Summary: The handful of meetings between Uchiha Itachi and Uzumaki Naruto were always intense. Who'd have thought there was an underlying reason for it? Yaoi, ItaNaru

Warnings: If you didn't see it already from the summary, this is yaoi, with lemony content. Also, spoilers for future manga chapters are included in this story.

a/n: I forgot to put this at the beginning, but this story is dedicated to -Nightly Halo- who wanted something a lot less angsty and depressing. No angst in this story! :) Well except for a brief one in this chapter. But all will be well soon.

'Italics' = Thoughts

The story will mostly be told as flashbacks. Each chapter will begin with narration and dialogue in Naruto's POV before the actual flashback in each chapter. For those who are a bit confused. Just remember that everything before the line break is present storyline. Anything after the line break is flashback. Present Day = Italics / Flashback = Normal font


TIME WILL TELL

Ch 3 - The Truth


Time is a companion that goes with us on a journey. It reminds us to cherish each moment, because it will never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we have lived. - Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart)

xxx

I finally left the window behind. I was tired of standing and eagerly took the couch baa-chan vacated. The cushion was still slightly warm and I shifted until I found a comfortable position. For the moment it was nice and quiet. Kakashi was too busy reading. Shizune and Baa-chan had gone away taking their constant arguing with them. I closed my eyes and tried to calm my mind and keep my thoughts off of the man I was waiting for.

"Decided to finally sit down?"

And just when I thought I would have complete silence, Kakashi decided to make conversation. Great...

"Uh...yeah."

I remember when I first found out Kakashi had been named the hokage. I didn't come out of my apartment for days. It just hurt too much and I felt betrayed by two people I considered practically family. I should've known, though, that Sasuke wouldn't let me mope for long and after a very volatile fight that left my apartment in ruins - although I can't complain since Sasuke felt bad enough to let me stay with him - I began to let go of my resentment and slowly returned to normal. Eventually I was even able to laugh at the idea of Kakashi as hokage. He just never seemed to be the type. He was lazier than baa-chan and he loved his privacy. Why else would he be so obsessed with wearing a mask? But, really, he did a great job. He even put the council in their place.

Truthfully, I should probably thank him. If not for his intervention, I doubt I'd ever be in this position.

"Find what you were looking for?"

"Actually, no...not yet." No, no Itachi yet, but I would keep looking when I felt like going back to the window.

"What are you looking for anyway?"

I glanced up at him, amused by the fact that his eyes never left the pages of his book. It still amazed me how he was able to read and yet still hear everything going on around him. Oh sure, he played the game well...especially with Gai. He acted like he wasn't listening. But he always was. In fact, he probably was more alert behind his book than any of us would ever be with or without a book to preoccupy us.

"Nothing." He was still looking at the page, but I didn't miss his eyebrow raise slightly. Ok, fine, it was a lie, we both knew it. "Well, I was just waiting to see if everyone I invited would show up." Wow...that was even more lame. If Kakashi-sensei didn't recognize that as a lie...

"Ah."

Well, that was surprising. I figured he would call me on it.

"Well, whatever it is, I'm sure you'll find it after the ceremony is over."

Yeah...I can only hope. If anything bad happens to him, I don't know what I'd do. I don't think I could deal with it again.

When our paths crossed that third time, we had been searching for Sasuke. However, we had decided to employ a new tactic...find Itachi. If we found Itachi, we'd surely find Sasuke. And for me, that was all that mattered at the time. I had no idea how much everything between he and I would begin to change that day.


Shadow clones of Naruto went off in every possible direction. The real Naruto went in a direction not chosen by any of his clones. And then he saw it. 'Sharingan.' When he saw those ruby eyes peering out of the shadows, his first thought was that it was Sasuke.

He was wrong.

Itachi was the one who stepped out of the shadows of the trees. The first thought Naruto had was that he hated the Uchihas for having such perfect genes. A little piece of him was disturbed for finding the man attractive, but really, who could blame him. One couldn't help but see the beauty in Itachi, or even Sasuke for that matter.

He almost shuddered at the thought. Why was he thinking of Sasuke like that? Hell, why was he thinking of Itachi like that?

When those red eyes found him hiding, a shiver went up his spine. But not for the reason one would think. It wasn't fear. It was anticipation. This was his chance! With Itachi right there he was another step closer to getting to Sasuke.

"Show yourself Uzumaki Naruto."

Knowing his cover was blown, Naruto stepped out of the trees. He had no idea what he was going to do. He was alone and he had no plan. All he had were his clones. But he would do whatever it took to beat Itachi. He had to. It was the only way to get to Sasuke.

"Finally gonna try and capture me?" he asked the older Uchiha.

