"Gaara."

"What do you mean we can't start yet hn?"



"Just what I said. When the Fourth sealed the nine tails within the boy, he made sure it could only be broken by either himself or the boy. We have to get him to break it so we can remove the nine tails."



"Well that's just a pretty problem isn't it?" Didera sighed and looked at the chakra enforced cage in the middle of the room. "Here I was thinking I might get to finally shut his mouth and now look, hn." Shaking his head, the blond looked around the room. There were murmurs among the others but that was it. Thankfully Naruto couldn't hear what they were saying.



"Any idea's on how we get him to open the seal?" Itatchi stepped forward and jumped down.



"I do." he walked over to the cage, Sharingan swirling like spinning tops. Naruto knew better than to look at him directly in the eyes, but there was a strange pull and his eyes lifted. he cursed himself.



Who are you?



The one who will remove you from this body.



Itatchi? The Uchiha looked passed the bars on the cage and saw the blond sitting under the Kyuubi's chest. He looked up to the seal. It had started to break. He moved and went to touch it. The fox came to the bars and bit at him.



I've grown accustomed to this body. I think I'll stay. His laugh sent a chill down his spine. Nothing ever did that.



You don't long to run free?



You don't offer me freedom boy. You offer me another confinement! The fox moved forward and pressed his large head against the bars. His voice came out as a growl, You tell those meat bags out there I am staying and if any of you try to force me out, you will not like me or the Kit.



Itatchi thought for a moment. Kit? Wasn't that was a fox's baby was called? Looking between the fox and Naruto's subconscious self he left and came to his senses. His Sharingan swirled to something entirely different and soon enough, Naruto was screaming out in pure agony.





"Nothing! Damn it!" Sakura hit one of the walls and ignored the stalagmites falling from the ceiling. She and Kakashi, with the help of his other noses, had searched the place top to bottom and found nothing. The place had been picked clean. Not even Sasori's body was laying around. The only thing that was left were the remains of the seals Chiyo-baa had used. She collapsed to her knees and looked at Kakashi. "There's nothing here."



"Maybe not but we will find something Sakura-chan." He offered her a hand and she took it. They went off to the next site. The fight with the exploding blond.





"How far ahead?"



"Half a day's travel ANBU-san." Neji's eyes went back to normal and the group continued forward. They had entered Mist country already, running at top speeds, but the trail stopped ahead.





Four days. Had it really been that long? His eyes opened to find he was on a bed. He was still caged but he was on a bed. His entire body hurt. Kyuubi couldn't help him. It wasn't physical. Itatchi had been at it for four days and still he hadn't broken. With all of the pain and agony he was enduring, he'd thought about ripping off the seal many times but Kyuubi reminded him that if he died, there was no Hokage position for him, and he'd never get to see his child.



The small hope he'd make it out of here alive kept him together. Itatchi had finally taken a break. Naruto had noticed, before he'd passed out, blood falling from the Uchiha's eyes. He remembered Kakashi saying something about Itatchi going blind but he didn't believe it. Now he did.



"Oh look!" He turned towards a voice the he thought he remembered. "You're finally awake!" He noticed blue hair before anything. Then his eyes moved to the face.



"Riu."



"Sorry about this sparky. I had to help them. See, I'm an apprentice."



"Why?" He couldn't move. It hurt too much. He wanted to cover his hear, or strangle the life out of her.



"See, everyone in Akatskui has their own motivations for being here. Mine is about fifty miles wide and thirty miles long and sits about..." she thought, "one hundred and fifty miles from here."



"What about Shino?"



"That bug brain? Oh please! he just had something of mine. Because I had to get it back gave them the perfect opportunity to get in and out without being noticed." She yelped and Naruto noticed another woman, one with blue hair, standing behind her, a polished hand returning under her cloak.



"Leave." Riu just looked back at him and left.



"Ready to cooperate?"



"No."



"I'm sorry to hear that."



"No, you're really not." The woman smiled evilly and left. They looked alike. Maybe sisters? Mother and daughter? Some relation. Naruto tried with all of his might to move and successfully rolled on his side. He drifted in and out of consciousness. When sleep won out he thought he heard cursing.







"There will be a change of plans." Three faces looked up.



"Really?"



"Oh, here we go again!"



"Where are we going?"



"It seems He's captured something and the only way to get to Him is to get what he's captured."



