To Protect

「護る へ」

by duenna


-Chapter 2-

Harry Potter was not in the best of moods at the moment. It was nearing 2am and he still couldn't find sleep. Actually, he woke up from a horrible nightmare he couldn't get rid of around midnight. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw him. Voldemort. You-Know-Who. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. The one person who killed his parents and tried to kill him numerous of times since his birth. But there was a slight difference in this dream then all the others he been having.

Harry frowned at his thoughts. It was as if Voldemort was pleased with something or someone and Harry wasn't quite sure if he wanted to know what it was. Well, not yet anyways. He sighed as he folded his hands behind his head and stared up at the plain white ceiling as if it could tell him the answers to all his questions.

After a few moments, he turned his head to the right to glance at the red numbers on his alarm clock. 2:30am, only thirty minutes have gone by and it seemed like only a few minutes. He sighed once again. It was odd. Very odd. He could always sleep again after a nightmare, but this one really unnerved him. Anything that made the dark wizard happy was trouble for Harry, because he was usually the one who Voldemort would target. His first instinct after waking from the dream was to write to Dumbledore and tell him what had happened.

Harry frowned at his thoughts again. But it was different now. Dumbledore had kept secrets form him; secrets that had gotten his godfather killed. He knew them now, but it didn't really change anything. Plus, he was still mourning his god father and he wasn't about to stop anytime soon. Maybe he should write to Hermione or Ron. He shook his head in answer to his own question. They would try to understand, but they never will. They still had their families. He only had himself now.

Harry finally threw the sheet away from him and sat up on the edge of his bed. He buried his face in his hands while his elbows rested upon his knees. He knew something was going to happen, but he just didn't know when or what yet.

A soft hoot carried the boy out of his gloomy thoughts and he lifted his head up to see his snowy white owl click her beak and hoot again. He smiled sadly at Hedwig.

"Sorry to wake you girl."

The owl ruffled her feathers and flapped her wings. She settled back down in her cage and hooted again.

Chuckling softly, Harry got up and walked over to open Hedwig's cage. She immediately ventured out and sat carefully upon Harry's forearm as he petted her breast feathers affectionately.

"I don't know how much longer I can take this." Harry whispered to his beloved owl and she hooted in response. A small smile formed on the boy's lips again. "Alright, alright." Harry made his way over to the barred window and opened it. Hedwig flew out instantly; beating her wings against the cool breeze. Harry watched her until he couldn't see her anymore. He left the window opened a bit so Hedwig could come back in with out him getting back up again. He plopped back down on his bed and rearranged himself in the position he was in before he got out of bed. Again when he closed his eyes, he saw the blood red eyes of Voldemort.

Cursing softly, Harry stared up at the ceiling again. His dreams -if that's what they were- never stayed as vivid in his mind as this one did and it was slowly driving him crazy. At least he thought it was.

The clock flashed 2:51am and Harry sighed. 'Will this night ever end?' He yawned quietly as if his question was answered and his eyes began to droop. Harry didn't fight the weariness he was beginning to feel from his sleepless nights. His eyes closed and he fell into a dreamless slumber. Faintly he thought he could hear laughing ringing in his ears… in his head. But he pushed the thought away as the darkness swept him away.

ooooo

Naruto caught up to his best friend and the strange dress wearing man. With a smile he pulled up in between them, brushing his arm against Sasuke, who shot a glance over to his friend but then frowned when he noticed the blonde was not looking at him. It wasn't that he liked being the only person Naruto smiled at or talked to. No, Sasuke wasn't jealous one bit of the old man who had his best friends' attention. So, the heir pulled his mask over his face and refused to admit anything to himself regarding the strange feeling that had entered his heart and mind.

"So, where we going exactly?" Naruto asked the dress wearing wizard while pulling his mask over his face as he knew his best friend had done already.

Dumbledore smiled at the cheery blonde. The boy was just so different from the other boy, it was difficult to see them get along in the future… but if the Hokage teamed them together, then he guessed that it would be alright… he hoped. "Well, were going to a country called England. Have either of you heard of it?" the man paused a moment and asked. "Are the masks really necessary?"

The raven haired boy snorted, but his attention was drawn to the blonde. The amused expression that had formed upon the cheery face was funny to see.

"Actually, Sasuke here--" Naruto said as he propped up his arm around the other teen's shoulder, who surprisingly didn't shake it off. "--has been teaching me about other countries and stuff." He paused and shrugged as if it didn't really matter and Dumbledore wondered many things at that moment. "And about the masks, they are standard for ANBU to wear on missions. You have seen our faces but you are our employer and we will be with you for a year, so it was okay." The blonde tapped a finger against his mask. "Maybe we will show our faces to the boy we protect. But we will decide later about that."

Sasuke smirked at the surprised in the old man's face, which was quickly covered up buy a look of amusement. "I see. Once we arrive to our safe house, I will give you a charm that will let you understand our language."

