The Hunt

Neji walked gracefully through the winding corridors of the Hunters coven. His destination was that of their Hunt leader. He had important news to deliver and it ran through his head as he knocked on one of many unmarked doors.

"Enter."

Neji let himself into her chambers to find her at her usual position behind her desk. To her left stood the Hunt's best tactician, Shikamaru. To her right was her ever present assistant, Shizune.

"What is it Neji?" she asked peering over at him with intelligent golden eyes.

Neji gave a half bow before speaking, "Tsunade-sama, a young man has just arrived with Sai, Sakura and Ino."

"From another coven?"

"No ma'am. He appears to be a mortal."

Tsunade stood quickly, her hands moving immediately to grip her desk. "Then what in devil's name is he doing here?!"

"You'd have to ask Sai."

"Oh I will, bring them here!" she gave him a shooing gesture.

"There's one more thing Tsunade-sama..." Neji hesitated, how should he put this?

"Spit it out then."

"There's magick in his blood."

Her eyebrows rose in surprise before lowering into a frown. "Is he a demon or a hunter?"

"Neither. At first glance the magicks appear dormant but perhaps not for much longer. Its hard to tell without asking him but he may have been experiencing the early effects for a while now."

"It's very late for someone to discover their magicks." Shikamaru spoke anxiously.

"So he is weak?" Tsunade asked, surely he must be weak if he magicks were only just beginning to surface.

"On the contrary, from what I can tell at this early stage he is very strong."

"How strong?"

"It's impossible to tell before they fully emerge but perhaps as strong as the Uchiha."

Tsunade cursed under her breath, her hands scrunching the map that was spread over her desk.

"He would make a valuable alley..." Shikamaru said slowly.

"Or a formidable foe," Neji finished.

"The later they encounter the decision the more difficult it will be," Tsunade said ponderously. "Most Hunters grow up with their powers developing slowly but the longer they remain dormant the more quickly they will emerge and if he is strong... the power may be too much for him."

The other three nodded slowly in agreement.

"So what do we do?" pressed Shizune.

Tsunade thought carefully for a moment, "You are sure of what you felt, Neji?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Then we must break it to him gently... He will not be able to leave the coven of course. I should meet him. Neji, where is he?"

A distant look passed over Neji's face as he checked. "With Sasuke."

"What? Why?"

"I don't know. Sai and the girls took him to the Uchiha's rooms and he's alone with Sasuke now." Neji had of course kept the boy under his radar since he first sensed him.

"Well then fetch him and the Uchiha and I'll have a talk with them both."

*

In truth he was surprised, and Sasuke was rarely surprised. He hadn't expected this guy to follow him, most people wouldn't have done so. Even if he had saved their life, most people would still have left when he told them to and wouldn't have told anyone for fear of being thought mad. Not that he encountered people very often.

The fierce young man had just opened his mouth to ask why he couldn't have his answers again but Sasuke thought it best to cut him off.

"Look..."

An indignant look spread across the mans face as Sasuke waited for his name. "Naruto, my name is Naruto! Not that anyone bothered to find out!"

"That's because your name doesn't matter," Sasuke told him bluntly. "All that matters is that you need to leave this place right now, while you still can. You need to go back to your normal life and forget everything you've seen tonight!"

Sasuke knew if he didn't get this guy to leave soon they'd all be in trouble. But then again he'd never really cared about the rules. No, it wasn't getting in trouble that bothered him but the fact that this man was unusual. Sasuke hadn't talked to another 'normal' person in a long time and it felt utterly wrong for this guy to be here poking around.

Sasuke liked his secret lifestyle. The lifestyle of a dedicated Hunter. Some Hunters found it hard to lie to their family and friends but Sasuke didn't have the luxury of worrying about that. The moment he had joined the Hunt he had felt that he was home. Now this man was here and he was a threat to the coven's secrecy.

