Family & Friends

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Chapter 3

“IBIKI!” The little blond bundle ran to the interrogator and hugged his legs grinning up at the ninja. Ibiki flushed but lifted the boy up looking at him.

“Naru-chan? What have you gotten yourself into this time?” The man actually smiled and every single person, including the Hokage dropped their jaws in shock.

“I dun know. I woked up in dis scawy place and ‘tachi was dare an he put this blankie on me an telled me to close my eyes weel weel tight and den I hada covor my ear’s an den he pudded me in his lap and den all dees people showed up and ‘tachi yelled ad that one.” Naruto pointed at Kakashi and his hands were flailing and eyes wide as he told his story. “Den we leaved da bad place and ‘tachi made fior and id snowed and den we came here an the ‘kage is sleepin so the ‘kage lady is doin his job for him an she’s nice and her lap is soff an dem mean ole peoples was here an den they leaved an now you is here!” Naruto took a deep breath and then smiled at the typically terror inducing man. “Oh and we godda visid fwom a lil man wiff wed haiors an he had soff skin and a wed pidure on him head white dare.” He poked Ibiki’s forehead. “Are we gonna play hide da Naru?”

“No Naru-chan, I’m here to talk to Itachi. Why don’t you stay with Lady Hokage while he and I have our talk.” Ibiki carried the toddler over to his Hokage and cleared his throat. “Ma’am.” He passed Naruto over with a gentle smile. Tsunade looked at him with a raised brow. Sighing he cleared his throat. “Where were times when it was in the boys best interest to take him into hiding. When that happened, the Hokage made it a game. I would take him to various safe houses until it was deemed safe to bring him back.”

“Kami, he was just a baby. How could it be unsafe for him? Unsafe enough to warrant you taking him into hiding?” Tsunade was both shocked and horrified that the small boy in her lap could have been in such danger.

“Ma’am he’s four. The attack was still fresh and heavily burdened many of the villagers. Some had trouble distinguishing the boy from the demon.” When Naruto looked down sadly Itachi sighed.

“Naruto… you are not the demon. You carry him because the fourth knew you were strong. He knew you could be trusted to protect the people from the demon.” When Naruto nodded but didn’t look up Sasuke felt his heart tug. What had Naruto been put through as such a small child. Even as a child he was a ninja, fighting to stay alive before he even reached five years of age.

“Ibiki take Itachi and be sure he is being honest. Kakashi take this and get it authenticated. You three are on stand down until further notice.” She pointed to Sasuke, Sai and Sakura. Then standing looked at the three older ninja. “I will be at the hospital with Naruto seeing if I can figure out what is going on.” Sighing she stood looking at the boy. “I’m not carrying you Gaki.” Stepping up Sasuke looked at the chibi version of his best friend. Rolling her eyes she passed the boy to the Uchiha. “Fine, but do not get in my way.” It figured even with Naruto a child the young raven wasn’t willing to leave his side. She rarely saw the two boys apart these days. Even with the ordered watch, it was obviously no hardship or punishment for the two young men to spend their every moment together.

Sasuke was hovering. He was far enough to just be out of the way of Tsunade and Shizune but close enough to keep Naruto in sight. The boy was telling Tsunade all about his stuffed frog. It was his toy and his friend and he named him Tomodachi. The boy went on and on until Kakashi returned with Itachi.

“He’s been cleared Hokage-sama. The scroll has been authenticated and Ibiki said he is cleared and will have his report to your desk soon.” When Tsunade nodded and continued her work, the two older men moved to a corner to watch.

“’Tachi, how come you was yellin at him?” Naruto looked around the blond woman to speak with the person he seemed to trust most.

Smirking Itachi answered. “This is Kakashi, he is a good friend of mine. I was yelling at him because his is in a lot of trouble right now.”

Eyes wide Naruto swallowed and whispered. “Is him gonna gedd’a spankin?”

“No. HE does not get the spankings. He gives them.” Kakashi answered his tone a little annoyed.

“No he doesn’t. Not for a while.”Itachi glared at the silver haired man.

“You have been gone for a very long time. Don’t test me Itachi.” Thought his posture was relaxed his tone spoke volumes of how much patients he had left for Itachi’s current behavior. “You had your temper tantrum. I have apologized and was accepting of the scolding. Now I’m getting irritated.”

