Beyond the Worlds

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Naruto no matter how much I want to. Any OC's that appear are mine, mine… all mine MWUHAHAHA!

Yami JK-chan: *blinks and is resurrected* I have returned *laughs evilly and pulls out Flame Thrower of Doom.

Chibi Naruto: *whacks Yami JK-chan over the head with his Sledgehammer of Doom and laughs*

Yami JK-chan: X.X

Me: alright I have returned with a new story. I was inspired after reading so many interesting and wonderful stories and had to just write one. I am in college and working full time so updating may take a while but I shall update *gives my own victory pose*

Itachi: read and then hit the little button at the bottom and review. *walks off*

CHAPTER ONE:

Rain fell to the ground, soaking it thoroughly in minutes. A single person stood in the middle of the muddy field, panting as he stood over another there. Blood dripped down the wet locks of hair to fall to the face that was below the one on the ground. Tears slid silently down his cheeks as well, how it could have ended like this no one could say. Lightening ripped across the sky as thunder shook the ground moments afterwards. The young man shivered as he bent down and brushed his hand over the forehead of the pale young man there, another drop of blood hit the sallow colored skin and slid down the cheek like a cursed tear. Normally tanned but now pale fingers brushed the raven locks back as he took in the young man silently. Tears continued to slide down the first young man's cheeks gently; another stepped into the muddied clearing and stepped over the ground with barely a sound.

A hand moved to lie upon the young man's shoulder as if wanting to draw him away, yet not doing so. The young man looked up to see who was there, deep blue orbs holding pain and sadness yet they also seemed relieved. The new comer smiled sadly before moving to draw the first into his arms and holding him close, the cowl over his face telling of whose family he was. His brilliant green eyes were also sad at knowing just what his friend had done and why, yet he did not admonish him for what he did. He released the first young man and moved to kneel at the one on the ground's side a moment before moving through a series of hand seals and then breathing out and setting the body on fire that would burn despite the rain. He stood up and bowed his head a moment in silent prayer then turned to guide the young man away from the corpse.

"You did what you had to do" the one with the green eyes said softly, "It was what he wanted deep down past the insanity that had taken over his mind"

"I know" the blue-eyed male said softly, his voice heavy with pain and sorrow, "I did not want to kill him. But…but he gave me no choice" He then looked up into the green-eyed older male, "Was it truly the right decision though Haruko-kun?" he asked softly.

Haruko sighed gently, "I do not know, but it was what had to be done. You protected your heart as well as the village." He then laid a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it gently, "We have to return. Hokage-sama sent me to retrieve you when you left when you were told not to do so. The council is screaming to have you placed into the Bingo Book"

The other blinked and sighed, "If it isn't one thing then it's another" he said as he moved to gather up the items that were needed to prove the death of Uchiha Sasuke."

"Naruto-kun…do not doubt what you had to do" he said gently, "We are Shinobi and it is what is asked of us."

Haruko then moved and took off for the village, the rain not bothering him at all. The young man was a Hatake by blood adoption, his true self a wizard from the Outside worlds. He smiled gently to himself, remembering just how he ended up there in Konoha and a member of their shinobi forces. He sensed Naruto following him to his left, moving quickly over the ground. Haruko smirked then growled as he realized he only had a few more days left until he was sent back to the Outside worlds to attend that blasted school of magicks. If he did not attend then he could inadvertently cause the destruction of not only his village and home, but also himself if he did not learn to control the magicks. This was his last year, the last year of them trying to force him to defeat their bloody evil wizard and dark lord. He glanced over at Naruto and nearly laughed as he remembered what was to happen this year. Naruto was going to be going on his first mission to protect him as an ANBU.

