Forgiveness

I don’t own Naruto nor make money from the writing of this fiction.



Warnings: cussing, possible spoilers,



AN: I shouldn’t have to tell you guys that this story contains some spoilers. What is not featured in the manga is my own thoughts or ideas for it. I’m not following the manga 100%. Thanks for the lovely comments. I had this story on temp hold while I cleared up my writing list. Thank you all.



Forgiveness



Chapter Six



He couldn’t say he didn’t see it coming. Even with Sasuke’s substantial speed, he’d seen it coming. Sasuke would never equal his own speed. He could see attacks coming from far away, long before they reached him. Even without his sharingan activated, he could see enemies movements. Sasuke’s move was no different. He saw the tensing of muscles; the anger in crimson eyes. His brother was fast but if he’s so desired, he could have easily dodged the attack. He didn’t.



His head flew to the side with a crack. Sasuke had added chakra to the punch. A low blow for family but no less than he deserved. If one was to consider everything that had happened, it was far less than the appropriate punishment for his transgressions.



“Sasuke!” Shouts erupted through the room. Naruto had Sasuke pinned to wall in the Hokage’s office.



Kakashi was on his feet, blocking Sasuke’s access to Itachi. Itachi’ wasn’t so full of himself that he thought for a moment Kakashi was protecting him. It was obvious to him, the Hokage was placing himself between Itachi and his student in the event Itachi retaliated. A noble thought but unnecessary. Itachi had no intention of attacking his brother. Any and all need for such actions were long passed.



“Sakura, tend to Itachi while I talk to Sasuke outside,” ordered Kakashi, ushering both Naruto and Sasuke from the room.



The warmth of healing chakra washed over his face. He hissed at the slight pain in his jaw where the bone was slowly being knitted back together. He found it amusing that the girl, woman really, was keeping her eyes lowered. His infamy still frightened powerful shinobi such as the girl before him. He should probably be flattered at such yet he only found it another nail in the coffin.



“You don’t need to hide your gaze. I won’t use the sharingan.” Truth be told, it still pained him slightly upon activation and extended use. He’d lost the mangekyo upon his battle with Sasuke. It was perhaps a blessing in disguise as he was nearly blind. He was unsure but the thick stagnant chakra build up in his eyes from over use of his sharingan and the mangekyo had nearly completely blocked the chakra pathways to his eyes. In his battle with Sasuke, he’d blown out nearly every chakra pathway in his body save for his eyes. The massive outpouring of chakra had flushed the thick build up from his eyes. His vision had cleared when he’d awoken in the forest and for the longest time he’d assumed Keiko had repaired his eyes. He’d never said thank you or mentioned it until one day the three were sitting beneath a tree, Itachi unable to move from another grueling session with Kisame. After the truth was revealed, the three created hypotheses concerning the issue. The above mentioned was the most plausible.



“I’d be a fool to trust one of the most dangerous missing nins at his word.” Sakura pressed a hand over his eyes, forcing his neck to arch as her free hand slid slowly down the column to heal the soft tissue damage from the blow. “Your pathways…they feel strange.”



“I suppose they would. I’ve been nearly crippled for several years--only recently reaching some of my previous stamina. I’ll still never reach the height I did with the mangekyo.” His words trailed off as Kakashi returned minus Sasuke and Naruto.



“How is he?”



“Broken jaw in two places, massive tissue damage along his neck. Probably hurting like hell.” Sakura sat back, moving away from Itachi to stand beside the Hokage.



“Sasuke must have used chakra in that punch. To punch an unarmed man…tsk, tsk.” Kakashi settled behind his desk once more.



“I wouldn’t exactly call Uchiha Itachi unarmed.” She was referring to his mastery of genjutsu and ninjutsu. He didn’t even need weapons to kill an opponent. His fire jutsu alone could set this office ablaze in moments if he so desired to use it.



