Adult-FanFiction.org : Naruto

Deception - COMPLETE	By : kizukatana Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male > Naruto/Sasuke Views: 11937 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 3
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto and make no money on anything I write

Chapter List
- 11
- 12
- 13
-xXx-
Naruto woke, his entire body aching, but in a satisfied way. He stretched gingerly and his arm brushed against the warm, solid body still sleeping beside him. He rolled slightly to his side to get a better view. Given that Sasuke had told him that he rarely drank, Naruto assumed the man would sleep late this morning. After all, they had been up until almost dawn together. The stiffness in Naruto's body attested to the vigorousness of their activities. He yawned, scrubbing his hands over his face and into his hair.
He took the time to study the sleeping face of the man he had taken last night as a lover, not really sure how he felt anymore. Naruto generally had a good read on people he met... it was a survival skill he had honed early. But he could freely admit, at least to himself, that he had misread Sasuke at their first meeting. Yes, the man was arrogant and hard. But he wasn't shallow or naïve... not the typical pampered rich. Naruto sensed that the coldness of the man stemmed more from some sort of wound in his past rather than arrogance about his current station. There was a darkness in him that Naruto was drawn to and intrigued by, far beyond the pull of Sasuke's physical beauty. Last night had only drawn that into sharper definition.
Given time, Naruto would have liked to explore that side of Sasuke, find out the secrets of his past. Discover what it was about this man that attracted him, that resonated with him.
Naruto sighed, closing his eyes at his own foolish thoughts. There was no possibility of that. Even if Naruto weren't leaving in less than two weeks with Gaara, Sasuke was not someone he could involve himself with.
Sasuke was one of those few people in this world whose life will matter. Naruto had recognized that fairly quickly. Not for all the bloodline and money reasons that Orochimaru espoused, though. Sasuke was much more than that. He was fiercely intelligent, frighteningly charismatic, and had his own moral code. He wasn't afraid to cross swords with powerful people if they got in his way. He had his own purpose, and the drive and abilities to achieve it. Sure, he was only a City councilman now, but already his political party had earmarked him as a rising star and Naruto would not be surprised at all to find Sasuke rapidly rising through the political ranks over the coming years.
He didn't know if Sasuke had a particular goal that he wanted to achieve other than general power and success, but he suspected there were some.
If Naruto were in Sasuke's life at all, even as a friend, he would only be in the way of all that. There was no whitewashing Naruto's past occupations and associations. It would kill Sasuke's career dead in the water to maintain any sort of ties outside of the current narrow confine of 'security employee' with someone like Naruto.
And as much as Naruto might wish that things were different, the fact was that they weren't.
Naruto had one goal in his life. He was going to kill the two people who had killed his parents and destroyed his life. With Zetsu's death, his job was already half done. He'd finish the other half, and it didn't really matter to him if he didn't live beyond that accomplishment. His goal was small and narrow in the grand scheme of things, but it was his.
However, he wouldn't let his narrow existence interfere with something larger. He would seize this limited window of contact with an amazing man. Then release it, and walk away.
Naruto sat up and disentangled himself from the ruined sheets. He needed a shower. He'd wash

away the evidence of the night before, and hopefully with it the strange wistfulness that had settled over him in its wake. He'd enjoy the next few days together with Sasuke. But when he left with Gaara, he would let it go.
Like smoke through his fingers.
. . . .
Naruto stood in Sasuke's enormous shower, steam billowing around him, making him feel almost claustrophobic from lack of oxygen. But the soothing effect it had on his sore body was worth the discomfort.
There was no sound, only a faint draft of cool air against his ankles that warned him he was no longer alone in the shower before he felt a presence behind him.
"Mind if I join you?" Sasuke's smooth voice came just inches behind his ear. None of the anxiety that Sasuke had felt upon waking to an empty bed showed in his voice or expression.
Naruto turned, not sure what to expect in terms of 'morning after' conversations from this man. They hadn't spoken of feelings last night, and he didn't expect to this morning.
"How's your head? I thought you'd sleep in today," Naruto said, keeping his voice low to not further aggravate what he was sure must be a massive hangover. He'd never had one himself, but he'd seen enough from Nagato's crew. Naruto grabbed the bar of soap from the granite shelf and slowly working it between his hands, giving them something to do by building up a lather. Sasuke had chosen to join him in the shower, but he hadn't touched him yet. Given that Sasuke had not been in full command of his faculties last night, Naruto wasn't sure if he'd have regrets now. So Naruto decided he'd let the older man dictate the way it would play out this morning, though he took the fact that Sasuke had joined him in the shower as a good sign.
