Complications

Author Notes: Hey guys here is chapter two! Thanks for the reviews and here are my words back to you reviewers.

Spanish74: Thanks for the review and here is the newest chapter. Honestly, I hope this one makes you happy that it took so long to update.

Pics Pixie: The characters being in character is something I always stress about. So, thanks for letting me know I am on the right track.

Heartlock: It will take a little longer to see if Sasuke chases them or not, but it's really worth the wait.

TheDeviant: I am glad to have people reading this that are so looking forward to the next chapter. Now that I delivered I hope you that you are looking forward to the third chapter too.

KatFO: It has been updated!

Lilith: You'll have to wait to see what trials await Naruto!

Kayla: I'll continue ...Well till the story is done ^_^

Spoon: I hope that everyone else is wanting to know what happens next.


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Slowly Naruto found himself rousing up and his stomach feeling sore. The haze in his brain seemed to also be clearing, but his hearing was quicker to recover. He could hear the heavy breathing from a smaller person and the low chuckle only a few meters away from himself. Opening one eye he took in a sharp inhale of breath sputtering and coughing. Where Itachi hit me…Really hurts.

Itachi sat in front of him his eyes averted to the right of Naruto as he continued to watch something with a passiveness that would have seemed abnormal if Naruto hadn’t known Sasuke. What is he watching? Another pant and then a sharp cry came from behind him on the right, a cry that was familiar and unmistakably female. That voice. Itachi turned his attention onto Naruto as he smirked. “Finally awake Naruto-kun?”

Naruto grimaced as he shifted around and winced a little more when he noticed his hands were tied up and his legs were as well. Turning to the side his back burned in protest and he hissed, “owww.” A whimper came from the side and then a dark chuckle. “What?” He asked as he turned to look slightly around the tree as far as his body and the bonds would let him.

What he saw made his blood run cold as he took in the sight of Kisame holding up a pink haired woman by the hair. That would have been enough to send a cry of dismay from Naruto, but the pink haired woman was someone he knew. “Na…ruto.” Sakura held onto one of Kisame’s wrists to lessen the strain on her hair. Her face was pale and there were lacerations deep enough to weaken her but not shallow enough to keep her strength at its maximum. Kisame turned to look over his shoulder at Naruto baring all his sharp teeth in a pleased grin.

“Your friend just showed up about two hours ago. I would have fought her, but Kisame didn’t get to have his turn for too long.” Itachi explained as he kept his hands hidden in the sleeves of his akatsuki cloak. Kisame turned back his free hand coming up and in a fist as he slammed it into the side of Sakura’s face. With the impact Sakura’s head snapped to the side with a crack as Kisame turned around throwing her at Naruto. Naruto felt light headed his heart beating in his head.

“Sakura!” He cried out as she opened one eye to smile at him her face swollen and bruised. The beautiful kunoichi had probably been through two rough hours of punishment trying to help him and get him free. Why do all the people I care about have to be hurt? Sakura reached out her gloved hand touching his knee as she gave him a gentle smile “Sakura hang in there! Get up and leave…They won’t pursue you since they have me. Go tell Tsunade baa-chan!”

Before she could respond Kisame had grabbed here by the hair pulling her up slightly his foot landing on her back as she cried out. Naruto felt the tears welling up as he struggled to get up and fight, “Stop it!” he begged as he made it to his knees. Kisame just looked at him with those beady eyes as he chuckled and looked down at the woman.

Now Itachi made his move slowly standing up as he moved over standing between Kisame and Naruto. “She has a use after all…Kisame…Don’t kill her.” Kisame frowned and sighed rolling his eyes. “I never said that you had to stop beating her up. How about we play a game…Lets see if Naruto can behave himself if we take off his restraints.” Itachi moved to Naruto’s sides and within a few moments Naruto felt the bonds go slack and Itachi stood there at his side.

“If you run Naruto…You will save yourself. But, this woman will pay the price of your leaving and not keeping your word with her life. I think this is more than fair.” Itachi turned and moved back to the spot where he had been sitting. Kisame chuckled his hand running through Sakura’s hair as he let her fall down face first into the forest floor. Naruto was at her side quickly as he pulled her up and away from Kisame and Itachi his back resting against the tree.

Kisame rolled his eyes moving to sit down, “Sentimentality is not something a ninja should have. If it would have been you I would have left you here to die.” Itachi nodded taking no offense …If he had been in the same situation he would have done the same thing.

“Sakura! Sakura please wake up!” Her breathing was shallow, but for the most part she looked to be okay. Kisame must have just beat her with his fists, Naruto held her close to his chest and quietly checked her shoulders, arms and legs for any evidence of broken bones. Her eyes opened and looked into his, “Thank goodness.” He murmured as he brushed her matted pink hair away from her face earning a hiss from the pink haired kunoichi.

