Hanzaki rubbed his eyes wearily. It was getting later on in the evening and the Konoha-nins had been gone for many hours. He was used to running a rebellion but he found that running a Hidden Village opened up a whole new panorama of problems.
He glanced over at the young boy that was seated at the table, happily drawing with an ink brush and scroll. Hiroki was a pleasant enough child. He never said a word, but he was able to convey his emotions and wants readily enough. He had used his expressiveness to make known his desire to stay with Hanzaki and entertain himself by drawing stick figures on a blank scroll.
Hanzaki couldn�t remember the last time he himself had been so care free.
There was a polite knock on the door and a newly appointed body guard stuck his head into the room. �Your tea is here, Hanzaki-sama.�
His lips twisted briefly into a scowl. Men he had known all his life were suddenly showering him with honorifics. The same men he used to get drunk with and gamble away what little money they had managed to swindle off of travelers through this poor village.
He made a curt motion and the guard withdrew to allow Orimi to enter the room. The woman had been with them for several years now, having lost her husband to the hands of one of Orochimaru�s men. She was a civilian, but had helped out in any way she could and was always grateful to them for taking her in and allowing her to help those who stood against the Sannin.
She threw a warm smile toward Hiroki as she knelt and sat the tea tray on the table. Hanzaki nodded at her thankfully and turned his attention back to the scroll in front of him, wondering how he was going to go about contacting the rest of the Hidden Villages to start peace negotiations.
He never saw the blade that took his life.
Orimi frowned as Hanzaki�s neck bled out. Such a waste. He wasn�t a bad man, but orders were orders and as a shinobi she knew better than to let her emotions influence her duties. She carefully wiped the blade on the man�s trouser leg, intending on putting it away when a motion caught her attention.
The boy was standing, staring at her with blazing green eyes. She decided rather regretfully that she would have to kill the child as well. While he only appeared to be five years of age at most, it was obvious that he had an intelligence perhaps a little beyond that of a typical boy of his age.
It was then that she noticed his skin rippling, bulges rising and sinking beneath his flesh. Suddenly his clothing was shredded as his skin ripped open and she began to scream.
The last thing she saw was the glowing green eyes.
*************************
It took the shinobi three days to reach the area of the base in Grass Country. The seven of them ranged out and surrounded the area, searching for patrols and sentries that undoubtedly were protecting the hideout.
After several hours of searching, they regrouped. While Kiba and Akamaru had caught the scent of several individuals, the traces were a few days old. The surrounding area seemed to be deserted.
Naruto frowned at the base suspiciously. Something was obviously going on and he knew instinctively that he wouldn�t like it.
�Give me a scroll and ink,� Sasuke ordered Sai shortly. Wordlessly the Anbu handed Sasuke the requested items. Sasuke opened the scroll, intent on drawing a layout of the base so they could formulate a plan for infiltration only to find that there was already something on the scroll.
His eyebrow twitched slightly as he took in the caricature of himself standing with his left hand on his hip in an extremely feminine pose. He sported large, snake slit eyes, a long forked tongue hanging out of his mouth, his hair was practically standing straight up in the back just like a chicken�s ass and he was wearing his old outfit with an exceptionally large bow tied in the back. Ah, and let�s not forget the anchor and rope tattoo on his chest.
Naruto and Kiba immediately began howling with laughter, Hinata closed her hands over a giggle and he heard what sounded suspiciously like a snort from under Shino�s hood. He glared up at the Aburame but the boy stood there as calmly as ever, his face mostly hidden and showing no expression.
He carefully rolled the scroll back up and tossed it in the air as he drew his katana. However, the scroll was saved at the last minute by a puff of smoke as a yellow-haired clone intercepted the parchment and threw it to Naruto.
�Naruto,� Sasuke growled. �Give it back.�
�No way! This is too damn funny!� he said with a snicker. He quickly unrolled the paper to get another look, breaking out into laughter once more at the image.
Had anyone doubted that Sasuke actually had a soft spot for Naruto it was laid to rest as he actually hesitated before slicing his katana through the drawing several times until it fell like confetti.
He paused once more as Naruto gave him the largest, hurt blue eyes that he had ever seen.
Pulling the tattered remnants of his pride together, he tried to ignore the look and turned back to Sai. �Do you have any more of those?� he demanded.
�No, but I can make another if you want,� he answered cheerfully.
�Really?!� Naruto asked happily, blue eyes practically shining in anticipation.
Sasuke felt a sigh coming on and held it back through sheer willpower. �Just give me a blank scroll,� he growled.
�Oh! Why didn�t you say so?� Sai held out another roll of paper.
Sasuke, with unwanted input from Naruto, began drawing a layout of the base from memory for the others to view.
�I think the best thing to do would be for Hinata to scan the parts of the base that she can for both people and potential traps,� Sasuke said thoughtfully as he gazed at his drawing. �Shino, the doors are chakra locked. See if you can slip some of your bugs in to scout the place. I am sure that they changed the seal that they had used whenever Naruto and I were last there. If so, we may need your insects to eat the chakra on the door so we can open it without setting anything off.
�We�ll go in with both me and Hinata taking point. Kiba and Akamaru will come in next so that they can warn us if they smell or hear anything. Naruto, Sai and Sasame will guard our backs.�
�Sounds like a plan, bastard,� Naruto agreed.
�Hn,� came the expected reply.
He led them closer to the base, just under cover of the trees and nodded toward Hinata.
The kunoichi activated her bloodline limit and the world shifted to shades of grey and white. Her gaze penetrated the soil and then the stone walls of the lair. She didn�t see any immediate signs of life, but she could detect small chakra signatures that could indicate traps or active jutsu.
�I don�t see anything alive,� she informed the others.
�Shino,� Sasuke murmured.
The teen lifted his arm and a swarm of insects flew out of his jacket sleeve. The creatures made their way to the entrance of the lair and began to scour it. Once they found a small opening, they began to push through, hesitating on the other side for their hive mates.
They took note of sources of chakra as they passed through the halls and searched out various rooms. After some time the tiny creatures returned to their master and reported their findings.
�It seems to be truly deserted,� Shino reported. �However, there are several chakra auras in there that could be anything.�
�I detected that as well,� Hinata confirmed.
�Then let�s see if they left any clues as to their whereabouts or any other useful information. There might be something that can tell us if they have plans for the village,� Sasuke decided. �Let�s go check out those doors.�
Naruto spoke up. �Let Sai check the area in front of the doors. He can send one of his inks in.�
Sasuke, who was unfamiliar with Sai�s style, merely nodded.
Sai quickly made an ink tiger and sent it on ahead. It quickly arrived at the entrance without setting off any devices. Once at the door, Sasuke went ahead and formed the seals that would normally unlock the seals. As expected, nothing happened.
At that point, Shino released his chakra eating insects in a large enough number that they almost covered the door. Naruto barely repressed the shudder at the thought of all of those bugs inside of Shino�s body. It was a wonder the other teen had any room left for his organs.
�Is it just me or is that seriously creepy?� Sai spoke up suddenly. Since everyone else was thinking the same thing, no one said a word.
After a few moments, Shino looked over at Sasuke. �It�s done.� The large swarm of insects came back to him, flying underneath his clothing through his hood and sleeves.
