When Naruto opens his eyes, he's lying on a small sofa in Tsunade's office. He sits up and grunts, feeling anger beyond his wildest dreams – and worse than that, the increase in betrayal. His entire existence has been filled with fabricated lies - lies his father came up with to keep him in line.

"Naruto..." Tsunade says softly and carefully.

"I remember you," he mutters, eying her. "You tried to help when I was a kid."

She nods, frowning. Her eyebrows are drawn together and Naruto can tell she feels remorse – more remorse than she should. "There was nothing I could do. I... I'm so, so sorry."

Naruto simply shakes his head. "It's fine. It's over and now I understand why he wanted me in the first place. I was just... some sort of pawn. An experiment. I won't let whatever he planned happen. That's a promise." Tsunade forces a smile, but it's lackluster. Nonetheless, Naruto appreciates the effort she put forth. "Don't worry," he tells her.

"All right," she relents softly. "I'll try."

But deep down they both know that this is bigger than either of them.

||XxXx||

What do you do when your own body is the weapon used against you so violently? This is what Sasuke asked himself. This is what he continues to ask himself. It was so much worse than any other time. It was worse than every past experience combined.

Relax your body and distract your mind. That's what he used to do and for a long time it worked, but now is different. He has a taste for freedom and it won't be easily forgotten. He feels like something precious to him has once again been stolen away. Each time he's touched he gets sick to his stomach and it takes everything he can muster up not to start trembling.

How can he continue to take it with an empty mind? He simply can't. The pain won't allow him. It's too great and it's not all in his head.

Sasuke doesn't catch a break. His first client is Danzo. Sasuke isn't sure whether to be scared or relieved. He's sitting in his bed when Koharu allows the man inside. Typically Sasuke would be sitting in front of the vanity, but he can't bear to look at himself anymore.

The two men make eye contact from opposite ends of the room. Danzo approaches slowly, holding his gaze the entire time. When he's standing at the foot of Sasuke's canopy bed, he begins to speak. "I found something interesting in a young man's office the other day," he says quietly. "You wouldn't know anything about that, would you?"

"No," Sasuke answers hoarsely.

"Kid, you look like shit," Danzo comments offhandedly, grabbing Sasuke's chin. "Bloodshot eyes, dark circles, clammy skin. What happened?"

Sasuke pauses, choosing his words wisely. "I got what I deserved," he responds mechanically.

Danzo smirks at that. "I don't doubt it," he says, tightening his grip. "Lucky for you, I'm not here for entertainment. I simply want answers. What was your file doing in the office of one of my business partners?"

"I don't know," Sasuke says, silently pleading for him not to ask any more questions.

"I think you do," Danzo accuses. "Naruto Uzumaki. Does the name ring a bell?"

"No," Sasuke answers, trying to make the lie sound sincere.

"I can make your life very difficult, boy," Danzo threatens. "Tell me the truth. How do you know this man?"

"I don't!" Sasuke raises his voice, growing desperate. He was never good at lying.

"Then why did he have your file?" Danzo spits. "Is he working for someone?"

"I don't know," Sasuke whispers tearfully. "Please... I don't know... I've never met him before."

Danzo's jaw tightens and he finally lets his hand fall. "I'll be back," he promises. "But for now... I have work to do."

When he's gone, Sasuke releases a breath he didn't even realize he was holding. He slumps forward and runs his shaky hands through his hair, trying to reassure himself down but his heart won't calm down.

When he sits up he nearly jumps at the sight of Sakura hovering in his doorway. "Sakura," he says her name flatly.

"Sasuke," she responds with his. She smiles softly and there's something akin to pity in her gaze. "You can see me... This must be your gift. I always knew you were special... different... I didn't really know how at first, though... but I know now... and I'm glad."

"What?" he asks, barely registering what's being said to him. "Why are you here? You shouldn't be here. You'll get in trouble..."

"I just wanted to make sure you were alive before I left," she tells him in a soft and serious tone. "I've been waiting. I saw you in the hallway, but I wanted to see for myself. I wanted to have a moment with you when I realized you could see me."

