Two Different Worlds

Author’s Note: I am aware that some wanted to see the original Naruto too so I did a small part of him in this chapter, but I’ve got so many things in mind for the alternate ones right now, so they’ll be my top priority as of the moment. Please bear with it just for a little while longer. Anyway here’s the next chapter, I hope you guys enjoy this. AND OF COURSE, this is still UN-BETAd, I'm so unlucky in that department ^^;

Summary: Blue eyes met blue. The other to protect his village, the other to protect his most precious person. Things are going to get complicated. ItaNaru, slight one-sided? SasuNaru in the future. Please read and review.

Disclaimer: Me not own Naruto. Masashi Kishimoto-sensei does… the end!

Chapter 7: Closer

“Don’t leave me!” he could hear himself scream, everything around him was a mass of blur, his hands desperately reaching out, he could taste the tears that flowed freely down his face.

The figure turned, facing him crouching low, face hidden under a mass of black mane., Desperately wiping off the tears away, the young boy was hoping against hope that the man in front of him would take him along, anywhere, he didn’t care as long as he was with him. The only one that showed affection and love, despite all the hatred everyone sent his direction he could still live on, as long as he was there, comforting him, visiting him at night in his lonely apartment, saying soothing words to help ease the pain, words that he knew were only meant for him.

“Naruto.” The figure spoke. “No matter how hard life may get, smile! Always smile, Naruto.”

Naruto looked up and what he saw almost made his heart stop. He stood there unblinking.

“Why?...”

He couldn’t see his face.

Strong wind blew all around making the blonde kid shut his eyes tight, but when he opened them again, the man in front of him was gone. Hands all around him suddenly appeared, grabbing his arms, his legs, his body, wanting to take him away, Naruto struggled for escape but to no avail, those hands kept on grabbing for more. A loud cry was ripped out of him. “Oniichannn!”

Naruto woke up with a start, eyes wide from shock, beads of sweat trickling down his brow, he was breathing hard. Somehow that dream had seemed so real. Naruto focused on his breathing, trying to get himself to relax. The blue-eyed blonde buried his face in his palms, he had been having the exact same dream for the past two weeks now. “Dammit, it's happening again."

He only wanted to take a nap, a break from all the class D missions the old hag was bombarding him, he didn’t intend to have such dreams again, because even if it only was a dream it somehow felt…oddly familiar, making him more uncomfortable and giving him that unsettling feeling.

Looking outside Naruto was immediately mesmerized by the glow the moon was emitting that night. "Red!" he softly spoke, somehow it felt odd, the moon was actually calming him down, a soft smile grazed his lips.

Getting out of bed and lazily rubbing the sleepiness off his eyes, the young blonde almost tripped when he heard a loud knock on his window pane. “Waaa Iruka-sensei don’t scare me like that.”

“Konbanwa, Naruto.” his teacher cheerfully greeted. “Want to go for some ramen? My treat.”

At the sound of his favorite food, Naruto’s stomach grumbled loudly. “Waaii Iruka-sensei! Arigatou!” he practically bounced and glomped his teacher once he was outside.

“Na-na-naruto careful…We we’re going to.” Iruka exclaimed in alarm but before he was able to finish his sentence, the world turned upside down and before he knew it, he was massaging his sore bottom. “Itai!” he groaned. “NARUTO be careful next time will you?”

Recovering from the fall, Naruto cheekily grinned. “Tehehehe, gomen nasai Iruka-sensei.” they stared at each other, both covered in dirt, it only took a second before the two started laughing, and the passersby were smiling as they watched the two. They really looked like father and son.

Calming himself down, Iruka’s expression turned solemn. “Ne Naruto, you still having those dreams?” the alarm in Iruka’s voice was clearly visible.

Naruto shrugged. “Yeah, in fact I dreamt about it again earlier…before you appeared sensei.” the blue eyed blond slowly heaved himself up dusting the dirt of his clothes and hair and face, same went for Iruka. “I really am starting to worry about these dreams, I haven’t had any good night’s sleep in days.”

Iruka frowned. ‘The memory seal must be weakening.’

“Oh but never mind that, I’m hungry.” Naruto giddily stated. “I want my ramen sensei.”

The Academy teacher playfully ruffled the blonde’s hair. “Hai hai, come on let’s go.”

