Hello again!x'3 I see I didn't scare you away with my bad grammar xD
Thank you all so much for your reviews!! It actually made it worth getting up from bed xD -bows head-
Thanks to:
raiyaka, xNeTsUx, sweetangelblue, IndifferentKittenCrys, actionliker, AnsemMesna, living laughing dead, RaitenKitsune, KitsuneNaru, peppymint, hugesandkisses1, HatakeKasumi, HmmYaoi, Sabaku no -X-Temari-X-, Vanpire, GoddesOfWrath, carmade, kutoki, silver dragon93, Dead from beyond the grave, MckayZielke, BonneNuit and X-Factor-Glory.
And also a big thanks to you all who added Sound of a Lost Tune to their favorite story list, and me as their fav author. It really brighten up my day! -bows-
Summary: Hurt and abandoned by his friends, Naruto's only reason for existing is now to protect the one he cares about, but how long will it take for him to brake down? Everyone has their limit. Can the suddenly appearance of a certain missing nin help the broken boy? YAOI! ItaNaru.
Pairing: ItaNaru! Hell, yeah! Best pairing ever!w
Warnings: Angst, major OOC'ness, some character bashing and future lemon between boys. If you don't like yaoi, means boyxboy, try read it anyways! XDDDD You never now... You might start like it...x3 But if you positively sure that you can't handle it... Then you are free to go and find another fic to read.
Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto. I'm nether male nor Japanese..-.-' And if I did own Naruto... Lets just say it wouldn't be a mere shounen manga anymore... -evil laugh-
Sound of a lost tune
Chapter two: A faithful meeting
His client were already there when Naruto arrived. He was a tall man with a kind face and he gave Naruto a warm smile as he walked in Tsunade's office. Naruto only spared him a quick glance before he turned around and faced the Hokage. He gave her a politely bow.
"Hokage-sama," he greeted.
"Okami-san" She answered with a stern face. "Are you ready for you mission?"
They both knew the he was.
"Of course, Hokage-sama"
"This is your client, his name is Akiko Subaru."
First now Naruto gave his attention to man at his side. He smiled at him again. Naruto didn't smile back. Not that the man would notice if he did anyway... He wore his mask after all.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Okami-kun. Tsunade-sama here have told me that you are one of the most skilled ninjas in the village. I'm looking forward to traveling with you." He held out a big strong hand, beckoning for Naruto to take it.
Naruto hesitated for a moment, but slowly he reached out a small hand and shock the other's.
"It's nice to meet you to, Akiko-san." He replied in a soft voice. Truth to be told, he was a little surprised at the amount of affection the other man showed. Even with his mask on, Naruto wasn't used to feel accepted.
"The journey to Kirigakure (AN: Kirigakure lies in Mizu no kuni by the way. For those who didn't knew x3) will take around three days. I expect you to be in my office within a week." Tsunade's voice dragged him out of his musing.
"Okami-san, will you please stay for a moment. Akiko-san, you can wait out side until we're finished." Naruto followed the man with his eyes as he walked out.
Tsunade stared at the young nin as he carefully watched his clients every step. Even now he wanted to ensure his safety. Wasn't this how a perfect shinobi should be. So dedicated to his mission, that he wouldn't even let his client out of sight. But then why did she felt so sad when watching him do so?
"Was there anything important you wanted to say, Hokage-sama" Naruto had turned around and was now facing her.
"Naruto..." She could see him stiffen at the mention of his name. "Please take of your mask." Oh, how she longed to see his face again. Naruto never unmasked unless she asked him to.
Naruto hesitated, but slowly he lifted his hand and with a pair of slender fingers, he removed his mask.
Tsunade, like every time she watched him without his mask, felt stunned by the mere force that was Naruto.
His uncontrollable mop of golden hair were falling freely around his head, framing a delicate whisker marked face. No longer did he have his usually sun kissed skin, seeing as he had rarely shown his face in sun unmasked for the past three years, but now sported a creamy, light tanned color. And his eyes...
They was still the magnificent blue they had always been, but something had changed... They were deeper, more mature, and if you stared in to them for too long... You would eventually lose yourself in the depth of those azure orbs.
But still... She felt so sad when looking at them, no mater how beautiful they were... Because something was missing. Something that had always been there before.
Happiness.
His eyes completely missed the happy gleam that had always been Naruto. Long gone were the sparks of pure willpower and occasional glances of mischievousness.
But they weren't empty ether. Not at all... Contrary... They were so full, so complete. The reason you would gasp and hold your breath when meeting them...
