A/N: Thanks for showing all the love you guys, it really means a lot to me. And I love the fact that this story is taking off, and becoming more popular than I first expected it too. I was litteratty dumbfounded to see that I have over 100 followers in just 8 chapters. Thanks so much! Enjoy.

SORRY FOR ANY ERRORS; REMEMBER NOT BETA'D! There's also a time skip.

Disclaimer: Naruto and the gang aren't mine.


~Chapter 9~

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Proverbs 20:17

Bread of deceit [is] sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

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Sasuke.

"Mmmm, damn, Sasuke." Sloppy kisses met one after another. Hands roamed down flesh, and one managed to slip under the band of Sui's pants.

"Hn." Sasuke licked the white-haired man's neck, and as if the curse had been lifted—the hell came. Suigetsu's eyes snapped open, as the cold breeze of the AC slammed against his chest. A muffled groan left his lips, as Sasuke bit down on his collarbone, and that's when the white-haired man began to register everything.

They were half naked on Sasuke's bed!

Not that he remembered how the hell they managed to get this far, but he sure as hell was gonna forget this ever happened. "Sasuke!...Sasuke stop!" Suigetsu pushed the raven away, eliciting Sasuke to fall ass first onto the floor. Uchiha glared at his friend, watching intently as the Sui hunched his back and sighed heavily.

"...I...Sui, that...that shouldn't have happened. I...I don't know...wh—"

"—Save the bullshit, Uchiha." The raven flinched at the venomous roar leaving the man's tightening lips. Suigetsu glared at the raven, while said raven sprawled across the floor and cursed aloud. Karin would kill them both if she knew this happened. "I just cheated on my girl, do you understand how bad that shit is!?"

"..."

"Oh yeah, you don't. You're use to fucking and getting away with it. But if you didn't know, some people have relationships and families at home waiting for them!-"

"-Don't put all this shit on me! You kissed me back so shut the fuck up!" Suigetsu, laced his fingers through his hair again, and rose from the bed. Walking towards the dresser, and bending down to grab his discarded shirt caught Suigetsu's attention of something he hadn't noticed until now.

Hickies.

"Oh damn, she's gonna kill me." Sasuke watched Sui mused, before the white-haired man turned his enraged gaze towards the raven on the floor. "Karin, will see this shit, dude!"

"..." Sasuke languidly rose from the floor, shoving his fists into his low-riding jeans. Never had he ever planned on something like this to happen to them—let alone cross that line to damage their friendship. Their eyes met for a long moment. Suigetsu cursed, slamming his fist into the wall, while Sasuke watched intently. Uchiha was mad, but at the same time he didn't know how he felt. He was confused as hell—no pun intended. "Suigetsu—"

"—Don't say anything to me, Uchiha!" Sui slipped on his shirt, and pulled it over his head. Making his way back towards the mirror, he inspected more of himself; making sure there were no more signs of cheating behavior other than the hickies and his slightly swollen lips. "Why?" Sasuke was taken aback by this, as he stared at his best friend's back before averting his on eyes.

"..."

Suigetsu hastily whipped around. "Dammit, Uchiha! Why the hell did you kiss me?!—"

"—Why the hell did you kiss me back?! Stop making it all my fault!" The white-haired man narrowed his eyes as Sasuke scoffed at his silence. They didn't know what drove them to show such intimacy for one another, but the line was now crossed to the point of no return. "...I think you should go." Suigetsu pursed his lips, disgusted by Sasuke's behavior. He also was angry with himself for letting it get that far, but his mind couldnt give him an answer for it all.

"Hm, you'd be a damn fool if you thought I was gonna stay after this." Suigetsu walked out the bedroom, and rushed down the stairs while Sasuke came out the bedroom and lolled against the balcony railing. "...Uchiha." Suigetsu growled out at the front of the door, eliciting Sasuke to stand erect as his best friend glanced over his shoulder to meet his gaze. "...We can't." The raven nodded understandingly.

"So this is goodbye." Sui pursed his lips, and Sasuke sighed exasperatedly. It hadn't been a question, more like a statement both men knew had to be made. "...Well, I guess we'll see each other around then."

"..." Sasuke scoffed at that. He knew Sui would never abandon their friendship for long. "See you, Uchiha." The raven abruptly pursed his lips and nodded stiffly.

"Peachy bastard."

