Н‘¾Ð‘¯Ð‘¬Ð‘Μ Ð‘»Ð‘¯Ð‘¬ Н‘¾Ð‘°Ð‘Μ𝑫 Н‘©Ð‘³Ð‘¶Ð‘¾Ð‘º €¢Ð’Ƒ𝒙Н’Ƒ• Sacrifice

They ran for a while, until the sun started to set, and Kakashi proposed they rest for a bit.

_

Sakura and Naruto went to sleep soon after that, leaving Akashi, Chiyo, Chrono and Kakashi awake.

The redhead sat atop the highest point of the tree he was on. He was so high up, that the light from their campfire couldn’t reach through the thick leaves. The wind blew stronger there and the air was more breathable than closer to the ground. He reached for his mask and took it off, holding it close to his knee and looking at it. There were various scratches across its wooden surface, but the one that stood out most was the one across the right eye.

The grip he had on it tightened and he closed his eyes.

Why was he thinking of it now? It made no sense to be so caught up with the past… It’ll only make things worse in the future.

He leaned his head back onto the tree and released a sigh. It felt nice to be alone… He felt like he could be himself and finally breathe…

The wind blew in one strong breeze and his hair tickled his skin… That brought back memories…

Ones he’ll never forget…

…

“Akashi!” The said boy turned around with an annoyed look on his face.

“What?” He asked, watching as the ebony-haired male approached him with determined steps. He was only a few feet away from him when he stopped.

“Why do you keep running away from me?” The redhead’s eyes widened at his question. He took a wobbly step back, but the other boy took one stable step forward. “Why do you keep walking away from me?” He asked another question, but Akashi had no answer.

“I’m not…”. He whispered, glancing away. That was a lie and both boys knew it. Shinya closed the distance between them and bent forward, leaning his forehead on the smaller boy’s shoulder.

“Is it because of him?” Akashi almost winced at that. Him? Did he mean Sasuke? Why would he matter now?

“No”. He answered and watched as Shinya moved back a little, just enough so he was able to look at the other boy’s face. He looked kind of relieved, before something flashed across his features.

“Then why? … I know I’m not the only one who feels this, so why?” He gestured between them as he said the word ‘this’, before dropping his hand down, letting it fall uselessly at his side.

What was Akashi supposed to say? Sorry, I can’t do this, I don’t wish for things to end up like last time? Sorry, the last boy I liked left me and I was kind of crushed?

He bit his lip and looked down, clenching his eyes shut.

A warm hand raised his chin up, but he still didn’t open his eyes. “Look at me… please?” His heart throbbed in his chest. He was afraid, so very afraid. He didn’t want to get hurt again… He didn’t want to be left alone again… Too many people had left him alone…

He didn’t-.

“I won’t leave you…”. A thumb trailed across his jaw and he blinked open his eyes. He was met with sincere moss-colored ones. Something wrapped around his waist and he glanced down, seeing an arm curl tighter around him. Shinya leaned forward, his hair tickling the side of Akashi’s jaw. “You’ll never be alone again”. He whispered and Akashi believed him in that moment.

He hesitantly reached a hand forward and placed it to the right side of the boy’s chest.

Thump…

Thump… Thump… Thump…

His heartbeat was fast, heart strongly beating against his palm.

“Do you promise…?” He knew it was unfair of himself to ask that, after all, they were ninja.

They put their life on the line every time they leave on a mission.

“Do you promise you’ll never hurt me and leave me?” Shinya’s hand slipped from his chin to the side of his neck and he leaned back at his question. The moss-eyed boy nodded and Akashi felt like some kind of weight was taken off his shoulders. The hand which was over the boy’s heart slid upwards, until it rested on his neck. “Okay…”. He whispered, making Shinya’s eyes widen a little.

“Really? Are you sure? You can say no, you kn-!” His words were muffled when Akashi surged forward, knocking their lips together. Shinya’s eyes widened even further at that, but he had no time to kiss back, because Akashi leaned away from him.

“You talk too much”. The younger boy’s arm curled around Shinya’s back, pulling him closer. The older boy noticed his hand was shaking, so he reached behind himself to take it in his own. He intertwined their fingers on his lower back and leaned forward again. He planted his lips on Akashi’s forehead, before he moved back.

