heat

A/N: Sorry for not updating sooner. Started a new job and I just couldn't find the time or energy to write. But now that I'm getting into the swing of things, that shouldn't be a problem. Hopefully. ^^


Chapter 16


“This isn’t good,” Tsunade stated once the two chuunin finished. She rolled her eyes at the twin looks of ‘No kidding’ both boys cast towards her and huffed. “You said you can sense Naruto,” she affirmed. “More than likely, you’ll be able to find him better than any of us. You two, put a team together and get searching. If anything, the Akatsuki has him, and if that’s true, you need to find him fast.”

“Hai!” both boys said in unison.

“Jiraiya, Kakashi, go with them. Report back to me once you have him back.”

Both men looked grim as they nodded once and began to follow the younger shinobi out of the office.

“Wait,” Tsunade called. “I need to speak to you two, first.”

Jiraiya and Kakashi nodded. “Well meet you outside,” Kakashi said as he closed the door on the two chuunin.

Tsunade sighed and rubbed her hands over her face, massaging temples. “This isn’t good,” she repeated. “There’s no way to tell what state of mind Naruto will be in once you find him. He could be driven mad with lust by then, especially if the Akatsuki have him.”

Kakashi frowned. “I have watched Naruto closely, Hokage-sama. and I believe its safe to say that Naruto only responds to Gaara and Sasuke in such a manner.”

“But if it’s Itachi who has him, his scent would be very similar to the younger Uchiha, Naruto might not be able to differentiate between the two,” Jiraiya put in.

“Either way, I think you should prepare for him to...attack Sasuke or Gaara, or even yourselves, once you find him. If he does...well, just make sure they’re not interrupted until Naruto has calmed.

“Gaara may even prove to be a problem, so watch out for him. He views Naruto as his mate, he’ll not let anyone stand in his way once his instincts start kicking in,” Tsunade warned.

“If it’s Itachi that has him, that’ll prove to be an even bigger problem,” Kakashi said.

Tsunade groaned. “I’m afraid there isn’t much to be done about it if there is. If he gets away, make sure Sasuke doesn’t follow after. Naruto is our concern here, he can worry about his brother after.”

“Hai,” both men answered.

Tsunade sighed and gave the two men a pleading look. “Bring him home,” she beseeched.

“We will,” Jiraiya answered, his tone full of promise.

~~~~

“Who should we go to first?” Sasuke asked the moment the two of them stepped outside, mentally going through the list of ninja’s that were still in Konoha.

“I’m getting Kankurou and Temari,” Gaara stated, his arms crossed over his chest as he glared at the Uchiha, daring him to object. “You should know your town’s shinobi better than I, who else would you recommend?”

“Hyuuga Neji, Inuzuka Kiba and Nara Shikamaru. They’re all still in the village and have skills they can contribute to the search,” Sasuke answered, a frown marring his face. “Hopefully that’ll be enough.”

“Then its decided,” Gaara nodded sharply.

Sasuke scowled as silence descended upon them and Gaara glared at the ground. Neither wanted to mention the reason for their discomfort.

“Decided on the team yet?” Kakashi asked as he and Jiraiya joined the two tense chuunin.

“Hai,” Sasuke nodded, relieved to see the two.

Gaara looked around the small town, his eyes narrowing. They’ve wasted enough time waiting for the older men. “Lets split up. We’ll meet back here once we’ve got everyone.”

“Right,” Sasuke agreed. “I’ll get Neji, Kakashi-sensei, Jiraiya, you get Kiba and Shikamaru,” Sasuke ordered. If the situation wasn’t so critical, he would of found it amusing to be giving his superiors orders.

“Uchiha.”

Sasuke turned to face the red head and raised a brow. “What?”

Gaara paused, unsure of what he wanted to say. Finally he settled for, “Lets hurry.”

Sasuke nodded. “Hai,” he agreed.

The two stared at each other for a moment, silently coming to an understanding. They may be rivals for Naruto’s affections, but right now, they needed to work together.

Gaara nodded his head and spun around, breaking the awkwardness.

Sasuke stood still for a moment, watching the red head fad into the crowd. A hand descended on his should, and he jumped. He turned to find Kakashi staring off into the crowd, his eye filled with concern.

“We’ll find him,” Kakashi assured, squeezing his shoulder.

“Damn right, we will,” Jiraiya confirmed from behind them. “I need the three of you to help me with my research.”

Sasuke smirked at that and turned to look at the two men. He nodded his head, silently giving his thanks to the two before taking off as well, in search for Neji.

Kakashi and Jiraiya stared at each other for a moment, making their way towards the other direction.

“Think they’ll do it?”

“If they’re smart, they will,” Jiraiya answered. “The boy deserves it.”

