Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or anything related to it!
A/N: Here's the next chapter! Thank you so much for all the reviews, favs, and alerts—it seriously means a lot. I find myself eager to get more chapters out when I see them. I'm actually early! Anyway, please enjoy. But also: do I have any *Beta Readers* who would want to correct/edit over this story for me? If so, PM me or just say so in your review!
"Be careful with that!" Naruto declared from the bottom of his apartments stairs. "If you're going to be careless, you can just watch while I carry them all one by one." He crossed his arms over his chest. Bastard, being inconsiderate! Blue eyes narrowly watched the raven make his way down the stairs, three cardboard boxes stacked high in his pale arms.
"Stop bothering me, or I will drop them. Purposely." Sasuke said, stepping off the staircase. He turned his head to Naruto just to show how serious he was, "I'm trying to make this go as fast as possible. Why don't you go grab your bags and put them in the car, lazy?" He said the last part as if it should've been obvious.
The blonde rolled his eyes as the Uchiha brushed past him. "I didn't ask you to help. You're just showing off!" Not that Naruto was impressed. A lot of people could carry more than twice their body weight with ease. Those boxes weren't that heavy, the human could move them all by himself of he had to. He glanced at the werewolf's' slowly disappearing figure. His toned and taut muscles were showing through his black shirt, with the light strain of carrying the boxes. Despite himself, the resident just had to notice how those muscles ran all the way from his arms to his back and to his legs. Berating himself, he started up the stairs to his now empty apartment.
The bareness made the blonde sigh—this was all really happening. He'd lived in this very same apartment ever since he was eighteen and had moved out of Tsunade and Jiraiya's home. So, just about six years. It was nice and good on his budget, since he was still in school technically. Everything had been transported out by the raven, the only thing Naruto had to get was his last small box of trinkets he'd acquired from friends over the years. He placed a high value on these things and refused to let Sasuke come near them with that 'it's just junk, I could replace it all hundreds of times over' attitude. Naruto lifted the box.
There was a little panda bear from Gaara, several charm bracelets from Sakura and Ino, too many letters written from too many people, his frog wallet, photographs from grade school and beyond, a necklace from Jiraiya that was said to have been his fathers. Now, Naruto lifted the necklace and studied it. It was a blue-green crystal necklace, the gem about two inches long. It didn't appear to be anything special. But Jiraiya insisted it was his fathers and could buy three mountains, so Naruto slipped it around his neck and once again looked inside the box. The last thing inside, which took up most of the room, was his toy stuffed fox. It was dark orange, had bright red buttons for eyes and nine long tails. The blonde couldn't even remember when he had gotten him, it was so long ago—back when he was a kid, he guessed. But Naruto couldn't find it in his heart to part with him, so 'Kyuubi-kun' was going with him. He picked up the fox and scrutinized it. A little worn from years of praise in the past, but—
"Are you ready, idiot?" Sasuke asked, standing behind the blonde. He watched Naruto jumped and whip around to glare at him, "Well?"
"Yes, I'm ready, bastard." He threw Kyuubi back in the box and nodded. He followed the Uchiha out to the waiting black SUV. He saw again how the bastard parked across two parking spaces. "You could get a ticket for that."
"I could care. But I don't." Came the smug response as the shifter jumped in the drivers seat. Naruto scoffed and got in the passenger side, keeping his little box. His mind barely processed that all his belongings were able to fit into a single SUV, how carelessly they must've been thrown against each other. "Rules about my car—"
"Is this one yours, and the other one too?" The blonde interrupted, just to be rude. "Why're they all black inside and out?"
"Yes, both are mine. Black is my favorite color." He said bluntly. "Now rules; don't pull out anything to eat, no eating in my cars. No leaning the seats back, don't play with the lights, don't play with the windows. And absolutely no touching my radio."
"Why not? I like listening to music during car rides." Naruto pouted.
"I do as well. But if I'm having a crappy day, be prepared to listen to some crappy music, understand?" Without waiting for an answer, Sasuke started the car and proceeded to turn the music to something he liked before driving out of the parking lot. Just as Naruto thought, something with an acoustic guitar and sad, sappy, slow lyrics. The exact opposite of anything the blonde would listen to. He wanted something with more pop and louder! Unable to control himself, Naruto's hand lurched toward the radio buttons.