"Not a bastard, that's just my personality." The front door opened then closed, and that was the last time Sasuke saw his childhood friend. The silence had become the most annoying thing he'd ever heard; the most torturous pain he'd ever endured; the most fatal environment possible. Here in this place, his best friend had left him; here in this place, the mysterious stalker had followed him; and here in this place, Sasuke felt the most vulnerable. That was a con when having only one best friend, and refusing to allow anyone else into your life. Sighing languidly, the raven shoved his hands into his pockets and made his way towards his now soiled bedroom.

Maybe he would call Mr. Sanin—that was the only other person he could talk to, unfortunately.


Naruto (2 weeks Later).

"Do you understand why I called both of you into the office day?" Naruto awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck, casting Kiba a gulity look that the brunette did his best to ignore. Since their argument a couple of days ago on the drive home from work, Kiba had been acting extremely distant and strange lately—not that it mattered to Naruto, since Kiba was definitely a difficult person to understand. Their boss, Kakashi Hatake, sat proudly behind his marble desk in his luxurious office in the back of Applebee's. The grey-haired man had another section of the resturant built to inhabit his private office, and an extension on the employee workroom/meeting room. So the fresh smell of leather, and the foreign scent of what seemed to be a blend of strawberries, peaches, and vanilla feeled the office's space. "...Well?"

"What are we here for, honestly?" Kiba questioned nonchalantly, while folding his arms against his chest. Sporting the Crimson shirt with the Applebee's logo printed on the left hand side. His brown orbs were intent, while Naruto on-the-other-hand, had become a complete mess.

"Well, Mr. Inuzuka since you're so bent on getting to the answer, then I'll tell you. A couple of days ago, the front door of the restaurant had been left open over night and into the earlier morning..." Naruto gulped at that, while Kiba pursed his lips in annoyance. "...Naruto, you were working overtime that night since it was your time to lock up shop. However, Kiba I know that you are Naruto's designated driver; so it's safe to say that you were here too. Understand where this is going now, gentlemen?" Naruto sighed in defeat, before nodding his head.

"Mister Hatake sir, it was an accident. We—I mean I forgot to lock up shop. I had—still have a lot going on right now, and it just kinda slipped my m—"

"—You're accident caused my restaurant to loose $1500 worth of revenue, and surprisingly a set of knives, because someone robbed me!" Kakashi rubbed his temples but said nothing as he did so. "I'm not concerned about silverware, those can be replenished. However, your childish mistake has created a hindrance on my check—which ultimately hinders yours and everyone else's that work here..." Naruto bowed his head in shame, listening to Kakashi's steady breathing and Kiba's occasional grunts.

"Have you found the guy that stole the money and knives?" Kiba asked, while lacing his fingers through his shaggy brown hair. Naruto sent the man a confused glance, before sitting erect to meet his boss's challenging eyes.

"No, he was smarter than we thought. The surveillance cameras caught the incident, but the policie department keep coming up short on their investigation-"

"—How?!—"

"—Its not easy, for starters, the lisence plate had been covered by some black board or by whatever means to insure that the cameras couldn't identify the car and lead to an arrest. Secondly, the criminal wore some type of glove that American police had never seen before. And thirdly, he wore a mask that couldn't have possibly been sold in any local stores here. But the only lead they can run with, is the fact that the vehicle was a white Mercedes Benz." Kiba scoffed at that, his eyes narrowed in contemplation. Naruto noticed the gesture, but decided not to say anything about it.

A white Mercedes Benz?

"Is that all you guys know?" Naruto questioned, his eyes large with wonder. Kakashi nodded his head, and instantly Naruo was appalled. He didn't even know anyone with a white Mercedes Benz—those cars were expensive as shit! He couldn't drive, and Kiba damn sure couldn't afford a car like that. It would take years for someone to figure out who the hell stole the money. Damn.

"So until we find out who and why they stole from me, I'm suspending you both from work—with no pay whatsoever." Naruto rose from his seat and nodded as Kakashi watched him. Kiba growled under his breath, crossing his arms against his chest even more.

"You think we set this up—you think we stole from our own workplace, don't you." The silver-haired man shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly, lacing his fingers together where they rested on the table.

"It's just a precaution gentlemen. If you did steal from me, I can't have you wallowing in suscess under my nose—"

"—But, if you know the accomplist was one guy by himself, why am I being punished if I can't fucking drive?!" Naruto spat abruptly, eliciting the man to raise his hand to silence them both.

"I don't wanna hear it anymore. My decision is final, and will stand. Until the man confesses or is arrested and tried, you two will be suspended without pay. Just be considerate—particularly lucky, that I did not fire you two on the spot for your childish actions, which cost everyone a decrease in this weeks pay." Kakashi spun around in his swivel chair until the back of the chair faced them, and fanned the two men away. "...Be thankful you still have a job. Now leave." Kiba pushed himself up from the chair, but Naruto had already vanished from the office. Kiba sighed, lacing his fingers through his hair and glanced around the resturant for his best friend. The brunette's gaze fell on the blonde sitting against his car outside in the parking lot with his hands covering his face.

