A.N. First off, I am an idiot as I just found out how to make Vista listen to me and now I can save this as a html. I would also like to apologize for being so insecure about previous chapters. It is true when people say ‘You are your own worst critic.’ Thank you for the reviews and the reassurances that the chapters are fine, I still feel that there is room for improvement and I will work to accomplish that. When I do repost certain chapters I’ll let you all know on my main page. Also, due to time and work restraints if the chapter will be late I’ll leave a notice on my main page along with the status of that chapter. This way I am not posting “false” chapters with Author’s notes, and you all still get an update on what is going on. Sound good?
Also, from here on out I really deviate from the original story line so, this nice easy flow of things is going to be chucked out of the window. Danzo’s getting a new back story and so are a lot of the other characters. Most of Akatsuki is getting jilted and well, I guess if you keep reading you’ll see. This has been your warning! Okay, on with the chapter! Kyuubi the Bitch Naruto Chapter 6: Chasing Shadows, Circling Nightmares, Choking Truths
“God damn it!” Naruto cried running ahead of the group and away from the towering gates of Konoha as though all the demons of hell were on his tail. Which, in all honesty, they were. “Go away!” His shout over his shoulder seemed to cause little affect on the fuzzy red irritant that trotted after him cooing up a storm as though he didn’t have two strangers following him and Sakura on this highly tense mission.
This isn’t fair! What did I do to deserve this?! This is all your fault, you fluffy, nine-tailed bitch! Kyuubi remained silent at his internal yell and Naruto found himself almost upset by it.
If he had to suffer through the embarrassment of being chased out of Konoha by a fox, then that stupid demon was going to suffer as well.
Damn it, first the “little dick” comments and now this?! God, if that asshole ever discovers my problem… Naruto let out a whimpering moan at the thought of the torment that would cause and put on a little more speed doubling back hoping to confuse the beast and maybe get it to stop following him.
Sadly, it seemed determined to use Sasuke’s absence to its advantage.
I’m so adding this to the list! Naruto thought sadly, putting yet another mental bullet mark on the lengthy list of reasons to kick Sasuke’s ever loving ass when he finally came home.
Who would have thought I’d miss his bastardly ways because of this?! “Do I want to know?” The calm question came from the current team leader, Naruto thought he recalled the man calling himself Yamato—or was it Mahado—but he really wasn’t too certain. He’d been a bit too busy wishing death to come upon the dark haired third member of their team. Sadly, the odd, midriff showing boy was still alive and following them.
“No, you really don’t.” Sakura replied, her tone sounding mirthful and Naruto was certain she was hiding her laugh behind a hand.
“It’s not funny Sakura! Ho shit!” Naruto dodged clumsily as the little parasite attempted to jump him and scurried back to hide behind Sakura. The fox pulled to a stop before the girl wary, as any smart thing was, of her.
“Naruto, its been following you for over two years now. It ceased being funny a long time ago.” Sakura began, making the shooing motion with her hand. The fox just tilted its head and began to make a large circuit around her still in pursuit of the blonde.
“You think I don’t know that?!”
“Perhaps it has mistaken you for a female.” Sai stated with a large grin and Naruto turned slowly, his eyes spelling death as he contemplated whether or not he should respond. The socially inept jerk had no idea just how close to the truth he was, but that wasn’t really the problem. It wasn’t even the name calling that irritated Naruto, it was the fact that he had
replaced Sasuke.
Had it been anyone else, any one of their other friends he would have been fine. They knew their position was temporary, they knew Sasuke and even though most of them no longer trusted him, they knew better than to speak of it. This dick didn’t, and was working off the false belief that Sasuke was just like any other missing nin. Like Itachi and Orochimaru, and he walked along as though he belonged in the gap the Uchiha had left behind, and that made Naruto want to attack. He was messing with something the little idiot had no clue of and if he wasn’t careful, Naruto would take him out. All he needed was a reason, and when he had it…
“… since your penis is small enough to be negligible…”
That’s fucking it! Naruto turned around to face Sai, his voice far too quiet to be considered his usual outrage, his tone far too dangerous and so very different from how it had been when he’d react to Sasuke’s taunts that he could feel Sakura tense as he spoke, “You want to repeat that, asshole?”
Sai just smiled, unaware of the thin ice he tread on. “It is merely a suggestion.”
“I’ll give you a suge—“Naruto cut short as his leg buckled out from under him. When he hit the dirt, the air pushed from his lungs Naruto closed his eyes and attempted to block the world from his mind.
I will kill it. That’s it, I’ll drag the bastard home, kick his ass, and then cook up the fluffy bastard and feed it to him! “Naruto…” Sakura asked worriedly when she realized that the fox had succeeded in its goal and he shoved his face further into the ground. Some days, it was just better to give up. The fox cooed by his ear and using reflexes that had startled Jiraiya, Naruto grabbed the scruff of its neck and pulled it close.
“I am bigger then you, and I will eat you.”
“Naruto, that’s just gross!” Sakura complained bopping him lightly on the head. “Come on, we don’t have time for this lovers spat.”
“Hn.” At his response Sakura rolled her eyes hefting him up and onto her back. The mere fact that she could kept him from making any smart ass comment. The fox—now released—growled from the ground and Naruto stuck his tongue out at the furry monster.
“So you are into animals Naruto?” Again, Sai’s pleasant question earned him even further disdain from the blonde.
“Stop pushing your sick fantasies off on me.” Naruto grumbled, not bothering to lift his gaze from the road ahead as Sakura began to trudge on. He was well aware of the confused look on Yamato’s face as he followed them and Naruto looped his arms across Sakura’s shoulders giving her a half hug.
She made no comment but he knew she understood. Together they were all that was left of Team Seven and they would allow others to help them, but they would not permit anyone to intrude. She understood the only third member of Team Seven was Sasuke. She had been the one to relate the information that Orochimaru was going to be meeting one of the Akatsuki members. This was as important to her, as it was to him. Out of everyone he knew, Sakura was the one person he still trusted.
Luckily, both of the new replacements kept quiet and didn’t ask why Naruto was being carried. That should have been concerning, but from the guarded way he and Sakura had been acting, maybe they had learned that they wouldn’t answer them anyway.
“Thanks, Sakura.” Naruto whispered and she shifted him a bit, though he doubted it was really because she was tired.
“You touch anything and I’ll really make you a girl.”
He couldn’t suppress the smile, relaxing against his friend with a chuckle. “You really have been hanging around the Hag far too much, Sakura.”
“I’m telling her you said that.” Sakura threw back with a grin and the easy quality of their friendship eased the last of the tension from his frame.
A silence fell then, thick and heavy as they continued on down a path, and as he waited for the numbness to fade making his limbs tingle unpleasantly.
The last time this happened, Sasuke had to carry me back… Naruto smiled sadly, his mind running back over those memories and recalling the calm that had descended at that time.
This is… different… Since he had nothing else to occupy his mind Naruto allowed himself to think back over the last few days, and the harrowing events since his return. It had all happened so fast, one moment all was well, he’d found out that Gaara had made it to Kazekage. It was so great, proof that it could be done and as far as Gaara was concerned, this was a great first step for him. Naruto had been so happy, and in an odd way, proud of the red-head and then he was captured, and too quickly after that, he was dead.
Naruto shivered, the echo of those harsh emotions unsettling him. There were no words to describe the emotions that had gone through him in that moment; the loss of control, the hatred, the anger, the hurt, and the fear.