Love. Care. Affection. Kindness.
You could feel it all, hitting you with a force so strong that it knocked you over. Just one look into Naruto's eyes and you would never feel unloved anymore.
But... It was so wrong. Because... No mater how much love he would give others... He would never give it to himself.
The only reason Naruto lived right now, was because he had precious persons to protect. He did not live for his own sake, just for others. For hers sake, for his friends sake and... For Konoha's sake.
And thats no healthy way to live. Tsunade, as a medic nin, knew fully well how wrong it went for those who had given up on their self. At one point, they all reached their limit. And when they did...
Tsunade closed her eyes. If she lost Naruto, she wouldn't know what to do. He was the only reason she still held the Hokage position. In her eyes, Konoha wasn't worthy of Naruto's affection. But still, he loved this damn village with all his heart, so for him... She would protect Konoha until the end.
She opened her eyes and sighed.
Naruto looked at her with a questioning stare. She could see the worry in his eyes.
"Anything wrong, Hokage-sama?" Why did he care so much?
"No. I was just... It doesn't matter anyway. I've kept you long enough. You go and finish your mission successfully."
"I will," came the soft reply.
With on swift move he was already at the door, his white wolf mask centimeters from his face.
"Naruto, wait!"
He turned around, blue eyes piercing her very soul.
"Be careful... Okay."
It was there only for a second, but Tsunade clearly saw the little smile that had been lingering in the corner of his mouth for a short moment.
"I will." And with one elegant move, he was once again masked and on his way out. He took one last look at her and then he was gone. And like always, when Naruto had left for a mission, Tsunade felt her heart clench inside her chest. No matter how a splendid fighter and great ninja he was, she still couldn't stop thinking;
'What if he doesn't come back'
--
It had been two days since Naruto had left Konoha with Subaru, and so far no complications had arose. They hadn't encountered a single enemy since they departure. Truth to be told, the only living creature they had met, besides their selfs, was a lost dog.
Subaru had occasionally tried to form a conversation, but Naruto rarely spoke more then a couple of meek lines.
It wasn't that he didn't like Subaru's company, no it was just... Speaking in a normal friendly way with another seemed so far away. He felt like... He didn't have the right to do so. Subaru was an nice, honest man and Naruto himself were nothing more than...
Would this man treat him with the same friendly care and respect, if he knew what were residing inside his body? Naruto couldn't help but think that he most likely wouldn't. After all, who would enjoy a demon's presence?
He looked up at the rapidly darkening sky, soon the before so bright day would die down and become a black pit of earth, with the moon and the stars as the only sources to light. They should set up a camp for the night... The dark always made you more vulnerable to attacks.
"We should rest here for the night, Akiko-san." The other man looked at him and nodded. Together they arranged a place to rest and when the sun had finally disappeared, leaving everything in a dark shadow, Subaru was already fast asleep and Naruto silently watching out for danger.
The cold wind seeped trough his black ANBU suit, but Naruto nether shuddered or tried to make any effort in warming himself. Cold didn't really bother him anymore. Though... He found it fascinating, while watching his bare finger tips slowly being colored by the faintest tinge of blue, that this small force could kill a living being.
With just a breath of ice, and it could freeze you blood and turn your before so warm skin to a frozen mass of flesh. And after a while... Your heart would steadily, without mercy, stop beating. And you would be no more.
He chuckled. A line of visible smoke erupted from his mouth. Fascinating indeed... No weapons or human strength would protect you against the danger of freezing to death. A life based on constant training in the art of killing wouldn't mean a thing in a fight against a force of nature.
A sudden noise above caught his attention, and he looked up sharply, only to discover that it had been nothing more than a lonely bat, escaping from one of the trees. He looked after the flying rodent as it screamed and disappeared into the night.
Naruto let his gaze roam over the place as he surveyed for something out of the ordinary. The night was silent and without any promises of danger. He looked over to Subaru and it pleased him to find the man peacefully sleeping. It would do them no good if they were to be late because of exhaustion on Subaru's part.
Naruto closed his eyes and enjoyed the light breeze that carefully caressed his mask, and thus tickled his face trough it. Everything was so quiet...
He blinked.
What was that? He abruptly stood up. It was vague... But still... A massive force of powerful chakra was emitted from a far away distance. Naruto tensed and grabbed his kunai. Potential danger? After a few second he relaxed. The chakra was still there, but it was to far away to be a treat to them.
