His hair was crusty and knotted as Naruto ran her hands through it. She looked down at him, gazing at his injuries and just waiting for the night to pass.
The scene around them was anything but decent at this point. Darren and Bens bodies had gone cold and pools of their thick red blood was around them like a tragic background.
Earls hands were still impaled together on the wooden pole. He was still painfully alive, but asleep due to his recent torture and the drugs Naruto had inserted into his bloodstream.
She sighed and stood. Naruto ventured to the second door next to the one filled with fire wood. She opened it with a tug to see three bags. Three bags filled with clothes, blankets and other belongings they couldn't part with.
She went through every one until she found a shirt that seemed big enough to easily slip over Sasukes stature. She took pants as well.
Walking over to the prince. Naruto laid the clothes on the floor and grabbed Sasukes arm tenderly. Turning him onto his back, he groaned at the pain of shifting from his position.
Naruto now had a better look over his body.
Sure enough there was one, long, nasty second degree burn running down Sasukes right side. The under part of his arm seemed to also be a victim of the kilns heat along with a part of Sasukes back. His left side was covered in bruises of purple and brown, depending on when they started to form. His leg was broken, left one, seems he had tried to run away for the tibia to fracture. Three ribs were broken, one bruised from punches and kicks and one was fractured.
Naruto clicked her tongue at the terribly infected cuts and burns.
The back of her fingers ran over Sasukes pale cheek as she wiped some old blood from his face.
His lip was busted and a black eye was in the middle of healing.
Seems he had put up a fight as well.
Naruto sighed and grabbed the nape of his neck. Using her sword, Naruto made a small but thin line on her hand. Blood surfaced at the new wound and she peeled Sasukes lips apart just a bit.
"You better wake the fuck up or Kabutos going to kill me."
With that said, Naruto squeezed four drops of her blood into his mouth. These were times where being the eldest daughter and an Uzumaki came in perfectly.
Having done that and watching the small wound heal in minutes. Naruto grabbed the shirt and pulled it over Sasukes head. She carefully put the arms in and ran the shirt down, making sure not to brush any sensitive and-or open wounds.
Resting his head back onto the floor softly, Naruto pulled the ripped trousers from Sasukes legs and replaced them with the more airy and unripped pants.
Standing back up, Naruto went over to the latch again, and pushed it open to see dawn just breaking. She sighed in relief and stepped out just a bit more to take in the fresh cold air that kissed her tan skin.
Going back into the crap hide out, Naruto ventured over to the bottles still on the floor. She picked them up and read the labels. Both were hard drugs from the underworld. Too much of either and you'd be dead in hours.
Realizing that, she tugged on Earls hair and made sure his breath still cast against her wrist. He's a survivor. Letting him go, Naruto walked over to Sasuke.
Now the difficult part. Carry him and risk damaging his ribs more. Or go and get help. Naruto rolled her eyes. Getting help would be practically suicide. No one would stay and help a girl who looks like she's been in slave trade for years and no one would surely help a prince unless it came with a prize. Plus they were trying to hide Sasukes kidnapping.
Clicking her tongue once more. Naruto opened the hatch and hopped out. She left the latch propped open, hoping to get rid of that dead man smell and this would make sure Sasuke wouldn't die from the building heat.
Back tracking her way to Orochimarus mansion, stealing a horse would be of no trouble at all. Or if she was still lucky, her horse was still around. Though she doubted that.
By the time Naruto arrived at orochimarus mansion, it was early morning. The people living inside would surely be awake. And it was almost pitiful how close the threes hideout was to a dangerous snake.
Walking to the stalls, Naruto had the pleasure of running into one of orochimarus workers. Of course they were up at this time. She seemed fairly surprised to see Naruto this early.
"Miss Naruto. I had no idea you were coming by, Lord Orochimaru has been awaiting to hear about your location and—"
"That's nice but I need to use a horse."
She looked at her with that same surprised face.
"May I ask why?"
"No you may not."
"... oh." Lowering her head, she looked at Naruto through her lashes.