"No...I merely want to talk to you."

'Huh? Itachi's here, I'm alone, and all he wants to do is talk?' Naruto was confused. He expected a battle. He expected to be subjected to all kinds of crazy genjutsu. Was this some kind of trick?

Two clones jumped out the treeline, kunai in hands. He remembered what old lady Chiyo said last time. If it was one on one, your only hope is escape. Two on one, attack from behind. But the clones were quickly disposed of by Itachi without him even turning around.

...He hated Uchihas.

Naruto saw the painted fingers move and he immediately looked down. He had to be careful of Itachi's illusions. He wasn't going to be stupid enough to fall for that little technique twice.

"I see you learned a little about fighting the sharingan. You must know what to do when you're alone...why aren't you running?"

"Because with me, my numbers can be anywhere from one to a thousand." Naruto grinned. "Besides, I can't afford to run this time. I gotta capture you so I can find Sasuke!"

Itachi stared at the blond in surprise. He couldn't miss the determination on the tanned face. Why does he care so much for someone who left his village behind? "What is it about my brother that makes you care about him so much? He's a rogue ninja who abandoned you."

"Because he's like a brother to me... And I'm a better brother than you ever were!"

Itachi turned solemn at the words, not that anyone could tell. If only Naruto knew...

Naruto meanwhile had enough of talking and went on the offensive, running toward Itachi. With a slight smirk, Itachi opened his cloak. Out flew a horde of crows that immediately surrounded Naruto. One flew close enough for the blond to see the bird's eye. It was a...sharingan? His eyes went wide.

"That's right Naruto-kun. You are already trapped in my illusion."

Dammit! How could he get caught again? What did he miss?

The birds merged together into a blob and the blob formed into Itachi's upper half.

"I'll say it once more. I only wish to talk to you."

Naruto didn't believe him, but he had no defense against the illusion. He had no choice but to hear Itachi out.

"You want to bring Sasuke back don't you? But what if he doesn't want to go?"

Naruto grimaced. He refused to admit that the question had crossed his mind more than once over the last few months. He'd already faced that problem twice before. Would it be the same again? It didn't matter. He would do whatever he had to.

"I'll do whatever I have to to bring him back."

"By force if necessary? If all goes well and Sasuke goes quietly that's one thing. But what if it's the opposite?"

Naruto's brows furrowed in confusion. Why was Itachi asking him these questions? Why did he even care?

"What do you mean?"

"You said you thought of Sasuke as a brother. Well, I'm asking you what you'd do if Sasuke were to attack Konoha."

"What...? Why would Sasuke... He'd never do that!" 'Would he?' Naruto wasn't feeling as positive as he sounded.

Itachi continued. He needed Naruto to understand... "Sasuke is still pure. He could easily be colored by anything. If that should happen would you be able to stop him...even if it meant killing him?"

Naruto gasped and stared at Itachi wide-eyed. Kill Sasuke? He didn't have a ready answer. His mind spun with the different scenarios. When he'd last seen Sasuke, his friend was about to stab him with a sword.

And he would've let him.

"Could you weigh Sasuke's life against Konoha?"

Cound he really do it? Could he kill Sasuke as easily as it seemed Sasuke was willing to kill him? His best friend or Konoha...what meant more? Naruto thought about all the implications and found his answer. "I'd protect Konoha and find a way to stop Sasuke without killing him!"

"You're such a child." Naruto cringed at the statement. "You talk of nothing but pipe dreams...There are times when a ninja must make painful choices."

Naruto stared ahead and thought of his sensei. Ero-sennin had said those same words to him after he'd failed to bring Sasuke back. And just like then, he was not going to be swayed from what he believed.

"I won't bend my words. That's what being a ninja means to me."

Naruto glared at the other man as he spoke those words with such conviction and determination. Itachi stared back. Then he saw something shocking.

Itachi smiled.

Sure, it wasn't much of one, but it was more than he ever thought he would see from the blank faced Akatsuki member. And the man suddenly seemed more at peace...relieved, like a heavy load had been lifted. He had a fleeting thought floated to the surface - and for once, he was happy that he'd finally learned (at least a bit) to think before he spoke. 'You should smile more.' The slight change of expression gave Itachi a softness in his face that was never seen by others. It made him beautiful.

And it was at that moment he knew that there had to be more to the man in front of him than he, Sasuke, or Konoha ever knew.

Suddenly a crow dived right for him and flew into his mouth. 'What the hell?'

"I've given you some of my power. I hope the day never comes when you have to use it."

Naruto looked around. They were back in the forest on solid ground. Itachi was still standing across from him.

