Pilfered

Chapter One

-The End of the Lines-

Uchiha

Golden, snake-like eyes took in the scene before him, observing every little detail he could. Currently he was hidden amongst some rubble in the Uchiha District, peering through one of the windows of the house belonging to none other than Uchiha Sasuke, his ex-disciple. It had been many years since the last Uchiha had left him to return to this desolate village. He didn't understand why, but nobody just learned some of the greatest ninja techniques from him and left without paying the price.

As it was, Sasuke was too powerful for him to kidnap now, and so his old plan of using his body as his new vessel was no more. But now, at long last, he had a weakness. A son had been born to him a little over a year ago, in order to continue the Uchiha line. The boy's name was Akito, and he was Sasuke's pride and joy. It was the perfect opportunity to get his revenge. He would steal the child, and raise him to become one of his followers, creating a new team of ninja that were more powerful than the world had ever known. All he had to do was wait for the perfect opportunity to pounce.

The shadowed figure watched the house for another week, until his chance finally came. Sasuke had apparently been called away on a mission, and would be gone for a few days, leaving his infant son alone with the hired help. The snake sannin waited an extra day, just to be sure the coast was clear, before entering the house. He walked through the hallways, searching for the room that held the tiny Uchiha. Rounding the corner, he halted upon seeing the housekeeper/nanny exiting the bathroom, holding a bucket and sponge in her hand. She had caramel skin that was old and weathered from years of work, her whitening hair tied back in a tight bun.

Instead of being alarmed by his presence, she just shook her head upon seeing him. "Mister Sasuke not here." She said, her voice thick with an accent that he couldn't place.

"I'm not here for Sasuke." The pale man hissed.

She just continued to shake her head, as if she didn't understand him. "No. No. Mister Sasuke not here. We need more lemon pledge."

His snake eyes rolled. "I am not here for Sasuke. I want the boy."

"Mister Sasuke not here." She repeated. "Little Akito sleeping."

Not wanting to waste any more time with this senseless woman, he quickly moved before her, before lashing out with his hand and knocking her across the hall. Her body slammed into the wall, causing her to fall unconscious from the blow her head took. Watching as her heavy mass of a body collapsed to the ground, he stepped over her before continuing down the hall. Sensing a small presence, he opened the door that it was behind, seeing a crib on the other side. He walked across the room and stopped, peering down at the small boy, who was fast asleep. He had a small tuft of dark black hair, and already showed the classic features of the Uchiha Clan.

As if sensing another presence there, the little boy opened his eyes, surprising the snake master. Instead of being a deep ebony or shade of gray, like all Uchiha, they were a forest green. He could see intelligence shining in the child's eyes, and a creepy, sinister smile came to his features. This boy would be perfect for him. Ten times better than Sasuke, he could already tell. Thoughts of how well this plan would work out already filtering through his mind, he picked up the tiny boy, before disappearing from the house, the complex, and the village, leaving no trace of his presence behind.

Three days later, Uchiha Sasuke came home, tired and worn from his long mission. It wasn't really that difficult to begin with, but he'd had to guard the most annoying woman he'd ever met in his entire life, and the fact that she had instantly become infatuated with him didn't help. He was glad to finally be rid of her, feeling pity for whatever man she wound up marrying.

He entered his house and frowned, feeling that something was off. He made his way to the back of his home, freezing when he saw his hired help lying unconscious on the floor. Not really caring about her welfare, he ran into his son's room, instantly going to his crib, only to find it empty. The elder Uchiha's vision instantly bled to red in his rage, and his fist made contact with the bars of the crib. He went back out into the hall and knelt by his housekeeper's side, lifting her a bit and shaking her.

"Consuela." He said, slapping her cheek in order to wake her. Her eyes opened a few seconds later, and she instantly sat up.

"Mister Sasuke!" she exclaimed, looking alarmed. "We need more lemon pledge!"

He refrained from rolling his eyes at the dense woman. He wasn't sure why he had kept her around, but she was good at cleaning, and took care of his son so that he didn't have too. "Consuela, where is Akito?" he asked.

"Little Akito?" her brow furrowed, before looking past him to his room. "Little Akito is asleep."

"No, Akito is gone." He said, refraining from shaking her. "Where is he?"

Understanding came to her eyes then, and she nodded. "Oh, Hissing Pale Man must have taken Little Akito."

A hollow feeling came to Sasuke's chest at the name that the elderly woman had said. "Hissing Pale Man? Did he have long black hair?"

She nodded, before shaking her head. "Mister Sasuke, that not important. We need more lemon pledge." Consuela said.

He let go of her in exasperation, letting out an enraged shout before stomping away. Nobody else could fit the description of being called a hissing pale man with long black hair but one person. And that knowledge alone was enough to send the ex-avenger into a raging fury as he left his home, off to go and search for his son. Because without Akito, Sasuke's life had no purpose.

