As promised, Chapter 3 and 4 have been uploaded together. I'm sorry about the long wait. So, to read this chapter you need to read the one before. It is no longer an Author's Note. Again, I appologize for the wait.

I do not own Naruto, nor do I make any money off of this.

"talking"
'thinking'


Chapter 4:

Madara left again to further his plans. Sasuke laid on his bed staring at the ceiling. He heard a moan and looked to his right. Naruto was waking up. Sasuke sat up and turned towards Naruto. He was prepared to fight him.

Naruto yawned and sat up. He blinked to get rid of the blurriness. Realizing where he was he looked around until his eyes found Sasuke. "Sasuke."

"Naruto," Sasuke said.

"He brought you here didn't he?" Naruto asked. "That man with with orange mask." Sasuke nodded. "Do you know why he brought you here?"

"He told me the truth about Itachi," Sasuke said. Naruto raised an eyebrow. "The Elders and a man named Danzo ordered him to massacre the Clan. But Itachi..." Sasuke clenched his fists. "He couldn't kill me." A tear ran down Sasuke's cheek. "He loved me too much." Naruto lunged at Sasuke, wrapping his arms around him. He couldn't take seeing Sasuke cry.

"It's ok," Naruto said. He then pulled back slightly. "How do you know that he's telling the truth? What if he is lying? He could be using you."

Sasuke pushed Naruto away and pinned him to his bed. "And Konoha isn't? If I went back I'd be killed or locked up. The only reason I wouldn't be is for my eyes!"

"I won't let them do that!" Naruto yelled. "You are my best friend Sasuke. I wouldn't let anyone hurt you."

Sasuke could tell that Naruto was being sincere. Naruto's eyes always told the truth. If you wanted to know how he felt all you had to do was look at his eyes. In his eyes, Sasuke saw fear, anger, hope, sincerity, and something he didn't understand. He could guess that the fear and anger was from being captured by the Akatsuki. Sincerity showed the truthfulness of his words and hope was his wish for Sasuke to understand him. And he did. Sasuke could see that Naruto was willing to do anything for him. He sat back, releasing Naruto's wrists. "It is different from back then. Back then, you were were hiding something from me."

Naruto knew what Sasuke was talking about. "I didn't know until I was twelve." He looked up at the ceiling. "The night following our Genin exam, I was tricked by Mizuki into stealing a scroll. In the scroll was the Kagebushin no Jutsu. I spent hours trying to learn it when I finally did, Iruka-Sensei found me. Mizuki attacked us. Iruka-Sensei tried to protect me. It was the fact that I defeated Mizuki that let me graduate. Mizuki was the one that told me about the Kyuubi."

"You didn't know?" Sasuke asked.

"No," Naruto said. "I didn't know why they said hurtful things until then. After we became Genin together and formed a team, I thought about telling you guys about it, but I was afraid. It was an S-Class secret that I didn't want to burden you with." He sighed. "The time you caught those two ninja attacking me, they were angry that I was still alive. They wanted me dead. I can't blame them for being afraid. They lost their families during Kyuubi's attack."

"Why didn't you fight back?" Sasuke asked.

"I didn't want to prove them right," Naruto said. "I know that I can hurt them. I used Kyuubi's Chakra when we fought Haku. I was able to stop myself but how was I suppose to know if I would be able to stop myself again? Killing them would just make me the monster they believe I am."

Sasuke knew that Naruto was right. People who are scared already would only behave worse if they thought he was a threat. Naruto would be executed if he fought back and harmed anyone. If wasn't fair. Naruto should be able to defend himself and not have to worry about killing anyone. To be honest, Sasuke could not see Naruto killing anyone. It just wasn't him.

"Besides," Naruto said interrupting Sasuke's thoughts. "I'm fine. No matter what they do or say, I will still becomes Hokage. They will acknowledge my true strength. I'll put what they've done behind me. It is better to continue forward."

It was then that Sasuke realized what Itachi meant. Naruto was strong because he had someone to protect. Itachi was also strong because he had Sasuke. That means that Sasuke could be strong if he found someone to protect. His mind wonder back to when he jumped in front of a dozen senbon so Naruto wouldn't get hurt. He had claimed that his body had moved on its own. But was there more to it? Sasuke looked at Naruto and he knew right then and there why he really did it. He couldn't lose Naruto. Naruto was more than his beat friend. He was his most
precious person. Sasuke could give up on his desire for revenge if it meant having Naruto.

Madara came into the room and Naruto glared at him. Sasuke could tell that Naruto wanted to Rasengan the man, but since his Chakra was sealed, he couldn't do it. "Your team is ready for you when you're ready."

Sasuke stood up. He was going to play along until he found a way to free Naruto and destroy Akatsuki. "What do you want?"

"It seems Pein is planning against us," Madara said. "I believe your team should be able to kill him. It would also be a good way to test out your eyes." Naruto looked at Sasuke confused. He hadn't told him about Itachi's gift.

"I'm ready," Sasuke said. Naruto wanted to stop him, but something told him not to.

"Zetsu will lead you to them," Madara said. Zetsu appeared and glanced at Naruto as if he wanted to say something. But he didn't. He left the room, knowing that Sasuke would follow him. Naruto and Madara were left alone in the room. "You haven't told Sasuke my plans yet. Why?"

"Because Sasuke won't do it," Naruto said.

"Oh he will," Madara said. "And if he doesn't, then it looks like the father of the new Uchiha Clan will be someone else." Naruto's eyes widened. Madara just smirked. He then walked over to Naruto and cupped his face. He leaned down and kissed Naruto. Naruto nearly threw up. A tongue dipped in and Naruto tried to push Madara away. But his body suddenly began to shut down. Naruto swallowed a pill in the exchange. Madara tucked the unconscious blond into his bed. He then kissed his forehead. "If you won't be Sasuke's, then you will be mine." He turned away and left the room, reminding himself that Naruto belonged to the Akatsuki now and no one would take him away.