NARUTO'S POV
After his bath and dinner Naruto fell asleep. At some point in the early morning hours Itachi joined him. Feeling arms wrap around him, woke him up. He twists a little to see a sad Itachi, "I'm sorry about earlier, I have spent too much time defending myself and all of my decisions. I got more upset than I should have." Itachi doesn't respond at first then in a little voice he says," I watched you for a long time, I did what I could to help you even before I knew the truth about you. My family minus Otouto, was less than than pleased about how much interest I showed you. It got worse when other people started noticing too.
When I left with Sasuke I begged them to let me take you too. No one would listen to why or at all for that matter. When Lady Tsunade told me I was allowed to help you from behind the scenes I was really happy. Then you seemed to be happy for awhile, so I left you be. It wasn't until you stopped going to training and outings with your remaining team members, that I noticed that you pulled a me, you just swallowed it and put on a face for them. I knew that you would eventually want to leave and by that time I figured that I could convince Tsunade to let me take you. I had no idea that you were serious about wanting to leave your whole life, if I had I would have fought harder to take you when I left. I would have staged your kidnapping much sooner. I'm so sorry Naruto."
Naruto snuggled closer and hugged Itachi hard. "Don't be sad, I'm over it we're here now and we are leaving for far away. It will be OK now." "What do you know about The New World?" Naruto didn't answer right away, blood draining from his face. "What did I..." Before he can finish his sentence Naruto starts talking, "The night I found out I was the Kyuubi vessel I was surprised by a group of drunk old men. It was 2 o'clock in the morning and I was headed back to my apartment after training. I was dead tired and not paying attention when they caught me. The first punch sent me to the ground, it caught me in the temple. It took me a minute to understand the words they were saying. Die fox, vile creature, monster... Pausing a second he takes a deep breath. Itachi with an abnormally pale face lets out a breath he didn't know he was holding as Naruto continued his story.
"Later that morning I woke up on Hokage Mountain, in the Yondaime's ear. With no idea how I got there, I sat up and looked around. I saw that there was a tunnel to my left, it took me a few minutes to get steady on my feet. I followed the tunnel to a room and there in that room sat a fox- like girl. She was about my age I guess, she asked me what I wanted. I said the first thing that came to mind, that I want to be loved. She smiled at me and said I already was. I looked at her for a minute then asked her what was wrong with me. Why do so many people hate me, beat me or try to kill me? Her face got sad for a second then she told me. She told me that I was her vessel, like my mother before me. She told me that she was the Nine-tailed Fox demon. She told me that the great Uzamaki clan had been her vessels for many many years. There are only a few left and by the time I was born and I was the only one close enough to help.
She smiled sadly then told me a little about the New World. She told me that there are 5 scrolls that are needed and if I could find them, then I would find a whole new world that wouldn't care who I was as long as I didn't cause trouble. She said I could be happy there. I didn't think on it much as my life left no time for that. I eventually forgot about it all together." Itachi is quiet for a minute, thinking about all that Naruto said. After a few minutes he looked down at him and realizes that he fell asleep. Whispering Itachi says, "Don't worry my love we will find our happy ending." He hugs Naruto closer and fades off to sleep.
NEXT MORNING
SASUKE'S POV
After hearing most of his brother and best friends conversation last night he knows that this is for the best. Getting up first means preparing breakfast. He dresses and walks to where they keep their food. He sets up the kettle to boil water for tea, then looks around and notices that they have cup ramen. Knowing how much Naruto likes ramen he sets up two of them for him in hopes of cheering him up a little. Suddenly he hears movement behind him. He whips around to see Naruto standing there. "Morning dobe, how are you today?" Naruto makes a face and says," Morning to you too teme, what are you doing?"
Just then the kettle announces it ready, instead of answering he turns around and adds the water to the cups of ramen and his tea cup. He brings them to the make- shift table and watches Naruto's face light up. "YAY RAMEN!" He yells at the top of his voice. Sasuke smirks and looks up to see that his Aniki has joined them. Seeing Itachi nod and sit next to Naruto as he begins devouring his ramen. He walks back to the kettle and pours water into Itachi's cup and brings it to him. Itachi nods his thanks as they both watch Naruto. Itachi notices the almost non existent smile on his Otouto's face. Knowing that both boys are somewhat happy now makes him feel better.
"So Aniki, when do we leave?" Sasuke asks. "We should leave in a few days as we need to gather supplies and choose our route. Lady Hokage says our first clue is in Lighting Country." Both Sasuke and Naruto seem shocked by that. "I know that it seems odd that she would help, but she seems sincere." Naruto who is confused asks, "When did she tell you that?" Itachi doesn't answer right away. Looking down at the table he says, "Yesterday right before we left." No one says anything for a few minutes. Naruto never one to stay down for long speaks up, "Ok, so I realize that I can't just go running around the place, but I need stuff. So I figure we all use hedges and start collecting what we need." Both of them nod with the signature Uchiha smirk. Before there can be a response Itachi twitches noticeably. "Not just yet though I have to pay a visit to some people that are bothersome. After that we can go shopping,OK?"
Both boys nod as Itachi leaves the room. Naruto drops his smile and looks at Sasuke, " Are you OK with my being here?" He asks with a sad look. Sasuke doesn't answer right away but looks at him for a second. He nods saying, "You make him happy and help us keep what little humanity we have left. You are the only person who I don't have a problem being here for us." His eyes slip down to the table and he seems sad for a minute. "Don't be sad teme, things will get get better soon." Naruto says before he gets up and leaves. Sasuke sits there for a minute then gets up to get on with chores.
TSUNADE'S POV
"I KNOW SHIZUNE! I know that it won't die down. I also know that we are looking in vane, even knowing that they will not stop looking especially Kakashi. But I can't bring myself to make him come back, all he wants is to be happy... Can't take that from him." Tsunade says. "Lady Tsunade we have to at least say something to them, for this will only get worse and the
counsel... "
Losing steam Tsunade looks down at her desk sad, but before she can respond there is a loud knocking on the door. "Enter" Tsunade says. Kakashi walks in with an angry face. He plants himself in the chair in front of Tsunade. "What do you want Kakashi? I already told you..." Kakashi stares at her for a moment. "I figured out where he went and why he left, what I want to know is why you chose Itachi..."
Tsunade looks at him sadly, "I didn't choose Itachi, Naruto did. I allowed Itachi to stay part of his life as a reward for all he gave to this village. I had no idea that they would develop feelings for each other. The longer we kept them apart, the more depressed Naruto became. I couldn't stand by anymore, so I let Itachi take him. I know that the only way for Naruto to not sink into the dark, is to let him be guided by someone else who is fighting the same darkness. They are going to find the way to the new world, and I wish them the best of luck." Tsunade said. Kakashi nods with a thoughtful look but says nothing.