“You talk too little…”. Akashi scoffed at his words as he turned away, a small blush raising to his cheeks.

“Shut up…”. Shinya grinned and brought his face closer.

“Make me”. Akashi grimaced and pushed at Shinya’s face. The said boy laughed and tightened his arms around him. Akashi struggled to get away from him, but it proved futile.

“You did not just say that, I regret everything”. Shinya just laughed in reply, pinching Akashi’s sides.

“What’s wrong with what I just said?” Akashi looked at him in an ‘are you serious’ way and let his head drop back.

“Everythinggg!” He whined, pulling his arms back. They slipped through Shinya’s own and he pummeled towards the ground. “Crap!” Shinya grabbed him by the wrist, but the momentum made him follow after the falling boy.

They slammed into the ground, Shinya’s full weight dropping onto Akashi. The redhead flailed his arms around, trying to push the other boy off him, but his hands were grabbed and pinned to the side. Akashi peered at him from the side, just in time to catch a mischievous grin on the other boy’s face. “Whatever you’re planning on doing, please don’t”. Shinya leaned forward and touched their foreheads together.

“Even this?” He closed his eyes and their lips met a moment later. Akashi’s struggling ceased and his arms laid limp at his sides. This was so not fair… Was what he thought when Shinya tilted his head to deepen the kiss. His eyes fluttered shut and his body relaxed.

So not fair…

…

“Akashi! We’re leaving!” He was snapped out of his thoughts when Kakashi’s voice rang out from beneath him. He placed his mask back on and jumped down from the tree. His feet soundlessly hit the ground underneath him and he straightened up. Upon catching sight of him, Chrono immediately went to his side.

“Where are the others?” Akashi asked as he glanced around for the other wolves. They weren’t there.

“I sent them a little bit away from us, there would be too much of us”. He leaned his head against Akashi’s hip and the boy raked his fingers through the wolf’s thick, dark fur.

“Nice idea, definitely gonna give you a treat after all of this is over”. He noticed the wolf’s tail started wagging and he smiled at the sight.

What would he do without them all…?

After that, they resumed their journey.

_

They ran for a while and something seemed suspicious. “Kakashi… Something feels wrong… There is no one around us, no signal, nothing”. Kakashi glanced at the redhead when he spoke up. It did seem odd… The only explanation would be…

“They no longer need to stall us”. Chiyo answered.

“Don’t tell me…”. Sakura said and from the side of his eye, Akashi noticed Naruto grit his teeth. He clenched his fists and the whisker marks on his cheeks grew harsh. He suddenly sped up ahead of the others.

“Naruto, wait up!” Sakura yelled after him, but he paid her no mind. He was ignoring everyone and speeding away. “Geez”. She sighed.

“Why’s that kid trying so hard to save Gaara who’s from a different village?” Chiyo turned to Kakashi. “And what in the world is he?” She added.

“He’s also a Jinchuriki”. Kakashi faced away from her. Chiyo’s eyes widened at his reply, before looking at Akashi who ran besides him.

“You have two of them?” She asked, to which Akashi nodded.

“Naruto is my twin and Nine-Tails was split in two, those parts were sealed inside of us”. She listened to the redhead’s words in disbelief.

“Indeed, Naruto doesn’t have much attachment to Suna itself”. He trailed off, before continuing. “But Gaara is a Jinchuriki host just like he is… More than anyone in Suna, Naruto knows how Gaara feels”. Akashi picked up his speed, but still managed to hear his next words. “After all, a Jinchuriki has been treated the same way in every village”. The redhead dashed past Sakura, not wishing to hear their conversation.

Chrono followed after him.

“I hate this”. The wolf glanced at him.

“Hate what?” He asked.

“This whole situation… I hate it”. Chrono looked away from him, but still ran besides him. “Akatsuki… What is their end goal? What are they going to do if their plan succeeds?” Chrono didn’t know the answer. “Destroy the world?” He let out a humorless laugh, but said nothing more after that.

_

He sensed allied chakra from in front of them. “Kakashi, Guy and his team are already there”. The man nodded at his words and they sped up.

Once they arrived there, they met up with them.

Naruto’s once blue eyes had been darkened by the crimson red of the Nine-Tails a while ago, but it didn’t seem to be controlling him, so Akashi paid him no mind.