Sasuke closed his eyes and sighed in relief as the stream of hot water pulsed into his neck and shoulders. "I've felt better, but a slip of judgment last night doesn't release me from having to meet my obligations this morning."
Naruto wasn't sure what to say, whether Sasuke's reference to his lapse of judgment was narrowly defined to drinking, or if it included his activities with Naruto as well.
Seeming to realize that his words could be taken multiple ways, Sasuke clarified. "Though I can't say I'm not glad at the outcome," he said opening his eyes and looking directly into Naruto's blue gaze, making sure there was no mistake in his meaning.
Naruto gave him a crooked smile. "It was one for the record books, that's for sure."
Sasuke's lips twitched in response, then he closed his eyes again to focus on the soothing feel of the water.
"Turn," Naruto instructed, adding action to his words by grabbing Sasuke's shoulders and gently turning him so he was facing away from him. With his lathered hands, Naruto began slowly massaging Sasuke's shoulders and neck with deep, smooth circles of his thumbs. Sasuke groaned in appreciation. Naruto worked his hands over Sasuke's flesh until the soap had rinsed away.
He grabbed some of Sasuke's shampoo, and - lathering his hands again - worked his way up Sasuke's neck into his hair, massaging his scalp.
"God, you are amazing at this," Sasuke breathed, feeling the pounding of his head lesson with every slow, firm press of Naruto's fingers. As the pressure in his head decreased, Sasuke noticed a pressure building much further south.
Sasuke turned to face Naruto, the spray of the hot water sluicing down over them. He wrapped his hands in Naruto's hair and drew him into a slow, deep kiss. Sasuke felt the now familiar taste and texture of Naruto's mouth, already falling into the addictive nature of both. The keen edge of violence from the night before was gone, but the depth and heat that surged instantly between them had not lessened. If anything, it seemed only to have grown with familiarity. They both felt a sense of relief that neither was denying nor hiding from what had happened between them. There would be no false promises of forever or declarations of undying love, but the attraction, at least, was deep and acknowledged. Neither was willing to go back to they way they had been before.
Sasuke forcefully deepened the kiss, feeling Naruto's immediate response to meet him.
"You ok for this?" Sasuke asked, his hand sliding over Naruto's taut backside, knowing he had been far from gentle not too many hours ago.
"I'm not made of glass, Sasuke," Naruto said, sliding his hands down from Sasuke's hair to grip his pale hips. "You don't ever need to hold back with me."
The sensations no longer blurred by alcohol, Sasuke felt Naruto's words somehow pierce his gut, sending a shivering heat rippling out from that epicenter. Not able to put into words how he felt, he simply complied, losing himself fully in the fierce contact escalating between them. With the one man that was able to meet him, and match him.
. . . .
Later, they lay on Sasuke's bed, the ruined sheets from the night before pushed off to one side to make space for their clean bodies. They were both still naked and damp from the shower. Sasuke's hand was splayed across Naruto's stomach, lightly tracing the pattern of the tattoo found there. The motion of Sasuke's fingers shifted, and - rather than following the swirl of the tattoo - his fingers were now sliding along each of the thin scars hidden beneath it.
Sasuke didn't voice his question, but let it show in his eyes.
Naruto shrugged, but didn't shirk away from the questioning gaze. "It was a long time ago."
The silence stretched. Naruto thought about whether to say more or not, and somehow decided he wanted to. After all, they had let many barriers drop last night. But he didn't want to discuss it with Sasuke touching him. He pulled the pale hand off his stomach and sat up, shifting back to lean against the headboard.
"When I was younger, my parents were killed. I was injured as well," Naruto's hand ghosted over the scars as he briefly allowed the memory to surface, before shoving it back down again. "It was a long time ago," he repeated, his voice rougher.
"How old were you?" Sasuke asked.
"Eight," Naruto said tonelessly.
"Car accident?" Sasuke asked conversationally, though he was fairly sure he already knew the answer.
"No."
When Naruto didn't say anything more, Sasuke didn't push. Sasuke wasn't ready to share that aspect of his own past, so he wouldn't force Naruto to discuss his either.
Almost in apology for not continuing, Naruto began gently massaging Sasuke's scalp with his right hand as they lay on the bed in companionable silence. Pieces of conversation from last night flitted through Sasuke's head as he lay there, enjoying the feel of Naruto's talented fingers easing away the remains of his headache.