~~~~

“Wow, look who shows,” Temari smirked as Gaara entered the apartment, the door slamming behind him. “Didn’t think we’d be seeing you for awhile.”

“Where’s Kankurou?” Gaara barked, ignoring Temari’s comments.

“In the other room. Why?”

“Get him in here,” Gaara ordered. Temari raised a brow as Gaara paced in front of the door. Something really got her brother worked up and that didn’t bode well at all.

“Alright,” she nodded, and turned and left the room.

Gaara continued to pace, letting his sand spill from the gourd to swirl and dance about him. He couldn’t remember a time when he’d been this worried over anyone. The feeling was new and irritating and proved that he felt deeply for his mate. He had to get him back, had to make sure his mate was happy, safe.

He took a breath, trying to calm his racing heart. He needed to stay in control, to keep his mind clear.

“So what’s the deal? What’s got you worked up?” Temari asked the moment she returned with her brother in tow.

Gaara turned to face his two siblings, fighting harder then he’d ever had to, to keep his face void and his voice smooth. “Uzumaki’s missing,” he answered.

~~~~

It was dark. There was no pain, no Itachi.

Naruto sighed in relief. He was safe. For the moment at least.

“Decided to come and visit for a change, have you?” a deep voice rumbled from behind him.

Naruto turned, squinting his eyes against the dark. The room he was in gradually lightened until he could see the bars and the beast contained on the other side.

“Kyuubi,” he breathed. It’d been a while since he’d seen the demon in his true form. “What happened to the clearing?”

The beast huffed at him. “Did you really forget what I told you? You’ve come to me this time, not the other way around.”

“Oh,” Naruto frowned. “Can I change it? The surroundings I mean?”

Kyuubi grinned, showing a mouth full of vicious fangs. “You can let me out. I certainly wouldn’t be adverse to that.”

Naruto kicked at the bars and slumped to the ground with a sigh. “I cant, then. I’m not stupid, you’ll have free reign of my body if I let you go.”

“You never seemed to mind that before.”

Naruto glared at the creature, his expression clearly stating he wasn’t amused.

Kyuubi rolled his scarlet eyes, and snorted, laying down to rest his head on his paws. “Is there a reason you’ve come to me then? Or, have you grown bored and decided that you want to know what it feels like to be taken with me in my real form?”

Naruto wrinkled his nose in disgust. “You’re sick, you know that?”

Kyuubi bared his fangs again in a grin. “Demon,” was his only answer to the blond.

Naruto sighed again. He could almost feel hands ghosting over his skin, and it sent a shiver of fear down his spine, reminding him that he needed to do something soon. He may have broken the jutsu, but that did nothing from preventing Itachi from really defiling his body.

Perhaps it wouldn’t be too bad letting Kyuubi take control of his body. At least he wouldn’t have to deal with the situation himself. He supposed Kyuubi could pay his rent like he usually demanded, but that was usually when he was in a life or death situation. Right now, his life wasn’t in danger, just his virtue.

“Are you just going to sit there and sulk?” asked Kyuubi.

Naruto glared at the creature. “No,” he answered, ignoring the fact that he sounded like a petulant child. He drew his knees up and wrapped his arms around them, burying his head within the folds. “I’m not sure what to do,” he mumbled.

Kyuubi cocked his head, but otherwise remained silent.

“If I give up control to you for a moment, you promise to give it back?” Naruto asked, looking sideways at the demon.

Kyuubi made a sound, as if truly thinking over the question. Naruto could see the large head sway to and fro, the scarlet eyes looking up every once in awhile as if trying to decide something. After about a minute of quite contemplation, Kyuubi finally looked at Naruto and nodded his head. “Nope,” he grinned. “Cant say that I will.”

Naruto stared in exasperation at the beast. “It took you a minute to answer that?”

The demon’s grin widened. “What can I say? If I taste freedom again, I’m likely not to give it back up without a fight.”

“You’re impossible,” Naruto sighed, laying his head back on his knees and hiding his face. If he couldn’t trust Kyuubi to give back control of his body, then he’d have to be the one to face the Missing Nin again.

Naruto shuddered. He really didn’t want to do that, but it looked like he had no choice. He sighed and climbed to his feet. Squaring his shoulders, he turned to the beast. “Time to pay your rent, then,” he said, closing his eyes.


TBC