Three Kunai

see1like: I’m glad! Kind of sorry for the length, that was one hell of a long chapter. But it was full of lemons . . .
Jessica: ^_^ As the chapter title suggests, they meet in this chapter!
Midknight Killer: My thanks! I’ve been yelled at by readers for not being nicer to Kisame. I do kind of like him, I think he’s likable, I’d hang out with him, but I normally kill him off. As for why Kisame’s so nice to Itachi and lets him visit his family, he sympathized with him a bit; he’s a little in love too . . .
DarkAngelJudas: He brought this danger on them, he’ll protect them.
-00-night-eyes-00-: Here ya go!

----------

Four years after the massacre.


Sasuke moved through the trees with Ban at his side. Sasuke had grown into a strong and powerful young shinobi. He’d turned twelve three months ago and received a full black shinobi outfit from Kakashi and a new, perfectly crafted kodachi from his brother. He wore the kodachi on his back under the quiver full of homemade arrows. He wasn’t wearing his shinobi outfit now, just his regular civilian clothes: dark blue shirt and black shorts. He wasn’t allowed to wear the Uchiha crest on the back.

Ban eased her body to the ground to silently signal that she smelled their prey. The small shiba inu had become a capable companion and ninken, though she would have never been a good ninken for Kakashi if he were on active duty.

Sasuke moved quietly forward. Tracks in the dirt confirmed they were close. For this pray Sasuke carried a bow for long distance accuracy. Ban stopped and Sasuke did the same. Sasuke looked where Ban was looking and there he was. Sasuke carefully notched his arrow, pulled the string back, and aimed. He let it loose. The arrow pierced the buck’s jugular. The deer cried out and ran a few feet before it collapsed, braying and thrashing for a few long seconds.

Sasuke went over to the fallen deer; it was already dead. He pulled the arrow from its neck.

“Going to be fun getting it home,” Ban said.

Sasuke attached his bow and quiver to Ban’s back, attached his sword to his belt, and prepared to pick the deer up to carry home. Suddenly, Ban barked her warning of strangers approaching. Sasuke transformed into Nowaki and pulled his sword.

A blond boy burst from the forest brush. Sasuke was surprised to see a kid his own age out in this forest. The blond perched on a log like a dog, knees spread and arms straight down between them.

“Who are you?” the blond asked.

“It’s polite to give your own name before asking for someone else’s,” Sasuke said.

“Uzumaki Naruto!”

“Nowaki.”

“You kill this deer?”

“Yeah.” Sasuke moved to defend it in case this kid wanted to steal his prey.

Naruto was surprised at Sasuke’s reaction, like a feral animal. It might seem ridiculous to Naruto, but Sasuke wasn’t exposed to many people and living in secret the way they were made him a little paranoid.

“I heard it and came to see what was going on.”

“Well, now you know, so you can leave.” He looked the blond up and down and noted his Leaf headband. “You’re a shinobi?” he asked skeptically.

“That’s right.”

“What kind of shinobi wears bright orange? A shinobi should blend in the shadows. You practically glow in the dark in that outfit.”

“I’m so good I don’t need to ‘blend in shadows.’”

Sasuke scoffed. “You couldn’t sneak up on a corpse.” He was convinced this kid was no threat and sheathed his sword.

“Who are to say anything, teme? You’re not even a shinobi.”

“I’ve met a few though, dobe.” Sasuke stepped back to couch next the deer and once again prepared to haul it back.

“Why’d you kill the deer?”

“Why do you think? To eat it. I have to get it home so we can butcher it while it’s fresh.”

Ban growled. Three more people appeared in the trees above them; a Jounin and two other kids, a pink-haired girl and a boy who looked a little like Sasuke. The two black-eyed boys caught each other’s eyes and an understanding of the fact they were both dangerous past between them. They would avoid each other.

“Naruto,” Genma admonished. “You can’t run off like that.” He looked Sasuke over and dismissed him as nothing but a peasant. “You alright kid?”

“I’m fine, thank you.” Sasuke picked the deer up and pulled the bulk of the deer on his shoulders. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m already late.” He walked away with Ban following but with threatening glances back at the shinobi.

“We have to continue on our mission,” Genma said.

“To pick up litter,” Naruto complained.

“You can always quit.”

“No way!”

The shinobi left in the opposite direction.

-----

Sasuke was tried and in pain by the time he got home. Kakashi came out to help when he sensed his approach.

“Wasn’t there a larger one?” Kakashi quipped.

“Ha, ha,” said without humor. “I shot at the first one I found.”

Kakashi brought the deer next to the house and started dressing it with Sasuke’s help.

“I met some shinobi today.” Kakashi stopped dead. “Genin and their captain. The girl didn’t even say anything, just stood there reprovingly. The dark-haired one, he’s dangerous, he’s . . . he feels a little like Itachi. A bit dark. I think I could take him, but I think he would be a challenge. The other one, totally incompetent. He wore an orange jacket and pants, bright yellow hair, and loud. Probably the worst shinobi in the world. Said his name was Naruto.”

