Summery: He shocked the world by taking that outstretched hand of opportunity, and when they asked him why, he just smiled and waved goodbye. "Love makes a man loose his common sense"- they just didn't expect him to actually throw it away.

Warnings: Mpreg and other rated M things.

Disclaimer: Naruto © Masashi Kishimoto

Chapter One: Abandon

When Naruto returned from Gaara's, it was like a switch had been turned inside of him. The moment his feet passed through his home's gates, the villagers sensed a great shift had taken place. Did something happen to him on his journey to Suna? No one knew, and as far as Naruto was concerned, it would stay that way. All they could surmise was that Naruto had lost his fire to become the Hokage, replaced by some unknown determination. A determination that had him in the library most days instead of out in the training grounds.

That was where the blonde was at the moment- pouring over an aged text on the cycle of human life. He had already read almost everything concerning the topic and had more than just a few scrolls filled with bullet points and disjointed jots of information. Of course, he had destroyed all of the research after committing it to memory. It seemed, Naruto mused, that everything he did nowadays was suspicious. It was a good thing though, that no one looked closely enough to notice.

It was then that Naruto felt the probing of a familiar chakra searching for him- he was eternally thankful for his sage training. He sighed and placed the book on the shelf where he found it just as Sakura appeared not a minute later.

"There you are!" she whispered- respect for being in a library, "I've been looking everywhere for you. Tsunade-sama needs to see you,"

Naruto grinned sheepishly and rubbed the back of his head in his classic Naruto manner. The pink haired young woman- she was no longer a girl (and her large chest only seemed to emphasize that)- studied him closely, as though seeing through him. Naruto didn't falter under the sharp gaze. It would mean death.

"Sorry. I was looking for a book on powerful jutsu and got lost in here,"

"You idiot- what are you doing on this side of the library? You're in the biology section," Sakura scolded and cuffed her teammate's shoulder lightly, "Any who, forget about that- Tsunade-sama's waiting for you!"

Naruto laughed earnestly, swallowing that guilty sting that had been haunting him since he returned, and held his hands up in peace.

"I'm going, I'm going,"

He made a mental reminder to go back to the library and pick up where he left off as the two made their way back onto Konoha streets. It was a little after lunch, so the dirt roads were only slightly crowded. Sakura waved to the citizens, and Naruto, not feeling too hyper, only gave a smile and a nod. It was enough to satisfy them, he noted.

The Hokage tower was always an impressive sight to Naruto, though these days the sight of it only made him sick. It was like a physical reminder of his secret betrayal to the village. But he was already prepared for such feelings when he made his decision.

It was hard to interact with his friends when he knew he was deceiving them- hence he was holing himself up in unlikely places. Sure, Naruto was being a coward for running from the consequences, but at that point, he was beyond pride.

The ANBU standing at the entrance of the tower saluted to Naruto, being a member himself, and he returned the salutation politely.

The more the Uzumaki-Namikaze thought about Tsunade, the more he was positive about what the meeting would hold. The day after his arrival from his little treason escapade guised as a mini-vacation, he had turned in a resignation form to Shizune- and that had been a month ago. He had expected this to happen- Tsunade wasn't going to let it go without a few (angry) words.

Kiba and Shino were in Tsunade's office- Hinata had been placed on leave since her and Kiba's unplanned pregnancy last month- giving a mission report. The conception was out of wed-lock, so Hinata's father was livid. Naruto hoped they pulled through this. His two friends were very much in love.

When Tsunade saw Naruto and Sakura standing by the door, she cut the others off mid-sentence and dismissed them.

"Naruto come in," she said seriously in a low voice that warned the blonde of the storm ahead, "Sakura, please wait outside. I've summoned the rest of Team Kakashi, so have them meet you out there,"

Naruto watched Sakura's face out of the corner of his eyes and saw confusion and concern, but she bowed and followed her Hokage's commands. The door closed behind him, and he warily stepped forward until he was looking at Tsunade head on.

She held up a neatly folded piece of paper- Naruto's resignation- and slammed it on the desk before her.

"I don't even know what this is," she snapped, "A joke? A temporary laps in your sanity? What the hell were you thinking?"

