Author: M00nlight Shadow
Characters/Pairing: ItaNaru and NaruSasu, mainly ItaNaru
Genre: Romance/Humor/Drama
Rating: M
Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Kishimoto
Beta: Imperial Mint

A/N Okay before you start reading
Yes I haven't update in a while, well more like years... I won't make excuses because I'm too lazy to make them up... You can hate me for it because I didn't even told my reader anything about my absence. So the truth is I just didn't feel like writing this story anymore. Just like that. Also when I read the story all over again I immediately thought: man it sucked! Really I just keep thinking: damn did I write this...? Maybe that was the main reason why I stopped writing, I wasn't satisfied.

Well anyway a few years later I read it again (and in the meantime many people contact me asking why I didn't finish the story) and I actually thought it was kind of funny. Weird actually, first it was trash and now it was funny/trash. So I thought oh what the hell why not. So here I am! Oh in case you haven't noticed I changed a few minor things in the other chapters. It's not that big I just added some text, removed some stupid words and changed some sentences so don't worry. And (this is not an excuse) I'm a very busy young woman so it's not like I will update every week or so and that's the truth! So here it finally is chapter nine. Hope you'll enjoy reading it!


Unexpected changes

Chapter 9 – Everything will change


While Kiba drove slowly towards Naruto's apartment, he glanced every once in a while to the sulking blond boy next to him with worried eyes. Naruto braced his elbow on the edge of the car window so he could lean his face on his hand. He looked tired, lost and also a bit mad. After Kiba told Naruto that his bike had been 'stolen' he had blinked a few times, and immediately after that his eyes had saddened. The brunette didn't like the sad look Naruto's eyes gave, but it wasn't like he could tell Naruto the truth.

His life was his danger. Yesterday was the proof of that. Kiba shivered at the thought of it. Just the thought of that murderer who was standing a few feet behind him... He was dangerous, really dangerous. He noticed that man was incredibly fast, and not to mention very tall if his memory wasn't failing him. Kiba shoved the thoughts away. He needed to focus now. He would protect Naruto at all cost, not only because it was his job, but because he was his best friend.

The brunette blinked. How was he going to explain this all to Naruto?

One day he had to hear the truth, hopefully when this was all over. How would Naruto react? Would he hate him for lying to him all these years?

Kiba remembered the day when his sister Hana called him to her. His sister worked at the police station. She was hard working, but often very moody... Kiba let out a tiring sigh. She had probably inherited it from their mother. It had been the day that Kiba learned all about the past of his young blond friend. It had shocked him. The young man had never excepted that Naruto had such a tragic past. He had also learned that Naruto knew nothing of it because at that time he was too young to handle it.

Minato, his father, decided that, even when he grew older, he would never tell Naruto what really happened to his mother. This man, Kushina's murderer, was called by the name of Kyuubi. Kiba had never received his real name. The man had a gruesome and terrifying past, even before the murder of Uzumaki Kushina, yet the details were not told to him, just the plain facts. Even when that cruel man was in prison, there was still no guarantee that Naruto would be safe. Kyuubi worked alone, but he also had a few followers. Minato was afraid that these people would hunt Naruto down for revenge so he had hired a few people to keep a watch on him.

At that time Kiba wondered why this had been told to him. Yes, he had a different perspective of his young friend now but-

For a second Kiba thought Hana had told him all this to warn him, that if he stayed too close to the young Uzumaki then he would be in danger too. In a split second Kiba wanted to yell at his sister. Just the thought of leaving his best friend alone made him furious, especially after hearing of his sad past. But before Kiba could open his mouth, his sister had patted him on the head with a sad smile on her face.

"You are his best friend right? Will you help protect this young lad?"

Kiba had been shocked again and Hana could only explain why she could this of him. The young female officer had told Kiba that this was Naruto's father idea. When Hana said to Kiba, "I'll give you some time to think about it," Kiba immediately shook his head in protest and said with burning eyes that he would do it. He was, after all, Naruto's best friend! And friends supported and helped each other! Minato and Hana had been, of course, very content with his answer.

Hana was only blaming herself why she didn't come up with this idea.

Minato quickly discovered that Naruto had made a friend named Kiba and knew that the boy was the little brother of Hana. Hana was also one of the police agents who had found Kushina's lifeless body. She was a great support at those hard times. The young woman even looked out for Naruto sometimes when he needed to go abroad. Kiba was very young back then, but he would soon grow into a good, young fellow. Just the way Minaro saw him play with Naruto was like he was an older brother.

He knew back then that Kiba would mostly become a good person, just like his sister and so he immediately contacted Hana. The idea of a protector who was also Naruto's best friend suited Minato well. Fortunately, Hana also thought that way, but she of course waited a few years until Kiba was old enough for this assignment.

The only thing that was left was training, but Kiba was a student, not a policeman. It would take years to make him a good policeman, or rather a protector. So Hana did the one thing that would go against the law. She began to illegally teach Kiba about how to use a gun and how to act or react in certain situations. She made him read certain books and made him practice at the shooting range. Kiba was actually a fast learner. He could be, someday, a very good officer, if not higher. His will was unstoppable and he barely became tired. Hana secretly wanted him to join the police force with her. The young woman just knew that he would be great and now he even had a head start.

Of course the most important thing was keeping his mouth shut. Naruto had to remain clueless about this whole thing.

Kiba stopped for a red light, not knowing that his hands had tightened around the wheel. Naruto was in grave danger, and to make it even better, those two childish idiots... The brunette almost growled thinking about Uchiha Fugaku and Uzumaki Minato. They just had to fuck it up even more! A few more drinks then usual and then this shit happens! Now they had a murderer on the loose and a frickin' marriage-contract-crisis. Kiba couldn't even find a decent word for it.

Yes, the murder was released after that ridiculous bet so the situation wasn't that bad as it is at the moment, but that wouldn't mean that Minato should act so freely about it at that time. He should have known better then to trust an Uchiha. Kiba almost just want to make sure Naruto's father would never touch alcohol again... But of course that was impossible, he barely saw the man. They communicated mostly by phone.