On the way to Ichiraku ramen, Naruto unintentionally turned his gaze towards the hospital’s direction, he stopped. He had that spaced out look marring his features, eyes almost looking haunted. “Itachi…Uchiha.” he unconsciously voiced out.

Iruka’s jaw tightened, placing his hand on the shorter boy’s shoulder he shook him lightly. “Hey, you alright?”

Naruto blinked, seemingly coming back to reality, massaging his head he answered. “Ugh hai, gomen sensei! I just kind of, space out a lot lately.”

“Daijobou.” he smiled. ‘This is bad!’ he thought. He had to tell the Hokage.

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Kisame sat comfortably on the couch, eyes darting towards his companion’s direction every once in a while. He still couldn’t believe the things Itachi had told him about the Jinchuuruki a while back when they were on a mission to capture him, he had been nagging Itachi for his reasons why he kept on delaying and avoiding this mission and what did he got as a response? Now, he didn’t see that one coming.

Thinking that the brunette actually was able to care for someone in the past seems totally unheard of. Of course he knew that every individual from the organization was different in their own ways, but out of all the members it was Itachi that intrigued him the most, actually as he thought about it right now, it never crossed his mind that he and the Uchiha prodigy would get along just fine.

He might have not appeared like it but deep inside he feared him, many times in the past when they were being paired up on missions he had fully believed that the Mangekyou User wasn’t capable of feeling anything, he was like an empty shell both on the inside and the outside, a creature void of any emotion. Then that time came that they were given the task to capture the fox-demon container that he saw the slight changes in his partner’s movement.

“To think that the nine-tailed demon fox is within this boy.” he had heard him state at the hotel the brat and that frog-sannin had checked in, he still didn’t understand how much that kid meant to Itachi at that time, but he didn’t missed the way Itachi’s voice dropped. He almost sounded…sad, almost. And it surely wasn’t the brunette’s style to abandon a mission, not without a fight, and by fight he meant blood…a lot of blood. So it truly was a surprise for the shark-like nin when Itachi called it off and left the village. Poor Samehada wasn’t able to cut a single limb off the Konoha nins.

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Onnichan, you're never going to leave me right?"

Itachi looked down at his young companion, they were on the rooftop of the young blonde's apartment, closing his eyes the brunette softly spoke. "Naruto..." he felt his voice break. "I..I can't stay forever..."

Innocent wide blue eyes stared up at him tears welling up. "But...why? You're the only one I have Ita-nii..." his hold on the older Uchiha tightened, burying his head on the other's chest. "I don't want to be alone anymore."

"I don't want to either..."

"Then why can't you stay with me forever?" Naruto asked voice pleading.

"I can't! You won't understand it...you're still too young."

"But..." the young blonde was about to argue more when he felt himself being pressed closer towards the other's embrace. "If ever you miss me, just look at moon Naruto because I'll be watching the same thing, thinking about you."

Gently extracting himself from the hug, Naruto gazed at the moon a smile forming on his lips. "Oniichan is the red moon ne?" he stated and gazed back at the other's eyes. "Cause oniichan's eyes are red."

Itachi smiled, he only smiles around the blonde and he's keeping it that way.

Moments later a scream was heard. The Uchiha District has been attacked.

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“I wonder what’s taking the brat so long.” Kisame wanted to slap himself. “And since when did I start caring?” The mist-nin shrugged, getting up from the couch, he pulled up a chair and approached his partner by the window who was gazing outside, eyes glued to the skies. “Wow man, the moon’s really red tonight huh?”

“Hn.” was Itachi’s only reply, damn Kisame had to cut his trail of thoughts.

Clasping his hands behind his head, Kisame heaved out a deep sigh. “Hey Itachi I was just thinking…”

The Uchiha turned his eyes on his partner. “Nani?”

“Since I’m quite sure now that you’re never going to hand over Naruto to Sir Leader, got any plans?” the shark-like nin asked, Itachi stared back unblinking, a shudder ran down Kisame’s spine. “Geez those eyes still creep me out.”

Red eyes fluttered close. “I will protect only Naruto, if I have to kill that man I’ll do it without hesitation.”

Kisame wasn’t stupid, he knew what Itachi meant. “But we’re S-class criminals, that’s the only place where we belong.” suddenly a smiling face of Naruto appeared in his mind. “Okay, I didn’t just think about that brat.”

