Disclaimer: Neither xXxFrostyIceCubexXx nor Imperial Mint own the Animé/Manga series 'Naruto'
Title: Avoidance at a cost
Pairing: (Primary) ItaNaru (Secondry/One sided) SasuNaru
Notice: This is Yaoi, and will most definitely contain adult situations and some things that others may not be fond of, so please be forewarned before reading this story. Character death(Sakura) in prologue. Also this will be you dislike/are against it... don't read.
Summary: For Naruto life was simple, eat Ramen, train and become Hokage, that was until he had to suffer decreased Chakra levels, Sasuke stalking him, and falling in love with the one person he shouldn't; Itachi.
This a collaboration fiction between xXxFrostyIceCubexXx and Imperial Mint
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Prologue
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Days had passed slowly since Naruto had given up on his once action filled life style, no longer did he see the need to chase a boy who was too busy obsessing over his older brother as a high priority. He had better things do, Ramen still called out to him, missions still needed completing and that dream of becoming Hokage that he once had – well, he still had it.
Sure, should a clue for the young Uchiha present itself would he chase up on it but, until such a time appeared, he was just happy completing missions and getting stronger.
Unfortunately for him, there was a problem that day regarding missions. He had one. Now normally that wouldn't be an issue, normally he would love a mission. Only, that day it was his birthday and as forewarned by the Kyuubi during one of Naruto's little mood swings a while back; Naruto lacked Chakra.
While his Chakra merged with the dying Kyuubi. A death caused by the side effects of the Yondaime's seal. Naruto was forced to live on only the bare minimal. Luckily it was only for that day; his eighteenth birthday. Unluckily he had a mission that day.
After a week of lacking missions, he had to be given a mission that day, not only that, but Tsunade knew of his predicament, yet still she gave him one. It was irritating. Of course he knew why she did it; pressured by his superiors. Those damn ANBU bastards. Never did they miss a chance to put Naruto in some form of dangerous situation.
But as luck would have it, Tsunade was the one who chose the mission and so, with Sai and Sakura as his team mates, bringing Team Kakashi back, minus the teacher of course. He was to go on a mission quite happily. Mind the fact that the conversation was a fairly unpleasant one when he first found out
Ah yes, Naruto did remember that conversation well.
It had been earlier that morning in fact. He had been on his way to Ichiraku's when Sai himself had appeared and requested his presence along with him and Sakura at the Hokage's office. Reluctant to leave without breakfast, he found the young daughter of the Ramen stall owner holding out a bowl for him.
He was late for the meeting as was Sai that day.
Entering the building was quite the chore itself, avoiding people bustling about while he ate his food. Sai hadn't a readable look on his face, so Naruto just ignored him. The other couldn't have disapproved otherwise he would have went ahead. Finally they found themselves outside of Tsunade office. The door already open and inviting them in.
Sakura and Tsunade stood there staring, sweat dropping. Of course the reason for Naruto's lateness that morning was Ramen. Inwardly Naruto chuckled as he remembered the five minute telling off he got for it.
Once they were all settled down and ready, Tsunade had begun the topic of the meeting. Naruto's jaw had dropped the moment the word mission had crossed the lady's mouth, boy did Naruto remember that bit clearly,
"Baa Chan! Are you kidding me?" Naruto had exclaimed. A tone of anger and annoyance echoed from his voice. Tsunade looked ashamed and Naruto felt that she should of,
"Sorry Naruto but you, Sakura and Sai are to go to Tsukigakure and retrieve the Kuro scroll from the village leader, it's a low ranked mission, a cat could do it," She answered hesitantly,
"Then send a bloody cat! Don't send me, you know what my condition is!" He shouted back, neither Sai nor Sakura spoke. It was possible that both feared Naruto's voice. When the boy had Chakra they could be as abusive as possible, but when he was lacking it, he was nothing more than a common civilian.