“There is honor, Sakura. Itachi was always one to stick close to his honor, even if it was slightly mislead.” Kakashi’s single eye seemed to stare into Itachi’s very being with almost sharingan intensity.



“Kakashi…”



“You can leave us, Sakura.” The woman seemed to falter for a moment and Itachi expected her to balk at the order. Every subtle movement in her body seemed to say she would argue the point. As much as was obvious she wanted to stay, she nodded stiffly and exited through the door.



“Aren’t you afraid to be alone with me? Your assistant seemed afraid of my eyes.”



“I’m surprised at you, Itachi. I have three ANBU watching from the window and two on the other side of the door. If you even move towards me, I’m sure you will have to deal with five ANBU.” Kakashi chuckled, settling back in his chair--his face going serious. “Well, now before we were interrupted…where have you been these last seven years?”



Itachi was tempted to argue the statement with the gray haired hokage. There were not five ANBU, but seven. He was quite flattered that more than a standard number of ANBU were called to be on guard in the event he moved to attack the Hokage. He schooled his face in his standard mask and met the gaze of the hokage. The man didn’t look away. He knew full well what he was capable yet he met his gaze as an equal. “It’s a long story.”



“I have time.” Kakashi, for all his jokes and humor was a serious man. Itachi hadn’t known him well but he knew of the tragedy that had changed a serious jounin into a seemingly light hearted man. It was a mask. A very good one, but a mask all the same. Now he was seeing the true Kakashi hidden away from even his students.



Itachi nodded. He wouldn’t leave this room until he revealed his secrets. As long as Kisame was protected, he had nothing to hide. His former partner deserved more than the danger of ANBU storming his home. “As you wish.”



It was a long story as Itachi had warned. The dictation took nearly two hours with Kakashi interrupting him every few minutes with questions concerning his recovery and the sharingan. It was during this time Itachi learned Kakashi’s eye had lost all vision. Still, the years spent using the ‘weapon’ would be considered impressive for one of nonUchiha blood.



“I see you’ve had an interesting time in your retirement.” Kakashi was obviously smirking beneath his mask. It irked Itachi ever so slightly.



“I wouldn’t call it retirement so much as rehabilitation.”



“So it would seem. Now I’m going to ask you why you stayed. I may have gray hair but I’m not an old man. You could have easily taken out those three ANBU recruits and Naruto. From what my student tells me, you didn’t even fight.” Kakashi leaned forward, his one visible eye gleaming with interest.



“I assume you know the truth of the Uchiha clan massacre?” Itachi was careful to keep his face a mask though cracks threatened to shatter it as the memory always did.



“We were told as much between Madara and Sasuke.”



“For years I have thought Sasuke dead. Kisame and I chose to stay as far away from larger villages as possible. As such, you don’t hear much about the goings on in the hidden villages, even something as important as the life or death of a famed Uchiha. I came on an escort mission but when I saw Sasuke…when I knew my little brother had somehow survived, I couldn’t run. There is much I have done and need to atone for. I may have been a genius, but I was still a child when I was given the order. There were so many other ways I could have gone about things. I’m responsible for Sasuke’s suffering and that of those close to him. I suppose I had hoped to receive some sort of punishment for my actions.” Itachi released a breath. Not even Kisame had known the depth of Itachi’s regret. He suspected, of course, but Itachi had kept such things hidden deep inside so not to taint his makeshift family.



“I see. Well, as far as the massacre…I can’t punish you. It was a direct order and sanctioned by the hokage’s office.” Kakashi released his own sigh, leaning back in his plush office chair. “Your missing nin status is a bit more tricky. You left the village without sanction for years. You terrorized villagers upon your return as well as engaged in battle with several jounin, myself included. These are serious crimes and punishable by death. For now, I’m going to have to have you imprisoned until this can be sorted out.”



“I understand.”



