Beta: Ancestral Romance
It Wasn't Me, It was the Voice
Chapter 9
Jiraiya nearly vomited again.
He dashed to his bathroom and gagged into the toilet bowl. This would be the third time, his stomach had nothing left to give, except acid.
The stranger had the same two men escort him back to his hotel room after their so called "conversation", but Jiraiya barely remembered the ride back. All he could think about was what he had done.
Kabuto Yakushi was working for the stranger all along.
It was hours after the meeting, but still his stomach rolled with the information and his brain kept replaying it over and over; as though it were stuck on loop.
Kabuto was working for the strange man.
Naruto was drugged, and there was no way of knowing if it were the drugs he okayed, or something the man gave Kabuto.
Minato stole something and it was because of his impulse, Naruto now has a demon in him.
The Nine Tails demon slowly takes over the body of the human he inhabits.
It was too much terrible information too soon.
He dry heaved again, his stomach twisting sharply until he collapsed into blissful unconsciousness on the bathroom floor.
OOO
"He sure likes to spend his time sleeping doesn't he?"
"Will you shut up?"
"Why? I'm just sayin-"
"I'm on the phone moron-Sir! Hello yes, we are here with Mr. Jiraiya. Yes, he's finally knocked himself out cold and asleep...yes, he's been asleep for a few hours now…we moved him onto the bed...we could leave him? Great! Yes! We'll go get some lunch. Yes Sir. Goodbye."
Jiraiya woke to the sounds of two men chattering excitedly, followed by the sound of a door closing. He blinked and groaned into the sunlight, turning so his face was buried into a soft pillow. It took a few seconds before his brain caught up with him and he remembered that he was in Egypt.
And that he was vastly out of his depth.
And that apparently all of his decisions concerning Naruto were wrong.
Forcing himself to sit up in bed, he rubbed the remnants of sleep out of his eyes and looked on the nightstand to see an unopened box of medication and an unopened bottle of water. Gratefully he downed two pills and half the bottled water before sighing and sinking back into the sheets.
He had about two minutes of blissful silence before his cell phone went off. Blindly he groped along the nightstand, finding the piercing noise and answering it. "Hello?" He mumbled gruffly, his throat raw from sick.
"Jiraiya?"
"Kakashi! Yes, hi- how are you?" He asked, injecting fake brightness into his voice..
"Fine I'm calling because there has been a...new development with Naruto." He phrased carefully.
"What is it? What's happened- is he okay?"
"Oh no, he's fine; it's just...he's been invited on a little holiday trip with his friends and he really wants to go."
Relief washed over him and he sagged back on the bed. "Oh...well…" He rubbed his face, stomach beginning to roll again; he really ought to eat something light to appease his body and drink something warm like tea. "Kakashi. I trust you. You make the decision on whether he should go or not."
"Are you alright? You sound-"
"I've got things going on here, Kakashi. You are completely in charge of Naruto- you make the decision now. I've got to go." With that said he hung up and rolled over to wallow in pain and self pity.
OOO
Though Kakashi was concerned for Jiraiya and his obvious distraction, he knew better than to ring him back and needle him with questions. So he resolved to make the decision himself then phone him back, hopefully he would be in better spirits. Unfortunately, he didn't get around to calling him for a few days; being preoccupied with Naruto's big puppy dogs eyes and quivering lip combined with Asuma's encouraging nudges and nods. It seemed like the decision was made before he fully considered it. Finally, he woke up one morning and decided to just do it; he contacted Hinata who immediately sent him an email with all of the information.
Kakashi strolled up to Sebastian who was balancing Naruto's breakfast tray in one hand and his sweater in the other. "Good morning, Sebastian."
"Good morning, Sir." The diligent butler greeted with a smile.
"Right, you look busy so I'll cut to it. Naruto will be going on a holiday vacation in about two weeks. I need you to pack his bags." He patted down his pockets until he found the sheet of paper he was looking for. "This is the list of things he will need." He tucked it into the butlers jacket pocket then strolled away. "Oh, feel free to tell him the good news for me, will you?" He called over his shoulder.
