Title: "No Major Harm"

Author: Shaitanah

Rating: R (overall)

Timeline: chapter 411+

Summary: Look inside you, they said. Naruto looked – and got a lot more than he bargained for. Canon meets AU… and they change places![Sasuke/Naruto] Please R&R!

Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Kishimoto Masashi. Naruto Pilot Chapter also belongs to Kishimoto Masashi. Lyrics and chapter title from The Wounded Angel by Rg Gregory. Several quotes taken from Naruto Chapter 403.

A/N: As usual I'm less than satisfied with this chapter, but I've been holding it long enough. Besides, it's Naruto's birthday, so have a heavily Naruto-centric chapter. XD Thanks to everyone who reads and reviews this story!

Chapter 11

Into Paralysis

are we martyrs heroes villains
should we drop the thing and run
will we be decorated or scolded
- something new beneath the sun

The City

Naruto covered his nose instinctively as he entered the smoke-filled reception room of the police station. It was difficult to see through puffs of smoke. Everyone was dashing to and fro hectically. Naruto sought out an officer that didn't seem too busy and stated his business.

A moment later he was propelled into a crowded office and, having narrowly escaped collision with two very lively and tank-like men, finally located Itachi. The elder Uchiha was barely visible from behind a huge pile of papers scattered chaotically all over it. A telephone cable wound all around him. The receiver was squeezed between his ear and his shoulder, a notepad clutched in his hand. He was running a pen over its sheet briskly, listening attentively to whatever the person on the other side was saying.

Naruto grinned at him. He would never have thought Uchiha Itachi could look funny.

"Yes, thank you very much," Itachi said, flashing Naruto a killing glance. "Have a nice day."

He hung up and practically fell out of the cable noose and onto a pile of books rising from the floor.

"Hi," Naruto said, trying to sound neutral and polite, but the merriment in his voice was painfully obvious.

"What are you doing here?" Itachi asked.

"Uhm… Did Sasuke tell you anything about… anything?"

Itachi cocked an eyebrow at that. "You mean your little trip to Asagiri and the part you played in it?" Naruto winced, causing Uchiha to chuckle. "No, he didn't. But your face just did."

Naruto scowled in indignation. He couldn't help it; his facial expressions were far too lively. So much for ninja being in control of their emotions.

"I was hoping you'd help me again," he changed the subject quickly. "There's a person I need to find, and there's no info in the information booth."

Itachi tore himself away from flipping through one of the volumes and spared him a stern glance.

"I thought I told you to stay away from that girl, Naruto-kun."

"No! No girls!" Naruto protested. "This one's very much a guy." Now that came out… just wrong. The youth cleared his throat noisily. "So can I count on you?"

Something flashed through the smoke. Naruto craned out his neck and saw a crammed piece of paper land on Itachi's desk. Apparently it was a communiqué of a sort; Itachi unfolded it and hemmed thoughtfully as he read the contents. Having finished it, he nodded briskly at Naruto's request.

"We really are snowed under with work here," he said. "Let's get it over with. Give me the details."

"Well…" Naruto drew out, "he's presumably alive." That earned him an ironic, 'that's-already-something' kind of a glance. "And if he is, he's a little over fifty, got this crazy white hair and is probably a writer of… y'know, porn. The name's Jiraiya."

Itachi arched his eyebrows and chuckled, visibly relaxed.

"And here I thought this could be a challenge," he muttered on his way to another desk. Naruto followed him, confused.

Itachi rummaged through a crammed drawer and fished out a small orange book. Naruto's heart leapt. That was it! Could he really be alive in this world?

"You mean this Jiraiya, don't you?" Itachi clarified and tapped on the portrait on the backside of the cover.

Naruto snatched the book away from him and peered at it intently. It was a familiar Icha Icha volume with slightly different ornaments on the cover. Naruto's face brightened into a sly smile. He never thought he would be so happy to see this particular book.

"He is famous," Naruto exhaled.

"You bet he is. He was one of the Sannin, the human/demon power-based triumvirate. After the triumvirate ceased to exist at the end of the Last Great War, Jiraiya became a hermit. He was a police informer, too. Helped out on numerous occasions. Nowadays, however, he wants nothing to do with us."

Naruto snorted. It seemed Ero-sennin would always renounce publicity.

"Can I please have my book back if you are done worshipping it?" a soft, velveteen voice uttered right above his ear. A hand appeared seemingly out of nowhere and collected out of Naruto's grip. "Thank you."

