Pretty Pets

Sasuke dragged himself upright in his bed with a groan rubbing at his eyes and stretching out his stiff muscles.
He knew now without a doubt that the demon spent most of his time every single night watching over him as he slept.
As he really thought about it, he found that he didn’t care that Naruto saw him in his weakest moments.
In fact it made him happy that he didn’t have as many flashback nightmares knowing Naruto was watching over him.

Sasuke 'I feel safe knowing he's here with me.'

Naruto slipped soundlessly into the room carrying a breakfast tray.
He smiled at Sasuke when he seen that he was already sitting up and very much awake.
Sasuke gratefully took the tray from the blonde listening.

Naruto "Morning. Kakashi-sensei stopped by earlier and left off that mission scroll for you. And he said that before we meet up with him at the front gates to leave, that the hokage wants to see you. He wants you to bring me with you this time too..."

The raven haired males head jerked up from his food to look at the blonde in surprise frowning.

Sasuke "Why? You haven’t done anything wrong that I know of."

Naruto sat down slump shouldered on the window sill with a sigh and shrug.

Naruto "My breathing alone is wrong to most people Sasuke. Anyhow I'll go get your clothes, supplies, and pack ready. Eat and shower. I'll be waiting at this districts front gate for you."

The blonde quickly stood up and left the room before he could say anything about his hateful comment towards himself. Sasuke finished his meal and quickly washed the tray off in the kitchen sink.
Then hurried with his shower, got dressed, and ran to meet with his blonde fox.
As he got closer to the exit of the Uchiha district he could make out the blonde standing over and talking to someone. But upon drawing closer he saw that it was his teacher and that they were standing incredibly close.
And that Naruto was even holding the silver haired mans face gently between his hands.
Sasuke picked up his speed and jumped off the compound wall landing quietly beside them with a questioning glare.

Sasuke's words were harsh when he finally spoke. "Naruto. What are you two doing exactly?"

Naruto eyed him for a second blankly before turning his attention back to Kakashi's very exposed face and mismatched eyes.

Kakashi smiled at him. "I was wondering when you'd show up. Give us a second more okay? He's keeping a promise he made me."

Sasuke "Promise?"

Kakashi "It's nothing bad Sasuke. He's just healing my eye like he did both of yours, that's all."

Sasuke "Oh..."

Naruto sighed. "It'll take more. But I don't want to make you puke. Too much at once could hurt you more then help."

Kakashi "Eh I can take a bit more I think."

Naruto nodded before biting the blood out of his fingers and shoving them into Kakashi's mouth.

Naruto "Take as much as you can stomach."

Kakashi looked green but did as he was told. Sasuke stared in fascination. Watching as his teacher's sharingan eye shifted and whirled. The red becoming much more vibrant and pronounced. Until it was completely perfect.
Naruto groaned and pushed the silver haired man away before shoving his still bleeding fingers into his own mouth.
With his other hand he tilted Kakashi's head back studying his lone sharingan eye again intently nodding.

Naruto "How's it feel now? Any pull on your chakra?"

Kakashi grinned and shook his head. "None. Thanks Naruto. Though I do have a stomach ache now and feel kinda weird..."

Naruto laughed "You're welcome. And keep in mind that you just downed about a pint or so of pure demon blood. Sasuke's different from you and other people. So it didn’t really even faze him. Truthfully it's a wonder that you can even stay upright at the moment old man."

Kakashi "He's special though. And old man? What a mean thing to call me."

Naruto grinned. "Go take a nap grampa."

Sasuke smirked. "We'll come get you after seeing the hokage."

Kakashi "So mean to me. He's picking up your habits Sasuke! Later!"

Sasuke remained silent as they set off towards the tower in step together.

Naruto "He was killing himself a little at a time each time he used that eye. He loves you like family. And he's been kind to me, so I couldn’t let that happen to him when I could fix it..."

Sasuke stared wide eyed at the semi moody blonde trying to get his mind around his words. "It's killing him..."

Naruto grinned at him "Was. It's fine now. You won't ever be alone again if it's up to me Sasuke-teme."