It was no longer just a thought, a whisper in the dark. The Akatsuki were real and his death was inevitable. If they could kill Gaara, Naruto knew he’d be helpless against them. It had terrified him and that fear mixed with the rage and before he knew it, he was losing control of reality.
Whatever Kakashi had done to stop Kyuubi, Naruto would be forever grateful for. He doubted things would be as they are now if he’d lost it there. Hell, nothing would be left standing after he’d finished, of that he was certain.
Still, perhaps the most shocking was his outburst. Sure he’d thought most of the words, and yes he’d confided in Sasuke about his feelings, but for the first time in his life he said them. He screamed them at all present, and he shoved the useless discrimination back into old Chiyo’s face. He might not have been able to stand up to the elders in Konoha, but there, outside of Suna, before one of the people who may as well have killed Gaara, he was strong enough to judge them, and he had. It had been liberating, freeing, and after he’d finished crying, after forgiving Chiyo, and helping her to bring Gaara back, it was cleansing. Naruto had never felt as strong as he had that day, watching as a whole village turned up to save “the demon”.
It had all been like a bad dream there at the end, but somehow it was a good dream too. It made him dare to hope as he hadn’t done in so long, not to mention the confirmation of Gaara’s friendship was nice touch. Though, in its wake he was left with the new task of possibly saving Sasuke and dealing with the knowledge that he was being hunted.
That wasn’t so nice.
Then this new mission came up.
Saving Sasuke was good, but getting a new team was a downer—especially since the third member was such a dick, and it wasn’t helping matters that he resembled Sasuke in an odd, disturbing way—but with circumstances as they were he had no choice but to abide by the rules
Not to mention the fact that they were again facing the Akatsuki in an odd turn of events. Before the group had been an abstract thing, with only Itachi’s cruel face to place the danger too, now though, he knew there were other’s. Many others, and they were powerful.
Maybe it was another side affect of having the Kyuubi inside him—after gaining a uterus and ovaries he really wouldn’t be that shocked anymore—but he’d somehow always felt like the hunter. It was that feeling of invincibility that had saved him time after time and kept forcing him to his feet, and now, he wasn’t top of the food chain, and that scared the piss out of him.
He was man enough to admit when he was scared, but he was also man enough to know when showing that fear, and acting on it would do him no good at all. So he shoved it to the back of his mind, and focused on his mission.
Save Sasuke.
Naruto sighed, closing his eyes against the on-coming headache and muffled the sounds of battle that the memories dredged up.
Would Sasuke be there?
Would they be able to bring him home?
Would things finally start to return to the way they should be?
Naruto frowned at the dismal route his thoughts had taken and shifted a bit, encouraged when he felt his toes wiggle even if it was through a layer of pinpricks and tingles.
“Hey, Sakura, I can walk now.” He began, needing to walk, or something to concentrate on anything other than the past which he could do nothing to change anyway. Sadly, Sakura had ceased to be the psychic genius that she had been previously, as she shifted his weight, but didn’t slow down or drop him.
“Naruto it’s barely been an hour. There is no way you’re well enough to be walking yet.”
“Come on Sakura, this is really embarrassing.” Naruto whined, aware that his ego was smarting now that his mind wasn’t caught up in self-depreciating thoughts and memories.
Damn if Sasuke were here I’d never hear the end of this… “Your ego will survive I’m sure.” Sakura sounded unimpressed and made Naruto deflate.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“That should be obvious.”
“Hey!”
Sakura smiled and Naruto almost felt normal again when Sai had to butt, ruining the happy illusion that they had built that things were as they had been before, with Kakashi making smart ass comments and Sasuke staying as far from their conversation as physically and verbally possible.
“Sakura’s conclusion that you are quite conceited and there for are in no threat of losing your ego seems quite true, tiny penis.”
He could feel Sakura tense, and took comfort from her protectiveness.
“Sakura, put me down.”
She must have heard the death threat intended for the messed up third member as she pretended not to hear him, and simply trudging along.
“Sakura.”
“No.”
“Sakura.”
“No.”
Naruto let out a sigh. “Fine then, you leave me no choice.” And in a move that would have made Jiraiya proud, Naruto slid his hand down to cup her left breast.
He was put down.
Two miles ahead of them, after swallowing three bugs on his flight and now he hurt in places that he didn’t know existed till then, but hey, it worked.
Naruto made a mental note to never do that again.
-3-
The room had fallen silent in the shadow of night aside from the even breaths of the other two in the room with him. Maybe it was excitement for the next day, or just the awkwardness of sleeping beside two complete strangers, whatever it was, Naruto couldn’t sleep.
Which, quite honestly, made no sense. Yamato had reserved rooms at a nice hot spring resort, and though it had stunned both himself and Saukra at first—reminding them harshly of the last Hot Springs resort they had visited and used in an attempt to remove Kakashi’s mask—it was a nice change from Kakashi’s well favored “camping” ideal.
The food was excellent, though the company could have been better, the bath’s were exquisite, though Yamato showed a very creepy quality he possessed of staring fear into your soul, god if Sasuke had trained under this man his death stare might actually kill people, and now the futons were comfortable and the room pleasantly warm, and yet, sleep still eluded him.
Damn it… I thought I was over this… >We wish kit. We wish.< Shut it, and why are you talking now? Kyuubi’s response was long in coming and Naruto wondered if she was attempting to bore him into sleep.
>I am simply disillusioning you to the humorous thought that you have made any progress where your mate is concerned.< Naruto rolled his eyes and flopped to his side, wishing—and not for the first time—that he’d never attempted to talk to the irritant. Becoming canyon paste had to have been a beter alternative to this.
And if I’d died then I never would have known about my problem. >I’d have healed you.< You would. It was an insult not an agreement.
>Why not let go. There is someone near who could replace your mate, and he seems far more docile than the Uchiha.< Naruto frowned, not liking the sound of her implication and inwardly growled.
Who exactly are you talking about? Because I thought you didn’t like the fluffy bastard, and I’m sorry but I’m not into that shit. >Please kit, even you can do better than that disgrace. I am talking about the new member of your puny team.< His eyes sprang open and Naruto was certain they were burning red in his anger.
Are you fucking crazy? Sai is nothing like Sasuke and is in no way any comparison to him! Kyuubi snorted.
>Loyalty is wasted on him kit. Best to look elsewhere for better breeding—< Breeding?! Oh, hell no! Keep your sick twisted thoughts to yourself, or so help me, I’ll find a way to shut you up. >Kit, you are nowhere near powerful enough to make me do anything.< I can make you die. Naruto threatened darkly, and felt Kyuubi’s amusement at that one.
>A bit too morbid for you isn’t it? Besides, what would become of your precious Uchiha then?< The bitch had a point.
Sighing, Naruto turned his thoughts to the one thing that seemed to irritate Kyuubi.
Sasuke.
>No wonder your species is so easily killed…< Was Kyuubi’s parting shot before his mind fell blissfully silent returning Naruto to step one.
Staring out into the darkness Naruto let his mind wander again, as it tended to do more often as of late. And as usual they settled on the more depressing facts and issues. He’d been doing so well in keeping them at bay for most of the day. He’d managed not to die after Sakura had thrown him—quite violently after his grope—and had had to run circles to avoid her fists and after that had calmed down, Sai had stepped right onto a land mine.
A snicker escaped him and he curled closer onto his side looking at the scored headband beside him.