Naruto spun around and gaped at the newcomer.

"Kakashi-sen…" he gasped before forcibly silencing himself. He had to remind himself this person was in fact a mere stranger who simply looked like his sensei.

Like almost everyone here, Kakashi bore a remarkable likeness to his otherworldly counterpart. The same wild silvery hair, the same mildly searching look, the mask over the lower part of his face… but two eyes. Both of his eyes were healthy and natural dark. There was no scar across the left one.

Kakashi chuckled at Naruto's befuddlement and let his gaze pass over to Itachi.

"A friend of yours?"

"Already leaving," Itachi said listlessly.

Naruto allowed himself to be hauled away rapidly, but he turned to cast one last look at Kakashi. The man was staring at him unblinkingly.

"Jiraiya can mostly be found in his own bookstore that sells mostly his own books," Itachi said, scribbling the address on a scrap of paper. "You know him?"

It took Naruto a moment to understand that he was talking about Kakashi. The youth shrugged.

"Thought I might."

"Stay away from him. He's a bit out of your league." Itachi handed him the paper. It remained clutched between his fingers as Naruto attempted to pull it out. "Not until you tell me what it is that you want with Jiraiya."

"Er… I'm a fan," Naruto grinned.

Itachi's face radiated no enthusiasm. He let go of the paper and returned to his business.

"Try not to get yourself in too much trouble, Naruto-kun," he said instead of good-bye as Naruto made it to the exit.

"Hey, you're not my big bro!" the youth laughed. Itachi's reply surprised him:

"I might as well be, seeing as you're so hung up on Sasuke."

To Naruto's amazement, he failed to find any words of protest. After all, having somebody to look out for him in this unfamiliar world wasn't such a bad thing.

"Right," he said, if a tad peevishly. "But don't expect me to call you Itachi-nii-chan!"

The bookshop Jiraiya owned was lost in the maze of stone-clad alleys near the old centre of the city. Sun filtered through its high windows, trapped craftily in the facing of dark reddish wood. Naruto peered inside through the sparkling glass. The place seemed much bigger on the inside. The youth swallowed, overwhelmed by sudden uneasiness, and stepped in. The bell announced his coming.

The air was permeated with mingled scents of cinnamon, oil and old leather. Three massive shelves right in the centre of the shop were chock-full of Icha Icha volumes and thus made a wild contrast to tall, sturdy bookcases that lined the walls. Naruto drew closer to the familiar orange and green books when a voice coming somewhere from above made him halt.

"Oi, how old are you?" the voice asked gruffly. "I'm not going to jail for corruption of minors, or whatever it is that they wanna fit me up, again!"

The steps of a winding staircase hiding in the corner of the shop creaked heavily. Naruto held his breath. Yes! It was Ero-sennin. Unchanged, the one he remembered so vividly. In spite of him, Naruto felt a biting sensation in his nose.

Jiraiya surveyed him with a moody gaze. His mouth twisted sourly.

"Oh, it's you."

"You know me?" Naruto gasped. It turned out the same way it had with Sakura-chan. Unable to believe his luck, Naruto sped up towards him.

"Of course I bloody well know you!" Jiraiya exclaimed. "I've had my share of dealings with your damned father. Serves him right to be where he is, that nine-tailed geezer. I'll tell you one thing, kid. Furries not welcome here. You best turn around and march right back to where you came from."

Naruto froze in mid-motion, his foot comically lifted, ready to make a step.

"I'm not my father," he protested cautiously.

Jiraiya's thunderous laughter filled the room.

"I can see that! You're the next best superstar, aren't ya? I say your father was a disgrace to all demonfolk! I don't know what on earth he thought he was doing but definitely nothing to earn him the status of a bloody martyr. Get out of my sight, kid, I'm not in the mood for unbidden guests!"

Naruto stared at him, dumbstruck. Jiraiya could be fearsome if he wanted to – and right now his intention was visible, if not palpable. Naruto took an instinctive step back.

His frantic gaze fell upon a small jade figurine of a frog that rested atop a pile of checks on the counter. He sniffed nervously and suddenly recognized the thick, clingy smell of oil that curled off Jiraiya. Frog oil.

"You're a demon!" he breathed. "No, really? You're a demon? A frog demon!?"

"No way in hell," Jiraiya snorted. "I admire your perception skills, kid. Away with you, and be glad I only wish to remove you from my sight!"

