A.N: Dedicated to Blue-Feather-BF.

Disclaimer: The game of poker belongs to me (not the actual game, but this particular game). The characters belong to... um... -glances nervously over shoulder at K. Masashi, aiming a gun at her head- um... they belong to their, uh, creators -sweatdrops- Someone help me... please...

It had started out like any other ordinary day. Naruto had been sent out on a mission, he completed it, and then he got a clue regarding Sasuke on his way home. As he tracked him, Itachi caught the blond's trail, and proceeded to follow him.

By the time Naruto caught up with Sasuke, Itachi had caught up with him. Upon seeing his brother, the youngest Uchiha went insane. He started to attack him, but Itachi easily subdued him, tying him up in ninja wire, gagging him, and hanging him from a tree.

But now posed the problem: each one there had something to gain, and something to lose. There was no easy way to solve this, so Itachi decided on a strategy.

He'd always found the blond kind of cute, and this provided him with the perfect opportunity. If he won, he got Naruto, and if he lost, he saw Naruto naked.

In all respects, this was a win-win situation for the Akatsuki member.

"I propose a deal, Naruto-kun." Itachi paced under his struggling brother. "You and I will play a game of poker, but it won't be like any other game of poker. Here, whoever wins has to strip naked, but they also get what they want. So in my case, I would get you. You would come back to Akatsuki headquarters calmly and quietly, and that will be that. If you win, I will let Sasuke down, and you and him can fight me. I promise not to kill you when you fail miserably. Agreed?"

Naruto shifted uncomfortably, looking up at the still struggling Sasuke, who was trying to yell obscenities through his gag.

"I guess..."

"Excellent. Let us play."

Itachi sat down in the clearing and pulled out a deck of cards. Naruto didn't bother asking where he'd kept them all this time. He watched the older boy shuffle them, and then deal them.

It suddenly occurred to him that Itachi might cheat, but as he looked at his cards, his eyes widened.

He had the best hand ever! Only one card short of a royal flush!

He looked up and bit his lip nervously, putting down his odd card out and reaching for the deck. He took a deep breath and pulled the top card.

The blond just about fell over.

There it was. His royal flush. He was going to win! He was going to bring Sasuke back to Konoha, just like he'd wanted!

Fuck, this was brilliant!

"Are you ready?" Itachi asked, having traded out two cards of his own.

"Yes."

"Two pair." Itachi put his cards down for Naruto to see.

"Royal flush." Naruto threw his down and jumped to his feet, cheering.

"Congratulations. Strip, and I'll let Sasuke down."

Fuck, to get Sasuke back, getting naked is nothing! Naruto thought as he yanked off all his clothes.

Itachi stared wide-eyed, the hands untying Sasuke's rope going limp, causing Sasuke to fall to the ground. The younger boy just sat up, also staring wide-eyed. Naruto was fucking gorgeous! Tanned skin, hard muscle...

Dear God! I left that?!

Itachi untied Sasuke, his eyes on Naruto the whole time. The raven got to his feet, removing the gag from his mouth, and Naruto stood in a fighting stance.

"Okay, Sasuke! Let's fight Ita—hey!" Sasuke had grabbed Naruto's arm and was dragging him off. "Where are we going?"

"Back to Konoha."

"Really? Cool!" Naruto paused. "Wait! I'm naked!"

"I know."

"Sasuke!"

Itachi watched the two of them walk off, waiting until they were out of sight before turning to leave.

He could get used to losing at poker.

END.