He walked right into that one… Naruto thought with an evil satisfaction that really should have concerned him, but it didn’t, not after what Sai had said about Sasuke. What’d he’d called Sasuke.
“I do not wish to be compared to that gutless homo.”(1) The memory of the words still made Naruto tense and anger to climb up his chest. Even now he wished Sakura had punched him harder, and that he too could do so. He would never call himself a saint, and sure he had said that and worse to Sasuke’s face, but that was just it. Naruto insulted the Uchiha
to. His. Face. Not to mention that he knew Sasuke, not the clan name, or the most anticipated Genin, or even the last Sharingan user and the newest missing Nin from Konoha. No, Naruto knew Sasuke.
His friend.
His rival.
His goal.
His family.
Naruto had a right to badmouth Sasuke and his misguided choices, as did Sakura to some extent, but no one else had that right, least of all a tag along who never even knew of him until he’d been called to fill the gap he’d left behind.
Oh yes, as far as Naruto was concerned, Sakura’s intervention had been brilliant and he was very pleased by it now. Though, at first, it had irritated him and made him doubt her loyalty for a moment, which in turn had chilled him to the bone.
The last thing he needed was to be abandoned again.
Naruto frowned, running his nail along the groove that scoured the Konoha leaf in the center of his hitai-ate. His nail diverting into the spiral of the leaf before returning to the deeper, harsher mark.
This was our promise. You better remember it Sasuke. Tears had long ago run dry and the ache now served to remind him of his goal, of the focal point he could not afford to lose sight of. For that, he would give up his life without a second thought, because no one else would.
A soft smile touched his lips as he sadly regarded the precious item in his grip.
No… I’m not alone. Sakura is with me. She understands, if only a little and she won’t let me fail. It was a comforting thought one he wanted to trust whole heartedly, but after the betrayal from both Tsunade and Kakashi followed by the ignorance shown to Gaara, Naruto simply wasn’t ready to put too much faith in anyone.
No. When Sasuke comes home… when he comes back, things will be different… things will be better. Ironically, the feelings of faith he placed in the memory of Sasuke, the hope and expectation he felt safe to instill in him, were given to the one who had betrayed Konoha. Some days he wondered just what was wrong with him.
“Sasuke…” His whisper colored the air as his eyes slipped shut, the ridged metal a soothing comfort. He was aware of the eyes that watched him in the gloom from across the room and purposefully ignored it. Sai wasn’t worth the time it took to contemplate his oddities and there were simply far too many oddities to Sai to bother analyzing now.
That in mind, Naruto let his mind fall silent, and the buzz of energy and hope to dwindle out as sleep consumed him and cocooned him in darkness. As dreams filtered in he hardly noticed when Sai sat up still staring at him before looking contemplatively at a small book.
-3-
No! No! No! He is mine! Mine you sick snake fuck!! Naruto’s screams echoed in the vast tunnels of his mind as he stood knee deep in rapidly rising water. He was aware of the battle, if only barely, mostly due to the burn, ache and agony. He could see Orochimaru and read his movements before he made them. I’ll kill you… I’ll rip you apart… Kyuubi purred in satisfaction at the bloodied thoughts Naruto envisioned of skinning the man of his flesh and enjoying the feel of his blood on his hands. The bastard took Sasuke, it was all his fault! >That’s right, he dared to call your mate his… we won’t stand for this will we?< No… Naruto mentally flexed, knowing his body was dodging the pathetic attack the sannin had sent his way. It was so easy to move now, his motions flawless his mind in control. This was what he’d been missing before with Jiraiya, this focus, this visual that forced him to control the angry power boiling within. He was facing the obstacle that currently kept Sasuke from him, that meant Sasuke was not far. A shock of hopeful anxiety ripped through him and added a powerful punch to his chakra—mingled and emblazoned with Kyuubi’s—and he felt the bones crunch within the body he struck, but even so, the Snake was a Sasnnin and he was irritatingly persistent in living. Naruto would fix that. >Yes… you will.< Kyuubi’s voice was less of a promise and more of a confirmation, and if he’d cared to note, her tone held the odd inflection of pride to it. It made sense, what with her being a human killing bitch and all. That wasn’t really important right now though, and he couldn’t afford to lose this control he’d suddenly developed, just as he couldn’t allow for Orochimaru to escape. No, he had to kill the snake to get back Sasuke. Sasuke. “….its… It’s a fucking promise, okay?” Sasuke, was blushing, Sasuke was trying to apologize, Sasuke was… Two tails. Sasuke. “…I guess it is rather cloudy.” Sasuke, holding his wrist, and leading him into the house without question. It didn’t need words just that slight tilt of his lips that let Naruto know he was pleased as well at his company. Three tails. Sasuke. “Naruto go to sleep!” Sasuke bright red and trying not to show it as he returned the sleeping cap that had obviously meant so much to the both of them. Sasuke had kept it, and to him it was proof more than words could bring that Sasuke had missed him, that they were friends…. Maybe even family. Darkness edged in on his vision as the sensation of burning power and curling flesh melted away as his nerves hummed with a constant input until his mind could no longer keep up. It didn’t matter anyway, he could handle this. He would handle this. He would win. Sasuke. Only one hitai-ate rested there on the dresser top, it’s scored surface reflecting his pale face back at him mockingly. Sasuke! He could see him as the image of the real world faded from view leaving him in the sewers of his mind. There was no bridge, no forest, no Kabuto and Orochimaru. Sai, Yamato and Sakura no longer existed in his world of pain and anguish, there was simply no room for it. Sasuke’s shadow was there before him, the Uchiha crest mocking him from the dark blue fabric just as the abandoned promise of the hitai-ate had. The faded memory which haunted him, that urged him forward and held him back. He was right there, Sasuke was there as he had been two years before, running just outside of his reach, as he was in reality, dreams, nightmares, and even here. “Sasuke!” His call, as always, fell on deaf ears as the water in his mind rose higher as control slipped through his fingers in his desperation to get the phantom in his mind. The liquid swelled, pulling him, dragging him away and under as Sasuke’s reflection continued to run unhindered upon its surface, moving steadily further from him and his slowly suffocating, drowning, mental mind as his body ripped apart and was consumed by a tight dark shield in the physical plain. And he couldn’t stop it. Why? Why couldn’t he stop it?! Why couldn’t he save Sasuke!? Why was he so… Far… Away?! “Damn it! No! I can do this!” A spark of determination, a moment of coherency in the darkness filled with charred flesh and evaporated blood before the humming lull dragged him back beneath the waves of despair and urgency. “No you can’t, Kit.” Kyuubi’s growl was close and from the endless, echoing darkness of his watery grave, Naruto could see her outline beyond the bars of her cage. Menacing carmine eyes gazed out at him from the red dye that colored the water as even more of her chakra spilled forth ripping through his body, destroying chakra points and contorting his already torn body. “Yes. I. Can.” Naruto growled his eyes slit in defiance and command as he continued to channel that corruptive, abusive power, half-lucid in his attempts but un willing to back down. Kyuubi’s grin was horrible, her sharp teeth gleaming and he suppressed the urge to quake. He was in control, not her. Never her. “No, kit. You really aren’t.” “Shut up! I can! I will bring Sasuke home, just watch me do it! Watch me!” His snarl was loud, nearly as loud as her rumble of… approval? His mind was fading fast but he held on, refusing to give in, refusing to believe that he was not enough. Not strong enough. Not worth enough. Not good enough. Just. Not. Enough. Kyuubi’s expression was still conniving and sly, but the soft rumble emitted from her was oddly reminiscent of the fluffy bastard. Perhaps he was less coherent than he thought, it was quite likely as he was almost oblivious to the world outside and his inner thoughts were slipping away much as Sasuke was; like the time was. He nearly whimpered at the emotional upheaval he felt but dared not voice it. Not before the village. Not before the fox. Not until Sasuke returned. “You cannot do it. Not alone kit. Not without me.” Sasuke… The touch was slow and hesitant, but steady as one fingertip followed the mark to his bellybutton. The touch was soft, and gentle, and made him shiver and the movement seemed to wake Sasuke from whatever daze he’d been in, as he looked up almost as though guilty, and pulled his hand back with a cough as he turned away. His touch… was just like his kiss. Four tails. “Good kit.” The bitch was right.
