CHAPTER 3

With an unusually tidy and organised pack of weapons, Naruto raced through village. Each road and ally was blanketed in thick dark shadows clinging to the cold stones, hiding him from any eyes that might be fast enough to catch a glimpse.

The Uchiha border was gradually coming into view, its great red and white symbol seeming to glow brightly even in the night. Naruto slowed down and searched the gates for any ninjas. Nobody was there. A slight sense of relief flashed in his chest, but it disappeared just as quickly when the mist of guilt and dread spread through him.

Just get it over with Naruto… The familiar growl of the Kyuubi haunted his mind. He could tell it wanted to enjoy this. You might even enjoy it too, it laughed hoarsely.

"Damn fox." He muttered and silently ran into Uchiha territory.

Even if he was noticed, Naruto knew that most of the Uchiha's would only try to welcome him back. They trusted him. Most of the time Naruto would be here with Sasuke, discussing everything; the missions they'd been on together, which one of them had grown stronger, the new noodles at the Ichiraku Ramen Bar…

Naruto's nails dug deeply into his palms, blood staining his hands.

"What am I doing?" Gradually he came to a halt. The silence of the night around him was heavy and unnerving. As he stood, his eyes close tightly and lips pressed into a thin line, the nine tailed demon hissed

What are you doing? If you're not here to kill then go. He was almost stunned at the fox's nearly kind words until it began barking out profanities that severely degraded Naruto in every way.

Before he could throw the insults loudly back, he heard voices emanating from a house near to him. He jumped back, pressing himself against the wall. When he listened, he realised the voices were angry and tense, as though arguing. Then he realised who these voices belonged to.

"Damn it Sasuke, listen to me!" Naruto heard the exasperated tone of Fugaku Uchiha. "You're wasting your time, can't you see?"

"I don't need to explain myself to you all the time," Sasuke replied, quiet but equally as vehement as his father. Naruto could imagine the enraged glare that would appear in his obsidian eyes.

"And I don't ask you to!" There was a thump, followed by the crash of objects falling and cracking on the floor. "I just want you to focus on the right goals."

"My goals belong only to me."

"You're wasting your potential, Sasuke. You could be as great as…"

They were both quiet for a moment.

"Will I never be equal to him in your eyes?"

""Don't start that again."

"Why not? It's true isn't it?"

"You know it's not. And you shouldn't talk about him like that."

"Like what! You're the one who will never mention Itachi's name any more."

"Don't raise your voice to me."

"Just because he's not alive anymore, it doesn't mean he never existed!"

"Watch your tongue boy."

The silence rose again, hot and thick. Naruto shifted uncomfortably. Sasuke was supposed to be on his way to the sand village. But even so, Naruto really knew he couldn't bring himself to carry out this mission, whether Sasuke was away or not. He was about to move away, he knew he shouldn't have been standing there eavesdropping. Yet before he could go, the sound of his own name held him there.

"It's because you're around that Naruto boy all the time that you've got this attitude."

"Don't bring him into this father."

"This is the true reason for your lack of discipline, your weakness."

"I've become far stronger in his company than I ever could in yours."

"You're blinded by this misplaced loyalty. The Uchiha clan will have immeasurable power in the future because we protect our own family's blood, not the skin of our enemies."

"Enemies?" Sasuke spat out. "Naruto is my closest friend. And I will always protect those close to me."

"Are your sharingan so easily deceived? That demon-"

Sasuke cut off his words. "I don't have time for this, father. I have a mission to complete."

Naruto, stunned from way that Sasuke so strongly defended him to his own father, barely had enough time to disappear into the shadows when his friend darted from the house. The ANBU uniformed ninja, clutching the scrolls of a fake mission, leapt across the roofs soundlessly and faded quickly into the blackened skyline. His stormy mood prevented him from noticing Naruto's figure that hid just a few feet away from his point of exit.

Cold air washed over Naruto face. Determination set in his features. He waited for a few minutes after he could no longer see Sasuke before reaching into his bag. The blade of the poisoned Kunai hiss as it brushed against the other metal there. Gripping one tightly, he turned to the door of the Uchiha household.