Itachi smirked (which was still unnoticed behind the neckline of the cloak) with his partner’s behavior. Even Kisame having been with Naruto, even if that Naruto was from another reality, still had that effect on the mist-nin. It was something Naruto possessed that had captivated the Uchiha, the blonde was a walking sunlight.

“I am not aware of exactly to what extent his abilities are…but that’s something for me to find out.” Itachi paused seemingly remembering something. “To know what I am capable of doing.”

Kisame was getting uncomfortable, he did just thought minutes ago that the Uchiha actually had a heart, he had to admit, he wasn’t so sure of that right now. ‘Okay, let’s change the topic shall we?’

“So umm, are we going to tell the kid, that we are not exactly who he thinks we are?”

“I doubt he will believe us.”

‘Heh, you’re not fooling me! You’re just avoiding this ‘cause you’re worried how he’ll react.’ “But won’t it be a lot better if he heard it directly from us? Well I know the idea still sounds stupid, both you and I are aware this isn’t a genjutsu either, and I could only imagine how the kid’s going to be able to digest everything, but I think he has the right to know.”

“We’ll tell him when the right time comes Kisame.” Itachi stated getting up from his chair and proceeded to the bathroom. “Conversation done! I’m taking a shower.”

Kisame hauled himself up from his seated position, gripped his sword on his back and smirked. “Help yourself man, I think I’m going to take Same-chan for a little night adventure anyway.”

Seriously, Kisame was in love with that sword of his. “Oh and I think I’ll go look for the brat, he’s taking really long…don’t you think?”

Itachi nodded looking forlorn. “Yeah he is.”

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“Konbanwa.” Naruto cheerfully greeted the middle aged woman, who was slumped on the small bed on the corner of the room, she looked real pale and sickly. The blonde’s expression quickly saddened with the sight.

Katsumaru’s mother stared at the young man in front of him, fear visible in her eyes, she wasn’t able to pay her taxes, if this was one of the Ashiya Clan’s men, her body trembled from immense fear, and her eyes shut tightly avoiding the man’s gaze. “Oh God, No! Please, please have mercy, I promise to pay the taxes once I get well.”

“Okaachan!” her eyes snapped back open and she immediately found herself trapped in her son’s embrace.

“Ka-Katsumaru?”

The green-eyed boy gently loosened his embrace on her mother, gazing into her eyes he sweetly smiled. “Don’t worry mother, it’s alright, Naru-nii is not going to hurt us.”

Her gaze met Naruto’s, she was instantly mesmerized with the young boy’s ocean blue orbs, he was looking at her with a pained expression, biting his lip as he watched the exchange of warmth between mother and son, something that he had secretly longed for, for a long time.

Extracting himself from the hug, Katsumaru went by the door where Naruto stood and took his hand, taking him to where his mother rested. The blonde softly smiled at the woman, crouching low. “Ehehehe, gomen nasai! I think I might have scared you…”

“Ayumi.” she weakly supplied.

“Ah Ayumi-san.” Naruto continued. “My name’s Uzumaki Naruto by the way.” Turning his head towards Katsumaru he spoke. “Ne Katsu-chan, I bet you guys are really hungry now! You guys have a nice meal ne?”

Katsumaru’s smile widened. “Hai.” facing his mother he cheekily grinned. “Okaachan you should eat a lot to be able to recover your strength ne?” Ayumi blinked at them both.

“Anou…the owner of one of the shops in town was kind enough to give this as a small thank you gift.” Naruto explained, showing the woman the bag of food in his hands. “I kind of took care of something, and I saw Katsumaru and decided he needed this more than I do.”

Katsumaru looked weirdly at Naruto. “Naru-nii?”

“We’ll talk about this later.” he softly whispered into the boy’s ear.

“Ugh, hai!” Katsumaru cheerfully responded.

Naruto couldn’t feel the chakra signature any longer, but he knew somehow the guy that was following him earlier was still outside. He couldn’t risk leaving Katsumaru and his mother right now.

“Come on let’s set the plates.” Naruto smiled, and turned his gaze back to Katsumaru’s mother. “Just a little longer ne, Ayumi-san.” Ayumi gently nodded. “Oh and yeah before I forgot…” Naruto dug onto his cloak’s pocket and picked the wallet he had gotten earlier that night.