Sasuke frowns. "What...?" he questions hoarsely, feelings of unease taking over as his heart begins palpitating.

She moves closer. "I loved you," she confesses purposefully. "Sometimes I'm not sure what kind of love it was. At times, I tried to say I loved you like a brother... but at other times, I knew I loved you the way I loved Sai. It made me feel selfish for loving two men like that, but my feelings were genuine and no longer deniable."

Realization dawns upon Sasuke. With wet, wide eyes he whispers, "You're dead..." He waits for her confirmation, silently begging for her to crack a smile and ask him what on earth he's going on about... but she doesn't. Instead, she softens further and nods.

"A client got too rough," she explains vaguely, her voice quiet as she nears his bedside. "Either no one was watching the cameras, or they just didn't care."

Sasuke lets out a miserable moan followed by a keening sound. He feels like he's losing everything. He bends over and starts screaming. This is it. Amongst these walls he has nothing left. He never said it aloud, but there were times when the pink haired girl was his solace. He knew he had a friend. Now he has none. There's Naruto, but he can't be of comfort when he's so far away. He truly is alone.

"Sasuke... please..." Sakura whispers, reaching a hand towards him only to draw back. It wouldn't do any good. She can't touch him. Not now. Not ever again.

Sasuke lets out another miserable sound, pressing his palms to his eyelids as his forehead rests against the mattress. "How...?" he pleads hoarsely. "How are you here?"

"Koharu didn't cleanse my room," Sakura admits softly. "You weren't here so she put it off... and I'm glad. I wanted to see you one last time. I think I can leave on my own now."

The words are lost to Sasuke. Nothing registers. He can't hear her. His feelings are overwhelming him and he can't concentrate on anything else.

Eventually, the door opens. Koharu enters in a storm of rage, demanding to know what's wrong.

Sasuke raises his head, staring at the woman venomously. "YOU KILLED HER!" he shrieks wildly. "IT'S YOUR FAULT!"

The old woman purses her lips. She understands right away who Sasuke is referring to. "You know," she states, wandering closer. "You know of your curse..."

Sakura called it a gift. Koharu called it a curse. Sasuke can't help but think Koharu is right. He doesn't want to be this way.

She attempts to put a hand on him, but he isn't having any of it. He recoils, disgusted by her touch. "Get away from me!"

This is unlike Sasuke. Never before has he been so loud and rebellious. His tone angers her, but she remains focused. "How do you know?"

"I saw her!" he continues to scream. "She's standing in this room! I can see her right now!"

Koharu shudders, goose flesh appearing on her arms. "People like you... People like you should not be allowed to exist in the world," she says stiffly. With that, she turns around. "Zaku!" she barks suddenly and a split second later, he appears obediently. "Keep an eye on Sasuke," she instructs. "I need to fetch Anko. We're going to clean this mess up right now."

Zaku nods, moving to Sasuke's bedside. Once she's gone, Sasuke starts wringing his hands through his hair, tugging on the feathery strands. He can't look at Zaku. His presence is making everything so much worse. Sasuke is sick to his stomach with grief – something he's far too prone to feeling. He's tired of it. So very tired.

||XxXx||

When Naruto returns home, he puts a stick of incense in the burner, lighting it and then blowing it out before heading upstairs. Mere minutes later, the house smells like lavender.

"Sasuke?" he calls only to be greeted with silence. "Sasuke!" he tries once more, but there is still only silence. He frowns, entering the brunet's room only to find that it's empty. He finds that concerning. "Fuck," he whispers to himself, knowing this isn't a good sign. His heart is palpitating in his chest and every inch of him feels nauseous at the potential of it all.

Frantically, he tears through every inch of the house, searching every floor, every closet, every cupboard – but Sasuke is nowhere in sight. He's gone. Naruto rubs his forehead. "This isn't fucking happening," he pleadingly whispers to himself, not wanting to believe it's true. He can't help but wonder if the brunet ran away, though it seems entirely impossible, especially after all that they've shared together. This is the last thing he would have expected Sasuke to do. That means... he was most likely taken or lured out.