Both boys chuckled at that. "Won't be necessary." Naruto said after a few moments of laughing softly which made Sasuke lips curve up a bit into a small smile. "It's probably one of the reasons why Tsunade-sama is going to sent us." He said as an after thought and Sasuke nodded his head in agreement. "Sasuke's family made him learn the language of your country, but he taught it to me a few years ago. Obaa-san said it would come in handy one day."

An eye brow rose upon the old man's face, but he didn't comment on what was said. "I see."

They stepped outside into the warm rays of the sun and the steady breeze of the wind. The aged wizard glanced at the two boys. "Ah! Let me introduce myself once again. I am Albus Dumbledore and I am the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The boy I wish for you to help protect, Harry Potter, goes to this school."

The two shinobi nod.

"I am Uzumaki Naruto. Future Rokudaime of Konoha." He grinned but it falters a bit. "Ah, or should that be Naruto Uzumaki?" A sheepish grin formed from behind his mask and the Headmaster smiled at the teen.

"Sasuke Uchiha." The raven haired teen puts in without any effort and clearly states his given name first just to see the blonde bristle at the fact that Sasuke didn't mess up.

Naruto did indeed bristle at the way his friend said his name but then chuckled at his friends' attitude. "Don't mind Mr. No Emotions over there. He's always like that to everyone." Sasuke twitched at the casual talk his friend was having about him and in front of him, no less.

"I am curious though." Dumbledore started out, gaining the two ninjas attention. "How old are the both of you?"

Naruto makes a face at the question -not that anyone can see it- while Sasuke smirked at it and Naruto could tell that his friend was smirking!

"I'll be 18 in a few months and the bastard here is already 18." Thus the smirk Sasuke was wearing. He liked being older then his best friend and he always teased the blonde about it.

"I see. Older then I would have thought, but I guess it will be alright."

The two shinobi share a glance and shrug, dismissing the words of the olden wizard.

"So, how long do you think it'll take to get to England, Sasuke?" the blonde squeezed his eyebrows together in concentration. Sasuke quickly makes calculations in his head. "About four weeks." He shot a glance at the old man. "But with him it might take twice as long."

Naruto groaned as he leaned his head on his friends shoulder. Sasuke tensed a bit at the sudden closeness of the blonde, but then he relaxed because it was Naruto and not anyone else.

Dumbledore listened in with amusement as the two teens talked and he cleared his throat. "Actually, it will take only a few seconds to reach our destination." Both boys give the old man a confused look. The Headmaster pulled an object out of one of his pockets and held it in his palm. "This is a port key. As soon as you two touch it, it will transport us to the Black Manor in London, England."

The teens share a look again, only longer this time. Blue eyes stared into obsidian orbs, both reading each other's emotions without words. Naruto suddenly grinned as Sasuke raised an eyebrow. They both turn back to the wizard and at the same time, reach out to touch the oddly shaped rock… ? Or was it a mini statue of something? Naruto would never find out because as soon as his skin touched the… thing, he felt a pull at his navel and the world around him disappeared.

ooooo

Jiraiya watched as the three disappeared right in front of him with out a hint of chakra. He knew of the wizards and their so-called magic, but he never really paid any mind to it. His sensei, Sarutobi, once talked about it to him. But he never listened. Jiraiya frowned at the thought. He wished he had listened to his old sensei more but he couldn't regret it now. It's been years and he had more years ahead of him.

The toad sannin walked away from the building, humming happily along the way carefully noting that he should speak with Tsunade about that rock that teleported them away and where he could find on of them.

A stray thought entered his mind about going to check up on his student and his friend later in the year. But it was soon forgotten as he approached the bath houses.

ooooo

Sakura stood in front of a long table focusing her chakra into her hands as she healed her patient's wounds. Sweat trailed down the side of her face but she didn't pay it any attention. Her eyes determined to heal. The kunoichi had become one of the Hokage's best students since Shizune and she was proud of that. She worked part time in the Konoha hospital and part time as a medic nin in different squads that needed her.

Hinata had also became a medic nin with her. She was glad she had someone she knew to work with even though Hinata was the heiress to the Hyuuga clan, she was still determined to do what she wanted until the time came where she had to marry or take over her clan.

The pink haired kunoichi smiled as she finished healing the injured shinobi and staggered backwards exhausted. She wiped away the sweat that had gathered on her face with a wet towel that was hanging along the wall in the room. She stepped out of the way as a few nurses came in and took care of the patient now that he was healed enough to begin regular treatment. Sakura leaned against the wall in the room until she caught her breathe. It was a horrible wound she had to heal and they will just get worse with the war that had been long in coming.