-3-
Everything hurt.
God… I really need to stop doing that… Naruto groaned as a voice—sounding strangely like Jiraiya—echoed through his head repeating the stagnant mantra of; control, control, control.
Oh yeah… totally lost that. “Naruto?!” Sakura sounded desperate and after the initial wince, because dear god even his ears hurt, Naruto forced the pain aside and opened his eyes to see her.
Something had to be wrong if she was this upset.
When the dappled sunlight speared his eyes and brain forcing his eyes shut just as swiftly, not unlike before when he’d lost control to Kyuubi, Naruto had a moment to panic that maybe he was naked again.
That might cause her alarm, but waking up would be a bad idea, she’ll beat me up, but if I play dead maybe she’ll take pity and… The soothing touch of a Medical Chakra startled Naruto and he opened his eyes once more, shocked to see watery green eyes full of guilt, remorse and worry. “Where does it hurt? I can’t….” Her voice tapered off and Naruto’s insides dropped at the utterly lost and broken expression on his friend’s face.
“I’m good Sakura.”
His voice sounded like shit.
“You were… Are you sure? I can—“
Naruto shook his head smiling gently in reassurance. This echo of pain was familiar and he could more than deal with it. It sucked, but he could deal.
Pasting on a grin that hurt on far too many levels to be healthy, Naruto forced one arm up to rub at the back of his head. He was slightly worried when his hair seemed sticky and clumped together. He really, really, hoped that was sap. “I’m fine, really, All good. Sore and wondering if maybe I grabbed you in an inappropriate place again, but good.”
The reminder of his perversion made her frown and a little more life crept back into her features and she removed her hand. “I’d worry about brain damage but yours is a birth defect and sadly irreparable.”
“Ouch.” Naruto chuckled, and quickly realized how stupid that idea was. The pain rippled through his chest and abs making his insides twist and his stomach heave. His wince made her somber up and then that look was back, the one that she sometimes got when they discussed Sasuke, and made him think that maybe Sakura knew far more than she let on. Instinctively he looked for a change of topic, as what she was about to ask would most likely have to do with Kyuubi, because, hell after what he woke up to last time, he would worry if she didn’t have some clue.
After his outburst at Elder Chiyo and then this, not to mention she was there when Shukaku paid them all a visit during the Chunin Exams. She would have to be less observant than rock to miss that something was up.
So, with that in mind, Naruto surveyed the area, quickly spotting Yamato—who looked just this side of killing him with that scary eye-thing of his—and… nobody else.
“Where’s Sai?” The question was out of his mouth before he realized he cared. Though it baffled him to realize that, yes, he really was curious and a little worried for the messed up jerk, but from what he’d learned about him—however little that really was—he’d sadly had to admit that Sai wasn’t so bad. Actually, he was a little like Gaara. Lost.
Alone.
Defensive.
Hiding.
Only real difference, was that Gaara had grown so much in the last two and a half years. Sai seemed to stop growing shortly after birth.
His question made Sakura jump and she turned to Yamato with a look close to apprehension, her lower lip puckering as she chewed upon it.
Naruto squinted his eyes at her and made a face, trying to figure out what she was hiding from him and why. But As Sakura remained quiet, Yamato spoke up. His voice a steady drawl, calm and placid, and it made Naruto miss Kakashi’s flippant attitude somewhat.
“Seems he had another agenda we were not privy to.” His words made Sakura flinch and her hand, which gripped her elbow, tightened until perfectly trimmed nails bit into pale skin. Naruto watched it all through a daze as his mind tried to work its way through the thick sludge that tried to bog it down.
“He… what?”
“He left with Orochimaru shortly after you… lost.” That heavy pause before the final word made Naruto’s insides clench in apprehension, just as his calculating stare made him itch to move away and hide.
“Wait… so he betrayed us?” Naruto asked turning to face Sakura who now looked as irritated as he felt.
“Used us more likely.”
“Why? I mean, if he wanted to defect why bother with the whole charade?” Naruto was even more confused. Hell, Sasuke was able to just up and vanish, twice, and Sai had to use a distraction? That was just pathetic and really didn’t fit his character. Then again, what did he really know about the quiet boy? Besides the fact that he was socially retarded, didn’t understand the term “friend”, really needed a reality check, and had a fixation on the size of Naruto’s penis, he really knew next to nothing about him.
“Seems he was more like Sasuke then he wanted to admit.” Yamato said slowly, and Naruto jerked around, his eyes narrowed boring holes into the other man’s head. Apparently, he thought he was being funny, or, that’s what he would have thought had Kakashi mentioned it, but with Yamato’s cool expression it seemed far more sinister.
Shove it! He is nothing like Sasuke! Naruto’s anger returned, his fingers curling at his sides when Sakura reached out and touched his shoulder, startling him enough to glance her way. It was in that movement that he took note of her own minor injuries their battle had caused. The worst seemed to be a scorch mark on her upper arm. It looked painful, and oddly enough it calmed his anger at their teacher.
He doesn’t understand. No one does. It’s just Sakura and I. Naruto lifted his eyes further to see Sakura’s face and was amused by how much her serious expression reminded him of Tsunade.
He missed the old hag.
“… perhaps I am looking too far into nothing, but, Sai isn’t the kind of person who would disobey orders. He lacks the personality to do so.” Her words were harsh but rang with an understanding that made Naruto pause.
She knew Sai.
It wasn’t just an understanding of a person’s actions, Sakura seemed to intuitively, or maybe just blindly believe that she did, know Sai.
Or maybe his brain was still fried.
Really it could have been anything so Naruto dismissed the sudden epiphany as Yamato turned to her and indicated for her to continue.
“Do you know of someone named Danzo?”
Naruto seized up slightly as memory rushed in and through a fog he recalled the gimpy old man who had all but demanded Sasuke’s death, and a cold dread settled into his chest.
“Yes. Danzo once fought with the third for the right to become the Hokage.” Yamato stated as thought quoting from a text book. “It is rumored that he gained his injuries from that battle.”
Kyuubi snorted in her cage but otherwise remained silent.
“Yes. He also dislikes Tsunade-sensei, and is Sai’s master.”
Yamato’s eyes widened and Naruto’s heart stopped dead in his chest. “He’s out to kill Sasuke…”
“What? Naruto, isn’t that jumping a bit far?” Sakura asked, though by her tone he knew she didn’t truly believe her own words.
“No, I know he is.” Naruto insisted, standing up and looking at both members of their—once again—broken team. Wasn’t seven supposed to be the lucky number? “I was there, in the office the day Sasuke left, and that—that danzo guy came in with the old farts!”