Sasuke scowled at the nickname but inwardly sighed in relief.

Sasuke "You're annoying sometimes, but thanks for helping Kakashi-sensei."

Naruto's grin faded but a determined gleam overtook his azure eyes.

Naruto "I protect those precious to me Sasuke, believe it."

Sasuke couldn’t fight the warm tingle that shot up his spine at the blonde’s softly spoken declaration.

Naruto suddenly seemed nervous and began poking his index fingers together.

Sasuke eyed him slightly concerned. "What's wrong now dobe?"

Naruto growled at the nick name but continued to fidget with his hands.

Sasuke sighed in annoyance. "Spit it out already. What's bothering you?"

Naruto "Do you think that the hokage is going to banish or kill me?"

Sasuke laughed. "Doubtful. I should think everyone here knows by now that you're mine. And that if you go, and then I do too."

Naruto stopped mid step in shock and stared at the raven haired male for his honest admission.

Sasuke blushed turning his gaze back ahead of them and kept walking before speaking over his shoulder. "It'll be fine. You're a good person regardless of what you are. The hokage likes people with the right hearts and minds. People just like you Naruto."

Naruto's blush matched the raven haired males perfectly from the softly spoken words of praise as he ran to catch up. With a shy and grateful smile he fell back into step by Sasuke's side.

Sasuke smirked. "Face it. You're stuck with me, come what may."

Naruto grinned. "Yeah. No complaints here come what may."


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The third hokage of fire country frowned looking over yet another cleared mission report from team seven.
Shaking his head he sighed before dropping the scroll back onto his desk then slumping over it.
Sarutobi "I'm getting to old for this shit."

A sudden knock broke him from his inner thoughts but he didn’t bother to sit up.

Sarutobi "Enter."

Sasuke walked in with a quiet Naruto following in his shadow with wide scared azure eyes.
The old man couldn’t mask the shock on his face upon seeing the demon boy’s face.
Forcing his old body to move he stood from his seat and made his way to the small blonde’s side.

Sarutobi "My god... You look just like him..."

Naruto edged his way even closer to Sasuke eyeing the old man warily.

Sasuke "Who's he look like hokage-sama?"

Sarutobi "Look out the window young one at the mountain. Or at the picture on the wall beside you..."

Sasuke stared blankly at the mountain but froze eyeing the fourth hokage's photo on the wall.
A sudden sick twisting feeling sinking in his stomach with his breakfast.

Sarutobi "I'd had others report to me of the resemblance, but I didn’t believe them until now."

Sasuke swallowed hard avoiding the blondes questioning eyes.

Sasuke "I... See..."

The old man moved closer to the blonde again and smiling took his face between his age weathered hands gently.

Sarutobi "We thought you were dead when we couldn’t find you after that night little one."

Naruto backed away from the old mans grasp wide eyed to stand behind the silent raven haired Uchiha prodigy.

Sarutobi sighed hanging his head. "I take it by this behavior that he's had a cruel life until recently then?"

Sasuke "He doesn’t talk about it. And I'm not one to force others to relive nightmares when I have so many of my own."

Sarutobi "Understandable. Perhaps someday he'll tell us... Where exactly did you find him?"

Sasuke "Some creepy ass pasty guy that spoke with a lisp sold him to me. Why?"

Sarutobi "I feared as much. Listen Sasuke. You may have gotten him as a pet or slave tool but..."

Sasuke "Turns out that he's village royalty? And that voids any and all claims or contracts that I have with or on him?"

Sarutobi "I see that you understand the situation exactly then. Naruto is the fourth hokages son. And the human jailer for the nine tailed demon fox, Kyuubi. Or was anyhow. Orochiamaru, or as you called him the creepy ass guy with a lisp. Stole him as a baby and apparently experimented on him until he managed to merge him with the fox demon. Fusing them together made Naruto into a demon instead of merely a demon vessel. Sasuke Uchiha I'd like you to surrender your claims on him as of today. I'll need to assign him a guardian and several teachers. Hopefully I can repair the damage to his seal and reverse-"

Sasuke "No! Hokage-sama... I won't give him up, I need him. His abilities are why I have him to begin with! I won't let you torture him trying to revert him back to "normal." I LIKE him the way he is! And I may use him as a tool, that's true. But he's become a meaningful person in my life."