Naruto is at a loss and he feels nauseous with worry. It seems like one bad thing keeps happening after another and neither of them can catch a break. There is no one he can go to for help and he doesn't know how to find Akatsuki. They come and go as they please. Naruto feels like he'll be waiting a long time for them to show up and until then, he'll be an anxious mess.

He spends the day at home, not daring to leave in case Sasuke returns. Though... Naruto knows that it's unlikely.

However, he perks up when the doorbell rings. He runs to answer it, trying not to look crestfallen when he sees Gaara standing on the porch. He holds up a hand before walking inside.

"How are you?" Naruto asks.

Gaara dismisses the formality. "You look ill," he points out, following Naruto into the living room. They sit down and the blond rests his clammy palms on his knees. "Naruto," Gaara says his name impatiently. "What is wrong with you?"

"Do you ever worry about the government?" Naruto asks offhandedly. His voice comes out hoarser than it usually sounds.

Gaara looks amused. Right away he can tell this is something Naruto has been giving a lot of thought to. "Don't you have a political background? You were on a council before becoming a doctor. Didn't they tell you that you're not supposed to question the institution you're a part of?"

"Keep your enemies closer, I guess..." Naruto murmurs. "Besides, my father got me a seat on the council. None of it was of my own skill. It was nepotism... and I no longer study politics. I prefer not to be a part of that side of the world. It's too seedy."

"Still, you're smart," Gaara points out. "If you pursued it, maybe you might've made a difference."

"I suppose so," the blond relents.

Gaara is contemplative. "So, do you really want to get into this discussion? We're not supposed to question the government. We're supposed to think of them as people who have our best interests in mind. We're supposed to brainlessly follow."

Naruto smiles bitterly. "You're cynical. Sounds like you disagree."

"It's corrupt," Gaara says simply before explaining, "No government truly has their people's best interests in mind, especially not ours. They only care about money and power. Such a small percentage of people actually benefits. Our government is no different. That's why we're allowed to buy people. We're allowed to rape and abuse those of low status. We're allowed to do whatever we want to them and it's perfectly legal. It seems strange, doesn't it? No... it seems more than strange. It's vile. We live in a vile world. Take away the money, then those without it aren't different from us in any way. If you never made it out of the slums, it would be legal for me to beat you, rape you, kill you. Whatever I wanted to do to you, I could. No one would think anything of it. I could even brag about it. I could say I killed a man who lived on the streets. Maybe I'd be congratulated. People would thank me for helping to keep the streets clean from garbage. Class is all that matters here. If you don't have it, you have nothing at all. That's what the government does. They make sure to keep it this way and they make so much money off of the institutionalized oppression of other people. The middle class is ignored and they feel hopeless. The lower class has no say at all."

"This is the most I've ever heard you speak," Naruto admits to the redheaded man, taking in every word.

"I have a lot of thoughts on this particular subject," Gaara says. "A government that doesn't care about its people needs to be overthrown, but everyone is too brainwashed. Without willing men and women, a revolution is pointless."

"But they say a revolution always starts with one person," Naruto points out.

"I don't know if I agree with that," Gaara argues. "Perhaps, to an extent, it's true. But that one person will usually have to die for people to wake up. Then it multiplies."

Naruto frowns at that, knowing there is truth to the statement. Everything starts and ends with death.

"I suppose now would be a fine time to tell you that Neji was never killed by the poor," Gaara says. "He was killed by the police and he then the doctors refused to help him. They insisted nothing could be done, but I know that was a lie. All these recent medical advances could have helped him... but no one wanted him to survive and then start talking. It would have caused trouble and stirred a pot that the upper class doesn't want stirred."

"What?" Naruto croaks.

"You heard me," the redhead says.

"My, God..." Naruto lets out a shuddery breath. "I was used to the idea that Neji went in to help only to have it thrown in his face. His help was unwanted and he paid for going where he didn't belong... Where my dad sent him."