The light turned green and Kiba turned left. The young driver gritted his teeth between his lip. He should just call Minato and tell him to blow the whole marriage thing off! This was so immature! Minato should have known better indeed, for god's sake, he was an adult and a father!

Kiba began to tap his fingers repeatedly on the wheel. Yes, he would call him. He knew that his company was important for the both of their lives since Naruto did not have a full time job yet. Losing his job would mean that Naruto has to go to a different school, since their school was very expensive. They would probably lose their apartment after a while, which was very bad since Naruto lived now in a high security apartment, nice and high where there were a lot of camera's and an alarm system. It wasn't a coincidence that Minato had picked that apartment.

But he had also notice it in his wallet... Kiba once saw the monthly bills they had to pay. He had just stood there and gaped at the piece of paper. It was a lot- hell of a lot - of money!

Only like, big people live there. Kiba wrinkled his nose. The brunette remembered he was always being watched, as if he was a stray dog, by people who lived there. He hated that place- well he just actually disliked the people who lived there, except Naruto of course.

He was pulled out of his thoughts when a driver behind him hooted. Kiba had stopped for a traffic-light again and didn't notice when it turned green. A small sound of frustration left his lips before he began to drive again.

Kiba looked in Naruto's direction again and frowned. He instantly thought that he was still upset that his bike was stolen. What's the big deal? It's just a bike...? Kiba almost wanted to say: 'It could have been your life.'

"Shit like that happens all the time Naruto," he started. "You'll get a new bike."

Naruto grunted something he couldn't understand before he spoke softly, "But I liked that bike." He sighed. "Dad gave it to me." The blond waited a few second before he continued. "We picked that bike out together." He leaned back so that his head touched the car chair he stayed like that for a second before he turned his head towards the window, watching the sun go down slowly, creating an orange glow on the buildings. "One of the few things we did together..."

Kiba watched him. Of course it wasn't about the bike... That stupid bike just symbolised something.

Kiba decided to change the topic. This wasn't making Naruto happier. And... Kiba didn't actually didn't want to get any further in this father and son thing.

Kiba cleared his dry throat. "Since when does Sasuke clean the classroom?"

That question made Naruto react. He slowly turned his head towards Kiba and raised an eyebrow. "He doesn't."

The brunette turns left again. "Oh really?" he said with a bit of surprise in his voice. "It's just that I saw him leaving the classroom today and it was way past school time. Everyone was already gone, so I thought he would be cleaning with you."

Naruto hesitated to answer and Kiba, of course, noticed that. "Did something happen?" he asked sharply.

This time Naruto answered immediately. "No, no!" He waved his hand in dismay. "He just came to me to ask something that's all."

Kiba frowned at him. In return, Naruto looked back at him with a question in his eyes. "And he needed to tell you while you were alone?" Kiba thought about it. "So he actually waited after school until everyone was gone?" It was almost like Kiba was talking to himself. Why the hell would he wait that long?

It probably just struck Naruto because he blinked in surprise. The blond never thought that far but yes, he probably waited for like three hours before he showed up.

Even after school some students would hang out in the classroom for some time. Talking and joking or even waiting for other students. Sometimes they were there for a few hours. Naruto even joined them once in a while and after that he still had some cleaning to do. So Sasuke really did wait that long just to ask about his brother...? Naruto had to admit, that was weird. He just could have asked him if he wanted a private conversation.

Naruto then remembered the ticket he gave him. Pale hands automatically reached for his pocket, while Kiba's eyes followed them curiously. When Naruto found what he was looking for he pulled it out and looked at the light purple ticket.

"What is that?" Kiba asked with a raised eyebrow.

"A ticket." The blond turned the piece of paper and looked at the backside. "Sasuke gave it to me."

"Sasuke...? So he came to you to give you this?" It was a weird thing to Kiba. Didn't they dislike each other? "Does he spontaneously want to be your friend right now?" he mocked.

Naruto thought about what happened a while ago. He had seen a flicker of worry in Sasuke's eyes. It never occurred to him that Sasuke could look so different at some times. Naruto felt as if he could trust him, so he had told him his story. It was so weird... They had never spoken much and they were always competing against each other, they both called one another names, but just for a split second, that moment, he had really felt that he could trust the young, dark-haired man. Right after that, he even gave him a ticket for his performance on Friday... So were they friends now? No it was too early to call him a friend.

Just that after he told Sasuke everything, Naruto felt almost that there was another flow between them. He just couldn't name it.

"I don't know," Naruto said eventually. "But I think Sasuke isn't as bad as he seems. He was actually quite nice today."

Kiba actually looked shocked. "An Uchiha? Nice?" Naruto blinked at him while Kiba sighed. "That's like saying Shikamaru is the stupidest person on earth..."

The blond laughed softly at that. Kiba tucked his lips into a small smile. He was glad to hear his friend laugh again, even when it was not loud. "Well I'm not lying. He was even a bit worried."

Kiba was confused. Worried? "Why would he be worried?"

Naruto bit his lip. "Well he asked me if I knew his brother because it seems that that guy," Naruto did not want to say his name, he would probably become angry again. "Was gathering information about me and he wanted to know why."

"...Let me guess, you told him the whole thing right?"

Naruto's eyes widened and looked at his friend. "How did you know?"

Kiba shrugged and scratched the back of his head. "Wasn't it obvious already? If you put the pieces together..."

Naruto looked him with those big confusing eyes. Kiba cleared his throat. "Yeah well, never mind that..." He quickly changed the topic. "So where is the ticket for?"

"Oh, he has a solo performance on Friday at the Rising Star."

"Oh yeah, I remembered he plays the electric guitar right?"

Naruto nodded. "He does. I remembered he played a piece for school." The blond thought back at that moment. "It was... really beautiful actually."

"You don't say," Kiba mumbled quietly. "I guess I missed that."

Naruto huffed. "Yes, because you weren't at school that day you moron," he said with a smile on his face.

