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Backwoods	By : Ljiljana Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 1000 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
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Chapter List
- 8
- 9
- 10
Part Eight

Sakura had more guests that morning. Two guys, one slim and
with hair so bright it was almost white and the other, bulkier, were sitting at
one of the tables near the window when Naruto entered, eating their breakfast
in silence. Naruto called good morning to them. He wasn�t upset with the
unenthusiastic response, because he was in a hurry to see Sakura. She was in
the kitchen, judging by the sounds coming from there.

�Sasuke�s gone.� Naruto announced as soon as he had spotted
Sakura making coffee.

She turned to him a short smile. �Oh, he�s doing that
sometimes, he�s an early riser.�

�No, I think he went home.� Naruto had told her before
taking the same seat he was sitting on the previous evening. �His things are
gone and all.�

The suitcase that had been on the chair next to the bed last
night was really gone; Naruto had searched the room before going down. It was
good that Sasuke had packed and was planning to leave before Naruto snuck into
his bed last night. It was easing a bit the offence Naruto took in Sasuke not saying goodbye that morning � at least he wasn�t running
away because of Naruto invading his room.

�You were in his room?� Sakura asked with some scorn.

Er, should Naruto tell her that he had spent the night
there? Something was telling him that that wasn�t a good idea. It would read
wrong, with her not knowing that Naruto had a very good reason to be afraid to
sleep alone.

��It was open?� He offered.

�Right,� Sakura answered, going back to the boiling water.
�I am not responsible if he goes berserk on you.�

�You missed the point. All his things are gone. That means he�s gone, right?�

Sakura turned to pour fresh made coffee into two ceramic
cups she had previously placed on the tray. She had stayed quiet until she finished,
thinking, then sighed, �I guess so. You mentioned last night that Neji was
here. I guess he had managed to talk Sasuke into going back somehow. Are you
hungry?�

He was. �No, I want to go see Kiba. Where does he live?�

Sakura leaned on the table, hands gripping the edges on both
sides of the tray. �You sure you want to wander about right now? It doesn�t
seem too safe.�

It seemed much
safer than it was, with bright sunlight coming through the windows and smell of
toasted bread and coffee lingering in the air. In daylight, it was easy not to
be afraid of the shadows.

When they were not covering your soul, anyway.

�I can�t just sit here.� Naruto said, trying to imagine the
demon in him as a huge, black shadow. He couldn�t. He saw his own face instead.
�My Godfather is dead and I��

Sakura picked up the tray. Her hands were shaking a little,
but not enough to spill the coffee. She had glanced at Naruto and down, back at
him and down again, before she finally opened her mouth. �I guess this is the
part where I offer any help I can give you.�

Naruto hoped very, very much that he wouldn�t have to ask
anything more than information of her. He accepted anyway. �Thank you. Where
does Kiba live?�

She gave him directions and added that he should probably
see with Kakashi first, before leaving the kitchen. It was the good thing she�d
mentioned it, because Naruto wouldn�t have remembered. He didn�t want to piss
off Kakashi, if anyhow possible.

His first stop - after walking out on the street and
determining in which direction Kiba�s house was - therefore was the police
station. Naruto went there, hurrying over the empty streets. As if for
contradictory itself, bright morning wasn�t as pleasant outside as it was in
Sakura�s lovely inn. The sun was glaring just a little bit too hard, and even
though the birds were singing and some dogs barking, everything else,
everything human, was quiet and
careful. Naruto could almost smell the fear of Konoha in the air; it was eating
the oxygen right out of his lungs.

He rejected the unreasonable thought as he stepped through
the door of the police station. Kakashi wasn�t in, only Chouji, who was pale
and who had jerked when the door opened. Why the hell was Kakashi leaving him
there all alone in the first place? Phone in his hand found its way up to his
ear as Chouji gave Naruto a relieved smile that said more about how afraid he
was then the expression he had on when the phone had slipped a little in his
hand on the sound of the door opening.

That relief clutched painfully at Naruto�s chest. Chouji
would be much better off if he feared Naruto. The worst part was, Naruto
couldn�t just tell him � no, you had it
right on the first instinct, be afraid, I have a monster inside of me.

But Sakura had offered him help in that awkward way that
made it clear that she wasn�t under an illusion that he needed help with
exploring Konoha, or finding out about his past. Naruto wanted to talk to Kiba
first� But he planed to tell as many people as possible to be wary of him, just
in case. It�s wasn�t like that would mess up his social life, or anything.

