Hey guys! This is my first fanfic story so please go easy on me!

My spelling is NOT the best! If I misspell something, I am truly sorry!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or the story. If I did, Naruto's parents would be alive, Sasuke wouldn't be so cold, Itachi would still be in the village, Sakura wouldn't be mean to Naruto, and Kakashi wouldn't wear a mask. Yes, I could go on, but I rather not bore you!

Summary: The village has been at peace for nearly 3 years. Suddenly, a mass murder is taking place around the village. Sasuke Uchiha, and Naruto Uzumaki are assigned the S-rank mission, to stop the murders at all cost. The stakes are high and dangerous. Who is the murder? Why are they doing this? Will Naruto and Sasuke admit their feelings for each other before death separates them forever?

Pairings: So far, Sasuke x Naruto. Possible future one-sided pairings.

Warning: Rated M for later chapters. Will contain lemons and language. This fic is a BL, yaoi, male male fic. If you don't like, don't read.

"Speaking"

'Thoughts'

Flashback

Now, on with the story!

.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.

NEVER TOO LATE

Preface: The Present

I only wish I could remember how to run. At this moment, I hardly can remember how to breath. The air that came in and out of my mouth was rough and quick. My heart pounded against my chest as the adrenaline pulsed through my veins. I could see my attacker's teeth shine in the moonlight as he a smirk plastered his sick face. Next, I saw his arm raise, and the gun pointed at my chest.

The crosshairs aimed at my heart.

Death was something I had never really thought about before, but now the thought haunting me as I looked it in the eye. Everything was happening so fast. I barely remember him chasing after me before now.

Finally, I took a deep breath and sighed before I bowed my head down. Getting my hopes up would only make this harder on me. If I ran away, screamed, and prayed for someone to save me, he would only kill me faster. I had to face the facts, there were no heroes in my sad ending.

Next I heard a loud shot coming toward me.

.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.

Chapter 1: Enter Naruto

(Past)

"Basic information. Okay… Naruto Uzumaki. October 10. 17. Jounin. Single. Kushina Uzumaki and Minato Namikaze. Deceased…" I mumbled the answers to myself as I wrote. Who knew applying for a job would be so personal?

Unfortunately, about a month ago, I was informed that once I turn 18 that I would lose the monthly check I receive. The check that pays for my small apartment, food, and the bills. So, in order not to lose my house, I have to take it upon myself to pay for everything with the money I earn. The money that my parents left me I cannot withdraw until I am 21. Yes, being a ninja does pay, but not enough to form a living off of. The mission rate was low during this time of peace in the village.

Both my parents had died to protect me. I never knew either of them. I always heard my father was a great man. After all he was the 4th Hokage. I was told he was a man of few words, calm, patient, gentle, and kind. Often I hear that I look just like him, blonde untamable hair, bright blue eyes, and the sun kissed skin. My mother, Kushina, was fair skinned, had long and beautiful red hair, piercing brown eyes, and a fiery personality. Apparently, I inherited my father's good looks and my mother's personality. I would give anything and everything to have grown up with them.

They both died when I was only an hour old. My mother was the former container of the Kyuubi. When she gave birth to me, the seal had weaken, and the Kyuubi broke loose. My mother died shortly afterwards from the intense child-birth, while my father died sealing the demon inside of me. They asked Gramps to name me Naruto after one of the main characters in his first book, hoping I would grow up with the determination of the character, thus leaving him as my godfather.

Being a orphan and growing up never knowing the love of parents was lonely. I was sent off to foster house after foster house, because no one wanted a "monster", "demon", or "freak" of a son. When I entered the academy, the 3rd Hokage decided to give me a small apartment and let me live alone. He organized for my check to come in every month.

I stayed at the academy from the time I was 10 until I was 12. When I graduated, I was put on Team 7 with Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi. I can't help but smile. All those years I pretended to have a "crush" on the pink-haired bitch, when she could care less if I was dead. It was all just a cover up, to hid my real feelings. Sasuke was my rival, and after awhile, my best friend. Kakashi didn't pay much attention to me or Sakura, rather he trained Sasuke to master his blood line limit-the Sharingan.

