Sweet and innocent

“Sasuke…. Gone??” Itachi repeated, his voice sounding as numb and void as he, himself, felt. His mind blocked out completely, his body felt heavy, and, for one moment, he couldn’t even remember his own name.

His rational ability kicked in, and like a thunder, he moved to his little brother’s closet. Opened it, made a quick survey. About a third of Sasuke’s clothes missing, most his academy things, some weapons, his scrolls… the closet was close to half its usual content. Then, it sunk into him. Sasuke had ran away.

His reasoning abandoned him completely. And, for a single moment, he found himself in a strange sense of happiness, for he didn’t feel anything, he felt his own body light as a feather, his mind empty as he had never felt it, his senses dead. For a moment, he didn’t exist, didn’t feel anything but absolute numbness… He could hear, though, only vaguely, but he could hear Naruto’s heated, hysterical sobs, and only paid half mind to the struggled words, as he let himself be dragged further and further into emptiness.

“Wouldn’t talk to me…. Two days… came home, locked himself…. Barely ate…. He was always here… I just tookm a nap… just gone!!... looked everywhere I thought of… Itachi, he’s gone!!” the young boy ended pitifully. Itachi set his eyes on him, noticed the dirty face, how those blue eyes filled with tears, which dropped down the whiskered cheeks, to merge with some of the mud there, the pain in the blue orbs, that downwards curve of the soft lips, opening lightly to sob once more. He could see it, he recognized the pain, knew there were so many emotions there, but he simply couldn’t get himself to feel any of it. His emotions had temporarily ripped out of his soul, along with his thoughts. Only as a vague notion, a glimpse of light behind the veil covering him, did Itachi thought this must be what death felt like.

Awakening came in the shape of small hands grasping his middle, lithe but strong arms tightening around him, and a small, blond head pressing up against his lower stomach, and warm tears wetting his clothes. Naruto clung to him like a drowning man would hold onto a rock… or anything that would help him keep afloat. The little boy’s cries shoke Itachi with their emotions, and let him know he was desperate, that Naruto needed his comfort, not the living Itachi had temporarily become, and that Sasuke was truly, really, 100% sure to be missing.

He could only feel dread now, a mind shattering fear that made him want to reach for his own hair and pull it. A million thoughts went through Itachi’s head, all of them at once: where was he?? Where could of Sasuke have gone?? Was he okay?? Great god, what if someone found him?? Tried to take advantage of him?? What if the boy ran into some missing-nin who recognized him, and somehow related Sasuke to him, and wished to extract revenge through his little brother??? Sasuke surely was a prodigy, a boy who was way ahead of his class, and who made him proud each and every day, he small raven was stronger than most students, and perhaps even as strong as any experienced gennin, and he was quite sharp and smart, but damn it, he was still a child!! A nine year old, all alone against the harsh, cruel world. A sweet, innocent little boy who had never come face to face with how sick and twisted human nature could be, a boy easily adorable, any perverted man or woman could grow obsessed with, and take advantage of!!

Itachi felt sick to just think about it, of a dirty, unworthy person coming close to his sweet Otouto, tempting him, showing him fake kindness and welcome, fooling him into a false sense of security, while inside his/her mind, to only wish a dark fate on his little brother: to abuse him, hit him, torture him, rape him…. Or, help him Lord, even take him away from Konoa, to sell him to the few still existent slave traders over the Mist Village.

Numbly, Itachi reached up, touching Naruto’s head, patting him, trying to give the comfort he didn’t feel himself. The soft, silky strands mingled with his fingers a little, before he moved his hand down, to Naruto’s shoulder, pushing him away slowly. The blond rubbed his small hands against his face, whipping out tears, before looking up, a lost puppy dog look on his face, the most devastating thing Itachi had yet to see.