"Ow!" He snatched his hand back and rubbed the spot were Sasuke had stuck him. "I don't want to listen to this junk!"
"I told you crappy day, crappy music."
"How has your day been crappy?" Before he could stop himself, the question was out. Naruto knew too well that it was because he had been spending it with him. He got a pointed look from the shifter but tried to ignore it. "Shut up, teme." He mumbled under his breath, only to catch the chuckles coming from the man next to him. Damn, werewolf hearing.
Instead of fighting over the radio any more, the resident focused on where they were going. He watched as they got on the highway, "There's not gonna be an accident right now is there?"
"I doubt they would attack at a time like this." Still, Sasuke frowned. He dared glanced at the other male, he could smell the slight uneasiness his answer had given him. Deep inside his head, the raven backpedaled wanting to reassure Naruto that he was safe so long as they were together, but the stronger forefront of his mind just shrugged it off.
The human didn't bother to ask who 'they' were. He tightened his hands on the box he was holding. "Are we going to Suna?" He tried to lighten the air between them.
"No. You will never step foot in Suna." The werewolf took an exit, then continued, "We reside in Konoha, it's our jurisdiction and always will be. Suna is theirs and it was a mistake of ours to be so close in the first place." He shook his head in disgust with himself.
Suna... Suna was Gaara's hometown. He didn't move to Konoha until he was going to high school. So, maybe he knew something about why Sasuke couldn't go there?
"What is this?" Naruto looked down to see a pale hand wrapped around the necklace he was wearing. After telling the raven it had belonged to his father, Sasuke said, "It smells horrible."
The blonde smacked his hand away and snapped, "Well, I didn't make it. Maybe your nose is just over sensitive to nice things, teme." He hid the gem inside his pale blue shirt.
"And something else over there smells, too." The shifter wrinkled up his nose. "Just what is in that box?"
"Just my sentimental things." He looked inside the box again. None of this stuff could give off a smell. He glared at Sasuke when he grunted. But he wasn't able to comment on it, because they were pulling up to a house.
However, calling this a house was unfair. It was a very big—huge mansion. Sasuke stopped at the tall front gate, but it quickly opened allowing him to pull in. Naruto practically pressed his face and hands to the window. "What did I say about the windows?" Ignoring him, the blonde continued to stare. The mansion was made from dark red brick, the roof was black. It had to have at least four stories, all the windows were large. The front entrance had double-doors, wooden and eight feet tall. But what made this home exactly where Naruto thought werewolves would live, was that the place was almost secluded with huge willow trees. They casted shadows and loomed over the home, making it look old and deserted. Though the trees themselves were a healthy dark green color. No wonder no one had ever mentioned this place before, no one could find it unless they just knew where it was. The blonde could make out figures loitering around outside, eyeing the car. They looked okay enough. "Get out my car!"
Naruto jumped at the growl and looked away from the mansion to see Sasuke already out the car, hands in the pockets of his tight jeans. Jeans that really showed how shapely his legs were. The blonde blushed at his thoughts and hopped out the vehicle, shutting the door behind him. Clutching his box, he says, "This is the place?"
"Yes," The raven started up the steps to the front doors.
"Wait, what about my things?" Blue eyes looked back at the car that still held all his belongings.
"Father will send someone out to move them into your room. Follow me." The Uchiha commanded. Once the blonde was behind him, he led the way through the doors.
Again, this place surpassed any home Naruto had ever been in. First he noticed the double staircases that led to what he presumed were the rooms, then the bright chandelier and high ceiling, then—through a large doorway—the dining room, complete with a grass table and red cushioned chairs. Everything looked so—expensive! Naruto didn't even want to think how much the tile he was currently walking on cost. He looked back to the figure he was trailing. Sasuke was at utter ease around all these things. Figured. People—other pack members—were looking down from the stairs, sizing up their new doctor. Naruto did his best to look unbothered by the unashamed eyes.
The pair walked under the staircases, then to the left. They stopped at a high oak door. "This is our primary meeting room. There is something I should explain; you're not an official member of this pack until you are accepted by our Alpha. Since you're not werewolf, you don't pose any kind of threat to us. I doubt there would be any reason for him to reject you, but you never know with your brain. Try to look trustworthy."
