The truth behind it all(Itachi x Naruto)18+

Chapter 9: Of secrets and sneaky snakes

The twelve year old Uzumaki Naruto was panting heavily. He had been training all day by himself, in the forest. He had been following Kyuubi´s instructions for the last four years and had grown stronger than most of the kids in his year at the academy.

The genin exam was tomorrow and he was determined to pass it this time as the fox had asked him to fail the last two. Naruto didn´t know why the fox had asked him to fail and as he had asked Kyuubi had just mumbled something about a promise to an old friend.

Naruto had done as the fox had asked, because he knew that Kyuu only did it to help him.

It annoyed the blonde that he had to suppress and hide his true powers when he was with his classmates, but the fox had assured him that is was the only solution if he didn´t want to scare the other kids and the villagers.

Naruto life had turned out to the better after Iruka and Kakashi had adopted him. The villagers left him alone all though they still stared at him as if he was the incarnated devil himself.

Last year at his birthday, he had once again asked Kyuu why the villagers hated him so much and the fox had decided to tell his kit everything as the boy was old enough to understand the truth.

Five months ago on Naruto´s birthday:

“Kyuu, tell me the truth. Why am I so different from anyone else. Why should I hide the fact that I can learn and use jutsus on genin, chuunin and jounin level, and why is it that you want me to act like a fool when my IQ is almost as high as Shikamaru´s?” The blonde boy asked.

¤I know that it sucks, kit, but try to understand that is´t for your own benefit. You are the son of two
very special people who died because of me. Do you know what happened on this date twelve years ago?¤

“Yes, of course I do. A terrible demon attacked our city and tried to destroy it.”

¤Do you remember what kind of demon it was and what it´s name was?¤ the fox whispered softly.

“… It was a demon fox… the Kyuu… oh! Was it you, Kyuu-san?” The boy asked quietly as he realized the truth.

¤You figured it out, but you´re a smart kid after all.¤ the fox smiled at the young teen.

“Why did you do it? And how did you end up inside of me?”

¤I never wanted to hurt anyone. I loved Konoha and I loved your parents and would never have hurt them. If Madara hadn´t killed my spouse and kits and trapped me in a genjutsu, I never would have attacked the hidden leaf.¤ The fox explained.

¤Madara tricked me into seeing the murderer of my family; hiding inside of Konoha and blinded by rage and grief, I attacked… not knowing that, I attacked. It is my fault that you lost your parents. I fatally wounded your mother and your father; the Yondaime sacrificed his life to seal me inside of his newborn son… you… I understand if you don´t want to speak with me ever again.¤ The fox whispered softly though he would be heartbroken if he lost Naruto. He loved the blonde like he had loved his own family as well as Naruto´s parents.

“… I could never hate you. It wasn´t really your fault, Kyuu. I know that you wouldn´t hurt the ones you care about. You were always there for me; protected me, cared for me and you are the best friend I have ever had. You and I are connected and we will get nowhere if we fight each other. Let´s this strengthen our bond so we can become stronger.”

Back at the present time:

“Damn.” Naruto screamed in frustration. “Why can´t I get that stupid Katon no jutsu right?” He had borrowed a fire jutsu scroll from Kakashi but he just couldn´t get it right, no matter how hard he tried.

“You´re not ready to learn a fire jutsu yet, angel.” Said a male voice behind him.

“Who?!” Naruto turned around to see who was interrupting his training.

“Hello Naruto-kun, long time no see.” The older teen smiled warmly at the blonde teen.

“… you´re… Uchiha Itachi… the slayer of the Uchiha clan!” Naruto backed away slowly. He swallowed hard and felt the panic spreading from his gut. He couldn´t take on an enemy as strong as Uchiha Itachi.

“Kyuubi-sama, would you mind releasing the memory block from my little angels mind?” The raven-haired Uchiha asked calmly.

“You know of the Kyuubi?” Naruto asked before the fox had a chance to do or say anything.

“Yes, the Sandaime asked me to protect you. I take that you´re happy, living with Iruka and Kakashi. I am truly sorry that I haven´t been able to return here before now, but I had a little snake problem.”

A few months ago at the Akatsuki hideout near the fire country:

Itachi and Kisame had just returned from the Wave, where they had collected a few bounties. They were back at the hideout to deliver the money they had earned to Kakuzu who took care of the Akatsuki´s finances.

Kisame was resting in his quarter while Itachi was on his way down to the library to study a few scrolls; hoping to find more information on the Akatsuki, the Bijuu and the Jinchuuriki.

“Ah Uchiha-san, what brings you down here?” The white-skinned man asked.

“Studies, Orochimaru.” The Uchiha answered. He couldn´t stand the slimy snake and tried to avoid him as much as possible.

“Your kekkei genkai is really impressive.” The snake-sanin said with a smirk.

“Hn.”

