Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Chapter 6

When Itachi first came across to a trace that will bring him to Uzumaki boy, he was on the way that binds the countries of Fire and Wind. It was just a small amount of scent that alerted him, saying the boy had been there and not so long ago actually, considering the freshness of the scent. He couldn't have been wrong about the owner of the scent also: the boy had a unique one, one that would remind ocean and bringing its serenity to the even most twisted souls. Itachi exhaled a breath he even didn't know he held, shoulders relaxing without him realizing until he could smell some other people on the way the boy had passed. Itachi didn't know their owners; however he knew they couldn't be ninjas: even the greenest ninjas had a better sense of stealth. He also knew that they were with the boy: their smell was as fresh as his.

Itachi realized he had found the relief a bit too early and it was clearly impossible to reach the boy without any problem. He simply knew that the ones boy travelled with couldn't be just normal civilians –this particular land between two countries was far too dangerous for the civilians and they usually used another, safer way to reach to Wind. It was because, in the last year some human smugglers have cropped up in this land and though the efforts of both Fire and Wind, they were ruthlessly terrorizing the land and travelers. Yeah, Uzumaki Naruto just had to go and choose this road to leave the Fire –only to be captured by some greedy human smugglers. This had to be boy's bad luck, since Itachi couldn't think any other thing. Taking a deep breath he continued to his search, hoping the boy was in a good shape –for someone who has been captured at least.

The boy wasn't in a good shape; this was the first thing Itachi realized when he finally caught the small group that has been going to the Wind Country. The men who looked like wild animals more than human had tied his wounded hands with strong ropes, without caring the blood that wept from said hands and wet the ropes. However Itachi cared: not only those small, innocent hands; but he cared about the boy whose weary legs refused to carry the petite body, eyes closed while he has been dragging by rough hands of his kidnappers. Itachi cared so much that he didn't know what to do with the burning ache in his chest, for he had never felt it before. He even wasn't aware that he has been exuding Killing Intent until the five men and one small child who was absolutely a bonus for the group that was returning to their shelters stopped their steps and simply paralyzed.

Itachi didn't wait any second longer then he had to before attacking to the first man who had been talking about 'selling the child to the Rice Country; because his small hands would be handy in the paddy fields'. The only thing he wanted was chopping the man until the parts were small enough to be the ingredients for onigiri; however he hadn't forgotten the boy who was watching with big, big blue eyes and settled with only separating his head and body before taking down the other men, without any pity or second thoughts unlike the other times he killed. Then he stood there, between the dead bodies of the smugglers and looked down at the boy who has been watching him with wide, fearful eyes. Fear of dying, Itachi realized: the boy hadn't thought that Itachi was there to save him.

"Uzumaki Naruto?"

He asked with a voice not as calm as he wished; but almost shaky with anger –and almost fear. Fear of not knowing how to act before the child or how to erase that absolute fear from the boy's eyes, how to stop the trembling hands.

"Sir?"

So, the boy had recognized him: Itachi didn't know whether to be relaxed or worried. He hadn't left a good impression on the child the first they met and actually was afraid that the child wouldn't want to do anything with Itachi and escape from him. Who knows, maybe the second Itachi loosened the ropes the boy would try to escape, not wanting Itachi to approach him or making him return to Konoha. However first thing first, he kneeled in front of the boy and took his injured, blooding hands in his own hands, hearing the boy inhaling deeply and feeling his trembling body. Without hesitation, he untied the ropes and threw them to the dirt road they were in; but didn't release the scarred, tiny hands that he hold tightly and locked his eyes with the boy's.

"Are you okay?"

Itachi wouldn't forget the expression on the child's face even when he became an old man and absolutely remember it the second he was about to die: because that pained look would chase him with every breath he took. That look was telling everything about Uzumaki Naruto from his physical state to the thunders his injured feelings caused. It was a look of someone who had lost their all hope, someone so lonely, so desperate.

It wasn't something people would wait to see on the face of a 4-year-old; but it was something Itachi felt, really felt in his heart with a strong pain.

"Don't worry" he said, without knowing what he was referring to. "Don't worry."

The boy's eyes widened even more and Itachi thought maybe they've managed to reach an agreement, even though he didn't know on what. However he felt it, felt everything the boy felt and all he wanted that moment was erasing every painful thing he knew the boy was suffering.

Not realizing or caring what he was doing, he reached and took the trembling boy in his arms, embracing him like he was the last thing that tied him to the life, like Uzumaki Naruto wasn't someone he only met a few times; but his soul he hid from everyone. He embraced him, hoping to end the boy's fears, sadness and the tremble of his body.

However he didn't feel ineffective when the boy's body started to shake even more than before, knowing the tears that wet his shoulders were more than necessary.

Necessary to release every caged emotion, leaving a relaxed little boy behind.

A/N: Did you like? What do you think? Please review.