"Seriously Naruto, please your superiors have said that it must be you, Sai Sakura. They have no others to spare," Tsunade continued. Naruto huffed at her before muttering under his breathe 'Yeah, that and they are all against me," Tsunade seemed to have heard him because he soon felt a smack to the head,
"Watch it brat, I was allowed to choose the mission and I could have chosen one that would have got the village a lot more money, you know we need it," She scowled at him. He smirked,
"And whose fault is that? You and Sakura are just a bunch of gamblers!" His words earned him two smacks in the head. Sakura had snapped out of her silence and joined her personal teacher in 'teaching' Naruto a lesson about rudeness. Sai, being the sensible one just stood there in silence.
Minutes passed of Naruto cursing both Sakura and Tsunade, while the pair went into more detail about the mission with one another, Naruto's wishes not to go: ignored.
"-and so Sakura, make sure you see the leader first, he's quite the pervert at time, but nothing like Jiraiya so you have nothing to worry about, these two on the other hand might," Sakura's eyes widened,
"What he's gay?" Tsunade laughed, loudly.
"No Sakura, but a beautiful girl like you might get swept away by him and leave these two without their favourite little team mate," Sakura turned crimson. How in three years of growing up since Sakura started under Tsunade's tutelage did Sakura become a teacher's pet, Naruto would never know.,
"Okay Baa Chan, Sakura Chan, we really need to get going. Don't we Sai." Naruto ground out indicating the door. Sai shrugged and looked from instructions from Tsunade. Naruto dead panned. God hated him. "Seriously guys let's go and get this over with! I don't see why we can't- Ouch Sakura!" Naruto whined.
Sakura had just hit him once more,
"No moaning Naruto we must leave today to make in time,"
"In time?" Naruto questioned, still nursing his throbbing head.
"You should have listened" She answered. He scowled.
- - -
Normal Shinobi could have completed the journey that took roughly three hours in approximately under one hour. As it was, Sai, Sakura and Naruto were no normal Shinobi... at least Naruto was. Due to his Chakra being squandered, they were stuck with walking on foot rather than taking to the trees.
But as Naruto was also the most surprising Ninja within Konoha (he still proudly held that title, even after Konohamaru had challenged him upon it) he had made a challenge out of it. He could still run and that was what he did, constantly calling back to Sakura and Sai that they would be specks of dust in no time.
The journey would have been shorter still if Naruto hadn't insisted upon devouring practically all of his ramen rations. Sakura had been kind enough to extend her knowledge of medical Nin Jutsu to the ramen cause, using one heat Jutsu that was commonly used upon pneumonia patients.
"You know, Sakura-chan, you're like a portable oven."
And that had been the comment that left the purplish bruise upon Naruto's cheek. Apparently it wasn't acceptable to say that to a young woman, or so Naruto gathered from her rants after the pain. Naruto had looked over to Sai in a desperate plea yet the man had merely looked back at him and mouthed 'good luck' before sitting down upon a nearby rock.
After Sakura had finally finished, the group had set off once more and completed the journey to Tsukigakure. Although it wasn't specifically a Shinobi village, the town was run by the Tsuki clan, a small group of efficient yet elderly Shinobi, hence the name.
The village was, simply put, beautiful. Each had silver embellishments upon their doors that would, no doubt, glint once the moonlight hit them. It was small and intricate details such as these that Naruto loved and made him ever more curious of the village and who exactly ran it.
It was a short walk through the town to lead them to where the leader was based and he welcomed them with loud words and open arms. He commented on Sakura a few times with special praises and the Kunoichi blushed deeply whilst thanking their employer.
"There is a hotel a little way down this road, they should be expecting you and I hope that that is not too presumptuous for me to have done that."
Naruto and Sai both shook their heads while Sakura looked around the room.
"Unless the pretty lady would like to stay here... that offer's on the table."
The room grew silent as the Shinobi looked at the leader and then to Sakura's mortified expression. The man took it in and a huge grin split onto his face, "I was only joking miss, now I really do think you should get some rest. You can get the Kuro scroll tomorrow as you must be tired from travelling."
