Naruto couldn't help the tears that were escaping his eyes as laid perfectly still, trying not to make a sound. When Sasuke had come home he'd pretended he was asleep so the boy wouldn't bother him. He felt like a prisoner, like he'd been thrust into some alternative reality with a Sasuke-look-alike who was really there just to hurt him.

He didn't understand why this was happening to him, he just wanted to be happy. Sighing as quietly as he could, he turned and buried his face in the pillow, hiding the tears in the white cotton.

----

The Present:

Tsunade blinked, looking at the scene she had asked the shinobi to leave in tact while she talked to Naruto. Never in her entire life had she seen such a scene. Every knocked over lamp, every scratch in the floor or walls, it all spoke of a desperate fight to live. It was obvious that Naruto's life had been in danger.

She took a deep breath, instantly regretting it as the stench of old blood, sweat and fear clogged her nose, making her gag. She clamped a hand over her mouth and willed the feeling away, refusing to give into the gore.

Taking a step into the apartment, she nodded to the guard and looked over at Sasuke's body. It's brown eyes were opened wide in shock, glazed over with death as his pale hand laid stiff on his chest, clutching the handle of a kitchen knife. It was hilt deep, bloody smears over the handle where the Uchiha had tried dragging it out of his body but couldn't get a grip.

Her heels clicked across the kitchen floor as she moved farther into the living area, looking at the spilt bowls of food, the shattered pieces of glass picture frames, vases and what appeared to be a cup.

Cushions had been ripped off the couch, like someone had been dragged off it without warning, finger nail gouges deep in the wooden backing of the furniture. The carpet beneath her feet was soggy with someone's blood, the stench of sake and coffee rising from a near by dark spot.

She moved off into the bedroom, looking at the half packed bags, feeling the sense of urgency Naruto must have felt when he was throwing clothes into them. She looked up, wondering why he hadn't left through the window when the other had gotten home, why he hadn't tried escaping before the mad man caught him. Her eyes widened when she realized the reason. Behind the blinds were solid metal bars, bolted straight into the frame of the window and denying any means of escape.

Her hand reached out, touching blood soaked ropes, skimming over a pair of scuffed hand cuffs and a belt spattered with rusty red splotches and strips.

Anger was slowly building up in her with everything she found. This hadn't been just a prisoner for the young boy, it had been a torture chamber.

And it had happened right under her nose...

---

Six Months Earlier:

Naruto yawned, coming in the door, his pack slung over his shoulder lazily. He was tired, having worked all day, not to mention catering to Sasuke's wants all night. He wanted to sleep, wanted some for of recreation that would leave him feeling dirty and ashamed.

Walking into the bedroom, he threw his things onto the bed, rubbing his eyes and reaching for the zipper of his jacket when he paused, looking to the window and having a sudden wish to climb out and escape. The door creaked open and he banished the thought, knowing he'd be caught before he could get help.

His teeth found the inside of his cheek and he bit down hard, keeping the tears back and his eyes steady as an arm slipped around his waist, holding him tight against a burning chest. "Welcome home, Sasuke."

He didn't get a verbal response, he hadn't been expecting one. His jaw tensed as lips pressed against his neck and he stood rigid, refusing to react. He was tired of this yo-yo game, when Sasuke wasn't raping or beating him, he was acting like he and Naruto had the sweetest relationship in the world. The act fooled everyone around them, but it didn't fool the Kyuubi boy anymore.

He felt a writhe in his stomach and closed his eyes, willing the demon inside of him to be quiet. He didn't want a fight, didn't want to be punished for the creature's fury at the way his host was treated.

The Uchiha would be going to take a shower, Naruto knew that, feeling him sigh and pull away. The roll of his breath made his stomach clench, and as he walked into the bathroom, action burst from him in a sudden flurry. His hands were working quickly and hurriedly, snatching up his packs and a few sets of clothes. Running through the apartment, he flung the door open and took off, eyes blurred with unshed tears as he ran fast and hard, letting his feet take him away from his prison. He didn't know where he was headed, only that it would be sanctuary for him.

His hand reached out from habit and the sliding door slammed to the side, clearing the path for him to rush forward and duck under a large oak desk.

Nothing moved, not even the air as he hugged his pack close and blinked away the tears, refusing to cry. The scenery was familiar, the bottom of the large chalk board and most of Iruka's chair filling his vision from his hiding place. It was so late that his teacher didn't have a reason to come back to the school, which made him wonder why the door was unlocked to the academy in the first place. He shook his head and scrunched into a smaller ball, just waiting for Sasuke's hand to try and drag him out.