"Wh...What do you mean?" Something was wrong with this picture. Itachi shouldn't be talking to him...shouldn't be asking him about Sasuke. He should be trying to capture him...take him away to Akatsuki. Why wasn't he trying to take him? "You're after me aren't you? Then why not take me now?"

Why the hell was he caring why Itachi wasn't trying to take him? He should be relieved. And why wasn't he trying to capture Itachi?

Itachi just stood there, still giving Naruto that small smile. He was content. Sasuke would be in good hands. Naruto proved himself worthy of the task of protecting his otouto. Now he could do what he set out to do without worry. "I'm going now. I have something more important to do."

Naruto was struggling with something in his mind. This whole situation just wasn't right. He looked up and saw Itachi about to turn away.

"Wait!"

Itachi surprisingly stopped and stayed where he was, sharingan boring into his own as he waited for Naruto to speak.

"The Uchiha Massacre...there's more to it than what we've heard isn't it?"

"Hn." Itachi smirked slightly. "You're more intelligent than you let on. Maybe you should stop acting the part of the village idiot."

"Hey!" Naruto glared indignantly. Itachi didn't respond to his huffing. He knew that there was more to Naruto than everyone else always saw. However, he had no time to address that. Instead he gave Naruto a cryptic message.

"Everything you want to know you will find where I left it. My chakra will guide you to the truth." With a final nod at Naruto he disappeared.

Naruto suddenly felt a bit sad. He wasn't sure why. He just had a feeling. "Please...don't die...Itachi." The words Naruto whispered on the wind came from the heart.

He should be heading back to his team. But he didn't move. In just a few short minutes his view of the world had tilted a bit more than before. Itachi had become a complete contradiction. He had killed his entire family, became a missing nin, and joined a rogue organization that was capturing jinchuuriki. Yet, he seemed to care about his brother and Itachi didn't seem all that interesting in capturing him either.

Right here, right now, everything he thought he knew had just been called into question with only a few sentences from Itachi.

Who was Itachi really?

He might not ever get the chance to find out. Itachi was going to fight Sasuke after all, and he had a feeling it would be to the death this time. For some reason, the thought of either one of them dying was enough to make him physically ill. He didn't want to lose his best friend. But, he didn't want Itachi to die either. They were family. Family isn't supposed to fight. Not like that.

Thinking back to Itachi's questions, understanding slowly filtered through Naruto mind. Itachi was going to die. He had planned it that way. Tears filled his eyes and threatened to fall. It wasn't right. It shouldn't be this way. How does a family end up so dysfunctional? Where had the Uchiha clan gone wrong? What could've happened so long ago that would make Itachi kill his entire family?

He wanted to know.

xxx

It was after Naruto was back with the team and while battling that goofy masked man that he heard the news.

Itachi was dead.

Sasuke killed Itachi.

Naruto ran like hell. He had to get to Sasuke before Akatsuki did. But they were too late.

Sasuke had been the victor. But he still wouldn't be coming home.

Again Naruto would be coming home empty-handed, even worse, empty-hearted. Except, he wasn't sure which person his heart felt empty for...Sasuke, who was lost in his hate? Or Itachi, who was gone from this world because he instigated that hate?

On his first night back in the village Naruto went on his own personal mission. He sneaked onto the Uchiha grounds. He didn't have to worry about being followed. No one would want to. The place was too creepy. The entire compound was suspended in time. The reminder of what had happened that one night was still easily seen by the walls and street. He shivered. How had Sasuke continued to stay here?

Blocking off his fear of ghosts, he put one foot lightly in front of the other, deciding to start with what was most familiar. The Uchiha mansion. He wanted to know what truth he was missing.

Itachi was right. The chakra he'd gotten from him gave him a free pass to everything Uchiha. By the time the night was over, he found out so much more than he ever wanted to know.

He now knew the truth of the Uchiha massacre. He knew the truth about Uchiha Itachi.

And that morning when he crawled into bed in his lonely apartment, he cried for innocence lost, for Konoha, for Sasuke, for Itachi.

xx

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a/n: Sorry for the delay in updating. If anyone's read my profile in the last week, you'll know it's been pretty tiring. I'm still trying to get my head back into writing. I've been reading more than writing this week. Thank you for your patience and your reviews! I think I've answered them all. I'm trying to catch up lol. Anyways, here lies chapter three. This chapter had quite a solemn feel to it didn't it? Well, it was needed. But things will pick up a bit soon. Hope you enjoyed it and please review. This will be the last chapter based on the manga. The rest from chapter 4 and on will be out of my own little head. And the chapters wll be quite a bit longer. Wonder how that will turn out eh? Stay tuned!