The trio inclined their heads respectfully and smiled. They were led to the adjacent hotel and, like many other buildings, Naruto marvelled at the beautiful silver embellishments upon both the hotel and its furniture. It gave the whole place a sense of surrealism and Naruto decided that he could grow to like this place.
- - -
The village leader watched the trio leave, unknown to them, he watched them with a heavy heart. Not once did he regret what he had done, he had the motivation to allow what had just happened to happen.
Should he be required to wage war on Konoha, despite knowing he would most definitely lose, then he would. Admittedly he felt bad but he didn't regret it. He was a family man, and with his wife already lost to illness, he would rather let hell rain down about him before allowing his daughter to join his deceased wife.
He, a trusted village leader, had deceived the young Konoha shinobi all because of his daughter, his precious daughter. The daughter who was currently being held hostage by the man who had expected, no planned the arrival of the young Konoha shinobi.
Uchiha Sasuke.
The opening of a door told the village leader that that man had just returned. Though the leader had a sneaking suspicion that he had followed the Konoha trio there.
Soft footsteps could be heard closing in on him. They frightened him so. He never knew he'd feel so much fear from a man, and a young man at that.
The sound stopped.
"Nice to see you again," His voice was smooth. Manipulative almost. It sent shivers down his spine, never in his life had he heard someone so... so mysterious. So this was Orochimaru's murderer.
Impressively scary.
"Goo-Good to see you again as well Sas-"
"Remember your place,"
"-Uchiha sama," There was a pregnant pause between the two, almost as if they were waiting for the other to say something. Sasuke awaiting the man's pitiful begging for his daughter back, and the leader awaiting Sasuke's news about his daughter. Neither spoke, and the minutes continued to pass. The leader couldn't stand it any more,
"Please Uchiha sama, my daughter!" He begged, a smirk fell upon Sasuke's lips. A Horrible smirk,
"Your daughter is fine, I shall have her returned to you as soon as I have what I came for," He replied. Seeing no reason to stay any longer he made his way towards the exit, "Oh yes and remember, they find out about me, you'll never find out about your daughter,"
The many nodded fearfully. He couldn't allow his dear, dear daughter to get hurt. He'd lock those three Konoha shinobi in a metal clad room if he had to. Never, and let it be repeated, he would never allow any harm to befall his precious, precious daughter.
"Don't worry Uchiha Sama, I promise to keep my end of the bargain, and long as you promise to return my daughter, my precious little princess," Sasuke smirked, he loved it when his victims were suck ups.
He loved the feeling of control. It was exhilaratingly thrilling. He was happy, everything was going his way. Now just to get that one thing, or rather that one person he had plotted this entire scheme just to get.
- - -
Naruto couldn't believe it; he usually had brilliant luck and karma chose today to knock on his door and demand it back. Strip poker was a deadly a game as Russian roulette, especially when you had one black haired male constantly making jibes and a giggly team member edging said male on.
All in all, Naruto was not most pleased.
In fact it was Sakura who was still fully clothed which Naruto really didn't deem fair; after all she had been the one to train under the Legendary sucker so why wasn't she bad at this? Maybe she had learnt how not to do it from Tsunade, Naruto mused as he was ordered to take his left sock off. Unfortunately he was now down to one sock and a pair of boxers whilst Sai had lost his gloves and a pathetic excuse for a T-shirt.
"One more loss, Naruto-Kun, and I can finally prove to Sakura that you have no penis."
Naruto bit back his anger; he was a calm, collected member of Konohagakure's elites not some brawlish Genin. He could contain his anger with simple breathing, in deeply, out deeply in-
" Because we all know he can't have one there or we'd be able to see something in those pants."
Calm and collectiveness thrown out the window, Naruto snarled and practically lunged over the table towards Sai. He was unable to land a hit on the amused face, however, due to one fully clothed member of his team pushing him back to his seat.
"So Kami help me Naruto, if you don't finish this game – which, I hasten to remind you, was your idea – then you really won't have a penis and Konoha's hospital will be registering 'Uzumaki Naruto' in for a gender reassignment operation."