“Naruto… I’m gonna ask you to remain here” the moment he said it, the blond started to shake his head, and opened his mouth in protest. “it’s a necessity. I must go looking for him, even if you already did. Stay here, in case he comes back. Knowing him, that’s how he got so many things out, watching and waiting until you came out of the house. Please, Naruto… stay”

Two seconds passed, then Naruto swallowed his emotions down, and slowly nodded, a little more than necessary, pressing his lips together in an effort to not start wailing again.

“Good” Itachi said, before patting Naruto’s head once more. “Anything I find… I’ll let you know, ok??” He then turned, and walked to the door.

“Itachi…” He only turned his head, until half his face was visible to Naruto. “Please, being him back… it wouldn’t be the same without him… tell him I’ll do anything, Itachi… Anything” It took much, Itachi knew it took much from the blond, but the young boy didn’t brake down as he spoke.

Just then, something inside Itachi shifted. The wheels inside his head turned, functioning properly again, and his dread was replaced with something so strong and powerful, it shocked and scared Itachi to his bones.
He felt rage. Itachi was beside himself with an overwhelming anger, a sense of total antagonism towards being merciful to Sasuke took over him. How dare that boy leave their house?? Put both him and Naruto through so much distress, only for a whim of his!! Itachi had made it perfectly clear they would speak of last week’s incident, that it would all be clear to him when Itachi came back, but no! Sasuke would not do as he had said. Instead, Sasuke went and got away, to get himself into God only knows what trouble, and left them both with their hearts pending on a rope, desperate to find him. It was selfish, it was inmature, it was so unlike Sasuke and so very infuriating what his Otouto had done, that if Itachi didn’t feel the way he did for him, he would’ve certainly left Sasuke to his own fate.

Grabbing a hold of his blazing emotions, Itachi made his way out the house, and just as he opened the door, someone knocked, so the young raven found himself hitting straight against Kakashi’s HARD knuckles on his forehead.

“FUCK!!” he yelled out, rubbing his forehead lightly. Now he knew why Sasuke was so bothered when he poked him, his forehead ached!!

“Well… you’re certainly in a mood” Kakashi lazily said, giving Itachi the once over. “I take it you go the message??” he asked. Itachi took a deep breath, willing himself to calm down, before looking at the man with the weird hairstyle infront oh mi, glaring at him straight in his only visible eye.

“What message??” Itachi asked, his voice coming out just as he felt. Annoyed, and agry and impatient. He saw Kakashi raise an eyebrow at him.

“The Hokage’s” Kakashi calmly answered. “You left too quick, he wanted to speak with you about the guardianship”
Oh, crap, the guardianship, Itachi thought, his mind going a mile per minute. He couldn’t speak to the Hokage NOW, he had to get Sasuke!! Gosh, couldn’t he ever get a brake?!

“If you didn’t get the message… where were you going still wearing the ANBU uniform?? Specially with your mask hanging from your neck?” Kakashi emphatized the little detail by touching the string that kept Itachi’s mask hanging down his back. “Alright… what’s going on Itachi? You may go into horny frenzies, but you’re not careless… at al. What’s happening??”

Itachi sighed. Why… why of all people in the world, did he have to run into Kakashi now?? Not that he didn’t appreciate the older man caring, but it was simply that Itachi couldn’t deal with Kakashi’s, or anyone’s antics, for that matter.

“Itachiiii….” The older man impatiently spoke, awaiting for his answer.

“Itachi!!” Naruto’s sad scream reached the. It was on slow motion that Itachi saw the boy run to him, and his small frame coming close to them, the small tear-stained face already telling Kakashi something was seriously wrong in that house. “Oh… hey, Kakashi-san” Naruto saluted, but with such a down tone of his voice, he might’ve said Kakashi he was dying of a terrible disease.

“Yes, Naruto??” Itachis asked, knowing Naruto was sure to spill the beans, and even if he wouldn’t, Kakashi would nag him enough into telling him why Naruto looked like he had lost his dead puppy.

“I just… do you think you’ll come back later in the day, or stay out, Itachi??”