"What'd he get?" Black eyes glared and the one who spoke shut up.



"We move out at day break."





Another day and still no word. She laid her forehead on the desk in front of her and hiccuped. She couldn't cry anymore. She didn't know why she cried even. No, she knew. For some reason, that damned blond had broken under skin and he wasn't coming out. Her head turned to the repaired door to the side of her office. He hadn't even come out. Standing, as well as she could, she meambled her way to the door and knocked. There was no answer. She just opened it.



There he lay, rolled on his side, playing with his sand. he'd moved at least. Walking in, she sat in the chair and hiccuped again. There was no more in her secret stash so she was out. Shizune wasn't there to get her anything, in fact, no one was there.



"How does he do it?" The form stayed quiet. "You meet 'im and he just...gets under yer skin." Her words were slightly slurred but very understandable. "I mean...I didn't even want to be here but...here I am. 'Cus of 'im." She rubbed the bridge of her nose. When Gaara sat straight up in the bed, gasping for air, she sobered instantly. "What is it?" She was on her feet and moving towards im.



"I know where he is!" he was out of the bed and heading for the door.



"How?"



"When Kyuubi saved me. He..." Gaara shook his head. He didn't know how to explain it. He settled for something he could understand. "The fox gave me a part of himself. I used that part."



"And why didn't you do this earlier?!"



"I didn't understand it earlier." He looked around and summoned his gourd. "I'm leaving."



"No, you're not. I told you, until he is in my hands, you are staying. Point out on a map and I will send a team to get him."



"They won't make it." He glared at her and she glared right back at him.



"You have that sand but I have my fists boy. Sit." Begrudgingly, he sat. "Now, here." She tossed him a map. "Draw it out." He grabbed the red pen in mid air and started making paths. She turned and called out for Kotetsu and Izumo. They came immediately. "Get Sakura, Kakashi and my available ANBU in here." They were gone as quickly as they came.



A few minutes later, her office was filled. "We found him." She sent off her fastest ANBU to catch the rookie nine and the three ANBU she sent with them and tell them to get back to Konoha. To everyone else she looked at them. "The ANBU stay here. I can't spare anymore. Kakashi, Sakura, Shizune and Sai, you are heading out immediately." Sai looked at her and then away. She gave everyone else their orders and dismissed them. "Sai, you stay." He sat in a chair looking at the floor.



"Yes Hokage-sama?"



"How far are you in?"



"I don't know what you mean." He looked up at her.



"Don't play stupid boy. I will beat it out of you." He just attempted a sigh and failed.



"I am not in anything. If you want a witness then I suggest you go to your Head of Torture." She called for Ibaki. It took him a while but he came to her office as fast as he could.



"Was he with you the night this happened?" He blinked and looked from Sai to Tsunade. He knew she could smell a lie on anyone so he just shrugged.



"All night Hokage-sama."



"Fine." She dismissed them both but stopped Sai one last time. "Don't disappoint me Sai. If you do...well I don't know what I'll do off hand but it won't be pretty."



"I can assure you Hokage-sama, it's nothing compared to what Danzou would do to me." She just humphed and he left. Tsunade looked to Gaara.



"Thank you." He just stood and went back to the room next to her office. She could take a hint. When the door shut she sat down and looked to the heads behind her office. "If any of you can hear me, let him be safe."





"This the place?" He nodded. "Alright! I wonder what Kisame is doing." Shaking his head, he motioned them forward and they moved silently through the underground tunnels. It wasn't hard to track their way out and they soon found themselves in an area with holding cells and cages. Motioning them to spread out, he moved forward and suppressed his chakra.



It took him a little bit but when he found what he was looking for, he was rather shocked. Muscular, tan, half dressed and good looking. Shaking his head, he tapped the bars. Blue eyes opened and looked at him. Naruto groaned.



"Back for more Itatchi?" That hit him like a punch in the gut but he ignored it. Naruto sat up and wiped his eyes. There were black and blue marks marring every inch of his skin and he had a gash over his left eye.



"Sorry, wrong brother." Naruto froze and before he knew what happened, a clawed hand reached out and pulled him to the cage.



"YOU!" Naruto's voice was deep and laced with menace.



"Is there a problem?" Naruto shoved him away and growled. His eyes changed from blue to red and back again.



"No problem, except you're still breathing."



