Chapter 3: Farewell
Naruto felt dead inside. He looked up at the sky.
"What am I going to do," he muttered to himself. "What will mom, dad, and Shio think of me? What will Itachi think?"
Naruto shook his head.
"This is for the good of Konoha," he said firmly. "It has to be done."
He knew he was convincing himself more than just saying it out loud. Naruto clenched his fists before huffing in laughter.
"Me, becoming an S-rank nukenin, and all for the greater good of Konoha," Naruto said quietly.
Naruto closed his eyes and took a couple of deep breathes to calm himself. Then he opened his eyes and focused his chakra, picturing the senbon he had placed in the training field he shared with Itachi and Kakashi. He felt a tug and he appeared in the training field. Itachi and Kakashi were sparring.
"Naruto, you're back already," Kakashi asked.
The two stopped fighting and turned to look at the blond.
"Naruto, you look worn out. What did I tell you about straining yourself," Itachi exclaimed.
Naruto gave a weak smile.
"Sorry," he said. "I guess I did work a little too much."
"Come on, enough training for today," Itachi said.
"Should we go get something to eat?" Kakashi asked.
"How about Ichiraku's," Naruto suggested.
"Sounds good," Itachi said.
The three made their way to the ramen stand. Shio and Sasuke were there.
"Hey Shio, Sasuke," Itachi said, smiling. "How did your test go today?"
"Shio barely managed to make it," Sasuke said. "Her clone looked like a fish flopping around on land."
Shio scowled and glared at him. Sasuke just smirked.
"Oh shut up," she exclaimed. "You know the clone jutsu isn't my best jutsu! I'm better at the transformation jutsu!"
Sasuke snickered at her. Shio almost snapped her chopsticks in half.
"All right, cut it out you two," Kakashi said. "Just eat your ramen."
The three sat down.
"The usual," The owner, Teuchi, asked.
"Yep," Kakashi said.
Teuchi quickly made the bowls before setting them down in front of the three Jounins.
"Amazing as always," Naruto said, slurping down the noodles.
Teuchi smiled.
"An honor as always to serve my customers," he said.
"Hey Naruto, Itachi, Kakashi, you three haven't been here for a while," Teuchi's daughter, Ayame, said.
"Sorry, but we've been busy with missions and training," Naruto said.
"We'll be sure to come by more often," Itachi said.
"You better," Ayame said. "I miss talking to my favorite customers!"
They paid for the meal.
"Please come again soon," Teuchi shouted after them.
"Nice seeing you all again," Ayame yelled, waving wildly.
They all waved back.
"What should we do now?" Kakashi asked.
"Let's go train," Shio exclaimed.
"We just ate idiot," Sasuke exclaimed.
"How about just relaxing for a little bit," Itachi said. "We can still go to the training field if you want."
"Okay," Shio and Sasuke chorused in unison.
They made their way to the training field. Sasuke and Shio began bickering over something. Kakashi was reading his perverted orange novel. Naruto sat down next to Itachi. They were leaning against a tree. Naruto rested his head on Itachi's shoulder.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Itachi asked.
"I'm fine," Naruto mumbled.
"You seem exhausted." Itachi said.
Itachi pulled Naruto into his lap and wrapped his arms around the blond. Naruto had a small lithe body built for agility and speed due to his bloodline limit. Therefore, Itachi towered over him by at least a head.
Naruto rested his head against Itachi's chest, listening to his lover's heartbeat. It was soothing. Itachi's arms tightened around him slightly. Naruto lifted his head and kissed Itachi's jawbone. Itachi leaned down to kiss Naruto on the lips. Naruto deepened the kiss. It was a sweet kiss but passionate nonetheless. Itachi's tongue poked at Naruto's lips and Naruto opened his mouth. He moaned slightly as Itachi's tongue slipped in and began mapping out his mouth. Naruto's hand flew up to run through Itachi's long silky black hair. Itachi clutched the blond closer to his chest. The kiss was slowly growing rougher and more passionate. Finally, the need for air made the two break apart. They stared into each other's eyes, panting slightly. A string of saliva connected them. Itachi drew Naruto into another kiss, this time just a gentle sweet kiss. He licked the saliva off of Naruto's lips before drawing back. Naruto rested his head back onto Itachi's chest. Itachi buried his face into Naruto's blond spiky red tipped hair.
Naruto rested a hand on Itachi's arm. He closed his eyes, coming to a decision. He could feel tears coming forward and an urge to tell Itachi about the massacre, the Akatsuki, everything. But he knew he couldn't do that, not now. Instead, Naruto forced the tears and guilt away. He couldn't afford to break down now! A chill ran through Naruto and he shivered. Itachi looked down at him, concern in his eyes.
"Are you okay?" Itachi asked softly.
"I'm fine," Naruto mumbled, averting his gaze and leaning into Itachi's comforting embrace.
Naruto built a wall, containing all his guilt and emotions, shoving them deep down so he could adopt the persona of a ninja on a mission to kill.
Tonight, he would eliminate the Uchiha clan. He knew if he waited any longer, he wouldn't be able to do it.