Chapter 25 - The Conclusion of the Battle

Author's Note: Sorry about the late chapter. I was working all weekend. Pretty sure my boss hates me... Anywho, you guys know my Twitter and Tumblr, so follow me there if you haven't already. Next chapter is the end. Love ya! BTW, my drawing of Naruto's appearance with his powers is on my Twitter, if you're interested.

Editor's Note: Check out the links in my bio if you want! I could use some encouragement after weeks of editing this... I do indeed have a sketch of Naruto on my Twitter, but the coverart is mine too! The original cover was not, however.

Chapter 25

Sasuke's P.O.V.

I wake up groggily in warm, strong arms. I open my eyes slowly.

"You can't change the past, so just know that I've forgiven and forgotten," I hear a familiar voice saying.

Naruto, my hazy brain supplies. His blond and red hair is unruly. His face is marked up strangely, though he doesn't seem to be particularly injured. His eyes are weird looking, but that's my Naruto.

"Naru?" I croak, my voice raspy. His eyes meet mine, and the breath I was struggling to draw into my lungs is suddenly gone again.

"You shouldn't talk just yet, Sasuke," Naruto replies after a few moments. I catch sight of my Uncle Obito hovering at Naruto's side protectively, though he seems a bit uneasy.

"Hey there, Sasuke," Obito greets with a small smile. "Just nod for me. Are you feeling alright?" he asks.

I take a moment to make sure that I'm alright before nodding. My head hurts a bit, but other than that, I'm fine.

"Do you remember what happened before passing out?" Obito asks.

Naruto's face contorts in anger. I think back to remember someone hitting me in the back of the head before nodding once more.

"Obito, can you leave?" Naruto asks sharply. "I'll take care of Sasuke, so why don't you go check on Itachi and Shisui?" he asks, his voice making it sound more like a formal order rather than a polite question.

"Okay," Obito says, his eyes appearing a bit owlish, his face pale.

Obito Shunshins off, presumably to where my brother and cousin are. Naruto gently sets me down on the roof he'd been standing on.

"Sasuke, can you stand?" he asks, his voice tired. I nod and pick myself up.

"What happened?" I ask after clearing my throat.

"Danzo kidnapped you," Naruto states, staring past me.

I look over my shoulder. I feel my face fall. Danzo's body is collapsed on the ground in a puddle of his own blood. I know that there's too much blood for him to be alive right now.

"Are you hurt?" I ask, turning back to Naruto. He lowers his gaze to his feet.

"Not exactly," Naruto mutters.

"What do you mean?" I find myself asking, disconcerted by Naruto's apparent nervousness.

"I'm out of chakra," Naruto states. "I need you to carry me to the hospital," he requests, an embarrassed blush rising to his cheeks.

It takes me a moment to process his words, but in that moment, his knees buckle underneath him. I rush forward and scoop the all-powerful Kitsune into my arms. His eyes drift open again, the marks from his face fading and his eyes returning to normal.

"Yeah, don't worry," I smile gently at Naruto. "Put your arms around my neck and hold on," I tell him.

Naruto wraps his arms around my neck and I shift him so that I'm carrying him on my back.

"Can you stay awake?" I ask.

"Mm, dunno," Naruto murmurs

"You certainly don't sound like you can stay awake, dobe," I say, trying to be playful to mask my worry about him.

Naruto hums again, his head dropping limply against my shoulder.

"I didn't realize that it would take you so much effort to defeat Danzo," I point out quietly.

"He had sharingan. In his arm. Like what the fuck. Used a new power," Naruto sighs. "Drained me bad," he mutters.

"I can tell," I chuckle. "Why did you do all of that just to help me?" I ask, somewhat nervous about his answer for some reason.

"I love you, Sasuke," Naruto whispers tiredly.

I feel the rise and fall of his chest against my back evening out as he quickly falls asleep. I'm left stunned, completely caught off guard by Naruto's confession. Happiness engulfs me, and I can't help the grin that breaks out on my face. I resist the urge to squeal in a Sakura-like manner so that I don't wake Naruto up.

I follow the shaky chakra signatures of my uncle joining up with Itachi and Shisui. When I feel Naruto's breathing slow down the slightest bit, panic surges in me. He's totally out of chakra, which means that he's totally vulnerable.

If someone were to attack, I wouldn't be able to fend them off by myself. With that thought in my head, I pump my legs faster and faster, straight out sprinting towards my family. When the three Uchiha come into view, I feel my grin resurface. I slow down as quickly as possible and skid to a stop before them.

