Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. I just wish I did.

Beta: the lovely Pure Red Crane. Thank you for all your hard work. ;-)

Warning: Sasunaru! Meaning malexmale love people! If you don't like it, don't read it!

Chapter 10: Finally

He woke up screaming, pain stabbing him in his chest. He clawed at it, trying to get it away.

He cut his fingers, but that pain barely registered. The pain was so heavy and all-consuming that he could barely see. Cut... It was a knife – no, a kunai.

His fingers stung, and felt very sticky.

It took his pain-filled mind a few seconds to catch up.

Someone was straddling him, someone about the same size as him – a female, judging by the screeching. That certainly also explained the pressure on his chest.

"He is mine! You don't get to have him, you FREAK!"

She kept trying to stab him in the chest, right where his soulmark was.

Right where his heart was.

He freaked out even more. Was she actually trying to destroy his mark? Or just plain out trying to kill him?

Stopping his screaming, he tried to grab her arms and stop her. But she kept stabbing, and only now did he realise half her stabs didn't do any damage – where she tried to cut up his mark, her kunai didn't pierce his skin.

Someone else arrived and ripped the girl off of him. She screeched, louder than before as flames tore at her clothes and flesh.

There was blood everywhere he was looking. It made him dizzy, just seeing it, even as he laid down. He curled up, hands covering the multiple stab wounds around his heart. He started coughing. His chest hurt so badly.

Where was all the blood coming from? Had he just coughed some up?

Someone picked him up.

"He needs immediate medical attention." Kakashi said, piercing through the haze Naruto was in. "Sasuke, don't kill her, please. We need to interrogate her later."

Naruto blinked. Sasuke?

He looked up, and indeed, Sasuke was standing between him and the girl. His whole frame was shaking in rage. Naruto could only imagine the look on his mate's face.

He was in too much pain to feel anything through their bond, but there was no mistaken that amount of rage.

Sasuke turned his head, and looked at Naruto over his shoulder. His eyes... That Sharingan looked different. He shot Naruto a look, and the blond couldn't really make out what he was thinking.

Sasuke's whole face looked really different as well, illuminated by the inferno of flames behind him.

"Sasuke! We don't kill our own people!" Kakashi yelled sternly. "Don't make me wait. Cuff her and bring her with us. And extinguish those flames."

Naruto blinked. Right, the girl wasn't the only thing on fire. Half the alleyway was engulfed in... black flames? Naruto had never seen black flames before. How had he not noticed the colour of those flames before?

He felt so feint…

"Let's go." And Kakashi was off.

It was so sudden that Naruto flinched, which hurt his chest again.

He coughed. Yep, definitely coughing up blood. Had she stabbed his lungs. Was that why breathing hurt?

Kami, was he going to die?

He kept getting hurt. Again, and again. Whatever had happened in Wave, in the forest, and now this? What kind of shinobi was he? How pathetic...

Kakashi ran really fast. In what felt like a matter of seconds, they were in the hospital and Hiruma-sensei was yelling at people as Naruto was placed into an operation room.

"What the hell happened, you shitty cyclops?! I just released him from this hospital yesterday!" the angry medic yelled out as Kakashi laid Naruto down on the table.

"He was attacked in the village. I need to go retrieve the culprit before Sasuke actually kills her."

"No!" Hiruma snarled as he put his green-glowing hands over Naruto's mangled chest. "You need to fetch that seal master and pronto! This kid is dying, and I needed that seal fixed yesterday! THIS IS A PRIORITY! GET GOING!"

Naruto flinched, eyes immediately seeking the blond man. "Am I-?"

Blood came up his throat and he had to stop talking to cough it out.

Hiruma cursed, and placed his chakra glowing hands over Naruto's heart.

He wasn't sure how much time had passed. It just felt like forever. He was certain that Hiruma's chakra was the only thing keeping him around and conscious. The emotions he felt were too overwhelming though. He was surprised that he hadn't blacked out from the overload. He wasn't sure where his feeling started and Sasuke's ended. All this pain, fear, panic and an overwhelming amount of rage, it was just...too much.

There was more yelling outside the room. Was that Sasuke he could hear?