Granted they were both in ANBU, the former British wizard and now Hatake having been in ANBU for a few years now and a captain status wise. But with him being the one that had to forgo the normal means and be a civilian for as long as it took to be in the school he was unable to be as such. So Naruto was going in his stead as the fourth member of the team going to Hogwarts with Haruko this year, it was request for service from Dumbledore and they were paying quite a lot of money too. Haruko knew that nothing would probably happen, but this was a great time to get Naruto away from the Elemental countries and Akatsuki that was hunting for him as well as the other bijuu contained within the various jinchuurikis. The green-eyed young man paused a moment, sensing something but not certain what just yet. He signaled for Naruto to stop, the blond looking at him with a questioning look.

"What's wrong Haruko-kun?" he asked suddenly as he stepped towards him, his grief hidden away as he fell into a ready stance for trouble.

"I am not sure" he said, pulling down the cowl a slight bit to let his nose inhale the scents, frowning, "It's raining too hard for me to get a good catch of out of place scents" he said, "Be on your guard. We are nearly to Konoha, well within the ANBU patrol routes actually"

Naruto nodded his head, "hai…" he said then moved to the trees and began leaping over them, travelling this way instead of over the ground.

It was a bit more dangerous with the rain due to the slickness that would accumulate on the branches from moss and other foliage, but this was far quicker than moving over the ground and easier to maneuver as well. Haruko moved to follow suit, not liking what was setting his senses on edge at the moment. He realized at that moment that the one that has been keeping the missing Uchiha was not there at the scene of the fight. Orochimaru would have been livid by now and would have most likely wanted revenge on the one that took his latest body from him and setting him back another few months if not years. Yet there was no one coming after them…at least not yet and that was what was worrying him. Haruko moved quickly, wanting to be within the gates of Konoha as soon as possible, feeling entirely too exposed out there at the moment.

Haruko flipped backwards to land on another branch just in time to see three kunai bury them into the branch where he had been. He smirked as he turned, sensing the one following him now and hoping Naruto just kept moving. Hands moved to the kunai pouch on his right thigh, pulling out a single kunai and holding it in his hand as he turned to face the one he sensed. The male stepped out of the shadow of the tree limb, the black cloak with red clouds upon the lithe body. The hat was keeping the worse of the rain out of the owner's eyes; those very eyes alight with an active sharingan.

"Uchiha Itachi…" Haruko said with a smirk, "I am surprised to see you without your partner Kisame"

"Hatake Haruko, no snakes or wolves to follow you, I am surprised. You managed to avoid my kunai, but I would expect nothing less from a Hatake and ANBU captain" came the monotone voice of the now last Uchiha.

"You do realize that you are too late if you wanted to save your brother right?" he asked as he shifted weight onto his left leg that was back a bit, "Naruto killed him about an hour ago"

"I am aware of what Naruto-kun has accomplished" he said, "I am saddened that it came to Naruto-kun having to end his existence, but he was too far gone"

Haruko nodded his head as he frowned a bit behind his cowl; "If you are not here for Sasuke then you are here for Naruto?" he narrowed his eyes upon the other.

Itachi stepped towards the other, "No…that is not why I have come" he said, stopping mere feet from Haruko, "I have come for you actually…my Haruko"

Haruko smiled a bit behind the cowl as he slipped the kunai back into the leg pouch, "you know trying to impale me is not the right way to get my attention" he said lightly.

Itachi smirked at this, "it accomplished what I was aiming for though" he stepped closer and pulled the other shorter male into his arms, "I have missed you. I wanted to see you briefly before you left for the Other worlds again"

Haruko melted into the embrace, laying his head onto the chest and hearing the strong heartbeat under his ear, "I hate that you are on this stupid mission" he said with a frown, "It destroys you and me a bit each day. I know I am your main contact now that Jiraiya-sama has passed on, but…" he was stopped from saying more when Itachi moved the cowl down and took his lips with his own in a passionate kiss.

Itachi released the kiss and smiled gently, a rare thing he left for Haruko only, "It is what I must do to protect Naruto-kun" he said, "If I was not on this mission he would have been captured long ago" the Uchiha male said, "You are taking him with this year correct?"