Almost instantly, all seven ANBU surrounded Itachi at the unspoken command of their hokage. Itachi didn’t flinch as they flickered around him, weapons at ready. He’d seen them move--a rustling of leaves outside the open window, a subtle jingling of weapons. He wasn’t surprised at his imprisonment. He couldn’t be expected to be released after his crimes against the village. Even if the initial fault had been with the village, he had to pay for his crimes. His only hope was to somehow show his remorse to Sasuke. When he’d lain dying in Sasuke’s arms, peace had filled him. After surviving all these years, he found himself once again filled with inner turmoil.



Itachi stood slowly so not to alarm the guards. His notoriety would work against him in this case and the last thing he needed was a kunai in the back by a trigger happy ANBU. Things were strained enough as was.



“Sasuke is going to want to talk to you once he cools down.” Kakashi murmured, eye filled with compassion.



“I’m sure he will.”



“You know you have a nephew now. He’s a cute boy. Reminds me more of Naruto than Sasuke.” Kakashi walked with Itachi instead of having him lead away.



“I’ve met him. He reminds me of Sasuke at that age.” The large escort party exited Hokage Tower. The surrounding ANBU drew much attention. The whispers from the villagers they passed on the route towards the high security ANBU holding cells were barely that. Questioning looks and comments drew more and more villagers to stare at their hokage personally escorting a prisoner towards ANBU headquarters. A few whispers of his name reached Itachi’s ears. He wondered how long it was before the calls for his death were shouted through the streets.



“We’re here.” Kakashi’s voice drew his attention from his thoughts. He lifted his gaze towards the massive building encompassing ANBU headquarters. The large building offered housing, offices, and holding cells. Behind would be several massive training grounds in which the members of the elite honed their skills. Many a day was spent in those training grounds. There was nothing quite like ANBU sparring. In the black ops, sparring held a much deadlier risk. It wasn’t unheard of for sparring partners to injure, maim, or kill each other. Death was rare but it wasn’t unheard of.



“It’s like coming home, isn’t it?”



Itachi smiled at the comment. So much of his life had been spent within the walls. Had it not been for Sasuke, he might have even procured residence here. His brother was the reason for many things he did. Some might say his love of his younger sibling bordered on obsessive. Perhaps they were right. Sasuke had been someone for him to watch over--to protect. When he’d held the tiny infant only hours after his birth, he’d known he would do anything to take care of him. He’d made the vow to himself and their mother.



A nudge to his back brought him from his musing once more. It was becoming habit for him to lose himself in the past. He would have to watch himself, least he anger one of his guards.



“You understand we’ll have to place you in chakra restraints for now. It’s just a precaution.” Kakashi motioned for one of the ANBU to approach, fastening the heavy manacles over his wrists. Almost instantly he collapsed against one of the guards. Unlike civilians, a shinobi’s body was nearly dependant on chakra to function in even the most basic of tasks. The manacles limited his chakra to the point of being unable to do much more than breath and speak. Even those two actions took effort. The sensation reminded him of several years earlier, wakening to near paralysis. The lack of pain was the only difference.



“Set him up in a cell. I’ll need to return to the office and speak with the council about his return.” Kakashi turned, making his way from the holding cells.



Rough hands pushed him towards the cell’s open door. He braced himself for the fall to the hard concrete floor. Itachi grunted, his wound tearing open slightly from the less than gentle toss into the cell. If he hadn’t been struggling to keep his face from showing pain, he might have spoken out at the treatment. Just breathing was difficult, let alone talking.



Dragging himself slowly across the concrete floor, he settled himself in an upright position against the wall. He could feel the trickle of blood down his side but lacked the chakra to heal the torn skin. The tear wasn’t life threatening, just a reopening of the wound. What worried him more was the fear of infection. If he was left in the dank cell for more than a day without being treated, there was a very good chance infection could set in. His immune system would be compromised by the chakra restraints as it fed off his chakra.



