Dealings in Sacrifice by Nehan Shinzui

A/N: Sorry, it's been forever since I updated. I've been awfully busy and suffering from writers' block and I've been working on my other story "Protect Me" which, I'm glad to say, has been largely successful. I kinda forgot about this story when I wasn't getting alot of reviews. And plus, I haven't been following the manga all that much anymore because, quite frankly, everyone is sickening me. Sasuke's bitch ass isn't dead yet and even worse than that, they've made him into a fucking Gary Sue. Sakura and //////////naruto are fucking retards that need to fucking get over themselves and this fucking Sasuke obsession dammit! Yeah, but oddly I still enjoy this fandom though not as much anymore. This chapter, I just skipped ahead to the Kage Summit Arc. Deal with it. (please)

Nehan Shinzui

Chapter Four: Struggling to Comprehend

As Karui's fists pummled the blonde, all Naruto could think was: Why am I doing this? It was humiliating what he was going through, demeaning in every possible way, but Naruto tried to convince himself that what he was doing was for the betterment of the ninja world and that surely, his small sacrifices here, would all in all help everyone involved in the long run. Blood gushed from his nose and he coughed up a considerable addition as the kunoichi relentlessly pounded him into the ground. He closed his eyes and sucked in a shallow breath as he readied himself for another blow. When it didn't come however, he tried as hard as he could to open his swollen eyes and inhaled for what felt like a lifetime. It was...it was Sasuke! Sasuke was here, protecting him and he was going to come back and it was...it was...He tried to smile and stumbled to a stand and reached for him.

"Sa--" Naruto mumbled, before reality came crashing down upon him. It wasn't Sasuke of course--it was Sai. And this realization made Naruto's heart clench and for all of his frustration to leak out of him weakly. "Stay out of this...Sai." the blonde heaved blood shooting out of his mouth as though he were spitting it out. "Don't interfere..." Sai looked at him sadly.

"Why are you doing this?" the Foundation member asked, a hint of sadness in his voice. "Why are you letting him cause you so much pain?" Naruto shook his head.

"It'll just cause more war and suffering and war if we let them...chase after Sasuke..."

Sai continued to look at him in sadness.

"And I think that you're causing him just as much pain as Sasuke is," Sai concluded. Sakura frowned thoughtfully. Tears filled her eyes. She tried to speak, stopped then restarted.

"I--I understand." she said in a choked whisper. She brushed past her teammate hastily. Sai sighed. (lol) He entered the room where Naruto recuperated briefly. Sitting in a chair by the bed he reached a hand out to brush some hair out of his eyes. Sai was slightly umcomfortable but he'd read that helping people while they were sick would lead to a lasting bond. It was quiet for about an hour, with the observer watchinng his friend sleep then, he reached across and brushe hair out of the boy's eyes again. Naruto's eyes opened and Sai jumped back in nervousness for a moment then settled down. It was just that Naruto's eyes were usually so full of life and happiness--but now they looked like hollow blue husks. He looked...dead. And that brought a strange feeling into Sai's heart. They stared blankly at each other for a moment before Naruto spoke blearily.

"Why did you leave me?" Naruto asked weakly. Sai was at a loss. He'd been by his side since he had saved him from Karui.

"I haven't left you Naruto." he said in confusion. "I've been with you all along."

Naruto blinked slowly at him. "Sasuke..."

Sai was momentarily speechless. Naruto thought he was Sasuke? He decided to satisfy Naruto's needs however and go along with the boy's delusion. "Um....yes?" Naruto closed his eyes for a moment.

"I'm sorry I wasn't able to give you what you wanted." he muttered, sweat popping on his forehead. "It was just so...sudden...and I--I wanted it to be special...to slide into it and not be too hasty..."

Sai wasn't sure what Naruto was talking about but he did as best he could to follow what he was saying. "That doesn't matter, Naruto. It doesn't. I'm sorry that I hurt you so much. " Sai paused. "And you don't have to apologize for anything. I understand." he added for good measure. He got a smile from his friend for his efforts. Reading was so helpful!

"I love you, Sasuke." Naruto said, teary-eyed and smliling. Sai gasped, taken sharply aback. He fumbled through his thoughts trying to remember anything he'd read on love relationships. He felt a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach and felt oddly warm around the ears. He felt strangely flustered.

"I ...I love you too..."he replied slowly. Naruto smiled and sunk lower into the bed, eyes drooping and in an instant he fell asleep. Sai still feeling warm. "I won't leave you again, Naruto." he whispered.

And there was nothing in a book that could've told him otherwise, in that moment.

A/N: I believe I rushed it towards the end but I really wanted to get this out and at the same time I was watching something on TV. I'm sorry this was so fucking short but constructive criticism would be appreciated. If you flame me though...so help me! I will find you and do awful things. I'll try to update sooner but I have like three other stoories to work on, Oh, and please look at some of my other work, namely "Protect Me" and "Control". Thank you for reading and please, please, please, review!

Nehan Shinzui