“Old farts?” Sakura asked, her head tilting to the side, and Naruto shook his head hurrying to explain. If he was right, they didn’t have much time, hell it might already be too late.
Damn it how long was I out for?! “The Elders, now listen! He came in and
demanded to send out Anbu to kill Sasuke!” His words left a silence that weighed heavy in the air. For a moment, he feared he’d be ignored or disregarded, but after a long pause, where Yamato seemed to be lost in thought, he too rose and looked off to the side.
“Then we have less time than we thought. Come on.” And with that he turned and headed off through the woods. From his purposeful stride, he knew exactly where he was headed. It was comforting in an odd sort of way.
Sakura blinked and then rose to follow, and it was as she passed him that he finally noticed.
The bridge.
It was completely gone.
“… what…” Naruto cut himself off from asking the question aloud, because he did know what happened. Not clearly, and certainly not to that extent, but he knew what had destroyed the bridge, and if there was a large crater somewhere he wouldn’t be too surprised.
He shivered in side.
Pull it together Naruto. You don’t have time to second guess. Naruto pulled away well aware of Sakura’s gaze as he hurried to catch up. They didn’t have time to look back and rethink things. There was nothing that could be done now except to push onward.
When he found the crater, Naruto felt sick to his stomach and slowly, the chant returned.
Control.
Control.
Control.
-3-
It figured that they would get along.
Naruto watched the interaction from the safety of the roof with mild amusement. Sai was seated before the fluffy bastard, his art pad open and his pencil scratching the surface hurriedly as the little irritant posed gleefully, for once, unaware of his presence.
It was almost sickening.
Then again, they both have something in common… Naruto smiled to himself and shifted his weight to better view his friend.
They both started off as confused bastards but somehow helped me out when I needed it. And wasn’t that odd.
He hated the jerk not too long ago, and now they were friends. It would have seemed impossible had this not happened before. Both times with Neji and Gaara, though he really didn’t hate either of them quite like he had Sai, but it was similar enough. Still, after sitting down and talking with him, he found he couldn’t hate him, not really. Especially not when he had suffered something so similar to himself.
He’d lost a brother too.
Not a blood brother but a brother he had chosen, a brother he had found after being alone for so long. Naruto could relate to that, and in the end had put faith in it. He couldn’t say that he trusted him, after all he did work for Danzo and Danzo seemed to be cahoots with the crusty old farts, but he could believe in him.
He did defy orders and let Sasuke live after all… Naruto thought with a smile and sat back on the roof, placing his weight on his arms and staring up at the bright blue sky.
There wasn’t a single cloud, and the sun was pleasantly warm making the wind that held the bite of early fall less noticeable.
Sasuke.
That had been disappointing.
He’s heart was pounding as he neared the opening the explosion had caused and wasn’t even aware that he was nearly using kyuubi to move faster, to get to the opening. He’d promised not to use that power. He had promised Sakura directly, and meant to keep that promise, but in light of finally seeing Sasuke, he couldn’t control himself. Sai was before him, and fear gripped his chest as he bolted for him. He still didn’t trust the man, and if he had hurt Sasuke nothing, not even his promise to Sakura would keep him from ripping the other apart with Kyuubi’s fangs. He stumbled out into the clearing already yelling out Sai’s name, but the other hardly reacted. His head was tilted, looking up at something on the outcropping that remained of the underground lair. Just what the hell had he done to this place? Had he found Sasuke? If he hadn’t and their cover was blown so help him god… “Naruto’s here too I see.” The voice was smooth, cool, and slightly mocking. It was deep, much deeper than he remembered it being but it was still recognizable and it froze his heart in his chest. His lungs refused to work, refused to bring air to him even as his mind tried not to believe what it heard. For several irrational seconds he wondered when it was he’d fallen asleep, but he’d never once dreamed of Sai and he certainly didn’t want to start now. It wasn’t until the shift in wind brought with it that much desired scent; musk, rain, and detergent that Naruto managed to breathe in and turned toward the voice. The person standing above him on the edge of the crater was different, taller, larger, than before, and for a moment, Naruto didn’t recognize him. He felt cold as he took in that shaded form, and he could barely whisper out the name he’d chanted for the last two years. “Sasuke…” The other leaned casually to the side, white haori billowing open at his chest and cinched tight by a thick purple rope. His arms had protective gear over them and under the sleeves of his top, and it seemed he also had the same protective gear upon his shins. His hair was slightly longer than Naruto remembered and the sword held across his back seemed out of place entirely. Even from the distance, and the glare of the sun in his eyes, Naruto could see the shrarper angles to Sasuke’s face and jaw, as well as the more defined musculature that peaked from between the white top. He had wanted to save Sasuke the boy, and was now faced with Sasuke the man, and he was beautiful and intimidating, in a way Naruto had never believed the other could be and for a moment he mourned for the loss of time. He really was a fool just as Jiraiya had claimed. He had wanted to keep things from changing, to make time freeze, and even knowing that two years had passed, seeing Sakura’s growth and being faced with the results neglect had left behind in the main house, he’d still foolishly believed that Sasuke would have stayed the same. I’m such an idiot…
Their eyes locked when Naruto lifted his gaze back to that face. It all happened in an instant. Relief flooded him when in that dark gaze—made sharper by the expressionless features—he found the same unnerving look he’d seen in the hospital room after waking up to find his best friend was apparently a kleptomaniac. I was right…
the amazed thought and joy that Sasuke hadn’t completely lost his mind, was short lived as, in a move to fast to follow with the naked eye, Sasuke moved. He’d never been more grateful to Kyuubi for his heightened senses than that moment, and he was please that though he had followed Sasuke’s movements, the other’s seemed to have missed them completely if their startled movements and shocked sounds reached his ears. The scent engulfed him as that warm arm looped around him bringing Sasuke snug against his side, the soft slide of long bangs tickled his cheek as the breath fanned his ear and neck making Goosebumps erupt over his skin. He had missed this. Simple touch, Iruka had called it, and god had he ever been right. He wanted to wrap his arms around Sasuke and hug him, and at the same time he wanted to wrap his hands around that stupid neck and strangle him for the shit he’d put Naruto through. For being an idiot. For breaking his promise. For making him feel inferior. For not being there to ward off that damned furry parasite! This was it, the moment he’d worked toward for so long, and yet the list and all the things he’d planned to say wouldn’t come out of his mouth, its seemed somehow unimportant. He just stood there, side by side with his friend, facing opposite directions. The irony was not lost to him, nor was the glance Sasuke made to the scarred hitai-ate on his brow. “You should not have come Naruto.” The lack of insulting ‘dobe’ actually hurt, and Naruto frown returning the sideways glance, effectively cutting off the rest of the world, focusing solely on the man beside him, who was still slightly taller. Another bullet point for the list. “How could I not come? You need someone to kick your stupid ass.” His words were calm, quiet and far too controlled to be his own, and yet, what his voice did not show, his eyes most certainly did, if Sasuke’s own look was anything to go by. His eyes were still soft, they weren’t as raw as they had been, but they were by no means cold, and that conflicted harshly with his words, confusing their meanings and making Naruto wonder just what it was Sasuke was hoping to accomplish by this. Because Sasuke never did anything without reason. “You have never been capable of kicking my ass.” Sasuke said in a dead voice that should have implied boredom but the look said something completely different. “You’ve only been able to chase after my shadow.” The eyes flickered