“I would do anything to get my hands on your Sharingan,” he whispered as he formed the seals for the soul transfer jutsu.

Itachi stayed calm as he felt that he was being captured in a jutsu that reminded him of a genjutsu.

“You´re mine now.” Orochimaru hissed as he abandoned his human body and turned into a huge white snake.

“So this is your true form then?” Itachi said without emotion. He was disgusted by the slimy form of the sanin but was able to hide it.

“Yessss, Impresssive yesss?”

“Not really. Are we done playing?” The Uchiha growled.

“Playing… Thisss isssn´t a game, boy!” Orochimaru hissed.

“To me it is.” Itachi smirked. He activated the Mangekyo Sharingan and released himself effortlessly from the snake´s jutsu.

Back at the present time:

“You… saved me that night when those villagers took me… as they wanted to kill me because of Kyuu. You placed me where Iruka-sensei would find me, didn´t you?” Naruto asked.

The memory of that night was still a bit of a blur to him as the fox had done its best to shield him from what had happened that night, but somehow he was still able to remember red eyes and a black cloak with red clouds on it. A cloak similar to the one that Uchiha Itachi wore right now.

“I did those things to protect you, tenshi(angel).” Itachi said; stepping forward to get closer to the blonde boy who had been present in all his nightly dreams since he had met the little charming demon-container.

“Stay where you are!” Naruto stepped back till his back hit something. He didn´t dare to turn around to see what is was, though he presumed it to be the trunk of a tree.

“Let me help you to remember, Naruto-kun. Remember the past and come back to me.” Itachi whispered as he slowly moved closer.

¤Calm down, kit, he means us no harm,¤ The Kyuubi told the blonde. ¤Do you remember the older boy from your dream who always helped you and was nice to you? The one who´s face you can´t see clearly?¤

´Yes, how could I forget the only good human in my life before I was adopted.` Naruto told the fox.

¤Allow me to remove the memory block in your mind, kit.¤

´… Alright, if it means that I´ll remember him, then do it!`

¤ I need Itachi to help though. Will you allow him to touch you?¤

“… Do it… Make me remember.” Naruto said while he let out the breath he had been holding back. He watched as Itachi stopped right in front of him; placing both his hands on each of his whiskered cheeks.

“Close you eyes, tenshi and try to relax.” The Uchiha leaned closer and kissed the twelve year old blonde on his forehead as he with a little help from the fox, released the memory block he had placed on the blonde the night Itachi killed his clan.

~ # ~

“Where is Naruto-kun?” Iruka asked as he walked into the living-room of the house he shared with his lover and the yellow bundle of energy that they had adopted almost four years ago.

“Training in the northern part of the forest, dolphin,” the copy-nin told him without taking his eyes of his book.

“All by himself?” The brunette asked as he poured himself a cup of coffee.

“Hai,”

“But that´s to dangerous. He is only twelve and-”

“And will officially become a shinobi of Konoha tomorrow. He wants to pass the test so badly… give him some slack and let him do things his way… just like Minato always did.” Kakashi told him. He patted on the seat on the couch next to him.

“And stop being such a mother hen, he´s not a child anymore. You have to accept that he´s a teenager now. Have you noticed how he looks at that Haruno girl?” He chuckled as Iruka sat down next to him.

“… Haruno?… Oh you mean Sakura-chan. Yes, he seems to like her a lot though I suspect that it´s a one way crush,” the brunette sighed. He wasn´t sure that he liked the idea that his little innocent son was gaining interest in girls.

He would prefer that Naruto stayed inside this house till the age of thirty or maybe even forty, that way he would not be able to become a shinobi and wouldn´t get his heart broken when some girl – no matter how smart, pretty or perfect – broke up with him.

“Crushes are a good thing even if it doesn´t lead anywhere. It´ll make him stronger.” Kakashi said with a smile. He put his book down on the table and wrapped his arms around his dolphin.

“He´s too young for love, ´Kashi.”

“Ma… ma, then perhaps I shouldn´t tell you what happened in your class today before you arrived.” The copy-nin chuckled as he nibbled playfully at his lover´s jaw line.

“Come on… tell me,” Iruka moaned while running his hands across Kakashi´s clothed chest.

“Naruto and the Uchiha kid accidentally kissed each other in front of everyone.”

“WHAT?!”

“Oi, not so loud. I think you just ruptured my eardrums, luv.” Kakashi sighed. He should have known that his lover would react like this; he was way to over protective of the blonde boy. Naruto was stronger than he wanted everyone to believe and Kakashi knew what Naruto was capable off as he had spied on his son´s training regularly.

“Uchiha-san molested my little boy? I will kick his behind for this or maybe give just give him a years extra homework or let him fail the test tomorrow… yes that´s it. I´ll talk to Mizuki and we are going to give him such a difficult test that he will fail,”

“Easy now, babe… breathe in deeply and calm down.” Kakashi ordered. “You will do no such thing. The team has already been decided and Sandaime-sama has a lot of confidence in the young Uchiha boy.”

