Adult-FanFiction.org : Naruto

For a Favor	By : Tatemshope Category: Naruto > General Views: 1123 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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I don't own these characters.
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Sasuke woke with a start when Itachi poked him in the ribs with his boot.
"Get up. We need to get moving."
"I hate you. Where are we going?"
"The feeling is mutual, and we're headed to Sand. That's where they're headed."
"Why sand?"
"Stop asking questions."
Sasuke shut his mouth. Again this was a different Itachi from the night before. Sasuke was having a hard time keeping his brother sorted out. Since his family was murdered he's viewed Itachi as a one-dimensional figure. He was someone that gave out nothing but hate, and received nothing but hate from him. He realized suddenly that since that fateful night he hadn't ever spent more than an hour or so with his brother, and the time they had spent together consisted of Sasuke's getting the shit beat out of him.
They'd been together now for almost 12 hours and the worst that his brother had done was kick him gently in the ribs. It was a pissy thing to do but not up to Itachi's usual standards of cruelty. Was it possible that something was bothering him? It would serve him right if something was. He was still planning to kill him when this was all over and done with, and if Itachi was unstable, this might be his best shot. For now though, it seemed more reasonable not to give his brother any specific reason to harm hi m. The odds were good that he was going to get a beating before the day was over anyway.
The sun rose low in the East as they started out and already the world was steamy. Sasuke was glad that their pace today was slower and more deliberate, he wasn't sure he could take another run. He hadn't been lying when he told Itachi he was still sore from their... session. That wasn't something he was keen on pondering though so he turned his thoughts to the previous night.
The more he thought about it the more he realized it hadn't felt much like they were chasing someone so much as it felt like they were running away. Sasuke pondered this as he walked. Something just wasn't right. Was it possible that even while not trusting his brother at all, he had still been tricked? Could Naruto be at the castle and Itachi was just trying to get him away? No, that didn't seem right either. There had almost been a hint of desperation last night in what they were doing. Maybe Naruto had escaped and Itachi was afraid ninjas from Leaf Village would be headed back to rescue him. That couldn't be it. Why would Itachi be afraid of them? He had taken on Konoha's best before and soundly defeated them. Nothing he could come up with made sense. Itachi came to a halt in front of him. He looked both ways and then jumped down a short ledge next to the road. Sasuke followed.
~~~~
Neji woke up to the smell of breakfast being cooked.
"Good morning." Mina said absently when he caught her eye.
"Where's Naruto?"
Mina smiled and tilted her head toward the door.
"Naruto's out collecting some herbs for me. We tried to patch up your leg while you slept, but I think you might need some painkiller."
He hadn't noticed it until now but he was wearing different pants than he had been wearing the night before. As if reading his mind, the dark haired girl shook her head slightly.
"Don't worry, Naruto changed you. I just dressed the wound. If he can find what he's looking for I think we may be able to heal it completely. I found an old recipe in one of my aunt's cookbooks." She wasn't lying exactly... potion... recipe... same difference.
"You're a witch."
Mina stopped swirling the mixture for a moment to look at him carefully. He didn't seem too frightened.
"You're observant. It doesn't scare you?"
"If Naruto trusts you, I trust you. Exactly how do you two know each other?"
Mina opened her mouth to speak but then shut it again before anything came out. At that moment Naruto burst through the door caring a basket full of assorted weeds and Mina looked like she had been granted a reprieve.
"Sorry Mina, I couldn't remember what the herb in the book looked like so I tried to pick a few of each."
Mina rifled through the mess until she found what she was looking for.
"Here they are! Good job. Now why don't you help Neji over to the table so you two can eat while I finish this up."
Neji held up his hand to stop Naruto from coming any closer.
"I don't want any help. I'd rather see if I can put any weight on it."
"That's fine, just let me walk beside you so if you need to grab onto something I'll be there."
Neji managed to make it to the table just fine. It was a little slow going, but he felt like if he could take something for the pain, he would be up to joining Naruto and Mina on their search.
"How do you know Mina?" This was the second time he'd asked and when he was met with no answer he looked up from his food. His companions had passed the same look back and forth as they had the night before.
~~~~
"Sit."
Still hoping to avoid his brother's wrath for the time being, Sasuke did as he was told. Itachi pulled a few chains out of his bag and quickly had Sasuke immobilized.
"What the fuck?" Sasuke hissed.
"Don't hyperventilate Sasuke. I just need to rest for a minute. Don't look at me like that."
Sasuke knew the look he was giving his brother was one of shock, but he couldn't help it. In his entire life he had never heard Itachi admit a weakness. It was then he noticed his brother kneading his temples gently and closing his eyes. He stayed that way for a few minutes and then the silence was shattered.
"SAND! ARE YOU FUCKING HAPPY???? NOW GET OUT OF MY HEAD!"
This was it. Itachi had lost his mind.
~~~~
Naruto sighed inwardly. He didn't figure Mina was up to sharing the whole story with Neji so he summarized as best he could.
Neji took it all in gazing at him intently.
"So you two have only known each other for about 24 hours?"
"Yup. Why?"
"Nothing, it's just that you seem close."
