hands hovering over the bleeding wound. He could feel Kurama's chakra merging with his own, guiding him, and soon a deep, red glow formed around his hands, bathing Sasuke in warmth and energy. The chakra pulsed, intense and protective, as it began to knit Sasuke's injuries together.

The focus required was all-consuming, and Naruto felt Kurama's presence closer than ever, merging their intentions as they worked to keep Sasuke alive. Through this shared effort, Naruto could sense Kurama's fierce protectiveness mixing with his own desperation. The feeling was powerful, raw, and unyielding; they would protect Sasuke, no matter the cost.

Gradually, Sasuke's breathing steadied, his wounds closing under the healing energy. The tension in Naruto's chest began to ease as he saw Sasuke stir, his eyes slowly opening to meet Naruto's gaze. There was confusion in Sasuke's eyes, but also something else—gratitude, maybe. Or something deeper, something Naruto could feel but couldn't quite name.

"Na... Naruto?" Sasuke's voice was barely a whisper, but it was enough to release the knot in Naruto's heart.

A faint smile tugged at Naruto's lips, but he was still guarded, glancing warily at Kakashi and Sakura. For a moment, he didn't want anyone else near. Kurama's voice whispered quietly in his mind, echoing his feelings: "We keep him safe. No one else."

Seeing Sasuke open his eyes, Kakashi and Sakura approached again, but Naruto's body instinctively shifted, still blocking them. Kakashi observed Naruto's protectiveness with a careful eye, seemingly understanding the complex emotions within him. Finally, he spoke gently, "Naruto, you saved him. And whatever it was that hurt him, you took care of it."

Naruto's gaze softened, feeling the last of his adrenaline draining away as he focused back on Sasuke. The desperation he felt moments ago was slowly replaced by a fierce relief, and he leaned closer, his voice quieter. "I'm not letting anything happen to you again, Sasuke."