The older boy grinned at him. "Hey hey, no calling names okay? I was probably busy that night before."

Naruto laughed. "Yeah right, busy getting drunk you mean."

The brunette sniffed uncomfortably. "Wow, this is really a nice sunset," Kiba said weakly.

The blond laughed again at his failed attempt to change the subject. He was so lucky to have Kiba as a friend. What would he do without him?

Kiba just smiled while looking out the window. "So, are you going?"

"Hm?"

"Are you going to his performance?"

Naruto thought about for a moment. "Sure, I think so. I mean he really does play well." He actually really wanted to hear him play again. Maybe a day out would help him forget all those things that happened at the White Rose.

Kiba almost forgot the situation they were in now. There was still a killer on the loose. His eyes looked alarmed. "Shall I come with you?" Kiba offered. "You say the idiot plays so well right? Well I'm curious if that's true."

To his surprise Naruto jumped in to defend Sasuke. "Yes, he really does." The blond totally ignored the surprised expression Kiba was showing. "And sure you can come! You don't need to ask that. Why wouldn't I want you to come with me? You're my best friend!"

When Naruto looked at him with those big doe eyes, meaning every word one hundred and twenty percent, he smiled heartily at him. Thank god, Kiba thought. "Alright, I'll just have to buy a ticket." He really hoped that they weren't sold out or something. It was crazy to let him go alone now... oh right. His dad wasn't going to like this, but locking Naruto up would be very suspicious and Naruto wasn't stupid. It's just that Minato didn't want his son to know what really happened to his mother. He could understand his concern of course. He couldn't imagine how Naruto would react on that since Naruto was a very sensitive person in his eyes.

They drove for another five minutes in silence until they finally arrived at Naruto's apartment. After parking Kiba's car they took the elevator until it reached the 26th floor. They talked about minor stuff on the way up. Once they stood before Naruto's door, the blond searched his pockets for his key, meanwhile Kiba looked around him and sniffed the air. He huffed. Even the air smelt expensive... God he hated this place. It was too fancy and so unlike Naruto.

When Naruto finally found his keys they entered the apartment and Kiba immediately took his place on the soft couch. Damn, he needed to get one of those. Naruto politely asked him if he'd like something to drink while throwing his keys on the table. Kiba gladly nodded and asked for a coke. It took the blond a moment until he came back with his soda. The brunette thanked him with a smile.

Naruto yawned while seating himself next to Kiba. "Damn, it has been a long day," he said slowly. Kiba looked at him. If he knew any better he would say that his friend said those words with a nervous edge to them. There was clearly something bothering him. Kiba pondered whether he should ask him or not.

He didn't have to. Naruto's head slowly turned to his friend, thin lips began to move. "Hey Kiba, about Wednesday evening..."


Uzumaki Minato repeatedly knocked his head on his office desk. This was such a mess... It was like the world was going to end. That was the feeling he had now. It had been days since he saw his own son and the last time he spoke to him was on the phone. He felt guilty, miserable, extremely worried and above all he felt he had failed as a father. If Kushina were alive she would definitely have strangled him.

Just thinking about her made him feel so lonely. If she were here, everything would be okay. Everything would be different. But it was not. Kushina was no more...

Everything that could have possibly go wrong had. And if it wasn't for Minato to say, he would blame Uchiha Fugaku for this mess. This was his entire fault! That stupid man with his stupid pride! Fugaku knew damn well that he couldn't quit his job! He would lose their apartment and that apartment was Naruto's safe-keep! If his son was there Minato felt that he was safe. The security was high and reliable. Of course if they would lose their home and knowing that the Uzumaki family was in danger, Fugaku had the manpower to send them somewhere safe since he used to work with the police, and even now he had strong connection with them. Minato didn't know exactly how, but sometimes he still worked there. Also his eldest son was now working at the police force.

Yes Uchiha Fugaku was, most of the time, an asshole but they still went to the same school and even when they couldn't get along with each other, the respected each other. They even met both of their wives at the same school. They sometimes fought with each other, but helped one another when one of them was in trouble. It was a odd relationship, maybe the kind of relationship Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke had now. Back in the old days, Fugaku entered the police force after he'd graduate. He barely saw him when he moved to the city. It hadn't taken long before his first son had been born.

Minato was, surprisly enough, very good with numbers and was even offered different kind of jobs. All in all, years went by and everything went well. Soon Uchiha's second son was born at almost the same time Naruto came to greet the world. Those were the happiest, but also the scariest, days of his entire life. His life changed in just a few minutes.

He became a father.

Minato could remember it as if it had happened yesterday. Kushina was so tired after the delivery, but she was glowing with pride and so much happiness. This was their son. They had faced many great times with each other.

At that time they had lived far away from the city, where you actually could hear the birds sing and the leaves move with the wind. You could really breathe out there. There was a lot of space in their old home, from the inside and the outside. When you compare that place with this city... The city was actually too packed for his tastes, but after some time he had become used to it.

Somehow the blond man thought back to the day that Naruto took his first steps outside. Minato tucked his lips into a small smile. He had squatted down and gotten on his knees, holding little Naruto while Kushina stood a few steps before him on her own knees, waving at Naruto, beckoning him to come to her with a beautiful smile on her face, the smile that made him fall in love with her.

Naruto had been a very curious fellow and curious to learn. After a few steps towards his mother Naruto had fallen down, but to Minato's surprise, he hadn't cried. He had just stood back up and tried again until he reached his mother's warm arms. Kushina had hugged her son with so much pride that Minato could only sat there and watched them with a big smile on his face. Maybe he had been even a little jealous on his wife. Their mother and son bond had seemed so strong.

He missed those times. He longed for those times to come back.

Even after they had moved to the city, they went to their hometown once in awhile. When Naruto was almost four years old, the Uzumaki family decided to celebrate their vacation in their own hometown. They had had a lot of fun and had enjoyed the fresh air. They went to visit old friends, went out to picnic and played with Naruto in a park that was very near their old home.