~ # ~

“Open your eyes, tenshi, and look at me.” Itachi whispered as he and the demon fox had released Naruto´s memories.

“…” The blonde stared at the older boy who was kneeling in front of him.

“Naruto? Tell me that you remember me… and what we used to share,” the raven-haired teen asked.

“… I…” Naruto didn´t know what to say so he let his actions speak for him instead. He embraced Itachi and hugged him tightly while tears of happiness ran down his whiskered cheeks.

“I´ve missed you, niisan,” He sobbed into the dark fabric of the Akatsuki cloak.

“I´ve missed you too, tenshi… more than you could ever imagine.”

“So where do we go from here?” Naruto asked after a few minutes of hugging. He sat down on the warm grass next to the missing nin; looking into coal-black eyes.

“You remember the reason why I killed my family and had to leave right?” Itachi asked.

“Yes. You did it to save Konoha and the Hokage.” Naruto answered.

“And more importantly I did it to save you, tenshi.”

“… So why did you wait so long to remove the memory block?” Naruto asked as he leaned his shoulder against the older boy.

“I wasn´t allowed nowhere near Konoha for Konoha´s and my own safety. I was ordered to report to one of the three sanins´ of Konoha at the border of the fire country for the past years. I´m sorry that I wasn´t able to see you but if it makes you feel better, I never stopped thinking about you with my every breath, Naruto-kun.” The Uchiha admitted.

Naruto had grown so much since he had last seen the light of his life. The blonde was beautiful before he had left… but now… even though only twelve… he was hot and Itachi had to remind himself that Naruto was still to young to know of the intimacy that the Uchiha wished for.

“Three sanin of Konoha? Who are they? I´ve never heard of anyone with that kind of title anywhere.” The blonde teen said.

“I know it´s not common knowledge as all three of them are rather… special in their behavior.”

“How are they special?” Asked the curious fox container. Itachi smiled at Naruto´s craving for knowledge and perfection. Why else would the blonde try to learn fire element jutsus when both he and the kitsune knew that it was the exact opposite of his affinity with wind.

“The three sanins´ of Konoha are; the snake-sanin Orochimaru. You should stay away from him as he can´t be trusted and he´s very dangerous.” Itachi told the blonde as he wrapped an arm around Naruto´s shoulder, dragging him closer so the boy was resting his back against Itachi´s strong chest.

“Then there is Tsunade, who´s a talented medic and has made a summoning pact with the giant slugs. She has a gambling problem, a hot temper and drinks sake as if it was water.” The raven hummed against blonde locks as he drew in the scent of his angel. ´Damn, I´ve missed you, tenshi.`

“Who´s the last sanin?” Naruto purred as he enjoyed feeling Itachi´s warmth and his arms around his body; holding him tight.

“The third sanin is Jiraiya. He is a toad-sage and very powerful… and a pervert. He writes dirty novels and sneaks peeks at naked women whenever he can. He´s the one that I have been reporting too and hopefully I´ll succeed in convincing him to train you, tenshi. You can learn a lot from him. Just remember that even if he might look and act like a fool, but appearance can fool the dim minded.” Itachi told the blonde.

“He´s a bit like me then?” Naruto chuckled. “Not the pervert part but the thing about appearance.”

“Yes, that is why I asked Kyuu-sama to ask you to put up an act to make the villager believe that you´re no treat… that you´re weak though you´re stronger and smarter than most of their most promising genin. I´m proud of you, Naruto.” Itachi whispered into the blonde´s ear before he kissed a whiskered cheek.

“… Thank you, Itachi.” The blonde whispered with gratitude. It was a rare thing for the blonde to get praised, though Iruka and Kakashi did their best to raise him… they were still shinobi – and shinobi didn´t get stronger through praise.

“You can´t stay for long, can you?” Naruto asked after a few minutes of stillness.

“No, sadly I´m expected back soon. The leader of the secret organization I´m a part of demands my present at one of the hideouts on urgent business.” Itachi explained.

“Then I´ll come with you.” The blonde said without hesitation. “I don´t wanna lose you again, not when I finally got my memory back.”

“No, I can´t allow that, Naruto. It wouldn´t be safe. I need you to stay here, pass the test tomorrow and keep an eye on my foolish little brother for me.”

“What?! You want me to spend time with Sasuke? But he´s an ass-”

“ A very strong ass. You can learn a lot from him, and he might learn a thing or two from you, tenshi.” Itachi chuckled. Sasuke was still too naïve for his own good.

His brother was growing stronger every day… but it still wasn´t good enough. No, he needed to push his otouto in the right direction and Naruto might be the piece of the puzzle that Sasuke needed to achieve greatness.

TBC