A thought flashed in Naruto's mind. Insane, yes; but if there was any chance to get Ero-sennin's attention, he would make a run for it without a second thought. Naruto reached out for the oil and drew his chakra. Now or never. He had to prove this man he was worth his time.

The transition went smoothly. Naruto opened his red-rimmed eyes and caught the reflection of himself in the dim mirror just above the counter. He had entered the Sage mode. Jiraiya's eyes widened in shock. His lips were compressed tightly, and an embittered crease marred the outline of his jaw.

"How did you know that?" he asked gravely.

"Myoubokuzan."

Jiraiya paled even more strikingly.

"Get out!" he thundered. "You dare steal the sacred secrets of Toad Senjutsu, and lie to my face! I thought you lot could sink no lower!"

"I didn't steal anything!" Naruto objected.

A viscous jet of oil hit him flat in the chest. It nearly blasted the door open and flung him out in the alley. He slipped out of the Sage mode and toppled over, grunting as ache spread through his body. The asphalt around him was wet and slippery.

Even Sasuke's rejection wouldn't hurt so much. To his shame, Naruto had to admit his eyes were slowly filling with tears.

"I just needed help," he said as he turned to walk away. "Guess you're not the right person after all."

He needed to figure out what to do now. He had hoped to find a person who would be as true to his Ero-sennin's persona as much as Sakura and Sasuke here resembled their Konoha counterparts. He had hoped he would finally have someone to confide in. After all, that old man had always been there for him.

Naruto leaned against the wall of one of the house and tried to eliminate the sudden tremour that was causing his mouth to twist uncontrollably. Having blinked a few times, he noticed that his eyelashes were damp.

"What sort of help?" Jiraiya asked.

Naruto's unfocused gaze wandered over the form that appeared next to him. The man must have followed him – but what for? Hadn't he made his disinterest obvious enough?

"None of your business," Naruto fired off. "I'll deal with it myself. Always have."

A hand grasped him by the shoulder forcefully. Wordlessly, Jiraiya dragged him back to the shop.

"I don't give a damn about it," he ascertained. "However, I am curious where the real Kyuubi kit is." Seeing Naruto's confused expression, the hermit burst out laughing. "Come on, kid! I'm not dumb! You know a demon when you see one if you're my age. I knew the Kyuubi and I can feel him in you, but only just. You're not the same."

Naruto smiled, relaxed. He would take that for a compliment. He wondered if Jiraiya would believe him if he told him the truth. Probably yes; he would believe anything. He was, after all, Jiraiya – and that did it.

Naruto started from the beginning, the story of the Kyuubi and its demise, the story of his own birth which he hardly knew any details of. He recounted briefly the first twelve years of his life and cut to the ninja training as part of Team Seven. He summarized the Chuunin exam, deliberately leaving out his meeting with Jiraiya, told him about Sasuke's defection and the two-and-a-half years of training away from Konoha. He mentioned the Akatsuki and Orochimaru and watched Jiraiya's eyes darken with sadness. Perhaps in this world they had still maintained better relationship until Orochimaru's death.

The story ended with Naruto coming to Myoubokuzan to train as the Toad Sage and his transfer into this world. After he finished, Jiraiya kept silent for a few minutes, his forehead wrinkled in thought.

"Parallel worlds, huh?" he said. "That's not something you hear every day. Now there's the question: where do I come into the picture?"

"Nowhere," Naruto replied hastily.

He had just lied, and for no reason, too. It gave him a sort of funny feeling to lie to Ero-sennin, but he couldn't bring himself to tell this stranger how much he meant to him… how much his death had affected him.

"You're… I mean, I heard about you. Powerful demon and all. Thought you might help."

Jiraiya cocked his head curiously. "What do you want me to do? I've heard this legend that parallel words do exist, but I'm not a magician. I can't open a door for you."

His words didn't come as a surprise to Naruto. He expected to hear something of the sort, so he simply smiled.

"You could complete my training. Teach me how to control the natural energy and all. Fukasaku must be mad that I've walked out on him. Though technically it's not my fault, but rather, it is his."

"I've never taught anyone in my entire life," Jiraiya grumbled. "But something tells me this might be fun."

Secretly, Naruto was really glad to hear it before it occurred to him to use Sexy no Jutsu on the man once again.

Three hours later, having cleaned up the oily mess, fixed the door and swept all the floors in the shop that turned out to be far bigger than it seemed, Naruto felt almost angry with himself. It looked like Ero-sennin needed a house-slave. Asking him to take Naruto as his apprentice was but entering a lion's den.

