Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Genre: General

Rating? not for children anyway…

Notes: AU, no pairings

Summary: Seven years have passed since the Uchiha clan was murdered and the two children of the clan head disappeared. What happens when Naruto meets a strange boy wearing a strange cloak? And what is a boy around his age doing out in the middle of nowhere anyway?

Authors Notes: An ongoing birthday present for Ryuu.

This is revised. I realized that seven years have passed in my story. Not five. Sorry!

Cursed Blood

Prologue:

Crimson eyes the color of blood reflected the flames of a small campfire. The flames did not illuminate the man those eyes belonged to. In fact, it lit very little in the pitch-blackness of the cave. It was only strong enough to show a ring of figures sitting in the warmth; shadows on shadows.

"The nine tails is on the move." A rumbling voice remarked. The red-eyed man made no move at these words. "His container is on a mission with Copy-Ninja Kakashi and two other brats from Konoha."

"Kakashi isn't a problem." Another voice spoke up. "I'd like to see his pathetic Sharingan against the real deal!" A shadow slapped red-eyes' back. "Itachi here would turn him into so much red dust." In a flash the man's arm was broken in three places.

"Don't touch me." Itachi remarked in a dull monotone. Ignoring the plight of their now screaming companion the shadows continued their discussion.

"So who's going after the nine-tails?" A new voice asked. It was silent as the leader gestured to Itachi to decide. After all, the red-eyed man was the expert on the nine-tails.

"Sasuke." Itachi finally remarked. He felt the dark presence behind him shift, and smirked internally at his brother's eagerness to get out of the cave. "Sasuke and Deidara," He felt eyes as crimson as his own glare forcefully at his back, "should go out on a surveillance mission."

"Agreed," the leader answered. "Meet here tomorrow. Return by nightfall." Itachi's lips twitched when his brother shifted again.