Chakra restraints were really quite an ingenious invention. They didn’t restrain chakra so much as siphon it out, leaving the body weak. Without chakra, he was barely alive. Closing his eyes, there was not much else he could do but attempt to enter a meditative state to deal with the pain in his side.



~*~



“I feel lost.” Sasuke wasn’t one to confess such a thing to any but his wife. In this case, he needed the advice of a friend who had been with him through the darkest part in his life. If not for Naruto, Sasuke would have destroyed himself and most likely a large portion, if not all of Konoha.



“What you need is ramen.” A grin split Naruto’s face, making Sasuke wonder if he should slap his friend or give into the less than subtle hint.



“Ramen isn’t the cure all,” Sasuke commented, turning down the street to lead towards Ichiraku Ramen.



“Sure it is. A ramen counter is the best place to have a conversation. When your stomach’s full, it’s easier to talk. Things don’t seem so bad.” Naruto’s face took on a introspective look making Sasuke wonder just what his friend was thinking.



“I wonder how anyone could have a conversation with you with all the slurping.” Sasuke ducked beneath the awning, taking a place on at the nearly empty bar.



“I’ll have you know, Iruka-sensei and I had great conversations at this counter.” It always amazed Sasuke how Naruto could speak so easily of their former academy instructor. Madara had gone mad when Sasuke had switched sides, Naruto having reached into his very soul, aided by the power of the nine tailed kyuubi. In a burst of light, Sasuke’s sanity had been restored. Madara hadn’t taken it well, seeing his control over Sasuke vanquished.



Sasuke and Naruto, both nearly drained of chakra had to sit back and watch as their friends and fellow shinobi attacked the monster known as Madara. In a last ditch effort, Umino Iruka had taken a fatal blow so that he could get under Madara’s guard. It was unheard of for an Uchiha with sharingan eyes to be distracted. Iruka, a mere chunin, bound the nearly unstoppable Uchiha Madara long enough for others to move in for the kill. Madara wasn’t so easy to kill. It had taken a final dual attack of Sasuke’s chidori and Naruto’s ultimate sage rasengan to deal the killing blow.



Iruka had died in Naruto’s arms minutes later. Sasuke was sure he’d never seen Naruto cry like that. Even now, Naruto continued to speak fondly of his teacher. He wasn’t sure how he could stand to frequent places that brought back the memories of their old sensei. Naruto simply replied that he’d done the same for Sasuke during the long years they’d been apart during his less than sane days with Orochimaru and then with the Akatsuki. He said when memories are all one has, they should treasure them. It was that day he’d given the order to destroy the former Uchiha district, building the memorial gardens in its place.



“So…what’s got you all broody? Is it Itachi? Are you worried about him or for him?” Naruto began slurping down the fragrant miso ramen while waiting for an answer.



Sasuke shook his head taking a bite of his own meal. “I’m not sure what I feel. When I thought him dead, I had to come to terms with never being able to say the things I wanted to him. I’m not like Kakashi, I can’t speak to a stone.”



Naruto looked thoughtful for a moment. “Now you have a second chance to talk with him.”



“I’m not sure what I would say. I’m not sure he would even want to talk with me. I tried to kill him…I was willing to kill him.”



“He wanted to die. He tried to kill you. I think he was pretty fucked up in the head. His village asked him to kill his entire clan. Even a genius would lose sight of his priorities. He was grieving for his family and seeing you, I’m sure his sanity broke. His plan was faulty, but he did it for you.” Naruto’s long fingers played with the rim of his tea cup. “I can respect risking everything for the ones we love.”



“Don’t say that--” Sasuke whispered, lowering his eyes. “I didn’t ask to be a hero of this village and he sought to make me one all the same.”



“I’d say that plan backfired a little,” Naruto chuckled.



Sasuke reached over to slap his friend’s head. “Moron.”



“Bastard. If you are this fucked up, go see him. Jeez, I’m not your mother. Decide for yourself. If you forgave him while you thought he was dead, go tell him. It’s no different with him alive. You can actually know he hears your forgiveness now.” Naruto rolled his eyes as if to say Sasuke was an idiot and things truly were that simple.



