Reaching For A Dream by Noodlehammer

Chapter 21

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Naruto opened his eyes, feeling at moment of confused surprise that he seemed to be still alive. He was sure that his last memory was of passing out after yet another enemy came out of the woodwork just when he thought it was finally over.

The sensation of clawed fingers gently being run across his scalp and through his hair served to relax him. He noted that his head was laying comfortably on someone's lap. A glance to the side revealed a dusky skinned and very naked abdomen.

This was nice.

Apparently aware that he had awoken, his head was pushed upwards until he was more upright and a large glass of water was placed into his hands. Becoming aware of just how terribly thirsty he was, he gulped down the water without delay, the cool liquid soothing his parched throat.

Not at all interested in getting up, Naruto placed his head back in Xanna's lap, feeling far too mellow from the feel of her fingers to even consider a change of position.

"Maybe I did die and went to heaven?" The blond said, seemingly to himself.

"If you were in heaven, then your head wouldn't be in the lap of a demon." His lover refuted dryly.

"I don't think I would like heaven much in that case, it doesn't sound like my kind of place." Naruto said back with a small grin.

"You're speaking as if they would let you in there after the way I've corrupted you. No doubt the heavens tremble at the thought of you dying and bringing your perversions with you." Xanna countered, her tone even dryer than before.

"I preffer to think of it as you 'improving' rather than corrupting me." He answered with a relaxed smile. The gentle scalp massage was seriously mellowing him out.

The two lovers lapsed into silence for a little while longer, just enjoying the peace and each other's closeness.

"You scared me you know? Saying that you were dead like that." The demoness said softly, still running her clawed digits through his hair, with the other one resting on his chest.

"I'm sorry." He said with complete honesty, truly regretful about the worry he had caused her. "I never expected that whoever was behind this would resort to using Orochimaru or that they would sell me out to Akatsuki for that matter, though at least Itachi and Kisame are dead."

"Are you certain that Itachi and Kisame are both dead? Jiraiya found Kisame's body, but made no mention of Itachi." Xanna asked with a frown. Despite everyone attempting to talk about it in hushed tones while the healers worked on Naruto, she had easily overheard mention of him being attacked by Orochimaru. Though the fact that the snake Sannin's body hadn't been found while Kisame's had could only mean that more than just that had happened.

"Yeah, he's definitely dead. He was sick and dying long before the battle started and the strain killed him. That weird black and white guy with green hair and the venus flytrap around his head must have taken his body, probably for the Mangenkyo Sharingan." Naruto reasoned.

"Jiraiya made no mention of any such creature." Xanna stated.

"Must have sensed the old pervert coming and decided to cut his loses by just taking Itachi. Good thing too, because there was no way I could have fought him off in the condition I was." The blond said with some relief. Talk about a close shave.

"If this odd dual toned entity took Itachi's dead body over the 'Kyuubi Jinchuuriki', then that can only mean that Akatsuki considers the Mangenkyo more immediately important than your capture."

"Strange, I was under the impression that Obito was the one who was actually in charge of Akatsuki. The only thing that I can think of that they would need the Mangenkyo for that desperately was their crazy plan to enslave the world in an eternal illusion."