Note: new chapter, hope you readers are enjoying it.

Save me.

~*~

Thankfully, everything was at peace back at the camp. Shikamaru was eating his fish like he hadn't eaten anything in months, and Naruto was staring at his fish like it was a monster ready to kill him. This sight might seem funny, but it made the raven haired sick. He could feel how his concern for Naruto was growing and growing. Something had to change and it better be quick. Naruto was weakening by the minute and god knows when the demon fox would take the lead.

Sasuke walked up to Naruto and kneeled down in front of him. Quieted he grabbed the roasted fish off the ground and ripped a small piece of flesh off, and then he shoved it gently in Naruto's mouth. The blonde stared at Sasuke for a minute, and what seemed like ages he began to chew the meat. The raven haired could feel his appetite slowly fade away when he saw the smaller boy in this state.

This wasn't Naruto.

Naruto used to be a very energetic boy with a mouth too big for his own good. He was full of jokes and self-confidence. Life was everything for him, and by the way he lived you could see he enjoyed it to the fullest. Of course, Naruto's hard past could always be seen if you looked straight in his eyes, but the blonde was strong enough to overcome that. he had overcome his past, something that Sasuke couldn't do. Scenes of Itachi killing his entire clan followed him like an ice cold snake, ready to strangle him when he lowered his guard. But Naruto, ignored and hated by everyone in Konoha, managed to deal with it and move on.

Naruto acted like a child – at least most of the time – but deep within was a strong and reliable boy.

When Sasuke offered the blonde another piece of fish he saw the boy shaking his head.

" I'm not hungry. " came the reply.

" You've got to eat. " Snorted Sasuke.

Sasuke offered Naruto, again, a piece of meat, but Naruto raised all of a sudden his hand in the air and smacked the food out of the raven haired hands.

" I don't want it! " Snarled the boy, and he turned his head to the right and thus avoiding Sasuke's eyes.

" Fine! " Snarled Sasuke back and he threw the fish angrily into the bushes.

With big steps he began to walk away. He saw the questioned eyes of Neji, but he ignored the other ninja completely. He knew what Neji wanted to say, he wanted to tell that there where ANBU nearby and that they had to flee. But Sasuke was so angry at the moment that he had to cool his head for a moment. He only wanted to help Naruto, so why wasn't that brat thankful to him?!

He sat down on a nearby rock and smashed his fist hard on it. Pain made him almost scream but he managed to keep his mouth shut. Feelings like impotence and anxiety began to affect him by the minute. No matter what he did, he couldn't make Naruto feel any better. It hurt him straight in the heart when he saw the normal happy boy in this pathetic state.

" Why he? Why not me! I deserve it! Not him! "

Sasuke buried his face in his arms and placed his hands on the back of his head. He shook his head wildly for a moment, trying to shake all those alien feelings away from him.

But it didn't work.

All of this was his fault and he had to make up for it.

When Sasuke lowered his arms he saw a pond not far from where he was sitting. So he jumped off the rock and fell on his knees. He splashed some water in his face and began to wash himself. Mud and dirt streamed down his face and fell with a soft splash in the water. It was about time that it stopped raining, everything started to get muddy and slippery.
The raven haired breathed in and out and cleared his mind for a moment. He just had to try a little harder, and show some more patience. It was Kyuubi that was trying to take over, so it was normal that Naruto acted like this. But still… it hurts.

Worried, Sasuke decided to go back. The ANBU were still searching for them, so getting separated from his friends wasn't the smartest thing to do. He walked quietly and with high caution back to the camp. Shikamaru was busy tending to Naruto's wound, and Neji sat high up in a tree scouting the place for enemies. Shikamaru looked up for a moment when he saw Sasuke approaching, but quickly turned his attention back to Naruto.

" How's the wound? "

" It's closing faster than I thought, probably Kyuubi's work. I dont think he wants his future body to be scarred "

" Damn that fox. "

" Indeed. " Sighed Shikamaru. " Hey Neji, anything up there? "

" Nothing " Said Neji as he jumped back down. " Absolutely nothing. I know I can trust my eyes 100 percent, but right now I'm starting to feel anxious. I know that the ANBU are near, so why can't I see them? "

" They are trained for that. "

" True… Ah Sasuke, so you finally decided to show up. You are quite an ass to leave us behind in this state. "

Neji was right and the raven haired didn't know how to replay to that. So instead, he gave a nod and sat in front of the small campfire that threatened to go out because of the rain.

" He's asleep. " Said Sasuke absently when he watched Naruto.

" Again… I don't like the way how much he sleeps. " Whispered Shikamaru.

Neji shook his head. " It's only natural… what if you were in Naruto's shoes? Being hydrated and starved like he is. I think that sleep is the only thing you would yearn for, and nothing else…However- " Continued Neji. "-there is something bugging me… If the Hokage and the others knew that Naruto's seal were weakening, then why didn't they do anything? I think that if they had interfered earlier that there might have been a different way to save him. "

" Forget it. " Snarled Sasuke. " What's done is done; it's no use crying over the past. What matters now is that we get Naruto to that recharge place as soon as possible. "

And everyone agreed on that. As soon as the sun would rise the next day, they would continue their journey. It was getting darker outside and Neji offered to stay on watch because of his good vision. So he jumped high up in a tree and hid between some leaves, this way he couldn't be seen by the ANBU or other enemies. Meanwhile, Sasuke and Shikamaru were done building a small hut and now they were out of the rain. They were shivering of the cold, but they couldn't make a fire because if they did they could be seen. Somehow, Shikamaru managed to fall asleep and Sasuke and Naruto were now the only two awake.