A question surfaced that Sasuke had wanted to ask for some time, and he decided he wasn't going to push it off any longer.
"What does Orochimaru have over you?"
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Why do you think he'd need to have something? I worked for Nagato, who - according to the police, anyway - was a much scarier guy, involved in worse things than Orochimaru."
Sasuke looked at him astutely. "At first I thought it was just another job, where you worked and got paid but it was your own choice. But it's not like that, is it? You respected Nagato. You don't respect Orochimaru, or trust him. Orochimaru is having you doing work you don't like. Work that you feel is beneath you. I can see the resentment and anger you have for him whenever his name is mentioned."
Naruto shrugged. He supposed it wasn't surprising that Sasuke had noticed this. "At first it was just money. While I was in the hospital after getting shot, he paid my bail, and medical and legal fees. Then he informed me of those facts and demanded I repay him by working for him."
"That was when you first came to deliver his proposal," Sasuke said.
"Yep," Naruto agreed, sounding slightly amused. "Man, I was so fucking pissed at him. I don't mean to brag, but I had a pretty decent reputation in Nagato's organization. To have him play me as messenger boy or sex toy was just... ugh."
Sasuke smirked. He could understand Naruto's reaction. He understood pride. "But you kept doing it. Seems like, with the case against you pretty weak and your bail refunded, you didn't need to keep working for him."
Naruto's face closed up. "He found new leverage. It isn't about money anymore."
Sasuke got the signal that Naruto wanted this conversation over, but he wasn't going to back down. He wasn't going to let Naruto be forced into virtual prostitution by the man, but he couldn't prevent it if he didn't know what was binding Naruto to Orochimaru.
"Did he threaten you? You seem pretty capable of defending yourself. Orochimaru doesn't have hit men in his employ."
Naruto looked directly at Sasuke, wondering if Sasuke knew that for a fact or was just assuming. "I'm not afraid of Orochimaru. I could kill him or anyone he sends against me without even having to try very hard. He's not a player in the world I live in."
Sasuke frowned. "Then?"
Naruto cocked his head to one side, clearly debating whether to tell Sasuke or not. In the end, he decided it was better to simply tell him rather than have Sasuke try to dig the information up himself, potentially stirring up trouble in the process. He had gotten to know the councilman well enough over the past weeks to know he wouldn't just let something like this drop, and he had the resources to pressure Anko or other of Orochimaru's associates to find out if Naruto didn't tell him. This was simpler.
"I'm not afraid of Orochimaru. But he found out who I am afraid of. And he made it clear that he'd... put us in touch if I didn't do what he wanted."
Sasuke connected the dots pretty easily. "This is the 'ex' that Hidan was talking about."
Naruto's eyes narrowed. "Careful, councilman. Don't try swimming too deep in unfamiliar waters."
Sasuke took the warning for what it was, but he wasn't going to back down. There were many reasons he wanted to sever the ties between Naruto and Orochimaru, but he picked the one that was easiest for him to explain. "I owe you. You noticed the bomb, and I wouldn't have seen it until it was too late. I don't like debts. If there is a way I can help you with this 'ex' of yours so that Orochimaru can't use it against you, I will."
Naruto laughed, his emotional defenses automatically going into place. "What, you're going to fight him for me? Be my hero? Fuck you, princess. You have no idea just how dark the underbelly of society can get."
Sasuke's eyes hardened. "Don't presume things about me, Naruto. You don't really know me at all. But no, I wasn't thinking about fighting him. I have enough money that I could buy off just about anyone."
Naruto let his eyes drop, in acknowledgement that at least part of what Sasuke said was true. He really didn't know the older man at all. At least... he didn't know the details of his life. But he knew the core of who Sasuke was, despite what the man might say. "This guy... can't be bought. He's not after anything except the pleasure of simply killing. He's not sane. He's not like Nagato or even Orochimaru, who do things for money or power." Unconsciously, Naruto's hand ghosted over the scars on his stomach.
Sasuke digested that. If the guy couldn't be bought or reasoned with... that was more of a challenge. He didn't delude himself that he could physically protect Naruto if the person was dangerous enough that both Naruto and Hidan were afraid of him.
Naruto continued, as though somehow finding relief in actually telling this to someone. "Even Nagato didn't want him, despite the fact that the guy is a killing machine and would basically do a job for free for the sheer pleasure of the kill. He wasn't controllable. He was even worse than his partner."
"Zetsu?"
Naruto's lips thinned. There was a prolonged silence.