'This isn't my fault.' Kiba thought, pushing through the front doors out into the parking lot. The cool breeze of wind whistling through his hair, as he took long strides towards the blonde. "...Naruto." The blonde looked at his best friend, his azure eyes swollen with tears. Naruto didn't want to see anyone, he just wanted to get home and forget it all. Jiraiya would question him, and Tsunade would lecture him—they both would lecture him. "C'mon Naruto, I'll take you home."

"Do you have any idea who did this?" Naruto pleaded to his friend, as Kiba reached out his hand to help him up. Naruto watched the brunette's face contort, but he soon shook his head and grabbed ahold of Naruto's hand. With a firm pull, Naruto was on his feet resting against Kiba's little Honda.

"Who ever did this, I hope they rot in hell for putting us all through this." Naruto looked over at the brunette, his forehead scrunched up in confusion. When did Kiba get this violent?

"I just wanna have my name cleared. I ain't no theif, and God is my witness." Naruto raised his hand towards the heavens and whispered a little pray to Christ, while Kiba watched him. "...God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. In Jesus name I pray, amen."

"God, isn't gonna help you get your job back like that." The blonde's eyes snapped open, as he gawked at his friend. "We have to take matters into our own hands, and hope things go right."

"Kiba, wh—" the blonde's phone began to ring, eliciting them both to jump abruptly. Naruto fished his hand into his pocket and retrieved the phone—immediately noticing an unidentifiable number. But against his better judgement he answered it. "...Hello?"

"Naruto, is this you?" The blonde's heart stopped at the sound of that familiar voice—damn he hated that voice.

"What the hell do you want Teme?! And how the hell did you get my number?!" He heard Sasuke chuckle on the other line, before silence filled the line once more.

"I have connections, but I called cause I'm gonna need your help." Naruto sighed, and raked his fingers through his hair.

"What you need my help with mister know-it-all?!"

"I lost my best friend a couple weeks ago, and he's the biggest idiot I know—well he can be the biggest idiot. But I need someone who also has idiot thinking, and of course you're perfect for the job." Naruto bit his bottom lip to refrain from cursing that bastard out in front of Kiba. Naruto heard the other man chuckle, as he growled into the phone at the Uchiha. "I'm serious, Naruto. As much as I don't want to admit this shit. I need your help and maybe that fairy tale God you believe in." Naruto's eyes widened at that.

Sasuke was asking for help from God?

"I...I, TEME this better not be an excuse to come find me and ravish my body!" Sasuke scoffed on the phone, before chuckling.

"I cut myself off from sex for a while, so you're good."

"Define a while." Naruto retorted.

"...I'll be picking you up at your crib in a bit." Naruto agreed to those terms, and hung up the phone. Kiba quirked up an eyebrow, watching over Naruto as he headed towards the passenger side of his car. The brunette didn't say anything, but his mind was running a-mile-a-minute. Sticking the key into the ignition, Kiba sighed as the car roared to life, and shifted the gears before speeding out the parking lot. Naruto lolled against the door, his eyes transfixed on the outside world. It confused Naruto that Sasuke suddenly had the nerve to call him. But why did he agree so easily? What would happen?

Well whatever was going on, God was on Naruto's side.

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Naruto sat stiffly in the front seat of Sasuke's Bugatti, unable to relax while the raven occasionally glanced over at his person awkwardly. "What the hell is wrong with you?" Naruto jumped, turning to meet Sasuke's confused facial expression.

"Umm, you know just...hanging around."

"You're the weirdest Dobe I've ever met." Naruto growled at the insulting nickname, and leaned against the seat. He was so riled up, and Sasuke was simply driving around town. "I'm not going to take you to some hideout and rape you, if that's what you think." Naruto gawked at the raven, who kept his eyes on the road, but the slightest smirk on his face made the blonde blush.

"I...it was just a precaution." Sasuke scoffed at that, slowly down at the red light before he looked over at Naruto.

"Idiot, I simply invited you out so we could talk. I called your grandfather couple weeks ago, and he told me it was okay to hang out with you. I don't have anything up my sleeves for today. I just wanna talk and get to know you better."

Good one, Sasuke.