Naruto became angry at being spoken of as if he wasn’t even present in the room.
And finally lost his temper at the mention of being separated from Sasuke.
His body shifted to its demon form without his even seeming to notice.
His long tails swishing violently at his heels as he stepped off behind the angry now red eyed Uchiha.

Naruto "Look here old man! I'm not going anywhere or doing anything unless it's with this bastard or he says to! And absorb? Kyuubi? Seal? WHAT IN THE SEVEN LAYERS OF HELL ARE YOU ON ABOUT YOU SENILE OLD GOAT?!"

Sarutobi chuckled surprising both of the young men after such a loud and intimidating outburst from both of them.
And it became full out laughter as the room was filled instantly by anbu, jounins, and more then a few chuunin.
They had all sensed the massive demonic presence flare from the little blonde's body in his rage.

Sarutobi "Ah its fine everyone! No worries here go back to your posts and I'll explain everything later I promise."

The uneasy Nins all filed out as silently as they had entered. Some openly giving the blonde demon threatening glares.
Naruto glared right back at them baring his fanged teeth at the ones who had the nerve to look cross at Sasuke.

Sarutobi grinned. "Naruto you really are his child. Fine I'll permit you to stay with the Uchiha for now. But you will report here for special training when I say to from now on. Kakashi will be your teacher for now and you will become a full active member of team seven. But first I want you to be tested and then placed as an actual shinobi of this village. Not as an aide like a summon, Nin dog, or tool to anyone other then yourself understood?"

Sasuke nodded accepting of the old mans decision before turning around to speak to the slightly shorter blonde.
Only to find him missing and all the way across the room.
He was eyeing the photo of his father with a blank expression of his whiskered face.
A aura of defeat around him as his tails hung limp at his heels and his ears sagged down.

Sarutobi walked to the blonde’s side putting his unlit pipe in his mouth and a comforting hand on the boys shoulder. He didn’t have to wait long for the young fox demon to speak.

Naruto "What kind of man was he gramps?"

Sarutobi smiled but there was bitter sadness in his eyes as he spoke eyeing what his successor's only child had become.

Sarutobi "He loved life and the village, and had a way of drawing people to him. He never gave up or broke his promises. And was probably the most loyal and determined man that I've ever met or known. Everyone loved, respected, and admired him here and in the other nations as well. He died protecting the people here..."

Naruto "How?"

Sarutobi "That's a long story for another time little ones. And I have a lot to explain to you both it would seem. But for now you and your team mate there have a mission to leave for. I'll let you finish this one then start your training. I'll have your paperwork drawn up and processed while you're gone. And you're funds and willed items made available to you. Anyhow even though Kakashi is always late, I'd imagine he's been waiting awhile for the two of you."

Sasuke had been fully attentive to the old mans words and wanted to know more as well.
He eyed the clock on the wall behind him and groaned, the old man was right they were late.

Naruto "Funds? Willed items? Huh?"

Sasuke "Money and stuff dobe. Its okay I'll help you line it all out when we get back. Thank you for letting us stay together hokage-sama."

Naruto growled at the raven haired male for the nickname but quickly turned to the old man copying Sasuke and bowing. Then he quickly jumped out of the open window behind the old man on raven haired males heels effortlessly.

Sarutobi watched them blur off towards the gates over the rooftops and smiled.

Sarutobi "He's a good boy at heart and in soul regardless of what you've tried to turn him into Orochiamaru."

He made his way back to his desk and began to file paperwork as the sun fully rose up into the morning sky.

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Sorry for the long update wait. I just recently moved and with the holidays and stuff things have been hectic to say the least. I'll try to post more a.s.a.p promise! As always reviews and feedback is much loved XD Also if you like this story check out some of my others sometime.
Thanks to Risika7 for Beta reading over this 'HEART'