Akumade Mo
By: Blade-kun

Disclaimer: Same.

GO BACK AND READ THE THIRD CHAPTER AGAIN IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY! I HAVE REVISED IT RECENTLY AND FINISHED IT! AS I HAD PREVIOUSLY STATED IT HAD DIED, I FINALLY FOUND A WAY TO END IT, SO READ IT!

A/N: Hate me. Go ahead, hate me. Hate me for taking too long, for killing you with suspense. Hate me for the many hours, days, weeks you might have spent checking this fic for updates and not finding any. Hate me. I deserve it. But at long last, it's finally here, for those who still remain.

Naruto heaved a soft sigh as he leaned back against the bridge railing. The others had yet to arrive. He was bored.

'I guess it's my fault. I did get here an hour early. But I didn't have anything better to do.' He rubbed his head. 'Wonder if we'll get to spare like last time.'

'We could train, you know.'

Naruto snorted. 'Because that wouldn't be suspicious.'

'Just making a suggestion. Besides, what do you know about boredom? I'm the one stuck in this damn cage 24/7. I never get to do anything fun.' Kyuubi sighed. 'What I wouldn't give to go on a rampage, cause a little chaos and mayhem.'

'You're easy to please,' Naruto thought sarcastically.

'Don't talk. You know it's fun.'

'I admit nothing.'

'You don't have to. I know you, after all.'

Naruto scowled. 'Damn fox.'

"Naruto?"

'Hide!' "Huh? Oh, Sakura-chan," Naruto waved in greeting.

"What are you doing here so early?"

Naruto shrugged. "Nothing else to do."

"Oh," Sakura flipped back her hair, "Well, you're wasting your time. Kakashi-sensei is always late. We usually wait two hours for him to show up."

"Really?" Naruto blinked, then grinned. "Cool! Maybe we can have another friendly fight while we wait."

Sakura paled. Naruto noticed.

"Oh. No go?"

"I'll fight you."

Both turned their heads to see the one and only Uchiha Sasuke standing there, watching them. Naruto internally bristled, but outwardly grinned.

"You don't mind getting your ass kicked by me again?"

Sasuke growled. "I won't lose to the likes of you."

"The likes of me? What, am I below you?"

Sasuke snorted.

Naruto shrugged. "All right, let's go. Any preferences?"

Sasuke glanced at him. "No weapons."

"Done." Naruto undid his sword from his back and dropped it on the ground, then proceeded to remove all his kunai and shurikens. Sasuke did the same.

"Where?"

Sasuke pointed behind him. "There. The forest."

Naruto glanced back and nodded. "All right."

"Ano, Sasuke-kun…" Sakura started.

"We won't take long."

Naruto turned to Sakura. "Don't worry, Sakura-chan. You stay here. We'll be back."

Sasuke simply turned and lead the way. Naruto followed.

"Do you have something against me?"

Sasuke blinked and glanced back. "What do you mean?"

"Exactly what I said."

Sasuke snorted and turned away. "Why would I?"

"Well, you've been a real ass to me since we first met, and I just want to know what warranted it."

Sasuke paused.

Naruto stopped as well and watched him curiously.

"…Nothing," Sasuke said finally. "You did nothing."

"Then why?"

Sasuke didn't answer.

Naruto sighed. "Would you like to start over?"

Sasuke looked back at him curiously. Naruto walked around so he was in front of Sasuke.

"Here," he said sticking out his hand, "Let's try this again. I'm Uzumaki Naruto."

Sasuke stared at his hand for a brief moment before slowly taking it.

"…Uchiha Sasuke."

Naruto grinned. "Good. I know forget everything that happened before."

He hopped back a few steps and fell into a fighting stance.

"Pleased to meet you," Naruto smirked, cracking his knuckles, "Now, Sasuke…shall we fight?"

Sasuke was silent for a moment before doing the same, smirking.

"You're on."

"Oi, I'm here!"

"YOU'RE LATE!"

Kakashi sweatdropped, then blinked. "Hm?" he glanced around, "Where are Naruto and Sasuke?"

Sakura frowned a little. "They're in the forest. They wanted to spare."

Kakashi nodded. "I see," he closed his book, "Shall we go get them?"