“I…can’t. I’m still getting used to his being alive. My nii-san, I never thought he would survive…It took so long to release the guilt. After he ‘died’, the guilt bled into the anger already seething inside me. It added fuel to the fire. Naruto, I’m afraid to see him.” Sasuke flushed at the statement. It was shameful to say he was afraid of something. “Naruto, I’m worried about him but I’m too afraid to face him, myself.”



Naruto huffed a breath. “And you call me a moron. Fine, if it will make you feel any better I’ll go check on him. I’m a member of ANBU after all. I‘ve got a short mission but I‘ll check on him tonight before I leave headquarters. Will that make you happy?”



“Thanks.” Sasuke ran his hand through his hair, mussing the already spiky locks.



“That’s what friends are for. Now if you don’t mind, I have to go home and change before heading out. I’m sure he’s fine. He’s an Uchiha and made of pretty damn sturdy stock…especially if he’s anything like you. I’ve never met anyone who could keep up with me like you.” Naruto pushed aside his bowl and tossed a few coins on the counter to cover both the meals.



“How could the class moron ever think to compare to the class genius?” Sasuke arched a brow.



“Yeah, yeah…takes real genius to go learn jutsus from a man with a tongue long enough to fuck himself.”



Sasuke‘s brow twitched a little. “Orochimaru wasn’t that bad--”



“Bullshit…it’s a wonder you escaped with your virginity. Or did you…you do have that snake inside you somewhere…I wonder where?” Naruto’s teeth flashed before dodging the deadly toss of a kunai. The metal lodged in the wooden frame of the ramen shop.



“Hey you kids! Stop that or I’ll call the guard. You’re scaring away the customers.” The old man, face wrinkled from long days spent toiling over vats of steaming ramen rushed to the counter, ladle lifted in annoyance.



“Sorry, old man.” Naruto waved and ducked beneath the awning. “I’ll see you, Sasuke.”



“That kid has a lot of spunk.” Teuchi smiled at Naruto’s disappearing form.



“He’s not a kid anymore,” Sasuke mused, sipping the broth from his ramen.



Teuchi chuckled, a loud gaffing sound. “All you youngsters are still kids to me.”



Sasuke smiled. Some things never changed. It was probably shameful to ask Naruto to check on his brother. He just couldn’t bear to see him. He’d nearly lost it in Kakashi’s office. His body had reacted before his mind could do more than process the information. He knew without the least bit of doubt, he would react badly seeing him caged in the ANBU holding cell. He was weak, just as his brother had told him all those years ago. Itachi might have meant those words only to incite him to grow stronger, but Sasuke knew the truth. He was weak.



~*~



Naruto released the limp body from his hands to fall in a crumpled mass inside the makeshift hideout. He knew these men were rapists and murders. He knew they deserved the death he’d meted out to them. It didn’t make his job any easier. They weren’t even given the chance to fight back. Stealth had been ingrained into him since joining ANBU. The antics of his days as a genin were long gone, making him all the more deadly. He retained his natural power, yet now his enemies would never see him coming.



His breath wasn’t even broken, puffing out against the wooden mask hiding his features from his victims. Even the face of their killer was hidden. All they knew was an ANBU had taken their life. It was all they were allowed.



Taking a dirty bit of sheet from the bed, he wiped the blood from his standard issue katana. He forced himself to use the blade, honing his skills. It was by far his weakest skill. He could in no way measure up to the abilities of Sasuke, though his friend coached him regularly.



He frowned. Had it really been two days? Blue eyes blinked several times. It had taken longer than he’d thought to track down the bandits. They’d been quite sneaky, leaving false trails in various directions--good ones too. Time to head back. Sasuke had probably gotten tired of waiting for Naruto visit Itachi and done it himself.