"I need to stop underestimating you, I suppose, eh Sasuke? Itachi unsealed the records and told you." Naruto's voice sounded brittle, clearly uncomfortable with the amount that Sasuke already knew about him, or was able to piece together.
"No. I didn't ask Itachi. I have no idea if he knows or not. I have... my own sources."
Naruto considered this. "So you did a background check on me. You're looking into my past."
Sasuke didn't bother denying it. "Didn't you expect me to?"
"Was this before or after you decided to have sex with me?" Sasuke heard the slight edge in Naruto's voice.
"I wanted to have sex with you from the first time I saw you, in case you hadn't already figured that out. The only reason it took this long was that I wanted you to want it as well," Sasuke paused, wanting Naruto to acknowledge that fact. Naruto did so by kicking him lightly in the hip. Sasuke smirked, then continued, "But I started looking into you and everyone else more thoroughly after the bomb. I am going to find out what is going on. But I'm not looking for a way to blackmail you into anything, Naruto. I'm not like Orochimaru. Or Kimimaro. I wouldn't force you into it."
Naruto shifted. It made sense for Sasuke to look into Naruto's history. He would do the same in Sasuke's position. After all, Sasuke had the most to lose both from a reputational perspective and from a safety perspective. He was likely the target of that bomb, not Naruto.
"I guess," Naruto allowed, knowing that Sasuke wanted some sort of acknowledgement that he was different from the others.
Sasuke frowned. "Naruto. I'm not trying to force myself into your life or control you. But things got more serious, and I'm not going to keep walking around blindfolded."
Naruto shrugged, but wouldn't meet his eyes. It annoyed Sasuke that Naruto didn't fully trust him, even though he knew that the blond really had no reason to do so. And a lifetime of experience teaching him not to.
"What's his name, this partner of Zetsu?"
Naruto just looked at him for a minute. Then finally answered.
"He wouldn't use a bomb. He always kills by knife. He likes it up close and personal. He likes to feel the spray. See his victim's fear as they die. I don't know his real name. He had several aliases that he went by, and they vary by country. He likes to take the names of local monsters and legends to instill fear. But it doesn't matter. He's not your bomber. I would stake my life on that."
Sasuke knew that Naruto was trying to tell him that this guy was none of his business, but Sasuke didn't accept that.
"What are the names you know, then?"
"Does it matter? If you search for him, all it will do is draw his attention to you. It isn't the kind of attention you want. The guy has killed literally hundreds of people. Interpol has been hunting him for more than a decade."
"Why is he fixated on you, then?"
"He's..." Naruto took a breath, then blew it out. Given what Sasuke had already uncovered, it was only a matter of time before he pieced together the rest. "... he's the serial killer who killed my parents. He just wants to finish the job on me that he started more than a decade ago. I am the only one who ever survived. I am also the only one who knows his real face. He always wears a mask when he kills. But that night... my father got it off him before he died. I know what he looks like."
"Tell me his name, Naruto."
"To satisfy your morbid curiosity? No. Like I said, it doesn't matter. You can't buy him with your money, and he doesn't want anything that your influence can procure. Any interference on your part will only serve to make him take an interest in you... and you don't want that." And I couldn't live with that, he added silently.
Sasuke frowned at Naruto, but he could sense that the blond had dug his heels in and wouldn't be budged on this point. It didn't escape Sasuke that Naruto was trying to protect him. He was both pleased and annoyed by it. Sasuke sighed, then tried another path.
"And so what is Orochimaru's threat on this? This guy doesn't sound like someone Orochimaru would have any connection with, if even Nagato wouldn't touch him."
"No. Orochimaru doesn't have contact with him. He just said he would make sure that my face is plastered all over the news, and that all of my friends and associates are made known as well, putting us in this guy's cross-hairs. Even though I'm older now, he'd recognize my face. I look a lot like my father."
"And this guy remembers the faces of everyone he kills?" Sasuke asked, sensing there was something more here.
Naruto paused again. Just when Sasuke thought he wouldn't answer, Naruto did. "I don't know. But my father's death caused problems for him. My father was... well-known. Before then, he had only killed people who wouldn't be missed I think. With my father's death, there was an all out manhunt, and he had to leave the country. It was the only reason he wasn't able to circle back the next day and finish me off when I was still injured and weak."
"In the hospital," Sasuke said quietly, suddenly realizing the magnitude of trust that Naruto had shown in him by coming to him that day when he was injured. Their gazes locked for a second, then Naruto dropped his back down to the bed.
"Yeah," he said quietly.