The raven mentally congratulated himself for keeping a straight face. Yes, it was true that the raven simply wanted to talk, but Sasuke also wanted to slip between those perfect sun-kissed—

"—Fine." The raven gawked at Naruto, who folded his arms against his chest. "...We'll talk, but first you gotta talk me somewhere of my choice." Sasuke nodded, and began to focus of on the road.

"Anywhere you wanna go, my lady."

"Jackass!" Sasuke chuckled at that.

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"Um, I can't go in there." Sasuke abruptly spoke, as Naruto directed him towards his home church. The blonde pursed his lips, and opened the passenger side door as the Bugatti came to a complete stop in the gravel parking lot. "I'll burst into flames if I go in." Sasuke shouted, while sizing up the church's extravagant exterior. The pearl pillars and cream paint upon the walls seemed inviting. Never had Sasuke ever thought that he would ever come this close to a place like this, let alone have someone bring him inside. Yes, he was serious when he told Naruto he might need to bring that ghost man with him, but he never thought the idiot would bring him to a church! Sasuke had half a mind to just jump back into his Bugatti and drive off, but Naruto's tight grip around his sleeve kept him close. "Dammit, Dobe! I said imma burst into flames!-"

"-Shut up Teme, you aren't a demon!"

"I'm an atheist! You're damaging my pride as we speak!" Naruto shot the man a glare, before pushing through the front doors and into the sanctuary. Sasuke's eyes widened and his breath caught in his throat as he gawked at the large interior. Red carpeted floors, polished wooden benches for the congregation, the most divine pulpit, and stained glass windows he'd ever seen. This place reminded him so much of the time when Mikoto would bring him and Itachi to the chapel for Christmas plays and other endeavors. Naruto glanced over his shoulder, still holding Sasuke's sleeve, and noticed the faint tear trickling down the raven's cheek.

Sasuke was crying already?

Naruto smiled at that, and muttered "...have you're way with him, Lord" before releasing the man and making his way towards the front of the alter. Sasuke lolled against the wall furthest from it, and admired the works of art in the large place. The raven's eyes locked in on the blonde, and he practically died at how divine the man looked walking down the aisle. If he hadn't promised not to attack him, Sasuke would be balls deep inside that guy right now—in church, while God himself watched. Naruto kneeled at the alter, clasping his hands together to pray. Naruto shuffled over, and looked over his shoulder yet again to see the raven making his way towards him.

"I...I wanna leave." Sasuke croaked out, his eyes red from tears, and large with fright. "I don't like this place, Naruto we have to go."

"Calm down, Sasuke. This is the presence of God, himself. He's trying to free you from your sins, and purify your heart." Sasuke scoffed, and wiped a loose tear away.

"Dammit, I don't want him purifying shit! I just needed advice, and this jackass is doing other shit I didn't ask for!" Naruto frowned at that, rising from the floor to glare at Sasuke. The raven scoffed at the "frightening" stare, before averting his narrowed gaze towards the end of the alter at the sound of footsteps. Naruto gawked at the church doors, before stepping forward to shake the approaching man's hand.

"Reverend, Hiruzen what an honor to meet you here." The two men clasped hands and gave a brotherly hug.

"Ah, Brother Uzumaki. It's nice to see a young man in the house of God of a lovely Friday afternoon." Sasuke crossed his arms against his chest and intently calculated the older man. Religies and their dumbass introductions. Sasuke was the black sheep of the bunch—litterally, since he was in fact decked out in his black v-neck, dark blue skinny jeans, and black and red Jordan's. You know the usual attire. The pastor glanced behind Naruto, and met the mysterious man's intense stare. He smiled pleasantly and directed his free hand towards him. "Ah, nice to see you as well young man." Sasuke stared at the outstretched hand, before looking back towards the smiling man's face. The old fool was really something else.

"I don't shake hands." Was his simple reply. Hiruzen nodded understandingly and withdrew his arm back to his side, turning his smile towards Naruto.

"Care to introduce me to your friend?"

"Yes...yes sir. Pastor Sarutobi, this is the lawyer my grandfather testified about the other day at church. Mister, Sasuke Uchiha. But I call him Sasuke—"

"—Pff, more like Teme—"

"—Sasuke!..." Naruto shouted out of dumbfounded shock. "...and this is, Hiruzen Sarutobi, my pastor." The last bit came out as a threatening growl, but the raven paid Naruto no mind at all. Hiruzen nodded understandingly, while sizing up the young man before him. Naruto gave a coy smile, sending Sasuke a quick glare while the pastor rubbed his own chin and sighed heavily.