Bounding through the trees, Naruto made his way back to the village. The bandits had made their home a half a day’s journey from Konohagakure. Lack of sleep and decent food had Naruto in a particularly ill mood as he handed off his report to one of the guards at ANBU headquarters. Any mission he performed while in ANBU uniform was immediately assigned the classified seal. Only the hokage and the head of ANBU were granted unlimited access to those files. Special sanction had to be given to any others who viewed them.



His stomach grumbled louder with each passing moment. He wanted a bath, food, and sleep in that order. He’d make Sasuke pay for delaying his rest the next time they sparred. He’d glance in the cell, see Itachi sitting happily while Kakashi and the council decided what to do with him, then go home for food, bath and rest.



The air shifted a little, growing colder and slightly stale. He always hated the holding area. To any shinobi, it was probably hell. Being caged, locked away from fresh air and sunlight was torture enough without having to bring in Ibiki or one of the other interrogation experts. Itachi was probably pacing his cell like a madman by now.



Naruto’s shoulders slumped a little, making his way toward the high security block of cells. The ANBU assigned to Itachi’s cell shifted bored eyes his way and lifted a hand halfheartedly. “Yo.”



“You’re new?” After being in ANBU for certain amounts of time, it became easy to identify shinobi even when wearing their issued masks. This was obviously one of the newer recruits. Guard duty was only assigned to rookies and as punishment. Even guarding high security prisoners was a less than desirable assignment. This kid, probably no older than seventeen or eighteen, looked about ready to fall flat on his face with boredom. Naruto really couldn’t blame him. There was no worse fate than guard duty with the exception of latrine duty.



“I’ve only been in ANBU about a month.” The kid was too out of it to realize he was talking to one of the highest ranked ANBU under the head, not that Naruto wanted to be fawned over. He hated it almost as much as Sasuke, now understanding the torture his friend had endured during their youth.



“Just stick it out. You’ll be murdering children before you know it.” Naruto couldn’t hide the distaste from his tone. There was no worse mission for an ANBU than to be assigned an assassination of children. Naruto had only been given that sort of assignment once. He still had nightmares. He had a feeling Kakashi had something to do with the lack of such missions finding their way to him after that. “How’s the prisoner?”



The guard shrugged. “He doesn’t do much. He just sits there against the wall. He’s stopped eating too. My superior said it wasn’t uncommon for people in chakra restraints to refuse food.”



Naruto felt himself go cold. There was barely any light shining into the small cell. If his eyes weren’t trained to adjust quickly to dark spaces, he might not have noticed Itachi’s slumped form against the wall. He could have been sleeping. The pale skin on his face caught the light, reflecting through the small window in the cell. Long locks of thick hair framed his face and thick sooty lashes lay softly against high cheek bones. The older Uchiha was beautiful. Where Sasuke’s face had taken on a harsh sharp cut as he aged, Itachi’s retained the soft roundness. It wasn’t exactly feminine, but wasn’t glaringly masculine either. A perfect blend.



“Has he spoken?”



“Not since my shift began. He just sits there,” the ANBU answered.



Something wasn‘t right. “Open the door.”



“No fucking way! I’ll be demoted…or worse, punished.” The ANBU guard had barely gotten the words from his mouth before he found himself flat against the cold stone, a standard issue kunai pressed warningly to his jugular. “Please--”



“Open the door or I’ll kill you and do it myself.” Naruto’s eyes bled crimson. It was a throwback effect from the Kyuubi’s presence in him. The tailed beast was firmly sealed inside but some effects of their joining continued to manifest during times of great stress or anger. Despite his eyes red glow, Naruto was in full control. Kyuubi no Kitsune no longer held any control over him.



The guard’s hands shook, performing the appropriate signs and pressing his palms to the door. The latch lifted with a loud whining creak. Naruto didn’t wait for the guard to move into the cell. He lunged across the tiny expanse of cell and knew immediately something was wrong.