Sabaku

"Welcome Kazekage-sama, Sakura-sama, to Iwa." A blonde woman said, bowing to both of them. "If you will please follow me, I will show you to the Tsuchikage's mansion." She turned and began to lead them and the small Anbu team with them. "What a beautiful baby boy you have." She smiled, staying beside Sakura.

The pink haired woman grinned, nuzzling the boy in her arms. "Thank you. This is Toshiro. He's almost two years old now."

Gaara nodded, "Yes. And we're now expecting two more."

"Two more?" their guide beamed. "You must be so excited."

"Oh we are." Sasuke sighed happily. "Though I just can't imagine loving anyone more than my little Toshiro." She nuzzled him once more, making the boy giggle and reach out for her embrace. They continued through the massive village carved from the stones of the mountains, and finally reached one made of magnificent granite.

Once they were led inside they could see the marble and the sparkling minerals held in the stone. They were taken into an elegant living room, where they were met with the Tsuchikage and his children, along with their wives. One of the women was blonde and she had a small boy, near the age of Toshiro, resting in her lap. He had a small mess of blonde atop his own head and was laughing happily now that he had his mother's attention.

"Ladies, I wonder if we could place the children in the nursery while we talk?" the old, decrepit man said, attempting to move from his spot to show them the room.

"I will show Sakura-sama." The other mother told her father-in-law, standing and walking over to Sakura. "Let us go, our boys can get to know one another." She said, leading Sakura off and out into the hallway.

Sakura walked with her, peeking at the young boy. "Oh how adorable is he?"

"Thank you." She snuggled closer with her boy. "His name is Kyo. And I know he will just be a wonderful man."

The pink haired wife mirrored her proud expression. "I know what you mean, I feel the same. I can't wait till Toshiro's grown so I can play with him and see him become the amazing boy he's destined to be."

The two women talked idly about their children as they came to a massive room with toys and music boxes. The cradle in the room was large enough to hold at least four children. Sakura and the blonde woman settled their sons in, who stared at each other in awe of the new face they had not encountered before.

After making sure the boys were fine, they left to join their husbands and talk on the new treaty between their lands. After a long while, a dark figure landed on the balcony to the nursery and opened the crafted doors silently. He slithered over towards the bed holding the two boys and then looked over the two, assessing their bodies and eyes.

The redheaded boy stared up at the new man, looking worried, his deep jade eyes filled with warning of the new face. The blonde, seeing the other boy's slowed movement, glanced up as well, his hazel eyes beginning to widen. "Shhhhhhhh…" the intruder hissed out, a creepy smile crossing his pale and slimy features. "Come with me." He said softly, looking between the two.

He had originally come for the redhead, since in his infiltration of his ex-pupil, he'd found the reason for his desertion. The Hokage and the sand master, now the Kazekage of Suna, had gotten to him. Apparently, some of their words had stuck and convinced him he needed to return to their world of good. So now it was time for his revenge on them as well.

Unfortunately, the Hokage did not have any children, nonetheless a son. But the Kazekage had a healthy, thriving protégé in his midst, and he wanted him. He'd always been curious of the sand control the old jinchūriki had inherited. But then his gold gaze shifted to the blonde, the Tsuchikage's grandson. That could pose some promise for sure. Especially since he could now collect a boy from each of the nations he preferred.

With that resolve, he wrapped up both boys and pulled them into his arms, covering their mouths when he saw they were only seconds away from crying. And then he was gone, like a thief in the night.

The sannin entered his hideout, holding a crying boy in his arms not more than a week later. This child had auburn hair and aquamarine eyes, and was the same age as his first victim, Uchiha Akito. "Kabuto!" he called out, summoning his faithful servant.

The white haired man came down the hall, holding two half-filled bottles. "Orochimaru-sama! You're back." He frowned when he saw the thing in his arms. "What is that?"

"What does it look like Kabuto. It's a baby." The snake man said, rolling his eyes as he held it out to the medic of the compound. "Now take it. I have the four I want. And they will be elite and magnificent!"

He sighed, pushing up his glasses before taking the child. "I know Orochimaru-sama, but why? Isn't three enough?"

"No, you know how I hate odd numbers." Orochimaru stated. "Besides, now that we have them, we can raise and mold them to create the strongest organization known to the ninja world! Even stronger than the Akatsuki!" he declared, pumping a fist up into the air as he began to laugh maniacally.

"Stronger than Akatsuki?" Kabuto asked, arching a brow.

"Of course! It's as if the four nations combined! Fire. Wind. Rock. Mist. The most powerful of them all are now mine, and I will have limitless power when I control them."

Kabuto grimaced, "If you say so."

"I do. Kukuku." Orochimaru began to snicker, heading down the hall and throwing his hands in the air. "My team will be the elite of the elite! And no one will be able to stand against me!"