5: The Price of Pursuit

The night air was thick with tension, the quiet hum of the village barely registering in Naruto's ears. His fists clenched at his sides, nails digging into his palms, but the pain did nothing to ground him.

Sasuke was gone. Again.

And this time, he hadn't just walked away—he had vanished, pulled through something unnatural, something beyond Naruto's reach.

Kakashi's voice was calm, steady. "Naruto."

Naruto didn't turn. His gaze was locked onto the sky, where the last remnants of that eerie rift had flickered out of existence.

"He's still out there." His voice was hoarse, thick with something unspoken. "I can feel it."

Sakura stepped closer, hesitant. "Naruto… we don't even know where he was taken."

Naruto exhaled sharply, his jaw clenching. "Then we find out."

Kakashi sighed. "It's not that simple."

Naruto turned sharply, his eyes burning with something raw. "It's Sasuke." His voice cracked, but he didn't care. "I don't care what it takes—I will bring him back."

The words felt too familiar, a painful echo of the past. But this time was different. This time, Naruto had seen it—seen the way Sasuke had looked at him right before the rift swallowed him whole.

He hadn't wanted to go.

That was all Naruto needed to know.

Kakashi studied him for a long moment before sighing, rubbing the back of his head. "Then I suppose we'd better start looking."

Naruto blinked. "What?"

A small, tired smile tugged at the corner of Kakashi's lips. "You didn't think we'd let you do this alone, did you?"

Sakura stepped forward, determination replacing hesitation in her eyes. "We all want him back, Naruto."

Something heavy loosened in Naruto's chest. He swallowed hard, nodding.

They would find Sasuke.

No matter where—or when—he had been taken.

The night was thick with fog as Naruto, Kakashi, Shino, and Kiba moved through the dense forest.

The air smelled damp, heavy with the scent of wet leaves and earth. They had been tracking the last known signs of the strange rift that had swallowed Sasuke, following its energy trail as far as it would take them.

"Anything?" Kakashi asked quietly.

Kiba sniffed the air, his expression grim. Akamaru let out a low growl beside him. "There's something up ahead… but it's not Sasuke."

Naruto's fists clenched. "Then we deal with it and keep moving."

They pressed forward, their senses sharp.

Then, without warning—

A blur of motion.

Kunai flew from the trees, gleaming under the sliver of moonlight. Kakashi reacted first, his Sharingan flashing as he twisted, deflecting the blades with precise movements.

Shino's insects erupted from his sleeves, intercepting an incoming shadow. Kiba leaped back, fangs bared, as a tall, cloaked figure stepped out from the trees.

Three more followed.

Their chakra was heavy, suffocating. Dangerous.

Naruto's breath caught in his throat. These weren't ordinary shinobi.

One of them chuckled, stepping forward. His face was mostly hidden behind a dark scarf, but his piercing eyes glowed with malice. "Well, well… the infamous Naruto Uzumaki." His voice was laced with amusement. "And here I thought hunting Uchiha would be the highlight of my night."

Naruto's heart pounded. "You know where Sasuke is?"

The man tilted his head. "Maybe. But information comes at a price."

Kakashi stepped in front of Naruto, his stance wary. "And what price would that be?"

A sick grin stretched across the man's face. "Your lives."

Without another word, the enemy shinobi attacked.

Naruto barely had time to react before a blade came for his throat. He ducked, twisting into a kick that sent his attacker stumbling back. Kiba and Akamaru launched into action, fangs flashing as they tore through another enemy's defenses.

Shino's insects swarmed, suffocating one of the cloaked figures, but a burst of fire jutsu forced him to retreat.

Kakashi moved like lightning, his Sharingan predicting every strike, countering effortlessly. But these enemies were skilled—far more than they had anticipated.

Naruto gritted his teeth, dodging another attack before slamming a Rasengan into one of the attackers' chests, sending him flying. But even as he fell, another took his place.

"We don't have time for this!" Naruto growled. "Where is Sasuke?!"

The leader of the group smirked, wiping a trickle of blood from his lip. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

Then—

A shift in the air.

The enemy leader raised a single hand sign.

A sudden, blinding explosion of chakra erupted, forcing Naruto and the others to shield themselves. Smoke filled the air.

And when it cleared—

The enemy was gone.

Naruto's fists trembled as he stared at the empty space where they had stood.

Kakashi placed a hand on his shoulder. "They knew something. And they didn't want us to follow."

Naruto's jaw clenched. "Then we make them talk."

He turned, determination burning in his eyes.

No matter who stood in his way—he would find Sasuke.

The battlefield was soaked in blood and rain. The scent of smoke and earth clung to the air, thick and suffocating. Naruto's breath came in ragged gasps as he pushed forward, his body aching, his mind racing.

And then—

A strangled cough. A body slumping against the ruined ground.

Naruto's head snapped toward the sound.

Shino stood there, his form barely holding together, insects swarming desperately around him as if trying to keep him whole. But it was useless.

A deep wound gaped across his abdomen, torn too wide, too cruel. Blood seeped through his fingers as he tried—and failed—to stop it.

"Shino!" Naruto's voice cracked as he rushed forward, dropping to his knees beside him.

Shino's breathing was shallow, his usually unreadable face contorted in pain. His visor had cracked, one lens shattered, revealing dark eyes that still burned with determination.

"…Mission first," Shino murmured. His voice was weak, but steady. Always steady.

Naruto shook his head violently. "Like hell! We're getting you out of here—"

A bloody hand gripped his wrist. Firm. Final.

"There's no time," Shino rasped. "You… need to stop them. Before it's too late."

Naruto's stomach twisted. He could hear Sakura shouting in the distance, hear the battle still raging, but all he could focus on was the friend bleeding out in front of him.

Shino exhaled slowly, the smallest of smiles ghosting his lips. "You were always… too stubborn."

Naruto bit down on a sob. "Shut up, bastard. You're gonna make it."

But Shino's grip was slipping. His insects buzzed frantically, as if they, too, were afraid to let go.

And then—

Silence.

His body stilled. The swarm dispersed into the night.

And Shino Aburame was gone.

Naruto sat there, fists clenched, heart pounding.

Another friend. Another life lost to this endless fight.

His teeth gritted, his eyes burning with something deeper than rage.

He would make them pay.