“Naruto…I’m sorry…If only I was…” Naruto put his fingers to Sakura’s lips as he noticed that her eyes were tearing up. He just held her close and protectively as possible without hurting her battered and bruised body. Sakura reached up her hand touching his face as she nodded and slowly her hand left his cheek and she passed out again. Naruto panicked for a moment before he heard Kisame chuckle.

“Don’t worry kyuubi container. She won’t die for now. But, if you don’t do what we tell you to…Then she might not have a fighting chance again. We are not too far from where Akatsuki is…” Naruto felt a shudder run down his back as Kisame talked to him. Itachi stared at him across the clearing with those passive yet alert eyes. Another shudder passed down his back. “She will live long enough to get you there…It’s about a day or so…Then we will decide what we are going to do with you and with her.”

It was dark outside in the forest before Naruto saw Itachi move. Standing up the long black haired male looked towards Kisame who nodded. “Hurry up and grab the girl. We need to move.” Naruto stood up as Kisame moved over motioning for Naruto to give him the girl. He couldn’t say no this time as he handed Sakura over and she was cradled in the older mans arms. If I don’t do as they say. They will kill her… He reminded himself with a grimace.

Itachi took the lead as he moved forward through the trees at a fast pace. Kisame lagged behind with Sakura, but Naruto moved slightly beside him. The boy was fast, a trait his father must have had, and Naruto was exhibiting more and more qualities of a good reliable ninja. He hadn’t tried to fight and Itachi was a little surprised at that. When I first saw him he was loud and brash…How two years and training can temper even the worst ninja..

Naruto’s body hurt. His stomach hurt and chest hurt…But that was nothing compared to the hurt his pride had suffered. He had seen both of his friends give up themselves to help him, and yet he couldn’t do a thing. “Sakura will be all right…Right?” He asked Itachi as they ran. Itachi stayed silent for a few moments as Naruto narrowed his eyes. “You are just like Sasuke…”

Itachi sighed and listened to the small talk that Naruto had been giving him. Someone who thought of their comrades before themselves…It was almost unheard of in any other village really. “You should be more worried about yourself.” He spoke out. Finally after a few more hours of running Itachi stopped along with Kisame and Naruto…Naruto moved over to check on Sakura who hadn’t woken from their trip in Kisame’s arms. The other man just looked at Naruto with narrowed eyes.

A quiet knock at the door alerted Pein to the wanted entrance as he looked to the door, “Enter.” Slowly sliding in and shutting the door behind her, Konan nodded to her partner who simply eyed her. Konan brushed her hair from her face straightening her paper flower in her hair as she watched him. “What news do you have for me Konan?” Pein asked quietly. As she opened her mouth the door opened again and skittering in came Tobi.

“Zetsu-san said that Kisame and Itachi are back!” Tobi stood there as he hopped from foot to foot. Zetsu slowly started in as he looked to Tobi and then to Pein who merely nodded. “Oh! They also have two leaf peoples with them!” Tobi added as an after thought as Konan raised an eyebrow and Pein looked towards Zetsu who stared at him for a moment.

“Yes. They have two people with them…One is an injured female shinobi with pink hair…and the second is the container for kyuubi.” Zetsu affirmed as he turned around and sighed as he seemed irritated to be in the room with Pein, Konan and Tobi. Slowly he moved out of the room followed by Konan. Pein looked to Tobi who just stood there as the door shut behind Konan.

“What are you thinking?” Tobi asked Pein as he watched him out of the one hole in the orange mask he wore. Pein looked to him and then towards the window overlooking the place that he had protected and the people that considered him a god. He took a long time to answer as Tobi waited patiently slowly moving around the room.

“We hardly have enough members to make the extraction process go for three days. That would severely injure someone …It will take more energy and time now that we are down to six members.” Pein sighed as he looked at the ring on his hand as he looked to Tobi. Tobi just shrugged and stretched out as he sat down beside Pein and Pein watched him with a slightly bored look.

“Who said that we had to extract the kyuubi from Naruto-kun?” Tobi spoke his voice having changed into a deeper voice. Pein perked as he looked to Tobi and Tobi watched him again. “I have far better plans for him…Just wait and see…” With that Tobi stood up and turned moving towards the door and exiting quieter than he had entered. Pein just shook his head and sighed.

Naruto quietly followed Itachi into the place where akatsuki had chosen to dwell. It was dark there, but he noticed quickly that Kisame moved away from him and Itachi with Sakura. “Sakura!” Naruto turned to follow Kisame, but Itachi was quicker as he blocked the blond ninja’s way. Naruto gritted his teeth as he looked to Itachi who stood there. He wouldn’t be able to follow to see if she was going to be okay or not.