After a few years, we all went separate ways. Sakura failed the Chunnin exams, and eventually went under Granny as a medic-nin. Kakashi took up another Gennin team and began seeing Iruka, my father-like figure, which is still a secret to everyone else but me. Sasuke was retreated into the ANBU when we were 14, shortly after we both passed the Chunnin exams. After his training there, he finally mastered the Sharingan. Finally, I myself am a Jounin, and continuing my training with Gramps. My training has been great. There is many things I still wish to learn, but I finally mastered controlling the Kyuubi's chakra and Sage mode.

When the first Chunnin exams were in play, Sasuke had a cursed seal placed on him by Orochimaru before the exams had to come to an immediate end. Kakashi and I gathered my clan scrolls and read up on our history. Apparently, the Uzumaki clan sort of invented the village, but had no real bloodline limit. However, the clan is known for it's stamina. My clans also specialized in seals. The only disturbing part is the Senji clan and my clan are cousins, which makes Nagato my cousin. The Uchiha clan is distant cousins of the Senji clan. So would that make Sasuke and I cousins? Good question.

Anyway, Kakashi and I discovered a seal that wouldn't harm the person placing the seal or receiving it. The seal would place a boundary around an existing seal to lock all its powers from being used. It is very similar to the one Orochimaru placed on me on our first encounter. Immediately, I practiced the seal and had it placed on Sasuke within the next day.

Sasuke never showed any interest in Orochimaru afterwards. He still continues to get stronger every day. Overtime, Sasuke's body has grown from tall and lean, to muscular and well built but still towering at 6'1". His hair is still the same as ever, long in the front but short and spiked in the back. His skin is still a beautiful as porcelain, smooth and flawless. His faces has grown more masculine and narrow overtime, removing all baby fat on his cheeks. Sasuke Uchiha is truly a beautiful and gorgeous man.

Overtime, no body has really changed. Sakura's hair has grown longer. Neji has grown taller. Rock Lee has become calmer and more mature. The most dramatic change of all was me. When I returned from my 3 years of training with Gramps, people gasped at the sight of me, complimented me, and admired my change. I now stand 5'11". My hair has grown longer and somewhat flattened out. I lost all traces of baby fat as well, so my body was lean yet built. My eyes are not big and innocent as the use to be and narrowed with age as well as my cheeks. I'm still the same on the inside when I was 12-goofy, immature, and happy-but since my adventures with Gramps and seeing some of the things I've seen, I learned to be clam, mature, and collective when necessary.

After snapping out of my thoughts, I stood up and turned in my application before I left the small café. It was around 10 o'clock, but the café was a 15 minute walk from my house. As I walked back to my house, I couldn't help but let my mind wonder off to unimportant things. The night was peaceful, and the moon shone bright.

Thanks to the Kyuubi, my sense of smell, sight, and hearing are all enhanced. As I walked, I could feel someone watching me, and I could hear the light tab of running behind me as graceful as a cat. I played clueless as I walked. When the person was right behind me, I swiftly turned and clashed with an ANBU member. The ANBU had on a wolf mask and the required attire. Not to blow his cover, I whispered "Hello, Sasuke."

The ANBU are not allowed to tell anyone their true identity. They have to keep their face hidden when on duty. Outside the ANBU, they continue their lives as normal ninjas and people. They usually keep a Chunnin or Jounin position to keep a low profile and raising suspicion. I found out about Sasuke's position in ANBU by accident. But I am the only one who knows about Sasuke's position with the top ninjas.

"Dobe." He snorted and crossed his arms.

"Bastard. Any reason why you are following me at this time of night?" I asked, turning to walk back to my apartment.

"I have duty tonight. I need to make sure everyone gets to their houses safe and sound. There has been a high amount of causalities on the streets lately." He stated as he followed beside me.