"Tsunade," Naruto began with a sigh, "Please understand me. I mean no offence-"

"Too late for that!" she yelled, and Naruto knew at this rate, anyone outside would be able to hear, "Who do you think you are turning in some shit like this?"

"With all due respect, Hokage-sama," Naruto hissed, "I am a ninja of Konoha requesting something well under my rights. Your inability to understand and my lack of elaborating have nothing to do with the fact that you cannot deny me this,"

"I am the Hokage! I decide who gets deployed,"

"Look at your rule book, Tsunade!" Naruto shouted back with almost as much force. He had to win this battle, "You know you don't have the power to deny a citizen his rights,"

She glared- really glared- and snatched up that paper again, becoming crumpled in her tight grip.

"I have a mission for you,"

"I am no longer a registered shinobi,"

"One last mission," she continued, lips thinned, her golden eyes stabbing at his blue.

"I cannot guarantee I'll follow your orders,"

She ran a hand through her thick bangs, before leaning back and barking at the door.

"Enter!"

Naruto's former teammates came through the door, and they showed no signs of having heard their conversation. Sai smiled at him, and he mirrored the action. Kakashi bowed his head to the blonde woman formally.

"We have confirmed Sasuke's whereabouts," she began.

Naruto and Sakura couldn't help but tense at the information. Naruto felt his stomach do a little flip, and he had to repress a small smile. It was about time.

"After killing Orochimaru last week, he banded a team of his own up and they were last spotted around the Village Hidden in the Mist for reasons unknown. We have limited knowledge in his companions, but everything we know is in the Bingo Book,"

"Is this a retrieval mission?" Kakashi asked, finally asking what they had all been thinking. Or is it an execution mission?

"Yes. You are to detain the Uchiha,"

"And his team?"

"I'll leave that to your jurisdiction," Tsunade answered. Kakshi nodded.

"You will travel to Kiri(*Mist), capture him, and bring him home. This mission should take approximately ten days. You leave in an hour,"

"Tsunade-"

"You leave in an hour," she repeated, cutting off Naruto's protest.

Naruto narrowed his eyes at her, anger rolling off of him in frothy, thick waves. Sakura watched the two's mental battle for authority until Naruto sneered. He gave a mocking, sweeping bow, and Sakura thought she had never seen him so pissed.

"You're right," Naruto answered, "I leave in an hour,"

Then he was gone in a flurry of smoke.

Tsunade's breath hitched as the subtle meaning in those words sank in. But it was too late. Leave- he had said. Did he mean the ranks or the village altogether? She glanced down at the form still in her manicured hands and crumpled it up with a tight fist.

"Tsunade-sama," Sakura mumbled, clearly having not understood the earlier wrath between her friend and teacher, "What did Naruto mean?"

They sat in a pregnant silence in which Tsunade carefully chose her next words. Obviously, Naruto had not divulged them with his mysterious plans. Should she reveal what she knew?

"I'm afraid you'll have to find out for yourselves,"

And they would- in ten days. Naruto had never been so thankful for everyone to be too busy with themselves for them to notice the transformation of Naruto's world. For starters, his apartment was almost completely empty. Over the past month, he had used the time to slowly get rid of his possessions, and now, he was down to the bare necessities. He would use the last hour to pack up those until it was completely void of matter.

In truth, he had not planned to leave until Tsunade officially confirmed his resignation, but this would be easier. With the information Tsunade had given him and his old team, he knew Sasuke's coordinates, and he would get out of the village before Tsunade put him on lock-down for trying to resign.

He was done in twenty minutes, and on his way down, he left his apartment keys hanging from the doorknob. All of Konoha would know what had happened when they found this. That- and when his team returned without him. He considered leaving his headband as well, but decided it would raise too much alarm with Sakura. It would wait until he saw Sasuke.

Sasuke. Thinking of him brought so many emotions, Naruto could drown. It reminded him of his whole reason for his visit to the Sound village. The whole reason behind his committing of treason.