But one day when Kushina went out to get some groceries... she never came back. So Minato had contacted the local police. The search for his wife took too long for the blond adult to wait for. Minato desperately wanted to look for her himself. It took many of his old friends who lived there to restrain him. Then everything changed.

The murder of his wife had shocked all the people in his hometown. They just couldn't believe that a murderer had taken place at their doorstep. Kushina was known as the strong but loving and caring mother. People loved her just because she was always thinking positively, even at hard times. Her smile dazzled many people as well as Minato. Why? Why? Why her? No one understood that there had been a crime that had taken place at their once peaceful and beautiful hometown.

It all happened when Uzumaki Kushina went missing all of sudden. After the local police hadn't found anything and after his own failed attempt to look for her, Minato desperately called for Fugaku to help him, or more like begged him to help. Since Kushina had also been friends with Fugaku's wife, he offered him his help. Minato had hoped with all his heart that his wife just had gotten lost, or maybe had some kind of small accident, nothing serious. It had to be! She couldn't...she couldn't-

It was a sad day for the young man because his worst nightmare just came true. It took Fugaku thirty-eight days to find Kushina's soulless body in the forest nearby to where they had been staying. Just a few miles from their staying place! Just the thought of imagining his wife calling for his help and he couldn't have helped! He couldn't! Because he couldn't hear her! Even when it had happened so nearby! At that moment Minato had wanted to die. He had hated himself. He had just thought every second of that day, 'this is all my fault'.

Minato shivered when he though back to when he had needed to go to the police office to indentify his wife. He could clearly remember the moment when one of the police officers walked to the body, lying on the table with a white cloth around it, and carefully and slowly placed the cloth aside, only to reveal his beloved wife's head. Even when it had looked like she was lying there peacefully, it seemed s if Minato's heart had stopped. The officer made no attempt to reveal the whole body, the face Minato gave him had said enough. When the officer had placed the cloth where it belonged, Fugaku tried to speak to his old friend.

But Minato didn't hear anything of it. The voices had slowly faded around him away until he had only heard Kushina voice. The memories seemed to flash before his eyes.

The blond man cleared his throat. A few girls in the classroom already began to giggle. "Hello I'm Minato," he said shyly.

The red haired female laughed with a blush on her cheeks. "Nice to meet you," she said with her warm smile. "I'm Uzumaki Kushina, but you can call me Kushina."

Fugaku had made another attempt to get a reaction of him. Before he knew it, his mind had made him see another precious memory.

"You know," Minato started, obviously nervous. "I have these two tickets for this movie and I was wondering- well if you have the time... maybe uhm- " he said while scratching his head.

Before he could ramble on any further Kushina had poked him on his nose and laughed. "It's about time you asked!" she winked playfully at him.

Minato could only blush and look away. "Yes well uhm-" Again he was interrupted, but this time it had been because a pair of warm lips slightly pressed against his cheek. Minato had blinked in surprise while Kushina had only laughed at the face he was making.

Fugaku grabbed him by the shoulders and tried to shake him out of his thought. But Minato still did not react. The Uchiha asked the police woman named Hana to help him.

"So what do you think of this one?" The red haired woman asked with full enthusiasm to her husband. She showed him the back and the front side of the little baby t-shirt. "It's cute isn't it?"

Minato on the other hand slightly frowned at his wife. "Well there's nothing wrong with the frogs, but what if it's going to be a girl?" Minato said while taking the t-shirt himself to inspect it. "Wouldn't ponies or bunnies be better?"

Kushina let out a small laugh and sighed softly while placing her hand on her growing tummy. It had been four mouths and he was growing well. The young woman carefully caresseed her belly. "No, it will definitely be a boy," she said with a smile.

Minato looked up from the t-shirt to Kushina. "How do you know?"

"I just know," she said sweetly. Minato, on the other hand, could only look confused, causing Kushina to laugh. "Come on daddy, let's buy this. I know little Naruto would love it." She looked at him with pleading eyes.

"Naruto?"

Kushina took the baby shirt slowly from him. "Yes. His name."

Minato thought for a second before he answered. "I kind of like it."

"Of course you do sweetheart." She instantly turned around to walk towards the pay desk.

Minato grinned, "But hey, if it's still going to be a girl you have to tell to her why you have named her Naruto and explain to her why your motherly instinct probably failed you."

Kushina laughed. "Don't worry, I don't need to."

Her warm smile remained for a second before her face slowly faded away...

At that moment the world collapsed around Uzumaki Minato.

The blond man slowly stopped banging his head on the table and groaned in frustration. This wasn't helping, now he had a headache... great.

When he heard a dripping sound beneath him he looked down. It just struck him. He was crying...

Shocked, he immediately wiped his cheeks dry with one swift move of his hand. For god's sake, he was adult!

He sighed, placed his elbows on the table and leant his head on his hands. He rubbed his eyes with his palms. The man was tired or more like exhausted. There was too much going on at the moment and he fiercely wished his mind would go blank for a second.

Could it been anymore worse?

Minato almost jumped when he heard his phone ring.


Itachi typed in the name 'Uzumaki Kushina' and pressed enter. His laptop, which was connected to the police network, was searching all the data about Uzumaki Naruto's mother. It would take a while, and in the meantime, the young Uchiha grabbed his coffee and looked through other papers that lay on his desk.

When his computers signalled that his search was complete, Itachi turned his head to the screen and found Kushina's photo on the left side of the screen with her birth date, birth town etcetera. His eyes automatically looked at the young female on the screen. The young man had to admit that Naruto had a beautiful mother. He could now see where Naruto got those mesmerizing eyes. Even thought her face held a serious expression she had such a soft radiation around her. Itachi thought that she probably was a kind mother.

He vaguely remember that the young blond at the White Rose was easily angered if someone said something unpleasant about his mother's bracelet. Itachi tucked his lips into a small smirk. He really was a little mother's boy.

When he looked at her personal data, he blinked and slightly frowned. Was his eyesight going bad? He looked again and, yes, there was no mistake, Uzumaki Kushina died years ago. He didn't expect to find this. It irked him when he read under the line 'cause of death'; murder.