Sasuke thought for a bit, taking in what Naruto had told him about his "ex", and the nature of the threat that Orochimaru held over Naruto. "Call his bluff," Sasuke said, finally.
"What?"
"Orochimaru. Call his bluff. Given what I know of the guy, he is all about control and contingency plans. If this psycho is like you say, then he can't be bribed or controlled. Which means Orochimaru will not have a failsafe way to cover his ass and stay off this guy's hit list. He would never take that chance by revealing your location publicly, when it is also public information that you have been working for him. He'd be just as dead as your friends, and he must know that. He's bluffing. He's a coward when it comes to physical violence. He'd never take on a person like you're describing."
Naruto had suspected as much, but hadn't been willing to bet his friends' lives on it. But Sasuke knew Orochimaru much better than he did. His opinion carried more weight.
"If he pushes me, then I will. For now, I can manage him without direct confrontation. I settled things with Kimimaro. He agreed to tell Orochimaru that he is satisfied with our arrangement."
Sasuke's eyes sharpened at Naruto's words. "What did you promise him?"
Naruto sensed the underlying jealousy in Sasuke's question, and was as baffled by it now as he was by that emotion last night. The idea of someone like Sasuke caring enough to be jealous over him was almost inconceivable, unless is just stemmed from general possessiveness. "I promised to keep his secret of where he makes his money from."
Sasuke raised a brow in silent question. Naruto smirked as he answered the unasked question. "Let's just say he's an old business associate of Nagato's."
"Hn," Sasuke said, feeling inexplicably relieved about the nature of the promise given.
Naruto leaned over and brushed a kiss across Sasuke's lips on impulse. Somehow the gentle nature of the kiss felt even more intimate then their earlier, more heated touches. Naruto pulled back, feeling emotionally off-balance. Covering his awkwardness, he got up. "I'm going to go get something to eat. Are you up for food yet?"
His back was to Sasuke, so he didn't see the small smile that appeared on the older man's lips. "I'll get dressed and join you in the kitchen in a few minutes," Sasuke said, his voice as expressionless as ever.
Naruto walked out, heading to the guest room where his own clothing was. He was surprised to hear the elevator chime, and looked up to see Itachi walk in.
-xXx-
Naruto froze, knowing there was nothing he could do to disguise the fact that he was walking out of Sasuke's bedroom, naked. Naruto blushed from head to toe, but simply gave a small wave and continued walking briskly to the guest room where he clothes were.
"Sasuke's just getting dressed," Naruto called over his shoulder, pretending he didn't notice Itachi's smirk and raised brow.
Itachi followed the trail of abandoned formal wear that Naruto and Sasuke had left the night before.
He walked into his brother's bedroom to find Sasuke pulling on a pair of jeans, still shirtless and hair damp from the shower. Itachi noticed the torn, ruined sheets in a pile on the side of the bed.
"So you had a good evening, then, little brother?"
Sasuke sighed. It was a testament to the amount he had drunk last night that he had forgotten his brother was going to come to see him this morning.
"I'm twenty-five years old, Itachi. You didn't really think I was still a virgin, did you?"
Itachi's smirk had morphed almost into a grin. "I've known you weren't a virgin since you got yourself a rather well-built blond bodyguard."
Truthfully, Itachi had been aware of Sasuke's other liaisons, brief though they were. If for no other reason than several of them had resulted in stalker situations that had required police intervention.
"So... where are things between you two?" Itachi asked.
Sasuke shot a glance at the obviously well-used bed. "I think it's pretty clear, don't you?"
"Well, of course I wasn't exactly surprised to see Naruto walking naked out of your bedroom when I arrived this morning. Though I must say I was quite impressed -"
Sasuke's eyes narrowed dangerously, and Itachi chuckled. "Relax, Otouto. I am not going to try to seduce your blond away from you."
Sasuke frowned, annoyed that Itachi was reading him so well.
"But Naruto is not like your past trysts. I am wondering if you have thought through what kind of relationship you want with him, and what the consequences of it will be."
Sasuke turned back to his closet and walked in to find a shirt to wear, ignoring his brother's question. He wasn't prepared to have this conversation with himself, let alone his brother.
Itachi simply sat in one of the large, leather chairs in the room, waiting for his brother to come out. It wasn't often he was able to torture his little brother when his mental faculties were not at their fullest, and he intended to enjoy it immensely.
. . .
Naruto finished dressing, but didn't want to interfere with whatever conversation Sasuke was having with Itachi in his bedroom. He was already feeling awkward enough. Naruto went to the kitchen and poured himself a bowl of cereal. He always woke up starving in the morning, and due to his... activities... with Sasuke in the shower this morning, he was eating much later than usual. He finished quickly, and loaded his bowl and spoon in the dishwasher.
