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Disclaimer: Me? Own Naruto? That's about as plausible as Goths turning into sparkly cheerleaders without some sort of brain control!

Chapter 2

"Sakura-chan! Wear this!" Said an excited blonde, as he twirled around with a suspiciously girlish looking outfit, scratch that, it was a girls outfit. She eyed the pink frilly object with distaste and promptly smacked the Uzumaki heir upside the head; some may say she was endangering him. The way she saw it was she was protecting himself from his own stupidity. "Don't be stupid, I'm wearing a suit." She told him promptly kicking him out of the bathroom turning to the plain black and white suit she had been given to wear, no surprise that it was a designer suit, with and orange tie to demount that she was n service of the prominent clan. Naruto was to wear something similar, only his tie would be blue to accent his eyes.

She changed quickly and efficiently, knowing very well that she would have to assist her wayward ward with his tie, if she remembered correctly the last time he had been left to do his own dressing, he had somehow managed to tie both his hands along with his neck together with a knot so complicated she had to take scissors to the incredibly expensive Gucci tie…needless to say the maids had gotten very upset about it. Looking at herself in the mirror, she appraised her appearance, her nose crinkled slightly, orange was most definitely not her color, sighing she accepted the fact that her colors would clash, not that she should complain, smoothing back her hair she stepped out, to see Naruto picking up his tie a determined look on his face. She snatched it from him, to prevent another incident that had him swearing all the way to the party. With a pout, the blonde turned away, he was going to make things difficult, "I'm not wearing it." He told her promptly, it was a nasty habit of his, whenever she didn't let him do something he tended to shun it, a habit she would have to fix soon.

She glanced at the clock, in thirteen minutes the party would start, while the drive there took around thirty minutes, while it was ok to be fashionably late, it wouldn't do if they arrived later than the guest of honor. While any other house wouldn't have cared, the Uchiha clan was extremely strict in manners, and such, knowing it would be useless to argue about the tie, she went to the dresser, and took out the necklace that had been passed down from one leader to another; this particular gift was from Tsunade, his previous guard, to her ward. "Then why not impress the crowd with this? Everyone knows that the one given this was a student and honored by Tsunade. It would make a statement and you would be within the formal dress code." Blue eyes thought about it, analyzing, he grinned, "I bet that teme, Sasuke would be jealous." She smiled, not knowing where the initial dislike toward the Uchiha began, but she didn't have time to question it. "Whatever you think right Naruto-sama."

Clipping the necklace around his neck, and adjusting his collar had them off toward the gates of the school, where possibly every student in the school, were dressed up to go to the Uchiha party. It was a celebration of the Clans first born after all, although the magnitude of it still scared her. She had seen the heir looking at her. Needless to say she was uncomfortable under his gaze, although she had failed to show much of a reaction, his eyes seemed to peel away the layers that were her, and she found him dangerous. She would make it her personal mission to avoid him, as best as she could while protecting Naruto. Then again, she had a feeling that she would be seeing him more often. It seemed that Naruto for whatever reasons had plans to make friends with the Uchiha boy. They Uchiha boy seemed to like Naruto in his own sort of twisted way as well, which meant that she would have to do a lot of tagging around. Stepping into the car after Naruto, impatient fingers ran through pink hair trying to sift through the conundrum she was giving herself.

Had she only been a boy this would never be a problem, but the fact was that she wasn't one, and she had to keep that fact hidden if she wanted to continue living under the Uzumaki rule. At sixteen there wasn't much she could do for herself, she lived on them for support, and while Naruto didn't hold that against her, she knew that the people that had placed her there could just as easily remove her and throw her into the streets and prevent Naruto from finding her. She knew how the darker side of society worked; she had protected Naruto from seeing too much of it, knowing that he would be easily taken advantage. She looked out the window her legs crossed, her chin propped on her hand.

Uchiha, Itachi, she hadn't even met him properly and already he was a problem, his eyes that saw too much, the mind that analyzed too quickly proved a problem for her. For now though, she could only take what he threw at her, she knew that glint in his eyes when he laid eyes on her when Sasuke had left the dojo, much like an insolent kitten eyeing a new ball of yarn. She had a feeling that it would only be a matter of time before the older Uchiha found out, if he didn't already know, hopefully he would keep the subject under wraps, frustrated with herself, she felt her tension rise with each passing moment. She hadn't even gotten to the party, and already she was at her breaking point.

~(Itachi)~

Itachi found himself swamped by dance partners although he had no inclination to dance at all, especially with all of these stupid twittering wastes of time, most people referred to as their daughter or sibling. Frankly Itachi wasn't pleased with the party, but he did put on a happy front on for his mother, she did enjoy showing people the Uchiha prestige and he was only part of that, she like him saw no real significance in age twenty but, it did make a good chance to show the Uchiha and all of their greatness to both enemies and possible friends.