"You should have taken care of that when you have the chance."



"Forgive me for believing you had a soul." The smile that curved the other's lips made Naruto growl.



"I never had one Naruto."



"No, you didn't Sasuke. On that we agree." Sasuke touched the bars and pulled his hand away. he moved back a couple of steps then held out the end of his blade. Small sparks started to fly here and there but a green glow emanated from the bars. When the glow faded, Sasuke stepped forward and bent the bars enough for Naruto to slip out.



"Come."



"Not with you."



"Then you can stay here and deal with another bout of whatever put you in this position." Naruto laughed, evilly. He stepped from between the bars and spit in Sasuke's face.



"Nothing put me here but my soul. Unlike you, I care about more than just revenge." Sasuke wiped away the spit and walked away. From behind them, clapping could be heard. Naruto turned and looked down. It was Itatchi.



"Sasuke." The younger Uchiha turned slowly and put a hand to his hip.



"Itatchi."



"I see you found me."



"It wasn't that hard." he looked around. "I see you've gone from a compound to dirt walls and floors. Interesting."



"Hm." Sasuke looked at Naruto.



"Now would be a good time to run."



"If only." Naruto's legs spread shoulder width apart, his arms taking place by his sides. "How are your eyes Itatchi? Had to hurt like hell after our last round. Wanna go again?" Itatchi didn't say a word. "Aww. Must have hurt your tongue as well. Sorry about that." With a sigh, Sasuke stepped in front of Naruto.



"Leave."



"No."



"Then die here." Naruto smiled and looked him dead in the eye.



"The only one that's dying here pretty boy, is you." They charged Itatchi. The elder Uchiha just moved out of the way, without really any effort on his part and stood atop the cage where Naruto was held.



"Is this your improvement?" Naruto noticed a small twitch in Sasuke's lip.



"Don't let him get to you. He's a real prick." Sasuke just grunted. They rushed Itatchi again, only going separate ways around him. He just watched with mild interest. A cough from across the room caught his gaze.



"Taking all the fun hn?"



"Yea pretty boy! Leave me some!" Riu stepped forward and looked at Naruto. "Now Sparky, trying to escape wasn't very nice."



"Spying and nearly getting my lover killed weren't nice."



"Well you should have let me at that cock of yours, I mean damn! You had Sai drooling!" Naruto sighed and left Itatchi to Sasuke. He walked over and stood in front of Riu.



"Don't either of you know how to keep your mouth's shut?"



"Guess not Sparky." She rushed and Naruto smiled. He caught her wrists and brought their faces a hairs breath apart.



"Well then, how about I take a piece of your body with me as a souvenir?"



"You can try Sparky. You can try." They separated and she tossed off her cloak. Her braid was in a knot on the back of her head and she didn't look like she was carrying any weapons. Shaking his head, Naruto's eyes flashed and a grin splayed across his lips. It bared a mouth fully of unnaturally sharp teeth.



"Come on Bug girl." They rushed at each other and Naruto aimed a blow for her stomach. It missed, barely and she did a flip behind him. He turned and landed a punch in the side of her head. She kicked out into his chest and winded him. Their fight wasn't elegant and in fact, it looked more like forced movement.



Sasuke raised his sword and pointed it at his brother. They bowed and began. Didera just sat on the sidelines, chewing some clay and watching both fights. It wasn't until he felt a bunch of unfamiliar signatures surrounding him that he looked anywhere else. Out of a puddle came a man, out of the shadows a woman and through the door came a big man. He frowned. Outnumbered. Time for some art.



"Alright. Guess I should stop the interference hn." Standing, the blond stuck his only hand into the bag of clay at his side and started shaping the clay in his mouth with his tongue. Soon, there were eight ants and two birds. He sent them to their destinations and the only warning he gave was, "FIRE IN THE HOLE!" He laughed as the explosions took over the three people.





"How far Hyuuga-san?" They stopped when the heard an explosion.



"There." He pointed and the group took off running. Sakura was up front, Kakashi behind her, Neji to their left. The three ANBU were bhind the large group, making sure they didn't get flanked and picked off like a bunch of fleas. The area they moved into was full of action. Sakura spotted Naruto off to the side but her gaze was drawn to a fight across the room.



"Sasuke..." Without thinking she moved forward and a hand on her shoulder stopped her.