Itachi just stared at the screen for a moment.

Next to the victim's photo and her personal data, he saw a few maps. He selected the media-map first. In an instant, almost thirty screens popped up in front of his eyes. This map contained files such as video and newspaper articles that were broadcast that time. The man opened the first newspaper file with the head-title: Murder at Leafdale. The newspaper had also a picture in it. The picture showed police officers setting of the premonitory. He picked another newspaper with the title: Body Found in an Underground Basement. There was another photo of the location where the murder had taken place. It seemed like a simple gray-looking cube with only one door in it, somewhere in the forest of Leafdale. Itachi clicked another one: 'Missing Woman Found' with a smaller line under it 'The Cause of Death Most Likely Murder, Police Won't say Anything yet of the Matter'. Another one: ' Leafdale in Shock, Murder at their Peaceful Hometown.' The list went on and on. Itachi had seen enough of those. He wanted to go deeper. He clicked the newspaper map away.

Next thing the young man saw was a map with the codename 'case 3007'. "A case three..." He mumbled softly. He clicked on it.

As expected a little screen popped up saying 'enter password'. There was a system for this. If you want to open a case file, you first had to look at the first number of the case name, which in this case was three. The number three means is was a heavy case. It could only be opened by a few people who had authority to open it. These were people with a higher rank and these people only knew the password to it. Simple police officers could not open those maps without permission to do so.

Luckily for Itachi, he had to authority to open it. When he typed the letters and clicked on enter something happened he didn't entirely expect. Big red letters appeared with, 'ACCESS DENIED'.

The young Uchiha could only stare at the screen. He tried again. Maybe he made a typing error? When his finger pushed on the enter button again, those big, alarming letters appeared again.

Itachi actually looked dumfounded. He leaned back on his chair, his fingers tapping restlessly on the table. Was this really happening? Itachi thought while reaching for his coffee again. This had never happened to him before. Why didn't he have access to the files? Was there something wrong with the system? A bug maybe? This irritated him on many levels.

He was about to pick his phone to make urgent and a very irritated phone-call to the police station, when his eyes spotted the possible date of murder. That date... His mind instantly linked to his father. At that time his father was still part of the police force. He had quit the force years later, to start his own business. He could remember that once, during diner, he had said some things that Minato was mentioned in. He could vaguely remember that they did know each other for quite some time, if he recalled, since the day they met at school. He even said something about that he even had a case that involved Uzumaki Minato. Back then, he just thought he meant something minor. Could it be?

Was there a connection between them?

He needed to find out. Itachi grabbed his cell-phone and dialled the number of his father's cell-phone. While the phone connected, his mind wandered off to something else or rather to someone else. Did Uzumaki Naruto know about this? Did the boy know his mother was murdered? The boy had been three years - almost four years - old at that time so after he was old enough, did his father tell him about it? Why was his mother murdered? And, most importantly, why couldn't he get into the files? He had so many questions and the fact that the answers lay right before him in that stupid file, which he could not open. The answered were in hand's reach and he couldn't get them. There was something not right about this.

It just occurred to him that he had been waiting for at least thirty seconds now and his old man had not picked up yet. After a few counts, his father's voicemail came instead. Itachi grunted and instantly flipped his phone out. That bastard almost never answered his phone, especially when he knew it was his sons were the ones calling.

Fine.

He just had to be patient for the time being.

Itachi closed his laptop and stood up, making his office chair groan in protest and walked slowly to the window, watching the orange glow that coloured the sky. "Uzumaki Naruto," he said, so softly that it almost sounded like a whisper. "It seems that you, as your parents, have a mysterious past." And Uchiha Itachi was anxious to know what it was. For some reason he couldn't wait until it was Wednesday night.


"Yes I already know." Kiba answered plainly.

Naruto looked surprised. "Uh?" The blond was confused. "How did you know?"

Kiba sighed. His blond friend nervously told Kiba about what was coming up next Wednesday. The thing was, Naruto didn't know that he told him already, or rather that he'd forgotten. "You already told me, but it seems you forgot it-"

"Bu-"

"You were drunk idiot," Kiba said while he gave him a playful punch on his upper arm.

Naruto lips formed into a little 'o'. "Uhm, you know if dad would fi-"

"Ugh I won't tell him Naruto, I hardly even see him, let alone talk to the guy." That was a lie of course.

The blond sighed in relief. "Thank god, last time it happened, my dad was so furious that he grounded me for three months..."

Kiba shrugged. "He's just worried about you. That's all."

Naruto pounded. "Well it's driving me nuts... He even flips when I don't pick up a phone." The boy tsk'd. "He immediately thinks that I'm lying somewhere, dead in some kind of alley."

When the blond said that Kiba felt a shiver though his spine. Just the thought of it was making him unwell.

"You know about Wednesday," the dog lover said hasty, trying to change the subject "you do have choice you know. It's not like he's your real boss." Naruto looked down, playing with his mother's bracelet. "Just call Shisui and explain to him what happened."

Naruto sighed. "Well the thing is, I overheard him talking through the phone with Shisui... So I think Shisui already knows of the situation."

The brunette hm'd and leaned back. "I never thought that Shisui would agree to that."

Naruto looked at him. "Uh?"

"Well you said once that you and Shisui had a good working relationship right?"

Naruto nodded. "Yes we do. He never gets angry that quickly and he's always nice and polite with the staff crew. Even when customers are very mean to him sometimes Shisui understands that it's not my fault." Naruto shrugged. "Annoying people like that just exist. You can't do anything about it."

Kiba cleared his throat. "Well what I've been meaning to say is, doesn't it strike you as odd that Shisui would actually let you do that kind of thing since he already knew that you were on bad terms with that old bag at the restaurant? It almost sounds he's punishing you right? You have to make it up by proving yourself at that party or something." He scratched his nose. "He never blamed you if anything went wrong because he knows that you are an honest worker."