"So it seems that you're okay," Itachi mutters.

"Is Naru okay?" Shisui asks quickly.

"He's out of chakra. Exhausted," I pant.

"Let's get him to Tsunade-sama," Itachi declares. "I'll lead, Shisui take back, Uncle Obito, watch the flanks," Itachi orders.

Like that, we take off, running through the village towards the hospital. Itachi holds the door of the hospital open for me so I can bring in Naruto. An older woman with honey eyes and blond hair is yelling at two nurses who were, evidently, stupid.

"Tsunade-sama?" Shisui calls, saving the younger nurses from further vocal abuse.

Tsunade turns around to face us.

"What did Naru-chan do this time?" she growls, staring at the unconscious Naruto whose head is leaning against my shoulder.

"Besides saving my life and killing Danzo, nothing much," I reply sarcastically, scowling at the woman.

She raises an eyebrow. How dare she disrespect my Naru?

"So that fucking bastard is finally dead?" Tsunade asks with a straight face.

"I guess so, Tsunade-sama," Itachi answers, looking at me with a bewildered and flabbergasted facial expression.

"Alright then," she hums. "Brat, follow me," Tsunade instructs, leaving no room for argument.

I nod.

"Ah, wait!" Shisui calls abruptly. Itachi perks up.

"Right," Itachi mutters. "Sasuke, we can't stay. We need to take ROOT into custody and start repairs, so don't wait up," he says strictly. "Look after Naru," he orders. "Shisui, Uncle, come on," he says, turning and walking out the door. Shisui and Obito follow him without another word.

"Okay, come on, kid," Tsunade prompts. "Right this way," she tells me, leading me through the halls to an empty room with a bed in it. "Put him down," she orders.

I do as she says and ease Naruto down into the bed before readjusting his arms and legs into a comfortable position, paying no heed to the ache in my shoulders and back from carrying him around for so long. Naruto is surprisingly heavy. Then again, he is taller than me. Tsunade hovers her hands over his head and chest, a green glow encasing her hands and a look of concentration marring her features.

"Is he going to be okay?" I ask eagerly the second the glow dissipates.

"Yes," Tsunade answer. "He doesn't even need any healing, just some rest," she explains. "What are you guys planning to do?" Tsunade asks curiously.

"About Danzo and ROOT?" I clarify. Tsunade nods. "We'll move forward with convicting Danzo, even though he's dead. That should clear ROOT and my brother," I explain. Tsunade nods.

"That's a good thing to do. It'll clear Naruto of murder charges, too," she points out.

"Danzo was a traitor," I say, confused.

"The Council just wants any excuse to hurt him," Tsunade replies. I feel my brows furrow and my mouth tilts down in a scowl.

"That's stupid," I mutter.

"You understand things grown adults don't," she laughs. I find myself smiling at the comment, knowing that Naruto would agree with her.

Itachi's P.O.V.

No matter how many times you put someone in handcuffs, it always sends the same thrill down your spine. The power that such a simple action gives you over a person is almost addicting. Now, I think I understand why my father was a police officer. When I put cuffs on a beaten-up Sai, however, I can't help the guilt that nearly chokes me.

"Don't worry about this, Itachi-san," Sai says. "Just hold up your end of the bargain," he says, gritting his teeth.

"You don't have to worry about that," I tell him.

"That's good," he sighs. "These children deserve more than a death sentence," he says fondly.

"You're absolutely right," I chuckle.

"Ita!" Shisui calls from the doorway.

I turn to look at him as I lock Sai's handcuffs.

"That's all of them. We have ROOT in custody," Shisui reports.

"Understood," I reply.

Hopefully, Naruto will be pleased with our results once he's woken up. I'll take care of as much as I can. I owe him that much for taking care of Sasuke. I owe him so much more for making Sasuke laugh again. With sentimental thoughts in my head, I lead Sai to the holding room where we're keeping the others. We exchange nods. He owes Naruto a lot too. We all do.

When I exit the building, I see a very disgruntled Shisui being essentially strangled by Anko. Despite the fact that he's being smothered, he has a happy look on his face. My own face lights up in a similar way when I see Kisame. This is love. And then, it dawns on me.

This is how Sasuke and Naruto look at each other. Kakashi's comment of "nothing, sadly." makes sudden sense. Those stupid idiots are in love with each other, but neither have made a move. I'd bet that Naruto thinks that he's so discreet. Those fools.

Edited 12-15-2020