Still mildly shocked by Kakashi's casual statement, Sebastian made his way up to Naruto's bedroom and placed the tray on the desk. "Sir?" He turned to see Naruto hopping on one foot, struggling to put his shoe on.
"...Kid, I seriously do worry about you some days."
"Yeah? I'm fine-fine! Got it!" He grinned triumphantly as he stomped his feet on the flooring, both shoes successfully on.
With one eyebrow raised, Sebastian nodded and pulled out a chair at the desk and uncovered the tray. "Your breakfast." He stood straight and eyed his charge with a critical eye, taking in his dirty shoes and without a doubt dirty hands. "You should go wash your hands, Sir. Before you eat."
"That butler of yours really knows how to irritate the shit outta me, you know that?"
Deciding that arguing would only lead to more arguing-he was quickly learning that Sebastian, though stiff and strict, could and would fight him- and inevitably a delayed breakfast. He groaned and muttered sulkily for a good measure before stomping into the bathroom to soap his hands. In the middle of lathering, it dawned on him that just yesterday it was here he saw his eyes change color. At that realization a shiver of pure fear ran down his spine and he gulped.
"What's your problem?"
Naruto took a deep breath before looking up into the mirror. Cautiously he tugged at his face and the corners of his eye, checking for any abnormality.
"What, in the name of all that is interesting, are you doing?" Kyuubi asked bored. Ever since he woke up he's been acting like nothing ever happened. Like he was never silent, never whispered those ominous words and never made Naruto's eyes flash black.
Of course Naruto hadn't built up the courage to actually ask if it was Kyuubi making his eyes black, but what else could it be?
"I feel kinda sick." Was all he mumbled in response then sighed when he realized that his eyes were perfectly normal.
"Sir, are you okay in there?" Sebastian asked, his voice concerned.
"Please tell me you aren't about to vomit." Kyuubi sounded exasperated. "I swear you're becoming weaker with time instead of stronger."
OOO
"Sir, I could be wrong but shouldn't you be more excited? Isn't this what you wanted?" Sebastian asked, an eyebrow rose as he went about straightening up the room.
Naruto lay sprawled out on a chair, feet kicked up on the tabletop. His head lolled to the side to stare at his butler. "I am excited." He tapped his mobile phone lying on his stomach.
Sebastian eyed him in amusement. "Yes. I see that."
"Oh- don't get snarky butler boy, remember who you work for."
Absently, Naruto picked up his mobile and tapped out a quick message to Hinata. He was cautiously excited about going on the holiday; on one hand he really did want to go, but on the other he was weary of Kyuubi. The demon has been getting progressively stranger and stranger; on the inside he knew something was going to happen. But he didn't know what or when. Or even if he could handle it.
"Hey Hinata, I can go. Uncle Kakashi said yes"
OOO
"I hate you."
The stranger smiled and straightened his unit jacket, buttoning it. "Yes- well too bad the feeling isn't mutual."
"Tell me your name."
"I'd rather not."
Jiraiya scowled and resisted the urge to scream. Yet again, he'd been escorted the stranger's house for what seemed like mockery. The man would smile and be pleasant enough but he'd never say his name, never tell him what he wanted to know. He spent the time filling in the gaps, answering questions about Naruto and the Nine Tails demon, but that was all. Everything else was 'forbidden'.
"So," the stranger clapped his hands. "You have the box that was used to seal Kurama away."
"Who's Kurama?" Jiraiya asked exasperatedly, massaging his forehead and motioning for the maid to pour him a cup of tea as he slumped down into a chair.
"Kyuubi. The Nine Tails- didn't I mention his name- well, real name?" He looked over his shoulder as he strolled towards the window pane to peer outside.
"No. What about the box?"
"I need it to seal him away."
At that Jiraiya perked up. "Seal him-you can seal him away again? Remove him from Naruto?"
The stranger smiled, the sun shining in from the pane of windows casting his face on shadows. "Of course I can Mr. Jiraiya."
He glanced at the two men sitting by the door. "And what happens to Naruto?"
The stranger shrugged and turned on his heel. "I don't know."
"What do to mean you don't know?!"
"I. Don't. Know."
Jiraiya gaped at him.
