There's a Reason He Doesn't Sleep

Shut up and listen

Itachi hummed along to a favorite song, tapping the wheel as he waited for the light to turn green. He wondered what he should do once he got there. A twisted smile placed itself upon his lips as he looked over at the passenger seat to look at the video camera and its designated equipment. Tucking a loose strand of hair behind his ear, he took a sip of the drink he bought back at the gas station and began driving as the light turned green. He had only a few minutes before he got there.

Naruto could hear Sakura trying to form words, her breaths shattered as she brought her hand to cover her mouth. "Is it really you?" She asked and Naruto could tell she was in tears which in turn, made him cry, too.

"Y-yeah. It's me." He responded, ignoring the curious eyes from the bushy eyed man driving the car. "Listen, Sakura." He sniffled, rubbing his hand across his eyes. "I need to tell you something..."

"We know, Naruto, we know." Se cried. "Kisame figured it out, we know it was Itachi." Naruto felt a burden lift off his shoulders, crying along as Sakura's sobbing became louder. The bushy eyes man only wondered what the hell was going on.

"Is that him?" He could hear Sasuke's voice. "Is that- is that Naruto?" A rustle was heard, meaning Sasuke probably snatched the phone from her hands. "Naruto? B-babe.."

"Sasuke." The blond spoke, a smile and a small laugh coming from him as he realized how much he missed Sasuke's voice in those four ever lasting days. "I'm sorry, I really am."

"No, Naruto don't be. He was in front of my eyes the entire time, I should've seen a hint of something but...fuck! Babe, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Naruto listened as he shook his head, knowing well it was all his fault to begin with; he was the one who never told them.

"Sasuke, no, I-"

"Naruto, are you safe?" Kisame was on the phone now. "Tell me where you are, is he near you?"

"Kisame." Naruto laughed. "Seems like everyone is there, huh?" He sniffled. "Yeah, I'm safe now."

"Where are you?"

"I'm hours away, but, Kyu. Tell me, Kisame, is he okay?" Naruto asked, suddenly the time feeling like it was going by slow.

"He's fine." Kisame answered, lifting another burden off the blond's shoulders. "Naruto, where are you? Tell me and I'll go pick you up. Itachi left about two hours ago, he could be near you."

"I told you, I'm fine." Naruto repeated. "I'll be getting dropped off at the next police station we pass." He let out a small gasp as he tried getting himself comfortable, evidently, he was still in much pain, especially after running through the woods. "Kisame, I'm calling the police."

Itachi hummed louder now, looking back at the rearview mirror and pulling over to the side to let several police cars pass by. He watched as they made a turn to where he was going, and cursed. "No." He said, continuing and driving past the entrance to where his rented cabin was located. Furious, Itachi dug his hand into his pocket, hoping to find his phone. "You're fucking kidding me!" He shouted, checking to see if any police cars had been following. "This isn't the end, no." He said to himself.

The man looked back at the blond, wondering what he had gone through if the boy was sleeping and practically reacting to every bump the car made. He wiped at his forehead, scratching a bushy eyebrow and finally turning towards the police station. "Kid, we're here." He announced, looking back and extending his arm to shake him awake. At the slightest touch, Naruto winced and made a face. Sighing, the man got off, walking towards the back of the car and opening the door. "Hey, kid." He said loudly. "We're he-"

He stopped as his eyes wandered over to where the blond had been clutching his shirt. He could be mistaken, but he swore he saw a faint red-purple mark where the shirt was slightly tugged at. Curious, the man moved the blond's hand away ever so slowly, eyes widening at what he saw.

He wasted no time in rushing inside the police station, unclear on what he had to do but knowing he had to get somebody to help. Grabbing the nearest uniformed man he saw, the bushy eyed man only shouted at him before dragging him out. "I need your help!" He said, unaware of the tightening grip he had on the police officer as he continued dragging him to where he left his car door open. "I picked him up on the side of the road. Said he needed a lift to the nearest station."

"And what's the problem?" The silver haired man asked.

"Well, this." The other man responded, lifting Naruto's shirt up. "This is the problem."

Kisame and Sakura sat silently in the waiting room. They were nervous about seeing Kyu, but even more about Naruto. He had been taken to a hospital about an hour away, and as soon as the authorities confirmed he was safe, Sasuke had sped out of the house, eager to get there while the rest prayed things turned out okay.

Kisame and Sakura knew things would be okay, of course, but there was still one problem; where was Itachi?

"Sakura and Kisame?" A slender woman appeared, looking around for the two. Watching as the two got up, she smiled and closed the distance between them. "I just need a signature and he'll be released. He should've been out yesterday."

"Mm." Sakura nodded, taking the clipboard and signing the line. "Couldn't he check himself out?"

The woman smiled. "He had some type of panic attack yesterday. The doctors had him stay another day, just in case." She led them towards Kyu's room where he was barely pulling a shirt over his head. The nurse then left them to attend to some other work.

"News?" Kyu asked as soon as he laid eyes on them. "Please tell me you found him." His voice was better than last time Kisame had visited. "Is he okay?" He was no longer in a wheelchair, but was now walking around gathering whatever stuff he had to gather in his crutches.

"Sasuke's...going over to see him." Kisame informed, taking a seat while Sakura leaned on the closed door. "Listen, Kyu." Kisame began. "It's about Naruto."

"What? What is it?" Kyu asked, now able to smile knowing his brother was okay. "Hey, as soon as I take a piss, we're leaving. You guys are taking me to see him." He said, walking over to the bathroom. "Although these stupid crutches are getting on my nerves. We're burning them as soon as we get home, I need to change before we go. God knows these clothes smell like shit."

"Hey, hey. If you want to prove you don't need crutches, go ahead. Ne my guest." Konan walked in, smiling happily as she hugged Sakura and Kisame. "I'd like to see how you uphold your pride by crawling your ass on the floor." She laughed. "How you feeling?"

"Better. My baby brother's safe, right?" He asked over to Kisame. The man nodded, looking over at Sakura and both debating who should come out and say it. "Hey, why do you guys look so let dow- wait..." Kyu stopped mid sentence as he pulled his shoes on. "Don't tell me, he was...no, please. How much did my brother suffer?!"

"Kyu, calm down." Sakura tried, but instead Konan shut her up.

"Konan, he has to know, you need to know, too." Kisame spoke, getting up to grab the damned crutches Kyu despised.

"Guys, no. Kyu's been restless practically this entire week. Any news now would only-"

"This is about Naruto, Konan! Both you and him need to know!" Sakura spoke, her voice stern and loud. "Now shut up, and please, whatever you do...just..." Sakura sighed. "Just listen."