"He wanted to help, yes," Gaara murmurs, "and I think he could have made a difference, but the cops didn't like that. There is no room for activism. The only thing Neji paid for was his kindness. Your father knew what he was doing. He knew where he was sending Neji and what the result would be."

And perhaps Gaara is right when he says this world has no room for kindness.

||XxXx||

Days later, Sasuke can no longer find it in himself to move. He's been strong for too long and he can't take any more pain. He knows that any time now Koharu will try to administer him more drugs to take away the painful memories of his past invading his mind. He lies in the center of his bed, eyes still leaking. He doesn't try to stop himself from crying. He doesn't try to move. He can't. It's like he's experiencing temporary catatonia. There's nothing inside. He's been completely emptied. All hope is lost.

In the later hours, his door creaks open. Still, he can't bring himself to budge.

"Sasuke," he hears.

A recognizable voice... but he can't quite place it. He sits up, eyebrows drawing together. Instead of a regular customer, he sees someone familiar. He's not sure if it's gravity or something else entirely, but his eyes start leaking. "Kakashi?" he whispers. He wants to ask the man why he's here, but the words won't come out.

The silver-haired man holds up a hand, smiling kindly. "Hello," he greets, nearing Sasuke's bedside and offering the young man his hand. Sasuke accepts it tentatively and with a questioning gaze, but the look on Kakashi's face tells him that now is not the time for answers. He pulls Sasuke to his feet and they rush out the door. Sasuke's voice gets caught in his throat and he feels a lump forming. He wants to stop. He knows running will only make things harder for him in the long run. He doesn't want to keep running... but he remains quiet, unable to emit a single word.

He wants to ask Kakashi how he convinced the staff to let him – a known vigilante – inside, but the speed at which they're moving gives Sasuke the answer. Kakashi let himself in, taking a huge risk in the process.

As soon as they're gone, a security guard begins shouting and the alarms sound. They ring unpleasantly, giving Sasuke a headache. In one swift motion, Kakashi tosses Sasuke over his shoulders and begins to run. His shoulder digs into Sasuke's stomach and he feels like he might get sick, but he keeps it in and closes his eyes.

They twist and turn through the streets before entering the forest. It's dim and damp. When Sasuke is finally set down, he stumbles, nausea taking over as the blood rushes away from his head. Once he collects himself, he stares at the silver-haired man, giving him a questioning look.

Kakashi places a finger to his lips, wordlessly telling the brunet to stay silent. Sasuke complies without a word and they quietly move deeper and deeper into the woods. "Put this on," he whispers, pulling a cloak out of his satchel. Sasuke obeys, putting the warm cloth over himself and pulling up the hood. He stays close to Kakashi, not daring to move away. He knows that this man holds the key to his safety – slight as it may be. Kakashi is his only chance now.

||XxXx||

When night falls, Naruto finds Jugo in the woods in his backyard. He steps outside in his bare feet and nears the trees. "Why couldn't you have been here when it mattered?" he asks tersely. "I think he was taken... He's probably back there now."

"We know," Jugo says, causing Naruto to scoff. He was hoping Jugo would contradict him and reveal that Sasuke was with Akatsuki. But no. The larger part of Naruto knew better than that. He isn't surprised.

"How?" he demands. "And what are you going to do about it?"

"We have eyes all around," Jugo says. "Just like Koharu. We've sent someone already. That's why I came by."

Naruto grits his teeth. "How the hell did this happen?"

"We can't know until we have Sasuke," Jugo responds. "Until then, calm down."

Naruto takes a deep breath, trying to relax but he knows he won't be able to ease himself until he sees Sasuke safe and sound. "They'll be looking for him again, won't they?"

"They always will be," Jugo says in a murmur. "That's the life people like us have to live. We'll never truly be free."

"Unless the laws change," Naruto notes.

Jugo smiles faintly. "For that to happen... there would have to be a great shift in universal consciousness... some sort of awakening. I don't think the world is ready for that sort of enlightenment. Change is difficult. Everyone with power seems more than happy to keep things as they are."