" Sasuke… " Whispered Naruto. " I'm sorry about the fish. "

" It's ok, I shouldn't have pushed you too much to eat it. "

" Thank you…" The boy gave a sheepish smile, but then all of a sudden a pained expression came upon his face.

" uhn! "

The blonde grabbed his head and tried to scream, but no sound came out of his mouth. Sasuke jumped up and placed his hands on Naruto's hands – it was Kyuubi.

Blue chakra encircled the small boy, but it didn't take long before it turned into a crimson red colour. Naruto shook wildly his head and tears of powerlessness streamed down his cheeks.

" Stay away! Leave me alone! " Whimpered Naruto. He dug his nails in his arms, hard enough to draw blood.

" Easy Naruto! Stay calm! Kyuubi will take the upper hand if you stay in this state! Easy! "

But Naruto didn't listen to Sasuke anymore, he was consumed in terror and angst. When Sasuke looked to the right he saw the confused face of Shikamaru that probably woke up because of Naruto's loud voice.

" Get out! This might get dangerous. Let me deal with it "

Shikamaru ran out of the hut without objections and jumped up in the tree, probably heading to Neji to inform him what was going on.

Sasuke however was still busy trying to calm Naruto, but it was a lot tougher than he would expect. It didn't take long until Sasuke began to panic and there was only one option to stop Kyuubi. The raven haired closed his eyes and let Orocimaru's seal consume him. Black signs appeared over his whole body and his blue chakra turned into a black/purple one. Then, Sasuke's and Naruto's aura intertwined. They almost hissed to each other, like two snakes that wanted to destroy each other. Sasuke held the blonde closed to his chest and emotions like rage, revenge, and anger began to fill him. He couldn't give in to them; he had to save Naruto first.

* Nice * Said a dark and low voice. * Do you really think that your power will scare me?! *

Sasuke gave a nod. " Yes "

It was quiet for a while.

* A power not of your own, given to you while resisting… Why not welcome it and enjoy it? Power is everything, especially when it's free. *

" I won't let you win damned fox! Naruto is too important to me to let him be killed by you. Why don't you leave him alone and go back to sleep? "

* How would you feel if you're imprisoned inside a small boy for the past twelve years? Wouldn't every prisoner seek freedom? I will, and for that this boy have to pay with his life *

" No! "

The red aura vanished and Naruto stopped jerking from right to the left. All the strength in Sasuke's body vanished along with the red chakra. He sat there for a while with Naruto's head on his lap, trying to catch his breath. Right now he had to clear his mind and suppress the feelings like hate and anger. The raven haired had to release his own seal to save Naruto, but even now he could feel the seal eating at him.

" Shit! "

Sasuke looked up when he heard Shikamaru's loud voice from outside the hut. The way Shimakaru cursed made Sasuke worried, so he laid Naruto gently on the dry grass and leaves and stepped outside – something he should've avoided.

The ANBU were everywhere.

When Shikamaru wanted to tell the teen that they were in trouble, he saw the black dots on Sasuke's body.

" Shit! " Said Shikamaru again.

This time it was Sasuke's whole body that was covered with black dots, and not just his left side. This meant that the seal that Orochimaru had given him was getting stronger and stronger by the minute. It was now not just Naruto that was in danger, but Sasuke was in danger as well. He had to stop using the seal, but in this condition he couldn't. There were ANBU everywhere with their kunai drawn, ready to attack them anytime soon. Neji, Shikamaru and Sasuke drew their kunai as well. It was now completely silent in the forest, not even a single animal dared to make a sound. However, Sasuke turned around when he heard someone landing behind him…

And he almost forgot to breathe…

It was Kakashi…

The gray haired ninja stood now in front of Sasuke, and he gave the boy a sheepish smile.

" So that's were you guys are. You have no idea how much trouble it costs us to track you guys down in this weather… Well then, shall we head back to Konoha? "

Sasuke shook his head for a moment to gain full access to his body again. He was kind of surprised to see his superior here; he never expected that Kakashi of all people would pursue them. It was probably the Hokage's order that brought them here.

" We won't go back, at least not until Naruto's seal is restored. " Stated Neji, keeping a close eye on the ANBU.

" I hope you guys know what you are doing " Retorted Kakashi back, his tone awfully serious. " You three are risking a war with Orochimaru by trespassing in his domain. "

" I know what we are doing. " Frowned Sasuke, trying to get a hold of the seal. " But I can't let Naruto die in front of my eyes. "

" You should know that a ninja's life isn't even worth one gold piece. Peace however, is worth a million. " Kakashi's voice sounded threatening. It was a very alien sound coming from him " If you three won't come willingly with us we are forced to use force. One last chance – are you guys coming with us? "

" No. " Replied Sasuke determined. His seal started to burn and the black dots began to grow. He smirked softly and closed his eyes. When he reopened them, they were red with to black dots in it – the Sharingan.

" I guess it can't be helped. "

Kakashi shoved his forehead protector up so that his left eye was visible. His Sharingan eye looked straight into the eyes of Sasuke.

When they heard a branch crack in the distance, they charged forward to each other. All the ANBU jumped out of the trees and launched themselves at Neji and Shikamaru…

To be continued~~~