Footsteps approached, slow and cautious, but he didn't say anything, just bit his lip and tried not to breathe. The steps were at the door now, and he could feel it slide close, the rattling from the old frame reverberating through the floor boards. Whoever it was stood right beside the desk now, the sound of creaking wood made Naruto's heart pound.

About to bolt, blue eyes looked around, searching for a way to get away. His actions made him practically laugh as a tanned face came into view.

Shikamaru looked puzzled, seeing the boy huddled under the desk like this, a large bruise spanning across his cheek and neck in the rough shape of a hand, like he'd been slapped too hard. There were bruises on his wrists, peeking out from under the jacket the boy and thrown on without zipping. Something about the injuries irked him, making his eyes narrow in suspicion. "Interesting resting place, Naruto. What're you doing here?"

His cigarette bounced in his lips as he spoke, the rancid smoke filling the space between them. The blonde just shrugged and flashed a careless smile. It didn't feel right still, especially not as Shikamaru listened to his words. "Just needed a familiar place, I guess."

"Who're you running from?"

Naruto winced. A visible wince that made the Nara's eyes narrow more and glare at him, as if staring at him like that would scour away the mask and lies. Something was horribly wrong, and it was bad enough that he could tell, worse so that Naruto was trying to hide it.

"N-no one, Shikamaru. Wha-why would you think that?"

"..." A cocked eyebrow made the blonde blush and look to the side, the bruise on his face coming into view more and Shikamaru hissed, grabbing Naruto's hand gently and tugging. "Come on out, no one else knows your hear, it's fine."

The boy stared at him for what felt like ever before nodding ever so slightly and shuffling forward, pushing his pack out with a foot. The Chuunin pulled it aside and moved back, helping the orange clad shinobi to his feet. "You still haven't answered who you're running from." He said, putting a thumb on Naruto's chin and guiding his head to the side, critical eyes sweeping over the fresh purple and blue bruise. "How'd you explain this, anyways?"

"Pissed off a girl by peeping at the baths."

"People bought it?"

A nod.

He wasn't getting anything out of him. Taking a deep breath, he pulled away, a hand rummaging around in his own pack, pulling out a small tub of sharp scented ointment. "Bruise balm, it'll help." He explained, unscrewing the cap and dabbing his pinky into it. Using a light and caring touch, he spread the medication over the area, then took another finger tip full. Taking the boy's hand, he massaged it lightly, rubbing the lotion into the wrist softly before pulling away and doing the same to the other hand. "So what was Sasuke's excuse for hurting you like this?"

No response, just a surprised stare. The Nara didn't lift his gaze off the injuries, watching as the swelling started to recede. "Wha-?"

"Naruto... I'm paid to notice these things, don't think I haven't noticed the last month. You've come into mission reception with hundreds of strange 'training' injuries, while your training partner, Sasuke, hasn't had much more than that 'better than you' smirk of his." His words were blunt, they had to be. There wasn't any sugar coating what was going on, it'd be a fool tactic to try. "You can't let it keep happening."

"Don't have much of a choice."

"You do. Stay with me and mine for a while. Sasuke won't pull shit if I'm the one who gets your things. He knows better than to reveal his ugly side around someone with social points, plus my house is never empty. As long as you're there, he can't get you."

This was his chance. This was Naruto's way out. Tears were spilling down his cheeks without him wanting them to, but he didn't care, he just nodded, gulped, and continued crying. He was free, he really was free...

Or at least he thought he was.

"Your bed will be in this room here, next to mine. If you need anything, just give me a knock." Shikamaru smiled and Naruto's stomach knotted, his head nodding out of habit and a small smile coming to his lips. "I promise, I won't ever take advantage of you."

Goddamn, this boy is WAY too good at reading me, the blonde thought, blushing and looking down. "Shikamaru... how am I ever supposed to repay you?"

A hand touched his hair, briefly and it was gone way before Naruto could look up and see his affection, it had been replaced by the Nara's normal smug look of laziness already. He had no clue what the other boy was feeling, and that frustrated the blue eyed shinobi. "By being safe. Now go investigate your room, I'll get your things and make an excuse to my mom. She'll probably give you some chores to make up for the extra mouth to feed. And don't worry about a rent, you're staying for free, no arguments."

He nodded and gulped, stepping into the room and looking at the cleverly undecorated decorations. A plant here, a generic picture there, green bed spread, white sheets; the perfect guest room for the non-complaining.

And Naruto was far from complaining.