Sakura just nodded.

The forest was now a worn battlefield. Fallen trees lie in disarray, broken and scorched earth upturned every here and there. And lying on its floor were two fighters.

"You're much better than I thought," Naruto said, from where he lay grinning, "That's a relief."

Sasuke frowned. "Why's that?"

Naruto quickly covered his slipped and shrugged. "I haven't had much fun in a fight. It was all business. I like a challenge."

Sasuke snorted, "I guess you're not half-bad either," he paused, "Kakashi said you used to live in Konoha. Where were you until now?"

Naruto also paused. "Away. Far away."

Sasuke of course was less than satisfied, but refrained from further questions. There was something in Naruto's tone of voice that brooked no arguments, and requested no prying. So Sasuke didn't. After all, he hadn't really answered Naruto earlier, had he?

"It wasn't so bad," Naruto then said, filling the awkward silence, "but as you can probably tell, it did have something of an influence on my…personality."

Sasuke frowned. "Was it hard?"

"Hard as hell sometimes," Naruto said quietly, "Ridiculously easy other times. And then there were the other things."

He wished Naruto would stop speaking so vaguely. It was annoying. "Like what?"

Naruto grinned malevolently. "Like torture."

Sasuke didn't ask. He just…didn't ask.

"What about you?" Naruto asked, rolling over.

Sasuke was quiet for a moment, thinking. "It doesn't matter."

Naruto frowned. "That's not fair. I told you something. It wasn't much, but still. You have to tell me something too."

Sasuke snorted. "Like what?"

"Well, do you have any goals? Anything you want to do?"

Sasuke was silent.

"Well?"

More silence. Then, "All I want…is to kill a certain man."

"Kill someone?" Outwardly Naruto was calm, but inwardly he was brimming with anxious anticipation, "Who?"

Sasuke closed his eyes.

"The man that ruined by life."

Naruto swallowed thickly and silently. He knew. Of course he knew. How couldn't he know?

'Itachi.'

It almost hurt.

"I see."

Sasuke glanced over at Naruto, who appeared thoughtful. He opened his mouth to ask another question when—

"Naruto! Sasuke!"

"Sasuke-kun!"

Both blinked and turned to each other.

"Kakashi."

"Sakura."

Both sighed.

Sitting up, they dusted themselves off before Naruto called, "Oi, over here!"

Seconds later the two appeared. Kakashi gazed over them, inspecting them.

"I heard you were fighting," he said airily.

"Training," Naruto corrected, grinning, "And quite effectively. But we're done."

Kakashi shrugged. "Shall we go then?"

Naruto glanced back at Sasuke and smiled.

"Yeah."

For Uzumaki Naruto, the first feeling he had when he woke up in the morning determined whether he would have a good day or a bad day. If he woke up feeling light, it would be a good day. If he woke up feeling restless and grouchy, it was a bad day. If he woke up blah, it was a blah day. And if he woke up feeling like shit, he was probably sick.

So today was…definitely not a good day.

Which was overall strange because there was no reason today should be a bad day.

After all, today he was meeting Itachi.

And yet Naruto was feeling anxious. During his short stay in Konoha, if there'd ever been a moment he'd heard Itachi's name, it was filled with contempt. Not so much as his own, but still.

The hours until sundown had to be the longest hours of his life. Kyuubi was thoroughly irritated by his restless pacing and going about. Naruto simply argued he had every right to be antsy if he damn well felt like it.

"I'll meet you there every week on the last day at sundown. Until then, just be on the lookout."

For the first time in his life, Naruto was truly worried. There was so much that could go wrong. He could be spotted, followed, Itachi could be found…A number of things of the sort tumbled around in his head until he felt like he was going to have a nervous breakdown if it didn't stop soon. Kyuubi sent him reassurance in order to calm him, and it helped.

By the time the appointed time came, Naruto and Kyuubi were both about to go nuts. Hurriedly, but carefully, Naruto locked up and headed out. Konoha was quiet, but Naruto made doubly sure not to be seen, not to be sensed, and not to be followed.

He ran as if his life depended on it as soon as he knew he was clear. Reaching the spot he'd memorized a week earlier, he climbed up a tree just as the first rays of sun started to disappear, and waited to be found.