He glanced at the giant rock that blocked their path into the cave. There was a barrier around it which made his sensing abilities practically useless at the moment. He grabbed his mask and took it off, placing it at his hip. He raised his hand in a hand-sign in front of his face and closed his eyes.

“Akashi, what a-?” Sakura had come closer to him, but Chrono stepped in front of her.

“Don’t approach him, he needs to concentrate”. Her eyes widened and she raised her head to look at the redhead. A single bead of sweat slid down his temple as she noticed his grit teeth.

Akashi focused on his task. He sensed everyone around him, before doing something he’d done only once before.

Chakra-linking.

He extended his chakra towards the ones who had the biggest amount of it. Naruto, Kakashi and, surprisingly, Neji. He latched onto them and their eyes widened once they sensed it. All of them glanced at him just in time to see his eyes snap open.

He forced everything he had towards the giant boulder and was met with resistance. He pushed and pushed and pushed, until he managed to sense behind it.

Everyone watched as his hand fell at his side and he let out a sigh.

“We were too late”. Naruto was the first one to give any sort of reaction.

“Too late?! What the hell do you mean by that?!” He stalked forward to him, about to grab him by the shoulder, when Chrono growled from in front of Akashi.

The said boy glanced down at the wolf and placed a hand on his head. “It’s okay Chrono”. He raised his eyes and looked at the enraged blond in front of him. “I meant exactly what I had just said, we were too late, I cannot sense Gaara’s chakra inside”. He answered and Naruto’s teeth grit even further.

“Either you made a mistake or he’s not inside! There’s no other option!” He pointed a finger at him and Akashi shook his head in reply. Some things never change, do they?

With narrowed eyes, Akashi looked away from him. He had no will to bother with him now. “I’m glad I didn’t get him as my host”. The fox spoke up for the first time since that happened. Shut up… The fox chuckled a deep rumbling laugh, but did as he said. He released a sigh and looked down once he felt Chrono nuzzle at his thigh. He was looking at him pointedly. Akashi raised two fingers in the air and the wolf silently bared his fangs at his unsuspecting brother.

“No need for that”. Chrono glanced back at him, before huffing and sitting down, a disappointed look on his face.

Neji had used his Byakugan to look beyond the wall and said that it looked like there were people inside. A few moments later, he stopped his observation and was unable to explain what he saw. That prompted Guy to go behind them and charge at the boulder. He hit it with all of his strength, but not a scratch was left on it. They noticed that there was a barrier on the boulder and to remove the barrier, they need to simultaneously rip off five seals.

Neji had found the seals with his Byakugan and Team Guy volunteered themselves as the ones to get the seals, since they were the fastest. After connecting a wireless radio, they went on their way.

Kakashi had got onto the boulder, prepared to rip of that seal in time with Team Guy. Sakura went a distance away from the boulder so she could run forward and smash it to pieces.

A few minutes later, everyone had reached their positions and signaled through the radio. Kakashi ripped the seal off and Sakura lunged forward, slamming her fist into the giant rock. It smashed to pieces and she jumped away from the wreckage.

As soon as it stopped crumbling, Kakashi signaled for them to go in. Everyone simultaneously jumped inside and were met with a frightening fact.

Akashi was right… They were too late…

Gaara laid on the ground, unmoving, and in front of him stood two men. Akashi had recognized them from the Bingo Book he was given once he joined the ANBU.

Sasori of the Sand and Deidara from Iwa. Both S-Rank missing ninja.

“Now… which one’s the Jinchuriki?” Deidara asked while sitting on Gaara. Naruto’s body started shaking and his eyes turned crimson at the question.

“You… creeps… I’ll kill the both of you!” He screamed out at them. Deidara got the answer he wanted. He glanced to the side at the redheaded boy. Itachi had mentioned there were two of them… Now, which one should he take? Either one was fine, since they needed only one.

He desperately called out to Gaara, trying to get him to stand up. “Naruto, stop it”. The said boy flinched and glanced at Akashi. “He’s already dead…”. Kakashi narrowed his eyes at Akashi’s bluntness of the situation. Naruto had grit his teeth at his words.

“That’s right! You know, don’t you?” Deidara spoke up. “That he’s already long dead”. He tapped at Gaara’s cheek, making Naruto glower at him.