"I can't go back to my normal life!" Naruto protested. Sasuke looked up when he heard the break in the others voice. "I have no life, not any more!"

Sasuke didn't know what to say but he was saved from having to figure it out when there was a knock at the door.

"Sasuke-san? You and your guest need to come with me. Tsunade-sama would like a word with you both."

Sasuke groaned at the sound of Neji's posh accent. All hopes of keeping the blond a secret were gone the minute Naruto had encountered Neji. Few things got past that guy.

He looked at Naruto to see a confused and, to Sasuke's pleasure, fearful look on his face. He pulled the door open to reveal the long-haired Hyuuga.

*

Naruto recognised the pale-eyed man with a shock.

What was going on? Was he in trouble? What would they do to him? 'Judging by what I've seen of these peoples violent nature it's probably going to be something really painful!'

"Come on, Dobe." Naruto felt Sasuke walk up behind him. "You missed your chance to escape. Congrats, looks like you might get some answers now," the raven hissed in his ear, his voice, so full of contempt, made Naruto shiver involuntarily.

Naruto gave the long-haired man a nervous glance before Sasuke gave him a push out of the door. They followed the man through more winding underground tunnels. Naruto couldn't help feeling very glad that he had never suffered from claustrophobia. Every tunnel they travelled along had countless identical doors at seemingly random intervals. Naruto found it utterly confusing. 'How the hell do these people find their way around here?!'

Finally they stopped at another unmarked door. Their guide knocked before entering and they were led into what looked like a office. Naruto took in the three people waiting for them.

"Good job Neji," said the woman behind the desk who Naruto assumed was 'Tsunade-sama'. "Care to explain the situation, Sasuke?"

Her voice gave no room for argument. Naruto looked nervously at Sasuke who appeared perfectly calm.

"There is little to explain, Tsunade-sama. Unfortunately this idiot witnessed me deal with a vampire. Despite my best persuasion he followed me. I thought I had lost him until Sai brought him to my door a while ago. You will have to ask Sai for more details."

"I certainly will. But for now..." she turned her piercing gaze on Naruto. "Why exactly did you follow Sasuke?"

Naruto stood up a little straighter at his chance to explain. "Because this bastard owes me an apology!"

"Oh...?" Tsunade looked curiously at Sasuke who glared in the opposite direction, unconsciously pouting.

"Yeah! He burned my house down!"

Tsunade's gaze sharpened and she fixed the Sasuke with a calculating stare. "Sasuke, is this true?"

"Hn."

"Why does this provoke a feeling of déjà vu?"

Sasuke's head snapped towards her, his glare intensifying. As they stared each other down Naruto's eyes flicked between the two trying to understand what Tsunade was referring to.

"That is no longer a problem," Sasuke said stiffly.

Naruto's mind once again tried to figure out the cryptic message but it was no use. The more time Naruto spent here the more questions arose.

*

"That maybe, Uchiha, but it's still a big mistake. I mean, burning someone's house down?" said Tsunade in a tired voice.

"It wasn't a house!" Sasuke burst out, his anger evident as he clenched his fists by his sides. "It was a cardboard box!"

"Oh..."

"It was my house!" shouted Naruto.

Tsunade looked at the boy curiously. He was homeless anyway. Following Sasuke might have been the best decision he'd ever made. He would definitely have to stay here. The Hunt could teach him their ways... but it would be difficult. There was no telling how this would end.

"Well you won't be needing it now anyway," Tsunade said firmly.

The boy turned away from the Uchiha he had been glaring down to stare fearfully at her.

Deep blue eyes seemed to quiver slightly as he spoke, "Why? What are you going to do with me?"

"Do with you...? You seem to think we are as bad as the Yakuza," Tsunade gave a bitter laugh. "What's your name?"

"Naruto, Uzumaki Naruto."

"Well Naruto, you should know, we are the good guys here. From now on you live here."

"What?!" Both Sasuke and Naruto burst out at the same time.