"It's not fair," Naruto whispers.

"Nothing is," Jugo says.

Naruto turns around and nods for the orange haired man to follow him inside. "You'll be staying until Sasuke arrives back, I presume?"

"I'll need to ask him some questions," he says. "Then he's all yours."

"This entire situation is unbelievably fucked up," Naruto hisses. "I can't even keep him safe, even though that was my only responsibility in this whole mess."

"Maybe no one can keep that kid safe," Jugo reasons. "No one can keep any of us safe because we're barely allowed to exist in the world. But you have a better chance at keeping him safe than anyone else."

"Sometimes I doubt that," Naruto murmurs. "This is the first place they'll look."

"Yeah," Jugo murmurs. "The situation is pretty sloppy. We'll probably have to take him for a while... I don't know what we'll do or where we'll go."

"Yeah," Naruto says with a sigh, not wanting to think about it. He just wants the brunet back. He just wants to know Sasuke is safe, though he likely experienced many unimaginable horrors while he was back at the brothel.

Without another word, they walk into the kitchen. Jugo sits at the table and Naruto begins rummaging through the fridge, pulling out ingredients. He stands in front of the stove and cooks as Jugo watches, knowing it's likely a distraction.

It's a late supper, but Naruto doesn't mind and Jugo is simply thankful to be eating at all. Food can be hard to come by when you don't have a home.

The hours continue to go by and when midnight passes, there is a knock at the door. Naruto shoots out of his seat and moves briskly down the hallway to answer it. He swings open the door and is greeted with the sight of a silver haired man and a cloaked figure. The silver haired man puts an arm around the cloaked figure, ushering him inside. Naruto shuts the door behind them and when the hood is removed, he is relieved to see Sasuke. He lets out a breath he didn't even know he was holding and offers the brunet a small smile. Sasuke simply nods his head, looking stony-eyed. He's rigid in his stance and Naruto immediately notices, but he doesn't question it. Not yet.

Naruto locks the front door before leading them into the kitchen where Jugo is. "Kakashi, were there any issues escaping?" he asks immediately.

"They saw us leaving," the man named Kakashi says. "The alarms went off, but we got away. We weren't followed when we reached the forest."

Jugo nods slowly before shifting his gaze towards Sasuke. "How did they find you?"

Sasuke leans against the counter, crossing his arms. Instead of answering Jugo, he glances at Naruto. "Danzo Shimura was in your home," he reveals.

"What?" the blond raises an eyebrow.

"The president was here," Sasuke continues. "I panicked. He found my file. They were talking about some stuff I didn't understand. I don't think it's safe for me to be here. He knows that you know me. So, I ran off and a cop found me. I was brought back to the brothel where the extent of my personhood was yet again diminished. That's that."

Jugo lets out a long sigh, rubbing his temples. "Damn it," he mutters. "Why didn't you hide instead of running?"

"I told you," Sasuke reiterates tersely. "I panicked." There's something incredibly cold about the brunet. Naruto notices it, but he keeps his lips sealed.

"What now, then?" Kakashi questions, glancing at Jugo. "I can take him somewhere else."

"There is nowhere else," Jugo murmurs, visibly frustrated and unsure of what to do. "He could come with me, but we'd have to move quick." He stares at Sasuke and asks, "What do you want to do?"

"I'm tired," Sasuke says with a groggy moan. "I don't care. I just want to sleep. I want this to be over. I can't keep running."

"We change locations a lot," Jugo reminds him. "If you come with me, you'll always be running... but it might be safer. This is going to be the first place they look." Jugo eyes him sternly. "Do you really want to take this kind of risk?"

"I don't care," Sasuke decides. "Hurry up and decide. Like I said, I want to sleep."

Jugo lets out a sigh. "All right, how about this," he starts. "You can go rest up. We'll come back tomorrow after talking it over with your brother. How does that sound."

"Fine," Sasuke says impatiently before briskly turning away and going upstairs.

"He's angry," Naruto says.

"Wouldn't you be?" Kakashi asks. "Put yourself in his shoes."