"Is he mean?" Naruto was suddenly insecure.
"He's my father." Sasuke shrugged.
"So, he's an icy bastard?" The human scoffed.
"If that's how you view it, then yes." The raven took hold of Naruto's arm and opened the door, leading him inside.
The meeting room wasn't as flashy as the rest of the mansion. It looked like a big, plain courtroom actually. It was one, to be exact. In the judges chair, sat a stern looking man with short black hair and pronounced tear docks under each dark eye. Behind him, a large red and white fan hung from the wall. In the seat where a witness would usually take the stand, sat a woman that Naruto could easily identify as Sasuke's mother. He shared many of his features with her. The room was empty besides the two of them. Naruto could only imagine how meetings went.
Sasuke marched the two of them right up to the front. Then he bowed. The human copied the movement and swallowed thickly.
"Rise." Came the deep voice of the Alpha sitting above them. They obeyed. "Naruto Uzumaki. We've been expecting you."
"Yes, s-sir." Unsure of what else to say, that spilled from his lips. He looked up at the man.
"My sons, Itachi and Sasuke, have both recommend you to fill a position as a medic for my pack. You've already saved Sasuke once, am I correct?" He seemed to look down at a paper before him.
"Yes, sir." The blonde nodded, then glanced at Sasuke who was frowning at the memory of that. But Naruto didn't know that it wasn't the fact that a human had saved his life, that had him frowning. It was the fact that it was the day they had met and Sasuke would do anything to go back and make sure that had never happened.
"And you've told no one of our kind? Not a single word, even after seeing my youngest pup, practically shift right in front of you?" Fugaku rubbed his chin. "My boy even attacked."
"Sasuke! You attacked Naruto-kun?" The woman spoke for the first time. She wagged her finger at him, "You could've killed him and everyone would have seen. Didn't I raise you better than that?"
"Yes, mother." Sasuke sighed, scowling even deeper. It wasn't his fault the idiot was insufferable. What had he done to be at the mercy of that ball of blonde?
"I have to say, I'm impressed, Naruto Uzumaki."
"Thank you, sir." He bowed again. At least everything was going well.
"Have you anything to say on your behalf?"
"Uh..." Naruto looked down at his feet. "Nothing, really. I'm good."
"I would like to inform you he's an idiot." Sasuke muttered beside him, not really speaking to anyone in particular. But that didn't stop the human from elbowing him in the ribs. "Do that one more time." He hissed. So, the blonde did. Naruto didn't think he would actually do anything since his mother had lectured him. And he was right, all Sasuke did was start seething.
"But I guess that cleared up one thing." Fugaku mused, seeming to not hear his new medic bickering with his son. He looked between Sasuke and Naruto, raising an eyebrow to his pup.
Said pup shook his head viciously in response, something Naruto glared at him for. What was that about? Didn't he want him to join this pack? But Fugaku spoke again, "Okay, then. With the power vested in me—as Alpha of this jurisdiction, and under the witness of two of my most trustworthy Beta's, I herby grant you membership. Naruto Uzumaki, I give you the respected title of medic. Understand that this is a lifelong commitment, if you want out, you may never return. You will be an Omega to every inch of Konoha and parts of Kumo. Remember that, I do not allow betrayal in my pack. Welcome." Fugaku stood from his chair.
"I understand and thank you." Wide blue eyes watched the man move toward him. He tensed when Sasuke placed his hands on his shoulders. "W-what are you doing?" Before he could demand an answer, his right wrist was being pulled and to his horror he watched the Alpha seek his teeth into his tan flesh. He shrieked and tried pulling away, but it was no use. Blood was seeping from his arm, around Fugaku's canines. The older man pulled back and began to lick away the blood, despite the blondes protested. He continued to fight against the pain, "What the hell, Sasuke!"
"Shut up." Was the cold reply. He held the human steady. "Does it still hurt?" Naruto froze in his rants, looking back at his wrist. It was perfectly healed. Fugaku released his hold, as did Sasuke. "It was a bite from the Alpha. He was making you official, so every wolf knows exactly what pack you belong to, even though you're human. Now stop whining and let's go." Before the blonde could go deeper into this, he was being pulled from the meeting room.