Naruto walked up and pushed on one of the doors. Without the chakra enhancing it, the large stone double doors wouldn�t budge.
�Help me push,� he grumbled to his other teammates. Sasuke moved beside him as Kiba and Sai took the other door. Between, the four of them the doors slowly parted, revealing the darkness beyond.
�Doesn�t look like anyone left the lights on for us,� Kiba commented. His nose picked up the scent of people, food, unwashed sweaty clothes as well as several other smells that were typical of a barracks that had been closed up for a few days.
They cautiously walked in, noses and eyes scanning before them. Sai quickly sent his painted tiger just ahead of them in case the presence of chakra set off a trap. They stopped at an intersection in the hall.
�This base isn�t the biggest, but it is still extensive,� Sasuke commented thoughtfully. �There doesn�t seem to be anyone here so let�s split up and search the place for anything that might point to where they�ve gone.�
Sai spoke up. �We overheard some guards when we were in this area a little while back. They spoke of some kind of monster in the basement. I don�t know if they meant literally or not, but it is something to keep in mind.�
Naruto looked over at Sasuke who, in turn, shrugged. �I never heard anything about it,� he said in reply to the unasked question.
�Shino, stay at the front and watch the doors. Send your insects if someone shows up or you need help,� Sasuke said. He believed Shino would be the perfect one to watch their backs because even if he was taken out, the insects would follow his last orders and alert them.
�Hinata, go with Sai. Kiba and Akamaru, go with Sasame and I�ll go with Naruto. Meet back here in thirty minutes. I just want a quick sweep over the place to make sure that it is really empty and there aren�t traps around every corner. Once we meet back up, we�ll search for information.�
In his mind, those were the best pair ups. Hinata seemed to get along with Sai better than the others. She could be his eyes and he was an experienced fighter. Kiba and Akamaru had heightened senses and could guide Sasame through any traps that they might encounter and, he reluctantly admitted, Sasame was a decent fighter. Last but not least, he and Naruto knew each other�s styles and worked well as a team usually. They were both strong fighters and Sasuke could see things that Naruto would never be able to pick up.
He noticed the looks that the others were giving him. �What?� he demanded irritably.
Team Eight and Sasame merely shrugged and moved into position. Naruto was giving him a soft smile that somehow made him self-conscious, but Sai saved him from the sensation.
�Why do you get to go with Naruto? Maybe I want to go with him?� he asked with the hint of a whine in his voice.
�You need someone with you that has better than normal senses,� Sasuke growled, not liking that someone was questioning his instructions.
�Then let Naruto go with Hinata and I�ll go with you!� Sai said with a smirk. He mentally chuckled as two pairs of eyes suddenly narrowed at him. Normally he wouldn�t be doing this on a mission, but no one was here and he just had to take a moment to play.
�Hinata doesn�t need the distraction,� Sasuke stated succinctly. �And you and I know nothing about how to work together. Naruto and I are a better team.�
�But wouldn�t Naruto be a distraction to you as well?� Sai walked up into Sasuke�s personal space, keeping Naruto within his peripheral vision. �Besides, you and I could get to know each other better and then maybe we could make a good pair.�
Sai was ready for the hand that grabbed the back of his half shirt and allowed it to yank him away from Sasuke. �You�re not funny anymore, Sai,� Naruto growled. �Now get going, we have a mission to finish.�
�Anything you say, midget dick,� Sai grinned.
Sasuke quickly grabbed Naruto to keep him from doing bodily harm to the brunette.
�Sai,� Shino suddenly barked. Once the Anbu looked over at him, he continued in a calmer tone, �This isn�t the time or place for this. You have your orders now follow them or does being Anbu not mean anything anymore?�
Sai paused as several different sensations passed through him. He knew that these were his own emotions, but he was still not very good at identifying them. He was Anbu and yet he wasn�t. His life had had meaning through serving Danzou, but now he didn�t and the Hokage didn�t act anything like his former sensei.
Upon meeting Naruto, something inside of him had resurfaced, had awakened and Sai craved that feeling. But now Naruto kept most of his attention on Sasuke and Sai wanted some back for himself.
Was this what they called jealousy? Was he jealous of Sasuke?
�Let�s get going,� Sasuke said, heading off down the hall.
The others took that as their cue and split off.
Chapter 48
Tsunade carefully reread the scroll in front of her. The news was good for a change, if not a little frustrating as well.
Strangely enough, the scroll wasn�t written by the leader of the mission, but rather one of the subordinates. The report implied that it had been written without the team leader�s knowledge.
She should have known that anything that involved Uzumaki Naruto would never be simple and straight forward. The boy had too much of a tendency to pull people into his schemes, even the well intentioned plots.
According to the report that Shino had sent via his insects, both Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke were alive and well in Rice Field Country. Naturally, he left out where exactly.
Kabuto was supposedly dead by the Uchiha�s hand and Orochimaru had been sealed inside the Kyuubi�s prison. That was definitely an odd turn of events to Tsunade. She wasn�t even sure that it was possible, but if the report was accurate, then she couldn�t help but feel a twinge of pity for her former teammate. She didn�t even want to theorize what a several thousand year old demon would do with a new form of entertainment. She wouldn�t have been surprised to learn that his soul had been torn apart by now.
The frustrating part was that even though Naruto was apparently in control and Sasuke was with him, he refused to come home. According to Aburame, the blonde idiot not only was planning on facing down Itachi but was also mixed up in the Sound Village/Rice Field Country politics.
She had received the announcement that Otogakure was in the middle of raising a new Otokage. She half snickered at the title. Only the five main countries had the power to call their leaders �kage.� She paused as a sudden thought shot a cold rush through her system.
Surely Naruto wasn�t� �No, they wouldn�t,� she tried to reassure herself. It was an idiotic thought. Still, she frowned down at the scroll.
She had to get Naruto home. The longer he was gone, the more the council was convinced that they were right. The longer he was gone, the more of a chance that he would be sealed and confined to the village when he returned.
Tsunade hated to have any ill feelings towards her village, but if she knew for a fact that that was indeed to be his fate when he returned, then she would do what she could to make sure no one ever found him. At least the council would never get wind of his whereabouts. She would rather he be a missing-nin than chained down like that. She knew what it would do to his spirit.
A knock on the door interrupted her musings.
Izumo stuck his head inside the door. �The three that you requested are here, Hokage-sama.�
�Send them in,� she instructed.
Naruto�s academy instructor, his jounin instructor and his teammate walked into the room. Tsunade waited until the door was shut before she addressed the three.
�What you are about to hear is classified,� she stated. �No one, and I mean no one, is to hear what I have to tell you three. Do you understand?�
All three nodded solemnly and with great curiosity, although Kakashi was better able to hide it than the other two.
�I called you three in here because you are the closest to Naruto and I think you deserve to be updated on his situation,� she continued.
By now, Iruka and Sakura both had a concerned expression.
�Team Eight and Sai have located both Naruto and Sasuke,� Tsunade stated quietly.
Kakashi immediately straightened from his bored slouch.
�Unfortunately, it doesn�t appear as if he is ready to come back yet,� she added wryly.
�Do you want me to go and fetch him?� Kakashi asked casually, as if asking if he should go down to the store for some milk.
