As usual, OOC. R&R.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Chapter Seven – Tracking Itachi
Friday came quickly and Naruto found himself having fun during his sparring match with Hinata. Despite her claims of being rusty Naruto found it both challenging and invigorating. After nearly four hours they both fell back on the ground laughing and gasping for air.
"Thanks Naruto. I really needed this," Hinata said breathlessly.
"Me too," Naruto agreed. He sat up and looked at her seriously. "I need Kiba to go on a mission with me; he and Akamaru are the best trackers in the village. This is top secret. You can't tell anyone, not even Shino. The only reason I'm telling you is because you're my friend and I didn't want you worrying. I need you to tell him to meet me at the gate at midnight tomorrow night. I'll need you to use your Byakugan, both when you're telling him and when he comes to meet me, to ensure no one is watching or listening in."
"I understand. Thank you for telling me. No one will know. I guess I'll see you tomorrow night then."
"Thanks Hinata," he said, giving her a hug.
"No problem." She smiled at him as he left to go find Sakura.
She was sitting on the hill they'd had their first training exercise on. Her eyes were closed and her head laid back, a smile on her face. Without opening her eyes she said, "Kakashi would have flunked us if you hadn't made us work as a team. I owe my success to you, your plan, and your sacrifice y'know."
"Nah. It wasn't anything big. I didn't eat lunch at that point." She did open her eyes then.
"But when we went for ramen after we passed you ate." He shrugged.
"We were celebrating. I made an exception."
"Oh." She was clearly baffled.
"I wish I was here just for the hell of it, but unfortunately that's not the case. We're going on a mission, starting tomorrow night at midnight at the gate. You can tell Lee under the condition that it goes no further than him. Not even Ten-Ten, Gai, Kakashi, or Sasuke can know. This mission is classified; only the Hokage knows of it. Understood?" She nodded.
"Completely. I'll be there."
"No. Go to Hinata's house around eleven. And make sure that you are one hundred percent alone when you tell Lee."
"Got it. See you tomorrow night."
He nodded and left. All that was left was to inform Tsunade. He quietly snuck into her office, careful not to wake her as she was sleeping on her desk, and slipped the paper into the middle of her stack of paperwork. She wouldn't get to it until the day after tomorrow at least. With that done he made his way to the waterfall he'd been training at for the past week and a half. He knew he wasn't supposed to do it without Kakashi and Yamato, but poor Yamato was just so worn out and Kakashi was with Iruka because it was their six month anniversary today. Iruka had grown to be like a dad to him, almost as much as Jiraiya was, and Kakashi was definitely an authority figure to him, so it was easy to see them together. He was happy for both of them. That's why he was giving them the day. It wouldn't hurt to train on his own just once. He made the Rasengan in his palm then started adding wind to it. That's what he did all night long, only stopping around ten o'clock the next morning. He went home and took a long, hot shower to ease his overused muscles and put on some fresh clothes. Around noon he made his way to Shikamaru's.
"Hey Naruto. I thought you might be showing up about this time." Shikamaru grinned lazily and pointed to the Shogi set in front of him. Naruto smiled.
"I never can wait very long for a game with you. Saturday was almost too far away." Shikamaru laughed and Naruto joined him in sitting on his porch.
They started in right away, both relishing the challenge. About halfway in Shikamaru announced, "You're planning something."
"How can you tell?" Naruto asked curiously.
"You're usually very whimsical, just making random moves depending on what is before you at the time. Today you're strategizing. You tend to do that when you're planning something." Shikamaru made his next move and Naruto realized he was right.
"You're too perceptive for you own good. I wish I could tell you, but secrecy is of the utmost importance at the moment. I apologize."
"Nah, don't worry about it. Just figured I'd see if it was something you wanted to talk about." There was a comfortable pause while Naruto positioned himself to win the game. Shikamaru laughed as he realized he had been outdone. Still he made the best move he could. "So, I noticed you're talking to Sasuke now." Naruto's head whipped up.
"What?"
"Don't play dumb. You've had a thing for him for years. I've known since I first saw you two together in a casual setting. I was just wondering how everything is going?" he asked casually.
"The same as it's always been. And I plan for it to stay that way. He's not into that kind of stuff. I'd rather have a teammate who's comfortable around me than an awkwardness between us for the rest of the time we know each other."
"Okay. Just asking."
