Naruto: Reincarnated
Chapter one
"Naruto Uzumaki went missing on his last mission." The Hokage of Konoha told the three ninja standing before her. "He was expected in Suna a week ago, but never arrived. Gaara just informed me."
"Then where is he?" Sakura asked, her green eyes filled with worry. It wasn't like Naruto to miss out on a chance to visit with Gaara. The two Jinchuuriki's had been close ever since that mission to rescue Gaara from the Akatsuki.
"I don't know" Tsunade replied. "I strongly suspect that someone laid out a trap for him and he walked right into it."
"That idiot." Sasuke Uchiha the moodier member of team 7 grumbled. "He probably didn't think anything of it." Sasuke couldn't help but wonder what kind of trap had been laid to lure his idiotic but kind hearted best friend in. What kind of mission would Naruto have taken without his other team members. While they were all more than capable of taking on solo missions, the majority of the time they preferred taking team missions. Of course though since Sasuke and Sakura had gotten married Naruto had been trying to give the two of them time to adjust to being a married couple. Both Sasuke and Sakura knew that Naruto was feeling a little left out, which could be one of the reasons why Naruto had taken a solo mission to Suna to begin with. Was it possible that Naruto would still be with them if they had been more welcoming?
"What do you need us to do?" Sakura asked though she was ready to leave the village that very minute if it meant that Naruto would be coming home safe and sound.
"I want your team to go out and find out what happened to him." The blonde haired woman stated linking her hands together in front of her face. "and if possible I want you to bring him home and Sasuke I will have Shizune stay with Itachi while you are gone. I know you worry about his health." Sasuke nodded Itachi's health had gotten so bad that he had retired from from being a ninja. Lately Itachi didn't have the energy to get out of bed, Sasuke worried that Itachi wouldn't last until a cure was found, which is one of the reasons he only took missions that were close to the village if he took them at all. However since this mission was for Naruto Sasuke would go. He had silently worried about Naruto ever since his wedding to Sakura. Sakura couldn't remember the last time Naruto had actually gone on a date. He remembered that Naruto and Hinata had dated for a few months but the shy Hyuuga had called it quits, having finally admitted that she had feelings for her own teammate Kiba. It hadn't been fair to Naruto for Hinata to keep dating Naruto when she didn't have feelings for him. Sasuke had felt sorry for Naruto when he had heard about the break up, but when he spoke to Naruto about it, his friend didn't seem that upset about it. It was then that Sasuke remembered that Naruto had spent much of the reception avoiding Hinata and Kiba, instead choosing to spend the time talking quietly with Itachi, whom no one else seemed to want to talk to because Itachi was completely blind and now wheelchair bound and no one knew what to say to him. After the wedding though, Sasuke realized that Naruto had been coming over to the Uchiha compound and just hanging out with Itachi. Sasuke realized that Naruto and Itachi had been getting closer for the last few months. While Sasuke had originally thought that Naruto had been coming over to sit with Itachi so that Sasuke could help Sakura finish moving her things into the Uchiha compound, Sasuke wondered if there was something more going on between Naruto and his older brother aside from the budding friendship between the two shinobi.
"Earth to Sasuke" Tsunade's irritated voice broke through Sasuke's thoughts making Sasuke aware that she had probably called his name more than once. Sasuke noticed also the sting to his ribs where Sakura had shoved an elbow into his ribs.
"Sorry," Sasuke said as his cheeks turned red. "I just thought of something, but it doesn't have anything to do with what's going on."
"Like I was saying, Shizune is more than capable of caring for Itachi while you are gone. If Itachi should get worse while you are away, I will send a messenger bird." Tsunade said, she didn't want to send Sasuke away with his brother being so ill but she knew that Sasuke would always want to be on the team to search for his missing best friend. Tsunade only hoped that the members of Team 7 would be able to bring back some good news. Konoha needed its ray of sunshine back.
"Where did he go missing?" Sakura asked a look of concern on her face as she glanced at her husband.
"Somewhere between here and Suna." Tsunade replied. "I would be prepared for battle just in case. I'm not sure what you will come across."
The meeting ended a few minutes later and the three ninja exited the office, Kakashi going in the opposite direction of his former students after agreeing to meet at the village gates in a couple of hours.
"What was going on with you in there?" Sakura asked. "it's not like you to space out like that, especially during a mission briefing."
"I was just thinking of how much time that Naruto has been spending with Itachi lately." Sasuke said "and it's made me start to wonder about it."
"There's nothing strange about that." Sakura said "Naruto is a friendly person. I'm sure it's good for Itachi to have some company."