As usual Itachi loved how his mother thought, which is why he added more to her fantasy and to his utmost pleasure to make her his date to the party. She was of course thrilled, he could tell by the sly smile that crept over her face. Like a lot of women she enjoyed to be on the arm of a handsome man. While father wasn't ugly, Itachi did take precedence in the looks department, so not only did Itachi snatch his mother away but in the process made his father mad, yet again, the most enjoyable game. "Itachi, dance with me." His mother said with a smile, like always she was dressed in her best. She wore a pure white flowing dress that contrasted with her midnight hair which was clipped into a complicated design a red flower seated atop it. For her ears and neck hung decorative silver and ruby jewelry that Itachi had gotten for her for her birthday last year. Obediently he held out his hand and she took it her long white gloves barely blending in with her pale skin.

His smile conveyed his appreciation for saving him from the crowd of annoying women. On cue he swirled her across the dance floor, along with the music, maneuvering through the crowd, like a professional, and his mother in step right with him. It was another way of showing their Uchiha superiority, even among the Uchiha. She smiled, and nodded toward the crowd of staring wall flowers, "Why don't you just dance with them? You know I want grand children." Bringing her into a modest dip then continuing their waltz he replied, "You are very well aware that none of them are worth my time, plus I don't think you want one of them as your daughter-in-law." Black eyes met his own, the edge of her mouth curled up as she mirrored his smirk, "Just making sure I raised you to have taste in good women." She giggled; a cold smile appeared on her face as she glanced at the twittering monstrosities, "I'm happy to know that I raised you to avoid those sorts of women. A shame we have so many of them in our clan, like hell I'm going to give you away to some twittering idiot only out for power."

As the song ended, her white gloved hand patted his cheek, "That was wonderful, if only your father could dance half as well, speaking of which I should get back to him, you know how childish he can be at times." Itachi smiled kindly down a his mother, the woman who had been his roof against clan manipulations, gently he kissed her hand and let her go off in the direction of Fugaku Uchiha who sipped rather bitterly at his wine. Itachi smirked superiorly at his father, who silently fumed even as his mother went to calm him. One again he was flooded with women, bypassing them all he took up a glass of wine, and went in search of some intelligent conversation or something to entertain him for the rest of the evening.

Maybe the Nara household heir could provide him with some they never did get finished with their debate on politics of the first few Hokages of the village. He scanned the crowd for a bored looking person, only to let his eyes to catch on a pink head of hair, the girl from before, leaning against the wall, her eyes trained on the Uzumaki heir, her eyes wandering the perimeter every couple of moments. It confirmed his suspicions of her being a bodyguard of some sort. Interesting, still was that she wore a suit something much different from what he had imagined her to wear. Having found said something to entertain him he glided across the floor making a beeline for the pink headed epitome of interest. Within twenty steps of her, her eyes locked onto him, immediately her body line went from slightly relaxed to slightly tense and defensive.

Five steps from her and she was standing straight, as if ready for battle, three steps away and se introduced herself, "Hello, I am Haruno, Souji it is my utmost pleasure to wish you a happy birthday, Uchiha-sama." Souji? The name threw him for a moment, but it didn't take him long to give a response, "Pleased to meet you as well, Haruno, I thank you for this afternoon, I don't think I've seen anyone effectively tell y brother what to do. I'm pleased to see that Sasuke will be exposed to a positive influence." Souji, Itachi couldn't remember a woman ever being name Souji, it was clearly a man's name, not only that but hadn't the Uzumaki heir called her by Sakura? Once again he did a sweep of her person, short clipped hair, males clothing, name. She was under the pretense of a male, and the orange tie around her neck said everything.

She was an Uzumaki dog. It didn't however explain why Sasuke listened to her request, something he would get out of his brother later. Upon his perusal he noticed that her eyes never left his, in a blatant stare that read all. Like before she didn't look away from him, she didn't blush or giggle, she was a form of female he had never experienced before, and it interested him to no end. He wondered how he could draw her out of the defense she wisely threw up at him, something no woman had ever done. He wondered what buttons he could push to make her blush or giggle. He felt the need to posses, as she continued to stare fearlessly into his eyes.