Come with me, the Uchiha had said in Naruto's doorway- right after knocking Sakura out and lying her on that cold bench so many years ago-, We can do this together

But I'm too young. I want to be Hokage- Naruto could hear himself say- Orochimaru is a bad man, Sasuke; don't go with him!

But the Uchiha's mind had already been made up and he was gone without a goodbye or an apology. Naruto swallowed thickly, staring at the bright sky above him and ignoring the people weaving around him in the street.

And again: Come with me.

Whispered in Naruto's ear in the middle of Orochimaru's destroyed compound. So low that he had to lean in, making Sakura worry. They had been older, but Naruto had been no more prepared for a decision of such gravity.

I can't. I won't leave my home- our home. I can bring you back.

Now, Naruto knew Sasuke would never step foot in Konoha again. Konoha ceased being the Uchiha's home the moment he found Itachi standing over his parents' carcasses. Sasuke would forever resent the Leaf Village and would make a point to stay out of it. Knowing that also sorted out Naruto's priorities. Number one: Konoha ceased being his home the moment Sasuke left.

The blonde had said no twice, but he would not a third. Not ever a third.

"Hey, Naruto!"

He reluctantly pulled himself from his thoughts and smiled at the waving boy.

"Konohamaru! Back from your mission I see,"

"Yeah!" the growing adolescent exclaimed, "We're preparing for the Chunin exams now!"

The Chunin Exam brought up bitter memories for the blonde, but he barreled past them.

"Really? I wish you the best,"

Konohamaru grinned up at him in a broad smile similar to his own.

"You've got your traveling clothes on-" he gestured to Naruto's white, ANBU-esque attire, "Are you going somewhere?"

"A top secret mission," Naruto winked, "Don't tell anyone,"

The boy beamed when Naruto waved over his shoulder as he walked away. He still had half an hour before he left the village- for good- and his feet automatically took him to Ichiraku's. Ayame grinned at him when Naruto murmured 'The usual' and took a seat. A steaming bowl of beef flavored ramen slid under his nose in no time.

Being there made him think of Iruka, which unleashed a flood of tear inducers. Just because he finally chose to go where his home was- running around the ninja world on a power frenzy- didn't mean he wasn't still attached to his ending life here in the village. He lightly fingered the engraved insignia on his headband, a solemn look gracing his features.

In the end, it didn't matter that he was filled with inner turmoil since his mind was made up. He didn't belong wherever Sasuke wasn't.

The strength of that statement made a blush dust over marked cheeks, and a smile melted away the tension in his shoulders. Love was such a ridiculous thing.

Reminding himself that he was on a time limit, Naruto quickly inhaled the bowl in front of him (realizing that it was probably the last time he would ever eat ghere) and laid the necessary money on the counter.

He looked at the buildings and people, soaking it all in so he would forever have the memory. He said goodbye to them with his gaze, the people of Konoha ever oblivious that their monster-turned-hero was slipping between their fingers.

"You're late," Sakura called from the northern gates, "I was wondering if we were going to have to start a search party,"

"I had to make a ramen stop before we go!" Naruto defended himself.

Sai smiled, a gleam in his eye that made Naruto uncomfortable. As if he knew.

"Well, some on! We've got an Uchiha to catch!"

Naruto smiled as the four of them took their leave, his team unaware that it would be Naruto's final exit and no following entrance.

The route to Kirigakure was simple- take a straight course to the Great Naruto Bridge. The weather was warm and muggy (they had quickly decided to start their journey in the shaded canopy of the trees), making water breaks become a more frequent occurrence for Team Kakashi. But they weren't in a hurry, despite the desire to see their estranged comrade as soon as possible. Even if Sasuke and his entourage left the Wave Country, the only direction left to go was in theirs.

The whole first eighteen hours of travel was spent in silence, each shinobi caught up in his or her own thoughts. Naruto tried to meditate on what he would say to the Uchiha when his moment arrived. Thinking had never been his strongest point, so after a few frustrating hours of shifting facial expressions and bad ideas, he filed the issue away and stamped it as I'll wing it. Besides, impulse was practically his nindou.

Deciding against starting a fire as they were setting up camp for the night, they sat around, covered in the darkness of the thick underbrush surrounding them.