"Did you know that Itachi is gay?" Sasuke asked. "not many people want to visit with him because of that."
"What are you saying?" Sakura asked. "that Naruto has some kind of relationship with him?"
"I don't know about that" Sasuke said. "But it makes me wonder if Naruto is gay. It would explain why he wasn't really bothered with Hinata's breaking up with him."
"If that's true why would Naruto have kept that a secret from us for so long?" Sakura asked as they started walking towards the Uchiha compound.
"I guess for the same reason he didn't tell us about nine tails." Sasuke replied. "he was probably afraid, unsure of what either of us would think." Sasuke said as he grabbed Sakura's hand in his own.
"Let's say he is gay and in a relationship with your brother. Why would Naruto leave on a solo mission when he knows that Itachi could die at any time. If Naruto has feelings for him, he would stay with Itachi." Sakura said frowning as she thought of her missing friend.
"Unless Itachi wouldn't accept Naruto because Itachi's dying and doesn't want Naruto to grieve." Sasuke pointed out. "and that's assuming that Naruto is gay to begin with."
"I can't see that being the case." Sakura said frowning. "I can't see Naruto keeping us in the dark for so long."
"Naruto kept plenty of secrets from us." Sasuke said as they reached the compound.
"Just like we've kept plenty of our own from him." Sakura said as she placed her hand on her stomach. This was a subject she hadn't known how to approach with her blonde haired friend, she knew he would be happy for her and Sasuke but still she knew that Naruto eventually wanted a family of his own. To be honest Sakura hadn't expected to get pregnant so quickly especially since Sasuke and her and hadn't been married that long.
"We didn't plan on keeping this from him." Sasuke pointed out. "The time just hasn't been right and he took that mission rather suddenly." Sakura frowned at the reminder that their mission would be searching for Naruto and hopefully bringing him home.
"Do you really think we need to prepare for battle." Sakura asked worried, she probably should have informed Tsunade of her pregnancy, but she had been more concerned with Naruto's current status.
"Who knows what kind of mess Naruto has gotten himself into." Sasuke said. "If there is someone out there strong enough to take him out, then yes, I think preparing for battle would be a good idea." Sakura nodded.
"We're going to find him right?" Sakura asked.
"Of course we are." Sasuke said "and then you can punch him into next week for making us worry so much." Sakura gave him a small smile that didn't quite reach her hated that she was so worried, Naruto was a strong fighter so Sasuke found it hard to believe that Naruto could just so easily disappear without a trace. Sasuke wondered if Itachi had said or done something to upset the blonde haired boy. Why else would Naruto take a solo mission without telling anyone. Sasuke supposed there was only one way to find out, he was going to have to ask Itachi about it.
Sighing, Sasuke headed down the hall to where his brother's room was. Sasuke entered the room without knocking first, finding his brother lying motionless on the bed.
"Naruto?" Itachi's weak voice filled Sasuke's ears causing the younger Uchiha to grimace.
"It's me." Sasuke said approaching the bed. "Naruto is on a mission."
"Oh," Itachi sounded both confused and hurt and that made Sasuke more curious. He knew Naruto had been spending a lot of time with Itachi, and Sasuke had thought the two were only friend's but could there have been more?
"You want to tell me what's going on?" Sasuke asked sitting down on the edge of Itachi's bed. Itachi heaved a sigh and released it slowly, clearly trying to decide what to tell his brother.
"Naruto told me he was in love with me." Itachi said after a moment of silence.
"So?" Sasuke asked. "Do you not care for him?"
"It's not that I don't have feelings for him." Itachi said "but it's the fact that I'm dying and I don't want to hurt him."
"So what happened when he confessed?" Sasuke asked.
"I told him that I didn't feel the same that I couldn't feel the same for him." Itachi said, his heart aching in his chest knowing how much that had probably hurt the other boy.
"I think telling him that probably hurt him more than anything." Sasuke said. "Your death is going to hurt him anyways, there's no way of avoiding that."
"I don't want to hurt him at all." Itachi said "But I am dying. I don't want him to mourn for me, even if I have to make him hate me."
"You deserve to be happy." Sasuke said. "Even if you are dying, which by the way I am sure Tsunade and Shizune will work something out."
"I doubt that." Itachi said "and I'm okay with that. What's left for a blind ninja to do? I don't want to be burden for you and Sakura especially with a little one on the way."