"I can't," Naruto admits.

"Why haven't you been arrested yet?" Kakashi murmurs the question, eying the blond. "If anyone else was caught hiding a runaway they'd be taken to Hozuki-Jo in the drop of a hat."

"I know," is all Naruto says. "Danzo probably wants to use me all he can. He won't have me tossed into prison until I give him what he wants. So, I think it's safe to say we have some time. I'll stay awake tonight. My house can't be searched without a warrant and they won't be able to get one of those by morning if they suspect me."

Jugo nods his head. "We'll be in town," he adds, changing the subject. "Stay inside until Sasuke is gone." He stands up from the table and moves towards the backdoor. He nods for Kakashi to follow him and without another word, the two men leave. Naruto watches them for a moment before locking the door. He turns off all the lights before going upstairs. He does his nightly business, changing out of his day clothes in exchange for some comfortable night clothes. When he's finished, he knocks on Sasuke's door. When there's no answer, he opens it and whispers the brunet's name.

"What?" comes the groggy responds.

"Are you all right?" Naruto asks.

"Lovely," Sasuke says.

"I'll be in my room if you need me," Naruto tells him before shutting the door once more. He retires to his own room and turns off the lamps before crawling under his covers. He burrows and makes himself comfortable before closing his eyes. Not a minute later, his door creaks open. The hallway's dim light seeps into the room and he sits up, eying Sasuke's form in the archway.

Silently, the brunet moves inside, closing the door behind himself before getting into bed with the blond. Part of Naruto was hoping he would.

"You're not okay, are you?" Naruto asks softly.

"Sh," Sasuke says pleadingly, shifting closer to the blond.

Naruto doesn't ask any more questions. Instead, he wraps his strong arms around Sasuke and only shuts his eyes when he feels the brunet relax.

||XxXx||

The following morning, Naruto finds a device in his mailbox. With a raised eyebrow, he takes it inside. "What...?" he murmurs to himself on his way into the kitchen. He examines it only to find that it's a tape recorder. Inside is a tape.

Sasuke is sitting at the table and his eyes go wide when he sees what Naruto is holding. It's familiar in a way that makes his stomach twist around unpleasantly. "No...!" he gasps, trying to stop Naruto from watching the tape. "Don't watch it!" he pleads, nearly screaming the words. He stands and tries to pry the device out of Naruto's grip, but to no avail.

Naruto ignores him and presses play on the tape recorder. He remains perfectly blank as he skips through the video. After what feels to Sasuke like an eternity – though it was only a mere minute – Naruto turns off the device. "They did this to you..." he grits out the accusation, staring at the brunet and holding up the camera.

Sasuke lets out a humiliated sob and sinks to the floor, unable to look Naruto in the face. He feels like he's going crazy. He feels so much and all of it's horrible. He doesn't know how to let it out – he doesn't know if he can let it out. There's too much. Too much and it's driving him mad. He squeezes his eyes shut and wrings his fingers through his hair, tugging on the dark strands.

Naruto sighs, removing the tape from the recorder and tossing it to the ground before stepping on it. "They might not know for sure that you're here, but they do know we have ties. That's why they sent me this." It's a particularly dirty tactic. No, worse than that. There are no words to describe how cruel it is.

Sasuke begins to hyperventilate. He lets out a keening sound before emitting a string of gut-wrenching, cough-like sobs. His heart aches. "I can't live like this," he chokes out, crying openly. "I... I can't... I need..." He pauses, sniffling and staring up at the blond helplessly. "Take it away!" he pleads. "Take the memory away!"

The demand surprises Naruto. Sasuke had once fought so desperately to be whole again – to have all of his memories back... and now he wants the opposite. Not all memories are good. Naruto understands that much. "Is that what you want?" he asks softly.

"Yes!" Sasuke screams pleadingly. He sniffles loudly, smudging the tears off his cheeks. "All of it! Take it all away, I can't fucking live like this, I feel like I'm losing it!"

