Kurama was not a patient man, although he could be considered fair he did have a mean streak in him that earned him the name the nine tailed fox. He never understood where it came from but it was a name he welcomed as it caused his rivals to quake in their shoes at the very mention of it. Mixed with his broad shouldered, six foot four physique, his blazing red eyes and matching hair Kurama was an overall intimidating man. Those who were close to him though knew he had a softer side to him. A rational that crossed over into his business sense that not only protected his family by making thought out decisions but also protected his clan. Currently though his patience was on a thin cord which was displayed by the smashed cell phone on the ground that he had thrown in frustration. He had been trying for day's to get a hold of his younger brother Naruto but the man was either avoiding his calls or had blocked his number altogether and it didn't help that their mother refused to help him get in contact. Kurama sat down at his father's desk and placed his head on it. He didn't know what to do, of course he could always go to the hospital himself, force the younger version of their father to sit down and explain things but facing his mother's wrath was bad enough the last time. For years Kurama and his father had respected Kushina's request to leave Naruto be, to let him live the life he wanted. Everyone saw he was to kind hearted of a soul for the family business so they agreed, watching over him from afar but now things had become too dangerous and it was time to bring him home; it was the only option to keep their estranged loved one safe. Over the past year Minato and Kurama had been hearing whispers of a new mafia making themselves known but they seemed like shadows in the background until recently. Highly established clan officials had been going missing and turning up dead weeks later and after gaining enough Intel it all pointed to this new mafia. The Akatsuki mafia, made up of various members of ex mafia members from all around had definably been making a name for themselves and Kurama was becoming increasingly worried. The most recent murder had been from the Hyuga clan, an estranged brother of the head of the clan Hiashi which indicated they were going after anyone they could to weaken the prominent mafias. Kurama was fairly certain they had begun targeting Naruto from the information given to him by Jiraiya as he had witnessed on many occasions suspicious members in noted Akatsuki coats around the hospital he worked at. Minato had put precautions in place the second he found out, sending Tsunade out of the country while Kakashi could take over and control hospital security more tightly. Although Tsunade had only agreed on a short period it was better than nothing.

"Still not answering your calls?" Kurama looked up at the smooth voice of his best friend Itachi Uchiha. No one would have guessed it thanks to numerous news reports about an Uchiha-Namikaze feud but the two clans were actually quite close.

"I think the damn brat has blocked my number" Kurama growled out. Itachi let a knowing smile slip from his usual stoic expression. He had been watching his closet friends increasing frustration every day and he could understand why.

"He's always been a stubborn one, I saw him a few weeks ago" Itachi sat down in the chair across from Kurama as the red haired man picked his head up quickly. "Although the reunion was short live, Sasuke couldn't help himself"

"You never thought to mention this sooner?" Kurama sighed and held out his hand expecting Itachi to hand over his phone, he hoped Naruto would answer if he thought it was the Uchiha calling.

"I don't think so! My phone will end up like yours and I happen to be quite attached to it at the moment" Red eye's narrowed at the striking raven haired man in front of him. He didn't have time to play games. "Naruto will be fine, he barley leaves the hospital and by the looks of things his relationship is going well so there isn't any time when he's alone"

"Relationship?" That was news to Kurama, he'd have to talk to Kakashi about his lack of information about it.

"I thought you knew?" Itachi began to look almost bored, he had only found out due to Sasuke having a fit about Naruto being with someone other than him.

"No…who is he?" Kurama began to feel his protectiveness increase, his need to contact his brother even more. With everything going on he didn't feel comfortable about anyone new getting close to the blonde.

"Some hot shot surgeon…Gaara I think his name is, don't worry he's clean, nothing to interesting really the guy spends his life working. He's worse than Naruto from what I've heard" Kurama felt himself calm a little bit. Itachi did have a point, Naruto threw himself into relationships with all his heart so he highly doubted that he was ever alone.

"Alright…but if you see him again tell him he needs to contact me or our father" Itachi nodded and gazed around the room. Picking up on the scattered pieces of paper and various shattered objects.

"Come on Kurama, you need a drink" he shook his head. His mind racing at all the possibilities that could go wrong in such a short amount of time "Look Kurama, your far too stressed at the moment and if you keep working like this you won't get anywhere to soon. Let's go for a drink and throw a few ideas around that way"

"Fine, but your buying" Kurama stood up and looked over to his phone glumly, it was the third one he had broken this week "I need a new phone first though"

…..

