The devil is in the details

Disclaimer: No, I still don’t own Naruto or any of the characters.

2: The Family

Naruto woke up the next morning, feeling amazingly cosy. Most of the pain was gone and just lying there under the blanket was so comfortable. He yawned and rubbed his cheek against the soft pillow, wishing the feeling would last a little longer. This hotel bed sure was million times better than his own boring bed back at home. Especially someone lying there next to him, practically hugging him like a pillow-….
Naruto froze. The good feeling withered away like a pour of rain. He gulped and looked to his left, seeing Deidara sleeping there like a baby. Not mentioning the way he had laid his and on Naruto’s chest. It was… almost a horrifying sight.
“WAAAAAAAH!”
Deidara woke up and startled. Kisame sat up quickly and looked at the bandaged blond boy glaring at Deidara, who just snorted and dropped his face back on the pillow.
“What the hell? Why are you sleeping next to me?”, Naruto cried out.
“Shut up!”, Kisame ordered.
But Naruto felt like his private area had been corrupted. “I thought you said this guy couldn’t stay here over night! Shark-san!”, he whimpered.
“I decided to stay after you had passed out…”, Deidara mumbled, with his face against the soft pillow.
“But why sleep next to ME?”
Deidara rose his face and looked at the kid with those drowsy eyes. “You really think there was any room next to Kisame?”
Naruto took a quick look on Kisame who was trying his best to crawl out of the cosy bed. This guy made a good point. Shark-san did take more space than a normal person.
“I’m hungry…”, Naruto mumbled, forgetting the issue right away.
Deidara yawned and laid on the bed so wide, that Naruto felt like getting up pretty soon. Kisame drew on his cloak and rubbed his left shoulder.
“We should get going anyway. We’re suppose to meet someone.”, he said.
Like a lightning from the clear sky, Naruto suddenly remember what he had left the village for in the first place. He had to go find Sasuke. Not have breakfast with his enemies.
“Oh yeah… there’s someone we want you to meet, Naruto-kun.”, Deidara mumbled and finally sat up on the bed.
“Hmm?”, the boy looked confused “I can’t come and hang out with you! I’m on a mission!”
Kisame and Deidara looked at each others and grinned.
“Sasuke-kun, right?”, Kisame chuckled
Naruto looked at the shark surprised. “Uh… yeah…”, he nodded.
Deidara chuckled. “You have nothing to worry. He’s safe and sound. I’m sure you’ll see each others soon.”, he said as he played around with his hair.
For some reason Naruto felt like he could trust their word. But that didn’t relax him at all. He felt extremely worried about Chouji, Neji, Kiba, Shikamaru and the thick brows. He just couldn’t go have fun without being sure were they all right.
Letting out a deep sigh Deidara got out from the bed. “I know how worried you must be about your comrades…”, so he said, but he didn’t sound like he actually meant it. “But this is really important, Naruto-kun.”
Their eyes met and this time Naruto could tell Deidara was serious. Though what so important could it be that he couldn’t even go see his friends first? But then again… Kisame was quite strong. And Deidara looked somewhat dangerous as well. Maybe he should agree for now, because they might not be afraid to use force to make him go with them.
“Oh, alright. I’ll come with you.”, he muttered and crossed his hands from disappointment.
“Good kid…”, Kisame grinned “Now… why don’t you go ahead to the restaurant downstairs. We’ll catch ya later.”
“Yosh!”
As the orange suited, yellow haired teen marched out from the room, Deidara fixed his eyes on Kisame and smirked.
“It might be hard to keep him from returning to Konoha.”, Kisame said and butted up his cloak.
“Oh… if Itachi-san has succeeded with Sasuke-kun… I’m sure Naruto-kun won’t be such a big trouble either.”
Kisame laughed quietly and walked to the door.
“You’re not coming?”
Deidara shook his head and gave that usual malicious grin. “Nah. I leave this to you. I have bussiness to do with Sasori.”
“Right.”, Kisame mumbled behind the cloak collar “Don’t be too rough.”
Deidara smiled. “If you say so.”