�Hi,� Naruto greeted. Chouji had waved before he pointed to
the phone, to show that he was listening to the person on the other side. Too
jittery to sit and wait, Naruto walked some around the tiny office. It was as
if a bomb had went off in the room, there were files and papers, food wrappings,
some shirts tossed over a chair in a corner. Konoha�s police was obviously in
over their heads, no time left for cleaning. Or even simply opening the
windows; the air was stuffy, it smelled like stale food.

Chouji finished writing down what information he had got
through the phone. �Sorry. People are not even bothering to call the station
through the regular central any longer; they are dialing emergency number
directly and demanding information.�

To emphasize how much trouble talking to the curious people was,
Chouji drained the bottle of water that was on his desk.�

�Is Kakashi around?� Naruto asked.

�No, he�s at Tsunade�s.�

�I wanted to check with him if it was okay if I went to see
Kiba.� Naruto explained. �But since he�s not in, you just tell him I went
there, okay?�

�Er, Naruto�� Chouji started.

But if Naruto let him finish, he could say that it wasn�t a
good idea and that he should wait, or go back to the inn� And Naruto couldn�t
do that, so he turned to walk out, not waiting to hear it, and yelled over his
shoulder, �Bye!�

Half assured that Chouji would come out after him, Naruto
ran. He descended toward the river, and with his heart painfully twisting in
his chest on the sight of �The Flirting Paradise�, turned left. The road after
a point, as Sakura had warned him, wasn�t asphalt, just dirt pressed solidly as
path from the years of being driven over in both directions by the motor vehicles.

The light breeze from the river had brushed over Naruto�s
skin, making him shiver when it sparkled cold on his neck where he was sweating
already. He stopped just at the turn, bringing his arm up to press his hand
over the slightly damp hair and ease the sensation.

Near the bridge, where weeping willows were almost touching
the surface of the river water with the longest of their branches, someone was
standing. Naruto spotted the person from the corner of his eye. Sasuke, he thought, whirling around to
face him.

But that was just wishful thinking. Even under the shadow,
with sun unpleasantly bright and shining right into Naruto�s face, he was sure
that it was Itachi. Trying to convince himself that it was for the better
because Itachi was the one with the solution, Naruto took his appearance in. Black
shirt on the top of the dark pants; all that on top of long dark hair that
Itachi had left to fall free around his shoulders � no wonder Naruto�s first
thought was that he was Sasuke. Beside the appearance, they were obviously
sharing taste in clothes as well.

Naruto had moved in that direction, right over the tall,
sharp weed that cut and burned his skin after finding a way up his legs. As
soon as Itachi was sure that Naruto saw him, he had turned and walked toward
the bridge. Naruto wanted to run and catch up, but he was unable to get out of
the wild grass and uneven soil. When he was on flat surface again, Itachi was
already over the bridge. Naruto went that way without hesitation, even though
it seemed as if there was nothing out there but woods. Was that perhaps the
point? If anything, thick and rich woods of Konoha were allowing privacy.

From the middle of the bridge, the river seemed bigger.
There was a small river island on the middle of the stream with naked,
accessible sides � perfect for the inexperienced swimmers to have some rest
when trying to get from one side to the other. Naruto wondered if he had learned
how to swim on those shores. If so, he couldn�t remember it.
�
Right after the thought had died out, unstoppable wave of
guilt washed over him. It was so harsh and sudden, Naruto had to stop and grip
at the handrail. What the hell was he doing? Like he was a tourist in Konoha,
he was strolling around and trying still to trigger some stupid childish
memories, when he was in danger � no, worse
- everyone else around him, was in danger.

Tasting the bile in his mouth, Naruto had raised his head
before hurrying across the bridge. He had to focus better. He had to do
something, and what better opportunity than catching up with Itachi and make
him start whatever he had planed as soon as possible could there be?

Hidden among the trees, there was much more than just woods
on the other side of the river. Just on the left from the road, there was a
small gas pump and across the street, where Itachi had disappeared a second
earlier, there was a church.

For the second time in that easy pursuit, Naruto stopped. A church? Why was Itachi going there?

Shoes glued to the dusty road, Naruto stared at the church
tower that was peeking through the brunches nearby trees. It was obviously an
old church, the roof seemed old, barely more than a ruin, but the sides
glittered cheerfully in the sun. He had no idea what kind of church it was,
except that the cross at the top was marking it clearly as Christian. Was it
Catholic? What were the markings of a catholic church? If anyone had ever bothered
telling him about it, in or outside of the school, Naruto couldn�t remember.