"…mysterious, Naruto! Everyone wonders what you do when you disappear,"

The blonde jerked himself from his spinning mind at the sound of his name.

"You used to be seen all over the place- training grounds, hospital, Ichiraku's. You've gone from village goofball to the cool, secretive older brother," Sakura continued playfully, "We're all dying to know what Uzumaki Naruto does in his spare time,"

Truth be told, usually he was in Sasuke's old house digging up clan information- he had been surprised that the elders had not ordered the house to be purged of the past. He had found things like a family tree, family jutsu, information on the Sharingan, and even a bin of family photos. All of it was tucked away in a transportation scroll in his pouch this very moment- a gift for Sasuke when he saw him.

"Well…" Naruto drawled.

Sakura leaned forward expectantly.

"I do some of this and a little of that. Nothing too interesting. Besides, when has anyone been so interested in me?"

Sakura gave a dramatic guffaw that made Kakashi jump from his light doze, his orange book falling from his slack grip and hitting himself squarely in the crotch. Even Sai peeked up from his little chakra powered lamp and sketch book.

"You're kidding!" she sighed out in a heavy breath, "It's all we girls can talk about. Ever since you returned from your sage training, you've become the village hero. You're our new case,"

Naruto furrowed his brows in confusion, considering the word 'case' in that sentence. He used it as a distraction to the stab of guilt that coursed through his veins. What did she mean by that? Hero?

"What do you do all day?" she asked again.

"I've seen him," Sai spoke up, "brooding in random places,"

Naruto laughed.

"I don't brood! And I'll have you know that I'm never in random places. I am very picky about where I sit," the blonde sniffed.

Kakashi rubbed at his eyes and glared at the younger three accusatorily- probably for disturbing his almost slumber.

"You guys need to rest so we can pick up our pace tomorrow," he grumbled.

Naruto considered taking first watch in order to slip away and get a head start. He glanced to his left at the feel of a heavy gaze on him and caught Sai's flat ebony eyes pinning him. The hairs on the back of his neck rose- a warning if he ever knew one. How much of a head start would he even get if he left in the middle of the night?

Sai didn't look away, his blank face sliding into that slippery smile and effectively hiding anything he might have been thinking.

They challenged each other- Sakura not taking notice as she fluffed up her sleeping bag. Sai gave up, apparently finding whatever he was looking for in Naruto's curious expression, and moseyed off to his own resting spot.

Yes, Naruto thought, I think I'd better leave tonight.

Naruto didn't wait long before sneaking off. He didn't leave a note or even bother checking if Sai was really asleep- something about those snores just didn't come off as authentic. Again, he decided against abandoning his headband. He felt like he would need it again, one last time.

Navigating in the middle of the night running on five hours of sleep after a twenty hour day was grueling. But he pushed forward, jumping along the trees easily as if made for the darkness, wary of possible followers. Would Sai wake his team up and track him? The thought only made Naruto force more energy straight to his feet, drawing strength from the living matter around him.

He ran and ran until it felt like the soles of his feet were bleeding, and still, he ran. Naruto was flying- faster, faster- as if he was chasing the sunrise that was peeking through the trees before him. He used the sun as a direction source and the farther he drew east, the more the climate changed. The warm weather melted away to moist and misty, making the tree branches slippery.

Naruto's guess was that he had shaved off a full day and a half's travel. The coast was only a day away. He had traveled far enough to be out of Kakashi's Sharingan's range.

He stopped to allow himself a rest, and cried out in the morning silence as his body burned and protested. Naruto closed his eyes, gulping air into his tired lings. He could hear a large stream running by and forced himself to it.

Kyuubi's chakra was already leaking into Naruto's system as he undressed, the crimson life webbing the blonde's torn, strained muscles in a soothing cocoon. The cold water helped numb his feet- he confirmed that they had been bleeding.

The stream flowed around Naruto's skin, a soft force more like an embrace than a push, and he stilled his entire body. Focus, he whispered.

The energy came to him easily, drawing from the weeds thriving on the river's soggy bed, from the ancient trees enveloping him, from the dew covered grass- all of it warming and charging his core. Five more hours of comatose-like meditation and he'll have the coast in sight that night.