"Oh, Sasuke, just go on and admit you are worried about me!" I exclaimed before I got a nasty punch in the gut.

"Hn. Dode." He said before continuing the walk to my house. I mumbled swears and curses under my breath about the bastard, and continued the walk in a comfortable silence.

I finally decided to break the silence. "So, teme, what has been going on? Tell me about the causality rate."

"Over the last 2 weeks, we have noticed a real rise in causalities. Each day, there is around 10 people reported dead average in the village. The last 2 weeks, the rate has increase to average 32. All the victims are found in similar circumstances. They are all men, all have appeared to been rape, all have at least 1 body part missing, and all have serve bruising around neck and waist area. I have a theory it's a group of 2 or 3 people, because it seems impossible for one person to single-handily commit all these murders. The issue is, they never kill twice in the same location."

I shivered at the news. It sounded sick, twisted, cold, and heart-less. Who would want to kill innocent men and why? The village hasn't seen anything this cruel in a long time. ANBU is obviously trying to cover it up, so the entire area wouldn't be living in fear or panic. 'I just hope they crack down on this soon, and hope Sasuke doesn't get hurt,' I thought to myself as my face grew warm with a faint blush.

"Just be careful." I said quietly, Sasuke nodded his head in response.

Once we were in sight of the apartment complex, Sasuke said his farewell before hopping up and away to continue his nightly duty. I dug my key out of my pocket, pushed it in the knob, opened the door, then slammed and locked the door behind me. A sigh left my mouth before stripping my uniform and stepping in the bathroom for a hot shower. The hot water washed over my tensed body soothingly. I stayed longer than necessary in the shower before stepping out and putting on some dry clothes. I set my alarm, pulled on my sleeping cap, and climbing into bed. The last coherent thought I had before drifting into unconsciousness was about the masked ANBU member.

.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.

The next day I raised out of bed with a groan.

'Damn morning wood. Stupid Sasuke..' I groaned out in frustration of my endless dream last night.

Before I had time to go take a cold shower, my door bell rang. With a heavy sigh, I got out of bed, pulled on my discarded pj pants as an attempt to hide my growing problem, and opened the door, only to revile none other than the man in my dreams. 'Lovely…" I thought before turning in and letting Sasuke enter my house, closing the door behind him.

The Uchiha is dressed in his ANBU uniform, and he slowly lifted the mask up and off his face. The look in his eye was determination. This means business.

"Do you have any coffee?" He asked. I nodded and went into the kitchen to make the coffee, thankful my erection has passed. When I returned with the coffee, sugar, creamer, and milk, we casually sat at the table as Sasuke retrieved a file from his backpack. He opened the file and slid it to me. The man in the picture was maybe mid-30s, short, lean, brown hair and eyes, and went by the name Brike Amaro (made up).

"Three days ago, this man was killed as in the incidents I explained to you last night. This man was a foreigner from the Hidden Mist Village. He was in a royal clan of some sort. Last night, this man's killing was caught on film. We traced the killer back to the Hidden Sand Village. This is an S-Rank mission. 2 people are assigned to find this group of people and stop the killings. The 2 people assigned is an ANBU and a Jounin, and have been given tonight to however long it takes to stop this. The 5th Hokage has decided…" Sasuke stood up from the table and sipped his coffee slowly. "Naruto pack your backs. You and I are going to the Village Hidden in the Sand."

.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.

A/N: I hope everyone enjoyed the first part! The preface is a little sneak peak into what will happen later. ;) A sort of spoiler!

The main pairing in SasuNaru. If anyone wishes for a side pairing, I would be happy to add on. As I already mentioned, Kakashi and Iruka are a couple, but I never had intentions on going deeper then stating unless the readers want more.

The first chapter is a history brush up. I want to stick as true to the real story line as I can. I want to be an altered situation with a different outcome, but still have the basics down pat.

So, Sasuke and Naruto are together on a mission to stop these killings. What do you think will happen? Whose behind this? Why would they do it? Tell me what you think!

Stay tuned and please review!