Naruto tried to focus. Kakashi had gone. He was pretty sure he was actually alone in the room with Hiruma when the door burst open. A broad-shouldered man with long spiky white hair rushed in.

And yes, that was definitely Sasuke yelling in the hall.

The stranger didn't say anything, but the look on his face spoke volumes. This was a quiet sort of rage, the likes of which Naruto had never seen before. In a flash, the man stood over him, one hand raised and the tips of his fingers glowing with Kanji.

"Brace yourself, kid. This will hurt."

And then the pain sharpened. The fingers were slammed into his stomach. A brief burst of all-consuming pain, and then suddenly he could breathe again. Something inside him unclicked, a wave of power rushing through his body and suddenly, the pain disappeared.

It was disconcerting. He could actually feel his own skin knitting itself back together. It glowed a bit with red chakra along the way, but it was over before any of them could react. Even the lingering muscles aches from before were gone. He just felt tired to the bone.

He took deep gulps of breath, coughed one more time, to get rid of the excess blood, and then relaxed with a deep sigh. He took a deep breath, and he could feel the tension leaving the room.

Was this the Kyuubi's power? Wauw…

"Holy shit, that was... Damn." Hiruma cursed, before rounding on the white haired man with a glare. "You got here just in time, you damned pervert. What took you so long?"

The stranger grimaced. "I would have come sooner if I knew exactly why I was needed. Details are important, damn it."

Naruto blinked at the guy. "Who are you?"

Even his voice sounded exhausted.

"My name is Jiraiya." The man said, very subdued.

The way the man said his own name… It sounded like he expected Naruto to know him. Know of him? Was the guy famous or something?

"Thank you." Naruto said, feeling exhausted. He leaned his head back, and closed his eyes briefly.

"I best let duck-butt kid in before he destroys the hospital as well." Hiruma sighed, sounding just as tired as Naruto felt.

Sasuke rushed in as soon as Hiruma peaked outside the room. He nearly flung himself onto the surface Naruto was laying on, but stopped himself abruptly just next to him. He was clearly hesitating. Naruto, bone tired but wanting to comfort and needing some comfort himself, raised his hand and reached.

Sasuke grabbed his hand immediately, but very gently.

"You... Are you feeling better?" Sasuke said with a croaky voice.

"Yeah." Naruto managed a sincere smile. "Once the seal was sorted out, Kyuubi took care of everything."

"Thank kami." Sasuke actually sagged in relief.

"Come on, let's get you into a real room for some rest." Hiruma said.

He was moved before he realised it. He might even have dozed off for a while, because he couldn't actually remember moving. The new bed he got was big and comfy. Staying awake there was hard. Sasuke actually got into the bed with him, just to hold him close.

"What happened?" Naruto asked when they were finally alone, trying to keep awake. He was laying against Sasuke.

"I...I think I might have killed someone?" Sasuke sounded a bit unsure, but not in a way that showed he cared. It was very clear he didn't care whether he had killed the girl that had assaulted Naruto. Now that everything had calmed down, their bond had cleared up as well. Naruto could feel how little remorse Sasuke actually had. It should have scared him. Hurting someone and not feeling bad about it, was usually a bad sign. But right now, he himself didn't care either.

"I'm not sure. The...person that hurt you. I definitely set her on fire. But Kakashi got me out of there, so I have no idea...how that ended. I don't mind either way."

"It took me by surprise. It's been years since someone attacked me in the village. I mean, visibly attacked me to draw blood. I didn't think anyone would try that during the day, especially so out in the open." Naruto admitted.

"It was... really scary. I stopped thinking when I felt the pain. I am not even sure how I got to you. I don't remember running. And I'm not even sure where the fire came from. It's not a jutsu I've used before." Sasuke tightened his grip on Naruto, and the blond only snuggled closer.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME?! HOW MANY TIMES HAVE THIS VILLAGE ATTACKED HIM!?"

"They are making a lot of noise out there." Naruto muttered.

"I don't know who is yelling, or who is getting yelled at. But they deserve it." Sasuke replied. "I do wish they did their yelling somewhere else though."

"WILL YOU IDIOTS SHUT UP! THIS IS A HOSPITAL! HAVE YOUR ARGUMENT ELSEWHERE!"

"Ah, Hiruma-sensei just got involved." Sasuke commented.