Itachi and Sasuke had still not emerged from the bedroom, so Naruto wandered into Sasuke's office to see if the police had faxed over any of the information about the bomb that they had promised. He was hoping they would let him bring it to Dei for his opinion. No one knew bombs like Deidara.
There was a fax in the machine, and Naruto pulled it out and flipped through it quickly, then more slowly. It wasn't from the police department. It was evidently from someone in Sasuke's office. Apparently the result of some sort of survey, polling likely voters on their opinions of Senate candidates in certain types of relationships. Evidently there was little concern if the candidate was in a heterosexual or homosexual relationship, as long as it was stable and committed, ideally married. Single candidates were looked on much less favorably. But what made Naruto pause was the extensive list of other survey questions. Evidently, voters very much disliked the idea of a potential senate candidate involved in any kind of relationship with a criminal. Interestingly, white collar criminals were viewed even less favorably than violent criminals, but both scenarios looked bad.
The summary of the report was that - if Sasuke wanted to become a senator eventually - he needed to get married to either a man or woman with a good reputation.
Naruto placed the pages carefully back into the fax.
The results weren't a surprise, as much as Naruto felt a small pang at seeing it in such black and white terms. The real surprise was that Sasuke had evidently even been considering it. Considering an actual relationship with him.
And somehow, it made it even worse, knowing that Sasuke had thought about it, too.
Because it didn't matter what either of them wanted. It could never happen.
. . . . .
When Sasuke and Itachi emerged from the bedroom, Naruto was sitting on the couch reading the newspaper.
"I got the preliminary report on the device the bomb squad removed from Sasuke's car," Itachi said, holding up the folder that Naruto had failed to notice the man carrying with him earlier.
"Can you get us permission to see Dei and get his opinion on this?" Naruto asked hopefully.
Itachi smirked. "Already done. The department said they don't need his input, but everyone agreed he knows more than anyone else about bombers and the little signatures they use in building their devices. Maybe he can catch something that our experts missed."
Naruto breathed a sigh of relief. Finally. It had been way too long since he'd seen his friend. He hoped Deidara was holding up with the rough treatment he had been receiving in prison.
-xXx-
Across town, Orochimaru was seriously annoyed. Sasuke and Naruto had disappeared in the middle of the party, before he had had a chance to see if either of his plans had born fruit. He had been hopeful when Kimimaro had said that Naruto had agreed to spend time with him over the summer. He had expected Sasuke to be disgusted by the fact that Naruto was basically just a paid whore.
But judging by the security tapes he had procured of the rear stairwell at the black tie benefit last the night before, Sasuke had been far from disgusted. It had almost appeared that the Uchiha had been drunk, but Orochimaru knew that was impossible.
Things had clearly not worked out as Orochimaru had planned. And to top it all off, he had heard from his source in Sasuke's office that the man had been floating the concept of whether being in a gay relationship or involved with someone with a criminal record would damage his chances for running for senate in a few years.
This was unacceptable.
Orochimaru went to his safe, and opened the package that his source at the police department had left him.
Weapons are often seized in the process of drug busts. They are all tested by ballistics and cataloged, then stored in the evidence lockers. But it is not unheard of for officers to pocket a gun or two on such a raid before they are processed, just in case they are needed as 'drop pieces' or for other activities. They are unmarked, and untraceable.
Orochimaru had only had to resort to using one twice. Murder was not something he could delegate, since it left him open to blackmail no matter how tight his hold was on the other party. He needed his position in society to remain unscathed. It was what all his efforts were for.
He had put too much effort into cultivating the Uchihas and all their wealth and position to have his chances destroyed by some worthless underling of Nagato's.
He looked at the medical reports that Anko had procured for him. It appeared that Naruto had some sort of allergy to many pain medications where normal doses made his system shut down into an almost coma-like state. If his arresting officer, Hatake, hadn't warned the hospital ahead of time, he probably would have died on the operating table when they went to take out the bullet.
That was perfect. Every warrior had an Achilles heel, after all.
-xXx-
Naruto grinned as soon as they walked into the interview room at Sing Sing correctional facility. They had his friend shackled - arms and legs - to a metal chair and flanked by two beefy-looking guards. Despite the charges against Hidan being much more extensive (mainly due to more substantial evidence available), they had clearly deemed Deidara more dangerous. And the way the older blond arrogantly sprawled in his metal chair showed that he was clearly aware of his elevated status as 'most dangerous', and not in the least remorseful about his actions.