Naruto blanched and sat back down, looking at his cards in fear. Sai too looked somewhat disturbed as Sakura's evil grin turned to him and she simply said,
"Play on."
Naruto and Sai continued the game in wariness while Sakura grinned to herself and settled comfortable in her seat, every now and again reaching her hand into the snacks bowl and drawing out a handful of crisps.
With a sigh, Sakura stood up and smiled apologetically to the males. Naruto remained stoic, concentrating on his hand and merely nodded, eyes flickering slightly as she chuckled at his fear. It was obvious that Sakura needed to relieve herself of bodily fluids and this was something that the men never approached with Sakura. Although she was strong, she was still definitely a woman and there was a strict line that you couldn't cross with her.
As usual they paid no further attention to the woman as she walked out the room yet both offered a small smile. Sakura waved her hand in return and Naruto couldn't help, but frown at how final the click of the door sounded.
- - -
Sakura sighed as she felt the door shut behind her. An ominous feeling overwhelmed her. Suddenly the need to relieve herself battled with the need to go back and play with the guys. She hadn't a clue as to why she felt like that. She just did.
She could just imagine what was going on in the room as she walked down the hallway towards the toilets. Something had to keep her away from the creepy creaking noises the floorboards made. If she had to guess she was probably missing the moment Naruto revealed all.
Boy, and to think she really wanted to see Naruto's pride and joy.
Ah well, she'd get to see it once she had returned. Suddenly her body shivered, that ominous feeling was back. Gently smacking her cheeks she reminded herself that she was a strong Kunoichi, not some wimpy damsel in distress.
Minutes later, she had fully relieved herself and was making her way back to the room. Only a problem had arisen for her. Mainly the fact that whatever door she had come though surely wasn't the same one she had left through.
The hall was different. Much, much different, it had what seemed like a red glow to it and it most certainly, last time she checked anyhow, didn't have at the end of it, a spiralling staircase going into and through the ceiling.
Her eyes widened in shock. A Genjutsu.
"Shit," She whispered, but who? Who on Earth would put her, a harmless girl, well a seemingly harmless girl in a Genjutsu, especially one of this magnitude. Having walked to the bottom of the staircase she had stared upwards only to come to the conclusion it was endless.
Peering around even the toilet door had gone. Whoever this foolish person was, they were messing with the wrong Kunoichi and the moment she knew who it was, she planned on beating them half way to hell, and then maybe back again depending on whether or not she liked the torture hell was giving them.
"Hello?" She called, she might as well try. The worse it could be was some rapist, and in hell would she damned before she let some ugly old guy get into her pants. Just the thought caused her to shudder.
Taking her chances with caution in mind, she followed the steps up, not knowing whether or not she had just signed her death certificate. The eerie silence was starting to creep her out, and as much as she'd rather find a way out standing where she was. She knew she'd have to confront whoever had done it. What worried her was that whoever had done it was probably standing right next to her in reality.
Finally reaching the top of the stairs she glanced around, it was so empty, only a chair facing a fireplace. So cliché she thought inwardly as she stamped down a little bit harder than necessary, making her presence known.
Undoubtedly whoever was sitting in that chair knew of her arrival as shuffling was heard before a smug, overly familiar voice spoke, his cold voice running throughout her entire body. Had she been Hinata, she was sure the shock would have caused her to drop in a dead faint,
"It's good to see you Sakura," The tears had already arrived, streaming down her confused face,
"Sasuke?" She asked timidly. All of her earlier threats out of the window.
"Who else wields such a powerful Genjutsu?" His voice was as sure as always. So calm, collected. It was almost as if he, Uchiha Sasuke was omniscient, omnipotent. To Sakura, it seemed like he was one step away from becoming a God.
"Why are you here Sasuke?" She asked, her confidence building. She was not, and let it be repeated not a wimpy damsel in distress.
"Che, not for you, you're here only for one reason," Sasuke had moved from his chair. She could feel his breathe on her face. He was behind her. Silently she remained motionless. If he wasn't here for her then who? Surely not Sai, or Naruto... Or was it Naruto? No wait the scroll,
"The scroll?" She asked,
"Not quite, more a person than an item," He answered. She could feel something pressing into her back. It was sharp. Shit.