*

Sasuke could barely believe what he was hearing. What the hell was she thinking?!

"He's staying?" asked Sasuke quickly. "Can't we wipe his memories and send him away?"

"Oh? And how do you propose we do that?"

Sasuke ignored how Naruto was now watching him with shock and curiosity. "Kakashi could do it."

"You know very well his methods are only temporary."

"Ino then."

"True, she could turn his mind to mush. But would you really wish that fate on anyone?"

Sasuke hesitated. He had seen Ino's victims after she was finished with them. No, he wouldn't wish that on anyone, even someone as annoying as the blond. But he was still tempted to lie.

"I thought not," said Tsunade before he had a chance to reply. "Naruto, I will assign you your own rooms. Unfortunately you will not be permitted to leave the coven but hopefully you will enjoy your stay."

"I'm not allowed to leave..." Naruto said quietly.

It was the first quiet thing Sasuke had heard him say and he couldn't help looking around at the boy when he heard Naruto's sad tone. The blond was looking at the floor. He expected Naruto to argue but the next second he was looking back at Tsunade.

"Okay, I'll stay. But what am I supposed to do lying around underground?"

"Don't worry we'll keep you busy," said Tsunade.

Sasuke eyed her suspiciously. There was a glint in her eye that he didn't like. Next second he was even more wary when she sent Neji to find Sai and then asked Naruto to wait outside. The blond gave Sasuke a questioning look which went ignored as he passed the raven.

"What's going on?" asked Sasuke as soon as the door closed.

"Was the vampire you encountered after him?"

"Yes, why?"

"Figures, he probably seemed like a tasty treat."

"Care to explain?" asked Sasuke impatiently.

"He has magick in his blood," said Tsunade heavily.

"What? How do you know?"

"Few things get past Neji."

Sasuke was silent for a moment. It explained why the vampire he had chased earlier that night hadn't gone straight into hiding; she must have encountered Naruto and couldn't resist. 'Tch, vampire's are such primitive creatures... no restraint.'

"Why haven't his powers manifested?"

"Neji believes he is in the early stages," explained Shikamaru. "It's unusual but not unheard of for people to develop late."

"So that's why you're keeping him here? To keep an eye on him when they hit him for real?"

"Exactly."

"And if he can't handle it?" Sasuke asked knowing the answer.

"We'll deal with him accordingly," said Tsunade.

"Business as usual," confirmed Sasuke.

He knew how it worked. Whenever a Hunter couldn't handle their powers they were 'dealt with'. It had to be that way. A Hunter without the willpower to fight the demonic pull of their blood magick was a danger to the entire Hunt. They were Demons.

"I want you to train him," said Tsunade, taking advantage of Sasuke's silence.

"What? Why me?"

"Because I know you can handle it. You are one of the strongest hunters in our coven and... you of all people know the struggle he will face."

"We all know the struggle," replied Sasuke stubbornly.

"No. Most of us do not know it to the same extent, Sasuke. He is strong."

Sasuke looked her in the eye; he knew what that meant. He glanced to her companions, from their faces he could tell... they didn't know if Naruto could win.

He thought of Naruto. The guy was annoying that was for sure, but he was also determined, he had proved that much already tonight. Sasuke had to believe that with his strong will Naruto could fight his demonic side and win.

"He'll win."

"I really hope so," said Tsunade seriously. "There's a free set of rooms down the hall from you. Introduce him to some people. Get him some new clothes. Train him in basic combat before you bring in any powers. I'll let you break the news to him."

"Lucky me," said Sasuke sarcastically, turning to leave.

As he set his hand on the doorknob her voice stopped him again.

"Oh, and Sasuke?" he turned back in time to see her smile sadistically. "Be nice."

The Uchiha was out of her office and down the corridor so fast that Naruto, who had been leaning against the wall outside, barely noticed him pass until he was already turning the corner.

"Oi! Teme!" shouted Naruto running after him.