Jugo arrives to take Sasuke. They're gone without a word for more than a week. Naruto receives a visit from Danzo, but it doesn't go how he expected.

"Listen," the president starts, jabbing the blond man in the chest. "I don't care what you do in your free time, but keep it quiet and don't get people like Koharu Utatane involved. She's relentless when it comes to that stupid Uchiha kid."

"All right," Naruto chokes out.

"Just forget about him," Danzo reasons. "I can keep your reputation safe. You have a promising future if you stick by my side. Don't let a whore ruin that. You can't have distractions in this line of work. They'll only hold you back."

"I love him," Naruto confesses, unable to help himself. He can't keep lying. There's no point to it. Danzo already knows the truth.

The president sighs loudly. "If you do me some favors, then I'll happily forget what you said and I won't rat your ass out to that crazy bitch Koharu. She won't have to know that he's here."

"Okay," Naruto says hoarsely.

Danzo smiles a facetiously good-natured smile. "Lovely," he chimes before taking his leave. "We'll be in touch."

||XxXx||

Naruto doesn't pay much attention to Danzo's warnings and soon enough Sasuke is back. He decides not to tell Sasuke about the visit Danzo paid him. He realizes that there is no point to it. It's his job to protect Sasuke and he hasn't done a good job at it. He can't help but feel like the world is out to get them both.

Sasuke laughs a lot more. Naruto has noticed it. For the duration of the day, he's been laughing and smiling. He's been doing it more than Naruto has ever seen before. It's music to his ears, but he can't help but feel strange about the whole thing. On top of that, he's horny. Naruto has been trying not to give in. Somehow, he feels wrong about it. It feels like a lie.

Right now, they're sitting at the dinner table, having just finished eating. "Sasuke," Naruto starts, "do you remember what you said about Danzo being here?"

Sasuke nods. "Yes, he saw my file. That's why I ran off."

Naruto nods, relieved he remembers that much. That's the tricky thing about this procedure – the memories that were removed were memories that Sasuke considered abusive. In a sense, it's subjective. His brain did all the work. All Naruto did was give it the kick.

"All right," the blond continues. "Do you know why he might've been here?"

Sasuke wrinkles his nose and shakes his head. "No, sorry."

"There's an election coming up," Naruto mentions somewhat offhandedly.

"A presidential election?" Sasuke pries.

Naruto nods. "Danzo has served two terms. He can't serve again. I'm not exactly sure what he has planned, but I'm worried he might try to use me and my facilities to do it. I think that's why I wasn't arrested yet."

"Why you?"

"I have a background in politics as well as medicine," Naruto reveals to him. "Plus, I have status. So, if need be, I probably have a lot to offer him."

Sasuke raises an eyebrow. "Politics, too?"

"I was part of a council long before my father passed," the blond explains. "Then I took over his company."

"Wow," Sasuke murmurs. "Is there anything you haven't done?"

Naruto cracks a small smile before faltering. "If Danzo has something planned, he'll keep any crimes I commit a secret and brush them as far under the rug as possible. I don't know what he wants me to do... Maybe he wants me to drug the entire city by slipping memory suppressants into the water supply. Then he can run for president again." He snorts back a laugh and then adds, "Probably not. That'd be too difficult..."

Sasuke looks thoughtful for a moment. "Why was I so scared when I saw him?" he asks. "I can't for the life of me remember..."

Naruto smiles piteously. "Danzo Shimura is a bad guy. I'd be scared, too." He can feel a pinch in his head, an after effect of the drugs that were administered. "Do you remember what happened when you got back to the brothel?"

"I did?" Sasuke asks, raising an eyebrow. "I don't think so. I don't remember that. I just came back here. I feel like there was something I was supposed to tell you, but I can't even remember it."

"Oh, my mistake," Naruto says, playing it off. He chooses now to retire, feeling a migraine coming on. He kills the lights and crawls into bed only to have Sasuke follow him.

"What's wrong?" he pries, entering the dark room.

"Migraine," the blond murmurs. "Drug withdrawals."

"How?" Sasuke asks, lying down with him.

"I was a test subject for most of my life," Naruto tells him groggily. "Ask me about it later if you want."

"Okay," Sasuke says softly.

"You don't have to stay in here," Naruto adds, "but keep the doors locked and scream if you need me. If Jugo shows up again, don't leave without telling me. If anything bad happens at any point in time, run into the woods this time... not the streets."