"Oi! Ero-sennin!" Naruto fumed. "If you wanted me to make this rathole look more presentable, you could have just said so! No need to masquerade it as part of my training."

Jiraiya frowned slightly at the nickname and ruffled his hair, laughing at the pouty grimace that appeared on Naruto's face. His sly eyes appeared to be saying, 'You asked for it.'

Naruto picked the broom up and continued sweeping. A small smile flashed across his lips. Regardless of it all, it felt good to spend time with this person again.

Three days into his training, Naruto thought he was ready to kill Jiraiya himself. The man had always had a scary sense of humour (like throwing him off a cliff to make him draw the Nine-Tails' chakra; knowing Fukasaku, Naruto could guess where it came from), but his level of sadism clearly went overboard in this case.

Cleaning out the bathroom that hadn't been cleaned for ages!..

Drenched in some suspicious substance and completely worn out, Naruto lowered himself on the porch of his condo and stared blankly in no particular direction. Perhaps this led to just another dead end. He really hoped this training would get him out of this world; things had become complicated recently.

He glanced up at Sasuke's house. The windows were dark. They hadn't had a proper conversation since their return from Asagiri. Maybe he should…

Naruto got up, rubbing his palms against his trousers hurriedly. He crossed the street – and then turned away and walked down towards the egress.

The night was clear and starry. Roaming the city streets alone under the streaming light of street-torches made Naruto feel much better and put a smile back on his face. He even managed to forget his weariness. When the scent of seawater and algae crashed over him, Naruto knew he had come to the docks.

Itachi. Yes, he would talk to Itachi.

Even though it seemed like a good idea to him, Itachi was inclined to disagree. At least he didn't hasten to open the door. Naruto leaned against it and continued rapping with his foot until he caught sight of a man approaching him from the far side of the hall. The light fell dimply upon his face, and Naruto recognized Itachi with a start. Ah… so he simply wasn't home! That… explained a lot.

"Why am I not surprised?" Itachi drew out, turning the key in the keyhole. He carried a paper bag from a grocery shop and looked rather tired. "To what do I owe the dubious pleasure of seeing you on my doorstep yet again?"

Naruto laughed. "I really am yanking your chain, aren't I?"

The lamp light flickered on. Itachi walked straight to the kitchen and proceeded to distribute the products over the shelves and the sections of the fridge quickly. Come to think of it, his habits resembled Sasuke's quite strikingly. Naruto couldn't help but wonder if the two were as similar in his world.

"I wanted to thank you," Naruto said. "For helping me find Jiraiya. And… you know, you're not half the bad guy I thought you might be."

"That's really touching."

Itachi emerged from the kitchen, smiling moderately. Naruto knitted his eyebrows.

"I'm trying to be nice here! You could be a little more helpful." To this, Itachi merely chuckled again. Naruto rubbed the back of his head, looking elsewhere. The situation was getting awkward. He forgot why he had come. Oh, right, Sasuke… Well, this could wait. "I'll be on my way then," he murmured. "Thanks for… you know."

He turned to the door, wishing to leave before this strange feeling consumed him completely. He was sincerely grateful to Itachi. Perhaps he could even call him a friend. It wasn't what he would have chosen; but he liked the feeling.

A scrap of paper on the floor caught his attention. Naruto squatted. It was stuck between the floorboards; he fished it out and brought closer to his eyes. It turned out to be a torn paper packet, like the ones for sugar from cafes, and it was marked with a familiar tomoe seal, black against the crimson background. Naruto frowned.

He glanced at Itachi over his shoulder to make sure the man wasn't monitoring his actions. There were traces of red powder inside the packet. Naruto licked a few grains off his finger. Tasteless. Sugar wasn't supposed to be tasteless; neither did it come in red.

"Since you're here anyway," Itachi's voice came, "there is something I want you to see. Why don't you open that door and have a look inside?"

Naruto's gaze darted up. His fingers touched the wall and traced it; the movement was instinctive and didn't quite register. Naruto crept closer. There was a door in the wall. A secret door. He hooked it with his nail and pulled it open. It turned out to be unlocked.

Behind it, there was a small cupboard. Naruto reached inside it and shivered uncontrollably as his hand fisted a handful of fabric. He pulled it out. It was a black cloak adorned with red clouds.