up to the scarred metal plate. “I keep my promises.” Naruto countered, and the eyes returned to his own. Indecision wavered there, and Naruto wished he knew just what it was Sasuke was thinking and feeling but the moment was gone too quickly and Sasuke was speaking once more, his expression stoic, his voice chilling, but his eyes were turbulent. “What happened to your dream of becoming Hokage? You cannot achieve that if you spend so much time chasing me.” There was an insult in there somewhere and he knew it, but his voice was just as steady when he replied, “And what kind of Hokage would I be if I couldn’t even save my friend?” He could swear Sasuke’s lips quirked just slightly, but he dared not look away. The arm around his shoulder’s tightened just slightly, and those eyes turned warm. They were the same kind mocking ones from his memory and his hope flared brightly in those seconds. Perhaps he wasn’t such a fool after all. …and then something changed. It happened too quickly for Naruto to be certain, but something caused Sasuke to close off and he watched as a mask seemed to settle over those emotions and a cold visage replaced it. Soon, just as his expression and voice, his eyes turned dead. It was chilling how easily it seemed Sasuke could turn off his humanity. “I left you alive when I left Konoha. It was merely a whim that I left you breathing and now…” The slide of a sword leaving its sheath drew a shiver down his spine and stilled the breath in his lungs once more. “… by my whim, I will end you.” The words had been spoken louder, harsher, and had broken the illusion they had built between them of being the only ones present; he had spoken them to the others, not him. That alone stalled the ache of betrayal in his chest and kept Naruto from moving to avoid the blow. Sasuke was acting. It was so obvious it was almost laughable, and yet why he was baffled Naruto. It didn’t make any sense! What was he trying to accomplish by this? What was his goal? He was moving slow, too slow. He’d proven his speed was fast enough to be unstoppable, and yet his movements now, supposedly with the intent to kill, were slow enough for all present to see them, and more importantly, slow enough for him to evade three times over. And Sasuke knew it. The scream of metal echoed in the open air as a sudden weight pressed against his back, and without looking, Naruto knew it was Sai. It was pleasing to know the other had seen fit to save him, but the action had truly been unnecessary, and it was further proven by Sasuke’s cool response to Sai’s movements. “That… was the correct move.” What was he trying to say? Then all hell broke loose. Naruto blinked the memory away, his brow furrowed and eyes narrowed. The whole incident felt like some production where Sai and Sasuke danced brilliantly in the lead roles. It all seemed like a false memory. The battle, the close calls that should have ended in fatalities, and the pulled punches Naruto
knew Sasuke could have,
should have, made. And all the while, Sasuke had left his speed alone, using it only to evade capture or injury.
Then he spoke to kyuubi… that had been weird.
Naruto sighed and flopped back completely, arms helter-skelter and blew out a large breath of air.
What was that all about anyway? The moment he’d retreated inward, and stood before Kyuubi, her chakra itching to escape, Naruto knew he couldn’t let her out. She had many reasons to hate Sasuke, and she had already proven that she could and would kill him if given the chance. He’d known that for practically ever.
No, releasing Kyuubi was not an option.
Then, the decision was taken from him entirely.
And how the hell did he do that anyway? Naruto wondered, more than slightly irritated. Saskue had just entered his mind like he belonged there, strode right up to Kyuubi and proceeded to have a grand old conversation with the bitch. Then, after proving that he could somehow control her—which was royaly fucking unfair! How was it he could just ‘poof’ her out and yet he, her container couldn’t even shut her up properly?—then turned to Naruto and insulted him for being weak.
“In two years, this is all you’ve managed to accomplish?” Naruto snarled up at the sky. “Asshole… I learned more…” His voice was nothing more than a mutter as he mentally snapped back at Sasuke who had once again run away from him, slipping away like a shadow at midday. The bastard had been showy, but that was all. He hadn’t really tried to hurt any of them, which said more than Sasuke ever could have about his character, not even Sai could say anything.
It was obvious Sasuke was in a whole other league now, and that that battle had in no way been serious. Though, to be fair, Naruto hadn’t been at top proficiency either. No one was really going all out.
It was all a charade.
“Hn. If I’d been serious you wouldn’t be standing Ass-wipe.” Naruto continued, mentally running through the things he’d worked on out from under Jiraiya’s supervision. Sure they had focused mainly on controlling Kyuubi’s chakra and the rasengan, but after seeing the ‘fox cloak’ Jiraiya had tasked him with attempting to create one on his own, with either wind or his own chakra.
It had worked somewhat, though it was a slow process. Naruto always learned better by starting big and working backwards. Hell he learned how to change into a naked girl before he learned to properly use his chakra. But with a shield there was no way to start big and work back, and in the long run it took too much time to build a defense when he needed more offense.
Naruto then tried tampering with other elemental chakra. That hadn’t worked so well. Then again, perhaps mixing fire and wind wasn’t that smart of an idea to begin with. And attempting to recall Sasuke’s Fire Jutsu had ended with his mouth tasting like soot for a week.
The one thing he had improved on was his speed, and the strategies he’d need to implement it. The use of clones came in handy with this but again, it was more mental work that he had thought to take up far too much time, and since Jiraiya thought mastering Kyuubi would be the better outlet, he’d gone along with it.
And then the bastard has to prove he can do better… Naruto’s teeth ground together obnoxiously. “… chasing his shadow my ass. He cheated… fucking no good—“
“I have heard that talking to one’s self is an unhealthy past time and can be a cause for alarm. Should I find Sakura?”
Naruto’s eyes shifted to his side where Sai now sat, his placid fake smile sitting there as always. It was still unnerving, but the boy was learning, slowly, and it looked less forced these days. “No, talking to one’s self is a sign of genius. It’s when you start answering your own questions that you are insane.”
“… of course.”
“What’s up, I thought you were drawing the fluffy bastard?” Naruto asked casually, sitting back up and scanning the area for the red hell spawn, but it seemed to have disappeared.
“I had to stop when you’re muttering could no longer be ignored.” Sai replied pleasantly, not at all irked by Naruto’s bad habits, or at least appearing to be unaffected. Sai could be quite turbulent below the surface that coupled with the fact that he was Anbu—yet another totally unfair turn of events. First Gaara’s made Kazekage, and now Sai’s an Anbu—made him a force to be taken seriously. Though Naruto hardly cared one way or the other.
They had reached a deeper understanding on the trek back to Konoha after Sasuke’s escape. They had spoken very little, but when they did, it had been important. Yes, Sai was quickly becoming a good reliable friend.
Even if he was weird.
“So, thinking about Sasuke again?”
“Hn.”
“I see. You still trust he had other motives for attacking us then?”
“Yes. Sakura believes it too.”
“Sakura is rather whimsical about the Uchiha.”
Well that was more than obvious.
The day Sakura stopped mooning over Sasuke Naruto would pack up and leave Konoha, because the world would be ending and he had places he wanted to see before he died thank you.
He chuckled a bit, rubbing at the back of his head in response. “Yeah, she has a thing for dark pretty boys with messed up pasts… Come to think of it, she might get a thing for you.”
Sai blinked at him in confusion. “I do not understand.”
Naruto grinned, “Come on, didn’t you say that Sakura was your type?” He needled, well aware that Sai had meant nothing of the sort back when he’d said it, but attempting to unnerve Sai was becoming a fast enjoyable pastime.
“I was merely attempting to befriend her.”
Bullshit, you were trying to antagonize us. Naruto smirked but remained quiet. He’d let him slide this time, only because he didn’t much feel like playing a mind game with Sai. With Sasuke he knew where and how it would end. Sai was an unpredictable nightmare. God forbid if Sasuke ever had the displeasure of having both Naruto and Sai team up on him. He’d never survive.