Her patient had been gathering information around Sound for any movements Orochimaru was going to make. He had been discovered by a few ninjas that didn't go easy on him. Several kunai and shuriken had been embedded into his legs and torso. His chakra was almost depleted but not life endangering as much as his wounds where. Cuts upon his arms and back were deep. Sakura was glad that she had been able to heal all the major cuts and wounds the best she could. The minor ones would have to be healed normally. In a few hours the kunoichi knew she would have another ninja she had to heal.

She sighed as she pushed herself off the wall and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind her as she left. She needed a break but she knew it wasn't going to happen. Not yet anyways. She wanted to go meet up with her old team mates for lunch or maybe dinner tonight. Sakura was lost in her thoughts she didn't notice someone walking in front of her and she bumped into him.

"Ah! Gomen!" Sakura said as she bowed her apology.

"Sakura-san! I have been looking for you!" A familiar voice called out to her.

She looked up and smiled. "Good afternoon Lee-san."

Rock Lee stood before the kunoichi with stars in his eyes.

Ever since he first saw the pink haired kunoichi, he fell in love with her. At first she wanted nothing to do with the fuzzy eyebrow, green jumpsuit wearing ninja. But then as persistent as he had been and with Sasuke-kun told her he only like her as a team mate and friend, she had been heart broken for awhile, but Lee-san had helped her through it and she found herself sorta kinda falling for him. Not that she would admit it to anyone or even to herself.

"May I help you, Lee-san?"

"Yes! I was hoping you would join me for lunch today!" Lee-san smiled brightly.

Sakura smiled. He asked that everyday and most of the time she said no because she was so busy with patients in the hospital she didn't have time to go out and eat. But today, she wanted to get away. Even if it was for a little while. She needed it.

"Thank you Lee-san, I would love to." Sakura placed the wet towel she was holding onto the chair next to the wall as they walked out. She listened to him talk about how everyone was doing and news from other countries. They walked on to a place to eat when Sakura saw Naruto's sensei trying to sneak into the women's bath house. A vein twitched on her face as she gathered her chakra in her fist and slammed it on the ground, making a crack that went straight towards the ero-sennin.

A startled Jiraiya glanced behind him just in time to get out of the way of the crack. "Tsunade I can explain!" he started but then paused when he saw it was just Tsunade's student. Jiraiya blinked. "Heh heh. Hello Sakura-san!"

"Jiraiya-sama!" Sakura cracked her knuckles. "What do you think you were doing?"

The Sannin sweat dropped. "Umm… Nothing to worry your pretty little head about, Sakura-san!"

"What was that Jiraiya-sama?" Sakura glared at the sannin while her inner self screamed for retribution.

"Eh…I will take my leave now!" Jiraiya started to make his get away but Rock Lee stood in his way. Jiraiya sweat dropped stood there, staring at the two wondering if he could get out of this alive.

Sakura twitched a few times before she sighed. She was hungry and didn't have time for this. "Jiraiya-sama…" Sakura started and found satisfaction in the twitched she saw on the Sannin's head. "Have you seen Naruto?"

Surprised at the question, Jiraiya just stared at her for a few moments and Sakura tapped her foot waiting for an answer.

"Ehh… I just saw him and Sasuke… but they just left on a mission." Jiraiya saw the expression on the kunoichi fade into a frown and then into sadness. "But! It was a sudden mission and they had to leave right away, I'm sure they would have said good bye to you if they had the time."

Sakura nodded. She knew that was true. She and Naruto still hanged out a lot and of course Sasuke followed Naruto everywhere -well almost everywhere- just like a puppy, but don't ever tell him that. Sakura thought it was cute, but never voiced her opinions for she did care for her life. Not that they would ever hurt her… but still.

"Thank you Jiraiya-sama." She said and started to walk away. Lee-san jogging to catch up with her.

Jiraiya sighed as he watched them walk away. Sometimes it was hard to be a ninja but he knew they would pull through. After all, they were Konoha shinobi.

ooooo

Sasuke felt the pull and in a matter of seconds, the world disappeared and reappeared, but they were not in Konoha anymore. He was sure of it. He took the time to survey his surroundings like a good ninja he was. He noted they were in a large room with exactly one exit (or entrance, however you look at it), no windows, and five other people (more wizards, perhaps?) watching him with curious expressions. Then he noticed Dumbledore move over to the other give and then he heard a low moan of pain behind him. His eyes widened as he spun around to see his friend on all fours, well two knees and one hand, his other hand was clutching his stomach. Sasuke moved the few steps to his friends' side and knelt down beside him. "Naruto?" He whispered, placing a head upon his shoulder.

Naruto felt sick. Actually, he felt worse then just sick. He wanted to throw up everything he had eaten today and yesterday and the rest of the week. He didn't think that thing would hurt so much. Through all the pain, he heard his secret love call out to him in concert. "Sasuke?" he panted out through the pain and licked his dry lips. "I never want to do that again. It hurt. And He didn't like it either. It hit close to home." Naruto rubbed his stomach and Sasuke nodded in understanding. He knew Naruto was talking about the demon inside him.