Deidara met Naruto's eyes and smirked, but turned his attention back to the two brothers who had followed Naruto into the room.
"Well... a counselor and a councilman. I should feel so honored, yeah?" Deidara drawled, lounging in the surely uncomfortable metal chair. If he were standing, he would have been slightly taller than Naruto, but his frame was leaner. His orange prison jumper was rolled up to show lithely corded muscles of his forearms. His long, blond hair in its usual style covering one eye, but otherwise pulled back into a ponytail. If you didn't bother to look at his face, you could definitely mistake the man for being feminine. But one look in the cold, dead eyes removed any notion of sweetness. This man was a killer. Arrogant and clever. And completely unafraid.
Mentally, Sasuke agreed with Naruto's assessment that any guy dumb enough to try to jump this particular man in the showers pretty much got what he deserved.
"Deidara," Itachi greeted in return. "Thank you for agreeing to see us."
Deidara's attorney sat off to one side, silent, and clearly deathly afraid of his own client.
"Well, anything for Naru," Deidara said, giving Naruto a wink. "So... you making out ok, yeah? Hidan said you'd made some new friends."
Naruto knew that Deidara was obliquely letting him know that Hidan had gotten him up to speed on everything. Deidara had never used the code... but he didn't really need to. Everyone knew when Deidara did a job. The issue was always proving it.
"Yeah. It's been fun. Not as much fun as it sounds like you've been having," Naruto snickered, and the two guards frowned.
"What can I say. I've got a fucking guardian angle somewhere that's overenthusiastic about protecting my chastity, yeah?" Deidara said clearly enjoying Naruto's amusement and the guard's discomfiture. "Of course, I have no idea how it happened," he said, his voice slightly falsetto with feigned ignorance.
Naruto was still snickering, but decided to change the subject before they got their permission to talk with him revoked. "Anyway, someone tried to blow up Sasuke the other day. We were hoping you might give your opinion on the device," Naruto said, knowing he wasn't going to get a chance to talk privately with Deidara in this visit.
Deidara's attorney shifted, finally daring to insert himself into the conversation. "Any information that my client might be able to provide should count towards some consideration in his sentence, or the charges against him."
Deidara ignored his attorney, and instead looked at Itachi. He leaned forward as far as his shackles would allow, and smirked. "So counselor... what would you give me to help protect your baby brother, hn?"
Itachi looked at the man impassively. "That would depend on whether you actually had anything useful to say, now wouldn't it?"
Deidara's eyes danced as he looked at Naruto. "God, he's fucking hot, eh, Naru? Just look at all that influence and raw intellect... in such a controlled, fucking perfect package. I bet half the guys this guy puts away in here wake up hot and sweaty just dreaming about him."
"Dei, cut it out," Naruto said, looking at Itachi but finding the man's face unfazed. If anything, Itachi looked amused.
"Don't be greedy, Naru. I know you're already knocking boots with the little Uchiha. Don't tell me you have dibs on both of them, yeah? Though that could be pretty damn hot, too, hn."
Naruto rolled his eyes, and pulled the folder out of Itachi's hands that had the details of the device that the police had removed from Sasuke's car. He thrust the folder into Deidara's shackled hands. "Just stop being a dick and look at this, will you?"
"Tch. Spoil sport. I've been locked in solitary for weeks. Let me have some fun, yeah?" But he took the folder and opened it, flicking through the photos and technical notes. When he got to the one of the car, he snorted in disgust. "Amateur," he sneered.
Sasuke glanced at Naruto, who gave him an "I told you so" look.
"Well?" Itachi said when Deidara had finished looking through everything.
"Like I said, Counselor. What's it worth to you?" Deidara leaned back in his seat, opening his legs slightly wider, though the motion was restricted by the shackles on his ankles. "Would you wrap your pretty lips around my dick if I could tell you who designed this bomb, hn?"
Itachi walked forward until he was standing just across the small table from Deidara. He leaned down, hands braced on either side of the folder Deidara had finished reading, his face inches from the felon's. "If you can tell me who designed it, and who built it, and who planted it... I can take twenty years off your sentence."
Given that the current deal for Deidara was sixty years to avoid a trial that could end in life without possibility of parole, it was a significant offer. Though forty years would still have the man coming out when he was seventy.
Deidara smirked. "I'm good, but not psychic, Counselor. I'll tell you who designed the bomb, and leave it to you to determine what sort of... good will... my cooperation would entitle me to." Deidara's attorney shifted as though to object, but Deidara silenced the man with a wave of his hand.