"Fugaku, did you smell that?" Mikoto asked as soon as her youngest pup was gone.
"Yes. But I'm sure it was nothing," He answered his wife. He turned to look at her, a look of confidence on his usually strict face."But if it does turn out to be something, it is up to Sasuke to decided what to do. Naruto is completely his responsibility now."
"Oh, I sure hope it's Naruto-kun, he's adorable! It's been so long since Sasuke has let anyone get close to him." She looked at her mate with hopeful eyes, small smile playing on her beautiful face.
"It's times like this when I wish he was a little more like Itachi."
Mikoto giggled. "You know how Sasuke is. He'll deny it until the last full moon."
-Line Break-
Hours later, Naruto was incredibly bored. He had been thrown into a nice sized room, it had all the necessities and more. Sasuke had told him it was now his own private quarters, and when the blonde questioned why he couldn't leave it, all the raven had done was shut him inside with the promise to harm him if he left. Naruto hadn't even had any food!
The human sat center on the queen sized bed criss-cross, flicking through the channels on the flat screen t.v. once again. It was like he didn't live with goddamn werewolves now. He growled and laid back on the bed, frustrated that he couldn't go out and explore his new home. He wasn't even given a legitimate reason for his imprisonment. Or any ramen! The least the bastard could do was feed him.
Rolling to the edge of the bed, Naruto looked down at the last box that needed to be unpacked, the one full of all his personal items. He reached out and pulled up Kyuubi-kun, rolling back onto his back. Locking eyes with the orange fox, he frowned at it. When had that button began to come lose? Naruto ran his thumb over the left eye of the stuffed animal, the red button had lost some of its stitching. How did he not notice earlier? He could've fixed it before leaving the apartment.
A loud knock rang through the room and right to the blondes ears. He flinched and dropped Kyuubi onto the bed, turning toward the door. If it were Sasuke, he would just walk in. So, who was there? The person knocked again, louder. Naruto stood and walked up to the door, "Who's there?"
"Orochimaru Sannin. Head Medic of this forsaken pack." Came a muffled voice. It sounded impatient. "You are Naruto Uzumaki, our newest doctor. You need to get aquatinted with our work, Fugaku-sama sent me."
To eager to question the man, the blonde threw open the door. Blue eyes were met by annoyed gold ones. The man who had knocked was pale white, had long black hair down his back and snake-like features complete with purple markings under each eye. He put his hands on his hips.
"Well, this is not what I expected. You're a cute brat." Orochimaru smirked, then turned away and started walking. "Come along." Naruto gapped at the insult-compliment, then snapped out of it to begin following.
The older male led the blonde back down the stairs and to the right, into a room with a white swinging doors. The room was set up like a hospital, about ten-or-so beds that had all the necessary equipment set up next to them, waiting to be operated. Everything was perfectly clean. At the end of the room there was a big oak desk, behind it sat a man with long blonde hair, half pulled into a high ponytail. He could've been an older, taller version of Naruto.
He looked up with a big grin, "Hi there, un! You have got to be Naruto-kun!" He got up from the desk and proceeded to run the way to the younger blonde, pulling him into a soft hug. "Itachi-sama told me about you."
Despite not knowing this man, Naruto returned the hug. It was nice to have some friendly company, and this was exactly the type of person he could get along with. A copy-cat of himself. "I sure am. You are?"
"Deidara, un. Lemme get you away from Orochimaru-san. He's not very nice to newcomers." Deidara threw his arm around Naruto and started to show him around his new workplace, "Let's get to it! This is our own private hospital facility. It's all above average equipment too!" Naruto nodded. Everything was a bit nicer than at Konoha Valley. "Whenever one of the wolves gets hurt, they'll just bring him in here and we have to take care of him, un. It's usually just getting rid of the silver and making sure they don't lose too much blood, after that they can pretty much do it themselves. It's the newly turned ones we need to watch."
The younger blonde kept nodding his head, that all made sense, "Why don't they heal as quickly as the older ones?"
"When a person is first turned, their body is still trying to adjust. The wolfy parts and the human parts kinda fight each other until the wolfy part takes over. You'll see when you treat your first wolf, un. It's like, their bones and insides are more animal like. Stronger, their insides can eat raw meat and their teeth—their canines are so cool! As they get older, the body accepts the gene and they can heal themselves more quickly." The older medic explained, then motioned to the desk he had been sitting by. "Then we record all the stuff we learn and store it for future references, un."