"Okay," the blond says in a quiet voice. "I'll take it away, then."

||XxXx||

Every so often, Naruto finds himself peeking outside, but there is no sight of Jugo yet. "Naruto," Sasuke whispers, coming up behind the blond as he stares out the window.

Naruto turns around. "Yeah?" he asks, tilting his head to the side and staring at the other man. Sasuke places a palm over his mouth, trying to suppress his emotions – once again trying to swallow them. "Don't," Naruto says knowingly.

Sasuke lets out a sharp breath, unceremoniously and uncharacteristically wiping his nose on his sleeve. "I can't do this..." he whispers weakly. "Everything is ruined... Nothing is good. I don't want to be here."

"Where?"

"Here!" he screams. "In this stupid, fucking world!"

Naruto presses his lips together for a moment. "Follow me upstairs," he says. With a look of impatience, Sasuke does as he's asked. He follows Naruto into his office where the blond holds up the file.

Sasuke takes it from him, frowning. "Think there are copies of this somewhere else?"

"Who knows...?" Naruto shrugs.

"I hope not," Sasuke murmurs. "We should burn it."

"Is that what you want?"

Sasuke nods. "I really, really, really... do not want this floating around here. They made a new one, anyway."

So they burn it. They move downstairs into the living room where they sit in front of the fireplace. Naruto starts the fire and when the flames are high, Sasuke unceremoniously throws his file inside. He watches as the paper chars and burns and turns to ash.

"Feel better?" Naruto asks.

"A bit," Sasuke says slowly before admitting, "No, not really." A pause. "When can you do it? Take it away?"

Naruto lets out a soft sigh. "Whenever you want..." he says, "but are you sure this is what's best?"

"Yes," Sasuke snaps. "I know what I want, Naruto, and this is it."

"All right," Naruto relents. "The injections I'm going to give you will put you to sleep and when you wake up, the memories will be gone as will the pain that comes with them. It's a complicated formula, but the procedure itself isn't so delicate. To put things as simply as I can, we are able to remove memories because we can formulate antidotes, per se, that will wipe away memories that pertain to certain events, fears, and so on. For you, I'll be removing all the abuse. You won't remember any of it. The human brain is pretty amazing and intricate. That's why we can do things like this."

Sasuke closes his eyes, nodding slowly. "This is cheating, isn't it?"

"No," Naruto says. "You're doing what you need to do to keep on moving. In this life, it's all we can really do."

So, the two men go upstairs into Naruto's lab. Sasuke lies down on the familiar table and watches as Naruto gathers strange and frightening looking supplies. "Will it hurt?" Sasuke asks.

"You won't feel a thing," Naruto promises. "Do you trust me?"

"More than anyone else," Sasuke says and Naruto knows exactly what that means. Sasuke trusts no one – not completely. Maybe it's saying little that he trusts Naruto in the slightest. Then again, maybe it's saying a lot that Naruto is the only one. "Take it away..." he whispers. "Take it all away."

And Naruto does.

||XxXx||

When the procedure is gone, all Naruto has to do is wait. The time goes by slowly. He cooks and he cleans, checking on the brunet every so often. It's early in the evening when he wakes and Naruto begins checking his vitals and asking him questions.

"What's your name?" he starts with.

"Sasuke Uchiha..." he says slowly, raising an eyebrow.

"Good," he murmurs, "and what's my name?"

"Naruto Uzumaki..." He wrinkles his nose. "Why wouldn't I know?"

"No reason. You took a nap."

Naruto continues asking questions until he's satisfied. When it's done, Sasuke gives Naruto a childishly innocent smile. It makes the blond wonder how much of Sasuke's memories were removed. It makes him wonder if Sasuke knew how much he would be sacrificing. Naruto took away the vilest abuses he's faced and he's only realizing now how much these events have shaped him as a person. Still, Naruto forces a smile in return, but he can't help but think such a look doesn't suit Sasuke – at least, not the Sasuke he knows. Nonetheless, he recognizes that this is for the best. It's what Sasuke wanted. The least Naruto can do is give Sasuke what he wants and save him from his pain, even if it's a lie.