"I'll stay with you," Sasuke decides, resting his head against the blond's shoulder.

"All right," the blond relents softly.

||XxXx||

Late in the night, there are knocks at the door. With a sigh, Naruto gets out of bed and, along with Sasuke, goes downstairs to answer it. They welcome Karin inside this time.

"Sasuke needs to stay here for a little while longer," she says with crossed arms. "There are cops everywhere and there's no way in hell I can move around the city with Sasuke. They're probably already searching for him. I know this is asking a lot, but you need to keep him here. Please. And if you need to go out, don't stay gone for too long."

Naruto is fearful and relieved at the same time. He wants to spend time with Sasuke, but he's unsure if it's safe. "All right..." he says.

"And Sasuke..." she starts, glancing at the brunet. "If there's nowhere to hide and if you need to run, run into the forest. Avoid the city, it's too populous."

Sasuke simply nods his head, somewhat irritated that everyone keeps reiterating it. Karin is gone after that, pulling up her hood and disappearing into the darkness. Naruto shuts the door after that, locking it and turning on the alarm system for good measure.

"I'm so much trouble," Sasuke murmurs.

"You're worth it," Naruto assures him.

Sasuke wrinkles his nose, shrugging. "I feel like I'll never catch a break... that we'll never catch a break."

"We might not," Naruto admits to him.

Sasuke laughs and sobers with a sigh. "Probably," he agrees. "Does your head still hurt?"

"Not as bad," the blond says.

"Want to go rest some more?" Sasuke offers.

Naruto softens. "Yeah, actually. That would be nice." And perhaps it's not the act of resting itself he finds so enticing, but being close to Sasuke in the most innocent sense of the word. So, they move back upstairs and crawl into bed once more. Naruto wraps his arms around Sasuke, who relaxes in his hold.

"What would you do if I said I loved you?" Sasuke asks quietly, unsure if he should say it aloud.

"I'd say it back," Naruto says.

"I love you," Sasuke confesses.

The words cause Naruto to smile, for he knows exactly how much it means. "I love you, too."

||XxXx||

Morning comes fast. Sasuke wakes up wrapped in two strong arms. He feels calm, safe. It's a feeling he'd like to get used to but he understands the danger they're living simply by being together. He keeps his eyes closed, not daring to move. He wants to stay like this for just a little while longer.

What could be mere minutes later, or an hour, he feels Naruto stir. The blond lets out a groggy moan, pressing his lips to the back of Sasuke's head. "Awake?" he asks.

"Yeah," Sasuke says. "For a while now. I think it's past noon."

"You didn't have to stay," Naruto tells him. "You could have went and gotten a bite to eat."

"I wanted to stay," he admits. "I like being held by you. You're warm."

Naruto chuckles, kissing him again. "Let's make a late lunch together," he suggests. "Then I need to make an appearance at the lab, but I'll be home soon and we can cuddle again."

Sasuke snickers. "Okay, deal." The two of them get up and make their way downstairs and into the kitchen. Sasuke feels giddy about being allowed near a stove. "I've never cooked before," he admits.

"Wow," Naruto states. "I'll show you how. It's pretty easy and fun when you get the hang of it."

And this is how they spend the morning. They mix and pour and stir. Sasuke asks questions about the buttons on the stove and Naruto responds with humored patience. He likes teaching the brunet new skills. He likes seeing the curiosity and awe on his face when he learns something.

Sasuke would like to be able to cook for Naruto someday. He thinks it would be nice to play that part, even if it's just once.

After a lavish lunch, they shower together and shampoo each other's hair. Naruto throws on his work clothes, while Sasuke puts his pajamas back on.

Naruto doesn't want to leave, but he knows if he doesn't make an appearance it won't be good.

"Be back soon," he promises and Sasuke sends him off with a peck on the lips.

When the blond is gone, Sasuke lounges around the house. He moves up into the library and picks up a book, reading it slowly and carefully. It takes him a long time, but he is pleased with each sentence he finishes.

||XxXx||

It is late in the evening when Sasuke hears a rustling in the house, waking him from a nap. The sun is going down and the house is dim. Sasuke clutches his chest, slowly getting out of bed. He tip toes downstairs, hoping to see Naruto but he doesn't. Instead, he sees the shape of a man who most certainly isn't Naruto. A robber?