�Have you forgotten what they want to do to him when he gets back here?� Iruka asked bitterly.
Kakashi slid a look at the academy teacher. �He made a conscious decision to disobey orders and left the village. I understand he wants to save his friend, but he also has to face the consequences for his actions,� he explained calmly.
�You�ve never understood anything about him,� Iruka said tightly.
Kakashi�s single eye widened slightly in surprise. �Excuse me?�
�You heard me,� Iruka said loudly, trying to keep himself from shouting like he usually did when his temper got the best of him. �You�ve underestimated him and disregarded him from day one! The only thing you were ever concerned about was your precious Uchiha prodigy. Hell, look at the Chuunin Exam! You dropped Naruto onto someone he didn�t even know and used to hate his guts so you could spend all your time training Sasuke. Face it, you never had faith that Naruto would win against Hyuuga Neji so you didn�t even try training him.�
�No, I never figured Naruto would have won, but that isn�t why I didn�t train him,� Kakashi growled out. �Sasuke had other problems at that time. He was going up against a killer-�
�And we saw how well that one worked, Naruto is the one that defeated Gaara,� Iruka interrupted with a thoughtful tap on his chin.
Kakashi clenched his teeth beneath his mask. �And I had to train Sasuke to try to keep him away from Orochimaru.�
�Again, another shining success,� Iruka said sarcastically. �He got one look at how much Naruto had advanced under a real sensei and bailed on you.� He shot a look at Sakura. �It didn�t take much longer to lose your last student after that, did it?�
Kakashi felt his blood boil. He didn�t know how or why, but it never took Iruka long to get under his skin.
Tsunade watched expressionlessly as Kakashi�s hands clenched into fists. She could have easily stopped the two but for one, it was amusing; two, perhaps Kakashi needed to hear it and three, perhaps Iruka needed to say it.
�It was only after Naruto spent those two and half years with Jiraiya that you finally saw the potential that the rest of us had seen all along,� Iruka said with self-righteousness. �Of course,� he added darkly, �I�m sure it helped that your precious prodigy wasn�t here to blind you once again.�
Sakura, who had been stunned throughout this whole exchange, watched in astonishment as her usually laid back instructor grabbed Iruka by the shoulders and slammed him into the wall.
The two men glared at each other for a long moment. �If you were a jounin instead of just a chuunin, then perhaps you would know what you were actually talking about,� Kakashi gritted out.
The slight shift in balance warned Kakashi that the man was about to try something, however he wasn�t expecting the knee that slammed up into him.
Iruka casually pulled himself out of the loosened grip as Kakashi continued to lean against the wall, trying to breathe through the pain. To the jounin�s credit, he didn�t drop to his knees or give any other outward sign of the blinding agony he was currently suffering.
Iruka turned to the Hokage, who quickly stopped biting her lip to stifle her laughter, and bowed slightly. �If there is nothing else, Hokage-sama?�
�You�re dismissed, Iruka,� she said with the stoic dignity that her position demanded. However, he didn�t miss the honey-colored eyes dancing in amusement. �You as well, Sakura.�
After the door had closed, Tsunade turned her attention to the jounin that was still currently leaning against her wall. �Need a hand with those, Kakashi?� she asked, trying to mask the snicker with a cough.
�No, thank you, Tsunade-hime. I�ve found some rather interesting textures on your wall and will just stand here and observe them a little bit longer if that is alright with you.�
Tsunade didn�t bother hiding the snort of laughter this time. �Feel free. Perhaps you can also meditate on whether it is wise to upset ninja school teachers or not.�
Beneath his mask, Kakashi�s lips twisted self-deprecatingly. How in the hell had a school teacher gotten the drop on him? Was he losing his touch?
Iruka was partially right in one aspect. Kakashi had never truly understood how Naruto�s mind worked, but the jounin had always tried to do what he thought was best for the boy. When he thought that the boy would improve the most by gaining control over his chakra, he got the most patient and most thorough instructor that he could find. If Ebisu could handle Konohamaru on a daily basis, he would have been fine with Naruto.
It had only become obvious to Kakashi much later that Naruto�s control was directly proportional to the amount of power he used. He hadn�t understood it. The opposite should have been true, but there it was. That had been the reason why he had designed the training with the clones. By having him maintain and utilize quite literally a thousand clones at a time, it forced him to become more aware of his limits and to learn to manage his power more efficiently.
And, yes, while he preferred working with Sasuke, it was only because they were more alike and he could understand the Uchiha better.
He only hoped that Naruto could work whatever magic that he had when it came to others and convince Sasuke to give up his quest for vengeance and come back home.
******************
Sakura wasn�t sure what to think about what she had just witnessed. She could never have imagined either sensei losing their cool in such a manner, at least when it came to another adult. Iruka-sensei had lost his temper at times at the Academy, but it was usually only with students that didn�t try very hard, skipped classes or pulled pranks. Students like Naruto.
It was enough to shake her perspective slightly, to make her realize that even her teachers were human at the end of the day.
However, that was rather minor to the other issue her mind was trying to wrap itself around. They had found Naruto and Sasuke, both boys were alive and well, but neither of them was coming home.
Her lips firmed in a hard line. They both were stubborn to a fault and needed to have their heads knocked around a few times to make them see the error of their ways. Her expression faltered slightly when she came to the conclusion that she couldn�t do much to convince them to come home when she didn�t even know where they were.
Maybe she should talk to Shikamaru. Maybe he would be able to figure out where they were so that she could persuade them to return.
She felt slightly hurt that Naruto wasn�t returning with their teammate. He had promised to bring Sasuke back. Naruto always kept his promises. She paused as her mind tried to come up with reasons for him refusing to come back. The only thing that she could think of was that Sasuke refused to come back and Naruto was biding his time, waiting for the right moment to bring the other boy home. From the last real fight that they�d had at the Valley of the End, she could understand Naruto hesitating to go up against Sasuke again. Sasuke had almost killed him last time and he had seemed even more powerful when they had seen him again with Orochimaru.
She suddenly scoffed at her thoughts. The Naruto she knew would go up and kick Shinigami himself in the shin if the Death God pissed him off enough. Naruto wasn�t afraid of anyone or anything.
Not watching where she was going, she felt herself bump into someone. Jerking her eyes up, she met the dark eyes of Rock Lee. She looked away uncomfortably and murmured an �Excuse me.�
Lee gave her a strained smile. He also had been lost in his own thoughts and had not seen his ex-girlfriend coming his way. Had he done so, he would have avoided her as he had been doing recently.
�Oh, the fault is mine, Sakura-chan,� he said quietly. There was a long awkward moment where both of them desperately searched for something to say.
They had gotten along well enough while they had been dating, but Sakura had realized after awhile that there just wasn�t any �spark� for her. Lee was sweet, kind, funny and romantic, but she just couldn�t lose herself in him. The break up had been hard on the male shinobi since he had loved Sakura for so long, but there wasn�t much you could say to someone who didn�t share your love.
�Sakura-chan,� he finally said. �I have missed your company and your conversation. It is silly to try to avoid each other in such a small village. Let us try to be friends again. Life is too short to feel such negative emotions all the time.�
Sakura felt a hard twinge of guilt. �Are you feeling negative emotions towards me, Lee-kun?� she asked, not sure if she really wanted to know the answer. Lee would never lie to her, he would tell her exactly how he had been feeling.