But he could see clearly Temari,
face careful and with an anxious smile and a small crucifix around her neck. As
if testing the demon inside, Naruto made another step toward the church.
Nothing happened. He made another step, then two. Still
nothing, nothing at all. No reaction. No voices, trying to talk him into
turning back. Nothing.

Not sure if he was disappointed or relieved, Naruto hurried
to catch up with Itachi.

It couldn�t have been the same church Sakura was talking
about the previous night. This one was too old, out of use for many years.
After climbing a couple of stone steps, you could walk right inside; there was
no door. There was such mess inside that Naruto couldn�t be sure if there were
once or not in there. The only thing that seemed intact, or rebuilt, was the
altar with a large but simple cross at the top of it. Itachi was standing next
to it.

�Naruto.� He said when Naruto
settled his gaze on him.

Without the glaring light, it was easy to see, easy to
remember. Both memories that came to Naruto that day when he first saw Sasuke
slid back into place, clear. Naruto left the first one on the side for the
moment to say, �I remember you.�

�Sasuke had hinted as much.� Itachi answered.

�No, no � from the city.� It was in
the bathroom of a club, Naruto couldn�t quite remember where or when, but he had
remembered that Itachi was there, that they talked for a bit looking at each
other through the mirror. �In a club of some sort? I�m
sure we were talking or...�

�That wasn�t you.� Itachi said.

And it sounded strange, so strange, because it was Naruto, he wouldn�t have been
remembering it if it wasn�t.

�Only he couldn�t remember, not really. There was just a
flashback of Itachi�s face in the mirror that hit him when he first saw Sasuke
at the inn.

How could Itachi tell the difference in him? Naruto
wondered. What was he like when he wasn�t himself? How was he acting, what was
he talking? It surely wasn�t always as predatory as it was when the demon had emerged
in a hurry yesterday.�

�Itachi?� Naruto said softly, fearfully.
He wasn�t planning on it; he had no wish to push those words out, not after
going through hell in the last day not to think about it. But he wanted to
know. He needed to be sure. �Was it me? Was I the one who killed my Godfather?�

�No.� Itachi answered without a change in expression. Like
they were still talking about when was the last time they had met. �But your
body was used for it, yes.�

�Then that�s not a fucking no.� Naruto tried to snap. It came out weak and sick.

�Just like all people who were hosting the demon before
you,� Itachi said calmly, ignoring when Naruto bent a little, just in case the
nausea overwhelmed him again. His mouth filled with bile again, but there was
nothing else. �It is not your fault. You are not any more responsible than a
dummy would be.�

�Great, I�m not responsible for killing people my hands
killed, I�m just a dummy.� Naruto said, deciding that no, he wasn�t on the edge
of crying. He was, in fact, angry. He should yell. Break things, maybe � if
there was anything left in that ruin of a church to break. �Why did you do this
to me? I was just a kid! And now I�m a murderer and a rapist and who knows what
else!�

Itachi said in a quiet voice, �It was you or my brother.�

�Well, you should�ve had stuffed it in yourself then!� Only
that didn�t sound so good, either. �Or kill it, set it free � why didn�t you do
that?�

�I don�t know how to set it free, not even today.� Itachi
answered, not changing his tone at all. �And it is not possible to transfer the
demon to yourself because the host is in great pain
and has occasional blackouts during the process.�

�During the process.� Naruto
repeated hollowly. �The vessel.� Itachi wasn�t saying
anything, so he asked, �Was my memory wiped out because of all pain?�

�No.�

Naruto waited, but that was all he got. He demanded, �Well?�

�I needed you away from Konoha.� Itachi said. He was keeping
his vacant eyes steady on Naruto, who was starting to feel like he was in a
dream. The church had a nostalgic feel about it, the broken wood and collapsed
concrete from the walls were a little sad, but the sun coming through of what
was left of the stained glass of the window was cheerful, like trying to look
at the things with optimism. �I needed to make sure that you will not return
until I am ready.�

�So you messed my memory? How?� This
time, Itachi didn�t bother to indulge him by answering. Probably the mechanics of making someone forget
their entire life were not all that important. It didn�t sound all too tricky
to find a way to do it, not for someone who was studying demons to save his
brother from their crazy family. Naruto took a deep breath and closed his eyes
against the light; maybe he could concentrate, ask the right questions if he
didn�t look. �But now you are ready. You sent me that photograph. A note saying
you�re from Konoha would�ve done the
job just as well. There was no need for unmarked gravestones.�

�It�s not unmarked, the photograph was taken from back side
to capture the trees behind, so you would be able to
find it more easily. It is where your parents were buried.�

To find it? That was what Naruto
was planning to do, find the place from the picture, ask questions about it. He
never did it, even though it was his third day in Konoha. Things kept popping
up and they seemed much more important. �

They were more
important. But later, Naruto would summon the courage to find the grave. He had
to apologize, or something.