He didn't have to wait long.

For Naruto, the few minutes seemed to go on forever when suddenly a hand he would know anywhere tapped his shoulder, and quick as lightning he was up and threw his arms around Itachi, hugging him fiercely. Itachi was actually surprised, but returned the hug.

After a minute he spoke. "Naruto?"

Naruto just shook his head and buried his face deeper in Itachi's coat.

Itachi frowned a little, sensing the turbulence in Naruto and practically able to feel his erratic heartbeat through tense muscles.

"Naruto?" he repeated.

At last Naruto pulled back and Itachi was able to see his face. He looked stressed to say the least. Itachi looked him up and down. No wounds, no problems. He looked fine. He just didn't seem fine, which left Itachi a tad confused.

"Did you miss me that much?" he said, trying to lighten the mood.

Naruto frowned and sighed. "Remember that anxiety thing you told me about a long time ago? Well I think I finally understand what it is."

Itachi raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"

"Yeah, that's so."

Itachi merely closed his eyes.

A few minutes later Naruto was once again seated on the branch, Itachi leaning against the trunk, and both staring out at the sunset.

"What do you have to report?" Itachi asked.

"Not a damn thing," Naruto snorted, "Your brother's cute though, in that really grating and irritating way, just like you. My compliments to whoever raised him."

Itachi rolled his eyes ever so slightly at the sarcasm dripping from the statement.

"If he's as bad as you say…"

"Oh, he's worse than that," Naruto almost snapped, "But he has his good points too. He's just a prick first, and a person second."

"But that's not what I want to know," Itachi said, straightening a little, "Can he fight?"

Naruto glanced back at him. "Yeah, he can fight. Fairly well, I might add."

"If need should arise, could he hold off Orochimaru if you would require time to reach him?"

Naruto watched him for a moment before turning toward the sunset. "Well, I haven't seen all of what he can do, but for now, I'd have to say no."

"How long?"

"Five, maybe ten minutes, if he has some nifty tricks I have yet to see."

"That should be plenty of time for you I should think."

"It would depend," Naruto replied, "It would depend on how close I was, how aware I was of the situation, and how equipped I would be to handle it."

"It's still not too bad."

"No," Naruto agreed, "But it's not too good either."

Itachi sighed a little. "How's Kyuubi?"

"As obnoxious as always," Naruto said, listening to a menacing growl in the back of his mind, "He says hi."

"I've been taking care of your coat."

Naruto grinned. "Have you now? Nice to know you can do something right."

Itachi cracked the barest of smiles.

"What's the organization been up to?"

"The same as always. Looking for means of powers, and seeking the Jinchuuriki."

Naruto placed a hand on his stomach. "I see."

"I won't let them have you, Naruto," Itachi said, "Kyuubi already serves them in a sense. They will not have you."

Naruto gave Itachi a small smile of gratitude. "Thanks."

Itachi stood and easily swept Naruto into his lap, taking Naruto's seat. Naruto settled back against him and breathed deeply in relief.

"I don't like this. I hate this place. It gives me all these weird feelings that I've never felt before, not even when I was looking death in the face. It's driving me crazy."

"It won't be forever Naruto. Orochimaru won't stay away for long. Just stay safe, and protect Sasuke. That's all you have to do."

As Naruto relished the warmth of being in Itachi's embrace, he contemplated his words.

'Somehow, I don't think it will be as easy as that…'

Okay, Naruto was now getting annoyed.

After meeting with Itachi last night and spilling all the news, he suddenly found himself, well, in an 'argh' mood. What the fuck was Orochimaru doing? Naruto was getting tired of waiting for him to stop screwing around and just attack already so Naruto could get a chance to pound his fork-tongued face in. He just wanted to…to…rip his hair out or something!

Well, in any case, he was accomplishing anything just sitting around getting mad about it. But what were his options? He could always tail Sasuke, he supposed. And there were still dozens of things to do in the village. The question was, did he have the patience to deal with either of those two options right now?

Suddenly he grinned.

'Kyuubi…' he almost purred, 'Would you like to come out and play?'