That rocked Kakashi. “Naruto? Did you hear his surname?”

“He proudly declared it. Uzumaki. Obnoxious twerp. You know him?”

“I knew his father; a great shinobi.”

“Well, he must take after his mother then.”

“What about the others?”

“They just came after him. Naruto heard the buck cry out when I shot him and came to investigate; they didn’t introduce themselves. I just told Naruto my name was Nowaki.”

“Try to be more careful and avoid shinobi. You look too much like an Uchiha when not transformed. Be careful.”

“I know.”

-----

Itachi was conscious of Kisame’s gaze as he stripped on the riverbank. He wasn’t self-conscious after so long, but it made him uncomfortable. He pulled his red hair band out and stepped into the cold river.

Kisame had kept his word: he never told anyone about Kakashi or Sasuke. Itachi refused to give his lover’s name and Kisame continued to believe Kakashi was a woman.

The larger man had actually become a little more protective and kind to Itachi after he intruded on the trio. Kisame had thought Itachi a merciless killer like himself, but the fact he let his little brother live made Kisame think of Itachi as weaker. Itachi was a capable and skilled killer, but weaker than himself. Itachi still had a heart and for some reason that had inspired Kisame to want to protect him. He didn’t care about the chick and the whelp; he just wanted to protect the young raven.

Kisame watched his partner bathe. He couldn’t be blamed for admiring the beauty of that seventeen year old body. His back was muscular and unmarked, his hair cascading over his shoulders. Itachi had narrowly missed a strike to the back, but the kunai had cut some of his hair away and Itachi had evened it out or it would be even longer.

Itachi leaned back into the water to wash his hair. The sight made Kisame’s loins stir. It was dangerous to lust after one’s partner. And this was Uchiha Itachi. Kisame wasn’t dumb enough to touch him or even approach him. But he could look. That silver-haired she-wolf would have his ass too of he tried anything.

-----

Sasuke was hunting again. He didn’t always come out without Kakashi, but Ban was always with him. The stag had lasted the trio four days, but it was time for another kill. They could live off non-meat for a while, but with the fish out of season in the stream, their only animal protein had to come from the forest.

There was nothing. Sasuke growled thinking they’d be eating squirrel or no meat at all tonight. Or maybe they could use some of the money Itachi sent them to eat in town tonight. Ban barked to alert him to someone coming. He transformed. Naruto.

“Stupid dog,” Naruto said. “I was trying to surprise you.”

“Even without her, the entire forest knows when you’re coming.”

“That’s right! It’s because I’m so great!” Naruto preened.

Sasuke could stop himself from smirking. “Whatever, dobe, but you’re scaring all the game.”

“Why do you have to hunt for food? Why don’t you just go get ramen or something.”

“No restaurants in the forest, dobe.”

“Hey, teme, what’s with you? I came to be friends with you.”

That took Sasuke back a bit. He never had friends. Kakashi and Ban were family to him. He never even had any back in Konoha. He knew he shouldn’t even talk to this kid, but he was a bit lonely.

“I’ve never had any friends.”

“For real? Neither have I.”

Sasuke wanted to retort it was because of his personality. “Where’s your team? Won’t they be looking for you?”

“No mission today. I snuck out of the village. So why do you live in the forest? Why don’t you live in Konoha or one of the towns?”

“My parents don’t like it in town. We go to one to trade, but we never stay long. We like being alone. And my parents don’t like shinobi.”

“Why not?”

Sasuke shrugged. “Someone offered to train me and my father said no so quickly . . . it was like he was afraid. I think he knew a shinobi who died or someone who was killed by one.”

“Being a shinobi’s fun. It’s all I ever wanted to be. I’m going to be Hokage one day!”

“The Hokage is the most powerful shinobi in the Fire Country. You really are an idiot.”

“Hey, I’ll show you, one day I will be the best!”

“Hn. Whatever, dobe.”

-----

Sasuke actually felt happy after an afternoon of talking—and arguing—with that idiot. It was nice to talk with someone new. He knew he wasn’t supposed to, but he couldn’t hide it from Kakashi either—Ban was loyal enough not to rat him out, but he had to tell his surrogate father.

“I met that kid again, Naruto,” he said over dinner. “I didn’t let anything slip, but we just talked. He finally left and that’s when I found the deer. I’m sorry. I know I’m not to supposed to talk to anyone, but he came looking for me and I tried to get him to leave, but . . .”

“You want someone your own age to talk to,” Kakashi finished. “I understand. You can meet with him, but be very careful. Don’t bring him here.”

“I won’t.”