Hearing the little boy say something about his mother being sick, Naruto had that idea, since those goons didn’t do anything else than act all supreme in the village, and the money they were getting…they were from the townspeople themselves anyway, so it was just the right thing to do. Besides Ayumi-san needed to buy medicine or she’ll never get well.

Naruto frowned. He had to talk with Itachi about those people, they weren’t on an official mission anyway so he’s free to do whatever he wanted. They’ll let those bastards know who the boss is.

Taking out the wallet, Naruto handed it to Katsu’s mother, gently squeezing her hand, and looking at her straight in the eye. “Get well Ayumi-san, Katsumaru loves you so much, so! Get well for him ne?”

Ayumi stared at the wallet in her palm. “Na-Naruto-san, I don’t know what to say.” her tears were welling up as she looked back at the blonde. “What could I ever do to repay you?”

Naruto cheekily grinned. “Well actually you can do something for me.” The blonde shifted his gaze down on the floor. “Ayumi-san, can…can I hug you?”

She gazed at Naruto, she could tell the boy was serious with his tone alone. 'But why would he?' Ayumi's eyes widened as realization hit her. 'Does that mean...'

A sad smile grazed her lips, closing her eyes, Ayumi slowly circled her arms around Naruto’s neck, tears threatening to fall, he could feel the blonde tense a bit. “Is it possible that, you never knew the feeling of a mother's hug…Naruto-san?”

Naruto gently nodded in response, loose bangs covering his pair of lonely ocean blue eyes, he felt like crying. The hug was soft and gentle, and warm. He had always wondered how it would feel, Naruto had imagined it for many times when he was left to think alone with himself, and what he was feeling right now couldn’t even compare to what he thought it would feel. “Arigatou Ayumi-san.”

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Minutes passed. Sai waited patiently outside on one of the trees, with his charka signature securely hidden. Naruto surely was taking too damn long inside.

He sighed. “Well, it wouldn’t hurt to wait for a little longer.” he cursed. “Maybe he was able to detect my charka signature from earlier.”

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Leaping from one tree to another, Kisame was hoping he could run into one of those men from town earlier, but he guessed, that time was fucking with him right now. He needed to cut something, someone. He just needed it.

Feeling Naruto’s nearing chakra signature, Kisame quickened his pace more, but just as he was approaching a small house outside the village. On one of the trees, something caught his eye. The shark-like nin grinned. “Looks like I’d be able to have fun after all.”

Making sure that his chakra was well hidden, Kisame carefully snuck up behind the stranger and was about slice him when the figure leapt to another tree. Kisame smirked.

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Quickly noticing the reflection of the shadow upon the tree that surely didn’t belong to him, Sai hurriedly made a leap for it, the shark-like nin’s sword only missing him by a hair’s breath. Jumping onto another tree, the artist ninja landed on all fours gasping. ‘What was that just now?’ it felt like his chakra got ripped out of him.

Kisame’s grin grew wider seeing the stranger’s expression. God he loved it. “If you’re wondering what just happened…” Sai looked up at the owner of the voice and was met face to face with the shark-like nin he had seen earlier at the ramen stand. “…meet Samehada! Gorgeous isn’t she?” Kisame continued, obviously enjoying how things had turned out.

“You…” Sai gasped out as his opponent’s sword slashed against him again barely missing his arm. “You’re the one Naruto-kun was with inside town, along with the Uchiha prodigy.”

The shark-like nin scowled. “So you’re an acquaintance with the brat?” he asked. ‘I wonder if he’s also from another reality. I surely haven’t seen this face before.’

“What did you guys do to him? He’s completely different from the Naruto I knew.”

‘Woops, nah! He’s from this place.’

Kisame smirked and took another slash, this time though, the shark-like nin was able to cut through something…Sai’s back pack that is. Kisame rolled eyes, he was about to throw the offending material off when something shiny caught his attention. Delving into the back pack’s pocket, and picking out the forehead protector, Kisame was getting more and more amused. “Oh, so you’re a Konoha-nin eh?”

Sai gulped. ‘Shoot, I’m busted.’ even if his face didn’t show much of the emotions he was actually feeling right now, the artist ninja knew he was screwed, and he feared it.