Slowly, still ready to attack if someone dangerous were to approach, he sat down. Probably it was some high level ninjas fighting. It was clear to Naruto that it was more than just one source to the huge amount of chakra that was emitted.
Absentmindedly he swirled and toyed with the small weapon in his hand. Something was bothering him. The chakra, he could still feel it, seemed oddly familiar... Naruto was positively sure that he had encountered it before. And not just in one occasion. It annoyed him to no end that he couldn't grasp where he had it from, but he was to far away to could sense it properly.
Naruto continued to keep a close watch over the familiar chakra trough the night, and as it passed and slowly changed from dark to bright, the moon stepping aside to give room to the stunning sun,
the chakra eventually disappeared.
As the faithful ninja he was, Naruto had proudly kept the same position by Subaru's side as the night had done it's nightly deed. And not before he heard the mumbling noises coming from the sleeping bag beside him, indicating that the man inside it was waking up, did he finally stand up. He yawned as he stretched his long limbs, trying to ease some tension.
"Mfh... Morning already?" The sleepy voice of Subaru braked trough the morning silence.
"Ready to leave, Akiko-san?" Naruto handed the man a piece of bread as he prepared their departure.
"Sure thing," Subaru replied happily as he took a bite of the bread and swallowed it hungrily.
And thus, their travel to Mizu no kuni and Kirigakure continued.
--
(- Time skip – One day-)
"Ahh..."
Naruto sighed contently as he gulped down the cold water he had collected from a small river he had just discovered. Running all day had made his throat unbelievable dry, and even though he had ignored his need for liquid most of the day, his body had eventually protested and forced him to stop and drink. So now he was currently taking a temporary brake, finally submitting to his bodily needs.
Naruto and Subaru had arrived the gates of Kirigakure yesterday. The rest of the trip had been calm without any ambushes, and as they reached the Hokage tower where Subaru were to stay, they had met the Mizukage in person. He had been very grateful for his friend safe state and after shaking Naruto's hand till it almost lost all feeling, thanking him over and over, he finally let him depart and return to Konoha.
Naruto splashed some last water in his face and stood up. He wanted to reach Konoha as fast as possible. Not that he didn't like being out on missions, heavens no; He loved the feeling of freedom and the exiting thrill that came with his missions. But as always, when he had successfully completed one, he felt a strong thug on his chest who urged him to head home to Konoha as fast as possible.
To Konoha, where his friends were, his precious people, the ones he needed to protect. When he was separated from them, he felt so unsure, so lost. What if something happened and he wasn't there to aid them. The thought alone was enough to make Naruto feel dizzy and nauseas. Quickly he speed up his pace. If he couldn't help his friends when needed, what exactly was his purpose for living? With this thoughts echoing in his mind, his blue eyes became dull and his feet's worked it's selfs up to an even faster speed.
And as he ran, without taking notice of the painful ache in his legs, indicating that the pace were to much for them to take, a mantra was repeating it self in Naruto's head over and over again;
'Must protect them. Must protect them. Must protect them. MUST PROTECT!'
Naruto was so lost in his own desperate state, that he almost didn't catch the unfamiliar scent that had appeared, reeking of power and ill-intentions. But Naruto wasn't a ANBU for nothing, a ANBU captain that is, so his nose caught it anyways. Abruptly he stopped, sniffing the air warily.
He could also sense a mass of chakra signatures rapidly closing in on him. He closed his eyes for a moment. The chakra seemed strong and taking in the numbers of ninjas approaching, Naruto knew this was no enemy to take on lightly.
But still... Blue eyes narrowed inside the mask. He could defeat them. Since his job as an ANBU captain had began, he had yet to encounter a enemy strong enough to defeat him.
And as countless masked ninjas appeared around him, he did nothing but stand there, his right hand slowly reaching for the sword on his back. Calmly he looked around, calculating and counting the numbers of opponents. They were yet to make an attack.
Naruto noticed that they had all headbands with a note on. Ah, that explained it. Otogakure had a long time now tried to force Kirigakure into an alliance. Orochimaru had finally figured out that if he were to stand alone in a war between the shinobi nations, he could not hope to win. And thus he had started looking for alliances. But that didn't mean he were to do it in a friendly manner.
Look like pressing the Mizukage would be the new tactic, for it was no doubt they had Subaru as they target. Just a shame they were to late. But it seemed like that was not reason enough to let him go home peacefully.
The ninjas finally attacked, striking from all sides. Naruto let a little smile grace his lips beneath the mask he wore. He lifted his sword. It was time for the game to begin.