"I knew it!" Naruto exclaimed, turning around to find Itachi watching him attentively. "You are one of them! The Akatsuki! You're working for them!"

"Keep your voice down," Itachi said calmly. "Yes, I am."

Taken aback, Naruto gaped at him. His mind was racing. Did Sasuke know about this? No, of course, he didn't; otherwise he wouldn't be so naïve to believe his brother was a good guy! The Akatsuki existed in this world, too. What was their goal? Was it the same: to collect the tailed beasts? Naruto's blood ran cold. Then… this must have been a trap.

"I'm an undercover agent," Itachi went on. "Part of the operation the Special Ops Department is conducting. It is my assignment to work for the Akatsuki."

Naruto's breath hitched. Assignment?

He tensed involuntarily as Itachi approached him and took the cloak out of his grip. He placed it back into the cupboard and slammed the door shut. The sharp sound almost had Naruto jumping up.

"Why should I believe you?" the youth spat.

"Because I'm telling you the truth." Oh yes, killer logic! "How much do you know about the Akatsuki?" When Naruto didn't reply, Itachi continued, his face impenetrable: "I tried to keep you away from them as hard as I could, but I should have known it would be futile. They have been searching for you for so long. I found you before they did, but your little feat near Area 5 certainly caught their attention."

Itachi's gaze lingered on Naruto's bewildered face. He pursed his lips thoughtfully.

"What's the matter? Don't you know they are after you?"

Naruto didn't know whether he should laugh or cry. Such bitter irony! Yet again their worlds collided so dramatically. Except… Itachi didn't really fit into the picture.

"You…" Naruto breathed. "You're protecting me. Why?"

"It is my job." And then, quietly, "And because Sasuke is my responsibility."

'Sasuke would probably sell me to the Akatsuki now, given the circumstances,' Naruto thought grimly. However, that didn't stop him from asking for more information on the local Akatsuki.

They were all human. Accelerated, more powerful than the rest, but nonetheless, human. Itachi kept the copies of their dossiers neatly catalogued in a secret vault in his bookcase. Seeing those familiar faces, a few of them crossed out as deceased, gave Naruto an uneasy feeling.

"They are friends to no one," Itachi noted. "They stand against all fractions, seeking only power. Right now the Bijuu is what can give them that power."

"But I'm not–," Naruto muttered – and then it struck him. They thought he was its – his – son. And after the Kyuubi he was… 'The next best superstar,' Jiraiya had sarcastically called him.

Well, shit.

Naruto's jaws clenched. They would never get him! Neither in this world, nor in his. He would personally see to their downfall. Not right now, however. First he needed to process all the information. Having remembered about the packet still clutched in his hand, he held it out to Itachi questioningly.

"What's this?"

"Sharingan," Itachi answered without delay.

"What!?"

"It's a synthetic drug. It heightens the perception and changes the eyes of the one using it. It allows one to read speedy movement, cast illusions, and so much more. However, it is easy to overdose on."

"Do you take it?"

"Like I said, every member of the Akatsuki is special. This is my specialty." He took the packet out of Naruto's hand, placed it on the empty tray on the table and set it ablaze. It turned into a pile of ashes within a few moments. "The night I got shot, I had taken the Sharingan. It dissolves in the blood within twenty-four hours. I had to wait it out. My supervisor is the only person aware of my taking it. Naruto-kun, I can't risk Sasuke finding out about this."

Naruto nodded, dazed. Of course he would keep his mouth shut. It was bad enough to have Sasuke mixed up in the Akatsuki business back in his world.

He left Itachi wordlessly, but couldn't bring himself to go straight back home. He roamed the streets till dawn, puzzling over the present situation. Why would Itachi let him in on this now? What did he want from him?

Naruto clenched his teeth. Just who was this Itachi? His mind supplied the memory of their last conversation back home.

'I only wish to talk to you.'

He could hear the rustling of crow feathers…

'You said you thought of Sasuke as a brother. Well, I'm asking you what you'd do if Sasuke were to attack Konoha.'

The mesmerizing glint of the Sharingan, the real Sharingan born from the blood of Uchiha's ancestors.

'If that should happen, would you be able to stop him? Could you weigh Sasuke's life against Konoha?'

Naruto strained his memory. He had replayed that event over and over in his head ever since that day, but couldn't find the hidden meaning of Itachi's words. His voice seemed muffled, as though reaching Naruto's ears through a wall.

'You are such a child… You talk of nothing but pipe dreams. There are times when a ninja must make painful choices.'