�It would be difficult not to feel some kind of bewilderment and pain, but my care for you overshadows those emotions.� He straightened up and gave her a smile. Not the large, brilliant smile that radiated his joy and happiness, but a smile. �Allow me to take you to lunch as a friend, where we can catch up on our youthful adventures in the time we have been separated.�
Sakura hesitated. �I don�t want to lead you on,� she murmured, refusing to look away cowardly like she wanted to.
�I understand,� he assured her. �As friends.�
She slowly smiled and nodded. �As friends.�
**************
The man sat, shrouded in the shadows. His lacquered nails slowly unrolled the scroll as he read its contents. The only light in the room was a desk lamp and it was pointed directly upon the scroll, giving little illumination to the rest of the room. The high collared cloak concealed most of his features except for the silhouette of spiky hair, the dark cloth non-descript excepting the red clouds that seemed to float on the dark fabric.
While he was not entirely ready to put his plans into motion, the current state of unrest in Rice Field Country was just too good of an opportunity to pass up. He wasn�t sure where Orochimaru was currently, but it was obvious that the snake wasn�t concerning himself with events in Sound. Now was the time to take advantage of his lapse and stir up some mischief.
It wouldn�t take much to cause the daimyo to start up another war, especially with those who had been responsible for his wife�s death. All he had to do was take the son and leave behind subtle evidence leading to the same individuals. War would break out in no time.
He didn�t want to outright kill the boy. There might be some wealth had in keeping him alive. If nothing else, it might draw out the Sannin, forcing him to defend his territory. Pride was a useful tool when used to manipulate others. He needed to be brought in for the appropriate discipline for leaving the fold. He had set a bad example for the newcomers. One that had to be rectified in a most gruesome way.
He would send Itachi and his partner to take care of the matter. Both of them were excellent at infiltration and being sent on what Itachi would see as a menial task would serve as a subtle reminder that he was unhappy with the Uchiha�s lack of progress with the Jinchuuriki that he was supposed to obtain.
It amazed him that the best shinobi he had was constantly being thwarted in his mission. It seemed that the vessel had an unseemly amount of luck as well as very powerful friends. Of course there were rumors that the child had left the Leaf, whether on a mission or because he defected was unknown. There were also rumors linking him to Orochimaru. It just gave him another reason to send Itachi to ensnare the old man and get answers from him.
It wouldn�t be long before he had his war, Orochimaru and the Nine-tails.
*******************
The young boy hid within the armoire as he listened to the sounds of fighting. He wanted the blue-eyed boy that they called Naruto back or the darker one that was his friend. He had thought that he was safe with these people that had taken him in, but he had been wrong.
He remembered the looks of horror on their faces when they had entered the room after the assassin had stopped screaming. Not that her screams had lasted long. He could tell immediately that they blamed him for both deaths even though it was apparent that Hanzaki-san had been killed with a precision cut. He made cuts, but they were never that clean.
His sensei had said that as he got older and learned better control, his cuts would be better. He had made sure he looked happy at the news because he didn�t want to make his sensei angry. When his sensei was angry, he was punished even if he had done nothing wrong.
Now, however, he didn�t even have that familiarity to give his world a sense of stability. The next day had been spent trying to decide what to do with him after they had locked him into this windowless room. That night, the attack had come.
He didn�t know who was attacking the village or why. He just hoped that they didn�t blame this on him as well.
He wanted Naruto to come back.
**********************
Sai walked beside Hinata as they explored the rooms down the corridor that they had chosen. He had to admit that he didn�t mind being paired with the pale-eyed girl. Unlike many other people, she had an openness to her that put Sai at ease. He didn�t have to guess what she was thinking or feeling because she didn�t try to hide it. He didn�t have to worry about how to act around her because she accepted him as he was. Sure she tried to correct his behaviors and make him more socially acceptable, but she wasn�t doing it to make him more of how she thought he should be, but rather to make it easier for him to move about in society.
And she was fun to provoke.
They entered a larger room, her moving ahead with her bloodline limit activated to look for any traps. Hinata�s only warning was a sudden flare in chakra before the room was shrouded in fog.
She frowned in confusion. Even with fog, she should still be able to see something. Unless it was�
�Genjutsu.�
Sai�s head immediately tilted as the girl paused before him. A moment later, the fog rolled into his vision as well. He quickly brought his hands together and tried to dispel the illusion. �Kai!�
The fog seemed to shimmer a moment, but then solidified. He reached over to grab Hinata to make sure they didn�t get separated and cursed when his hand passed right through the form of the girl next to him. His ears picked up a hissing sound that was immediately familiar. Smoke bombs. Noxious fumes started filling the room, causing his eyes to water and his head to spin.
The tone of the hissing changed and he frowned in confusion. He didn�t recognize it at first. As the fangs sank into his leg, he belatedly identified the noise. Snakes.
He hesitated, torn between wanting to find Hinata and removing himself to safety to better ascertain the situation and how to deal with it. Finally deciding that he wouldn�t be any use to the girl wandering around in a genjutsu fog, he made the motions to teleport himself back to one of the outer rooms. He reached down to draw up his chakra and found� nothing. There was something preventing him from using his chakra. Had it been totally gone, it would have killed him, so he knew it was still there. Yet, it was out of his reach.
His head whipped up as a monstrous figure came out of the fog, body in the air in the middle of a flying kick aimed at his head. Sai�s instincts immediately took over as he side-stepped and grabbed the ankle of the thing then used his hold to throw the creature to the other side of the room, where it disappeared into the fog again.
*************************
Kiba retched again as the noxious fumes assaulted his perceptive olfactory senses. He had lost track of both Akamaru and Sasame in the accursed fog that had enveloped the room. As he was busy on all fours trying to empty his stomach of things that he had eaten a week ago, he didn�t see the serpent until it had sunk its fangs into the back of his hand.
Hissing in a mix of surprise and pain, he grabbed the creature intent on ending its miserable life, but he found it unnecessary. After it had delivered the strike, the thing had stopped moving and promptly shriveled up almost looking mummified.
Putting aside the need for stealth, he let out a bellow. �Akamaru!�
His companion didn�t respond, but he did hear something behind him. Turning, he saw a creature that resembled some kind of human/wolf hybrid raise it eyes to glare at him with shining silvery eyes, as if the moonlight had been captured and contained in them. The thing gave a howl and started barreling at him on all fours.
He grabbed his kunai and crouched, ready to dodge at the last moment. Just as the beast reached out for him, he leapt to the side, throwing his dagger. He scored at hit in its side, causing the monstrosity to yelp out in pain.
He yanked out another kunai and set himself to prepare for another charge. Where the hell were his teammates?
**********************
Naruto quickly blocked several rapid kicks before jumping back to get some range away from the bulky, furred bi-pedal creature. The damn thing was fast however and was immediately in his face, clawed hand balled up in a fist the size of a sledgehammer that could probably hit just as hard as one. He ducked and swept his foot out, trying to trip the thing up, but it adroitly flipped back out of the way.
The thing raised its muzzle and gave a howl. As Naruto surveyed it, trying to find some kind of weak point or something, it gave a sharp bark. Then the damn thing reached out a clawed hand and gestured him toward it tauntingly.