"Sasuke, then who?... Naruto?" A dark chuckle echoed from behind her, "Shit Sasuke it is! What do you want? Kyuubi? To late Kyuubi's-"
"I know, and I know exactly what's wrong with Naruto today, hence my plan is to take him today, I have big plans for him and I," Sasuke muttered. The sharp object pressed harder into her back. It was going to draw blood. She couldn't move. Dammit, she really couldn't move.
"Why tell me, when I escape, and I will, you'll never get to him in time, Sai and I will stop you," She answered, a coldness in her voice that wasn't there before told Sasuke that Sakura had begun to have feelings for Naruto,
"Hn, doubtful, you'll never escape," Sasuke laughed once more. A cold chuckle, an almost maddening chuckle, and Sakura screamed. The torture began. A minute might have passed for Naruto and Sai. Neither of whom knew of what was happening to her, but for Sakura a life time of pain before death consumed her.
The Genjutsu died as Sakura's real body fell to the floor, lifeless. Her screams had echoed down the hall. It was only a matter of seconds before the real reason Sasuke had appeared would make his heroic entrance.
A heroic entrance fit for a damsel in distress. Too bad Sakura wasn't no damsel.
- - -
Naruto heard the scream and instantly registered one thought in mind,
"Sakura!"
Sai too was on his feet and the pair stumbled out of the door, eyes wide and searching for the source of the scream. Inside, Naruto hoped with shame that it had not been Sakura,and if it had been her that she was, at least, alive and able to attack her pursuer.
There was no need to utilise stealth – for Naruto it would have been useless anyway for even though his Chakra was useless, there was a distinct taint to it that he wouldn't be able to mask – as there was a slumped form lying on the ground and someone who Naruto could recognise solely from his posture and walk; Uchiha Sasuke.
"Sa... suk...e..."
Sai looked up sharply and indicated for Naruto to step slightly beside. Naruto complied with his heartbeat pounding in his ears; five years and nothing of the man and suddenly he was here. What he didn't understand was why Sakura had screamed...sure it was Sasuke but he was nothing to faint over, right?"
Naruto looked ahead, eyes focused blankly on the approaching figure and the whirling pin wheels of the Sharingan. Something was different about those eyes and it wasn't just the fact that they lacked emotion.
Being in the ANBU had presented new challenges to Naruto yet one thing he had always sworn on before a mission was that he would retain his humanity. Sakura had once said to him that his eyes betrayed how emotional he really was and Naruto found this to be a compliment rather than an insult; it didn't make him easy to read; just showed the world that there was a human inside the body of a demon.
It was a cold fact that Sasuke had changed, Naruto knew that, and he could only hope that Sasuke hadn't been tainted by so much blood that he had lost sight of the clear waters Naruto always wished to bring him to.
Naruto's pulse beat loudly as Sai stepped forwards, pulling out a Kunai from his trouser pocket. It was then that Naruto was aware how defenceless he was; not only did he carry no weapons but his clothing had been taken from him... willingly but still.
Sai moved lightly, much like a cat would do before it pounced. Sasuke, on the other hand, trod heavily with guarded footfalls, making sure that he commanded attention yet carrying it off with unnatural ease. The Uzumaki suspected that it was one of the many things the man had learnt during his time at Orochimaru's and he gave an involuntary shudder.
The two dark haired men met in a clash of steel and lightning. Sai rolled over to the side as he dropped rapidly after his Kunai had been sliced by the chidori enhanced Kusanagi sword. Sasuke looked down at the crouching man apathetically before moving a leg out to kick him in the side.
Of course Sai caught the leg but he did not anticipate that Sasuke would fall back onto his right hand, twist and follow through with his free leg to Sai's neck. This not only resulted in him letting go of the Uchiha's leg but also ensured that the man slid a far distance away from where he had been previously.