“Give him back! Give Gaara back!” He dashed forward, but Kakashi cut him off, blocking his path.

The two of them ignored the fuming blond, instead, they started arguing about what true art was. What true beauty of art was. Naruto, being how he is, got angry at them ignoring him, that he unsealed a giant shuriken and threw it at Sasori. A giant, wooden scorpion tail whipped out from under his cape and deflected the shuriken without looking at it.

Akashi narrowed his eyes at the sight. Without looking? As expected of an S-Rank missing ninja. He glanced at Deidara just in time to see him throw something in the air and do a hand-sign. The thing he threw was covered in smoke and after it cleared away, it revealed a giant clay bird.

It grabbed Gaara with its beak and Deidara jumped on top of it. The bird swallowed Gaara and flew out of the cave. Naruto ran after him and Kakashi turned to the rest of them. “You guys handle the guy inside, Naruto and I will handle the one outside”. Before he could leave, Akashi sprinted past him and after Naruto.

“Chrono and I are coming with you!” Kakashi said nothing as he ran after him.

_

They stopped atop a giant arch in front of the cave entrance. Deidara was circling around them, almost mocking them from above. Kakashi tried to contact Guy, but it seemed he, along with the rest of his team, were caught in an enemy trap and were forced to fight. Kakashi raised his protector and revealed his Sharingan.

Deidara continued spewing his art nonsense at them.

“It looks like they’ve started”. He spoke up after a few moments of silence, making Naruto and Kakashi turn back to the cave, but Akashi didn’t look away from Deidara. “Are that little girl and that old bag… really up to the task of taking on my man Sasori?” He laughed when he finished the question.

Naruto jumped at him, but he moved out of the way, making Naruto fly into the side of a cliff, and threw clay birds at Kakashi and Akashi. The both of them threw kunai at them, impaling them. A moment later, they convulsed and an explosion erupted from them. A shuriken flew through the smoke and Kakashi deflected it with a kunai.

“It wouldn’t be worthwhile if you were beaten that easily”. He smirked at them from above.

“I won’t let you… have Gaara, no matter what!” Naruto had dug his way out of the cliff, blaring red eyes glaring at the airborne Deidara. “I’m taking back Gaara!” He yelled out.

“You’re sure a weird Jinchuriki”. Deidara commented, not noticing the chain flying his way. His eyes widened when he spotted it. It managed to wrap around the birds leg and Akashi pulled it down with all his force. Deidara raised his hands in a hand-sign and the birds leg exploded, making the chain pummel down. Akashi growled out and the chain disappeared. “How peculiar… A chain…”. Deidara added as he flew even higher into the air.

Deidara revealed that, minus Gaara, his comrades had already defeated two Jinchuriki and said no one attempted to save them. Not even one comrade or one villager.

Deidara started flying away and the four of them followed after him. “Chrono! Stay near the cave and signal the others to do the same!” Not awaiting a reply, Akashi dashed forward. Not even twenty seconds later, a howl rang out from behind him, answered by multiple different ones.

Deidara kept on throwing bombs down at them, and they had to constantly be on guard since some of them very small. One such thing he did, was make two little spiders and try to separate Akashi and Kakashi from Naruto. Fortunately, since they were filled with chakra, Akashi had easily spotted them and the two of them safely followed after Naruto.

The said boy turned back and started yelling how they were too slow and that Deidara was going to get away. Kakashi answered and said that Deidara wouldn’t run away, since his targets were either Naruto or Akashi.

After that, Naruto had sped up even more, almost getting out of Kakashi’s and Akashi’s sight.

Akashi reached for his special kunai and threw it forward. It went through the group of little spiders Deidara had thrown down at them. He appeared past them and grabbed the kunai, throwing it again. It almost reached Naruto, but a rock which fell from above them, knocked into it, making it pummel into the water below. It sank beneath the surface and Akashi grit his teeth.

He had only one left, but he wasn’t planning on using it now.

Multiple explosions rang from behind him, but he didn’t turn around. His main objective is incapacitating Deidara in any way possible.