"You called it a gene?" Naruto decided to voice his confusion on this.
"Yes, un. A person becomes a werewolf by one of two ways; they're born with the gene or infected with it by through the means of turning. Its a very powerful and dominate gene, there's a 95% chance that the offspring will get it, no matter the generation. And if they don't, they can just get turned." The older blonde showed off his knowledge of werewolves.
"The Alpha bit me! Does that mean I'm gonna be a werewolf?" The younger blonde didn't know if he should be ecstatic or terrified.
"No, no, no. Turning someone doesn't just take a bite. And an Alpha's bite, when it's not hostile means protection, un. Plus, the wolves nip at everyone all the time—just to show affection and whatnot." Deidara reassured his new friend. "But back to work. When we're not treating one of the members, we're expected to study their history and biology—that's why I know so much, I'd be lost if I didn't study. That way if someone comes down with something serious, we can handle it better." The two blondes had reached the oak desk. Deidara leaned against it, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Werewolves get sick? That's lame."
The older blonde laughed. "I know right! I thought the same thing when Karin-san told me that too. Whenever they get sick, it can be hard for them to control their transformation, which is a pretty big problem, un. And then there's the thing about going into heat..." He tapped his chin.
"Into what?"
"Nevermind. Someone else has to tell you about all that."
"Alrighty then, how many more doctors are there?" Peering around the room, they seemed to be only three. Orochimaru was currently on the phone with someone.
"Me, you, Orochimaru-san, Kabuto-san, and Karin-san. So, five. But Itachi-sama said he is looking for one more person."
"Do you have any idea who it could be?" Naruto's mind instantly sprang to Gaara—who had already came across Sasuke and Itachi at the same time he had.
"Nope. But I'm sure it'll be someone good."
"Okay. Sounds easy enough. Just like my old job, really." Where was the catch? What made it different from doctoring humans?
"Haha! The only hard part is keeping them from eating you as you treat them. Some werewolves are so vicious." Naruto gulped at that. "Oh, but don't worry, un. Other wolves are always around to protect us, un. Afterall, the battle is lost if all the soldiers are dead and gone."
"Okay," Naruto nodded once again. "Deidara, how long have you been working for Fugaku-sama?" Unsure of what honorific to bestow the Alpha, he copied Orochimaru.
"Well..." Deidara chewed on his bottom lip. "About a month before Itachi-sama bonded me to him. So, around two and a half years, un."
"You said Itachi what?" The younger blonde was dumbfounded. he cocked his head to the side.
Deidara giggled. "He bonded me to him. Itachi-sama is my mate and I am his." He spoke proudly. "It was beautiful, Naruto-kun! Heh, Itachi-sama says the ceremony hasn't been outdone since, un. But who knows what Sasuke-kun will pull to one-up his big brother." His smile shifted into a grin.
Before Naruto could question what Deidara meant by that, both blondes turned to see who burst into the room loudly. "Naruto! I can't believe you're actually here." Kiba shouted, waving.
"Kiba!" Naruto turned and hurried over to give his friend a hug. This was just getting better. "What're you doing here?"
Kiba smiled sheepishly. "Well, uh... I live here." Narutos jaw dropped and he released his hold on the brunette.
"What? Really?" He watched the dog lover nod. "So, you're a werewolf too?" Before Kiba could defend himself, he was being bombarded by the questions of a furious young blond. "How could you!—friends since age eight—where are your ears?—does Hinata know?—"
"Actually! About Hinata." Kiba finally got a word in. "She lives here too. Naruto, you should meet the rest of the pack. You'll be surprised." He snickered at the shocked look on his friends face. Then he heard a rumbling sound. "Hungry?"
Naruto flushed. "Damn right. What's there to eat around here?—I swear—if you say any kind of raw meat or tell me to hunt an animal, I will kill you!" Kiba slowly closed his mouth, grinning.
A/N: Hope it was to your likings. I'm going to slow this down a bit. Please drop me a review or something, it helps with inspiration! Don't forget to tell me if you would like to Beta for me, I would appreciate it greatly. More coming soon. Until next time, review!