As he leaned onto the stream's bank for support, he tried to avoid thinking about how his ex-team was reacting. He didn't have to guess; he knew. First, they would think he had just taken off in his excitement. Maybe Sai would hint to know something. But eventually, they would find Naruto's headband, and it would give him away. He wondered what they would feel as they walked back home, dejected and broken.

The same way I felt when I returned to the village without Sasuke.

Lassitude plagued Naruto's body as he allowed himself to be swallowed up by his exhaustion. He let out a final sigh then was caught by the sandman.

It was well into the morning when Naruto awoke again, temporarily befuddled at the unfamiliar environment. His skin was pruned and swollen from the hours he had spent in the therapeutic water- a few degrees colder than he liked. Still, the young shinobi felt a far cry from what he had been, and was eternally grateful for his toad mentors' teachings.

Slowly, he stood, stretching his muscles of a few kinks, and dried himself with a towel he had cleverly packed.

Naruto washed his sandals of yesterday's blood in the creek after redressing in clean clothes. Then, it was back to running.

He didn't push himself as hard as he had earlier, noticing that the forest was a lot prettier in the glowing sunlight. The grass and trees were illuminated with all shades of green. He passed a few exotic birds and even watched a family of squirrels chase one another around a tree's trunk.

But in no time, the trees began to thin as the amount of fog increased, giving way to the open ocean. There was a small village to the north, opposite direction of the Wave Country. The breezy air chilled Naruto's flushed skin as he chose to take the path to Wave, not trusting his directional skills enough to take the uncharted path of the thicket.

There hadn't been much information of Sasuke's new comrades, but Naruto had seen pictures and was sure he would recognize one if he saw. He just didn't expect to see one of them so soon.

He had entered the village, cloaked in a brown traveler's jacket and headband slung loosely around his neck to be covered- nothing to make him stand out. It could hardly be called a village: there were ten little housing shacks, a food and supply market that lined both sides of the road- only one road-, and an inn connected to a bath house. Despite its lack of size however, the people were jovial and content with the simplicity of their lives.

It was then that Naruto saw him, bartering with a salesman over a sack of grain. His silvery, pale hair made him easy to see, along with his flashy attire- but mostly, it was Zabuza's sword strapped to his back that caught Naruto's attention.

"Suigetsu," the blonde had called before thinking ahead.

When sharp, irritated purple eyes landed on him in confusion, Naruto smiled and approached him.

"That is your name, right?"

"I don't recall telling you," he griped, "What do you want?"

Naruto considered the ex-Sound nin's words before answering carefully:

"I need you to take me to Sasuke,"

Those slanted eyes narrowed suspiciously before the young man turned away and began to leave.

"He doesn't take visitors,"

"I'm not a visitor,"

Even though Naruto's voice was filled with determination, he couldn't help but doubt himself a little. Did Sasuke even still want him around? Did he want Naruto to join him in his quest for revenge?

Suigetsu paused.

"Look, I don't care how much money he owes you- I'm not going to take you to him,"

"Has Sasuke been gambling?" Naruto asked, his mouth quirking up at the funny thought. He could imagine the Uchiha pimped out in a white suit, leaning intently over a poker table.

"I wouldn't know. Keeps to himself mostly," Suigetsu grumbled.

Before the ex-Sound nin even realized it, the blonde was walking with him shoulder to shoulder through the small town.

"Are you familiar with this area? This stretch wasn't here last time I came through. The Naruto Bridge must have been finished,"

"I'm only passing through, just like you. We've been across the bridge and are already heading back,"

Naruto smiled, wondering if Suigetsu even realized he was giving away information. Obviously, the sharp toothed male was telling the truth, since he had recovered the sword from Haku and Zabuza's grave site. Not that he minded- Naruto had spent an entire summer learning persuasive and seduction tactics under the tutoring of Anko. Sure, the technique was Kunoichi based, but if it worked, did it matter?