Naruto thought about that. It was true that it wasn't in Shisui's nature to punish someone... Or maybe he had just been mistaken about him? The blond groaned. He didn't care at the moment, he was tired and he wished this contract-thing was indeed a bad joke... He wished that when he woke up from his sleep this was all a bad dream. Naruto rubbed his eyes with his hands. He was tired, mentally and physically.

Kiba patted him on the shoulder. "I think you'll need your rest now. You had a tough weekend behind you. "

Naruto nodded slowly. "Yeah." He placed one hand on his forehead. "Damn, just a few days ago everything was just fine the way it was."

Kiba looked at him with sympathy in his eyes. He then remembered he needed to call his father. This just couldn't go on. Uchiha Fugaku just needed to grow up when it came to his hideous and childish games. Just look at what it did to Naruto...

Naruto slowly got up and stretched his back. "You know you can sleep here if you want."

Kiba smiled. "Sure, after all I love this couch," Kiba said, kicking his shoes off.

Naruto smiled back. "Yeah I know you do." The younger boy yawned. "There's food in the fridge if you are hungry," the blond said while walking to his bedroom.

The brunette tried to find a nice sleeping position. "Yeah yeah I know." This wasn't the first time Kiba had stayed over.

"Oh and Kiba?"

The brunette turned his head to his friend. "Yes?"

Naruto bit on his lip. "Could you tell no one about Wednesday? If my dad were to fi-"

Kiba grunted softly. Honestly didn't he trust him anymore? "You know I won't Naruto."

Naruto smiled weakly at him and muttered his thanks before he turned around and walked away.


Before Naruto closed the door behind him, he looked back for a second. He didn't know why, but he suddenly didn't feel comfortable when he was alone anymore, even when it was in his own room. It was actually unfair to use his friend to make him feel a little bit more... safe.

The blond blinked. Safe? He didn't know why he thought that. It sounded very stupid since this building was more than safe.

Then why did he feel this way? Somehow he thought back at the day when he was getting his bike down at the garage. The day he had to go to the White Rose. He shivered; he really hated that dark place.

He really felt as if someone was watching him from the shadows... First he had thought he was imagining it. So he just dropped it. But when the weekend was over he had felt that cold feeling again and, during that time, he was at school. After school, when he and Kiba were about to get in the car, he had felt it again. It seemed that all the little hair on his body rose. He had automatically rubbed his arms, like he was cold. And when he had looked around, all he had seen was a few school kids and the traffic moving.

Naruto hadn't told Kiba of course. He probably would just have laughed at him and told him he was being paranoid. Maybe he was.

Naruto shoved his hand through his hair and closed the door. He really needed some sleep


When Kiba heard that his friend closed the door he waited for another hour before he got up and walked to the kitchen, closing the door behind him.

He reached for his pocket and grabbed his cell phone and dialled a number while he took a seat on the edge of the kitchen table. The brunette waited impatiently until it got picked up. He looked outside the kitchen window. It was beginning to get dark, yet he wasn't tired at all. Unlike Naruto who, if he had so much on his mind like today, would get exhausted, Kiba just couldn't sleep because of it.

"Hello?"

Kiba noticed that Minato's voice also sounded exhausted. "It is me," he answered shortly.

Kiba only called him when there was something wrong so Minato was naturally alarmed. "Is there something wrong? How is Naruto?"

How is Naruto doing? Kiba curled his hand into a tight fist. How is Naruto doing? He would tell him how he's been holding up alright. "He's exhausted physically and mentally, especially the last one. He was mostly sad all of the day, he didn't speak much today and he hasn't eaten I believe." Kiba actually wanted to ramble on about it but decided to go against it.

Minato probably already felt enough guilt when he mentioned physically and mentally.

It was quiet for a while. Kiba even gave the man time to let it sink in. He most likely already expected those things, but hearing that it also happened was a stab in his heart. Kiba pitied him for a second. The man already had such a tragic past by losing his wife. Slowly, Minato felt he was losing Naruto. Yes Naruto was always glad when he had the chance to talk to his dad by phone, but Naruto hardly even saw his own father and Kiba knew that their father-son relationship had slowly faded until there was nothing left. Minato feared this so he tried to call Naruto every day.

There was just one problem. "Kiba, is Naruto's cell phone broke?"

Kiba looked dumfounded. What the hell? The brunette expected a whole other reaction. "Not that I know of, why?"

"I tried to call him after school like I always do, but I only got a weird beeping sound."

"Sounds like he just turned off his phone," Kiba said shortly.

Again there was an awkward silence and Kiba knew why. He knew that Minato always called his son after school, but now knowing that he turned it off could only mean one thing.

He was avoiding him.

This was getting worse. Especially now Minato wanted to be close to him more the ever and right now he was avoiding his old man. That had to sting. He heard a heavy sigh.

"You know," Kiba started slowly. "This is already getting hard for you and Naruto," the brunette said while he stood up from the kitchen table, only to sit again, but now in on a real chair. He took a deep breath. "You have to stop this nonsense. You will only be making this not only harder for Naruto, but also for yourself."

He couldn't believe he was lecturing Naruto's father, but he just really needed to say this to get it off of his chest. "You know as well as I do that this isn't good for Naruto. His behaviour today was proof of it and I'm afraid it will only get worse if this goes wrong." Kiba stopped and ran his hand through his hair. When Naruto's dad didn't say anything, he continued.

"Look, I know Fugaku is a total ass when it comes to his stupid pride and not to forget those games, but what I understood from my sister is that you two were friends right?" He stopped again waiting for an answer. When the answer didn't come, he just continued again. "Call him. Explain to him this isn't right. I know he isn't a stupid man, he was once part of the police, having a high rank and even started his own company." Kiba's voice began to rise a little.

"He's already proven that he's got brains! But he's just a childish man when it comes to games! He of all should understand that this isn't the time for playing games!" Kiba was actually panting by now. He blinked. He actually almost shouted that out. Darn it. Lucky for him, he knew Naruto wasn't easy to wake up.