“I don’t know.. don’t wait for me” After hearing this, Naruto nodded sadly, said goodbye to Kakashi, and simply went into the house, going just as sadly as he had arrived. As he turned, Itachi met the expecting gaze of Kakashi’s grey eye settled onto him, waiting patiently, yet stubbornly. “Come… we’ll talk on the way to the Hokage’s”

They silently went on their way, jumping on top of the nearest building, and going over rooftops, skillfully moving towards Hokage Tower together. After half a minute, more than Itachi actually expected, Kakashi broke the silence. “Are you telling me why Naruto looked like he knew the Kyuubi was inside of him??”

Itachi stopped his jumping, to and on top of a small market, he felt Kakashi walk to him slowly, and while looking at the floor, he gathered his strength for the upcoming conversation. It was one thing knowing Sasuke was missing, but it was something else entirely to say it out loud, to actually present it to the world. The words choke on his throat, he felt his eyes burning, and his vision blurring with tears. Saying made Sasuke gone more palpable, so much more real and hurtful. Saying it made Sasuke really gone, really unbearable, really out of his grasp.

“Kakashi… I… its Sasuke”

“Sasuke??” Itachi heard the worry, the concern, felt that strong hand on his shoulder instantly. It soothed him somewhat, knowing that he had Kakashi by him, supporting him all the way. “Itachi… what’s wrong with Sasuke?? Is he okay??”

Itachi swallowed, the words hurting his throat, a bitter taste tingling the back of his tongue. Still not looking at the grey-haired man, Itachi spoke. “Sasuke… he’s missing, Kakashi”

He felt Kakashi’s hand grasping his shoulder tightly, the tension in his body, how Kakashi’s entire aura shift from relaxed stance, into a worry frenzy, immediately followed by the inevitable hoard of questions.

“What?? Missing?? How? When?? Why??” Itachi ran a hand through his hair, nerviousism written all over his body.

“I don’t know. I don’t know, Kakashi. During the week, I don’t know why…. We… we had a bit of a fight some days ago, right before the mission…”

“woooww…. You think Sasuke ran off???” Kakashi cut him off, covering his hidden mouth in a concerned gesture, his one visible eye showing more emotions than many people with their face exposed could ever show.

“Yeah… I do” Itachi whispered lowly, still not looking at Itachi, but at a far away point, not really paying attention to what he was staring at. Kakashi understood Itachi was probably wondering just where his little brother could be, and he nearly reached out for the young Uchiha, but he wasn’t sure Itachi would allow himself to look so weak before Kakashi, of the young man would let himself be comforted, risk of thinking Kakashi was pitying him, for that was sure to make Itachi run head first into an angry fit.

“Itachi, I don’t… I don’t know what to say… have you got any idea as to where he could be??” For the first time in the conversation, Itachi looked at Kakashi’s face, so the older man could see the despair behind the black eyes, the fear barely hidden in the midnight orbs. Itachi needed no words or gestures to express he didn’t know where Sasuke could be, and Kakashi understood the message completely.

“Look, Itachi… you, you go to the Hokage. I’ll start searching…”

“You don’t have to.” Itachi cut him in his speech, getting a strong grip of himself, making his voice to sound with a certain carelessness Kakashi knew would be forced. In less than two seconds, Itachi had been able to shut himself out from him again, and revert to that defensive mechanism that allowed him to not show any emotions. It surprised Kakashi such thing could work even now, when it was clear Itachi had been about to brake down on him. “He is my brother, and I know you care about me, but this doesn’t concern you, Kakashi”

Taken the conversation as finished, Itachi focused his chakra on his feet, and made to jump, but Kakashi grabbed his arm, stopping him. Their eyes met, grey and midnight black, and Itachi knew he would not get away from this one. Kakashi would go look for his little brother, whether he had Itachi’s blessing or not. It warmed him somehow, to know that the older man would care so much, as to go out of his way, simply out of concern and caring for him.