"He may go crazy. Suffer a psychotic break-you do realize that all those medications you've been pumping him with, while necessary, are also incredibly dangerous right?" He threw in as an afterthought. "Oh, and he may die."
OOO
First day of Vacation
The servants had already loaded Naruto's luggage into the back of Kiba's Hummer under Kakashi's watchful eye while Asuma and Kurenai filled their SUV with their supplies. They were parked in the garage around the side where no one would see them and would leave only a few minutes after Kiba.
Asuma glanced at the medical pack containing Naruto's weeks' worth of medication lying innocently on the flooring of the SUV. Quickly, he glanced over his shoulder then tucked the pack under the driver's seat, out of sight, out of mind. His mind was made up; today he would start relaxing Naruto's dosage. He was convinced that the drugs weren't doing anything but making him a bit dim in the head; ever since that morning in the diner he had been keeping an especially close eye on Naruto. He paid special heed to his interactions with everyone, watched for any unexpected angry outbursts, and even watched Sebastian, his butler, to see if there were any changes.
But there was nothing. Aside from what most likely could be nerves for the holiday trip, which was to be expected.
The decision was made.
He was going to start scaling back the medication. Today.
OOO
"Do you have everything?" Sebastian asked for the thousandth time as he deftly tied a scarf around Naruto's neck, much to the amusement of Kiba and Sasuke who stood off to the side watching.
Annoyed, Naruto shifted his weight and glanced over to his friends. "Yeah, yeah."
"I told you, kid. Didn't I tell you? I fucking TOLD you not to get all chummy with the help. Did you listen? NO!"
"Remember to always dress warmly." Sebastian pulled a black beanie out of nowhere and placed it on Naruto's head. "I packed you some t-shirts just in case, but you have more than enough thick sweaters. Okay, Sir?"
At that, Kiba elbowed Sasuke in the gut and pointed at Naruto and Sebastian, a big shit-eating grin on his face. "Hey man, why don't you just bring your butler with you?" He asked then burst out laughing. Even Sasuke chuckled.
"Tell that fucker to shut the fuck UP!"
"Oh you're so clever Kiba. You should quit your day job to become a comedian." Ino sassed as she strode confidently up the winding driveway. She left Sakura and Hinata to lock up the SUV, one he can only reason as belonging to Sakura if the blinding pink seats were any indication. Even from this far away and out of the corner of his eye he could see them.
With a sigh, Naruto finally brushed his butler's fussing hands away and gave him a deadpan look. "Thank you, Sebastian. Really thank you. But please stop fussing over me like I'm a two year old in front of my friends."
Sebastian's mask slipped all of two seconds revealing a worried face before the mask fell right back in place and he nodded stiffly, clasping his hands behind himself and nodded. "Of course, Sir." He took a step back, shoulders back, head held high and jaw slightly clenched.
"And that boy, is how you do it! Way to stick it to that annoying fly! Finally! Your balls are out!" Kyuubi praised him with fervor.
OOO
"As soon as Shikamaru get's here we can go." Sasuke stated looking at Kiba's Hummer, then his own truck and finally at Sakura's SUV all parked one behind the other along the driveway.
"He's late." Ino sighed as she zipped up her jacket vest and stomped her feet. At a first glance, he thought she just bought an entire wardrobe to dress up whenever they went on their annual holiday given the jacket, blue jeans and hiking boots; but upon closer inspection he saw the scuffs and stains on her boots, the discoloration on the knees of her jeans and the mysterious green stain on the back of her jacket.
"You have an entire wardrobe for this?" He asked out loud, surprised.
"You idiot." Sasuke muttered.
"You fucking idiot!"
Ino raised an eyebrow at him and scowled before she smiled and nudged him with her elbow. "If you were one of the others I'd slap you." She sent him a lopsided grin. "But yes. I have a collection I only wear for holiday." Her eyes darted over to Sakura and Hinata leaning against Sasuke's truck bed and talking. "So does everyone else actually-did you get the list Hinata sent?"
"Yeah. My uncle got it and gave it to Sebastian."
"His butler." Kiba quickly jumped in. "You know him right. That guy." He pointed rudely. "The tall skinny one who looks so posh, it actually hurts my eyes to look at him too long." He sniggered.
