Yukiko crouched atop the wall of Konoha, well hidden amongst the shadows as the wind blew fiercely, tugging at her cloak. Itachi and Kisame were beside her. The clouds were thick and swollen with rain, the scent of a storm permeating everything. Yukiko knew that her team mates thought that tonight would be the perfect night to abduct the nine-tails Jinchuuriki.
She disagreed, but orders were orders. However, she had no intentions of handing Naruto over to anyone. Instead, she wanted to ask if Naruto would take her to Gaara. There was something she needed to return to him. A silent growl agreed with her.
Itachi glanced at the motionless girl beside him, wondering what she could possibly be thinking about. They needed to be fully focused on the mission at hand. He glared at her.
Yukiko ignored his glare completely. She knew he thought she was distracted, that was what she wanted him to think. It would keep him from suspecting the truth. She slowly stood and leapt down, landing lightly on the balls of her feet silently. She had her own goal to fulfill. The Akatsuki's original intent was to promote peace through negotiation at all costs. 'Danzo, that snake, I hope he burns in Hell!' Yukiko thought fiercely.
Itachi watched as the girl left them behind, it was clear that she had something she needed to do. He motioned Kisame forward and dropped down, following the redhead to her destination even as Kisame left to search for the Jinchuuriki. 'I want to know just what she has in mind.'
Yukiko made her way to the seedier side of Konoha and calmly walked up the stairs to Naruto's door. It was just as bad as she imagined. Graphite on the walls, all saying something along the lines of, "Die, nine-tailed abomination."
She sighed and shook her head, removing her jacket and hanging it over her arm, knocking on the door rather than just walking in. She knew Naruto would hear the knock, the blond was a light sleeper by necessity, otherwise he'd have died long ago.
She was right, the door opening a small crack, a blue eye staring at her. It widened incredulously, the door being fully opened as she was yanked inside only for the blond to shut it quietly behind her.
"Why are you here? I thought the Akatsuki had snatched you back. That was the whole point of taking you to the forest that day! Gaara was so pissed when he discovered you were gone." Naruto burst out, pacing back and forth.
Yukiko remained silent and pulled a package out of her cloak, holding it out for the tan blond to take. Naruto eyed it suspiciously before taking it and opening it. He nearly dropped it. It was an orange robe type jacket with black flames around the bottom, the Uzimaki clan symbol on the back in blue rather than red.
"It's a gift from me. I wanted to thank you for taking me from the interrogation unit. Also, could you take me to Gaara-Sama. I have a gift for him, as well. I believe he will be quite happy to have it back." Yukiko spoke quietly. She knew Itachi was listening outside the door. She had a few things she didn't mind him hearing.
"I...thank you. I will take you to him, but what should I tell Tsunade-Baachan? I can't just leave. The Akatsuki is hunting me." Naruto sat down on his couch, holding her gift to his chest. His bright eyes darkened at the mention of the Akatsuki. She knew that he was thinking about Itachi and Sasuke. She had a plan for those two particular Uchihas.
"Tell her that you are tracking down a lead for Sasuke Uchiha's whereabouts. I have it from a good source that he will be in Suna shortly." Yukiko said, she deliberately pitched it to catch Itachi's attention. She heard a small noise from the hall and smirked to herself. 'Now he will definitely be there as well. Good. It's about time he told his Otouto the truth about the Uchiha clan.'
Naruto's eyes widened at the mention of Sasuke. 'If Sasuke is going to be there, then Tsunade-Baachan will let me go. She knows about the promise I made Sakura-Chan.' He nodded his head in agreement. Yukiko smiled and threw her arms around the blond with relief, briefly closing her eyes. Her arms tightened around him as she felt him stiffen. She didn't care, she knew why he had tensed. Naruto wasn't used to people voluntarily touching him.
Naruto looked down at the girl currently clinging to him. He hesitantly held her closer and smiled softly as he felt the tension leave the girl. He heard her breathing even out even as Kurama chuckled from inside his prison.
'Looks like you have a conquest, Kit. I approve. She would make a good mate.'
'Quiet. I don't even know the girl. Besides, she looks like Gaara.' Naruto argued back in his head as he slid his arms underneath the redhead and lifted her up. He glanced up as his door flew open.
Itachi looked at the Kyuubi's Jinchuuriki. He didn't show any reaction to his comrade's position in the blonde's grasp. He just silently locked eyes with Naruto. Naruto didn't look away, daring the Uchiha to say anything. Itachi Hnn'd and closed the door behind him as he left, going to inform Kisame that they would be staying in the area a bit longer on the grounds of looking for the nine-tails Jinchuuriki.
Sorry guys. I've been so wrapped up in writing my other two stories A Dog Demon's Love and the other A Dog Demon's Heart in the Inuyasha category. I almost forgot this story since I needed to reference some Naruto Shippunden episodes.