"I win." Shikamaru laughed again. "Who do you think the king is?"
"Well, Asuma asks me the same thing. He never tells me I'm right though. I figure the king is you. I'm probably a bishop, or at least that's what Asuma says. He thinks he's a pawn. He disagrees with the king though. Won't tell me what he thinks it is."
"You're sensei is very astute. He's right. I'm not the king. If anything I'm the board you play on."
"I don't see how you get that."
"I provide stability and opportunities. I watch while my people go about their lives, waiting for the outcome of their battles. I still participate, but that doesn't mean I'm one of the more important pieces. At the end of the day the pieces go back inside the board, safe and sound and protected. That is what I do. I oversee, protect, wait, and sometimes I participate. I'm in no way vital and easily replaceable."
"I still don't see it. But whatever you say." Shikamaru shook his head. They played several more games, keeping at it until the sun began to set, then Temari called Shikamaru in for dinner and Naruto made his way to the last person on his list for the day.
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Sasuke was just about to sit down with dinner, he'd prepared some sushi for himself tonight, when he heard a knock on his door. Remembering what he'd said to Naruto he quickly got up to answer it. And sure enough there was Naruto, looking both determined and unsure at the same time. Curious about the conflicting emotions Sasuke stood aside to invite Naruto in. "Hey Naruto." He smiled at him. Naruto didn't budge.
"I have to tell you something Sasuke. And it will probably come as a shock to you." Sasuke watched the blond take a deep breath and felt a tingle of apprehension. "Itachi is innocent. A man named Danzo forced him to massacre the clan in exchange for your life. He was just trying to protect you, the person he loved most in his life. He cared for you even over his lover, and he sacrificed his own emotions to keep you alive. I'm sorry." And with that Naruto walked away.
Sasuke stood there stunned. It couldn't possibly be true. He felt himself shaking his head in denial as he shut the door. Unsure of what to do with himself he paced his living room floor, his dinner forgotten. After ten minutes of pacing he still hadn't figured anything out so he slipped his shoes on and went after Naruto in order to talk more about it. How could Naruto think something like that? And if it was true, how had he come to know about it? Why hadn't he been told? Nothing made sense. He found himself at Naruto's apartment, but no one answered when he knocked. He opened the door, which was surprisingly unlocked, and found the place empty. Feeling lost and slightly dazed he walked the streets of Konoha for hours, finally returning to his house around eleven o'clock. He lay on his back and stared at the all too familiar ceiling, not bothering to wait until he got to his bed. Could Itachi really be innocent? How would he feel about that if he found out it was true? Would he ever see his brother again? Would they be friends? Would Itachi still be the same? He found that sadly the ceiling held no answers for him. He didn't sleep a wink that night.
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"I've brought them Naruto, just like you asked," Hinata whispered.
"Thank you Hinata. Is the area secure?" Naruto asked, stepping forward so that the other two could see him.
"Yes. There's no one within a one hundred meter radius."
"Good. Kiba, I've brought you a piece of clothing to get the scent from. That is what you need to track someone, right?"
"Yes. Let Akamaru and I smell it a few times, then we won't need it again."
"Naruto, do you think now you could explain what we're doing?" Sakura asked nervously. Naruto didn't answer immediately. Instead he watched until the two males had the scent they needed.
"Okay, good to go. This guy smells a little like Sasuke. Who exactly are we tracking?" Kiba asked suspiciously.
"Itachi Uchiha." Sakura and Hinata gasped. Kiba looked at Naruto as though he'd grown a second head.
"Why?" he asked incredulously.
"Because the Hokage has decided that it is important to retrieve him."
"Oh Naruto, do be careful!" Hinata murmured urgently.
"I will. I have reason to believe he will not harm me. And I'll keep the others safe. Kiba will hang back with Sakura as soon as he's pinpointed him. I'm only bringing Sakura for her medical skills in case Itachi and I fight, but it's unlikely. We'll see you again very soon. Please don't worry." Hinata sighed. She went to Kiba and hugged him tightly, going up on tiptoe to give him a chaste kiss.
"Keep track of him please."
"Of course, Sweet. You take care of yourself. I'll be home soon and we'll go on that date I promised you. Look forward to it."
She giggled. "I will. You do the same." She waved them off and watched as people she cared dearly about went on what could possibly be a suicide mission. No wonder it was secret. She sighed. Tonight would be a long night.