The brunette was silent now. He waited patiently for an answer but after ten seconds he was beginning to think that Minato might already have hung up. He was about to say 'hello?' when he heard the man sigh.

"You really are a good lad Kiba."

Kiba just stood there in the kitchen looking bewildered. Had he said something odd? For a moment the young man really didn't know what to say.

Meanwhile, Minato spoke again in a gentle tone. "Thank you."

Kiba on the other hand was still silent.

"You have been such a good friend to my son. He thinks of you as a brother. You know that right? And you would probably know more about him then I do..." He almost sounded jealous. "Oh god... I really failed as a father didn't I?"

Dumfounded by the older man words, Kiba massaged his temples. How the hell could he answer to that? It was not in his place to judge him. Though he really did think he and Fugaku were the blame for this mess.

"That bet was indeed the stupidest thing thought up by Fugaku but I was so foolish to get dragged into it." After that he told him slowly what happened during their company trip. Kiba quietly listened to him. He told him about the many drinks and Fugaku's challenge.

"The thing is Kiba..." He heard the man sigh heavily. "Did you know that relatives of the police force gain extra protection of the police itself? And I'm talking about the people who have a high rank in the police force. They gain extra protection because there always will be a chance that they would be easy targets by society. "

Kiba just was confused by this. He shifted slightly on his seat. Why the hell is he saying this to him?

"I vaguely recall that my sister mentioned it at some point," Kiba said eventually.

"Fugaku just called me." The brunette mentally groaned. God he hated that man. "And you know what he said?" Minato replied.

Minato frowned as he picked up the phone. "Hello?"

"It is me," said the person with a low voice.

Well this was unexpected. "Fugaku?"

"Listen, I don't have that much time so I will make it quick, I've been thinking..." he said with an uncertain voice. "This bet, this... marriage thing and now... Kyuubi." He said the name in disgust. Minato just wondered where he was going to. God he hoped he doesn't have another of his stupid ideas.

"I thought about it and you know... this marriage doesn't have to be that bad."

Minato looked shocked and mad at the same time. "Do you even realize what you're saying!" the blond adult hissed. "Do you any idea how my son feels right now? And don't you care about your own son?"

He heard Fugaku grunted something. "Look, this might sound a little odd," he admitted, "But this could be a good thing for you to increase your son's safety. This bet could well be in your advantage," he explained seriously.

Minato looked bewildered. Did he just hear that correctly? "Excuse me?"

"Me and my eldest son have a high rank, as you know. People like us will receive a special contribution of the police itself, since our job depends on so many other cases. It's sort of a safety system you could say." He stopped for a second.

"Kyuubi is on the loose, Minato. The second he left jail you and your son were, and still are, in danger, especially since we lost sight of that bastard," he said, rather irritated. He didn't like any failures, especially if the mistake was made by himself. He was responsible for losing the suspect.

The Uchiha cleared his throat. "So what I'm meaning to say-" he paused. "If this marriage really would proceed, we can guarantee your son's safety."

Minato looked at his desk. We...? Did he mean...? he thought.

"My son is well trained and could easily..." Could it be...? That Fugaku actually felt sorry for him and his son? Did he feel guilty? Minato could almost not believe it. It was almost that Fugaku was admitting his little games were indeed stupid ... at this moment. Or he just didn't want to fully admit it by saying that this bet had some benefits.

Minato could only gape while he listed to the Uchiha. " Take him under his roof. I know your apartment is for Naruto's safety as well, I even helped you search for a safe place for your kid remember?" Yes Minato did.

After the murder of his wife, Minato didn't felt safe anymore in his own home. So he decided to move and his old school friend had helped him with that. Or maybe more like his wife forced him to help him... When he finally found a reliable apartment he almost had a heart attack when he saw the legal charges. He didn't have the salary at that time and even had to loan from the Uchiha. It was really fortunate that he was quickly promoted to a higher rank at SakuQ. Before he knew it, he already paid Fugaku back and he finally could give Naruto a fine safe-keep and a good school. But in exchange, he barely saw his son, only at the weekends. The higher the rank, the more work you gained. The price was high, but it was for Naruto's safety.

"My son's apartment is located just a few second's walk from the police station in a matter of speech. And he also life in a high security apartment just like yours."

"Your son would even do that?" Minato ask in disbelief.

"Yes," the man said with confidence. "If he knew about the situation your son is in right now Itachi would co-operate easily. He would see this as a case instead of a ...company marriage."

Don't you mean instead of a stupid game of yours? Minato thought. He also noticed Fugaku was feeling a little uncomfortable when the word marriage was mentioned. Then again, his marriage didn't end that well. "But we could just use the marriage... thing so your son can access our safety system."

Wow, just wow... The blond adult just couldn't find words.

"Wow Fugaku I-...I really don't know what to say..." The blond scratched the back of his head feeling rather uncomfortable.

Fugaku grunted. "Urgh, yeah well- don't think too much of it. It's not like I feel guilty or something," he added quickly. "I'm just thinking as a reasonable cop right now. So even how important the Uchiha motto is-" Minato almost wanted to laugh. Oh god this man was sometimes like an open book! "A person's safety comes first." There he'd said it. Finally.

Minato just couldn't hold it in anymore. He laughed softly. The man on the other side of the phone raised an eyebrow. "Sorry, sorry," the blond said hastily. "It just that-"

"What?" He sounded annoyed, probably because Minato laughed for some reason.

"Thank you."

Yes this was getting awkward.

"Yes well-" He cleared his throat. "This just had to be done. Since that bastard is on free feet, it is necessary to change the situation. It will only be a matter of time until he will find out where you live." Unless he already knows, Minato thought silently. "There you have it. Now he has Hana's brother as protector during school and after that my son will take the rest of the day. It almost sounds like we are talking about some celebrity..." Minato could easily hear the sarcasm in that last sentence.

Minato wanted to sigh. Damn that man. He just wouldn't show to the world that he could be a nice guy for a change. Still we are talking about Uchiha Fugaku here... The man with, most likely, the biggest pride in the city.