Naruto's cheeks felt warm as he finished off his second beer, his nose tingling with a slight numbness. It had been awhile since his group of friends had all found time to catch up together properly and Naruto had dragged Gaara along who looked out of place amongst the lively bunch. Naruto was also very aware that his boyfriend occasionally sent warning glances towards Kiba if he came to close. Neji seemed to be unusually quiet though, the man was usually reserved but he would always join in every now and then; but tonight he seemed quite distant, as if his mind was elsewhere.

"Hey where's Sasuke?" Shikamaru questioned. It had been awhile since they had all seen him, except for the time at the restaurant but the Uchiha usually turned up when they all managed to meet up considering how rare it was with their conflicting schedules.

"He said his brother has him under house arrest or something" Sakura sighed, a disappointed look on her face. Naruto never understood what she saw in him, even from a young age she had been slightly obsessed with Sasuke, following him around hoping one day he would notice her. Naruto on the other hand spent his days avoiding him but Sasuke had always shown up where he was and picked a fight. Naruto knew what he meant by house arrest though, he had been under one many times when he was younger; it meant something big was happening in the mafia world and Itachi must have thought Sasuke was in the line of fire somehow.

"I suggest a drinking competition!" the group groaned. Lee was the enthusiastic one of the group, most of the time it was harmless but they had been convinced one to many times into his crazy competitions.

"I'll pass Lee, I'd rather not have a hangover!" Ino exclaimed. The rest of them nodded in agreement. Lee looked downtrodden but after a while he went back to his usual self.

"Neji…are you okay?" Naruto turned his attention, his quietness beginning to worry him. Neji nodded but there was a wavering in his eyes. "Come with me to the bathroom?"

"I'll come to" Kiba spoke up, he was quickly silence by Gaara's intimidating glare. "Actually I think I'll stay here and catch up with Hinata" the Hyuga heiress blushed, a small smile creeping up on her face and Naruto began to wonder if there was something between them. The idea of them together seemed to fit well in his mind, Kiba was outspoken and a bit on the rough side it would do him well to have someone like Hinata keeping him a bit more levelled. Neji followed Naruto to the bathroom, but instead of going in he dragged him out a back door where smokers usually went.

"What's going on Neji" the long haired man dropped his posture, his shoulders slumping forward and Naruto knew immediately something was seriously wrong.

"You know how Hinata's parents took me in when I was younger…when my father disappeared" Naruto nodded, his body turned towards Neji so his friend knew he was actively listening to what he was saying "Well that wasn't entirely true…My father was a wanted man"

"What? That doesn't sound right!" Naruto searched his friends eye's, looking for it to be lie. He knew Hinata and Neji were a part of the Hyuga clan but it was assumed Neji's father had been missing, presumed dead.

"It happened the night someone tried to kidnap Hinata, he fought off her attackers and accidentally killed one of them…The police were the first on the scene and instead of my father being brought in for interrogation he ran and has been running ever since…well until now" a tear dropped from Neji's eye and Naruto pulled him into a hug. He had been too young to remember about the kidnap attempt so it was new to him. "My father's body turned up yesterday, a bullet wound to the head…people are saying it's a mafia hit"

"But I don't understand, who would do that! The only mafias around here are the Uchiha's and my father's and they all have an alliance!" Neji shrugged, his face solemn.

"There's been quite a few bodies turning up lately, murdered in the same fashion. Everyone is on high alert" Naruto's mind began to reel. Everything was adding up. Kurama trying to call him, Sasuke under house arrest and the unusual amount of security at the hospital lately.

"I'm so sorry Neji, is there anything I can do?" Neji sighed and shook his head. He looked almost as if a piece of him was gone, like he was an empty shell of his usual intelligent self.

"No Naruto. Just…Just look after yourself okay" Naruto pulled Neji into a comforting hug. "I think I'm just going to head home, make sure Hinata gets home safe for me will you?"

"Of course Neji" the man put his hands in his pocket and hung his head before pulling his jacket hood up. Naruto remained in the same place for a while and a sudden guilt struck him. If he was in danger that also meant Gaara was. Right from the start Gaara had expressed his apprehension about Naruto's ties to a Mafia family and Naruto had promised they had all be cut except for his mother and now it seemed he was going to be dragged through whatever mess they had gotten themselves into just by association.

"Naruto…" Right then his world seemed to cave in around him. He must have been so stupid to think he could have disregarded his past, pretending that it didn't exist and that he had any chance of a normal future. No matter what he did or where he went his family would hang over his head, destroying anything good he created. Naruto spun around, his chest heaving at the overwhelming anxiety that began to strike him. Kurama stood in front of him, his red eyes watching him cautiously as he took a step towards him "Breath Naruto…"