�How did they die?� Naruto wanted to know.

No answer.

�Was it also me?�

Nothing. Itachi, who moved to the
side a little, leaned back, his back against the cross on the altar. He was
just looking at Naruto, waiting for a question he
thought was practical to answer, maybe?

�Do you even know what happened to them? Was it me?�

Itachi said, �You are in Konoha now because I am ready. I
will take the demon from you tomorrow.�

Naruto�s chest was burning. He really wanted to cry. But he
also wanted the demon out of him. Everything else, he can try and deal with
after that.

�Tomorrow night?�

�My father knows you well and he knows that you are in town.
He will try to take back what he believes is his. The only reason I am talking
to you, with the risk of demon hearing me, is because you have to realize that
you need to make sure he doesn�t get the chance.� Time for questioning Itachi
allowed had passed. He was giving orders now. �Stay among people � there should
be no problems as long as your head is clear and you don�t fall into a deep
sleep.�

Naruto, always the first one to raise his voice on being
bossed around, nodded his understanding without a thought. He needed to know
more, though, so he demanded, �Why? Why�d anyone want a demon around?�

There was nothing but silence for a moment. Naruto thought
that Itachi had really used up all his patience for questioning, but he had
some luck left. �Prosperity.�

�Prosperity?� Naruto snorted. His
sinuses felt full, even though he definitely wasn�t crying. �It brought me
noting but dead people.�

�You�ve never tried for anything you didn�t need. But what
do you think, where has that scholarship you are wasting right now come from?
You are hardly an academic, or an athlete.�

It wasn�t some grand scholarship or anything like that.
Naruto really was surprised when he got it, though.

�It was just luck, I had applied for it mostly for kicks,
and it so happened��

��That all people on the list before you either
died by some accident or suddenly lost all interest in education due severe
depression?�

That was, though sweetened on top, more or less what the
woman in care of the scholarship told him after she had invited Naruto into her
office. He was suddenly terrified. �But I didn�t � it wasn�t me, right? I don�t
even know who those people were!�

�It wasn�t you at any case, but it wasn�t the demon either.�
Itachi said in his calm, reasonable voice. Quite suddenly, Naruto wished Sasuke
was there. He wanted to be yelled at, just because that was familiar, safe and
sane. �It�s just how it works. It brings success and good fortune to the
carrier, but it backfires on people around him. You are lucky you were modest,
or much more people would have died around you.�

�Not much for comfort.�

While Naruto was muttering that, Itachi moved forward. He
was heading out, finished with what he came to do. Naruto had many more questions;
he still wanted to know about his parents, about other people in the city,
about what Itachi was planning� But when Itachi was walking past him toward the
door, sun yellow from the stained glass caught in up in something around his
neck.

Naruto cleared his throat, �I see Sasuke has given you back
your necklace.�

Itachi, already passing Naruto, glanced shortly over his
shoulder, not answering.

�Who was that guy in the car?� Naruto tried again. �You
killed him, didn�t you? Because I know it wasn�t me, I was in the police
station, fully aware of myself.�

No answer came. Naruto took a couple of steps toward the
exit himself. He wanted to know about that as well, he wanted to follow Itachi
and see where he was going, he wanted to go and see Kiba, but most of all,
Naruto wanted to know one thing, so he asked it, voice desperate, just before
Itachi was out of the door. �This entire thing� Will Sasuke be okay?�

That, finally, triggered a response. Itachi turned to look
back at him, though it was as if he was looking into him��

�He better be.� Itachi said. Naruto�s stomach flipped and
dropped, and a thin veil of darkness covered his vision. He took a deep breath,
focused on now empty door and the greenery outside. Even though he was the one
asking question, Itachi was talking to the demon. He was warning the demon,
threatening it.

He had caused Naruto to finally feel it, for the first time
consciously. It steered in his stomach like a baby would in a mother�s belly, and
then it clutched at his insides with rusty iron nails and forcefully demanded
to be let out.

Under a wave of satisfaction for being the one in control,
Naruto smiled shortly.
�
Itachi was gone by the time he recovered. Naruto quickly ran
over those couple of steps to the church door. He wasn�t done, he had more
questions, he should ask them - keep insisting until Itachi answered � but it
was already too late. Itachi was nowhere to be seen. He certainly wasn�t taking
the road, so he must have disappeared into the woods.