“Well as much as I’d like to cut you from limb to limb, I think I’ll pass.” Kisame grumbled more incoherent words under his breath concerning troublesome brats and and homicidal maniacs.

Sai stared at Kisame refusing to believe what sharky had just said.

The shark-like nin leapt and landed on the ground, gazing back at the Konoha nin he gave him a smug grin. “I said I’m letting you go for now, you should be happy in the least.”

He was confused. “But, why?”

“Simple, if you were a real loyal Konoha ninja, you would have gotten back to your village and reported the things you saw in here, but you didn’t. And I know you aren’t that stupid to try confronting all three Akatsuki members brat.”

““I...I still don’t understand.”

“I’ve got my reasons…now scoot and oh! It would be a lot better if you didn’t tell anyone of what you saw.”

What exactly was going on? He had no idea! Sai looked at him one last time before disappearing into the darkness of the forest, well at least he was alive. He’ll rack his brains out later.

Kisame was about to knock on the door of the small house when the door instantly swung open.

“Kisa-niichan!” Naruto immediately had the shark-like nin pinned on the floor, Kisame blinked totally taken by surprise. “You have no idea how much I’m happy to see you.”

“Is it just me? Or are you like three times hyper than your usual self?” Naruto chuckled. “Oh and please get off me, you’re too heavy for your own good. Itachi’s worrying like a mother hen too, what took you so long?”

Standing up, Naruto did as he was told to. “Tehehehe, gomen gomen! I noticed an unfamiliar chakra signature earlier, and I couldn’t really leave Ayumi-san and Katsu-chan plus Ayumi-san is really sick so I had to stay in for a little more.

Kisame rolled his eyes. “Yeah yeah, even if I don’t quite get it I’ll just nod in agreement. Anyway you don’t have to worry about that guy, I took care of him already. We have to go back to the inn now, Itachi might not appear like it but I know he was worried.”

Naruto’s mentally slapped himself. “Ahhh I promised It-chan I’d be back as soon as possible.”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

Going back inside the kitchen, Naruto bid his farewell to Katsumaru and his mother, the green-eyed boy would have wanted for his Naru-niichan to stay a little while longer, but remembering that woman (he was referring to Itachi) back in the restaurant, he cheekily grinned. He knew that person was special to Naruto.

“See ya next time ne? Katsu-chan, Ayumi-san”

“Take care of yourself ne, Naruto-kun?”

“Hai.” his smile was reaching up to his ears.

“Thank you for everything, Naru-niichan.” The blonde ruffled the green-eyed boy’s hair.

“Anytime.”

With those said, Katsumaru and his mom showed him to the door but was a little bit taken aback when they saw the shark-like features of Kisame. Ayumi-san almost screamed “Shark” actually. Naruto had been laughing so hard his stomach almost hurt. The blonde waved one last time and they both left.

Minutes after their departure, a number of people appeared in front of the small house, they were coming from the opposite direction Naruto and Kisame had taken. “Hai Kikuchi-sama that’s the house of the brat which was in town earlier.”

“Take the kid and his mother, bring them to the town square immediately.”

“De-demo Kikuchi-sama, those people earlier they were not ordinary…”

“Silence! You lot follow my orders or I’ll have you executed.”

Left with no choice, they followed his orders. “Hai.”

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The instant Kabuto arrived at their new hide-out, he immediately went towards the quarters where Orochimaru resided, he knew that the new information would definitely please the snake-sannin, and certainly the young Uchiha. Knocking on the door he called out. “Orochimaru-sama, I come bearing news.”

“Come in Kabuto.” was the snake sannin’s simple reply. As soon as the medic nin was inside, he was met by the sight of his master on the bed, he was obviously asleep before he went in.

“I’m sorry for the interruption Orochimaru-sama.”

“Get on with it Kabuto, I have no intentions of listening to you for a long time.”

“Ugh, Hai!” Kabuto adjusted his glasses. “Orochimaru-sama…Uchiha Itachi, was found in the Konoha grounds earlier today… on the verge of death.”

Kabuto had his master’s full attention now.

“Continue.”

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-waves- hai! Here’s chapter seven. Like it? Hate it? Let me know ne?

I’d really want to know if the story’s interesting enough, share me some thoughts ne? Don’t forget to review. Well I'm off! Ja ^_~