Over the years, Naruto and the Kyuubi came to an understanding as they were merging ever so slightly. The Kyuubi said it would take decades for them to merge completely, which of course they would never live that long, so Naruto was okay with it. Only noticeable things were his six whisker marks and anytime the blonde was angry, his eyes turned red and his canine teen grew slightly longer over time as well. Most of the villagers took to avoid him now or greet him in respect, especially when they also found out just who Naruto's father was. And it also helped that year after year, the blonde grew into the image of his father, the Yondaime, The Fourth. Sasuke laid a hand on the blonde's shoulder for silent support.

Naruto gave him a weak smile. "Thanks, Sasuke." He whispered and Sasuke nodded.

The Uchiha stood up and held out his hand to his friend, who grabbed it and pulled himself up. Nausea overwhelmed Naruto and he swayed forward, closing his eyes in pain.

The raven haired teen caught Naruto before he could do anymore damage to himself.

Slowly the pain and dizziness went away thanks to the Kyuubi and Naruto opened his eyes to notice he was leaning on his best friend. Blushing just slightly, he quickly pulled away and smiled shyly at Sasuke.

Relief filled the Uchiha knowing he was okay. He nodded to his friend and turned his attention to the group who where talking quietly amongst themselves.

"Where is the boy?" Sasuke asked, seeing there were only adults were in the room.

The wizards frown slightly and then turn to the Headmaster. 'Ah, so he is in charge here. Good.' Sasuke mused.

"He is at his Aunt and Uncle's house." The raven haired shinobi frowned. "Why were we not taken there?"

"He lives with muggles, non-magic people. He is safe there. There is magic protecting him in their house"

It was Naruto's turn to frown. "If he is safe there, why do you need us to protect him?"

That question brought everyone's attention back to the two teens.

"You can't be serious, Albus!" A greasy haired man nearly shouted at the Headmaster.

"They are just children." A red headed woman gasped with a hand over her mouth.

"Ne, Sasuke, it seems they aren't used to children doing their dirt work." Naruto snickered at his friend, who smirked his trademark smirk. Naruto purposely emphasized 'children' to mock them.

"You aren't going to let them--" The greasy haired man pointed at the two teens. "--protect that boy? Really Albus! I can't believe you agreed to these children! Who ever persuaded you of this must be insane!"

In a blink of an eye, a kunai was thrown at the man, just barely touching his skin of his cheek, making a red mark as it flew by in a flash. Wide eyes of the man stared at the odd looking knife and then all heads turn to the teens. Red eyes glared back at the wizards. One burning holes into their minds and the other pair spinning rapidly in a circle. They gasped at the sight.

"Enough! No one insults the Hokage! You will choose your words wisely around us. You will bring the boy here or we will go and find him ourselves. Understood?" The blonde said harshly to the adults in the room.

"Now see here--" The greasy haired man starts again trying to regain his composure, and the two shinobi both glare fiercely at the man, making his hesitant stop to what he was about to say.

"We were brought here to carry out a mission and we will finish this mission with or without your help." Sasuke replied.

"And how will you find him? If I may ask." Dumbledore said quietly.

Sasuke held up a scroll.

"Our missions are always given to us in detail. That includes where we are going and where our target is located." Naruto stated, still quite annoyed at the idiots that called themselves wizards.

The adults seemed dumbfounded at what they just heard. "How can you know that?" the red haired woman asked.

The teens share a glance and shrug their answer. They didn't have to tell these idiots anything.

"Anyway, are you going to bring the boy here, old man?" Naruto asked Dumbledore, who slightly frowned at the title he was just called.

The others -minus Snape- gasped at what the blonde teen said.

"How dare you not show respect to Professor Dumbledore!" one of the wizards choked out.

Sasuke replied in a uninterested tone. "Respect? Let me tell you something… Respect is earned not given out. So far none of you have the ability to earn it yet." Naruto nodded at his friends words.

The adults gapped at the raven haired teen. Dumbledore lets out the smallest of sighs.

"Very well. We shall bring Harry here in the morning. Mrs. Weasley, will you show our quests to their room?"

"Oh! Certainly! Come along dearies!" The red haired woman, now dubbed as Mrs. Weasley, headed towards the one exit.

Naruto goes in the opposite direction to retrieve his kunai from the wall and proceeded out of the room after Sasuke.

Once the two teen's where out of the room and the door shut, everyone looked to the Headmaster who gives him a small smile.

"Well, this year will be interesting, don't you think?"

If it were an anime, everyone would have sweat dropped right about now and fell over.

ooooo

「つずく」


!!DISCLAIMER ONE FIRST PAGE!!

WHOO! I added a lot to this chapter! So I hope you enjoy it :D