That earned him a stomp on the foot from Ino before she resumed talking to Naruto. "Well I'm sure you're prepared. He looks like a competent guy."
"Ohoohoo are you checking out Naruto's butler Ino?" Kiba mocked. "You can do so much better."
"Just like Hinata can do a lot better than you, so stop barking up that tree." Ino grinned wickedly back at him.
Thankfully, Shikamaru chose that time to pull up, his SUV stuffed to capacity with all manners of supply ranging from camping to alcohol-the latter of which was cleverly hidden under everything else-then the final goodbyes started.
Kakashi strolled up to the group mulling about the driveway, trying to decide which route to take and when to switch drivers. Within seconds of him standing quietly beside them they fell silent with respect and waited for him to speak.
"Do you all have your license?"
Everyone nodded.
"Emergency phone numbers?"
Nod.
"Tanks are full?"
Nod.
"All of the equipment you'll need?"
Nod.
"Well then," He looked over the group before his eyes settled on Naruto, standing between Kiba and Hinata. "You be careful and don't do anything stupid." He warned. "You know what will happen if you do."
Beside him Kiba snickered and elbowed him, drawing Kakashi's attention.
"Why don't you simply punch this fucker in the face?"
"All of you." He looked them over one more time. "Be careful. But have fun. Have careful fun."
OOO
Ten minutes later, all four vehicles were barreling down the road, Sasuke leading the way. He decided to take the same route as last time, boarding the edge of the sea the entire way. As soon as they hit seaside stretch, Kiba began glancing at Naruto riding shotgun. After several minutes of confidence building he finally asked the question that was plaguing him.
"So, seems like Hinata's really into you...you still into her or..." Kiba let the sentence hang, glancing beside him at Naruto.
Uncomfortable with the topic, Naruto shifted and shrugged. "Yeah, I'm still interested. Why?"
"Of course we are interested, you stupid Hummer driving monkey boy."
He didn't answer for a few long seconds, instead focusing on the winding road and keeping a reasonable distance behind the girls. "So am I." He stated quietly.
Silence settled between them after that, with Kiba driving and Naruto trying to melt into the seat. It was uncomfortable to say the least.
"I like you man." Kiba eventually broke the silence, his voice quiet. "You're a cool guy and well...you make a good friend." He sent him a sidelong glance. "But I also really like Hinata. For years I've been trying for her to notice me-and then you waltz along and suddenly all that I've been doing for years is gone." He sighed and shook his head, eyes trained on the road ahead. "I'm not saying I'm jealous and want you to die, but I'm not saying I'm giving up on her either. What I'm saying is, I don't want to lose you as a friend. Especially over a girl-even if the girl is Hinata." He mumbled the last bit.
"...For once I don't know what to say, kid…"
Naruto took a deep breath and focused on Shikamaru's SUV grill right behind them in the side mirror. What could he say to that? He liked Kiba too, he was a good friend, albeit, a bit asshole-ish, but he also really liked Hinata. It was because of her that he now has the life that he has, but he also wanted more. Much more. He wanted to take her on dates and spend holidays with her like Asuma explained. It sounded nice, roasting marshmallows by the fire with her. Though he couldn't understand why people would do that, it still sounded nice.
"I...don't want to lose you as a friend either." He said quietly.
"Good." Kiba offered him a smile. "Good. At least we agree on that." He eased off the gas going round the bend and reached to turn on the music, but kept it low enough so they could still talk. "Can I ask you one more thing?"
"Oh fuck he's going to turn this trip into some sort of...bro-bonding thing isn't he?"
"Yeah, I guess."
"Your parents…" Kiba began his voice a mixture of curiosity and caution. "They weren't there? To say goodbye?"
Naruto glanced at him, baffled for a few seconds until Kyuubi explained.
"You dingbat. Asuma and Kurenai. They think those genius are your parents. Don't know why though. Neither of them is blonde."
"Oh...yeah well...they let me go but they were…"
"Busy. They're too busy to see their only child off."
Naruto bit his tongue and shrugged, annoyed with Kyuubi's snark; but Kiba mistook the gesture as shame and reached over to awkwardly punch him in the arm.