Scowling, Naruto launched himself up in the air, letting several kunai fly toward it. His stomach lurched as the rank fumes played havoc with his lunch again, but he fought to keep from gagging. He couldn�t reach his chakra after the two damn snakes had bitten him, but he could always pull up Kyuubi�s if he was pushed to it. However, the venom must have had some kind of side effect because he kept getting dizzy spells as well as stomach cramps.
�Naruto!� Sasuke called out again, warily watching the creature in front of him. He had lost track of the dobe when the fog had risen up and hadn�t been able to locate him before this thing had come out of the mist. He couldn�t use his Sharingan because of the damn snake venom. He had recognized the damn serpent after it had bit him.
Something that Orochimaru had dreamed up early in his career, the snake had one dose of a chakra blocking venom that it could inject before then subsequently dying. The side effects were dizziness, nausea and could sometimes cause a chakra imbalance that laid a person out for several days. Luckily it wore off and didn�t do permanent damage. It was usually used in traps where someone could then capture the weakened enemy. It was also useful as a delaying tactic.
Sasuke let out a curse as he wondered where the hell Naruto was and if he was safe. He frowned and shook his head. Better that he worried about himself first and then try to find his friend, but to do that he had to take out this thing in front of him.
He stuck out his arm and waved it toward him, hoping to goad it into attacking. It was apparent that the furred beast had some kind of intelligence; he just hoped that it wasn�t a lot. He watched as the thing before him extended it claws several inches before somehow detaching them and throwing them at him as it leapt into the air.
He flung himself into the air as well to meet the beast before he could get his feet back on the ground. Clawed hands flew at him and he had to do some fancy blocking to keep himself from being sliced open. He landed a kick to the thing�s ribs and it went hurtling off in a different direction than its original trajectory.
He felt his stomach clench and had to remind himself to not make any more sudden moves like that. He had to defeat the creature but he couldn�t protect himself if he was emptying his stomach.
The fighting continued for a short while between them. The creature seemed to only possess physical attacks. Strangely enough, the flow of the fight was almost familiar, like a dance he had performed before. While he couldn�t use his Sharingan, he still had a very analytical mind and his memory from which to draw.
Naruto glared at the beast before him. He just wanted to lie down and baby his stomach for the next week. It was time to end this damn fight because, frankly, he felt like shit and wanted to rest. He reached inside and pulled on the Kyuubi�s chakra. Not enough to surround himself with an aura, but enough so that he could perform his Kage Bushin no jutsu and a Rasengan.
Sasuke�s eyes widened as two more of the creatures suddenly appeared before him. The two new monsters held out their hands and shot fire into the hand of the first being.
Everything suddenly clicked in Sasuke�s mind.
�Shit! Naruto, damn you, it�s me!� he yelled out at the beast before him.
Naruto lifted an eyebrow as the man-like beast before him started howling and growling. The blonde couldn�t help but smirk. �Yeah, you know I�m about to kick your ass, don�t you?�
Sasuke bit off another curse as the illusion that covered Naruto�s form came at him, the ball of fire, which he knew was really a whirling ball of chakra, aimed at his chest. He leapt back out of the way, trying to stay away from the seemingly flaming sphere.
Naruto frowned as the beast kept hopping about like some rabbit strung out on crack. �Hold still, fucker!� he growled out, his aching head and stomach shortening his already volatile temper. Finally he was forced to let the jutsu dissipate as the concentration was making his dizziness worse.
He was surprised when the creature merely crouched a moderate distance away from him and made no further move. He studied for a long moment before deciding it was finally safe for him to vomit all over the floor.
Sasuke winced as Naruto was sick all over the floor. He felt his own stomach churn at the sight and sound, but he forced himself to hold it in, even if he did look away. Afterwards, he sighed and, although it grated on his pride, kept his body low to the ground and crawled towards the blonde, keeping his head down in a submissive posture.
Naruto frowned in confusion as the animal-like creature crouched down and scooted closer to him. It moved slowly, hesitantly and kept its eyes lowered away from his own. He recognized the posture on some instinctual level that had nothing to do with his evolved humanity and everything to do with his more primitive ancestors.
He tensed, ready to fight or spring away at the slightest provocation. The beast carefully rested itself against his leg, lying down completely on the cold, hard stone floor. Naruto cautiously moved a hand toward it, but it lay still and didn�t react. He dropped his hand onto coarse fur and gently petted the things neck, staying well away from its mouth.
It growled and rumbled something at him, which caused him to freeze for a long moment. When it just heaved a big sigh and closed its eyes, he resumed his caresses. He wanted to do nothing more than sleep right now to try to be unconscious while his stomach was upset, but there was no way he was going to let his guard down around the monster.
Sighing, he settled himself more comfortably by crossing his legs under him. He would start looking for a door and a way out of this place in a moment. Right now, he just wanted the room to stop spinning.
*************************
Shino frowned as the appointed time arrived while his teammates did not. Not wanting to leave and not be there if they did show up, he sent out his insects down each corridor to try to locate his missing companions.
It didn�t take long for the miniature scouting party to return with news of their whereabouts. It seemed that most were injured and all were immobilized. They further expressed their confusion over his teammates� chakra. Naturally the insects couldn�t give him details and complicated situations were beyond their ability to comprehend, but they were clearly agitated over the state of his friends� chakra.
He had the creatures lead him to the left down the intersection in hall, heading toward Sai and Hinata. If there was indeed something wrong with their chakra, then Hinata would be the first choice to retrieve so that she could help figure out what was wrong.
When he got to the room to which he was led, he found the two shinobi laid out on the ground. It was apparent that they had been in some kind of fight and that they were both injured, but not as severely as he might have feared.
He cautiously entered the room and when nothing untoward occurred, he hurried over to his companions. They were both unconscious with multiple bruises and cuts all over their bodies.
It was while he was quickly bandaging them up that he found the evidence of snake bites on both of their bodies. Scowling in concern, he had his insects find a room that was free from any kind of chakra signatures and relocated the Leaf-nin there. He then went the opposite direction in search of Naruto and, more importantly, Sasuke. Out of all of them, he would probably be the most familiar with snake venoms.
When he found the two teens, he became even more concerned over the poison. The two were just as unconscious as the first two had been. Sasuke with his head on Naruto�s knee and Naruto sprawled on the floor like he had fallen over while sitting. Neither boy looked as badly cut up as Hinata or Sai, but they were both just as unresponsive and both had the bite marks.
Scrunching his nose at the acrid smell of bile from nearby, he carefully moved the two into the same room with the others. He felt Naruto stir in his arms as he set the teen down.
�Sasuke,� the blonde murmured before sinking back into oblivion.
�You always did have a one-track mind,� Shino sighed as he settled him down next to his best friend.
He found Kiba, Sasame and even Akamaru in the same state. The only thing he could figure by the wounds on their bodies is that either the snake venom induced hallucinations to make them turn on each other and/or made them unable to use their chakra. None of them had wounds that denoted the use of ninjutsu. He wasn�t completely sure and would have to wait until someone regained consciousness to be sure. If they stayed in their catatonic state, then he would have to send for help. Unfortunately he wasn�t sure if he could direct the insects back to the Sound village. However, he knew where he could send them that they associated with home.