"I'm glad to be of assistance to the prestigious Uchiha clan." she told him refusing to look away, it was a challenge, "Sakura-chan! There's cake over there, can I go get some?" Green eyes, kept staring, "Of course, whatever it is you wish Naruto-sama, but please keep in mind that people other than you like sweet confectionaries." They stared for just a moment more, "If you'll excuse me Uchiha-sama, I must follow my ward, I trust you understand." Confidently and unshaken she stepped away from his looming presence, he watched as the girl followed her master, she walked naturally and sowed no hint that she cared that she was being watched, when many girls wouldn't be able to stand after a session with him. Midnight eyes watched her, calculating, devising plans, Itachi wasn't completely sure what he wanted from her yet, but he had plenty of time to figure that out, he had all the time in the world.

~(Sakura)~

"Ha!" she shouted in the silent and darkened dojo, practicing her katas over and over again, aiming for the far off perfection, at all costs she had to be able to protect Naruto at any given moment. Those were her orders and she would abide to them, even if it meant her ultimate demise. Orders were what kept her alive, and it was what let her stay with Naruto, the only person who had really taken the time to treat her as a human.

(8 ½ years ago)

She huffed tired but still standing at her sensei threw punch over kick, and she did her best with her small arms to block and parry. Alas it was too much for the small pink child and eventually she succumbed to exhaustion, "Get up." Said the man who had taken her into training, trying to comply her body only slumped down into exhaustion, "I said, GET UP! Or shall we send you back to the streets?" Green eyes fluttered, breathing heavily the small child struggled to her feet, even without her pink hair sticking to her head she could barely see in front of her, they had been going at it for over two hours and her small body wasn't coping very well. Respectfully she stood straight looking forward struggling to stay awake.

The sensei circled her like a hawk, "Next time I tell you to stand you will stand. You shall follow all of the orders given to you, discard all of your sense of self, and will and put all of what would have been into what you are told; and you will succeed. Or do you wish to be pushed back into the streets? I will if you don't comply." It was around the fifteenth time her sensei had told her that, and she numbly took the information, "Yes, sensei." She told him as calmly as she could. "Now, tell me again; what are your orders?" Small shoulders squared, trying to hold her body together, "Protect Naruto-sama, at all costs. Do not associate with him closely, become his shadow, never leave his side, refer to him respectfully, hold his life before my own."

The sensei nodded in approval, "You may rest." Just as her orders stated the girl did rest, instantly Green eyes closed and the small limp body fell to the floor, dead and asleep, her small body rejecting the strain given, had caused her to develop a fever. The young mind, fell into a dark abyss of sleep never feeling the hands of her sensei pick her up and bring her to her room.

As she opened her eyes, the world span, her hearing kicked in and she could hear Naruto-sama calling her name, "Sakura chan, Sakura chan wake up." She wanted to tell him that her name was Souji, not Sakura that Sakura was a girl's name but her voice didn't come, she felt a cool object touch her head and sooth the fire she had hardly noticed was there. Green eyes adjusted onto blue he was holding her hand a concerned look on his face. Did that mean danger was near? Green eyes did a surveillance check before they settled back on the fidgeting boy. She realized that his look was directed toward her. She sat up, the world began to spin, "Naruto-sama! What are you doing here?" She tried to pull her hand out of his grip, trying not to associate with him too closely as the sensei said but he gripped harder, and to remove his hand she would have to hurt him.

"Don't call me that Sakura chan. I don't like it." She hesitated, afraid of the kindness and favor that he was trying to show her. "But-" blue eyes hardened making her stop, "Don't! Only people who aren't my friends call me that Sakura chan, and you're my friend right?" She felt cornered. Hurt him? And go against her orders? Or befriend him and go against her orders? Her over tired mind spun even more, and she didn't reply. She held her head, tears of confusion sprang forth the decision was too much for her to bear. "Sakura-chan? I'm sorry are you okay? I didn't mean to yell at you! Mommy always said that I should treat people how I want to be treated, I'm sorry! Don't cry!" Awkward arms wrapped around her small frame, small hands pat her back consolingly. Never experiencing this sensation the shocked seven-year old froze.

"Mommy, always did this when I cried, are you feeling better?" She didn't answer, she wasn't sure how she could, "Sh, it's okay." The young boy said patting her back and holding her closely. "It's okay Sakura-chan, we're friends." Shocked green eyes, still tired and feverish narrowed, tired, and tiredly she put her arms around him, realizing that her master was kind. Tiredly the young child succumbed to darkness once more, for once in her life with a smile on her face.

Lowering her arms finished with one of her more complicated katas, she stood clearing the sweat soaked locks from her face. Closing her eyes she let the cool air of the dojo caress her, what should she do with Itachi? She had known that standing up to the Uchiha heir would catch his attention, more alarming was hat she knew that he was capable of figuring out her secrets, after all it was is clan that had trained and handed her to the Uzumaki clan, not that she thought that he would do anything to harm the relationship between the two clans. She knew though that he could make her life uncomfortable. It was blatant from his stare.