He could feel the answering smirk and purr of pleasure as energy began to drip from his body and meld into a solid form. It quickly shaped a frame and head, energy snaking off the back to form nine long and luxurious tails. The head was topped with two perfect furry ears and soon glowing red eyes peered out at him from under honey tipped bangs.

"I thought you'd never ask."

Sasuke was bored.

He couldn't remember being this bored. Never in his life, well, at least not since that time, had he ever felt bored reminiscing in his house. But today he was restless, in a way he hadn't been in a long time.

Strangely, he'd felt this way for a while. But why? What caused it? What was different now than before?

…Besides Naruto, that is.

Sasuke shook his head furiously. Naruto? The reason? It was stupid. It was impossible!

And yet…it made sense.

Sasuke didn't know why, but it almost felt like the other boy…understood him.

Not that that was saying much. After all, what did he know about Naruto? The boy was a mystery, a lost piece of the past intent on corrupting the present. Where he'd been, what he'd done, he knew nothing of. He wanted to say he didn't care, because part of him didn't, but at the same time, he was deathly curious.

He still remembered the blonde during their first meeting, when they'd fought. Those…eyes, those eyes that screamed and promised the worst pain imaginable, the endless depthless eyes deprived of mercy, compassion…empty.

He never wanted to see those eyes again.

He hated being afraid. Hated it more than anything. But he couldn't help but be afraid then. And that annoyed him to no end. Now he could find nothing to fear about Naruto, the blonde was pretty careless for the most part, a little snappish and rather sarcastic. Naruto was a normal, well, somewhat normal person.

But he couldn't forget those eyes.

Probably the thing that surprised him the most was that he wanted to know what happened to Naruto. He wanted to know what had given him those eyes.

Speaking of which, he wondered what the blonde was up to.

…It couldn't hurt to check. Maybe they could even get in a good spar.

Yeah, that sounded good.

"Ready?"

The two stood on the very outskirts of Konoha, in a small clearing of the otherwise dense forest. Kyuubi stood in all his glory, dressed in a tight black turtleneck tank top and loose pants, a red sash tied around his waist, along with long black fingerless gloves. He smiled wickedly at the younger, red hair flying everywhere.

Naruto grinned, falling back into a stance. "I can't wait."

Kyuubi rushed forward, disappearing. Naruto felt him out and whipped around, catching the punch aimed at his face. Kyuubi smiled and brought around a kick. Naruto held up an arm to guard, taking the brunt of the kick, before pulling on Kyuubi's arm and leaping over him, grabbing a nearby branch and swinging himself up. Kyuubi was right behind him, slashing the branch clean off the tree. Naruto flipped over his head in the knick of time and ran.

Kyuubi chuckled. "You can't escape me, kit."

"I can try!" was the reply.

Kyuubi smirked and took off after him. He had lost sight of the other, but could easily smell his direction. Naruto had a habit of zigzagging when they fought to throw his scent off, but it was only good enough to stall. Kyuubi slowed to a halt eventually and grinned.

Suddenly he threw his arm up and a blast of red energy blew off a chunk of a tree. A cry followed and Naruto came tumbling down, recovering in time enough to catch himself on a lower branch, but rather than fleeing like Kyuubi was expecting, he swung around and launched himself at the fox, taking the other by surprise. Kyuubi brought up his arms and blocked the punch.

Naruto used the momentum to flip over him, but before he could actually get anyway, as soon as he hit the ground, one of Kyuubi's tails shot out and grabbed him around the waist, wrapping firmly around him before swinging around and flinging him hard in a tree. Naruto let out a small yelp of pain at the sharp impact. But knowing that Kyuubi never paused during a fight saved him an eye as he moved just in time to have Kyuubi's claws embed themselves in the wood next to his head rather than in his face.

Pressing up against the tree, he flipped up and kicked Kyuubi square in the chin, sending the fox sprawling back as he planted his feet against the trunk again and crouched before heading up.

Kyuubi managed to land on his feet, spitting out a mouthful of blood and launching himself up at the blonde. Naruto, unable to dodge, quickly found himself pinned to the tree. Kyuubi's battle furious eyes glared at him for a moment before he threw his head back, mouth open, and then clamped down viciously on Naruto's shoulder. Naruto gave a howl of pain.