Naruto walked around the church, listening. He was able to
hear Itachi moving among the trees the pervious day; he should be able to hear
him now. But there was too much junk on his way � old
boards he had to step over, thick thorny bushes, even some tuna and soft drinks
cans � so he was making too much noise himself.

A single car passed him, driving deeper into the woods on
that side of the river. Only one, in all the time since
Naruto had crossed the bridge. Moon
had more traffic than Konoha.

But Konoha had a number of dear, nice people that needed
some warnings, so Naruto gave up on Itachi. He went back to the dust road that
was leading to Kiba�s house. It didn�t take more than fifteen minutes before he
arrived to a house at the end of the road. There was no doubt it was Kiba�s
house. Just on the side from the porch the � the coop, cage for dogs; whatever
it was called � was starting and reaching to someplace far beyond the house.
Naruto could count about five dogs lifting their heads to check out the
visitor, but only one was barking at him as he approached the door.

It was enough of an alarm, for the doors opened just before
Naruto had reached them.

Kiba did not smile when he saw Naruto. He looked preoccupied
and worried, which was no wonder. But he said politely enough, �Hi. What are
you doing here?�

�Just wanted a quick word.� Naruto
answered. �You have a minute?�

Kiba frowned, half hidden behind the door he was holding
open. He opened his mouth to answer, but before he managed, his dog pushed next
to him out. Naruto reached out automatically, just like he always did. The dog
� like all the dogs always have - let him pet him without protest. Maybe, if
Kiba doesn�t kick him out once he explained why he was there, Naruto could ask
why was it so easy for him to make friends with dogs.
Weren�t they capable of sensing evil?

Kiba, reassured by his dog�s behavior, opened the door
wider.� �What about?�

Naruto took a deep breath and decided to go for naked
honesty. �What would you say if I told you there is a demon in Konoha?�

Shock was apparent on Kiba�s face. He was surprised and,
apparently, speechless. The door open wider yet and another familiar face
peeked out at Naruto. All traces of lethargy disappeared from Shikamaru�s face,
he was like a complete opposite of what he was in the bar two nights ago. He
eyes were sharp and focused.

�I�d say that �demon� is most likely not the correct term.
It is much more likely we are dealing with some sort of forest spirit.� He
answered instead of Kiba. �Information for information?�

�Yeah.� Naruto accepted without
hesitation. Shikamaru and, moment later, Kiba moved further inside, leaving the
door behind them open for Naruto to follow. It seemed much darker in the
hallway then it probably was, so he had to take a moment to adjust. When he
did, Naruto saw why Kiba was holding the door half closed; he had a shotgun in
his hand.

Kiba was whispering furiously to Shikamaru, but Naruto had
no problem of hearing.

�I said fine, I want to help, but not while she�s here. We�ll scare her even more
and I��

Shikamaru caught Naruto�s eye. �He can hear you, stop
whispering.�

�Is your family home?� Naruto asked after Kiba gave him a
sheepish look.

�My sister has moved out of the town years ago, but I�m
expecting my mum home by lunch, she�s on the training field.� Kiba answered.
�But come in, you should probably hear this. Can we put off the � that
conversation for a while?�

Shikamaru was already opening the door while Naruto was
talking. Kiba halted, pointing the shotgun he was leaving propped on the wall,
�And sorry about this, we�re a little nervous.�

�It�s fine � as long as I can grab onto your leg and stay
there.� Naruto smiled. He was somewhat relieved they were so wary of him,
though. It should make things easier. Kiba grinned in turn � it had in it just
about as much of strain as Naruto felt on his own face.� It felt nice to exchange them, regardless.

�Chouji called so we were actually expecting you, but you
took your time. You got lost or something?�

�God sidetracked, I saw Itachi, we
talked for a bit in that old church.�

Kiba frowned, �Itachi? No, you mean � but that�s not
possible.� Naruto had no idea what was he talking about, but he didn�t like the
pained look on Kiba�s face. �What did he say?�

�We said later, right?�

Kiba nodded jerkily and lead the way further. Deep in the
kitchen, at the table soaked in sunlight coming through the window, there was a
girl with long black hair. She attempted to smile when she saw Kiba walking in,
but her eyes were puffy, wet and exactly the same odd shade as Sasuke�s cousin
had. With excitement, Naruto realized that he might get some information about
Sasuke out of this visit, too.

When Kiba smiled to the girl in turn, there was no stain in
it. Naruto felt muscles in his face relax some and decided to take good where
he can find some. From the way Shikamaru pushed a chair for Kiba to sit next to
the girl, he thought so, too.

Feeling uneasy but hopeful, Naruto closed the door behind
him.
- 8
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