'Not again...' he thinks to himself. His lips part and he releases a silent breath. He tries to stay quiet, but the floorboard creaks. The figure spins around and Sasuke once again starts to run. He swings open the front door and tries to move into the forest, but this man is fast – too inhumanly fast. The rest happens quickly and before he knows it, he feels overwhelmed by a great force. It seeks to consume him. He feels it do so, slowly but surely. He clutches his chest again, this time feeling a sharp ache. It's warm and it's wet. He tries to breathe, but it comes out a gasp. He can't catch his breath. When he stares at his palms, they're red and sticky. He turns around and only then does the man smiles. Sasuke feels his eyes widen when he sees who is wielding the weapon. "You..." he trails off, nearly choking on the words. He winces, letting out a pained gasp. He feels blood in his mouth, slipping past the corners of his mouth. His eyes sting as he unwillingly welcomes the pain.

'Is this it?' he wonders if he's being brought to his end. He'd like to scream. He'd like to shout at death and say, "No! You can't take me! Not here, not now!" Unfortunately, death isn't merciful. Death comes with determination and won't leave until its job is done, no matter how unexpected. Sasuke stares up. He feels heavy limbed and exhausted - too exhausted to move, too exhausted to protest. Everything turns to black. It is like a cloak of darkness has been thrown over him. Everything is a void - endlessly so. It is a bleak sight he does not welcome. "Where?" he says aloud. Then, in the blink of an eye, everything falls away. The darkness slithers like a snake and he's once again standing in the middle of the street. He lets out a breath, confusion taking over. "What was that?" he thinks aloud to himself. He turns around, preparing to leave, but he is stopped when he is faced with himself. With it, a pain in his chest. Grief. He puts fear aside and in its place comes certainty. "Oh, wow..." he whispers and suddenly the world is much bigger than he remembers it being and he is so much more alone. He is gone from man's world, made into something else entirely.

He hovers over his body as it lies still in the street.

Then he turns away.

He wanders down the street and away from his physicality until the roads begin to melt into nothingness, along with everything else. What comes is bright, warm, quiet and new. Sasuke doesn't feel so bad anymore. He moves towards it, closer and closer, letting that warmth welcome him like an old friend – one he never knew he needed.

||XxXx||

On Naruto's way home, it's dark. The dim street lights only do so much. He strolls briskly, pausing when something on the sidewalk catches the corner of his eye. He stops mid-stride and nearly chokes. He feels his heart get stuck in his chest and for a moment, he remains perfectly still.

There is Sasuke, cold and still with dead eyes staring up at the sky as if it's home. His chest is wet with gore as he lies in a pool of his own blood. The sight makes Naruto gasp. "No...!" he screams hoarsely, wringing his hands through his hair. He lets out a dry sob before releasing a string of gasps. It doesn't take much to see that he's long gone.

Before he can bend down, a limo pulls up and the back window rolls down. Danzo Shimura is inside. Naruto simply stares at him with wet eyes. "YOU DID THIS!" he immediately accuses, though he has little proof of it.

"Come, boy," Danzo demands. "Pull yourself together. Now isn't the time for grievances. We have work to do. I told you, you can't have distractions in this line of work!"

Naruto lurches forward, sobbing and wailing.

Danzo clicks his tongue, opening the door and getting out. "This isn't what I signed up for," he mutters angrily, hauling Naruto up by the fabric of his jacket and shoving him into the vehicle. "Get in!" he roars, his patience waning.

Naruto lies lifelessly on the carpet of the limousine floor. He feels the car begin to move. He doesn't ask where he's being taken. He doesn't care. He doesn't care about anything now.

The drive seems to take long, but soon they halt. Danzo opens the doors once more, dragging Naruto out. "Stand up straight, boy!" he growls. "I don't have the patience for this foolishness!"

Naruto does his best, but he stumbles. He feels lightheaded and nauseous. He can still see Sasuke's eyes. He can still smell the blood. He feels like a piece of him has been cut away. He never knew it was possible to feel this bad. He cups his face, wiping his eyes only to make room for an onslaught of fresh tears. He follows Danzo mindlessly up a long driveway. He stares up, realizing that they're at town hall.

They walk into the building and down a hallway before entering a small office room. Inside Naruto spots Kabuto, but what surprises him the most is the dark figure who is sitting in the farthest corner of the room – a figure that is very much alive, though he shouldn't be. "Dad...?" he whispers in disbelief and his eyes can't seem to stop leaking.