"Would you like me to get Lord Orochimaru and Kabuto?"
"No."
"I can not let you just take one of their horses Miss Naruto."
"I'll return it."
She grabbed my arm, looking at me with fake dow eyes. I snarled and snatched my arm from her grasp.
"Hasn't Lord Orochimaru taught you any manners?"
She flinched. "I-I am new." She muttered.
"Of course you are."
Walking to the stalls, Naruto felt the woman on her tail. Well, not woman but not a child either. She seemed younger than Naruto, looked and acted like it too.
The girl made a disgusted sound when Naruto walked into a horses stall with no shoes and no hesitation. The horse was already straddled up.
"Which of your Lords is planning on taking a brisk horse ride this morning?"
She looked from Narutos feet to her expressionless face.
"Both Miss Naruto. They are going to the castle late afternoon."
Nodding, Naruto took the lead and tugged the horse to follow her. The girl stopped her once more.
"I can not allow you to take that horse Miss Naruto."
Naruto looked at her in only pure irritation by now. "Get out of my way newbie."
The girl straightened, obviously she took that to offense. But the nickname wasn't supposed to be exactly nice either.
"I am one of Lord Orochimarus faithful servants. I will not allow you to take this horse." Her tone got sharper with her words and that only pissed Naruto off.
Shoving her roughly and effortlessly to the floor, Naruto mounted the horse.
"I am their daughter you fool. Touch me again and I will convince Orochimaru to put you in the dungeons."
With that, Naruto snapped the lead and dug her heels into the horses sides. She was off before the servant could even comprehend the extent of her threat.
The dungeons were a cold and dark place. No one in their right mind would willingly go down there (but I guess that's why Naruto had. She's never been in her right mind when it came to Sasuke).
Slowing down by the propped latch. Naruto dismounted the horse and kept a hold of its lead until she dropped into the hideout.
She walked over to the prince and grabbed the corners of the blanket under him. Dragging them to the ladder, Naruto grabbed his under arms and pulled him up against her body.
She checked, the horse was still there.
Naruto grabbed the waist band of the pants and stepped onto the ladder. Slowly, achingly painful and tediously Naruto got Sasuke into the fresh, cold but free and wild forest. Naruto could feel Sasukes shallow breath casting against the side of her neck. The oxygen coming from his lungs wasn't wavering. A good sign.
Hoisting Sasuke onto the front leg of the horse who stayed perfectly still, Naruto jumped back down. Grabbing a thin rope and sheathing her sword, Naruto climbed back out of the latch and left it propped open. She'll have to go back and finish off number three.
Hoisting Sasuke onto the horse, she mounted the saddle and tied the rope around her and Sasukes waists. The prince was guaranteed to stay on the horse this way; and not gain any further injuries.
Digging her heels into the horse once more, the horse trotted at Narutos desired pace.
It would take longer but there were no dangers with the sun rising.
~~**~~
Everyone in Saimingan stared as Naruto came from the forest. She stopped when a bookstore owner ran out in front of her.
"Who are you?" His eyes trailed to the man leaning on Narutos body.
"My names Uzumaki Naruto."
"General?!"
Naoki ran to them and stared up at her with shocked wide eyes.
"Wait... I thought you were getting medicine!"
"Don't be a moron Naoki."
He flushed.
"Run ahead to the palace and make sure the others are ready to help me get prince Sasuke to the infirmary."
Naoki nodded, "Hai."
With that he ran off as fast as his armor would let him and Naruto snapped the lead. The horse began to trot once more and she ignored the gawking eyes staring at her and sasuke.
The gates opened as Naruto came into view and she untied the rope around her and Sasuke before dismounting the horse. She walked over to the other knights holding a stretcher.
"General." They greeted.
Naruto grunted and grabbed under Sasukes arms. Kiba and Isamu helped her get him from the horse and safely onto the stretcher they kept from the ground.
"Kabuto will be here later today. If he's not, I'll be back early evening."
"Where are you going General?"
"To get the fucks who did this."