He’d probably run off again… Naruto stretched and stood up, shaking off the lingering memories and emotions. They wouldn’t help him now, and he was through moping. Sure the rescue mission had failed, and quite spectacularly at that, but he had gained far more then he thought he would.
Sasuke, at the core, was unchanged, and just as much of a prickly bastard as he’d always been. In the only way that mattered, Sasuke hadn’t changed either, and that only further his belief that the Uchiha had some other plan.
He had never intended to leave for good.
Naruto’s hand dropped down to trace the hitai-ate on his brow and smiled. Now, Naruto just had to force him to hurry his stupid ass up. They had made a promise to grow stronger together. It was about time, Sasuke kept that.
“Well, now that the Furry bastard is gone, I think I’ll head out too.”
Sai stood as well, following Naruto with his eyes as, out of caution and experience, Naruto stayed upon the roof tops until he made it into the town. “I do not see why it is you have such a deep aversion to him.”
Naruto tried not to roll his eyes. “Because he’s following me around everywhere, its hard enough sneaking around in orange without a bright red beacon to point me out.”
That and he knocks me out because I’m carrying a female demon. You might know her? Goes by the name Kyuubi? Naruto would rather rip out his own spleen then explain his grievances with the fox to Sai.
Though he was becoming a good friend, and from what Sakura had gleaned from his loss of control in his battle with Orochimaru, he was certain Sai knew already about Kyuubi, he would never willingly tell him about his problem, and nothing, not even painful death would make him.
“I was under the impression that you would enjoy a pet.”
“… yeah a pet that doesn’t hump my leg…”
“Excuse me?” Sai asked, but his tone still implied that he had heard him clearly. Luckily Sakura chose that moment to intrude.
“Naruto! Sai!” She was smiling up at them, waving her hand in an attempt to bring them down.
If he wasn’t mistaken, and with Sakura he usually wasn’t, it seemed that she was indeed sporting a slight affection, if not an outright crush, on Sai. Where that would go was anyone’s guess. Sai was intelligent and still liked to play mind games, but when it came to socializing, he really did know next to nothing.
But, if nothing else that relationship would not be boring.
“Hey, you guys going anywhere in particular?”
“No. we are escaping the fox that Naruto is afraid of—“
“I am not afraid!” he responded without really thinking and scowled a bit as Sai gave him that placid smile in return.
“It is perfectly fine to be afraid. It is after all far more endowed than you—“
“Leave my penis out of this! I have one! It’s there! And it is massive all right?! I am all man!”
Sakura stifled a giggle with a cough at his comment and he glared at her daring her to say anything, but she had learned her lesson well and didn’t say anything. In fact, she hadn’t made any jokes since their return to Konoha.
She might still be in shock… Naruto thought distantly as Sakura continued talking to Sai and Naruto tuned them out, lost in thought.
She had been rather shaken by the information about Kyuubi. She’d taken it well enough, and proved that she didn’t much care what was inside of him. Her exact words bubbled to the for front of his mind and still made him feel warm inside.
“Naruto, if turning into a girl and bleeding out your butt doesn’t run me off, having a few extra powers that explain that ‘problem’ of yours defiantly wont.” She’d followed that little bit up with a hug. In fact the only thing that seemed to worry her was whether or not Sasuke had known about Kyuubi. Now, his initial response had been a simple yes, and luckily he’d closed his mouth before his thoughts could escape his open yap.
He’d been swamped by the memory of their first real battle, and hot on its heels was the reminder that Sasuke had somehow entered his mind and proven to have some control over the pest. Something told him it was better not to tell anyone about either encounter.
That would have been helpful before… bastard could have at least told me how. And what the hell is with that irritating fox! Bringing up some other Uchiha. Naruto scowled, and scuffed his toe into the ground a bit.
Man, should have known by the constant way she was always calling him Uchiha. Hating on… him… Naruto froze, his mind suddenly locking on that one small detail he’d over looked multiple times before.
Uchiha.
Kyuubi had always referred to Sasuke as the Uchiha.
He’d just assumed it was a reference point she’d picked up along the way, or another odd insult. Her hatred for Sasuke Naruto had always brushed off as being a side affect of being someone Naruto cared for, as well as someone who had tried to kill her.
But that wasn’t it.
Kyuubi had something against the Uchihas.
The clan, not the person.
Why hadn’t he noticed?! The bitch had continuously told him how little he mattered to her, and yet she took offense to Sasuke. It didn’t make much sense, never had but he’d never thought of it before.
What was that name she’d mentioned…Naruto thought furiously over the conversation he’d had in his mind with Sasuke and Kyuubi. If Kyuubi had felt it important enough to name him by name, then maybe it was worth mentioning to Tsunade. He may not trust her completely anymore, but if there was anyone who would know the person to which Kyuubi had referenced it would be the old hag.
“Naruto!” Sakura’s shout was followed by a sharp strike to the head and Naruto topple to the ground.
“Ouch! Damn it Sakura! I was thinking!!!!”
“Must’ve been hard for you.” Sakura said with an exaggerated roll of the eyes.
“Hey! Why are you picking on me? What did I do?”
“Well, had you been listening at all you’d know I’d asked you, only fifteen times if you were coming with us to the barbeque shack?”
Naruto blinked, his mind fully distracted. “Why you going there?”
Sakura threw her hands in the air as though she was trying—and failing—to teach a slow child trigonometry. “I give up.”
“Seems that some of your friends are gathering there and Sakura was trying to recruit us to come along.” Sai said with a bland tone intoning disinterest and gained his own glower from the girl.
“Well you don’t have to come! Ino has just been asking about you and I was sure,” Sakura swung her attention back to Naruto, “that you might want to catch up with Chouji and Shikamaru.”
A sudden ache filled him, and Naruto found that he really did want to settle down and just talk with his other friends. There hadn’t been much time to catch up, and until recently he’d been so focused on Sasuke and the doubts he’d harbored over whether or not his belief had been misplaced, that he really hadn’t bothered with anything else.
He’d have to fix that.
But not now… Naruto reminded himself, again attempting to recall that elusive name.
Magare? No… ? Maybe it was… Nogura? No that’s not right…. “Sorry Sakura I need to talk to the old hag, but I’ll catch up with you after that.”
“You better not call her that to her face. She’s been in a bad mood since our return.” Sakura said with a shrug. “Must have gotten a bad missive or something.”
“When is she ever in a good mood?”
Sakura smiled and then held his gaze with her own, staring him down. “You promise to come by afterwards?”
Naruto smiled at her, appreciating her wheedling. She knew his Ninja way as surely as he did and he appreciated that kinship, that understanding.
“Yeah, yeah.”
“Naruto, I want to hear the words!” She shouted as he attempted to leave and Naruto waved back at her with a bright smile, again truly meaning it.
“Fine, I promise all right? Now hurry up so that Ino and you can start up a new rivalry over the dark brooding one.”
Sakura turned bright red.
“NARUTO!”
He loved it when he was right.
-3-
The trip to the Hokage tower was mostly uninteresting, and aside from the circling names he shifted through in an attempt to recover a name he’d heard once, he had been working mostly on auto pilot. He knew it would be easier to just ask his furry parasite but she never seemed to want to talk when he wanted to, and knowing her, she’d keep quiet out of spite. No, it was best to just remember it himself.
Much easier said than done.