"Hey man, it's okay. My parents are busy too...I mean not as busy or strict as yours seem, but I get it." He glanced at him before focusing back on the road. "That why they sent your uncle and butler?"
"Yeah. You got it."
OOO
The cabin looked much better at day than it did at night; with the grounds covered in a layer of snow and the inviting glow in the windows that without a doubt came from a fireplace it looked cozy and comfortable.
"He must have asked Itachi to clean up." Kiba mumbled, pulling up alongside Sakura. "That's Sasuke's older brother, by the way."
"He has a brother?"
"Yeah. He runs some business or something-I don't really know-but he's pretty cool. He lives around here in a huge ass mansion and maintains this place, if he's in a good mood he'll send someone down to clean the place for us; otherwise we'll have to do it ourselves." He grinned and turned off the engine. "Looks like you're a lucky bastard."
OOO
Kakashi slumped down into one of the lounge chairs in the living room, the television roaring in the background. It was time he tried calling Jiraiya back, if only to tell him that Naruto was on holiday. The phone rang for several beats before going to voicemail. He blinked, mildly confused before trying again.
Once again it rang for several second before going to voicemail.
He tried one more time. This time someone picked up, but it wasn't Jiraiya.
OOO
Naruto ducked behind a tree, his mobile phone clutched in his hand with the message he just received on the screen. He peered around the tree to see Kiba, Sasuke and Shikamaru unloading the girls SUV and Sakura walking out of the cabin holding a bottle of Vodka. With a puff of cold air be hid himself again, back pressed against the tree.
"How long is it going to take you to get to twiddle dee and twiddle dumb?" Kyuubi asked bored.
With a sigh he glanced down at his mobile screen and reread the message.
"Naruto come find us as soon as you can to check in. We are parked by the boulder on the road."
He had to get to the road, but all of the vehicles were parked down the drive and out into the road, since they were unloading everything. With a scowl, he crouched low and kept to the trees and bushes skirting the driveway and prayed to whatever God was listening that he didn't get caught. Otherwise he'd have some explaining to do.
After several heart pounding minutes where even Kyuubi fell silent, he finally spotted the familiar SUV parked near the boulder, with Asuma sitting on the bonnet smoking. He waved in greeting just as Kurenai climbed out of the back seat with a thermos.
Kurenai approached him wrapped in a large furry winter coat and met him in front of the SUV. "Had a nice walk?" She asked, handing him the thermos.
"Yeah, real nice. Real. Fucking. Nice."
He didn't answer in favor of fumbling with the thermos until it was open then took several huge gulps. Asuma watched from his perch atop the bonnet, one foot resting on the grill the other hanging. He took a deep drag of his cigarette to disguise the smile on his face; while Kurenai was sending Naruto the message he tossed the medicine he was suppose to add into the hot cocoa into the bushes. What Naruto was drinking was just plain hot cocoa.
Kurenai glanced behind her then smiled down at Naruto. "How are you doing?"
"Fucking amazing. Just, you know, cold."
"Fine. Had to sneak away." Naruto managed to mumbled out, the hot cocoa warming him up from the inside. "Where are you two staying?"
"In a cabin not too far from here, we rented it." She glanced at the thermos. "Did you drink all?"
Stiffly, Naruto shook his head no.
"Then drink up, it'll warm you up."
Wordlessly he downed the remainder of the cocoa and handed it back to her. "Thanks."
"No problem."
It was then Asuma chose to pipe up. "Enjoying your holiday yet?"
"Oh yeah. Loads of fun being stuck in that automotive thing with a manic behind the wheel then freezing our ass off here chatting to you."
Kurenai smiled and glanced at her watch. "You better get back; otherwise they'll start to worry. Remember tomorrow morning to meet us here again okay?"
"We'll see about that."
OOO
Ten minutes later, Naruto came out stumbling from the forest, much to the surprise of Shikamaru and Sakura. They glanced at one another before looking back at Naruto picking tree branches and dirt off of himself.
"Uh...you alright there Naruto?" Sakura asked worriedly, her arms filled with bags of food.