And that had brought memories of another strange conversation. With a stinging sensation of surprise Naruto had realized how much Itachi reminded him of Jiraiya back then.

'I won't go back on my words. That's what being a ninja means to me!' he had declared proudly… and Itachi had smiled. Yes; Naruto was absolutely sure of it now.

The Akatsuki had smiled gently at him.

The raw, scratching sensation of crow feathers slipping down his throat. Naruto had choked on them.

'I've given you some of my power…'

Naruto leaned against a wooden fence on the outskirts of the city. He was far from home, but that wasn't what bothered him at the moment.

Could Itachi's death have been… a mistake? The realization that dawned upon him was horrible. What if somehow, by some twisted, improbable misfortune, Uchiha Itachi was not what everyone thought he was?

Naruto squeezed his eyes shut. There was no point in thinking about it. Itachi was dead, and it was up to him to keep this man from dying again in this world.

Come morning, Naruto was dead-set on having that blasted conversation with Sasuke. He failed to comprehend who was avoiding who and for what reason exactly; it was high time they broke the enchanted circle of stupidity.

Sasuke wasn't home.

Of course. Just when Naruto needed him so badly, the bastard wasn't home. No problem, though: Naruto would just wait for him. He lowered himself on the porch and scanned the street briefly. Empty. An ordinary morning, a bit bleak and chilly but that was to be expected at this time of year. A kid riding a bicycle passed by, straight across a puddle. Splashes of turbid water swirled all around him for a moment like a halo.

Naruto's fingers strummed a light tune over the wooden flooring.

Sasuke showed up in a few hours. He looked tired as if he hadn't slept for a long time. Naruto spied him when he was still pretty far from the house. He walked in long, steady strides, trying to break away from an old wrinkled man that refused to let him go. Naruto frowned. He couldn't hear what the old man was saying, but he looked desperate. He even resorted to grabbing Sasuke by the forearm and was roughly thrown backwards as a result.

Sasuke looked really annoyed by the time he had made it to his porch.

"What was that about?" Naruto queried.

Sasuke shoved the key in the keyhole and turned it forcibly. The lock gave in only after a few failed attempts. Naruto looked back and saw the old man's form near the street-torch.

"He's been harassing me for days," Sasuke explained. "Wants me to rid his family of some curse and won't take no for an answer."

He pushed the door open and barged into the hall. Naruto followed him. It was the first time Sasuke actually let him pass further than the hallway. His flat was clean, almost featureless, very unlike Itachi's. It might as well have been uninhabited if not for a pair of thick green candles near a standard mirror on the wall and a picture frame between them. It showed only the brothers, without the parents, and it wasn't visible from the bed.

"Why don't you help him?" Naruto asked, forcing his attention back to the present issue. "Is it difficult?"

"On the scale from one to ten, ten being the hardest, I'd rate it three."

"Three!?" Naruto gaped at him. "Then why–?"

"He doesn't have any money. I told you: I don't work for free."

"But you purged the entire village! That was absolutely free. They didn't even know it was you!"

Sasuke turned to face him and said in a steely voice:

"I have principles, Naruto. You might not like it, but that's the way it is with me. There are fixed prices for everything; if the guy can't pay, it's not my problem. But if he pays me, his family will eventually die of hunger."

"Better the curse then?" Naruto asked in dismay. "You could break your stupid rules once!"

Money had never been Sasuke's priority. His Sasuke, that is. Naruto compressed his lips, embittered. Coping with two opposite aspirations: to get home and to fix this world's problems – was hard enough without Sasuke complicating things even further.

"You can hate me for it," Sasuke said listlessly. "That geezer can hate me for it. So can the entire world, for all I care. I won't change my mind."

Naruto barely had time to blink before he found himself chucked out. The door slammed shut behind him. He balled his fists, and it was only then that he remembered that he had wanted to discuss something else with Sasuke.

'Bummer.'

"You seem quiet today," Sakura observed. They were sitting on the back of a park bench, cherry choc-ice melting sweetly on their tongues. By all standards it was a beautiful day, but there was too much on Naruto's mind. He felt a little guilty for exposing Sakura to his afflictions.

"Say, Sakura-chan…" he mumbled hesitantly. "If you had to go against your principles to help someone, would you do it?"

Sakura scrutinized him, her eyes reflecting mild surprise.

"It depends… Is it a bad person?"