“I’ll help you, Itachi…” his voice was resolute, and final, holding no space for arguments of any kind. Itachi didn’t give any, even if his pride yelled at him to do exactly that. “And… you should tell Hokage”

“What??” Itachi pulled his arm from Kakashi’s grasp so hard and fast, the older man thought he had hurt himself for a second there. The man had to treat this topic carefully, Itachi was extremely careful around these children’s topic, he knew he was walking on a very thin ice.

“Itachi, please understand… you’re taking a shot at the guardianship of the Kyuubi vessel, the council’s eyes are most likely to be set upon you, and those children… if it were to know that Sasuke’s ran away, you might lose the shot at Naruto’s guardianship, and even worst, they could also make it seem like you’re not capable to look after Sasuke after all. God knows those guys were completely against you keeping him in the first place”
It was a funny feeling. Itachi had never felt it, but he know understood what people meant when they said they felt their heart had gone up, and stuck on their throat. He hadn’t thought of that, hadn’t seen the situation on that angle, and it terrified him to think ANYONE could take his little Sasuke away from him. He had to find Sasuke, and he had to find him quickly.

“What I’m saying is… you have more chances of containing this if you had the Hokage on your side. He’s already running for you, so you could convince him to buy you time pretty easily if you’d like. You’ll have to make sure nobody else knows about your little predicament, of course”

For a while, Itachi didn’t say anything, simply went over Kakashi’s words slowly, before he nodded silently, seeing the logic held by the older man, then he went on his way, leaving Kakashi standing on the rooftop alone, lost in his own thoughts, before he went away himself, in a completely different direction.

It took Itachi about five minutes to reach Hokage tower, thinking over just how he was going to say the Sandaime Sasuke had ran away while he was away on his mission, how would he explain he ran away?? Itachi wondered, then moved on to worrying about the Sandaime’s reaction to it, if the old man could really help him avoid a confrontation with the council at all. Itachi, in his mind, made it just far too quickly to Hokage tower, and Sarutobi’s assistant also let him through far too quickly as well. This just wasn’t his day.

Upon entering the large office, the old man looked up form a pile of paperwork, and simply gestured him to sit down. Normall, Itachi would’ve declined, and remain standing, but this was an special occasion, so Itachi did as suggested for the first time. It Hokaga was surprised the young ANBU had surprisingly indulged him, the old man hid it well.

“Hokage-sama…” Itachi started, but didn’t get very far.

“Just a minute, Itachi.” The old man softly interrupted, and the young man remained silent. Silent, uncomfortable, and extremely anxious. After a few seconds, the Sandaime spoke once more. “Here, Itachi” he handed Itachi a scroll of paper.

/Oh, crap… please, not another mission… not another, not now!/Itachi’s frantic mind thought, as he reached out for the scroll.

“That is an appointment, for the guardianship hearing.” The moment Sandaime said this, Itachi opened the scroll, scanning it quickly. Indeed, it was a calling regarding Itachi’s petition as Naruto’s official guardian, but there were two things that nearly gave the young Uchiha a heart attack. A little nervous, he looked up, gazing at the old man almost accusingly.

“This is next week… and in the Council’s room” Itachi stated. Sandaime sighed, he expected this sort of reaction from the young man, as a matter of fact, he would’ve been amazed if Itachi hadn’t felt threatened by the short notice, or the procedure to this guardianship. Things like this were almost all the time dealt by people who were more specified in mental or social health, not done by the council itself. That scroll looked more like a notice stating the date and time in which an accused criminal would be taken to court in the Hokage’s eyes. “I understand this is a special situation, Hokage, but this is ridiculous”

“I know, Itachi” Sandaime spoke, resting his elbows on the table, his voice heavy and tired. “I did the most I could do, but the Council was specific that they would see to the future of young Naruto themselves. They’re not taking any chances.” The old man’s heavy gaze fell upon Itachi’s, filled with such warning and sadness, Itachi had a feeling the worst was yet to come. “They want, no… they demand Sasuke’s presence as well”