"I am, only because he is on the team being sent to protect Hogwarts" he sighed at this, "I wish I didn't have to go, but this is the last year and once I am done I will have the control I need to never return there"

"It is good he is going. He will not be easily hunted, but something has happened" he said now serious, "Orochimaru has vanished off grid"

Haruko swore at hearing this, "I knew something was wrong the instant he did not come or at least send his flunky Kabuto to interfere in Sasuke and Naruto's fight" he said with a frown, "do you have an idea where he may have gone?"

"I do not, I wish I had more news for you but for now he is gone without a trace left. And it is not just him, but all of Otogakure has vanished" Itachi told him.

"Alright, I will pass this on to Tsunade-sama" he told Itachi then moved to kiss him again, "send me letters this year if you can" he said stepping back and pulling his cowl back over his mouth and nose, "I will let you know what is happening when I can as well. I will see you in a few months…and you have the emergency port key still correct?"

Itachi nodded his head a moment, "I do. Be safe Haruko and return to me" The akatsuki member and spy then vanished into the night.

Haruko sighed and wondered again how his life had become as complicated as it was now. He shrugged then began running again over the slick branches, working to catch up to Naruto who was probably worried and wondering just where the heck he had gotten off to. He smirked as he saw the blond there waiting just outside the gates on a wide branch. He landed next to him and smiled to reassure him.

"Gomen Naruto" he said, "I was checking something, turned out to be nothing more than a few animals hunkering down due to the rain"

He could of used one of his brother's excuses but decided against it, especially when Naruto gave him a skeptical look just then, "I doubt that, but at least you didn't use any of Kakashi-sensei's lame excuses this time" the blond said, "we need…we need to see Tsunade-baa-chan" he whispered.

"The sooner the better" Haruko agreed and hopped down, moving towards the gate with Naruto at his side.

This was going to be a long night he could tell. Tsunade was already livid and once the council found out about the death of Uchiha Sasuke all hell was about to break loose. Haruko just hoped the fall out would not land too heavily upon Naruto's shoulders, especially from Ino or Sakura once they learned of the Uchiha's untimely death. That and the information he was about to give Tsunade just might make him a target for her anger and her inhuman strength. He rubbed the side of his head in remembrance of the last time he delivered a bad report. The age old adagio of "don't kill the messenger" apparently did not apply to her and her mentality. So he had learned to duck and cover quickly to avoid the worse of it. Naruto led the way into the tower, Haruko having just now noticed they were there, having fallen into memories the entire walk there.

Naruto moved into the office first, the green-eyed ANBU captain following after. He bowed to the leader of the village before standing at attention, the blond not doing so but that was normal for him. Tsunade sat there, her visage still that of a woman in her late 20s to early 30s. She had her fingers steepled before her face, waiting on them to speak…well waiting on Naruto to speak.

"You had better have one hell of a good excuse for your insubordination Naruto" she said calmly, and with her calm was not good.

Naruto swallowed before speaking, "it is done Tsunade-baa-chan" he said, and yup there was the twitch of her eye.

Naruto stepped forward and set the scroll down and then stepped back. Tsunade opened the scroll and unsealed the items inside. Soon laying upon the desk was Kusanagi, Sasuke's blade, his hitai-ate, and eyes. Naruto had actually thought ahead to save them and that was amazing in Haruko's eyes. Tsunade looked down at the items and then nodded a moment, sealing them back into the scroll after doing something to the eyes to ensure they would not degrade during their sealing. The scroll fell into the bottom drawer before she refocused back onto Naruto and Haruko.

"It will be noted that Uchiha Sasuke has been killed" she said simply, "What you did was a service to the village, but I strictly forbid you to leave and do this on your own" she said with a growl, "I should strip you of your genin status and send you back to the academy as punishment, but… I won't. Go home Naruto. You are off mission until you leave with Haruko and his team" she said.