“Follow me…” Itachi warned him once before he moved back down the long corridor. Naruto clenched his hands into fists and looked down at the floor biting his lip for a moment, taking a deep breath he moved quietly after Itachi. He couldn’t risk letting Sakura be hurt. After walking for what seemed ages down a difficult to remember path, Naruto found himself in a large chamber that opened up. In front of him were a few members.

They all wore the akatsuki cloaks and Naruto grimaced. I am really in trouble now. A man with orangish red hair moved forward and Naruto moved back his back slamming into Itachi’s chest. Itachi pushed him lightly forward and Naruto stumbled as he watched Pein approach. His heart thudded as sweat started to bead on his brow. I will go out fighting..

“Welcome Naruto Uzumaki.” Pein’s voice was quiet as he stood before Naruto. He seemed to be the leader and Naruto just nodded to him as he turned to look at the other members left in akatsuki…He noticed a girl and then of course a man with a mask and then a half black and white man with a venus fly trap. Do all of Akatsuki look like freaks? Naruto shivered as Pein embraced him and chuckled. “Normally…We would have already killed you or had you unconscious by now….”

Naruto stepped to the side pushing Pein away as the man took no interest to his struggling and continued to talk. “Because of Konoha we have lost a few of our members…So we have decided that Konoha will give us a member instead.” Naruto raised an eyebrow as he looked to Itachi who also looked at Pein with slight interest written on the usually passive features.

“What do you mean …Give you a member. No one would ever join akatsuki willingly from Konoha!” Naruto protested as Konan turned to look to Zetsu and Zetsu let out a dark laugh. Naruto felt the sweat on his forehead dripping down the side of his face. Without thinking about it he wiped the sweat away. What do they mean give a member? Do they honestly think that there is someone that is a strong shinobi that will willingly come to their side.

Pein shrugged and sighed, “I suppose that since you are dense…I will spell it out for you. You are going to become an akatsuki member…You don’t really have a choice in the matter. Kisame and Itachi were so gracious to go the extra mile to bring in…Sakura was it.” Naruto felt his heart up in his head and a faint feeling coming over him. Pein smiled an empty smile. “Therefore…For the girls well being and care…You will be in akatsuki. If you fail to comply at any time we shall take it out on her. From what I hear you are very loyal. Lets see how loyal you can be.”

“You bastards won’t get away with this.” Naruto hissed as Pein started to laugh followed by the others in the room chuckling. “What’s so funny?!” demanded Naruto as he moved back. Itachi of course now with Kisame was blocking the only way for him to leave. Tobi had stood up moving towards him as he stood in front of Naruto. Naruto held his breath as he looked up at the eye hole…Within it was a sharingan and his blood went cold kyuubi struggling and turning within his mind.

“You are going to be my partner…Naruto-kun!” Tobi smiled behind the mask as he reached out. Naruto felt Kyuubi within him struggling until the hand fell upon his shoulder. Instantly the beast inside him calmed and fell dormant. “It’s going to be more then a pleasure working with you.” Naruto couldn’t tare his eyes away from Tobi’s one eye as he stood there his eyes widened. Move…Move….MOVE! He tried to will his body to move and yet again there were a few chuckles.

Tobi turned and only then was Naruto able to move his body trembling as his legs went weak. He covered his mouth with one of his hands as he sat there. “Itachi will show you to your room and there you will dress in the proper akatsuki uniform. You are no longer a Konoha ninja…You are a rogue shinobi in akatsuki…Get used to it.” Pein informed him coldly. Another hand touched his shoulder as Naruto was pulled up by Itachi and the other put a hand on his lower back to guide him. What happened to me? Naruto wondered in half a daze.

After the others had left to go on about their missions Tobi looked to Pein. “Kyuubi responded well. He remembers who his master is…” Pein looked to Tobi and nodded slightly. Tobi turned and chuckled as he whispered, “Not only do we have the most powerful of the jinchuriiki under our control…We also have one of Konoha’s most powerful shinobi. I can’t wait to see how this plays out.” With that Tobi also disappeared leaving Pein to his own devices.

Gasping and sitting up for air Sasuke looked around, “Naruto!” the cry came from his lips startling a small girl that sat by his bed side. Quickly Sasuke had regretted sitting up as his shoulder complained with a dull throbbing pain and he pressed his hands over the bandage splotches of blood appearing on the clean bandage. Noticing that he was not in the woods, and that he had indeed been lying on a bed made his breathing come a little more labored. Where is he?! Itachi, Kisame and Naruto were no where to be found. Coughing a little more the girl offered him a glass of water. Slapping her hand away he narrowed his dark eyes on her and at once they turned into sharingan eyes as he growled, “Get the fuck out!”