Kyuubi only bit harder, blooding pouring from the wound as he lapped it up. Naruto struggled wildly, managing to push Kyuubi back just enough so that he could bring up his leg and kick the other off. Kyuubi's teeth ripped free from his shoulder, enticing another cry of pain from Naruto before the blonde bashed him in the face and sent him back.

With the fox no longer holding him to the tree, he fell to the ground, barely managing to land on his feet before grabbing his shoulder, hissing in agony.

Kyuubi stood, wiping the blood from his mouth before approaching Naruto. The other glared at him.

"That was dirty."

Kyuubi shrugged. "I felt hungry."

Naruto glared darkly at him as he nursed his torn shoulder.

Kyuubi suddenly smiled and leaned down, grabbing Naruto's good arm.

"What are you--!"

Before Naruto could finish, Kyuubi ran his tongue roughly over the wound. Naruto winced, hissing.

"Stupid fox, let go!" he growled.

Kyuubi ignored him, licking the wound harshly. Naruto just knew he was enjoying it.

"I said knock it off!" the other snarled, pushing the fox.

Kyuubi gave one last hard lick before allowing himself to be pushed back. He licked his lips with a wicked smile.

"Did I ever tell you how good your blood tastes?"

"Fucking fox!" Naruto hissed.

Kyuubi chuckled lowly, enjoying the agitated look on Naruto's face. "You let your guard down, kit."

"That was cheap, and you know it!"

"No it wasn't," he said, "It's not like it's the first time I bit you."

"One of these days I'm gonna return the favor, and see how YOU like it!"

He chuckled. "Sure kit. It wasn't bad, though. Two hits, three, in such a short time. You're getting better."

"Don't trying to get out of this by complimenting me!"

Kyuubi sighed. "Quit whining and look at your shoulder."

Naruto glared, but looked down to see the flesh slowly knitting itself back together.

"Am I forgiven?"

Naruto glanced at him before turning back to the wound. "I'll think about it."

The other sighed again and cracked his shoulders, stretching. "Well, let's continue. We're not nearly done yet."

"Not more biting!" Naruto said.

"Fine. No more biting."

And they resumed.

Sasuke suppressed the urge to groan. Where the hell was Naruto? He been looking for an hour, and had found neither hide nor hair of that dumb blonde.

Even after spreading his chakra senses Naruto was still outside his range. He'd walked around the whole village not picking up a trace. Thus, he'd finally come to the conclusion that Naruto was not in the village.

Then where?

Turning, he looked out toward the forest. Could Naruto be out there somewhere?

It was impossible. Sasuke himself had gone there plenty of times to train. Maybe Naruto just had the same idea. It would certainly explain his disappearance, and if he was, he would be outside Sasuke's range.

Well, he might as well check. It wasn't like he hadn't looked everywhere else.

Setting himself, he took off towards the forest.

It didn't take him long to get there, and he began searching for the blonde's chakra.

Naruto, he decided, was very adept at hiding when others wanted him to be found.

Pausing for a quick second, Sasuke wondered why he was even bothering to go through the trouble.

…It was a challenge. Yeah, that was it.

Naruto was being really damn hard to find, so Sasuke would search until he did. And damn it, he would.

Effort renewed, he picked up the pace.

'Curse you, Naruto. Where are you?

Elsewhere…

Naruto breathed a long sigh as he leaned against a tree.

"What's the matter, kit? Tired already?"

Naruto glared at Kyuubi, who was grinning smugly. "No," he snapped, "Just catching my breath."

"It'll be all you catch at this rate."

"Shut up."

He glanced irritably at the fox. The other was sporting a split lip (Naruto was proud of that one), various bruises on his shoulders and forearms from blocking Naruto's hits, and a few scrapes and cuts here and there. If there were any other injuries, they were hidden by cloth.

Naruto though was by far the worse off. Sporting a large bite mark on his left shoulder, he was covered in bruises all over, as well as multiple cuts and scratches from Kyuubi's claws. All of which were healing, as well as Kyuubi's.

Kyuubi lifted a hand to his lips and gingerly licked a scratch, which disappeared instantly.

Naruto scoffed and stood straight, falling into a stance. "Let's continue."