“Oh Kami can the two of you PLEASE stop? I am emotionally scarred, my best friend has been turned into a chibi. I do not have the stomach to even consider what it is… the two of you… no I just cannot deal with that right now.” Sasuke shuddered. “Just stop. Not around me… or the Dobe. He’s too young to be that disturbed.” Naruto smiled over at Sasuke then looked down with red cheeks.

Finally Tsunade stepped back and sighed. “I have more tests to run on his blood samples but… it appears to be something he was given. I won’t know what or how to reverse it until I can separate it and work out the ingredients.” She turned looking at Itachi. “I assume you are willing to take him home with you?”When he nodded she raised a brow at Kakashi. “I’m assigning three ANBU, six if you will be going to your apartment.”

“Three will suffice.” Kakashi rubbed the back of his head flushing a little. “I think I can contr…” When Itachi scowled he corrected himself. “Uh keep everyone safe.”

“Alright then, Naruto I want you to go home with the Uchiha and tomorrow you will come back to see me ok?” Tsunade pushed the bangs off his face and smiled down at him. “We will fix this Gaki, ok?”

He was already bouncing on the exam table. “I gedda stay da nighd wif ‘tachi?” The blond was so excited he nearly jumped off the table luckily Sasuke was faster than gravity and caught him.

“Dobe, be careful.” He scowled a little. “You’ve got enough problems without giving yourself brain damage.” Sasuke slid Naruto to his back. “Hold on, we’re going home.” He nodded to Tsunade and jumped out a window, Naruto giggling as they took the roofs to the Uchiha district.

“Well, I had meant you Itachi but I am not surprised.” Shaking her head with a smile she sighed. “I’m going to owe you $1000.” Tsunade pouted. “Especially with that one back to give heirs.” Leaving the two women were arguing about something all the way down the hall.

When Itachi looked questioningly at Kakashi the copy nin shook his head and lead them to follow Sasuke and Naruto. Explaining along the way about the boys original rivalry, fight at the valley of the end, training and chase. “Ever since Naruto drug his sorry ass back they have been inseparable. Naruto slept at the prison. When Sasuke was freed and returned to duty it was only under the circumstanced that he was Naruto’s problem. For five years Sasuke is not allowed outside the Uchiha district without Naruto. That includes missions.” Landing at the gates Kakashi continued to a renovated home far from the mansion. “Naruto had the place cleaned, painted, and the landscaping cleaned up. He did most of the work himself until the Rookie realized what he was doing and they worked together to have it done before Sasuke was released. When Sasuke learned of the stipulation he refused to live anywhere but here and Naruto agreed. Sasuke chose this home. Together they updated and completely changed the interior.”

Knocking twice Kakashi let himself in. “Smells nice.” He called moving to the kitchen. Where Naruto sat in one of the dark blue Uchiha shirts from Sasuke’s past. It was long and came past his knees. “Well you finally got him in the family crest I see.”

Sasuke gave a glare to his team captain before simply responding, “Hn.” He gave Naruto’s hand a light pat. “That’s hot Dobe.” Then handed him a carrot from the bowl of veggies he slid into the pan he’d pulled the cooked chicken from. He divided it amongst four bowls already containing white rice. When the vegetables were done steaming he put those in as well. Three bowls were then topped with a savory miso sauce and then he pulled honey down and drizzled it over the smaller bowl very lightly before adding the miso sauce giving it just a hint of sweetness. Turning, he waited until Naruto clambered onto his back and then carried his own dinner and the smaller portion to the outdoor patio with its low table. Kneeling he placed their bowls down and settled Naruto on two pillows instead of one. He’d already set green tea out to steep and a cup to cool for Naruto.

“Dinner and try not to make a mess or you are cleaning it up.” Sasuke passed the blond chopsticks and then poured his own tea before he began to eat. Grinning Naruto started eating talking the entire time about nothing in general.

Itachi watched the entire interaction with confusion he moved to get the two bowls for he and Kakashi then nodded to the two boys. “Should we join them? I think Sasuke is still very angry with me. He seems to have warmed to Naruto though.”

“Sasuke and Naruto are very close. I’m fairly sure he has developed… or as always had feelings for Naruto. I’m never quite sure. Some days I think its desperately obvious what they feel for one another and other’s I worry about letting them come home with sharp objects in their possession.” Kakashi took his bowl from Itachi. “They work together like no other ninja I know. We have plenty who work together, work very well together but Sasuke and Naruto are poetry in motion. No words have to pass between them for each of them to know what the other is thinking. Even early on it was that way. Our first mission away they surprised Sakura and I with a brilliant strategy.”