The girl stood up with a squeak and fled his presence causing Sasuke to sigh and lean against the headboard of the bed. “Naruto…” He repeated his stomach grumbling as he rested there. Please don’t tell me you did something foolish…Knowing you…You did. Sasuke sat there his vision going in and out as he deactivated the sharingan an shut his eyes tipping his head back. “I’m alive…Thanks to you.”

He remembered the look in Naruto’s eyes as he had looked up at him. There had been tears in those eyes and a desperation that he had never wanted to see on the blonds face. “Naruto…I’ll save you. I swear.” Sasuke wasn’t dumb and realized that the reason for him being there was the blonds doing. His brother would have left him in the forest for dead if it had been his decision.

Entering in a few moments later the inn keeper looked to Sasuke who was sweating profusely. He showed the other a medical kit, “My daughter told me you messed up the stitches again upon waking. I’m supposed to take care of you and then send you on your way once you are healed…The man that paid for your care said you would know where to go.” Sasuke just sighed as he allowed the man to move over and take off the bandages.

His shoulder was bruised and the cut was rough and the stitching done low quality. But the blood was seeping out of some of the broken stitches that he had done himself by grabbing the wound. “Two to three days and you will be able to leave…” The man affirmed as he fixed up the stitches and then cleaned up the broken glass on the floor. “The blond seemed to be really nice…the other two not so much…If you want to know they headed from the back of the inn in that direction. That’s all the help I can give you.”

Sasuke sighed as the man simply shrugged and muttered, “Don’t scare my daughter like that again. She has been the one to keep watch over you and nurse you. Next time I won’t be so nice.” With that he was left all alone once again. His eyes dropped shut as he laid back in bed…three days…I don’t have that much time… With that Sasuke lost consciousness once again. wait for me …Naruto.

Sneezing Naruto looked around the room he had been brought into. Itachi waited for him on the other side of the door. The room itself was very Spartan and there was just a night stand, lamp and a bed …There was also a connected bathroom with a shower, sink and a toilet in there as well.

On the bed were his new clothes. The shirt was a black sleeveless shirt with mesh on the top shifting to a solid material and then back to mesh for the rest of the shirt which meant it would show of his belly. The pair of pants were also black and then the leggings were silver…By the bed were a pair of black sandals and the cloak hung up on a hanger the red clouds making Naruto frown. Stripping off the clothes he put on the under uniform and then there was a knock on the door. Itachi moved in looking to Naruto…He looked a little more washed out than he did with the black and orange suit.

“Black doesn’t really suit you, but it’s a good color for you now.” He observed as he sighed and then shook his head. Grabbing the cloak Itachi tossed it to Naruto who pulled on the cloak and sighed as he buttoned it up. Itachi motioned to his Konoha headband, “Give it to me.” Naruto blinked and narrowed his eyes as he put a hand up to his forehead protector.

“No.” Naruto said in a firm voice as he stepped back. Itachi stepped forward, Itachi rolled his eyes and stepped forward reaching up his hand tracing over the Konoha forehead protector. Naruto stood there his hand grabbing Itachi’s wrist as he turned his face to the side his eyes shutting tightly.

Itachi watched the way Naruto acted. It was as if the forehead protector was important to Naruto. This was something that should have been important to him, and in a way it still was. He had his Konoha forehead protector on his head, but of course there was a nice line through it. That was something that Naruto would never wear because he would never fully leave Konoha. Itachi wasn’t stupid. “Please…Don’t make me.” Naruto murmered.

“Do it.” Itachi ordered once more as he grabbed the hand on his own wrist pushing it away. He wouldn’t allow Naruto to keep that hope of the headband. Gritting his teeth Naruto took off the forehead protector as he did so and then Itachi reached out grabbing it from him along with his old clothes. “You don’t need these.” He told the blond ninja as he turned.

Naruto watched as his clothes were taken away his eyes wide as he trembled and then shook his head as he sank down onto the bed. Everything was happening so quickly. The changes in his own clothing, the taking away of his headband…Being forced into akatsuki and losing both Sasuke and Sakura. It felt as if his whole world was flipped upside down. He could feel the tears welling up in his eyes and vigorously he rubbed at them. “Ninjas don’t cry.” He whispered through the tears that just wouldn’t stop.

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Author Notes: Thanks for waiting so long for the second chapter. Honestly, it was something that was unexpected and I became unexpectedly lazy as well. Hopefully the reviews and encouragement will continue. I don't need it but, it's nice to have it.