Chapter Two
A/N: I know this will probably ruin the effect of the chapter but...the entire time I was writing this, all I could think about was: STRANGER DANGER! XDDDD And I ended up laughing the whole time! Wow...I'm professional, I swear!
"Naruto Uzumaki," When the man spoke, his voice held almost no emotion. It was flat and empty. Like he didn't really care about why he was there. "Why don't you come with us?"
A chill rolls down Naruto's spine. Something was seriously weird about these guys. He could just...feel it. They were the real deal when it came to shinobi... But still, he doesn't move. He felt frozen, almost paralyzed as he stared into the other ninja's crimson colored eyes.
"Hard to believe that such a child carries the Nine Tails..." Someone else comments. Just then, another man steps out from behind the first. The doorway was filled, no escape. He wore the same black and red robe as the one who looked like Sasuke. Were they in some kind of uniform?
How do these guys know about the kyuubi? Naruto wonders.
The new man, who's skin was an unnatural shade of blue, steps aside and the first man does as well. "Naruto, come with us." He says, coolly.
"Tsk!" Sasuke pushes away from the door and bolts down the hall. This isn't good! If I don't hurry, Itachi will find Naruto first...and who knows what will happen after that! He skids around a corner and runs back outside, scanning the street for more inns. They're close, I just know it!
Sasuke smiles, sheepishly from where he stood in the doorway of his older brother's room. He was still very young so he didn't understand why Itachi was always so busy... 'He promise.' The young boy reminds himself. 'He'll definitely help me today.'
"Brother..." Sasuke mutters.
Itachi turns around. "Oh, Sasuke." He says. "What is it?"
"Help me with my shuriken practice today, please...?" Sasuke pouts, cutely. The way he did when he wanted something from his mother. Maybe it would work on Itachi as well.
His brother pauses. "I'm busy. Why don't you ask Father?"
"But you're better at shuriken jutsu...even I can tell that." He grumbles.
A little smirk twitches at the corner of Itachi's mouth. He lifts his hand, motioning for his baby brother to come closer. And Sasuke obeys, padding across the wooden floor.
"Oww!" He stops, mid-step.
Itachi grins when Sasuke falls for it, just like always. The older Uchiha's pointer and middle fingers had jabbed the small boy in the forehead. "Sorry Sasuke. Maybe next time."
Sasuke scowls at him. "You always say 'Sorry Sasuke' and then jab me in the forehead. But you never have time. It's always the same story..."
His brother doesn't respond but only continues to walk out of the room.
Once he's out of sight, Sasuke smiles and rubs the sore spot on his forehead.
It was on that day that Sasuke's life changed forever. He'd gone to school, same as always but when he came home... His entire clan was dead. Slain by the hand of his very own brother. The same one Sasuke used to idolize and envy. But now, all he felt for Itachi Uchiha was hatred and animosity.
He would kill his brother, that much he never doubted. This only served as more motivation. Because once again, Itachi was trying to take someone Sasuke cared about. He would never let that happen.
I've lost people before...and I do not want to experience that again...never again. He grits his teeth as he swings into the next hotel.
Naruto gulps as he takes a small step out of the room. He was outnumbered and, clearly, outmatched. The best he could do now was obey them until he found a way out. And pray they wouldn't kill him.
"Say, Itachi," The blue man says. "It would be an awful pain if this kid ran off..."
Naruto stiffens.
"Maybe we should...cut off a leg or something." He offers.
W-what?! It takes all the strength in the blonde's body not to whimper in fear.
Itachi doesn't respond. His cold, Sharingan eyes were still watching Naruto with little care. This guy truly didn't mind one way or another if his partner cut off Naruto's leg!
"Got it..." The other says, reaching up to grasp the handle of a huge sword that was strapped to his back. He takes a step closer. And then another. And another... He swings the blade up, ready to attack.
"AGHH!"
Sasuke's heart slams into his throat at the sound of the scream. It had come from directly above him. That was Naruto's voice! I'm too late! He ignores the terrified gasp from the inn-keeper and bolts upstairs. Just hang in there, Naruto!
He hits the ground hard, landing on his shoulder and rolling to the side. A piercing agony throbbed in his leg. Naruto had managed to jump out of the way of the majority of the blow but it had still clipped his leg, shredding his skin like tissue paper. Upon closer inspection of his enemy's sword, it seemed to be made of hundreds of little blades. All going in one direction. In all, they looked like...scales or teeth.
Naruto hisses in pain, clamping his hand over the wound before scrambling to his feet again. He wouldn't go down without a fight.
The blue man chuckles. "Impressive for such a little kid. Well? What do you think of my sword Samehada? Pretty cool isn't it?"
Naruto swears under his breath. There was suddenly a lot of blood pooling on the floor below him. This wound was deeper than he thought... His vision blurs. What's going on? I've had worse injuries than this! So why...why do I feel so...weak all of sudden...?
"Hmm? What's the matter?" His opponent snickers. "Feeling pretty low, huh? Well, I guess it's only fair that I tell you about this blade. Thing is, it devours chakra... so that wound won't be healing for quite some time. Not even with the power of the Fox."
