Naruto : Nameless Brothel

Naruto cast one last glance over the battlefield before crouching down to lift Gaara's unconscious body. His weight on Naruto's shoulders felt light… far too light for someone who had just brushed against death.

Temari silently followed behind him. No words were exchanged as they made their way back to Suna.

The desert wind howled, lifting swirls of sand that clung to their tattered clothes. But Naruto paid no attention to it. He walked forward, focused on the only thing that mattered—getting back.

More than once, he felt Temari's furtive glances on him, but each time, she looked away, her jaw clenched.

He knew why.

It wasn't Deidara who had terrified her. It wasn't the Akatsuki.

It was him.

He could still see her expression after the battle—a mix of incomprehension and fear.

But in the end, what did it matter? He was used to it.

If they wanted to see him as a monster, so be it. It wasn't the first time. It wouldn't be the last.

Right now, there were more important things to deal with.

At last, the gates of Suna appeared on the horizon, the massive walls outlined against the crimson sky of the setting sun. As soon as they crossed the entrance, Suna's shinobi rushed toward them.

"Kazekage-sama!"

Medics hurried to take Gaara, their faces tense with urgency. Temari stayed by their side, issuing rapid instructions.

Naruto, however, stepped away.

There was nothing more for him to do here.

He cast one last glance at Gaara before turning on his heels.

His first mission as an Anbu was complete.

"This way."

A Suna shinobi addressed him with respect, motioning for him to follow. Without protest, Naruto walked alongside him through the palace corridors.

The shinobi pushed open a heavy wooden door and stepped aside, allowing Naruto to enter. He raised an eyebrow as he took in the room.

It was spacious, simply decorated in earthy tones and beige, with a large, low bed typical of the desert, a finely carved wooden table, and a basin of clear water at his disposal. Surprisingly, the room was cool despite the stifling desert heat outside.

"Lady Temari requested that you be well accommodated," the shinobi explained.

Naruto gave a small nod before stepping inside, the floor creaking slightly beneath his feet.

"If you need anything, there are guards at the entrance."

He didn't even acknowledge the man as he closed the door behind him.

A heavy silence settled.

Slowly, Naruto ran a hand over his tired face, removing his broken mask before heading toward the adjacent bathroom.

As soon as he stepped inside, he felt the coolness of the stone floor against his bare feet. Shedding his tattered uniform, he revealed a body covered in bruises and cuts.

The bathwater was warm, infused with medicinal herbs. He sank into it with a deep sigh, feeling the tension gradually leave his muscles.

Finally…

He closed his eyes, allowing the heat to soothe his aching body.

But his mind refused to rest.

Flashes of his battle against Deidara surfaced—every explosion, every jolt of pain, every moment he had barely avoided death.

He clenched his fists beneath the water.

I'm still too weak.

Deidara might not have been the strongest member of the Akatsuki… and yet, he had nearly killed him.

If it weren't for Kurama…

His gaze darkened.

He had to become stronger.

This isn't an option. It's a necessity.

A quiet chuckle escaped him.

"Hmph… I still have a long way to go."

But for now, at least, he could savor this brief moment of respite.

---

Meanwhile…

The desert wind howled with silent fury, whipping up spirals of sand around the ruins of an abandoned border outpost. In the darkness, a lone figure staggered between the weathered stones, his uneven steps betraying immense pain.

Deidara stumbled to a crumbling wall, leaning against it heavily, his breath ragged. His Akatsuki cloak was torn, stained with dried blood and deep burns. His blonde hair clung to his forehead, matted with sweat and dust.

His trembling hand pressed against a wound at his side, his face contorted in pain.

"Tsk… damn brat…" he muttered, spitting a mixture of saliva and blood onto the rocky ground.

A rustling sound in the shadows.

His instincts flared instantly, and he lifted his head, his single visible eye scanning the darkness.

A massive silhouette approached, slow and deliberate.

A black cloak adorned with red clouds billowed in the wind. Two piercing, emotionless eyes locked onto him.

"Tch… Kakuzu, huh…" Deidara muttered irritably, his voice rough with pain.

The legendary mercenary stopped a few meters away, arms crossed, his gaze sweeping over Deidara with contempt.

"You look pathetic."

Deidara grimaced.

"Shut up…" he growled, attempting to push himself upright. "I had… complications, yeah."

Kakuzu remained unmoved, his tone cold.

"The Kazekage was supposed to be captured. Where is he?"

A heavy silence fell between them.

Deidara averted his gaze before clicking his tongue in irritation.

"That damn Konoha brat got involved."

Kakuzu raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

"Who?"

Deidara gritted his teeth, humiliation boiling inside him.

"Uzumaki Naruto, the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki… He wasn't supposed to be there!"

Silence stretched between them, then a mocking smirk formed beneath Kakuzu's stitched mask.

"The kid with a 35-million-ryō bounty? Hmph. I wouldn't have thought he was capable of reducing you to this state."

Deidara clenched his fists, a shudder of anger coursing through his battered body.

"It wasn't him… It was that damn demon inside him."

Kakuzu observed him for a few seconds, assessing the weight of his words. His smirk faded, replaced by a cold neutrality.

"It doesn't matter. Pain won't appreciate this failure."

Deidara let out a weak chuckle, despite the sharp pain lancing through his body.

"Tsk… I don't give a damn what he thinks." He ran his tongue over his dry lips before adding hoarsely, "I'll make up for it… and next time, that brat is going to explode into a thousand pieces."

Kakuzu regarded him for a moment before turning away, his tone indifferent.

"If you survive until then."

Deidara gritted his teeth, watching his comrade disappear into the darkness.

His bloodied fist clenched as a twisted smile slowly spread across his lips.

"Yeah… we'll see about that."