"Would you like to accompany me as I cross it?" Naruto asked, "It'll only take a day. I would like to visit some old friends,"

"I'm in a hurry,"

"You seemed to take your time earlier. Surly your friends won't mind too much if I borrow you for the day," Naruto insisted, casually taking off his cloak and winding his arm around Suigetsu's.

He kept the urge to smirk deep within as he pretended not see those lilac eyes wondering over his body. It made Naruto feel (only a little) cheap.

"Just for the day?"

"As my personal escort," he confirmed, "Just to and from, and then we can be on our separate ways,"

"…,"

Naruto wondered if he was passing off as a helpless civilian.

"I have to leave by midnight," he muttered, a scowl on his pouty-face.

"It's a date!"

Sasuke totally forgotten from Suigetsu's mind when a slim hand gripped his, the swordsman could only follow the smiling blonde through the tiny village and to the coast.

"I hate the ocean," the blonde whispered as the two gazed at the crashing water from afar. The bridge was a tiny speck in the distance, and if Suigetsu didn't have a weaker compainion he could have reached it in minutes without breaking a sweat. The mysterious teen held his hand tighter, "It's too big and unpredictable. It's cold,"

Blue eyes- much bluer than the mass of water before them- turned up towards the sky.

"Do you like the ocean, Suigetsu?"

It was then that the swordsman realized he had no clue who this guy was or what he wanted- except to see Sasuke. But he seemed so harmless. Innocent, even.

"I'm from here originally, so I'm used to all the water,"

The bridge drew nearer. Naruto could feel a familiar chakra brushing the recesses of his consciousness, but he didn't dare reach out to it. Make him come to me, he thought, moving closer to the oblivious male beside him.

"You know my name, but I don't know yours,"

Naruto laughed, willing the chakra to come nearer and it did. Sasuke could no doubt see him with his Sharingan by now.

"Oh, you'll know soon enough. I'm tired; do you mind us taking a five minute break?"

Far enough from the village and the bridge incase there was a battle, Naruto threw his cloak to the wispy sand and straightened his headband so it was face-up. Suigetsu glared, easily slipping into a defensive stance.

"You're a ninja," he accused, jumping back to put space between them.

"So are you," Naruto replied, "I'm not here to fight so don't get your panties in a wad,"

Naruto was relieved that Sasuke was alone in approaching. He swooped down fast, landing in a graceful crouch in the sand. The blonde's breath caught when he met spinning, red eyes.

"Leave us," Sasuke ordered Suigetsu.

Hesitantly, the pale haired shinobi retreated just out of range and barely into the tree line behind them.

"Aren't you a little far from home?" he hissed, voice low and clam.

"No," Naruto answered simply. As far as he was concerned, home was right in front of him.

"What do you want?"

This was the opening he had been waiting for. Now, if he failed it would all be his own doing. But what words to say?

"…I want you to ask me again,"

There was a tense pause in which Sasuke stood up, taller and leaner than Naruto remembered. Thinking he didn't understand, Naruto went on. His nerves were jittering and somehow along the way, his breathing had quickened.

"Ask me to come with you again,"

The youngest Uchiha cocked his head to the side, almost in a mocking manner.

"Why should I?" he asked, almost sneering.

Because I love you? True, but Naruto didn't find it meaningful enough. Their strange relationship had never been put into those whimsical words, and even now, they didn't seem to fit. Third time's the charm?

"Because I have a different answer,"

Slowly, steadfastly, Naruto reached behind his neck and untied the knot of his hitai ate. It fell into the sand with a dull thump.

Just as warily, Naruto chanced a step forward and took it as a sign when Sasuke didn't step back or glare.

"You have to say it first," Naruto reminded the silent nin in a breathy whisper.

The black haired Uchiha was gone, just as quickly as he came, and Naruto almost believed he had left completely. But then, a pale arm came from behind him and caressed his neck and chin with a cool hand. Naruto shivered at the dangerous buzz coming off of Sasuke and thought power.

He felt Sasuke's breath on the nape of his hairline, his shoulder blades being pressed into a chiseled chest.

"Come with me," it was just as he remembered, but better.

Shivering again, Naruto's tan hand came up and covered Sasuke's.

"Yes,"

Chapter One: End

TBC… 4994