"The man who designed this bomb is currently residing in Cell Block C, right here in Sing Sing. And has been for the past 7 years. His name is Hanzo Sanshouo. It's an early design of his, before he started adding in the poison gas that he is famous for. Probably why the dumbfuck cops missed it... they only look for the obvious. But it's definitely his work. You can tell by the way the C4 is set."
Silence greeted this statement.
"Are... are you sure?" Naruto asked.
Deidara snorted. "Fuck, Naruto. Who do you think I am, yeah? Of course I'm sure. But I'm also sure that he isn't the one who built it or set it. This was done by a lame-ass copycat, yeah."
Itachi narrowed his eyes. "How can you tell?"
"The twist on the wires. This bomb was made by someone who is right-handed. But the Hanzo is left-handed. Also, looking at the way in which the bomb was placed," Deidara sneered as he flicked the photo of the car with the obvious smudges. "It was done by someone with no experience. Like I child still learning to count who copies some fancy calculus formula he saw somewhere pretending he knows math."
Naruto thought about it. "So anyone who read about this guy's work in the past would be able to make this bomb?"
Deidara raised his eyebrows. "No. The technical details of the work, and the 'signature' elements are never released to the public. You'd actually need to get your hands on one of his old devices to be able to copy it in this kind of detail."
"But you know the details," Sasuke pointed out.
Deidara smiled condescendingly. "People like to brag about their work in here, yeah? I know all the details of most people's work. And I'd also know if Hanzo were involved in this. He'd be bragging for sure, since he's no longer top dog here. You've got yourself a copycat who has access to police reports and probably the evidence lockers."
"What

about a prior accomplice?" Itachi suggested.
Deidara snorted. "No one would work with someone this sloppy, especially not someone with Hanzo's reputation," Deidara said, flicking the car photo contemptuously. "This is definitely a first-timer. Didn't even completely get to pop his cherry, since the shitty placement was such a dead giveaway it didn't even blow, yeah."
They thanked Deidara, and Itachi said he'd see what he could do in terms of cutting a deal with Deidara on his sentence, depending on how this played out.
Deidara just smirked, clearly not worried about the outcome. After all, there was no way in hell anyone was going to mess with the blond after what he had done to the first guy who tried it.
Which, Itachi supposed, had been the whole point.
-xXx-
Naruto didn't comment when they returned to Sasuke's apartment to find that his housekeeper had cleaned the apartment and moved Naruto's belongings into Sasuke's bedroom.
Sasuke had finished his work in his office while Naruto had watched the news, then worked out. He wasn't surprised when Sasuke joined him in the shower for the second time that day. They ended up skipping dinner and going directly to bed. Neither of them minded.
. . . .
Naruto waited until he was sure Sasuke was asleep. He ignored the twinge of guilt he felt as he carefully got out of bed and dressed silently. He'd only be gone for a few minutes, but there were some things he didn't want Sasuke involved with.
He walked four blocks down and pulled out a small handkerchief that he used to hold the phone and dial, more out of habit than out of any real concern that someone would be checking for his finger prints.
"Hey, Sakura," Naruto said, knowing that tonight was one of the nights that she worked late, so he wouldn't be waking her up. He wasn't sure how many more chances he'd get to slip out and call her privately, and he wanted to let her know that he and Gaara would be leaving town for a while so she didn't get worried and start hunting through the morgues for their bodies.
"Naruto! I saw on the news about the bomb. Are you ok? What is going on?"
"We're fine... the police are all over it."
"Yeah, protecting the Uchihas. But you have to watch your own back. Naruto... there is something I need to show you. In person. It involves you and Gaara."
"What? Why?" Naruto asked, looking quickly over his shoulder to be sure there was no one listening.
"I don't want to discuss it on the phone. But I've seen two bodies in the morgue with tattoos like the one on your stomach. And their files are being doctored."
Naruto breathed out. Fuck. He did not want Sakura getting sucked into this.
"Meet me tomorrow at noon at the church on Park Ave by the Waldorf."
He'd have to find a way to ditch Sasuke and contact Kakashi before then.
-xXx-
to be continued...
Next chapter might involve a sparring sex scene, which - if it happens - will probably be posted on an alternate site. But I will let you know. But there will be Shisui, Gaara, Kakashi and Sakura. Possibly Orochimaru, assuming I don't run out of space.
- 11
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- 13
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Deception - COMPLETE