Reanimation

Chapter Fifteen

One thousand one One thousand two One thousand three...
'95 degrees southwest of the original target location, 52 kilometers down – '
One thousand six One thousand seven One thousand eight...
'And they're still going... How can they still possibly track Kansuke when he's perfectly masking his chakra again?— '
One thousand two One thousand three One thousand four...
'Could it be they're using their snakes?'
One thousand nine One thousand ten... One thousand one...
'Or did they lose him already? Sarada and Mitsuki, no matter what happens, please do not let him see either of you—'

.

"Uncle Sasuke,"

His thoughts were disturbed and he came to a halt as soon as he felt a soft tug down his collar. He was quick enough to grab onto a huge tree trunk when the weight behind him threatened to push him over at the sudden change in momentum.

Boruto grunted. "I'm sorry... I said - I would not be a burden."

Sasuke shook his head.

"But I've been a big one - for the entire trip," the blonde continued. "I've been weighing you down."

Sasuke sighed heavily, "No". They both remained silent before he spoke again. "I'm actually surprised you're still enduring this."

"Barely," Boruto chuckled slightly, feeling his stomach tighten at the immense pain he was feeling for speaking, for breathing. He started to close his eyes again.

"Boruto," Sasuke said sharply, stopping the younger man from falling asleep.

"Hm?"

"The real reason I brought you along with me..." Sasuke said before trailing off.

"What is it, Uncle Sasuke?" The blonde asked through pain-gritted teeth.

"It wasn't your stubbornness," Sasuke continued. "I could have easily knocked you out and brought you back to the hospital if I really wanted to."

Gee... I know. Boruto raised an eyebrow, wanting to snap and tell the older man to just get on with it but not having enough energy left to do so.

"I brought you with me because I need your help," Sasuke finally said, his voice carrying so much hesitation.

It took a while before Boruto could respond. "And - you're not just -" he heaved at the pain as it started making its way up his throat, "- saying that to make me feel better?"

"No," Sasuke replied curtly. "I'm saying this so you can prepare yourself mentally and physically."

Bolt's eye squinted at what he was hearing. He was willing to help, but given a state like his, was he really the man that could help Sasuke best right now?

He'd just let his mentor down. Boruto groaned.

"Mentally, I can - although my mind feels so - drugged up," he whispered. "I overestimated myself physically - back there." The young man coughed and rested his head again on Sasuke's shoulder. "I was high."

"I understand. That's why we're stopping here for a while," Sasuke said, carefully tapping Boruto before lowering him down.

The blonde looked at him with tired eyes as he gently rested his back against a tree trunk. "You can leave me here, I can recover by myself, I promise - " he grimaced. "Can't go on - weighing you down like this and passing out."

"No, I already told you," Sasuke said, standing up to look at the trail they still had to go through. "I need your help."

"You mean it?" Bolt asked, giving him a look that told him to get real.