"CHIDORI!" A loud noise explodes in the hall. Like a thousand birds. Sasuke rips down the corridor, his jutsu blazing.
Sasuke?! Naruto stares with wide eyes, his trembling body leaned against the wall so he wouldn't collapse.
Itachi's eyes narrow. Chidori? He sidesteps, easily moving out of the way of the attack. But Sasuke hadn't been aiming for him. He runs right past his brother, toward the one who was attacking Naruto!
"Kisame." Itachi says in a warning tone. Don't get hit by that.
The blue one, Kisame, grins and lifts his sword again. "Little brat." He chuckles.
Sasuke cries out, furiously and strikes. His chidori screaming as it slams into Kisame's massive Samehada. Sparks spray into the air but only for a moment. The younger Uchiha gasps when dozens of little scale-like blades poke up from the sword, slicing into his hand.
He steps back, balling up his hand to stop the bleeding.
"It's been a long time...Sasuke." Itachi mutters, quietly. He still looked extremely bored, as if nothing had just happened.
The raven growls, scowling at him. "Itachi...Uchiha..."
Naruto gasps. Uchiha? The same Uchiha as Sasuke?
"My my, today truly is an unusual day...to see a different Sharingan not once, but twice." Kisame tilts his head, staring at the boy who looked so much like his partner.
Different Sharingan? What's he talking about...? Only then does Sasuke remember the condition Kakashi had been in. He recoils in shock. These are the guys who did that to Sensei?! Sasuke's eyes flick to Naruto and his chest tightens.
Naruto was visibly shaken. He was leaned against the wall in a way that looked like, if he left it, he would simply collapse. His hand was pressed to his left thigh, where a considerable amount of blood was gushing out. He was staring at Sasuke in equal amounts of shock and confusion. With a whole lot of pain etched across his features.
"Tsk." Sasuke grits his teeth together and pulls a kunai from its holster. I have to separate them from Naruto. He's in no condition to fight...
Then, as if Sasuke was no threat at all, Kisame lowers his weapon and turns to Itachi. "Say, this kid looks a lot like you...and he's got Sharingan. Who is this kid, Itachi?" He asks.
"He's..." The older Uchiha pauses as if he were reluctant to admit it. "My younger brother."
Naruto jolts, his mouth dropping open. So this is Sasuke's brother! The one he wants to kill! Naruto whirls around and faces Sasuke again. What was going to happen? Would Sasuke attack him right now?!
"That's right, Brother... You killed our clan...our parents. You betrayed me and our entire village." Sasuke snarls as fury lights his eyes. "It's just as you said, Brother...Since then I've lived my life for one, single purpose...to see you DEAD!" He howls, enraged.
As if the force of his friend's words had physically hit him, Naruto's injured leg fails. He slides down the wall, his vision going dark for a moment. No, not now! He forces his eyes open again. He couldn't afford to pass out right now! Not with Sasuke about to square off against this crazy murder!
When he looks up again, however, Sasuke is not charging his brother. Not even looking at him. Instead, his teammate's eyes were focused on him. There was a pained, conflicted look on Sasuke's face. One that made Naruto almost want to close his eyes again. Why was Sasuke looking at him like that?
What am I doing? Sasuke demands of himself. I'm reminiscing about the past while Naruto is bleeding out! He shakes his head. Right. Gotta get between them, get them away from him.
"Uhn..." Naruto wobbles, unsteadily. Removing his hand from the wound, he grimaces. The blood literally dripped off his hands there was so much. He felt like he might gag or pass out. A lot of things were making him feel like he was going to pass out lately...
"Say, Itachi." Kisame mumbles, suddenly. "Looks like Naruto's starting to go downhill...Boss said we need him alive, remember?"
"Yes." Itachi nods. "We need to move quickly."
They need him alive? "I won't let you take him!" Sasuke barks.
"Maybe I should just kill this kid and get it over with." Kisame growls. "He's starting to get on my nerves..."
"S-Sasuke..." All eyes turn to Naruto. He was struggling to get up, his body shaking with the effort. The blonde slowly shakes his head. "G-get out of here..." He stutters, weakly. "This isn't...your fight..."
Kisame chuckles. "He's right, you know. Run along, little boy and leave us to our work..."
"What are you talking about?!" Sasuke demands, harshly. "If I leave, they'll kill you! Don't you get that?!"
Naruto coughs, a bit of blood runs down his chin. "I-if you stay...they'll kill you t-too." He groans, pushing himself to his knees.
"No." Sasuke's tone was firm.
Naruto looks up, glaring at him.
"Don't be stupid. I'm not gonna leave so quit asking me."
"S-Sasu-" Coughs break off the rest of the word. The fit so harsh that Naruto doubles over, clutching his stomach before sinking back to the ground, his eyes looking dull and empty.
"I'm not going anywhere." Sasuke resolves, one last time.
"Stupid kid." Kisame sighs, lifting the sword high above his head. "You're wasting our time. The Boss will be very angry if Naruto dies before we get back."
"I got news for you." Sasuke begins. "You're not taking him anywhere and he's not gonna die. So you're just going to have to tell your 'boss' the bad news when you get back...or better yet, I'll send the message there with your bodies!" He snaps.