IT'S ALL FOR THE MISSION (Sasuke x Naruto)

Chapter 18

The word "Minato-sensei" fell from Tobi's throat--a deep, raw sound stripped of all pretense. It was a terrifying, resonant sound.

​Naruto's head snapped up, her eyes wide with shock and confusion. "COME AGAIN?" she demanded, challenging the masked figure who had just uttered her father's name with such agonizing familiarity.

​Sasuke's grip on her arm became a non-negotiable command, pulling her back forcefully. "Stop. Please, Omae" (Omae means wife)

​Tobi (the exposed Obito) was rigid. His single exposed eye was fixed on Naruto's face. He wasn't seeing her. he was seeing a ghost. The blond hair and the Fourth Hokage's blue eyes were an unbearable, vivid illusion of the man he'd adored and destroyed. A visible tremor ran through his body

He was lost in a catastrophic flashback. He saw the three of them: Rin, her kind eyes filled with terror and resolve; Kakashi, his friend, his rival, his hand thrust through her chest; and himself, screaming, watching his world shatter.

​The image shifted, replacing the bloody mist with the flash of Minato's  yellow hair, the terrifying presence of his sensei, always just out of reach, always saving the world that Obito had come to despise.

​"The eyes...who are you really?!," Obito's voice grated, deep and strained with pure anguish

"let go!" Naruto hissed, twisting her arm, ready to confront this person. She didn't care about the mission; she wanted to tear that mask off. But as she lunged, a sudden, wave of nausea hit her. Her knees buckled, and she clamped her hand over her mouth.

Sasuke instantly let go, and stepped towards her, bracing himself to catch her.

"TOBI, WHAT IN THE SEVEN HELLS ARE YOU DOING?!"

Deidara yelled and grabbed the arm of his partner and shook him violently. His face was white with terror.

"You are blowing our cover, you idiot! Stop staring at the villagers!" Deidara frantically yelled again, his voice laced with forced authority. "I told you! they are just locals! We have no business here! Pain will kill you, if you blow this up!"

The physical shock and the mention of Pain forced the memories back down. The terrible, aged voice vanished.

"Senpai?" the high-pitched, childish voice of Tobi returned, laced with confusion. He quickly regained his bounce, the terrifying stillness gone. "I... I got dizzy! I was just admiring the nice blonde lady's hair, Senpai! Is she mad at Tobi?"

Naruto gagged, leaning heavily against Sasuke, clutching her stomach.

​Sasuke seized the distraction, his eyes fired with protective fury as he slipped back into the civilian role. 

​"She's with a child!" Sasuke yelled dramatically, playing the role of the civilian husband whose wife was insulted and sickened. "Look what you've done!"

​Tobi gasped, clutching his mask in exaggerated shock. "Senpai, were you flirting with a pregnant married woman?!"

​"I WASN'T FLIRTING, YOU MORON!" Deidara screeches, red-faced.

The bickering behind them  faded as Sasuke hauled Naruto deeper into the thick treeline. He didn't let go, even when they were far enough that the sparklers and the intense vibes of the Akatsuki duo were a distant memory.

​Finally, they reached a small clearing hidden by heavy branches. The moment Sasuke stopped, the tension snapped.

​Naruto's face was bright red with fury. 

"Dobe," Sasuke started, holding her shoulder. "You good?"

She yanked his hand back with enough force to make him stumble. She wasn't looking at him....her eyes were fixed on her own trembling hands.