Kiba was right. Adults could be so childish.

The Uchiha continued. "I will call my son tomorrow and explain the situation."

Minato thought about it for a minute. Would this indeed be, good for Naruto? Before Fugaku called he was actually thinking about blowing the whole thing, off. Fine he would quit his job, he would just move far, far away, far from his. Then his old school friend called. It almost seemed fated.

"I really appreciate what you're willing to help me and more importantly Naruto, but you know it just hit me that my son didn't actually get along with your youngest son. So, I've never met your oldest... but will this work out you think? I don't want to make it any harder for him then it already is."

"Nonsense, Itachi can get along with anyone. He's a honest man."

Minato raised an eyebrow. It really didn't sound like he was a real Uchiha.

"Really Fugaku, thank you."

Again an awkward silence, as expected.

"Like back then, when you came all the from the city to fi-"

"Don't thank me for that. It was my job after all..." the Uchiha said with a serious tone. "The local police there really made a mess of it. If they were perhaps a bit faster they still co-"

It was instantly quiet on both sides. The blond knew he thought he went a bit too far, yet Minato didn't mind. "That time has passed..." Minato said sadly. "If I keep focusing on the past I will lose my son out of sight." Just the thought of it made his heart sting. But he had to let the past go. "What Kushina would want now is the best for her son."

"I understand," the dark haired man said eventually.

"I wonder how Naruto is going to react, and not to forget Kiba." This was definitely going to be very hard. If the Uchiha was right and Itachi was a good man, which was already hardly to believe, then Naruto wouldn't mind right? Maybe this was good for him. Naruto almost hung out every day with Kiba, maybe more social contact wouldn't hurt, right? Right? Minato wanted to groan. He just really wanted to convince himself.

"If Kiba is smart enough, he would agree to this after all... Kyuubi was very close yesterday night. He told us that." Fugaku said with a low voice.

"How do you really know it was really him? It could have been some kind of crazy old fool." Minato said hastily.

"Come on Minato, don't try to convince yourself. You know darn well that what Kiba described made it one hundred percent clear that it was him. "

The blond shivered and ran his hand through his hair. It could have already have ended yesterday night so why...?

"Then why didn't he grab his change?" he asked.

It was silent again before Fugaku finally answered. "... I do not know yet. I already thought it was weird in the first place. But this is for us to find out Minato. Let us do the investigation... If you worry any more, you probably will have a heart attack in no time." He muttered something like 'moron' but Minato could also have been mistaken.

The blond haired man snorted slightly. "It almost sounds as if you are worried about me?" he said, amused.

He heard the man tsk."UH! Like Hell I would!" Minato laughed again. Teasing the old man was actually kind of funny.

"So," Minato grinned. "Was this your idea or Mikoto's?" he joked.

It was quiet after he said Fugaku's wife's name. He only heard the Uchiha mumble something and then he hung up the phone. At that moment, Minato just had to smile.


Kiba looked shocked. "So this means...?"

"Yes that is exactly what it means."

It took a second before Kiba instantly stood up from his seat, looking furious. "What the hell are you doing? You actually want Naruto to believe that this is still a company marriage and now you want him to live with an Uchiha! Are you out of your mind? I tell you right here and right now that he's even safer here with me than with those people!" Kiba was panting again after his angry explosion.

After he calmed down, Minato began to speak again. "Fugaku said that Uchiha Itachi was an honest person, like I just told you. Maybe this can be good for Naruto. Think about that."

"Good for Naruto?" He repeated his words with much disbelief. "Uchiha Itachi an honest man? Are you kidding me? And you just believed Fugaku words? Just like that?"

"Yes. You may not know him as well as I do, but he actually is not that bad a man."

Kiba was becoming frustrated. "Ugh! Fine, suppose he is a good person." Kiba almost choked on the word 'good'. "But Uchiha Itachi... You'll make Naruto's life a living hell!"

"...It almost sounds that you know him personally? Is this true?"

"We-"

Kiba stopped abruptly. Oh no... This wasn't really happening right? He promised Naruto not to tell anything about what happened at the White Rose! If he would look at it that way, Naruto supposedly never had met him! Darn it this was such a mess! Why did this happen?

"...Well no," he said in defeat. "I just... sort of know."

He heard Minato sigh. "Just give him a chance Kiba."

The brunette growled. "And do you really know that he's going to agree to this?"

"…It will be difficult at the beginning but this is for his safety Kiba. Besides Itachi is part of the police. He would most likely know about the danger out there. "

Naruto was really going to hate his father for this. Kiba was one hundred percent sure of that. "How do you think Naruto would react if he hears he's going to live with him?"

"Kiba..."

"Yes, yes! I know! It would probably be the best for him right now. It's just that-"

"I know this will be hard, for the all of us. In the meantime, Fugaku will try to find more convincing evidence so he could lock up that man for good."

Kiba never truly knew what actually happened at the courtroom years ago. The only thing he did know were, again, only plain facts. At that time all the evidence pointed only at one suspect. And that was the man who called himself Kyuubi. Yet it seemed that wasn't enough, but it would be enough to hold him in prison a few years. Meanwhile, investigators tried to find more clues and tracks, but unfortunately they never found much then what they already had. So now he was innocent until proven guilty.

"Everything will change now," Kiba added softly.

Minato could only agree with him. "Yes." The blond looked outside at the sunless sky, finally seeing the bright stars. "It definitely will."


A/N

Alrighto! This was the longest chapter I have ever written.

And NO! For god sakes there will be no Minato/Fugaku pairing! They just are like... awkward friends. Get it? Friends. Well sort of...

Yes not much Ita/naru in this chapter, but no need to panic! It will be eventually. I just thought it was important to show a little bit more background because it was getting rather confusing...

Well it was rather confusing for me when I read the whole damn story again...

But I understand there is still much confusion on the murder Kyuubi right? Like why is Naruto in danger? He's got nothing to do with this he's just a innocent little boy...

Oh and yes Leafdale is their old hometown name.