"If you wi--" Kyuubi suddenly cut himself off, head snapping to the side, "Someone's coming."

"Huh?" Naruto was suddenly on alert, spreading his senses, "I don't--"

"Wait a second. He's outside our chakra range right now. But I can smell him."

Naruto paused, concentrating. Suddenly, a blimp of chakra moved on the very edge of his range, and then it came in.

Wait a sec. That chakra felt familiar…

Naruto's eyes snapped open. "Ah, shit, it's Sasuke!"

Kyuubi raised an eyebrow. "The younger Uchiha spawn? What's he doing here?"

"I don't know!" Naruto growled. He could feel Sasuke's chakra pause, as though realizing something, before heading in his direction. "Damn it, I think he's looking for me. And he just found me."

Kyuubi scowled. "Damn brat. And I was just starting to have fun."

"Well, too bad, now get back inside before he senses you too!"

Kyuubi sighed, looking quite irritated. "Fine."

His form slowly melted away, before dissipating into a gust of wind. He circled Naruto's body once, brushing against his skin, before moving to his stomach and disappearing into the seal. Naruto blinked and looked down at his arms. The bruises were healed.

'Well, damn.'

Sighing, Naruto brushed himself off and turned. Sasuke was indeed getting closer. Well, if he was going to explain this, he may as well start appearing a part. He quickly fell back into training.

That was how Sasuke found him. He came to a halt when he could hear the sounds of someone going at it. He was about to shout, but held it back in favor of taking a look.

Naruto was flinging himself all over the place with that strange animal grace of his. His strokes were hard and fast, ripping into the ground and trunks of trees. He looked rather…wild.

Sasuke couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, then his face set into a scowl. He'd been looking for Naruto for hours, and the blonde had been here the whole time. Dammit, when he wanted to find someone, they should let themselves be found! Stupid Naruto, always pissing him off.

"Naruto!"

Naruto skidded to a halt and blinked over his shoulder, inclining his head towards the trees.

"Sasuke?"

The other's scowl deepened and he jumped down to ground level. Naruto straightened himself and turned to face him.

"What are you doing here?"

Sasuke opened his mouth to argue, to shout, to chew him out, then abruptly shut it with a 'click'.

…What the hell was he supposed to say? 'God damn you, Naruto, I've been looking everywhere for you and you couldn't have the decency to be around?'?

…Oh no. Don't say that. Too many questions, don't want the questions. Just. Shut. Up.

Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Well?"

Sasuke just shrugged, a disinterested look settling on his face. "Nothing."

Naruto looked confused.

Sasuke spared him a glance. "What are you doing?"

Naruto blinked and looked around. "Oh. I was training."

Sasuke eyes followed Naruto's path, then landed back on him. He opened his mouth to say something, then suddenly frowned.

"Is that a bite mark on your shoulder?"

Naruto was not a person to be taken by surprise. It just didn't happen. However, since he'd come to Konoha, it seemed to be happening far too often for his taste.

He looked absolutely startled as his hand shot up to grab his shoulder. Fucking, FUCKING Kyuubi!

"Er, yeah. I, uh, ran into an animal earlier."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "And you let it bite you?"

Naruto was adamantly demonstrating his multi-tasked mind, one half of it flinging every dirty and insulting curse he knew at Kyuubi in increasing volume as he chewed out the fox while partially bitching at himself for forgetting to cover it up, and the other half was quickly working up an excuse to feed Sasuke.

Outwardly, he sighed. "It's my fault. I was so caught up in training I kinda barreled into it and, well, pissed it off. It lashed out before I really thought about it."

Sasuke looked interested, yet confused. "What kind of animal was it?"

"A fox," Naruto growled, "Should tracked the fucker down and burned its home."

Sasuke was a bit surprised by the venom in the other's voice. "You have something against foxes?"

"You could say that," was the answer as Naruto completely ignored Kyuubi's growling disagreement.

Sasuke smirked. "Clutz."

Naruto glared at him. "Shut up."

His smirk only widened. He looked around again before saying, "Want to spar with me?"

Naruto deflated almost instantly and blinked. "Huh?"

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Train?"

Naruto blinked again before it sank in. "Oh! Sure."

He couldn't help but think, 'Sasuke really isn't such a bad guy after all.'