She had heard stories of Itachi Uchiha, his genius, his terrifying ability to hypnotize, and his ability to reign in power with just a snap of his well manicured hands. She knew that she had just made a splash in his radar, and his eyes were on her, a terrifying thought. Should she call him out? Warn him away? Use his precious brother as an incentive to stay away? All seemed underhanded, living with Naruto had gave her a slight twinge in her heart, but years of living on the streets told her to grasp it and milk it for all it was worth, in the end, instincts won out.

Sasuke would be her way of negotiation, it wouldn't be hard, since she was considered a friend of Naruto, and Naruto had his heart set on the boy to be his friend they would be a trio. Picking up her bag she turned off the lights, her senses open to the campus around her, hurriedly she made her way to her dorm room, with every step she took she sensed something wrong as she walked into their silent building she felt the tension rise, and the wrongness sent shivers down her spine. Discarding her composure she bolted down the halls, she had left Naruto asleep on his bed dressed in his orange pants and green shirt, the doors and windows locked, and she hoped that he would be there the same way she had left him, sprawled on his bed snoring, dreaming with a stupid smile on his face.

Pulling out her key she went to unlock the door to find it slightly ajar, her stomach dropped. Pulling out the gun she kept in the false bottom of her bag, she stuck herself close to the wall, easing the door open she crept in silently like the phantom she had been trained to be. The ground was littered with Naruto's things there was clear sign of a struggle, she looked around the gun raised, her eyes fell on the neatly folded note on her bed. Sensing, and seeing no danger she approached it, to read its contents.

Dear Reader,

If you haven't noticed we have taken something of yours if you want it back, we wish for a ransom of 14 million dollars deliver the money at 6:00 tomorrow at the docks, warehouse 34.

P.S Dare to bring the police and we'll dispose of your precious treasure without a second thought.

Coolly, green eyes regarded the note. She wasn't stupid; she had been trained to deal with these situations. Gently she set the note down in its previous place, going to her dresser touching nothing else she pulled out a black jumpsuit and donned it, using the hidden pouches she armed herself, backtracking from her room; she pulled her leather gloves snuggly into place. She had less than twenty four hours to get things done and although she might come to regret her decision, Naruto's life took precedence over her any day. She walked down the hallway; it was time for her to make a little visit to the Uchiha's. If Itachi had really meant what he had said about their closer acquaintance he would assist her. She walked to the room of the younger Uchiha, to find interestingly enough the same situation as hers, if she recalled correctly, the younger Uchiha had been roomed with the Inuzuka heir, from the looks of it they had been sucked up by the same captors of her young lord.

Turning on heel she ran down the hall, though she had gotten here by limousine, she had been given a bike complete with GPS system and tracking device, if Naruto was still wearing that necklace, and she knew he was, he would appear on the map. Putting her headset on the way she dialed a number that she never thought she would have to use, the Uchiha main line. Getting on her bike and revving it up someone came and answered the phone, "Hello? This is Souji Haruno, of the Uzumaki estate, get me Uchiha Itachi on the line this is a code red emergency." In an instant she pinpointed Naruto, and shot off like a rocket down the road, following the moving blip that was her ward. "Hello?" came the smooth voice of the Uchiha heir, "Can you get a lock on my position? I don't have much time to explain but send a team of your forensic scientists to the Konoha dorms, three heirs have been kidnapped, two of which are Naruto, and your brother. I'm heading toward ware house 34 on the docks, I'm going to need you to prepare, several cases of faux cash for their ransoms, and someone to act as the deliverer while I set them free."

There was a pause; contemplation to whether her words were true or false, "This is Haruno Souji of the Uzumaki household, if that clears any of your doubts." Another pause, "Very well, Haruno, we'll send what you wish; I'll be there to receive you, and gear you up for any encounter." She turned left, at a breakneck pace toward the warehouse, "Not necessary Uchiha-sama, I'm all geared up as we speak, my only request is that you keep this incident from the news, the last thing we need is this to get splashed onto the front of the page, you can manage that right?" She didn't mean for it to come across as a challenge, but it did, she felt the hairs of her neck raise as the smooth, "Of course." Came across the phone, tapping the side of her earpiece twice she hung up, concentrating on the road, wiping the willies away. Now wasn't the time to assess his tone, she shot after Naruto, she had to, they were her long standing orders, and she was his friend.

New chapter! How lovely! XD I hope you guys like it, as a part of my return into fanfiction after a lllooonnnggg break, sigh..to many things to do so little time to imagine XD. Please review you know how that makes authors with no life happy!