Naruto had stopped in front of Deidara, and just as he was about to jump at him, Akashi grabbed him by the wrist and pulled him back. “Hold on, you can’t fight him alone”. Naruto shook his hand off and turned to face him, crimson eyes narrowed at him. Before he could scream something at the redhead, Kakashi appeared behind them. Feeling disappointed that he didn’t separate them, Deidara flew away again.

“Don’t worry, Naruto, we’ll definitely get Gaara back”. Kakashi had told them his plan and what they were supposed to do. After that, they continued going after Deidara.

Akashi had sensed that Kakashi was focusing a big amount of chakra and when he looked at him, he felt his eyes widen. His Sharingan had changed. It no longer only held three black dots around the pupil, instead, it had three lines connecting in the middle. “Get back a little”. He said to Akashi and Naruto and they did as they were told to do.

The man looked up at Deidara and all of a sudden, the space around the blond started bending and shifting. Akashi had never seen anything like that. He glanced at the side, at the walls that led up, and decided what he was going to do. He jumped at the wall and climbed up along with Naruto.

He peered at Deidara and saw that Kakashi was able to suck his arm in some kind of vortex that appeared on the blond’s side. Kakashi resumed his Sharingan attack, but Deidara had managed to get out of his field of vision. Just as Deidara thought he was safe, Naruto jumped out of a tree and thrust a Rasengan his way. Deidara jumped away and off his clay bird, causing him to pummel towards the ground.

Naruto’s Rasengan had hit the bird, tearing it in half.

The half which held Gaara fell down and Naruto created clones which dashed over to him. Akashi shifted on his feet as he glanced at the place Deidara was hiding at. He could clearly sense where he was. Deidara had stood up, prepared to attack again, but he didn’t notice the real Naruto behind himself.

He was hit in the face, which made him fly away and Naruto followed after him. He did the clone jutsu and they all grabbed Deidara, forcing him into the ground. They all slammed into it, causing it to crack from the force. Naruto hit and hit and hit and hit him. He created the Rasengan and forced it into Deidara.

It was futile, since it was only clay that he hit.

It was then, that Akashi felt a shiver go down his spine. He quickly looked at Naruto, fearing the worst. The boy was kneeling over the clay, orange chakra bubbling over his body. A tail popped out from his lower back and started swirling around. Akashi jumped down next to him in a hurry. “Naruto!” He called out, but the boy didn’t answer. Damn it! Why was this happening?!

Naruto whipped his arm back and slammed a fist into the ground underneath him. The clay body was completely obliterated, leaving nothing but a crater in its wake. One more tail appeared on his lower back. He jumped forward and slammed his fist into a tree, annihilating everything along with it. Few of the clones which he had created popped out of existence, too overwhelmed by his current state.

“Calm yourself, Naruto”. Akashi heard Kakashi say from behind him. He whipped back and was about to jump to the man, but Naruto got there before him. He slammed his fist into the place Kakashi was previously at. The man reached behind himself and grabbed a small piece of paper. He dashed around Naruto, before he slammed it on his forehead.

The orange bubbling which coated his body disappeared and Naruto came back to his senses. He was fairly tired. Sakura and Chiyo arrived a second later, stopping behind Kakashi. Sensing Deidara, Akashi glanced ahead and into the thick bushes in front of him. Team Guy had just arrived and they were there with the blond.

A moment later, Akashi sensed them chasing him. He had managed to run away! Grabbing the blade from its sheath on his back, he bent his legs and took off, leaving only dust behind himself. He ran through the trees, until he reached where the blond was. His eyes widened when he noticed the amount of chakra he was concentrating. “Everyone! Get away from here right now!” He screamed out, alerting not only Team Guy, but the rest of Team 7, including Chiyo.

“Art’s a bang!” Deidara exclaimed as his body started puffing out. Akashi grabbed the one remaining special kunai he had and threw it upwards with all of the strength he had left. He spun the sword in his hand and whipped it forward to Deidara, it pierced through his shoulder and Akashi teleported to it, grabbing the hilt with his hands. He closed his eyes and grit his teeth, focusing on the kunai far above him.

“Katsu!” Deidara screamed out and Akashi teleported them both to the kunai in the air. The moment the words left Deidara’s lips, Akashi pulled the blade out of his body. Chains immediately burst out of him and fully wrap around him, covering every inch of his form.