Naruto laughed softly. "I like him."

"He grows on you." Sasuke admitted grumpily.

Whatever he was going to say next was interrupted by their door opening.

Their Hokage came in, followed by that Jiraiya fellow, Kakashi and even Hiruma-sensei.

"So, your name is Uzumaki Naruto, huh?" Jiraiya asked, an angry look on his face.

"Euhm, yes?" Naruto wasn't sure what to think.

The Hokage sighed resigned. "Jiraiya."

"That is a strange coincidence. I was going to have a godson named Naruto. His parents had asked me, you see, because shinobi life is never filled with guarantees. But I was told, when my student and his wife died, that the baby had died with them." He shot very angry looks at the Hokage, but looked at Naruto as well. His eyes softened when their eyes locked.

Naruto felt stunned. Was...Was the man saying what he thought he did?

"So, you were supposed to take care of Naruto?" Sasuke asked in his place.

Jiraiya nodded and Naruto felt as if he was freefalling.

"I'm not sure I'd have been good at it. But I would have tried." Jiraiya admitted.

Someone who actually wanted him, who would have tried for him. Maybe his parents had loved him, after all. If they had died thinking there was someone who was going to step up for their son...

But then why? Why had Naruto spent his life alone, hated by everyone, thrown out onto the streets, constantly in fear of another attack? He was forever grateful to Teuchi and Ayame for taking him in, but...

"Come now, Jiraiya, you spend your life on the road. How would you have raised a child?" the Sandaime said. "It wouldn't have been practical."

Naruto froze.

"Practical?" Jiraiya said just as shocked. "Practical? Is that why you lied to me? I could have taken care of a child, even while working. Your precious spy network would not have collapsed that easily. Or were you worried I would take your newest Jinchuuriki out of the village?!"

The Hokage sighed. "It was not my decision. The council-"

"Oh, screw your excuses. You are the Hokage. Your word is law!"

"Not back then. Our Yondaime had just died. Konoha didn't have a Hokage." the Sandaime interjected.

"Maybe. But what about after that? What about after you were reinstated?" Jiraiya sneered at their Hokage.

Sasuke was scowling, tightening his grip on Naruto. Kakashi was watching the two arguing men with a sharp eye, same as Hiruma.

"I am taking him with me. " Jiraiya said after a moment of silence.

"You can't-"

"Try and stop me. I think it's best for everyone. You said it yourself earlier – the council is already on your back about the attack. I'll take Naruto outside the village, and give both him and the village a break from each other. Besides, taking him is my right. No, my privilege. Unless you want to join Kushina early and explain this mess to her. "

The Hokage blanched.

"What do you say, kid? Want to get out of the village for a bit? " Jiraiya grinned at him, all traces of anger gone.

Naruto had to fight to not just blurt out a 'Yes.' He wanted to. Oh, he so wanted to. Especially after today.

"I'll come as well." Sasuke said.

"You, huh? You an Uchiha, kid? Why would you want to come?"

It was Hiruma who snorted. "Come on, don't tell me you didn't see the Uchiha soul mark on your godson earlier."

"No, no, I saw the mark. And the both of you look very comfortable together in bed like that. But soulmarks isn't something you just bring up with someone you don't know. It is also very rude to ask or assume, so I want them to say something." The man grinned sheepishly.

Sasuke made a noise." Well, we are bonded. And I think we could both do with some time out of the village." A dark look entered his eyes briefly.

"Why don't we all go? It will be good for team bonding." Kakashi proposed.

Jiraiya arched an eyebrow at the man. "I don't particularly care. But fine, if that's what the kid wants."

They all turned to look towards him. The Hokage was still wearing a grimace, but he wasn't protesting (out loud anyway).

"Euhm... Sure?"

Tbc.

Did you like it? Jiraiya finally got there! And ohoh, the Sandaime is in trouble! But Things are looking up for Naruto.

Also, to avoid confusion: Hiruma is called sensei, because as I understand it, that is what they call doctors in Japan as well as teachers? It is meant as a form of respect. Please correct me if I am wrong ^^

Thank you all for sticking around! I really appreciate all your feedback 3 I can't wait to read what you all think off this chapter! So please leave a comment!