Disclaimer: I do not own the characters.

For all those who are wondering, Hoka is the name given to Naruto's alter. It means other.

Chapter 19- Of Monsters and Men

"The time draws close, Sasuke-kun," Kabuto called out to Sasuke. "Please, prepare yourself."

A quick flicker of his eyes, Sasuke glanced at the white haired-nin, before turning his attention back to the man crumpled at his feet. His former spar mate was no longer breathing.

Pity, he was one of the few people who could have kept up with him. Lately, they all seemed to be dying a little too quickly for his taste. He had yet to see the full extent of his power since the day he woke from the 'experiment'. Sasuke sheathed his sword, stepping over the cadaver, he headed towards Kabuto.

"Is that all?" He asked.

"Yes, it is, "The man replied, a slippery smile on his face. "We'll be seeing you soon."

Kabuto scribbled quickly on his clipboard before spinning and exiting the training room, Sasuke watched his retreating figure disappear into the darkness as the sound of clicking heels came to a stop beside him.

A soft hand rested lightly on his bicep, as Fiji stepped into his line of sight. She gazed up at him demurely through thick dark lashes.

"Sasuke-sama," she started, "should I tell the others?"

"Yes," he murmured, "proceed as planned."

O.M.A.M

Always avoid the yes, she warned herself, training her eyes to burn away at the base of his high collar cloak, glaring at the invisible seam of the zipper.

Whoever was his seamstress was pretty damn good at her job.

God, she wished he would just burst in flames.

"Uchiha."

"Uzumaki-san."

Naruto studied the crimson clouds on his cloak next, noting the irony of the silver lining of the cloud. She scoffed at fate's cruel joke.

Well, there was one good thing, she had not sensed another chakra for the miles she had been running. Would that mean Fishy McFishface was nowhere around? But, there is no need to throw caution to the wind, no such thing as being too cautious. She cast a Shadow Clone Jutsu earlier, and six versions of herself stood to face the defector.

"What do you want?" asked a clone furthermost to the right after a moment of unbearable silence. "You obviously have not come here to capture me, you would have done so long ago."

Her body was tense, awaiting his answer.

"You've grown, I see, mentally at least."

Naruto raised a quizzical eyebrow.

Was he trying to make a joke?

Her brow furrowed and her nose crinkled.

"How tasteless of you to mention that," she replied.

She watched as the man sigh.

Sigh?!

This was the most emotion or animation she has ever seen from this man.

Naruto did not like it. Not one bit.

"I was merely trying to set you at ease with a joke I'm sure you've heard from many of your companions."

Naruto's nostrils flared in anger.

"For fuck's sake, Itachi, you and I both know that we are not on fucking friendly terms for you to say that to me."

He raised his arms in a placating manner.

"I don't mean you harm, I would, however, like for you to hear me out."

She stood silently, choosing not to spit out the nasty remark she had on the tip of her tongue.

"I need your help."

It took all of her willpower to not stare him dead in the face. Who the hell is this man? Surely this was not the Uchiha Itachi that she knew. One of her clone's mouth dropped open and shrieked out.

"Nani?"

He continued, ignoring the outburst, "I need you to help me get Sasuke back to Konoha."

She scoffed.

"Sasuke is a grown man, capable of making his own choices, which he did, might I add and furthermore-"

"He's not safe," he interrupted.

"Suddenly, you care about his well being, hardy har. Change of heart?" Her remark was snide, not believing a word falling from his lips. "Kami, Itachi, I feel like you've put me in a genjutsu."

"Impossible," he added. "You have not once looked me in the eye."

"Pretty reasonable on my part," she answered back.

He sighed again.

"Look, I've...made a mistake, my brother is consumed by hatred and it's my fault. I never planned for it to be this way."

"What makes you think that I can help you get him back?"

"My brother still cares for you. You are his most precious person."

A twinge of pain shot through her chest.

"Fucking hell," she breathed in frustration. "I never took you as a liar before, I just asked a simple question. There's no need to lie."

One of her clones snarled, "I know for a fact that he does not care for us! He shoved a Chidori through our chest."

Naruto and her other clones frowned, she nodded in agreement, her spine-tingling, her eyes shot over to watch the clone closer. Its choice of words seemed odd.

Itachi nodded once.

"And that's how I know you are his most precious person, "Itachi spoke. "Trust my words, it will become clear."

"Trust you? How can WE trust you?"The same clone hissed as it too a restless step forward.

What the hell was it doing? She had ordered all her clones to remain a certain distance away from the missing-nin. Then, why was it doing this?

It was as if it had a mind of its own.

"Please, Naruto-san. He is your closest friend."

"Wrong," the clone's voice was cold, "maybe he was at one point one of our precious people but that has changed. He betrayed us. He broke OUR heart."

"What are you doing?"She bellowed at the clone.

Terrified that it seemed to be revealing her deepest thoughts.

Naruto's heart stopped, her eyes wide as the clone faced her.

"I am protecting US," it answered.

It was Hoka. How did she...'get out'?

In a panic, Naruto dispelled her clones.

"Uzumaki-san," Itachi started, she heard his tone, questioning and concerned.

"I won't help you." She snapped out, taking measured steps back.

"What if I have something to offer you?"b

She peered at him through half-lowered lashes.

"Information on the Akatsuki," he continued.

Slowly he pulled a scroll from his cloak. "If you help me, this will be yours."

"I think I'm losing my mind. I don't know who to trust. These days everyone's shady. Fool me once, I'm on my own. There is no second time, baby." - Bazzi

Thanks for waiting, sorry for being two days late, life gets in the way.