Naruto looked at Mina. It was true. He supposed a part of it might be that in some ways she was much like Sasuke, and also, they shared a connection through their demons that he'd never felt with anyone but Gaara. Plus, last night she had called him little brother. She said it in front of Neji even. People weren't usually that eager to be associated with him. Sadly, while he was out picking herbs, he had let himself imagine what it would be like to be a family with Mina and Sasuke. Maybe they could all live together in the main Uchiha residence. Maybe she would take care of them like a real big sister would, and he and Sasuke could be in love, and they could wake up together every day. Maybe he could have everything he�d always wanted. He shook his head. He needed to get all that nonsense out of his head.
'First of all, I haven't been completely up front with Mina about my relationship with her brother. Although it isn't a huge deal in Konoha, I know it isn't looked upon kindly in other places, and she might disapprove. What would happen then? Would she convince Sasuke to leave me? If Sasuke refused would she be angry with him?'
"Naruto."
'Would being with him ruin the idea of the clan being restored? Would she be the heir if she came back? Could she disown Sasu...'
"Naruto. You're screaming those thoughts at me. Stop it!" Mina looked desperate and Naruto bit his bottom lip.
"I'm sorry. I didn't realize it. Did you hear everything?" His voice cracked a little at the end of the question. He felt like he'd been punched in the stomach.
"It was hard not to. I heard enough." She looked at Neji. "Does he know?"
�He was the first one to catch us.�
Neji just stared straight ahead. It was obvious he'd stopped trying to figure out this mess a few minutes ago. Mina took a step toward the table and ruffled the blonde's hair.
"If you want to keep your thoughts from me you need to think them quietly." Naruto looked up at her and she looked more amused than anything else.
"As to your questions, if you love him and he loves you, I'm happy for you both. I'm just dying to meet him. I'm not sure if I'll go to Konoha with you after we rescue him, but if I do go, nothing would make me happier than to live with the two of you, bossing you around just as a big sister should. I really am happy that you love him."
Neji half choked, half coughed, and the look on his face said he's remembered something important.
"Naruto, we need to talk." Neji's voice sounded so serious that Mina took the hint immediately.
"I'm gonna go out and pick some fruit and vegetables for us to take with us." She handed Neji a small cup she had been holding. "Drink this. It should help with the pain and maybe even finish healing you. I think we'll be ready to leave soon." With that, she walked out the door.
"What is it, Neji?" Naruto's blue eyes sparkled with concern.
"I don't even know where to start on this. Itachi... raped him. It was awful. I didn't see it happen, but he brought me in soon after to look after Sasuke. He was completely broken. He was desperate and he sort of... came after me." Neji took a deep breath. Never in his life had he had this much trouble getting through a few sentences. "We kissed� I stopped it� he was just trying to get what had happened out of his mind. I have no doubt he would have done the same with anyone who had been sent into that room. We weren't trying to betray you." Neji stopped and looked at Naruto who was already at the door lacing on his boots.
"Thanks for taking care of him Neji."
"You aren't angry?"
"At you? No. At Itachi, hell yes. He wanted the Kyubbi, he's going to get him." Naruto's eyes were changing color slightly.
"Naruto, you need to calm down. You're not heading off without us. I thought since the merge you couldn't bring him out anyway."
"I didn't think I could, but here he is. You're still hurt. You need to rest. Plus, if you come... I've never... I don't know exactly what's happening."
Mina walked in the door and took in the scene. Naruto's thoughts had reached her from out in the yard and she had quickly come in to see what was wrong. As soon as she saw him she knew what he planned to do and she held her hand up.
"Don't try to stop me." Naruto could tell she was about to do some sort of mind control and so said it both pleading and as a warning at the same time.
"I'm not going to let you take off after them by yourself. Either you wait for Neji and I to get ready and accompany you, or you are going to sleep. Right. Now."
"You could get hurt."
"Is that a threat?"
Naruto's eyes eased back to their natural blue.
"I didn't mean right now, I mean when I see Itachi. I'm going to kill that bastard the second I see him. I don't want you to accidentally get in the way."
"Neither of us is going to 'accidentally' get in the way." Neji stated plainly as he pulled up his boots. He was pleased to notice that whatever was in the drink had him feeling much better already.
"Let me just pour what's left of this potion in a canteen for Neji and we'll be on our way."
"Potion? I thought it was coffee.� he asked, looking mildly concerned.
"What can I say, I'm a witch. It's not going to turn you into a goat or anything. It's healing. Don't you feel better?"
Neji nodded.
"Good then, I think we're ready."
Mina locked the door and gazed sadly at her ramshackle house. It wasn't much, but it had been home.
"Where are we headed?" Naruto asked, realizing he hadn't thought to ask before.
"Sand."
"Why there?"
"I'm not sure, honestly. All morning I've been thinking 'Where are you going? Where are you going?' over and over again. Just now when I was out in the garden I couldn't stop myself from saying it and then I could have sworn I heard Itachi yell "Sand!" and a few other choice things actually... I figure it's our best lead."
Naruto looked unsure but Neji had heard of this kind of thing before. It didn't surprise him that Mina and Itachi might have some sort of telekinetic link, considering how alike the two appeared.
"Sand it is." The blonde boy said, trying to sound as enthusiastic as he could muster.
They headed off in single file toward the darkest part of the forest, Mina leading the way. Naruto and Neji were not nearly as afraid of these woods as the people who had been raised in this area, but there was definitely something sinister about this forest.

TBC
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Blisblop: Sorry you didn�t get the e-mail. It�s not too important though. I was just going to give you a spoiler.
Me (Who for the record isn�t me, but is in fact you!): You crack me up. I�m glad you liked the last chapter though, I wrote it with you in mind.
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