"...I can tell that you have been hurt in the past. Is this why you are so hateful?" The old man abruptly asked while staring at the floor in great contemplation. Naruto and Sasuke's eyes widened simultaneously, before the pastor looked up to meet Sasuke's shocked face. "God, is showing me things about you, young man. Things I would never understand; things I have never endured." The raven clenched his fists. "...As a man of God—I am a warrior in the Lord's army, and I see whatever he places in my visions. I can tell you're hurting from the past; God himself is making that known to me." The raven continued to gawk, but his hands subconsciously clenched.

Who the hell was this guy?!

"I see bullets on the floor..."

Shut up!

"...puddles of blood..."

Shut up! Shut up! SHUT UP!

"...God, is showing me this pain. Was there something in your past that has made you this way?" Naruto glanced over at Sasuke, who was now back to his silence. The raven kept his head bowed, but his hands remained tight—he remained guarded. Hiruzen reached out to touch the man so he could pray, but stopped as the raven jostled pass him and walked out the sanctuary. Naruto made a start after him, but Hiruzen reached out and held the young man in place. "Brother Uzumaki, you must watch out for that man." Azure orbs averted towards dark brown eyes that sternly gazed over him. "...That young man has so many demons around him, I barely had a chance to recognize him spiritually...Whatever happened in his past, is something I can't relate to, but whatever it is—you, of all people—I believe, can reach him."

"Pastor, I...We aren't friends. He's just a lawyer and my family are his clients—"

"—Naruto..." The blonde gawked at the man. The older gentleman hadn't used his actual name since his childhood. "...He's too lost in the dark, but I believe if he has you as a friend, maybe he'll come to church. Get saved. Meet one of the nice church going young women, and have a family...This is the way of God. We as his saints—his religious army, must spread the gospel to those who are ignorant to his will. That man needs God more than anyone, and I can see the corruption in his heart. I noticed the dark aura around him the moment I stepped into the church. This is what God is telling me to ask of you. He wants that man to find comfort in his embrace, and you're the only one with such spirit to convert this man over to God." Releasing Naruto's arm, Hiruzen stepped towards the alter and prayed. Naruto watched over him for a few minutes, before slowly turning around and made his way towards the double doors.

Befriend Sasuke? Invite him to church? God, was asking more than Naruto could ever bare.


Kiba.

"Itachi, I did what you asked. Here" Kiba tossed the man the leather bag, full of knives and money. The Uchiha sat proudly in the recliner, allowing his raven locks to trickle down all parts of his back and shoulders. Kiba was never afraid of this man, but he knew what he'd got himself into a couple months back. Kiba was desperate, and Itachi was willing to give him another shot at life—so he took the offer hands down, but never had he expected this. "...Who is this Sasuke? And why are you so set on killing him?" The raven froze in his motions, and glanced up at the other man in the room. His onyx orbs were distant and quiet intimidating.

"...In due time, you shall know him—you will come to know him quite well..." Itachi smirked knowingly. "...As for that fool, we have a bond like no other. He's too careless and naïve to the world around him, and makes the most careless mistakes at the mentioning of my name. Sasuke's mind is still stuck in the past, and even without him subconsciously knowing, he leads me right to his location."

"So all of this is just for revenge." Itachi rose from his seat and lifted his foot upon the table. The ankle bracelet shown proudly for Kiba to see.

"No, this is all for that." Itachi pointed towards the ankle bracelet. "...I will get free, and when I do..." Their eyes met. "...I'll finish what I should've done 16 years ago."

"Well, whatever you got planned you need to do it quickly. I can't keep this act up forever, and Kakashi is already suspecting that Naruto and I could have stole the things from work." Itachi quirked up an eyebrow at that, but said nothing for a while.

"...whose Naruto?" Kiba looked away from Itachi. "Kiba, who is Naruto?"

"..." Itachi smirked, grabbing ahold of his 9mm before his waist band, and jammed the barrel of the gun against the crook of Kiba's jaw and neck. Grabbing the brunette's arms to bind them awkwardly behind his back. Kiba hissed in pain.

"When I ask you a question, I expect an honest answer. You work for me, so don't get too cocky. Who. Is. Naruto?" Kiba bared his teeth and glared at the man that bound him.

"He's...he's a close friend of mine." Itachi smirked.

"Do you think he'll be interested in working for me as well?" Kiba continued to glare, feeling the metal gun push against his jaw.

"N-No. He's a very religious guy. This...this is too sinful for him."

"Yet he considers a rat like you to be his best friend...explain that logic to me, Kiba." The brunette pursed his lips.

"..." Itachi released the man and smiled.

"Well, if this Naruto guy isn't interested in my doings, I know someone who just might be."