And a certain fox only sat within him, cursing them to fall off a cliff.

Naruto slammed open the door of his apartment with a force that rattled the walls, and then when he slammed it shut. He threw his sword at the wall in a fit of anger, followed by the rest of his things. Then he threw the couch cushions for good measure before slamming his fist against the wall with a loud growl.

Why was he in such a foul mood? Well, the mission Kakashi had given them, though stupid, hadn't been that bad, and he had tried to connect with Sasuke a bit more afterwards, stopping by Ichiraku in the process. But those things weren't what had soiled his day. It was his earlier realization brought into new light that now blinded him with unreasonable (or reasonable, depending on how you looked at it) fury.

-Flashback-

"Oi, Sasuke!"

Sasuke opened his eyes from where he leaned leisurely against the side of a building to glance over at Naruto, who was quickly making his way over. In the week since the incident in the forest he and Naruto had come to know and understand each other better. They were often found in each other's company, and the only time they didn't spend fighting they spent each eating of talking.

Today was eating.

Naruto gave him a wicked grin as he stopped next to him.

"Sasuke…" he cooed.

Sasuke suppressed the urge. "I know," he growled, "Ramen."

"A win's a win, Sasuke."

Sasuke merely growled low in his throat. Another thing they'd pick up on doing was betting in order to decide who chose where they ate. The bets could be on anything, and often they fought in various ways to try to emerge victorious and stake their claim on lunch.

Unfortunately for Sasuke, Naruto seemed to be blessed with the devil's luck.

At least 60 of the time Naruto won at whatever they were doing, though Sasuke loathed to admit it. He was not used to losing to anyone. But then it was only really fair when they fought one-on-one. When they competed through anything other the physical fighting, Naruto usually had the upper hand. Sasuke was not all that skilled in some of the games and methods Naruto seemed experienced in. Still, he had given his word, and he would keep it.

Naruto was trotting along ahead of him whistling, that damned cocky grin still stuck to his face, much to Sasuke's distaste. It just…wasn't fair. Why couldn't they just always fight to decide who picked lunch?

It didn't take them long to reach Ichiraku Ramen, which Sasuke had quickly learned was Naruto's otherwise favorite place in the world. Naruto lifted the flap and waved a hand a Sasuke to go first, an almost condescending smirk on his face. Sasuke suppressed yet another growl, and as he walked by elbowed Naruto fiercely in the gut before calmly sitting down. Needless to say Naruto didn't appreciate the gesture, as he gasped and grabbed his stomach, cursing Sasuke with whatever breath he still had. But then, neither had Sasuke.

After Naruto recovered, he sat as well and shot Sasuke a scathing glare before waving to the cook.

"Oi, oji-san! One miso ramen please!"

The man smiled and nodded, glancing at Sasuke.

Sasuke sighed. "The same."

Naruto practically drooled in anticipation. Sasuke found it hard to relate this Naruto with the battle-hungry one that seemed to emerge when they fought. How could someone with such cold, hardened eyes change so suddenly into this only happy-go-lucky, ramen-obsessed blonde that currently sat next to him? If he didn't know better, he would almost think Naruto had a split personality.

Little did he know that Naruto was also surprised with the change that had come over him since he'd come here. For some reason, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't seem to not be cheerful. He just enjoyed hanging out with Sasuke and Shikamaru and Kiba and Neji and everyone else he had met in his short stay too much. He had to admit, sometimes Sasuke could be a real ass, and playing go with Shikamaru was enough to drive him up the walls sometimes (he had never lost so badly at anything in his life, and discovered board games were NOT his thing), and Kiba was pretty annoying sometimes with all his persistence and nagging, and he didn't know what to think about Neji sometimes, or more specifically what was shoved up his ass…

…And yet…despite all these little things…he had come to realize…

He liked it here.

Even the villagers hardly bothered him anymore. When he was a kid, he often felt crushed under the weight of their scorn, but now…now he hardly felt a wift of its pressure.

His thoughts were interrupted as a bowl of piping hot ramen was laid in front of him. He cheered.

"Itadakimasu!" he said.

"Itadakimasu," Sasuke echoed more quietly.