He just hoped that Naruto would forgive him if it came to that.
Chapter 49
Naruto slowly surfaced to consciousness. He had vague remembrances of lying in shallow water, watching red mist move above his head. He recalled the giant fox holding down a rather pissed off Sannin under one paw as it worked on purging his system of the chakra impairing poison.
�Ah, you�re awake, good,� Shino�s voice said quietly.
Naruto blinked his eyes open to bring a plain stone ceiling into focus. He slowly moved his head to the side to see Sai stretched out with the two unconscious members of Team Eight (three counting Akamaru) on the ground. They seemed to be sporting numerous bandages. His eyes then slid to the other side to see Sasuke stretched out next to him with Sasame on further. He didn�t appear to be injured.
�What happened?� he asked groggily.
�That�s what I was about to ask you,� Shino replied.
Naruto frowned as his memory stirred. �We walked into this room and this fog came out of nowhere. Then there were smoke bombs; they smelled like shit. Then there were the fucking snakes. After that some strange wolf-like creature attacked.� He hesitated. �It was really weird, one moment it was attacking me and then the next it was acting all submissive and stuff.�
�From the wounds on the others it looks as if you were all under some form of a genjutsu that made you see each other as enemies,� Shino explained. �The others haven�t shown any signs of recovering yet. I don�t know if that is from the snake poison or not. I can only assume that you�re awake since you heal faster than the others.�
�Do we need to go get help?� he asked worriedly.
�Their condition doesn�t seem to be getting worse,� Shino said thoughtfully. �But we can�t just wait indefinitely. You all have been out since yesterday. If no one else is awake by tomorrow, I would say we need to send for help. Can you access your chakra?�
Naruto sat up and brought his hands together, a look of concentration on his face as he molded his chakra. �Yeah,� he answered after he let the power sink back into him. �I�m good now.�
�That gives us hope that the others will recover then,� he murmured.
Naruto hesitated and then spoke up. �But Kyuubi cleaned out my system. I don�t know if it would have gone away naturally or not.�
Shino frowned at the news.
Naruto�s stomach took that opportunity to complain loudly. His eyes widened slightly. �Is there a bathroom nearby?�
The other teen nodded. �There�s one two doors down to the right. Kiba�s team had passed through it before they set off the trap. It�s safe.�
Naruto was already up and practically out the door. Kyuubi might have cleaned out the poison, but it didn�t just magically disappear and his body was trying to rid itself of the foreign materials.
Some time later, he returned looking a bit pale, but his expression was more relaxed.
�We still need to see if there is any useful information in this place,� he muttered.
�I would suggest against it,� Shino advised. �Five of our members are down and we don�t know when they will recover or even if they will recover. We know that the place is abandoned, but trapped. We need to fall back, regroup and try again.�
Naruto frowned, not liking the fact that, in his mind, they had failed in their mission.
�Our goal was to take out Kyoshiro. He is not here, so therefore our goal cannot be met at this time,� Shino further pointed out after noticing the look on Naruto�s face.
Heaving a sigh, Naruto reluctantly nodded. �What about the basement?� he asked suddenly.
�I doubt they left their monster down there,� Shino said after a moment�s thought. �If it was valuable, they took it with them. If it wasn�t, they would have released it up here to take out intruders.�
�Unless they have it guarding something specific and didn�t want it stumbling into the traps,� Naruto pointed out.
�Either way, I don�t think we are up to taking on anything powerful at this time,� Shino said with a shrug.
Naruto nodded in reluctant agreement and fell silent for a few moments. �You ready to travel?� he asked finally.
�I am fine,� Shino stated. �The question would be if you�re ready since you�re the one that just woke up.�
Naruto�s gaze swept over his friends� still forms. �Even if I wasn�t, I�m better off than they are and they need our help.� He brought his fingers together in a familiar shape. �Let�s get them back and get them medical attention.�
With a muttered �Kage Bushin no jutsu,� several clones appeared around the blonde teen. He felt queasy to his stomach for a long moment before the feeling subsided.
The clones moved over to his friends and began to pick them up, maneuvering them onto their backs. While he personally had wanted to carry Sasuke, the clones were having a hard time trying to hoist Akamaru without getting crushed in the process. Sighing, he moved over and lifted the heavy canine onto his shoulders, wearing him like a fur wrap.
Once everyone was secure, they started the long trek back to the village.
**********************
It had taken them three days to get to the base in Grass Country moving at ninja speeds. Carrying their comrades necessitated moving slower and Naruto estimated it would probably take them twice that to get back.
Sasuke regained consciousness on the second day out.
�Hold up,� one of his clones called as the Uchiha started to stir against the clone�s back.
They all slowed to a halt as the clone set Sasuke down on a branch.
�Hey, bastard,� Naruto said with a smile. He carefully set Akamaru down and went to kneel by his lover. �How�re you feeling?�
Sasuke ran a hand over his face and blinked a few times. �Been better,� he muttered. He looked around to get his bearings. His eyes fell on the other shinobi being carried. �I take it we all fell into the trap?�
�Heh, yeah, you could say something like that,� Naruto said with a sheepish grin.
�Can you tell us anything about the snakes?� Shino asked, his voice devoid of inflection.
Sasuke shrugged. �The venom is annoying, but not deadly. They should wake up anytime between now and a few days from now. Depends on how badly the venom messed with their chakra flow.�
Naruto held out a canteen to the other teen and watched as he tilted his head back and rapidly began to swallow, his Adam�s apple bobbing with the motion.
Before Naruto could caution him to take it easy, he stopped drinking to take a deep breath. He handed the canteen back and began to stand to his feet.
�You okay to travel?� Naruto asked in concern. He could see that the other teen was wavering on his feet, the poison in his system still having effects on his equilibrium.
�I�m fine,� Sasuke replied with a scowl.
Naruto rolled his eyes before directing them in a look at his clone. The clone nodded almost imperceptibly, understanding that he wanted it to stay next to the Uchiha in case it was needed.
They continued onward, their pace preventing very much interaction between the teens. If they weren�t traveling then they were on watch while the others slept. At least at night Naruto got to spend a few hours cuddled up with his raven-haired friend.
The next to wake up was Sai. As soon as he had found out what had happened, he had insisted on carrying Hinata himself. He had suffered only minor injuries since, without her chakra, most of her attacks were basic taijutsu which he was also well trained in and was able to avoid. However, he had used his sword when he had fought her and had left several shallow wounds on her body.
Naruto had at first surrendered Hinata�s still unconscious form. However, when the older boy had stumbled and almost dropped her as they were traveling through the trees, Naruto took the girl back and forced Sai to allow a clone to carry him as well. It was a measure of how badly he was feeling when he gave into Naruto�s demands with only minor protest.
On the fifth day they finally entered the village.
Naruto looked around in confusion, a sinking feeling dropping into his stomach. He recognized the marks on various surfaces left by weapons, the black smear of soot from fire that edged several buildings and the deserted streets stank of recent fear.
They wordlessly agreed to stick to the shadows as they made their way to Hanzaki�s headquarters, the gentleman�s club.
