Thread & Needle

Welcome to the story. This part of course is the prologue so it is a lot shorter then the intentional chapters latter on will be. I am open to different pairing throughout the story. This is my first ItachiXNaruto coupling, so please help me along the way if either of the two is somewhat out of character. Thx, enjoy.

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Prologue:

Itachi closed his eyelids and opened them, thinking the strange sight was an illusion.

His eyes are trained to the figure resting in the cage stacked beside many others. People moved all about him, but no one gave his ragged burgundy cloak a notice, or the way a hood came up and over to hide the smooth pale face inside. Others too, stopped every once in a while to examine the different occupants in many cages.

The vagabond town Kuroshi is a port of many illegal trophies and rapidly changing merchants near the outskirts of the Ninja Nations. One of the most illegal and expensive properties to buy are slaves. Human lives.

A single particular life caught Itachi by surprise as he was making his way through the bustling streets. It took him a moment to process this information and realize this was in fact a child he knew from Konoha.

Itachi blinked once more.

And in complete confusion he stared.

‘How in the world did this kid get here?’

How indeed.

Slumped against the opposite bars sat the young boy named Naruto. Unconscious as he is, the twelve year old hunched forward slightly. Arms hung down between outstretched legs baring a rather beaten up orange set of pants. The orange blazer missing, leaving a torn black shirt and worn sandals. Truthfully it had been the pants that had attracted Itachi’s glance of attention to begin with.

Of course, throughout his time in Akatsuki he was subjected to track this shade of color on hunt after Naruto for Kyuubi. His charade as an Akatsuki member was blown to dust though, when most unexpected things started occurring.

All the plans that seemed to have been set by the organization (as well as his own goals) had staggered when the first event took place. Naruto Uzumaki had been able to take Sasuke Uchiha back to Konoha.

It had triggered a most horrendous fall of events.

Without Sasuke’s ragging hatred to chase after him, Itachi no longer had to play the role of the slaughterer.

Sasuke’s will to outdo Naruto evaporated into a more equal friendship and growing protection towards Konoha.

Orochimaru freaked and is searching elsewhere for a host planning to destroy the Fire Nation some other way.

Madara, still hidden as Tobi snapped and disappeared back into old forgotten legends.

Nagato the appointed leader of Akatsuki and puppeteer of the Six sides of Pain re-plans in wait hoping that there will be another weak side to Konoha in the near future.

Itachi found himself stealing away into the night and not looking back, leaving Akatsuki to their own devices. Now free of his previous burden he would make best of these years left of his life to search for a cure to the viral disease within his body. And as a year or less went by Itachi was able to find an ancient documentary on the virus. His current visit to Kuroshi is to find a few ingredients to the potion.

Finding Naruto Uzumaki in a slave pen had not been on his list.

“Auction starting!” A harsh voice rises above the chattering and Itachi breaks from his thoughts, startled at the sudden change of atmosphere.

The bellowing merchant climbs fervently onto the platform slated across the tops of the cages. A large group of burly men begin moving, scatting themselves before each locked pen. Multiple clicks of turning keys carry on the hushing breeze. Security labeled men enter randomly and customers, as well as street on-lookers flock around the area to get a good peek at what this slave merchant has in stock for sell.

Low and behold chains tussle, the blonde headed boy is dragged out and handled roughly to stand on shaky legs. Once the boy is able to bat open his blue eyes and access his situation the guard clamped a hand through his hair and held him high on his toes.

If there had been a yelp it was unheard as louder shouts and cries erupt from the more lively crowd of slaves being ‘showed off’. Itachi furrows his brows in uncertainty as he considers why the rambunctious Naruto isn’t fighting back like many others. The security guard tilts the boys’ head slightly, the reason is all too clear now. A spacious bruise from the kids’ right earlobe to his chin illustrates dark blues, greens and yellows. Naruto’s jaw is broken.

In the light, dirt covers the boys’ form. There isn’t many other bruises to make note of other then some small cuts. Resting on the child’s neck is a thick collar, a chakra sealer. Which explains why these wounds aren’t healed yet.

Small fists reach up, tugging at the captors hand. A whining grunt forces its way from Naruto, as his orbs water and eyelids shut tightly.

Clenching his own jaw Itachi hears the sound of his teeth grinding together in an effort to keep himself calm. To speak against the merchants ideals would not be wise. Slowly Itachi releases a breath moving forward through the thickening mass.

‘There is only one option to take.’

The quick footed merchant stood above gesturing about. “On Little Sunshine here, who will start the bid?!”

Finding his footing Itachi came free of the crowd and gave a nod. “I will.”

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