"Be careful Sakura-chan." She nodded and looked at Naruto. He was fighting with Riu. Sai stepped forward and pulled out a scroll, ink and a paintbrush. He started paining faster than the eye could keep track off and within seconds his pictures were coming to life. They surrounded Riu. She looked up and her face dropped. Sakura rushed over to Naruto's side. He was bleeding from several deep wounds. He ignored her and went through the ink creatures. He went right for Riu's throat. She smiled and in two quick movement's, Naruto dropped to his knees. His hands went to his throat. Sakura cried out and rushed over to him. His throat was slit and there was a Kunai sticking out from his head. His eyes were red and he growled, no, gurgled at Riu. She had to pry his hands away to start healing. Kakashi had joined Sasuke. To say the young Uchiha was surprised was an understatement. He stopped and looked to his brother.



"Next time."



"Hm." Itatchi vanished. So did Riu and Didera. Everyone scanned the area but they were the only ones there. All eyes turned to Sakura. Shizune joined her but they were having problems. Naruto wouldn't stop struggling.



"Naruto! Stop it! We need to heal you!" Shikamaru had to step in and use his shadow jutsu to hold him still and let them work. It didn't take long for him to pass out. When he did, both women sighed with relief.





"Is he going to be okay?" "He looks rough." "He was saying something about Itatchi." "No, it was Sasuke." "Oh! He's waking up!" "Move."



He'd been getting pieces of conversations for some time but one of his eyes was bandaged and his other one hurt like hell. His hole body hurt. A hand was on his head and he opened his good eye. What he saw softened him in many ways.



"Welcome back."



"Hm." Naruto turned and told everyone to leave. They sighed and left. He was in a hospital room. Figured. "How long?" Gaara grabbed one of his hands and put it on his belly. Naruto looked down. It was bulging.



"Five months."



"NANI?!" He jumped up, groaned and fell back down.



"Some of the damage to your throat took longer to heal even with Kyuubi's help. He kept you under. You're eye is very bad even still. He let us know that he would take care of it but Tsunade had to take care of the rest."



"This is the most I've heard you talk in a while."



"You...you scared me." Naruto sighed and rubbed his good eye.



"I'm sorry." A slap to his cheek let him know Gaara wasn't happy. He turned to see the red head glaring at him. "I said I was sorry!"



"Don't you ever do something that stupid. Ever." Naruto smiled and put both hands on the red head's big belly.



"Hmmm...."



Two weeks later Naruto wqas let out of the hospital. Tsunade gave him an eye patch and told him he would have a scar on his neck for life. He didn't care. He was glad to be going home. Gaara had resigned his position until the baby was born. Temari had been elected to take his place until he was fit to retake it. Kankuro was back in Suna and Kiba had gone there on a "mission."



Everyone was filling him in at dinner. He was sitting in a restaurant, next to Gaara, and they were all eating. The rookie nine was all there, except for one person, who Sai filled in for. They told him that when they went to get Sasuke, he'd vanished just like his brother. He shrugged.



"Don't bother. If he's got a death wish then let him try it out." He patted Gaara's leg. No one said anything but they started eating, exchanging friendly banter. When dinner was over, everyone paid for their meals and surprisingly, Naruto and Gaara got free food on Sakura.



When they were finally alone, they came together, mouths, hands and bodies. Gaara pushed Naruto against the wall of the apartment and Naruto chuckled against his mouth. "Slow down Gaara. I'm not going anywhere."



"Prove it." Naruto smiled and turned the red head around and wrapped his arms around Gaara's body. His hands settled on the belly where his baby was growing. Gaara whimpered but Naruto nipped his neck.



"I'm tired Gaara. I just want to hold you and sleep."



"You slept for five months."



"Without you." Gaara sighed and stepped from Naruto's embrace. he turned and started for the bedroom. When Naruto didn't follow, he stopped and turned.



"Are you coming?" The blond kicked off his shoes and jogged towards his lover. They stripped, showered and climbed under the covers. Gaara turned on his side, putting a small pillow under his belly and sighed contently when Naruto spooned against his back and placed a hand on his belly. He hated the fact that he was fat, but Naruto made the feeling go away.



"Mm. Missed you."



"Missed you." Naruto kissed the back of Gaara's neck and started to drift. He muttered something that made Gaara freeze.



"...hmnh....love you...."