It was a surprise when they were met with hard faces and bared weapons at first. However, once the two guards, barely older than a genin would be, saw Sasame they reluctantly let the Leaf-nin inside.
Once everyone was settled down onto futons in a room large enough, Naruto turned to one of the young shinobi. �Where�s Hanzaki?�
The boy�s face hardened a moment before he muttered an �I�ll get someone.� He turned and raced from the room, not wanting to leave the foreigners without supervision longer than necessary. Ten minutes later the boy was back so that he could watch them, but he was alone.
Sasuke raised an elegant, dark brow at the preteen and the kid shifted uneasily under the dark gaze. �Your arrival has been announced,� he muttered while tearing his eyes away from the Uchiha�s.
Another ten minutes went by before the door opened again. Inside stepped an older woman carrying what looked to be a large medical kit that was usually lugged around by someone who knew what they were doing as well as two adult shinobi. Both men scrutinized the assembled ninja suspiciously. Naruto could tell that they both had wounds from whatever battle had occurred.
As the woman began looking over the injured, one of the men pulled the young boy aside and spoke in a low tone to him. The boy darted out of the door and the quick patter of feet ran off down the hallway. A few moments later the door opened again to readmit the boy. He quickly whispered to the older man and the man nodded in acknowledgement.
�Our leader is ready to speak to you now,� he announced in a deep tone.
�I�ll stay here,� Shino volunteered. He didn�t want to leave his teammates behind with the strange tension in the air and he knew that Naruto and Sasuke were more familiar with the individuals in the village.
Sai beamed a happy smile at Shino, who ignored it completely.
Sasuke and Naruto stood and followed the older man as he led them down the hall and to the room Hanzaki used. The man nodded to the two shinobi stationed on either side of the door. Naruto noticed that they, too, looked like they had been in a recent fight. He also noticed that they were uneasy around each other and not just because he and Sasuke were present.
Sasuke�s eyes narrowed slightly as they were led into the room. His eye for detail immediately picked up the fact that the lacquered table was missing and all of the cushions had been replaced. The faintest traces of stains could be seen on some of the walls as well as the floor. They had been scrubbed, but clearly they hadn�t had time to repaint or revarnish anything. Noting how high some of the stains were, his eyes automatically lifted where he was able to see the rusty red color clearly on the ceiling.
�It�s good to see that you are alive,� a voice that was not Hanzaki�s stated quietly.
Naruto had immediately noticed that Hanzaki was not present. Instead, Ren, the man who had entered his mind via Sasuke�s Sharingan, sat on the cushion at the head of the room. His flowing grey kimono hid his body completely below the neck so it was impossible to tell what his state of health was. Flanking him were two more guards, these ones older and harder looking than they had seen previously.
�You may leave,� Ren said calmly, looking at their escort.
The man bowed before leaving. Oddly enough, his guards relaxed slightly when the other man left.
Naruto, with all the tact and subtly at his disposal, addressed the elder. �Hey, old man,� he greeted casually, �Where�s Hanzaki?�
Sasuke twitched with the effort of preventing his eyes from rolling.
Ren calmly gestured for the two teens to sit. Once they had done so, he answered the question. �Hanzaki is no longer among us. He was slain about a week ago.�
Naruto�s eyes widened before he scowled. �Who�s responsible? And what happened while we were gone? It looks like you all were attacked!� he said angrily.
�As for who is responsible, we aren�t completely sure, although many suspect Hiroki. As for what happened,� here he paused as Naruto made an incredulous noise.
�Hiroki? As in the little rug rat?� he demanded in disbelief.
Ren nodded once. �Indeed. A girl that everyone knew well had brought in tea for Hanzaki while the boy was in the room. There were a few screams and when the guards entered the room, the boy was the only one left alive.�
�Is that the only proof you have?� Naruto practically yelled. He ignored the calming hand placed on his shoulder.
�He was covered in blood and he had�changed.� Ren overrode Naruto as the blonde opened his mouth for another furious retort. �However,� he emphasized, �with recent events, it is likely that the boy was merely defending himself, not that he has spoken to tell us what happened.�
Naruto looked both righteously indignant as well as confused so Sasuke stepped in before his friend could blow his top. �Explain.�
�You missed a very brief civil unrest,� Ren said dryly. �The clan members who had originally supported Orochimaru had apparently infiltrated our numbers. A small group of shinobi from another area met with those men with orders from someone, we suspect Kyoshiro, to attack our village. People we thought we knew and trusted turned on us and there were many deaths. Apparently killing the new Otokage had been their main goal, one which they accomplished with appalling ease.�
�So the girl had been a plant all along?� Sasuke stated.
�It seems so,� Ren acknowledged. �However, after what they had seen when they had entered the room, no one will willingly come near the boy.�
Naruto felt a sympathetic clenching of his heart. He knew what it was like to be scorned, to have people hate and fear what you were.
�As great as our losses were and as much as I feel sorry for the child, there are more important things we need to discuss,� Ren stated carefully.
�Such as?� Sasuke asked. He could tell that Naruto was still upset over the whole situation with Hanzaki, the village and the boy, but he didn�t know what to do to give him comfort here in front of others. He didn�t think his friend would want to show that kind of weakness in front of strangers or at least he knew that he himself wouldn�t want to.
�Right now we need to prevent a war from breaking out with Kingin,� Ren stated calmly, referring to the neighboring country that they had been at war with previously. �We were informed yesterday that the daimyo�s son has been kidnapped by men from Kingin. If we are unable to retrieve him, I have no doubt that we will go to war. They are the ones responsible for the death of the daimyo�s wife many years ago when we fought them before. The daimyo will not let this go if his son is harmed. What we experienced here will be just a minor skirmish compared to what will occur if that happens.�
Ren looked over the two teens carefully. �I want you two to go and rescue him. If you do this for us, then we will ask nothing more of you. You will still be welcome to stay here. We will continue to shelter and hide you, asking nothing in return. Normally, I would have our own go and retrieve Katsuro, but as you can see we are still recovering and we need to defend ourselves from further possible attack.
�The ones who took him are more than likely shinobi. Katsuro�s guards were disabled with barely any resistance and the boy was taken from the daimyo�s home in broad daylight. I am very confident that between you two, you will have very little trouble in retrieving him.�
�What about our friends?� Naruto asked.
�We will take care of them and make sure they return to health,� Ren assured him.
�When we got to the base, it was already deserted. There are traps set up, but it doesn�t look like anything besides some nasty snakes are left alive in there,� Naruto reported belatedly.
Ren nodded. �I am sure I will get a full report from Sasame. Rest for a few hours and then be ready to leave. The faster we get him back, the easier it will be to avoid a war.�
�What are you going to do with him?� Naruto suddenly asked.
Ren raised an eyebrow in askance.
�Hiroki. What are you planning on doing with him?�
�We will try to find someone who is willing to take him in,� he said in a tone that indicated a shrug although he did not physically do so.
�I will,� Naruto said with a look of determination. �I�ll take him in.�
Sasuke whipped his head around in surprise. What the hell was the dobe thinking? They were only sixteen themselves, what the hell were they supposed to do with a brat? What the hell were they going to do with him when they went off looking for Itachi?!
�I don�t want him to be with someone that will hate him or be afraid of him for something that is not his fault. I don�t want him to be alone because people refuse to acknowledge him for the person he is,� Naruto growled out in explanation.
