Chapter four: Road trip – day two

1494 road to Konoha age 16

"Naruto get over here" Deidara shouted from near the cart. They had been packing their bags all morning and they were just about ready to go once the last few bags were packed. Naruto turned around from his spot at the edge of the clearing before turning and walking over to the other blonde.

"Stand there" Deidara pointed to a spot just left of the cart out of reach of it pulled away and grabbed Naruto's chin turning his face to get a good look at him. "Hummm" he pulled away before leaning in again and started prodding him, frowning he pulled up quickly and looked into Naruto's eyes "I think you're a good one you know that?"

"Ummm okay?"

"Yes and if you're as good as I think you are you won't have any trouble catching us up." Deidara turned quickly and hopped into the cart signalling Tobi to hit it.

"Oi, wait for me!" Naruto shouted as the cart raced of ahead pulling away faster than he could keep up. Stopping Naruto closed his eyes and searched inside himself for the strength he needed to catch up, when he opened his eyes he saw the world in a different light everything was brighter and clearer than it was before. Taking a breath he let his instincts guide him and lead him to where he needed to go.

Naruto sped through the undergrowth moving as if one with the forest, he felt the wind blowing through his hair the earth under his feet everything was wonderful and just as it should be. Smiling he burst through the forest edge and began to climb the mountain with the grace of a fox, each step thought out and planned well ahead, delicate movements allowing him to glide over the rocks ad become one with the mountain. He paused as he reached the top and allowed himself a few moments to admire the view, you could see all the way to Konoha from here it really was breathtaking, taking his eyes away from the small city in the distance he scanned the road for any sign of the cart. Spotting his prey he blonde burst into action scampering down the steep edge before him that sported a good then foot drop, sizing up his options the boy leapt forward and landed on a tree branch before swinging to the floor below. Pausing Naruto took one final look of the view before vanishing back into the undergrowth in hot pursuit of his brother.

Meanwhile in the cart:

"I'm not sure about this Dei, what if something happens dad'll kill me" Kyuubi whimpered as the thought entered his head of the various ways his father could dispose of him.

"Listen if he hasn't caught up by the time we get to the ridge we'll stop and wait for him deal?"The blonde replied in an attempt to sooth his older teammate.

"Ok" the red head sighed happy with the fact his little brother wouldn't get left behind. Yeah Naruto was strong but he doubted he'd survive out here, hell he probably wouldn't survive if he went to Konoha without him. Sasori took his attention off the two bickering boys in the back and focused instead on his surroundings seeing if he could see the young boy from his spot in the cart, he doubted but it didn't hurt to try. He was distracted however when the red head shouted.

"I'll bet you 300 florins that he catches us up before we reach the ridge."

"You're on" the blonde sitting beside him yelled back "I bet he won't make it...Sasori?"

"I bet he'll make it before we reach the pass."

"I'll bet he'll make it even before that" the three jumped as a new voice entered the debate, Deidara raised an eyebrow and stared at the raven.

"You know something we don't?"

"Nope"

"Fair enough let's see who gets rich" chuckling the four settled into a friendly silence as they rode out their trip each paying that Naruto would make it so they could get the dough.

Naruto burst out of the thicket and stopped just in time to stop himself falling over the edge, breathing heavily he looked out across the gap that spanned 15 foot in front of him. Catching his breath back he looked both ways finding no other ways other than jumping from rock to rock, Naruto closed his eyes thinking to himself it's just like jumping from roof to roof in Sand. Moving back to give himself a run up Naruto ran forward jumping off the edge of the cliff moving quickly from rock to rock before jumping to reach the last ledge. Grabbing onto the edge of the opposite side he pulled himself up, before moving into the trees watching them zip past as he ran through the small wood. Stopping at the edge he saw the cart turning round the corner and he ran down the hill only just managing not to fall over and disappeared into the last row of hedges.

Kyuubi frowned it had been over an hour and Naruto still hadn't caught up but it was still another hour before they would reach the ridge, he sighed loudly and turned round looking behind them for any sign of his brother. A scream from behind him made him turn to see Deidara fall off the edge cart followed by a blonde blur. Tobi pulled the cart to a stop and the three turned round to see Naruto pining Diedara to the floor.

"Damn it!" Sasori shouted slamming hit boot against the front of the cart, Kyuubi groaned loudly, and Deidara threw his head back and howled loudly. Naruto stood up and frowned at the four as Deidara stood up and pulled a large pouch out of his waistband and tossed it to Tobi watching as Kyuubi handed one over with a groan, and Sasori put it into his hand before moving to the back with a pout. Tobi smiled and opened the pouches putting half of one into another and closing it up with a smile.

"Naruto come here" he said patting the seat next to him, Naruto frowned but took the seat feeling his legs turn to jelly under him. Tobi smiled at him and handed over a pouch that he had just poured half into to him Naruto took it with wide eyes and a questioning look.

"Why?"

"For you helping me become a rich man for a while"

"You all bet on me?"

"Yes" the three chimed at the back sour expression on their faces causing Naruto to smile and turn to Tobi.

"Thank you I can buy something for my birthday and for Sasuke."Kyuubi smiled and the five carried on the rest of the way to the ridge in a comfortable silence. By the time it had turned dark they had set up a new camp Naruto and Kyuubi were laying in comfortable silence the blondes head resting on his elder brother's chest looking up at the stars.

"Kyuubi?"

"Yeah"

"Today when I was running to catch up with you something strange happened"

"What do you mean?"

"It was like it was me but it wasn't me I felt like...Like I was one with everyone around me." Kyuubi sighed and sat up pushing Naruto up with him as he looked into his eyes.

"Naruto, listen to me. You and me; were not like the others were different, special in ways that nobody knows."

"What do you mean Kyuu?"

"It's hard to explain but listen to me, nobody else except for me, Diedara, Tobi and Sasori can know that you felt that way ok?"

"Okay Kyuu "the blonde frowned looking at his brother before getting up and walking towards the tent "I'm off to bed."

"Good night Naruto" he called before looking up at the starts again asking a whispered prayer "Please don't let them find him."

A/N I apologise for not keeping my promise to upload every week but I currently bogged down with course work that needs to be in by the end of the month. Don't kill me…Reviews are always welcome, till the next one Kaymon3 out. =^_^=