He supposed he could thank the kyuubi for his keen sense of smell. It was no where near that of the Inuzuka clan, but it was much more sensitive than the average shinobi. Naruto crouched beside Itachi. He smelled blood and infection. “What the fuck? Itachi?”



The sooty lashes fluttered before lifting. Pain and fever hooded the dark orbs. Naruto pulled back the black shirt, almost gagging at the smell. Red tinged pus oozed from the ripped injury. Red rises lined the jagged wound, a sure sign of infection. “You should have checked him, you moron.”



Rage enveloped Naruto, almost to such a point, he nearly lost control of his senses. Such an event hadn’t happened in years.



“I didn’t know he was sick!” The ANBU backed himself up against the wall, eyes darting fearfully behind his wooden mask.



“You should have known. Even I noticed something wasn’t right. Take the cuffs off. I’m taking him where I know he’ll get treated,” Naruto growled.



“I-I can’t…”



“Take them off.” It was obvious the guard was more frightened of Naruto in that moment than any possible repercussions from his superiors. It worked to Naruto’s advantage. “You’re going to be alright, Itachi.”



The moment the manacles fell from his wrists, Itachi’s heavy breathing evened out, if only slightly. It was enough to stabilize him. Naruto reached into his medpack, pressing a bandage over the seeping wound. He didn’t dare attempt to close it. Locking the infection in the body was worse than letting it seep from an open wound and his medic skills were limited to basic first aid. Itachi needed a full fledged medic nin for this wound.



Lifting Itachi’s frame on his back, he winced at how light he felt. Itachi, and most Uchiha, tended to be smaller framed and leanly muscled. Their skills lay in genjutsu. Small lean frames allowed them quick movements and lighting fast reflexes. This knowledge didn’t prevent Naruto from cringing at just how small Itachi was. “I suggest you report this to your superior. And while you’re at it, tell the fucking hokage that I’m going to beat the shit out of him when I see him.”



Naruto disappeared in a flash of movement reminiscent of his father’s famous jutsu in which he earned the name Yellow Flash. He didn’t dare bring Itachi to the hospital or even to Sakura. Instead, he opted to run towards a large house situated behind a stone fence.



“Sasuke!” Naruto screamed, running into the yard.



“Naruto?” Miko opened the door in time for Naruto rush past. “Oh, gods!”



Sasuke rushed in from the garden, gaping at his brother’s limp form thrown over Naruto’s shoulders. “Itachi?”



“He’s really sick, Sasuke. I wasn’t sure where else I could take him that he’d be safe for me to go find baa-chan.” Naruto was panting, the fast speed he’d used to get to Sasuke had wiped what little energy he had left. Already he’d begun tapping into the kyuubi’s energy just to remain standing.



“In the spare bedroom.” Miko finally recovered from her shock and lead Naruto through the house, Sasuke following silently behind them.



“What happened, Naruto?” Sasuke asked quietly, his face going pale at the shallow breathing coming from his brother’s chest.



“Fuck if I know. I just got back from my mission and went to check on him like you asked. He was half dead in his cell with an idiot guard thinking he was just sleeping.” Naruto bent over at the waist, attempting to rally the strength to locate Tsunade.



“Should I go for Sakura?” Sasuke moved to slip his sandals on his feet.



“No. I’m going for baa-chan. She’s still in town since the festival starts tomorrow and we all know the gambling will keep her in town.” Naruto exited the front door. “Sorry about your floor.”



Sasuke turned to glance in the direction Naruto nodded. Tracks of dirt and mud made a path into the house as Naruto hadn’t had the chance to remove his sandals. “Don’t worry about it.”



Naruto nodded, turned, and raced down the street towards an older but well maintained estate house. The first hokage’s home had fallen into ruin, only finally being brought back to life when Tsunade returned to the village to assume the role of hokage. “Baa-chan!”