Sasuke saw the pained look in those blue eyes and understood. Naruto didn�t want the kid growing up the way that he had, with all of the villagers hating him, cold, lonely and alone.
�Are you sure?� Ren asked. �You are young for such a responsibility.�
�If I can�t take care of him, at least I can find someone that I can trust that will,� he said stubbornly, crossing his arms over his chest.
Ren finally nodded ever so slightly, his eyes displaying an understanding. �Very well, it is done.�
�Where is he?�
�You will be taken to him and he will be placed in your custody. That means you will be held accountable for his actions. Make sure you teach him what he should and should not do,� Ren quietly advised.
Naruto nodded as he stood with Sasuke right beside him. �Thank you,� he said with genuine gratitude.
Ren let a ghost of a smile trail over his lips. �Let�s see if you still say that when you find out what it takes to raise a child.�
The teens stood but then Naruto hesitated. �Why did you never say anything about�� he trailed off.
Ren seemed to know what he wanted to ask. �We all have inner demons to deal with of one type or another. It is in wrestling with these demons that we truly show our humanity.�
Naruto nodded thoughtfully before turning to leave.
The two were let out of the room and into the hall by one of the guards. �Take him down to the boy. It�s his now,� he said shortly to the previous guard that was still waiting for them.
Naruto�s eyes narrowed and Sasuke quickly grabbed the blonde�s shoulder to keep him from doing anything stupid.
They walked silently behind the other guard as he led him down past the first floor to the basement area.
�Spit it out, Sasuke,� Naruto growled under his breath. �You�re starting to look constipated.�
Sasuke shot a glare to his companion before turning his eyes forward again. �What are you going to do with him?�
�Raise him. What else do you do with kids?�
�I meant while we�re gone on this mission and while we�re going after Itachi. You can�t bring a kid along with us! What the hell were you thinking?� Sasuke demanded quietly.
�Like I told Ren, if I have to I can leave him with Hinata or someone until we get back,� Naruto replied. �I just don�t want to leave him here. He deserves better than that. Maybe if I had been raised in a different village where no one knew, I would have had a better childhood.�
�But I never would have met you,� Sasuke thought, thankful that the �what might have been� had never occurred.
*********************
Although his name wasn�t really Hiroki, he had come to think of himself as such. He didn�t remember what his real name had been. He had only been �boy� or �child� or �Test Subject Number 32F� while he had been in the laboratory locked in a small cell.
He was locked in a small room now in the basement of what he had thought would be a safe haven. He wasn�t sure why he was in the room, apparently protecting himself had been wrong or maybe it was because he hadn�t seen what the woman was going to do and failed to protect their leader. Perhaps he was a disappointment to them.
Just like he was to his sensei back in his previous home.
His sensei was forever telling him that he wasn�t fast enough, wasn�t strong enough and didn�t move to kill quickly enough. Perhaps he had been right. Had he been faster and less hesitant to kill maybe Hanzaki-sama would have still been alive.
Maybe he really was a failed experiment.
He felt the tingling sensation in his nose, felt the burning sensation in his eyes and knew that he was about to cry. He tried to hold back because crying always angered his sensei. Crying was not for warriors, but for little babies.
He vaguely remembered a time before; before the experiments, before the lab, before he had felt the sensation of knives cutting into him as well as out of him. In before whenever he had felt this way, someone had always made it better. Someone had held him, let him cry and then dried his tears with gentle hands and kisses.
He covered his mouth with his hands so that he wouldn�t sob, forcing himself to breathe through his nose even though the harsh breaths forced snot to dribble out and onto his fingers. He didn�t want to be hurt any more. He didn�t want to hear the hateful words and feel the stinging blows from people who were disappointed in his failure.
It had been his mother. He couldn�t remember her face, but he remembered the way that she had held him. He wanted his mother. He wanted his mother to hold him again and take him away from this place.
But he knew that his mother was gone.
Despair made the tears fall no matter how hard he tried to keep them inside. He wanted his mother to come and carry him away, to make all the bad things go away so that he could smile and laugh again.
He felt the ripples start under his skin.
�No, no, nonononono!� he had to make it stop. It hurt when they came out and he was tired of the pain. He wrapped his arms around himself just like his Mommy would have done and started to rock himself. He remembered now, that was how Mommy had made him feel better.
The door opened abruptly and the light came on, flooding the chamber. He curled up instinctively, trying to protect himself from whatever would come.
�There it is,� said a harsh, disdainful voice. �Take it and get it out of here.�
�You fucking son of a-,� growled a familiar voice angrily.
Hiroki looked up just in time to see the blonde headed man throw a punch at one of the men who had kept him locked up. His training told him that the older boy had put his whole body behind the blow and he heard bone cracking under the fist.
The dark-haired teen grabbed his friend�s shoulder, stopping the other from doing more physical harm to the man that was now on the floor. �Enough, Naruto, we don�t want any trouble right now.� The implication was that they would revisit the issue at a later date, however.
That was when the blue eyes fell on Hiroki and the boy half flinched from their intensity. They immediately softened and the lips took on a gentle smile. The older boy approached him and he tried to scoot back further into the unyielding wall.
�It�s okay, Hiroki, I�m not here to hurt you. I�m so sorry for what happened while I was gone,� he said soothingly. �But I�m going to get you out of here if you want to come with me.�
He studied the blonde warily. He had been the one to save Hiroki in the first place, but he had also been the one that had left him in this place. But his eyes were asking for forgiveness and shone with an emotion that Hiroki had not seen in a long time.
The blonde crouched down and opened his arms, waiting patiently for Hiroki to make his own decision. Finally, after a long moment, the boy stood and walked with great trepidation into that tempting embrace.
Arms gently enfolded him and rubbed his back. He expected the boy, �Naruto,� he reminded himself, to immediately start shushing him, not wanting him to start bawling.
�It�s okay, Hiroki,� Naruto repeated. �It�s okay to cry when it really, really hurts.�
Hiroki�s breath hitched on a sob. He couldn�t help it, especially when Naruto started to gently rock him.
�Sometimes you have to cry out the bad tears so that you can make room for the happy ones,� Naruto murmured with a soft smile evident in his voice.
Hiroki clutched onto the front of the black shirt and buried his head into Naruto�s shoulder. Once the tears started, he couldn�t seem to get them to stop so he finally gave up and just let himself weep. Being held by Naruto was just like he remembered being held by his mother.
�Mommy,� he heard himself call out through the tears. He felt the body tense slightly against him and knew that Naruto didn�t understand. He didn�t want someone else. He threw his arms around the boy�s neck and clutched tightly. He wanted to explain, wanted to tell him, but with the body-wracking sobs the only thing he could get out was a cry of �Mommy! D-Don�t leave!�
Naruto smiled sadly as the crying boy continually wiped his face and nose on his shoulder and tightened his arms securely about the small body. He only wished he could go back to that lab and bring everyone back from the dead so that he could kill them slower and more painfully the next time.
He picked the boy up and turned to Sasuke, meeting the concerned and haunted look in the onyx eyes before they were quickly averted.
�Good luck explaining the mission to him, dobe,� Sasuke said in a quiet voice before turning and exiting the room.