They began eating quietly, Naruto even toning down his usually obnoxious slurps a little. Between bites, the blonde cast a sideways glance at the other before turning his eyes back to his bowl. Sasuke did the same.

"Hey, Sasuke?"

Sasuke paused. "Hm?"

Naruto twirled his chopsticks. "I was wondering, don't you have any family at all?

Sasuke was surprised but didn't let it show as he took another bite. "Why do you ask?"

"I was just curious. You never talk about your family."

Of course that was a lie. Naruto really wanted to know Sasuke's feelings about the matter.

"You don't either," Sasuke pointed out.

Naruto blinked, then shrugged, sighing. "You got me there."

"Well, what about you?" Sasuke turned.

Again Naruto shrugged. "What's to say? I don't remember anything about my parents. For all I know, I was born from a tree. I don't have any family."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "None whatsoever?"

Naruto shook his head. "No."

Sasuke frowned a little. He had kind of wondered about Naruto's parents. After all, the blonde had been missing for 7 years, and surely his parents or guardians of whatever would have been frantic with worry. But now he learned there had never been any to begin with.

Well, it made sense, he supposed.

He stared at his food, eyes lowered. "I guess…that must be roof. Raising yourself since you were little, then being kidnapped. But, if you ask me…" he turned to look at Naruto, "I think you turned out pretty well."

Naruto's eyes widened. He almost couldn't believe his ears. That had to have been the nicest thing Sasuke'd ever said to him. Even Itachi had never said something quite like that. Itachi had said, 'No matter what Naruto, you are only what you choose to be, not what everyone else makes you out to be.'

Sasuke turned back to his food and continued eating. Naruto stared at him for a long moment, before smiling.

'Sasuke really isn't such a bad guy after all.'

And suddenly Naruto's eyes widened in realization.

Off all the words that existed, only to perfectly summed up his thoughts.

Oh, fuck.

-End Flashback-

'I foresee a problem here.'

"Yeah, no shit!" Naruto spat, "Damn that damn Itachi! Shoving me in the middle of this stupid mess!"

Kyuubi sighed. 'Calm down, kit.'

"Screw you!" was Naruto's reply, kicking the couch and stalking around the room, "I can't believe him! He has a lot of nerve to do this to me, that asshole!"

Naruto's anger had loosened the hold of the seal, and a somewhat transparent, human form Kyuubi was now half-sitting, half-leaning on the back of the couch.

'He probably didn't foresee a problem like this,' Kyuubi reasoned somewhat.

"The hell he didn't!" Naruto growled, "He even said it himself! What in the seventh ring was he thinking when decided this!"

'I bet three of my tails he wasn't.'

"You're fond of saying that," Naruto commented offhandedly before throwing himself back into rage mode, "And of course he wasn't thinking! And—ARGH!"

The fox was getting more solid by the moment.

Kyuubi examined his claws. 'I think you're overreacting.'

"Over--OVERREACTING!" Naruto cried, ripping at his hair, "Do you have ANY IDEA what this means?"

The fox simply looked at him and Naruto let out a howl of pure frustration before falling to the floor. After a moment, he curled in slightly on himself.

"What if…what if I…"

Kyuubi reached out with his tails, wrapping them around Naruto before drawing the other to him. When he was close enough, Kyuubi grabbed him with his hands and wrapped him in his arms and fell back over onto the couch, Naruto on top of him.

"Feel better now?"

Naruto just nodded, face buried in Kyuubi's chest.

"He…Itachi told me before that…well, once I got to know Sasuke, I would understand why he spared him. But now I'm afraid…of what will happen if I get attached to him…"

Kyuubi just nodded and ran his fingers through spiky blonde locks. Naruto lay quietly as he did.

'Did you realize this, Itachi? Do you really understand what this means?'

He looked down at Naruto, whose face was hidden.

'I think you gave your brother too much credit, and forgot to consider Naruto.'

Naruto's breathing slowed, and Kyuubi sensed that he slept. He continued to stroke Naruto's hair.

'Caught between two brothers. And he can only betray one.'

And the 4th chapter is finally DONE! HOLY shit, it only took forever. I bet you're all ready to kill me for taking so long, so break out what ever you've got, and I'll try to stand still.