Mabo? Marik? Manda? No… I think it was an “m”… or did it start with an ‘n’… god damn it! Naruto ran a hand through the hair at the nape of his neck and shook his head a bit in irritation.
This is pointless… gah, how can it be so damned hard… to… remember… Naruto blinked his eyes when something white slipped around the corner of the building. For a second he wondered if he was seeing things, but he had learned from experience that neglecting to check every unusual event usually ended in chaos. So, with a quick glace to the front doors of the tower he made his way around back.
A python.
A white python was curing its way up the drainpipes that rain the height of the building and circled its way to the open window of the Hokage’s office.
Naruto felt his stomach constrict as the small serpent slithered its way into the room without a sound. Was Orochimaru spying on them? Was that why their retrieval had failed? Or was he plotting another attack on Konoha? He had to warn Tsunade before anything else happened.
With a sharp jump Naruto threw chakra to his feet and ascended the side of the wall, intent on making it to the window and catching the snake in action. Maybe then Tsunade would take him seriously and send him back out after—
“—imaru has been eliminated, and the threat to Konoha is negligible. As the mission has concluded I will be returning for a final report.” The serpentine hiss was what stalled him inches from the window, seated on the outcropping portion of the roof.
What…? Naruto’s mouth turned dry and his heart thrummed madly in his chest in hope and painful realization. Hope because if what he thought he was hearing was true, then Sasuke would come home, had to come home. There would be no repercussions, because it had all been planned.
But if that was the case… why was Sai sent to kill Sasuke? Naruto asked himself, still barely daring to breathe.
Unless… Danzo was left out… but why? If the Elders didn’t trust him with that why back him up on sending one of his own? Naruto’s eyes widened and he slumped against the wall.
Unless Sai was sent to watch me. “Well, that was perfect timing wouldn’t you say so Hokage?” Kakashi’s voice was still a lazy drawl and Naruto stiffened, the acrid taste of betrayal filling his mouth.
Kakashi had known.
Well that explained his laid back position the night Sasuke left, as well as Tsunade’s abrupt dismissal. Sure, he understood the need for secrecy as well as how dangerous this mission was for Sasuke. As a ninja he understood the steps taken, but as Sasuke’s friend, as Naruto Uzumaki, he was pissed off. His fists shook with the effort it took to remain hidden, to keep his cool so as not to allow Kyuubi’s chakra to give him away. All the same, he somehow felt that Kakashi knew he was out there.
But maybe that was just paranoia.
“How so?” Tsunade sounded tired.
“Well, Naruto returned with Sai’s support. Yamato is also backing him which places the council in a hard place. They can make no move against him now, and with Sasuke’s return you know they will be willing and ready to placate him and that will require Naruto’s presence. Besides, I doubt Naruto would give up this easily.”
“You forget that brat slipped up. His secret isn’t so secure anymore. Not even the Uchiha can protect him from them. It didn’t work before, what makes you think it will work this time?” Her voice was grave and her words echoed in his ears making Naruto still, is anger slightly dampened by curiosity.
“Ah, but this time it is not the clan vying for him. It is the last Uchiha.” Kakashi sounded pleased, but the cold silence that followed his explanation made the statement heavy.
“… perhaps.” She didn’t sound convinced. “In any case, I suppose there was no need to worry for the brat. He must have been planning this all along. Stupid child, he should have seen the rescue team for what it was.”
Kakashi chuckled. “Yes, but since when has Sasuke ever taken the easy way out?”
Tsunade groaned and Naruto could just picture her rubbing at her eyes. “Between him and Naruto, it’s surprising I don’t have a heart condition.”
“Shall I let him know when to return?” Kakashi was right by the window, and Naruto held perfectly still, unnaturally so, and for a moment, he dared to believe he had fooled his teacher. “Perhaps let the cat out of the bag? Let Naruto stew before he gets here?”
“Kakashi, you do that and I’ll be certain that Icha Icha never publishes another novel. The last thing I need is the blood bath that will ensue after Naruto finds out. It’s bad enough he won’t talk to me, this might just make him close off completely.” She sounded reserved and slightly depressed.
A part of him felt compassion for the woman. She was the closest thing he had to a mother—aside from Iruka, but he really didn’t count—but at the moment, he was truly too shocked and pissed to care what she was feeling.
“You love him quite a bit.” Kakashi’s words were tender and soft. They made Naruto uncomfortable.
“Hatake, shut up.”
There was a shuffling of papers and a soft hiss before she continued. “Inform Sasuke that he is to arrive no later than two weeks from today. Kakashi will meet him at the gate to bring him in for a full debrief.”
The python let out a hiss and then it slithered back out the window. Naruto had never moved as quickly as he did then. Putting the fox’s agility to work, Naruto bolted from his hiding spot, well aware that his chakra would have given him away but simply did not care.
In minutes he was atop of the Hokage Monument. The sun was glittering off the village and the rooftops. It was the same at it had always been and that made him all the more upset.
“DAMN IT!” Naruto yelled, picking up a rock and chucking I as far as he could. Birds flew off from where it landed and he watched them with burning eyes as he trembled in place.
“… you must be willing to adhere to any task the council or I might present you with.” Those words, spoken so long ago had chilled him to the bone with apprehension, and now they left him numb inside. Sasuke had left to finish off his debt to the council, and if he’d overheard correctly, it had something to do with him and the damn council. It made him sick and Naruto wanted to scream.
All this time… and the bastard couldn’t even… Naruto’s fists tightened. It all made sense now. His actions during that battle, his leaving the hitae-ate and his keys. Sasuke had set things up so that when he returned he could explain, but Naruto didn’t want that explanation. He could put it together, he knew why Sasuke had done it and that just pissed him off more.
He was Naruto Uzumaki, damn it! Since when did he need someone to protect him? Tsunade had that under control, and hell if she failed Naruto could damn well protect himself. Besides, if Konoha kicked him out, he could go live in Suna, of that he was certain. Not his first choice but it was there, so Sasuke had no reason to do this shit for him. That said Naruto had no intention of listening to Sasuke when the other came back.
Oh no. He needed a fight, and by god when Sasuke came back, he’d get one.
After that, he’d deal with Tsunade and Kakashi.
With a loud moan Naruto sank down and buried his face in his hands. Why was this happening now? He’d just settled into things. Thought he’d finally had things figured out, and then this happened.
And his world was once again upside down.
“Damn it…”
Had he jumped to conclusions? Was the last two years of bitterness unnessisary? Had he been so wrong this whole time?
Tsunade and Kakashi hadn’t betrayed him with the intent to hurt. They had merely been trying to protect him and Sasuke, and yet, he couldn’t forgive them. Not yet.
He was again right back where he’d started two years ago, in a hospital room wracked with emotion and completely alone, only this time he had the feeling it was all of his own making.
“Damn it…”
Somehow, he knew this was all Kyuubi’s fault.
A.N. I Survived!!!! Damn this chapter is 34 pages long. 0.0 can you believe that? This is the longest Naruto chapter to date and it sucked to write. Sorry this took so long but there was a lot that need to be covered… obviously. Hopefully I can continue to push these chapters out at a steady pace and if there is something that makes the chapter get held back I’ll post it in the comments section of my page on FF .net so look on there if you feel I’ve been away a while. ^-^ (1) Sai’s Comment is taken from a fan sub I own, it may have been miss translated but I thought it fit so I’m going with it. Sorry if any of you disagree with my choice, but I am keeping it.