-----

Sasuke tried to hunt in the same general area on certain days in hopes of meeting the annoying blond idiot. They started shuriken throwing competitions with shuriken Naruto brought with him. Sasuke pretended to be bad at it, but ‘learned quickly.’ He quickly started infuriating Naruto with his skill. That night Naruto gave him a shuriken. Sasuke found himself treasuring it.

They met once again in the woods, messing around while Ban sat nearby on guard.

Ban began barking, trying to warn Sasuke of danger without speaking in front of Naruto. Sasuke understood and prepared.

“Something’s coming, dobe,” he warned. They both armed themselves.

A large bear attacked out of the brush heading for Naruto. Naruto froze. Sasuke realized Naruto would be killed, so he tackled Naruto, getting a swipe on his thigh from the bear’s claws. Ban jumped up onto the bear’s back and bit its neck. Sasuke got up, the wound not being serious, and aimed his kunai to kill the bear. He couldn’t help thinking this thing would provide a week’s worth of meat. He threw the kunai, but the bear was moving, trying to knock Ban off its back. Frustrated, the bear stopped trying to deal with Ban and turned on Sasuke. Sasuke had to forget about hiding his skills as a shinobi and used them all to dodge and attack the bear. Naruto was still frozen on the ground, watching his friend fighting for his life. Sasuke finally got his sword into the bear’s heart, but just as he did so, the bear hit Sasuke hard, sending him flying several feet. The bear died, but Sasuke didn’t get up either.

Finally, Naruto got up and stared at the dead bear for a few seconds. Ban immediately let go of the bear and ran to Sasuke. Naruto then turned to him as well.

“Sasuke!” Ban shouted. Naruto froze again. The dog talked! His head was slow to wrap his mind around the fact that this dog was a ninja summon.

Ban looked up at Naruto. She was scared and confused. Naruto came closer and froze once again. ‘Nowaki’ wasn’t lying there. A much more attractive boy lay there with short dark hair and skin almost as pale as Sai’s.

“Help him,” Ban said. She nudged Sasuke’s arm with her nose.

Naruto knelt beside his friend and checked his pulse. He was alive.

“Nowaki?”

“I’ll get his father,” Ban said, finally calm enough to think. “Stay with him.”

Naruto didn’t have much of choice as she ran off. He stayed by Sasuke’s side trying to understand what was going on.

He hadn’t come to a conclusion by the time Kakashi—disguised as Miyagi—arrived. He swore when he saw Sasuke out cold. He ignored Naruto and checked Sasuke out. He had a good lump on his head, but other than that and the shallow slash to his thigh, Sasuke seemed to be alright.

“A mild concussion.” Kakashi finally turned his attention to Naruto. He hid his surprise well; Naruto looked a lot like Minato.

“You’re his dad?” Naruto asked.

“Yes. You must be Naruto.”

Naruto nodded. “Why did he change? What’s going on? That’s a shinobi technique.”

Kakashi looked over at the bear and had the same thought as Sasuke: a week’s worth of food or more. “Can you carry Nowaki?” Naruto nodded. Kakashi helped secure Sasuke to Naruto’s back then he hog tied the bear and struggled to drag it home.

“Nowaki is actually the son of a pair of shinobi,” Kakashi explained as he pulled the bear behind him.” His family was killed by another shinobi. The man who killed him wouldn’t hesitate to kill Nowaki if he found him. My wife and I took him in and hid him out here. He knows some ninjutsu and uses the transformation jutsu whenever Ban here alerts him someone approaching. No one can know Nowaki is out here or he’ll be killed. Don’t tell anyone about this.”

“I won’t, I promise. I never go back on my word; that’s my nindo!”

Kakashi smiled at him. “Good to hear it.”

“Um, the dog called him ‘Sasuke.’”

Kakashi glared at Ban.

“I panicked.”

“Yes, his name is Sasuke. Don’t ever repeat that name. Never ask about him or anything. No one can know Sasuke survived.”

“I won’t say anything.”

They arrived at the house. Kakashi took Sasuke from Naruto and took him to his bed and laid him down.

“Do you want some water?” Kakashi asked Naruto.

“Yeah, thanks.”

Kakashi poured them both glasses and some water for Ban as well. They sat at the table.

“So, his parents are both dead.”

“Yeah.”

“My parents are dead too. Or at least I think so. I never had any.”

“You don’t know who your parents are?”

“No.”

Then Kakashi remembered that he and the few others who knew of Naruto’s conception were ordered not to say anything about his parents.

“Sorry to hear that.”

“Um, I guess I should head home. I promise I won’t say anything.”

“Thank you, Naruto.”

“Nowa—Sasuke, will be okay?”

“Nowaki. I believe so. I’ll let him know you helped him.”

Naruto nodded and ran back to the village.

Minato’s son, Kakashi mused. He looked down at Ban. She was looking up at him afraid she was in trouble. “Go stay with Sasuke. Give me a bark when he wakes up. I have to go butcher that bear.”