Silence. Figures the old hag would be out in the bars already. Turning from door, he moved quickly towards the bar district. There dozens of bars but Naruto wasn’t distracted by the lit up signs, bright in the evening dusk. He didn’t need to look long for his destination. He knew the one Tsunade frequented. Pushing open the door of one of the more seedy bars, Naruto scanned the interior. Light blonde hair shown dull beneath the overhead light.



“Baa-chan!”



Beautiful features turned to face him. “I told you not to call me that!”



“It’s the only way to get your attention some times,” grumbled Naruto.



“Take a seat, brat. We were about to start another round.” Tsunade reached for her cup of sake, lifting it to her lips only to be stopped by Naruto. “What do you think you’re doing?”



“Baa-chan. We need you to heal someone. It can’t way.”



Tsunade snorted. “Go get Sakura or some other healer. I’m retired.”



“Please, Tsunade-sama.” He dropped the familiarity. This drew her attention more than the use of his affectionate term for her. A blonde brow lifted at Naruto’s plea.



“Naruto…” Tsunade set aside her drink. “Fine. Lets go. This had better be good.”



“It’s Uchiha Itachi. He’ll die without you.” From the shock working across her face, she obviously hadn’t heard the rumors working their way through the village. When drinking and gambling, those were the only things she focused on, just as when she healed. Her mind focused on the task at hand and nothing else.



“Take me to him.”



Naruto and Tsunade strode into the Uchiha household to find Sasuke having drawn his katana and facing off against at least five ANBU while Kakashi attempted to unsuccessfully defuse the situation.



“No! You had your chance and nearly killed him. No one is getting anywhere near him.” Sasuke’s eyes held remnants of the madness having held him in its grasp years before.



Upon seeing Kakashi, Naruto’s vision went red. He lunged at his hokage, uncaring of the ANBU in the room. His fist plowed into the masked cheek. “Bastard! If you wanted to kill him, do it honorably instead of sticking him in a cell to rot.”



“Enough!” Tsunade yelled, obviously tired of watching the testosterone fly. “Naruto, shut up. Kakashi, sit down. Sasuke, show me to your brother and the rest of you get out of this house. I may not be an active hokage any longer but you will obey me or I will beat the shit out of all of you.”



The room emptied almost immediately. Miko, who’d been standing quietly in the corner with her son, gaped openly at the seemingly larger than life woman before her. She’d only met the woman a few times but had never seen her in action until now. Her tone even impressed Naruto.



Naruto slumped on a sofa, exhausted, hungry, and still badly in need of a bath. He glared as Kakashi took the seat across from him. “You left him to die.”



Kakashi shook his head, holding up a placating hand. “I didn’t know he was sick. The guards were under specific orders not to bother him. With chakra restraints, he wasn’t expected to get up and move around. Sitting is about all a person can do. There was no reason…”



“No reason? No reason? You son of a bitch. He shouldn’t have been in chakra restraints. You knew he wasn’t a risk. He wanted to be brought here.” Naruto couldn’t decide if Kakashi was being ignorant or just stupid.



“Naruto, I know things have been strained with us…”



“Stop. I’m not going there with you, Kakashi. Every day you rub in your position. Every day I have to sit and know that you chose Sakura over me.” Naruto clenched his fists. “I was happy when you were given the title of hokage. I knew you would make a great leader. You can’t imagine how hurt I was to find you fucking one of my best friends on your desk. I wonder how many times you fucked Sakura and came home to fuck me.”



“You know it wasn‘t like that. It just happened.” Kakashi reached a hand towards Naruto, forcing him to move away.



Naruto nodded, standing and moving away from where Kakashi sat. “And I just happened to stop loving you. You lost my respect, Kakashi.”



With those words, Naruto turned and exited the house. He’d done all he could for Itachi. It was in Tsunade’s hands now. He was long overdue for that shower, food, and sleep. An ache rushed his chest, spreading with each step he made towards the small apartment he owned. Sleep first. Sleep would help him forget.



To be continued.