How good did it feel after eating a tasty and filling breakfast. And to Naruto it was all for free. Now if he only could sneak out to return to Konoha. Yet he knew that wasn’t going to be easy. With the observant eyes of Shark-san watching his every move.
Two of them had already returned to the counter to pay for the food and room.
There was somewhat annoying looking older man standing there as Kisame put aside his Samehada and dug out his wallet.
“I’d like to check out…”, he said.
The man observed the notebook in front of him. “Yes. Breakfast… and room for three.”
Kisame startled. And so did Naruto.
“I had a room for two, old man.”
“But we had a notification that a third person joined you later.”, the old man argued.
Cursing Deidara in his mind, Kisame wasn’t ready to give up. “He was just a guess… and we had no meaning to let him stay with us.”, he hissed.
“Sorry sir, but rules are rules. I don’t own this place and I have to bill you with the number of people that used that room.”
“You’re… not the owner?”, Kisame asked suddenly.
The old man startled. Not knowing what this huge guy had in mind, he nodded. “No, sir… I’m not.”
Kisame grinned. He took a hold of his Samehada and rose it above his shoulder.
“Good… then there’s problem if I do this.”
Naruto felt weird twist in his stomach. Could he really be…?
The old man jumped back. But it wasn’t far enough from the greedy bandaged thorns of the Samehada.
‘CULZ!’
One quick whisk and Naruto realised he was staring at a headless body that collapsed down to the floor, blood pouring everywhere. Terrified Naruto followed with his eyes the loose head bouncing across the inn’s reception floor.
There were few people, besides Kisame and Naruto. One younger male who got all pale as he tried to gasp more air. And one middle age lady who would have screamed at the top of her lungs, if she didn’t faint right away.
“We’re leaving, kid!”, Kisame said sharply and turned around, placing the Samehada on his back. Not sure should he run like hell and take the risk to become as headless as that inn worker, Naruto followed him quickly.
Kisame walked out of the inn, Naruto close behind his tail. He continued his calm walk even on the streets.
Things had gone from bad to worse. There was no way he wanted to follow this guy around. But there ways no way to run from him either. Yet Naruto kept his mouth closed until they had reached the borders of that small peaceful village.
When there wasn’t people too close to hear their speech, Naruto finally encouraged himself.
“Shark-san…”
Kisame stopped and looked at the kid above his shoulder. “Un?”
“You could have just paid him.”
Kisame sneered and continued walking.
“It was so repulsive.”, Naruto continued as he kept walking with Kisame “You didn’t have to kill him!”
But Kisame said nothing. He rose no attention on the kid, what so ever. This was rather annoying. Especially for such loud ninja as Naruto was, just to accept the silence was unbearable. He stopped.
It wasn’t too long when Kisame realised this and turned around.
“Come on. We don’t have time to have a break.”, he muttered. He sounded somewhat distressed. But it was all because of Naruto’s behaviour.
The boy shook his head weakly and clench his fists. “No.”
The giant seemed to be too exhausted to argue over it.
“Firstly… I want to know… where are you taking me? And when am I going to meet Sasuke as you promised?”, Naruto demanded to know. Kisame just sighed.
“I’m taking you to place… there is no point telling where it is. You’ll see eventually.”, he said “And you will meet Sasuke there.”
Naruto was going to ask when will he be able to return to Konoha after that, but hearing good news about Sasuke made him completely forget about it.
“As for now…”, Kisame continued “Please keep your mouth shut until we get there.”
“Ok.”, Naruto said with a grin.
“Let’s go.”, Kisame said and hopped up in to the tree branch above them. Naruto following him, the duo quickly disappeared to the woods.

It was night time. Naruto had no idea how long they’ve been moving since the last small break they had, but he was beginning to feel deadly exhausted. Especially for not having full time to recover from his injuries. Kisame noticed this, not that he showed much of a sign to actually care about it.
“We’re almost there.”, he just said.
Naruto looked at him, eyes half closed.
Actually Kisame begged the kid wouldn’t drop from exhaustion just yet. He had no desire to carry him the rest of the way. When he suddenly thought he saw a flicker of light in the horizon. He observed the path ahead of them. Until he finally said those words Naruto wanted to hear the most:
“There it is.”
And just few second later they landed on a yard of an unbelievably large mansion.
Naruto did his best to keep his eyes open. He could tell the mansion was old. Very old. Almost frightening if there wasn’t some lights shining trough the windows. It was something you would never expect to come across in the middle of a thick forest.
Kisame walked to the door and knocked few times, opening the door shortly after that. They entered a hall that was quite filthy. Apparently the Akatsuki folks weren’t much of a clean freaks. But the dirtiness gave a nice touch in the candle light.
“Where is everyone?”, Naruto mumbled as he realised there was no one to greet them.
“Don’t be so hasty.”, Kisame said shortly and walked towards the stairs that divided in to both sides of the hall. Naruto couldn’t help, but look around. He had never seen anything like it. It was actually quite beautiful ones your eyes got used to it.
He was drawn back to reality as someone appeared on top of the stairs.
“You sure were quick. I wasn’t expecting you back here till tomorrow morning.”, it was Itachi. Naruto could barely believe it. He wasn’t even wearing his Akatsuki cloak and he looked so… normal. If it wasn’t for few details, such as his hair length, Naruto would have easily mistaken him as Sasuke.
“I didn’t want to make you wait that long, Itachi.”, Kisame said behind his tall collar. It was hard to tell in the dim light, but it looked like Itachi was smiling – or rather, smirking. But Naruto forgot all about it as he saw a dark figure standing behind the older Uchiha. Could it actually be-..?
“Oh… so you actually joined us on this little reunion…. Sasuke.”, said Kisame.
That moment Itachi stepped out of the way, revealing the dark haired boy standing there, half asleep. But almost like he woke up from a harassing dream when he saw the blond boy standing next to Kisame.
“Sa-… Sasuke?”, said that familiar voice.
“Naruto?”, Sasuke muttered. There was no way. “What are you doing here?”
Relieved to see his friend, Naruto ran to the half way of the stairs. “I would ask you the same thing if I wasn’t so glad to see you!”, he panted.
But for some reason Sasuke was more frightened than glad to see him. He looked at his brother with no expression at all. “I thought you brought me here for personal matters. Why is Naruto here?”
Itachi didn’t even look at his little brother. “Is that your way to greet a family member?”
Strange flicker appeared in Sasuke’s dark eyes. He looked down to Naruto again.
“Why…?”, he mumbled, not sure what he was even going to ask in the first place.
“I came here for you, baka!”, Naruto hollered.
They just stared at each other. Partly shocked, partly happy to see each others. Naruto wanted to run to him, but something stopped him. And Sasuke was too confused to react.
When suddenly Itachi grabbed him from the nape and tossed him down the stairs like a piece of garbage.
“Sasuke!”, Naruto shrieked and quickly ran higher to catch his friend. Sasuke would have stopped himself from falling if he wasn’t so tired. But it was good that Naruto reacted so fast. Softly falling in to his arms, Sasuke groaned and used the last bits of his strength to get back on his feet.
He looked up and a split second later he realised he was staring in to Naruto’s sky blue eyes. It was… hypnotising.
“You caught me…”, Sasuke mumbled and couldn’t get his eyes off Naruto.