Naruto didn't argue or anything like he normally would. He bowed a bit and left grief heavy in the air as he left. Haruko knew that he would have to be watched carefully in the next few weeks, even on the mission. He had half a mind to request him being dropped from the mission but knew this was as much to protect him as it was to give him a mission as an ANBU operative. He then turned to face Tsunade to tell her his own news.

"I have information given to me by Raven" he said using Itachi's operative name.

Tsunade held up a finger then moved to activate the privacy seals that were installed around the room, actually done by Naruto a year prior, "you may speak freely now" she said.

Haruko nodded his head, "Itachi managed to find me as we were returning to Konoha. He informed me that Naruto leaving was the best decision for the moment." He began, "But there is more information though. He informed me that Orochimaru has gone off-grid" he said.

"What do you mean "off-grid" exactly?" she asked him as she watched him closely.

"No one knows where he or his entire base of operations or Otogakure has gone to" Haruko said, "Itachi said that he will continue looking for information, but for now Orochimaru is missing"

Tsunade moved to her feet and paced to the windows that sat behind her desk looking out over the village, "This does not bode well for any of the villages that are against Otogakure and Akatsuki" she said, "I will pass this along to others. And if Itachi contacts you again with any further information inform me. Even if you are at school when it happens" the blond leader turned and pinned him with a look, "now go and make sure that blond gaki does not do anything stupid in his grief"

Hakuko bowed and nodded, "hai hokage-sama' he then smirked and vanished out the window just like a Hatake Haruko laughed as he heard a shout referring to Hatakes and their need to shun doors.

Haruko normally did so, after all doors were evil creatures out to end the existence of those that would normally use them. He swore it lowered brain IQ whenever it was used, but he then shrugged as he landed on the ground just outside of Ichiraku Ramen thinking that was the best place to start looking for Naruto. Sure enough the blond was in there but what worried him was that there were only two bowls instead of twelve before him. He stepped into the stall and nodded to Teuchi and the older man moved to make him a miso and veggie ramen. He sat down next to Naruto and thanked Ayame as she set a glass of water before him.

"Naruto, I know it hurts" he said gently, "but the grief is part of what keeps you strong. Do not let it consume you though"

Naruto started and looked up at Haruko, "I…I am trying" he whispered sounding broken, "but it is just too hard not to let it take over."

Haruko smirked a bit, "Well do something with it… take up a hobby or something." He said as he moved to then start on his own ramen, "besides he would not want you like this. He would want you to carry through and make those that took him this route be brought to justice"

"I am not so certain about that, but I guess I can find something to do. Maybe you can teach me a new jutsu?" he asked looking far too chipper at that moment and it was scary to see him that eager this late at night.

"Erm…perhaps" he said slowly, "but not right now. You are going to spend time with your friends, after all we leave in less than a week."

Naruto blinked then perked, "Oh yeah the mission!" he said excitedly, "I can't wait to show off what I know!"

Haruko paled a bit, "Naruto… you have to be low key not way out there" he said holding back the groan that was escaping him, "and remember to listen to your taicho because I won't be in charge this time"

Naruto pouted "Hai hai… I know already" he said then downed the two bowls in a heartbeat. The blond then paid for his ramen, "I should get home I guess to dry off" he then vanished from the booth.

Haruko sighed gently at this finishing his own ramen and then laying the ryo down for it, "Thanks Teuchi-san, Ayame-san" he said then left, heading for his and his brother's home.

Haruko knew that his nii-san was on a mission until tomorrow, so perhaps he could get a few hours of uninterrupted sleep in. He glared at the sky and the seemingly unending rain that was falling down on his head. He sighed as he pulled out his key and unlocked the door and stepping inside. He slipped his shoes off and noticed that even the extra set was not there for a change meaning that Iruka was staying at his own apartment for the night. That was a relief to the young man as he headed for his room and slipped into the bathroom and the shower. After the hot shower he slipped into boxers and fell onto his bed, passing out near instantly.