"No, I don't think so," Naruto replied, recalling the pitiful expression on the old man's face.

"Do I have to kill someone? Or lie to someone dear to me?"

"Er… no, nothing of the sort."

"Then what's the problem?"

Naruto slumped his shoulders and sighed, depressed. He had foreseen her answer would be like that. His point of view exactly. Why couldn't Sasuke see it this way?

Sakura touched his shoulder reassuringly and leaned closer to kiss him. Naruto responded absent-mindedly, his mind lost between the shocking revelations about Itachi and the memories of the last hunt's conclusion that had resurfaced all of a sudden.

Sasuke…

Naruto pulled away abruptly, as if scalded. Sakura blinked in surprise, but chose not to press him for an explanation. They lingered on the bench until all ice-cream was consumed and then headed slowly in no particular direction. Little by little the silence around them bled from heavy to warm, and Naruto almost forgot about his worries when all of a sudden he was greeted by a familiar female voice:

"Hello, sweetheart."

His gaze darted up, entraining into a pair of dark, mischievous eyes. The last time he saw her, she had been scared out of her mind. Now she was smiling as she approached him freely, her hips swaying lightly.

"Kin."

Sakura tensed near him. Naruto felt her fingers creep up his arm and wrap around his forearm.

"Naruto, who is this?"

"Don't you worry, doll," Kin laughed throatily. "I'm not here to steal your boy." Her eyes remained fixed on Naruto. Suddenly she looked far more serious. "If you know who I am, you know who I work for. She wants to see you."

He was about to tell her to get lost when a thought flashed in his mind. Perhaps it would be useful to get to know the halfbloods better. If anything, he wanted to know if they were affiliated with the Akatsuki and what purpose they wanted him for.

He turned to Sakura and asked her to wait for him at home. She looked averse to this idea, but he didn't give her the chance to protest. He couldn't afford being talked out of it.

Kin took him to an old warehouse surrounded by an entire maze of streets, somewhere in the industrial part of the city. It was very quiet inside. Naruto thought he didn't like the place at all,

"And she is?.." he trailed off, uncertain how to phrase the question.

"Nibi," Kin said. "That's all you need to know. She's like you, of pure blood. The Two-Tailed Demon Cat."

Naruto's jaw dropped. He had never met another Jinchuuriki except Gaara, or another Bijuu except Shuukaku for that matter (and that experience hadn't exactly been pleasant); curiosity was about to get the best of him.

"I thought purebloods didn't associate with… you know."

"Nibi's different," Kin said with conviction. "She's the one who can put an end to this strife. Now, there are certain rules you'd better follow when talking to her. Don't interrupt her; you don't want to get on her bad side. Don't try to see her face; she never shows it to outsiders. Not many of ours have seen it."

Naruto frowned. She didn't sound like a trustworthy leader to him. He had been opposed to the idea of Tsunade taking leadership of the Leaf Village when he learnt she was hiding her true age. Compared to Nibi, her deceit was innocent.

"That's hypocrisy," he said pointedly.

Kin objected softly: "You wouldn't be saying this when you met her."

The wait was getting unnerving.

"Yeah, well, where is she?"

"Over here."

The voice came unexpectedly from above. Naruto's gaze flickered upwards. Shadows glided beneath the high ceiling like gusts of smoky wind.

"You're Nibi?" Naruto inquired, a touch of disbelief in his voice.

She remained but a dark shape to him, clean-cut and petite, clad in a simple office blouse and a pair of carmine trousers. He couldn't see her face; dark shadows swirling around her head prevented him from doing it.

"What did you expect?" she purred. "A vinyl bondage suit and fake whiskers?"

"The latter's hardly necessary since I can't see your face anyway."

Kin shot him a warning glare. Someone stirred in the dark corners of the building. A gun cocked. However, Nibi appeared to be amused by his insolence.

"I'm very sorry about this, Naruto-kun," she said. "Much as I should like to be completely open to you, I have reasons to maintain secrecy. One day, perhaps…"

She drew closer, making him wonder if those shades were artificial for they continued smoking around her. Her hair swayed lightly as she walked, but he couldn't tell the colour. Every move she made betrayed breathtaking poise and elegance. She was indeed very reminiscent of a young agile cat.

Nibi's voice was deep, husky, her intonations hard to read. If cats talked, Naruto thought, it was exactly the kind of a voice they had.

"I'm delighted to finally meet you, Uzumaki Naruto," Nibi said. "It's a difficult time for creatures like us. There is a lot we need to discuss. I could use someone like you in my ranks. What do you say?"