"You are not a burden." Sasuke pointed out. "You took care of me when I was little, now it's time that I take care of you." Itachi turned his head in the direction that he heard Sasuke's voice. Sasuke wished he could fine a cure for his older brother, it seemed kind of cruel for one that had been so loyal to his village to come to an end like this. And for that same ninja to believe that he didn't deserve love and happiness in his final days was sad. Sasuke didn't understand why Itachi wouldn't want to be happy before he left this life. It wasn't fair to either him or Naruto, speaking of Sasuke wondered whether or not he should tell his older brother about Naruto's current missing status. Under normal circumstances Itachi would want to know, but with his current condition Sasuke feared that it would only make Itachi's condition deteriorate that much quicker, and Sasuke didn't want that to happen. He was worried about leaving Itachi for long.
"You're worried." Itachi said after a moment's silence. "What's going on."
"I'm getting ready to leave on a mission." Sasuke said "and I'm not sure how long I'll be gone. Sakura is going with me." Sasuke deliberately left out the information that was a search for Naruto. Could it be that he and Sakura were worrying for nothing? Perhaps Naruto had felt the need to leave Konoha due to the fact that Itachi had rejected him and he needed a break away from both Konoha and Itachi. Why wouldn't Naruto have at least let Sakura know that he needed to get away. Sasuke could understand why Naruto hadn't come to him since Itachi was his brother after all.
"I assume that since you've already had your mission briefing, that Lady Hokage has made arrangements for while you are gone." Itachi said.
"Shizune is going to stay here with you while I am gone." Sasuke said "if that's okay with you."
"As long as she doesn't constantly run tests." Itachi said sounding weary.
"They only want to find a cure." Sasuke pointed out. "if they can find a cure maybe you and Naruto can finally be happy."
"Even if that happens. Naruto and I getting together wouldn't be a good idea." Itachi said, a hint of sadness in his voice.
"Why would it be a bad idea?" Sasuke asked wondering what was running through his brother's head.
"Because even if they can find a cure for me. I'm still blind." Itachi replied. "I don't want Naruto to feel like he has to care for me. I don't want to become just a responsibility for anyone. Besides how could someone like Naruto possibly feel anything for me after everything I've done. I was always destined to die young, if it wasn't this illness it probably would have been Anbu." Sasuke shook his head, for a supposed genius his brother was a total idiot when it came to matters of the heart. Why would he not want to be happy in however long he had left.
"There's nothing wrong with you." Sasuke said "your loyal to Konoha and you served for as long as you could. That's something to be proud of. And as far is being a bad person for the things you've done. You haven't done anything the rest of us ninja haven't. you are still as deserving of love as anyone else is."
"That may be." Itachi said "but still Naruto deserves someone that is fully capable of returning his feelings." Sasuke shook his head, he didn't think he would ever understand his brother.
"Would you let me know when Naruto gets home?" Itachi asked. "I guess I should try to explain things to him so maybe he could understand why I had to reject him."
"I'll let him know." Sasuke replied hoping that he would be able to tell Naruto to go see Itachi. "I guess I should get going. I'm sure Sakura has finished getting our things together."
"Be safe little brother." Itachi said "come home safe."
"You don't go anywhere until after I get back." Sasuke replied knowing that Itachi didn't exactly have a choice in the matter.
"I'll do my best." Itachi said giving Sasuke a weak smile. He was growing more tired by the moment. Sasuke hated seeing his older brother reduced to this weak, barely alive being. He really hoped that Tsunade would find someway to save Itachi before it was too late. Sasuke couldn't imagine life without his brother.
"I'll see you when I get back." Sasuke told his already sleeping brother. It hurt Sasuke's heart knowing that his brother didn't have much time left.
As Sasuke stated out the bedroom door, he turned and looked back at Itachi. Sasuke would do anything for Itachi but he couldn't fix the illness that was slowly draining Itachi of his life and it left Sasuke feeling more helpless than ever.
Sighing, Sasuke turned and exited the room to find Sakura waiting for him in the hallway.
"How is he?" Sakura asked knowing how hard the situation was on Sasuke.
"Not well." Sasuke said swallowing hard. "And I think Naruto took that mission because of Itachi." Sasuke told his wife. "Itachi told me that Naruto confessed to being in love with him and Itachi rejected him." Sakura frowned, no wonder Naruto wanted to get away from everyone. He hadn't wanted everyone to know that he had been rejected by Sasuke's older brother. Sakura figured that Naruto would be embarrassed over the rejection. She hoped that they would be able to convince Naruto to come home and maybe convince Naruto to talk with Itachi, hopefully before it was too late for Itachi.