Soon sword clashing against sword could be heard trough the usually so silent forest.
--
He was running. His legs were bloody and had met their limit hours ago, but still he hadn't stopped. They were still behind him, closing in. His breath was ragged and eyes were dulled over with pain.
He couldn't die here.
If possible, he increased his pace, running even faster than before. He felt dizzy and his surroundings was swimming in and out of focus. The massive blood loss was starting to take effect on his beaten body.
He gritted his teeth and tried to ignore the burning pain in his back, caused by the deep cut he had received there. He knew that if he continued running like this and didn't tend to the bleeding wound soon, he wouldn't be able to make it. Would it all be for nothing?
Suddenly his feet couldn't take the strain anymore and he fell forward. He bit his lip to prevent any sound from escaping as his body met the hard ground. The impact made his body stiffen in pain and for a moment his vision went red.
He tried desperately to get up again, but his body refused to move. His nails were clawing in the dirt, his arms to weak to move. Soon his body went still, to exhausted to do anything more.
A frustrated moan escaped his blue lips. The dizziness were taking over and he couldn't focus his eyes anymore. His sight were turning more and more blurry and the stench of his own blood made his senses go weak. Slowly his body gave in to the enormous damage that had been caused it.
He felt so tired. His eyes ached to close and let sleep take over, but he forced them to stay open.
But soon he didn't have the strength to do so anymore.
As heavy rain suddenly started to pour down, a pair of black, midnight colored eyes was slowly closed.
'It this it?'
This were his last thoughts as his body finally submitted to sweet unconsciousness.
--
Naruto looked up at the dark sky filled with gray clouds as he wiped fresh blood of the blade of his sword. The rain was falling freely and Naruto was grateful, seeing as the water removed the heavy stench of blood and death.
He sighted as he slowly stepped over the dead oto nins. Oh, how he hated killing. It always made him feel repulsive and dirty, knowing that his own hands had, without mercy, ripped someones life from their body. But it couldn't be helped. In a shinobi's world, it's ether kill or get killed. Simple as that.
Naruto made a quick hand seal and muttered something. He watched as a deep red flame engulfed the corpses, and in a few seconds the only trace left of the nins were a pile of ash. Techniques like this sure came in handy when you needed to expose of more than just one body.
Naruto placed his now clean sword back into the sheath on his back and started to walk away from the bloody battlefield. He didn't come very far though, before something caught his nose. It was a faintly smell of blood, but it didn't come from the direction were he had killed. He frowned. If someone was hurt, he should help that person.
Of course it could be an enemy, but Naruto could tell from the smell that the person would most likely be to weak from blood loss to present any treat. He followed the scent, trailing it to the place he would find the wounded one.
Sure enough, after a few minutes he could see a person laying in the dirt a couple of meters in the front. From the shape, Naruto could tell it was a male. Slowly he walked over to the bleeding man.
He froze in his track. Azure eyes widened slightly under the white mask as he took in the abused features of the man in front of him.
"It's not possible..."
His low disbelieving voice disappeared in the chilly evening breeze. He dropped down on his knees, reaching out a slender arm. He gently pushed away some ebony hair from the man's bloody face. It was even paler that it used to be, and from what Naruto could see, he's lips were sporting an unhealthy blue color under the red liquid.
Naruto let his fingers trace down the man's face, from the elegant brow to the thin lines that adorned each side of his perfectly shaped nose. The face of the man who had, in more than one occasion, tried to take his life.
He's eyes were closed, but Naruto knew that if they had been open... He would have looked straight into a pair of red, emotionless orbs, filled with power and strength.
"Itachi..."
--
Wow...This chapter took a lot less time to write than I had thought xD And it became longer than the first one to!! 11 pages, baby! Hell yeah!! -boasting around-
...Okay... I'll stop now.
And... TADA! Itachi finally shows up. Beaten and bloody that is, but still xD How will lill Naruto react to this I wonder... Of course I know, because I'm the writer! MOHAHAHAHAHAH! You guys just have to wait for the next chapter to find out x3 Which hopefully won't take to long time to write...-...-'
Okami – Means wolf. As you probably figured out by your self, this is Naruto's ANBU code name xD Couldn't come up with anything better... -scratch head-
Kirigakure - Village hidden in Mist.
Again, reviews are greatly appreciated! Flamers are not! xD Oh, and please tell me if you find some major errors in the story... If you do I will fix it at once!!
Byebye!8D -wave-
- Ishib ioay