11

                                    

                                          
Naruto watched Tobi who had been glaring at the glass of water he had for almost five minutes. Naruto didn't know what nerve he had struck, but even with him saying he was fine, Naruto knew he was not. 
                          
Finally after calling his name a few times with no response, Naruto walked up to him giving a prodding tap to his shoulder. Tobi jerked, swiftly turning around his eyes alert. 
                          
"Hey, are ya good? I don't know what that water did to ya, but if looks could kill, it would have been evaporated! Ha get it? Evaporated? Ya know because its...water?" Naruto trailed off and kicked at the ground. 
                          
"Yeah, I'm fine, just... caught up in a memory" Tobi said a smile on his face.
                          
Sasuke and Itachi stood outside a small encampment cut from the mountain itself. 
                          
"Here. This is where he is at" Itachi called as he looked around for some kind of trap or enemy. Sasuke raced forward before he could be stopped. 
"Sasuke!" Itachi hissed before following him. 


                          
"We have company" Tobi said as he glanced upwards. Naruto leaned his head.
                          
"Who is it?" He asked and Tobi smirked at him.
                          
"I do belive its your lover" he said and Naruto blushed.
                          
"Hes not my lover" Naruto murmured causing Tobi to laugh. 
                          
"Oh right. He's just a really good friend, right?" Tobi questioned before shaking his head.
"Your not going back to the village. They didn't treat you right, and they never will" Tobi said and looked up. 
                          
"But thats my home! My stuff is there, and how would I tell Sasuke I'm not coming back? He would be heart broken" Naruto tried to reason, even though he knew Tobi was right. 
                          
"Naruto, you have to become stronger. Not just for yourself, but for the people you love. I'm not saying you have to leave Sasuke, but you do have to say goodbye for a little while" Tobi stated and Naruto nodded. If he wasn't strong enough to protect Sasuke, then what good was he doing? 
                          
"Alright, but once he gets here, I will tell him, alright Tobi?" Naruto more stated than asked. Tobi nodded in understandment. 
                          
"Of course. I would expect no less from you, Naruto. They are here" Tobi said and faded from view leaving Naruto confused.
                          
"They? I thought it was just Sasuke" 
                          
A sudden explosion shook the room, launching Naruto from his confusion. He coughed as the dust settled around him, revealing two figures. The smaller of the two came hurtling towards him, tears streaming from his face. 
                          
"Naruto! Are you alright? Are you hurt? Who took you? I'm gonna kill them!" Sasuke blubbered out still clutching at Naruto. 
                          
"Sasuke, I'm fine. Look at me I'm fine" Naruto said and pulled back for only a minute or so letting Sasuke see he had no injures. 
                          
"Come on lets get you out of here" Sasuke said and started to tug on the blondes hand.
                          
"Sasuke, I can't" Naruto said as he pulled back. Sasuke looked back at him.
                          
"What do you mean? We have the chunnin exams coming up, and what about us Naruto? After we got back I was going to introduce you to my parents" Sasuke said, his hand outstretched, pleading silently as well, hoping Naruto would take his hand so they could go back home.  
                          
Naruto took a few more steps back, shaking his head. 
                          
"I can't come back now Sasuke. That village was never home for me, and honestly, I don't know if it ever can be. Sasuke I love you, but I will not go back" Naruto said his voice strained. He had never told Sasuke the extent of the damage the villagers had inflicted. Sasuke only saw the glares and the harsh words, unfair treatment in the market, but he had never seen the scars that littered his body, on the places his clothing covered. 
                          
He would never call that place home ever again. The only thing that tied him there was Sasuke. 
                          
Sasuke looked heartbroken. 
"But Naru..." he pleaded, using the pet name he had given Naruto. 
                          
"Sasuke go back home. Forget me for awhile, and when Im strong enough to protect you, I'll come get you. Don't despair Sasuke, I'll be watching over you. Itachi, take him home"
                          
Naruto walked away and Sasuke started to run after him. 
                          
"Naruto! Please don't leave me!" Sasuke called and Naruto half turned.
                          
"Its better this way" he said and disappeared. Sasuke screamed, his yell bouncing off the walls of the cavern. Then silence. He slumped to the floor as Itachi struck a pressure point.  
                          
"Lets go home Sasuke. He will come back when he's ready, just give him some time" Itachi said, more to himself because Sasuke was knocked out. 

                          
Naruto walked up to Tobi.
                          
"They are gone" he said, his face sad. All he could see was Sasuke as he raced towards him, the pain in his eyes...
                          
"You did well" Tobi called as he turned. 
"Now then, our training begins in earnest"


                          
Itachi walked back into the village, debating on where to take his brother to the hospital, to home or to the hokage. He decided to go home and contact someone who knew about seals. 
                          
Kakashi showed up a few minutes later. Itachi ushered him in and up to Sasuke's room. 
                          
"We were anbushed by Orochimaru. He bit him and gave him this mark. I was hoping you could seal it" Itachi said as he pointed at the curse mark on Sasuke's back. Kakashi leaned down and looked at it.
                          
"Yeah I can seal it, but Its gonna be up to Sasuke if it works or not" Kakashi said and cracked his fingers.
"Alright, I'll get started on it" 
And with that Kakashi set into containing the curse mark.