“Are they… safe?” He whispered worriedly. The dark haired man watched his brother and the tiny child interacting.

“No. It’s Naruto and Sasuke. I think they are trouble magnets. But I haven’t met the team yet who could defeat them. The only way to come close would be to separate them… and as I said they communicate without speaking. Usually they get surrounded and go back to back when they do its incredible to watch. When they get angry it can get ugly. Naruto has perfected variations on rasengan and Sasuke is capable of full channeling the chidori out to multiple targets and down his sword. They have mastered two elements each. Sasuke’s lightening and fire to Naruto’s wind and water. Even their elemental powers complement one another. Being hit with a flaming rasengan or stepping into a pool of chidori is well I have yet to see any one survive.” When Itachi looked out at the two boys in shock he swallowed.

“They’re so young.” He shook his head. “I understand Naruto because of having Kyuubi but Sasuke always struggled.”

“Well you gave him something to work for. To surpass you, but honestly you weren’t the only Uchiha prodigy. Once he was given the chance to excel on his own terms it became devastatingly obvious how gifted he was. Due to the lack of missions and the one on one training from the Sannin my genin have become quite the force to be reckoned with. Sakura has the chakra control and medical abilities that have been cultivated and perfected under Lady Tsunade herself. Jiraiya took Naruto under his wing and for two years they had one on one training. He taught Naruto rasengan at thirteen. Sasuke had no missions and his sensei had no real distractions. They worked constantly on his use and mastery over the curse seal and its gifts as well as his natural talents. Everyone tells how Naruto finally knocked Sasuke back and brought him home. No one talks about the fact that Naruto was in a coma from the injuries he sustained in the fight and then refusing to stop until he passed the gates with Sasuke. There was a fear that Naruto had spent years training and chasing Sasuke only to die fulfilling his promise to bring the little Bastard home.”

“They’ve spent their formative years trying to best one another only to become perfectly in sync?” He chuckled finishing off his dinner and then Itachi looked at Kakashi. “I love you, Kakashi.”

Setting his bowl down Kakashi moved around the counter lightening quick and kissed Itachi hard. “I love you. I have missed you.”

“I’m angry at you. How could you let him hurt that way?” He pressed his face into the taller man’s vest. “Why didn’t you tell him?”

“The council were in charge between Hokage’s and they believed you could no longer be trusted after your attempts to come after Naruto. I tried to convince them that if you’d wanted Naruto you had plenty of opportunity to get him but they wouldn’t listen to me. I was ordered not to tell Sasuke anything. Despite your continued efforts to get us reliable information about the Akatsuki movements and plans they believed you may have gone traitor.” Kakashi held Itachi close to him sighing. “I am sorry Itachi. I did try. Iruka took over care of Naruto and I did my best with Sasuke but I was limited in what I could do and say with him. I was… I think back on it now, kept deliberately bussy.”

The pad of tiny feet ran into the house and crashed into Itachi’s legs. “Wanna see my woom? S’ske says its all mine! I gots lodda tings an an a big bed an suff I nevor even seed befor!” His eyes twinkled excitedly.

“Dobe, I said it was bed time.” Sasuke brought the dishes in scowling at the blond boy.

“Budd Saaaske, I wanna show ‘tachi my woom.” He stuck his lower lip out and batted water blue eyes up at the young Uchiha. “Pwwweease…”

“No, we have a long day tomorrow getting you back to your usual irritating self. Beside’s you’ve been yawning for the last half hour and its at least an hour past when the grown you would have sacked out in front of the TV.” Rinsing the dishes to be washed the next day, Sasuke turned picked up the boy and walked him back to the bedroom. “Can you sleep alone?” He whispered to the boy who was pouting and sucking his thumb again. Naruto looked at the raven haired boy sideways and asked around his thumb.

“Can I sweep wit you?” Sasuke sighed but nodded passing Naruto’s room and moving on to his own. He called back to Kakashi, not even acknowledging his brother.

“You know where the guest room is Kakashi. Lock up before you go to bed and set the traps.” Then he shut his bedroom door.


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As you can see I've found a title. I hope you enjoyed the latest chapter this is heading toward smut... I promise. I'm trying to lay some ground work and back story first. Let me know what you thing please remember to FEEDBACK!