Naruto gaped at her, struggling to hold back the laughter.

"Are you suggesting I work for you or something? Sorry. I'll pass."

As much as it flattered him to be recognized as an awesome shinobi (demon, he mentally corrected himself, awesome demon), he would never even regard this offer. Their wars had nothing to do with him, and he intended to keep things that way. He headed for the exit resolutely, only to be stopped by a pair of Nibi's guards, a man and a woman, both of them wearing animalistic ANBU-like masks.

"Your father is a legend," Nibi addressed him. "Some view him as a hero, others call him a traitor but of course he did what he thought was best for his people. Too bad his death didn't change so much. It's time for the new Kyuubi to rise, and I could help you there. Bring peace and prosperity to all. Wouldn't you want that?"

"Even if I did care," Naruto said slowly, "why should I ally myself with you? You hide in the shadows while sending your followers out to die or be tortured. You're scared to show your face, but you still expect faith and loyalty. Faith only goes so far. You're the lowest kind of scum, and I'm not your dumb hired muscle. Sorry, lady, it won't work between us."

The female guard tensed like she was about to spring into attack. Her partner gestured at her vaguely to keep still. She froze, her spine perfectly straight, and scrutinized Naruto through the eyeholes of her mask.

A gentle chuckle was heard. Naruto glanced back over his shoulder. Nibi was laughing.

"You'll come back," she said with conviction. "Surely I have something you need." Just as he made it to the door, she added softly, "It's not just you the Akatsuki are after."

She was already gone when he spun around.

The setting sun smeared traces of red and orange over the rapidly darkening sky. Once out of the warehouse, Naruto felt the angry tension seep out of his system. People like Nibi irritated him. She was worse than Orochimaru; at the very least that one had not hidden behind anyone's back.

"You're lucky, I guess," Kin observed as she left the warehouse as well and came to stand next to Naruto who was watching the road solemnly. "She wouldn't have anyone else talk to her like that."

"You can't know she's for real if you don't even see her," Naruto mused. "Why are you here?"

"She set me free," Kin answered promptly. "Dosu, Zaku and I, we were Orochimaru's test subjects. You've heard of him, haven't you? That's right, everyone has." She wrinkled her nose, as if to hold back a snort. "Eventually he made us his recruit team. For good behaviour, I suppose. One day my team was sent to retrieve someone who Nibi was also after. We fought her and lost, but she didn't finish us off. She tended to our wounds and told us she could use people like us. All three of us were halfblood outcasts; we had little to none alternative in this world. Anything's better than Orochimaru, though. In time we've come to appreciate Nibi's ideals. She's a Bijuu fighting side by side with those who both humans and demons call impure. You're wrong about her, Naruto-kun. She's no coward or hypocrite. I believe in her, and so will you."

Naruto looked away. Beautiful words indeed, but they had no purpose if there was nothing to back them up.

"I'm glad you're okay," he said quietly. "I was worried about you."

Kin's eyes grew slightly wider. She turned wordlessly and vanished back into the mouth of the warehouse.

"Absolutely not," Itachi cut Naruto's speech short.

"Why not?"

"It's a serious business, not a street fight. Special Ops have more than enough men working on it."

"So I'm what? A hindrance? A street urchin?"

Itachi's fingers constricted around the pen he was holding. He looked up at Naruto with sleepless eyes and smiled softly.

"You can't deny that you're seriously lacking experience in this area. You have seen my brother work, but the way police handles things is different from the way hunters do."

Naruto gritted his teeth. So Uchiha didn't take him seriously. All right; he would show him how serious he was!

He leaned on the table and drawled:

"What if I get you Nibi?"

Itachi eyed him unblinkingly. "Nibi? The Nibi?"

"Yes!" Naruto fired off. And they called him blockhead…

Itachi folded his arms across his chest. At the moment he suddenly reminded Naruto of Iruka-sensei on the verge of having a nervous breakdown after another one of Naruto's pranks. The resemblance was so striking that Naruto half-expected a lot of yelling and nosebleed. Instead, Itachi said coolly:

"Do it, and I'll talk to my supervisors."

He didn't believe it was possible. Naruto grinned.

"Should be piece of cake. I think she likes me. See, last time we had a chat–."

Bull's eye! Itachi narrowed his eyes, seemingly appraising him. Oh, that was easier than Naruto dared hope!