The force of the blast catapulted him straight towards the ground and he felt the impact with every bone in his body.

“Akashi!” Kakashi had yelled out once he saw the boy slam into the ground and create a hole with the force of his hit. Once they boy didn’t answer, he jumped up to him. “Akashi?! Can you hear me?!” The chains didn’t allow him to see any part of the boy. He feared for the worst. A cough resounded from inside the chain cocoon.

They slowly shifted and moved, until the receded back into the boy’s body. Blood slid down the side of his mouth as he coughed. He slowly sat up and wiped at his lips. “Damn it…”. He said once he saw the blood on his hand. He wiped it on the grass next to him and turned to the side.

Everyone was looking at him with disbelief written on their faces. “What?” He deadpanned. Kakashi let out a sigh at his behavior. He was fine… The same as always…

“Akashi? What did you do?” Sakura asked as she gestured to the sky above them. He looked up and saw the remains of the smoke be cleared away by the wind.

“Something really dangerous”. Akashi froze when he heard the voice. He slowly turned to the side and saw the whole pack of his wolf summons. “What were you thinking?!” Chrono demanded as he stalked towards him. “You could have gotten yourself killed!” Akashi blinked his eyes and looked at the ground.

“I did what I had to do to protect them… Was I wrong to want to do that?” The wolf sat in front of him and the other wolves joined him, all circling around him.

“You fool…”. Chrono said nothing else after that.

_

Gaara had been taken to a clearing and Akashi and Sakura kneed at either side of his body. Their hands glowed the familiar green glow, but after a while, they pulled their hands back. “I told you already… We were too late…”. They stood up and walked past the, now, crying Naruto.

“Why is it always you, Gaara? You’re the Kazekage, and you’ve only just become the Kazekage!” His voice got progressively louder until he was shouting the last word.

“Calm yourself, Uzumaki Naruto”. The said boy whipped back around at her words, tears streaming down him angered face.

“Shut it! If you Suna ninja never put that monster inside Gaara, then none of this would have happened! Do you have the slightest idea what you put him through?!” He yelled out, closing his eyes. The others could only watched as he suffered. Akashi clenched his fists at his sides. It really wasn’t fair that Gaara ended up like this. Just because some people had a grand plan for the world…

“What the hell do you mean by Jinchuriki?! Don’t you dare call him by such a fucking word!” He stumbled back on his feet, tears dripping into the soft grass that he stood upon. He hid his face with his arm. “I couldn’t save Sasuke… and I couldn’t save Gaara either”. He sobbed out and Akashi felt his heart throb at the mention of the first boy. “What was all that training for? Three years, yet nothing has changed!” Akashi watched as Chiyo moved forward and past the crying Naruto.

She dropped onto her knees in front of the pale Gaara and placed her hands on his chest. An immediate shock wave of chakra shook the grass around her. “That jutsu!” Sakura exclaimed and Chiyo sent her a small eye-smile. When Naruto asked what she was doing, Sakura replied that she was going to bring Gaara back to life.

The chakra around Chiyo’s hands started faltering and Akashi sensed that she didn’t have much of it left. So he did the only thing he could, he dropped to his knees next to her and placed his hands on top of hers. She looked at him in surprise as the strength of the jutsu increased tenfold.

Akashi immediately felt the huge amount it needed. Chiyo started giving words of praise to Naruto and to Sakura, to which Sakura started crying. Naruto looked confused as to why she was telling him this, but Akashi understood… He could sense it.

Chiyo’s life was draining away and entering into Gaara’s body.

Naruto knelt down in front of Chiyo and Akashi and glanced at Gaara. “Naruto… Please help Gaara…”. Chiyo forced the words out and a moment later, Gaara snapped into a sitting position. Multiple ninja from Suna had arrived and were spread around them all.

Sakura had crouched down and pulled Chiyo against herself. Naruto started saying how Chiyo saved Gaara by using an amazing jutsu and was now sleeping since she was tired, but Akashi shook his head and interrupted him. “No… Chiyo is…”, he glanced at his brother and back at the old lady.

“… she is already dead…”. More tears slipped down Sakura’s cheeks and Akashi stood up, taking a few steps away from Gaara.

Some sacrifices are necessary.

He couldn’t help but grit his teeth at that thought.

…But some are not.