"Uchiha..." he spluttered as his chest heaved up a small amount of blood. Sai knew then that Sasuke had an aim to this fight; either kill or disable the former ROOT ANBU. Yet Sai wasn't one to squander time and he summoned his spare drawing utensils. Out from the paper leapt snarling tigers yet each was stopped by the whirling Sharingan. It appeared that Sasuke had finally run of patience.
Sai hopped backwards, hands forming what he hoped would provide a cover. It was a jutsu specifically designed to turn the area dark and hazy yet would it work on someone who used the Sharingan? Sai completed the jutsu and the air around them grew heavier until it practically crushed Sai's lungs... and then it was lifted and they were thrown into darkness.
Sai realised that – no – it didn't work on the Sharingan when glowing eyes turned to him and a punch sent him reeling backwards, head cracking against the wall and he fell to the ground unconscious.
Naruto looked around the inky darkness and flinched as he heard a crack. That had to be Sai – Sasuke's Sharingan saw through everything. He hated being weak and powerless when his friends were being hurt yet there was little more Naruto could do.
Instead he ran forwards blindly, searching for Sakura's form in the darkness. She had to be alive but why wasn't she calling out to him? She should have woken up and wondered why it was so dark... unless...
Naruto tripped and stifled a scream as he came face to face with Sakura's glazed eyes. He could feel tears seep from the corners of his eye lids as he lifted a hand to her shoulder,
"S-sakura-chan..."
Naruto retracted his hand as though he had been stung when the realisation finally came; she hadn't feinted, she hadn't woken up; she was dead.
Naruto was so absorbed by that notion that he failed to hear the footsteps that had sounded closer and closer; the footsteps that were the entry of the Devil's Adonis.
"Sasuke... who... please tell me it wasn't – and... oh god, Sai! Sasuke you-"
Naruto was silenced as a hand pulled him up roughly and his weight was slammed into the wall.
"I killed her Naruto and I want you to know why." Naruto tried not to look into the rotten eyes of his former team member and winced as Sasuke traced a hand up his neck whilst smirking, "it's because of you."
Sasuke stepped away and the Sharingan whirled.
"It's all for you, Naruto."
- - -
Tsunade glanced over her huge pile of forms to fill in. Not once did she think to burn them and say they got lost in the mail, but three times, especially the times when Shizune thought it fun to bring in another couple of forms.
Sighing heavily she remembered why she even took the job. The one little blue eyed, blond haired boy that had impressed her so much. Uzumaki Naruto, not once did that boy give up. In fact Tsunade had yet to see the boy give up, what had it been five years since she'd taken up the Hokage's seat.
She held in a chuckle as she stood up. Naruto really never stopped ceasing to amaze her. How he had the spirit and energy to carry on was beyond him. It was a miracle really. Heading towards her precious storage of sake she reached in to grab some.
On her way back to her office, she took note of her surroundings. Only something caught her eye. Now normally, favouritism was not allowed within the Konoha higher ups, but if those elders were allowed to favour Sasuke than she was allowed to favour Naruto.
The picture she had of the boy sitting on her desk had fallen to the floor.
It wasn't just of a picture Naruto though, The rest of team seven, minus Sasuke, that particular member had been replaced by a similar looking boy named Sai, were standing behind Naruto, each with their unique smiles.
Picking up, a shiver went through her system. The part of the picture that held Naruto on it, had ripped in two, the glass had shattered over the floor, and the picture of Sakura... well let's just say Tsunade had already called in Shizune.
Suddenly she had a rather bad feeling about the trio.
Frosty here, we appreciate reviews and hope you enjoyed this. She would also like to note that bugs have infested her room and are extremely annoying her T.T. Also she would like to point out that anything that seems OOC can be contributed to their age. The way the Manga is going despite this being a completely alternate time line and the fact that neither Imperial Mint nor Frosty are Kishimoto and this is how they predict their future personalities will turn out. We dislike OOC just as much as the next guy.
Mint has her bit to say too!
Howdy. Guess what... I'm going to Disney! Whoot! I just thought I'd make you all jealous by that. I'm open to gift requests...
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