In the dark night of Konoha, Hinata walked close by her home. She couldn’t sleep. She couldn’t eat. All she could do, is wonder whether was Naruto still alive or not.
Her cousin, Neji getting nearly killed. And rest of her comrades going trough such bad place. She had been practically crying the entire day after Kakashi returned telling, that he couldn’t find Naruto nor Sasuke anywhere.
Sudden rustle of leaves startled her back from her daydreams. She looked up in to the nearest tree and saw a strange… object. Or was it a bird? It moved. It must’ve been some kind of animal because it seemed to be hopping closer and closer to her.
“Who are you?”, she asked; not even sure why.
“A friend.”, said suddenly a strange voice near by. Hinata looked around. But she saw nothing. Or no one. It was too dark for that.
“Who’s there?”, Hinata whimpered. Who ever it was, this game was no fun at all. She performed the seal and yelled: “Byakugan!”
Just as she finally gained the view, something behind her jumped closer.
“Aww… you really think that’s going to help you at all?”, said yet another male voice. But this one sounded different. Automatically Hinata jumped around and realised she was looking in to the eyes of a strange, somewhat good looking young man. He was wearing a frightening black cloak with cloud shape figures on it.
“We have news for you. What is your name?”, this scary stranger asked.
Hinata retreated, unable to answer. “Who-… are you?”, she cried. Until she suddenly crashed in to something. Or someone. She gasped and turned around again.
“Evening.”, said this one. He had the same kind of cloak. But he also had a long blonde hair and a stone village forehead protector. Hinata could tell this one was the guy who’s voice she heard first.
She stepped back, forgetting that route was already blocked.
She wanted to scream. She was so afraid. Who were these people. And why were they harassing her? From all people.
“You know it’s rude to not answer…!”, said the man with shorter hair behind her. With her Byakugan, Hinata saw him raising his hands, when all of the sudden she could barely move anymore.
“You-…”, she whimpered after she realised what had just happened.
“I asked you…. what is your name?”, said the one holding her with a stranger jutsu.
“You’re a puppeteer?”
Hearing this, Sasori rose his look from the frightened girl to Deidara.
Deidara walked to her and rose his hands on her pale cheeks. “Answer the damn question! Or we’re gonna have to kill you.”
“Haa-.. Hyuuga! Hinata!”
”Good. Now… do you know a boy called Naruto? Or Sasuke?”, Deidara said with a piercing look in his eyes.
“H-.. hai!”, she cried.
Deidara smiled satisfied. “That wasn’t so hard was it?”, he looked at Sasori above Hinata’s head and nodded. Sasori let out a sigh and with a sudden whisk of hands, Hinata was thrown on her back.
“Wh-… what do you want from me?”, she cried with tears in her eyes.
“Pleasures, my child.”, Deidara said in a hollow tone.
“Na-… nani?”
Suddenly the long haired stranger crouched down and grabbed her pants. With one single easy move he ripped them off from Hinata, whisking the shreds on the side.
“N-… Naruto-kun!”, she cried helplessly.
Deidara just laughed while Sasori stood there with the same emotionless expression.
“Your boyfriend is not coming back, Hinata-chan.”, Deidara whispered “Not ever.”
------
A/N: I’ve been exhausted all day, so I apologise again for the grammar errors.
Heeh! Now we’re getting somewhere. More come up soon ^_^