I have no idea where this came from. I really don't. It just popped into my head one day. Unfortunately, that also means I don't quite know where it's going, which might make my updates slightly slower than usual. Sorry in advance if that ends up being the case ;;.

Another quick note: THIS IS AU. Like, major AU. It takes place in a somewhat futuristic universe, the details of which will become clear as the story progresses. Also, this will probably eventually become SasuNaru/NaruSasu, so if you don't like two guys together, I suggest you stop reading now.

And with that, I bid you continue onwards to the fic.

The downtown area of Konoha Spaceport. A scary thing for most people, to be truthful. Perhaps the most frightening part was the disorganization, the clutter on every street corner, filth scattered on every roof top. Filth and clutter in the form of bleary-eyed beggars and other scum – assassins and thieves, most likely – that were barely distinguishable from the dirt what with the filth caking their clothes. It was hard to believe they were part of the most superior species in the galaxy at the moment: humans.

Sasuke snorted. Well, at least most of them looked human. The night was dark in the city, but even in daylight it would have been hard to tell these days, with so many secret underground body shops selling every type of modification one could imagine. Not that he bothered to imagine such things. It was heretical, really; these humans were born part of the most intelligent, well-respected race and they make themselves indistinguishable from the furries crowding the streets, contaminating the population. Just like his bastard brother.

Sasuke banished such thoughts from his mind, skirting around empty boxes and broken crates as he turned into an alleyway. His brother wasn't a furry, anyway; he wasn't THAT stupid. The furries got no respect, and though with surgery it was rumored one could almost become one, who would want to? Looked down on by the higher class, scorned even by the few humans in the lower class. Not a life anyone would choose, surely.

But what was he doing thinking about furries, anyway? He had a mission. Of course he did. Uchiha Sasuke always had a mission when he sunk so low as to enter a place like the slums of Konoha.

A barely visible movement by a dumpster not far from where he was standing caught his eye. Unable to control it, he felt his vision clear and the world around him slow down slightly; cursing, he closed his eyes and shook his head hard. What a time for his stupid sharingan to activate. If he could find the programmer who'd burned them into his eyes, he'd kill him without a second thought. Until then…

Damn you, Itachi.

Confirming that the movement he'd seen was just a rat – vermin seemed to flock to this place, how very… unsurprising – he kicked an empty food container out of his way and continued down the alleyway, turning onto a slightly more populated side street before ducking again into an alley, this one seemingly leading to an even darker part of the city. Sasuke glared at filth caking the stones beneath him, disgust mingling with his frustration. It was almost nightfall; he should have been there by now… those directions his idiotic, perverted former-teacher had given him better have been accurate. Trust the bastard to lead him halfway through the district before reaching his destination, if not halfway through the fucking city. Well, no matter. As long as he got there, he could wait.

"Hear that, Kakashi?" he muttered quietly, slightly resentfully. "I can wait. I'm not a kid anymore."

Of course, no one answered him. Not that he had been expected anyone to. Though, come to think of it, he wouldn't put it past Kakashi to follow him; the man had become almost paranoid since the… incident several years ago.

A noise behind him put him instantly on the alert. He knew instantly that this was no rat; that ear-sensitivity training had at least been good for that much. Turning his head sharply, he peered through the darkness of the alley, trying to pick out any tiny movement, but it was nearly pitch black and the dumpsters and conveniently placed alcoves in the smooth walls offered plenty of hiding places. He cursed. He couldn't risk being followed, but was it worth it to use…? Well, he'd have to, no matter what the consequences. If something was following him, he had to at least know what it was and whether or not it was dangerous.

I'm going to regret this, he thought as red bled into his irises and he slipped into the sharingan.

His vision suddenly became clear as day, and he almost instantly located a heat source – most likely a body – in an alcove to his left.

"You can come out now," he announced loudly into the silence. "It's useless trying to hide from me."

A chuckle. "Okay, okay. Jeez, bastard, I was just making sure it was you."

Sasuke frowned. Who the hell…?

Something vaguely human-shaped leapt from the alcove and landed in a crouched position a few yards in front of him. It straightened, and Sasuke restrained himself from taking a step backwards as his sharingan eyes took in the sight.

It was a creature probably not much older than himself, with reddish fox-like ears poking out of his blond hair and a long, scruffy tail. In other words… a furry. And half naked, too; sculpted chest – He's probably almost as strong as I am with those muscles, Sasuke noted – slick and shiny with sweat. His faded jeans had large holes in the knees and small rips elsewhere, suggesting that he either had no other pants to wear or simply didn't care.

Fucking lovely. First Kakashi sends me on a trip through half the fucking city, and now I've got this… thing to deal with.

"Who the hell are you?" he spat, not bothering to be polite. The guy was a furry; it wasn't like it mattered.

The furry cocked an eyebrow. "Come on, Sasuke, you can't tell me you don't remember me." When Sasuke said nothing, he sighed and folded his arms. "Fine, be that way. Uzumaki Naruto. Nice to meet you, you jerk."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. That got his attention. This wasn't – couldn't be – Naruto. But where would the furry have heard that name? "You are not Uzumaki Naruto."

The furry scowled. "I sure as hell am! Jeez, Sasuke, first you don't remember me, now you pull this stunt? What the hell crawled up your ass in the last six years?"

Sasuke reached into his back pocket, curling his fingers around the throwing knife he kept there. This… thing knew way too much. Where on earth had he gotten all this information? And what did he hope to gain, impersonating Naruto?

"You," he repeated, "are not Uzumaki Naruto. The Naruto I knew had blue eyes, not red, and he sure as hell was not a goddamn furry."

The furry froze, entire demeanor changing instantly to something indescribable. Invisible shutters seemed to close behind his eyes, and his shoulders tensed almost imperceptibly. "So," he began, voice flat. "Kakashi never told you."

"Cut the crap," Sasuke growled, gripping his knife tightly, preparing the throw the blade with the deadly accuracy he had developed over the years. But as he stepped forward to initiate the throw, his body suddenly went slack, muscles shutting down. His knees gave out, and he cursed inwardly, vision beginning to dim as the ground rushed up to meet him. He'd let the sharingan sap the last of his energy without him noticing. Again.

And worse, he'd left himself completely vulnerable to that goddamned furry.

I hate you, Itachi.