"Do we look alright, sweetheart?" Kyuubi bit back. "Boy get inside, before you die and take me with you."
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. "Did you get lost already?"
"Yeah." Naruto grumbled, straightening his coat. "I thought-I don't know." He sighed and looked at the two of them pathetically. "One minute I was just on the edge the next everything looked the same."
He snorted and shouldered a suitcase out of Sasuke's truck. "Yeah that happens to people who've never been in a forest before. Go on inside, everyone's been looking for you. Ino was about to start a search party."
Cold and in a foul mood, Naruto went into the cabin and was immediately assaulted with heat and the scent of burning wood; the fireplace was lit. Inside was a toasty oven, warm and inviting, immediately his spirits lifted. He shucked his coat onto the nearest chair and stumbled, his cold limbs locking, toward the fire.
"That was fun. Those idiots."
Naruto didn't reply and instead chose to slump down in front of the roaring fire and warm his limbs. After a few seconds, he heard someone gasp behind him.
"Guys, he's here! Oh Naruto, we were so worried!" Hinata cried and hugged him from behind, yelping at his freezing skin. "Oh my God! You're freezing!"
"Yeah. That tends to happen when it's cold, sweetheart."
OOO
Though technically their luggage was sensibly divided into the three rooms; the girls in the largest while Kiba and Naruto bunked in one and Sasuke and Shikamaru in the other; no one kept to that and instead skipped about the cabin excitedly. At one point, Naruto found himself sitting on the floor of the girl's room with Kiba by his side and a half a bottle of Rum between them.
"Boy, are you drunk?" Kyuubi asked suspiciously.
"Wasn't this filled...like…" Kiba stared at the bottle of rum, his eyes narrowed. "two minutes ago?"
Unsteadily, Naruto swiped at the bottle, his fingers fumbling at the neck until he picked it up and squinted at it.
"It does not hold the answers to life." Kyuubi muttered dryly. He realized quickly that while he enjoyed Naruto being pleasantly tipsy, when it crossed into drunk-mode he was not happy in the least. Because, while Naruto got to enjoy the alcohol and the jokes and bonding time with his friends, Kyuubi was just along for the ride. He was just an outsider that could only look but not touch.
Not to mention that with the help of the alcohol, Naruto didn't even hear Kyuubi when he talked. Either that or he just thought it was his own conscious. He wasn't too sure.
"It was! Where the fuck did it go?!" Naruto sputtered, his words slurred.
It was then Sakura intervened, she strode across the room and plucked the bottle right out of his hands. "Right." Her green eyes bore down on them. "You two have had more than enough for the night." She scowled, her face so intimidating Naruto and Kiba clutched at each other in mock fright.
"Naruto…" Kiba mumbled, his face a poor imitation of a scared man. "I'm...I'm so scared man...I don't want to die…"
"Oh fucking hell."
"Neither do I…" Naruto tried to act like he was pushing away Sakura but only succeeded in pathetically clawing at her legs. "Don't-leave us!"
"Hinata my love!" Kiba jumped to his feet and used the wall to support his weight. "Don't let this witch separate us!"
Hinata scowled at him from her perch near the dresser, where she stood moving her clothing from the suitcase into her share of drawers. "Kiba, go sleep it off." Was all she said.
"But I love you!" He belted out and stumbled in her direction.
"Kiba man! Leave the lovely lady alone!" Naruto grabbed his leg. "You're fuckin' drunk!"
"Finally, you have done something good! Wow kid, you're on a roll today aren't you?"
Kiba however, did not find Naruto to be helpful in the least and swore. "Let me go bastard! Stop cockblockin me, man!" He tried to kick him but ended up falling flat on his ass, much to their amusement. "HINNNAAATAAAA!" He howled. "I LOVE YOUUUUUUUUUUU!"
At their drunken antics, Sakura rolled her eyes and hollered out the door. "Sasuke! Shikamaru! Come collect your idiots!"
Within seconds, Naruto was hauled up onto his feet by Sasuke. "I see, you get them drunk as hell, and then suddenly they become our idiots." He glared at her before steering Naruto out the door shaking his head at Shikamaru as they passed in the hallway.
Unintentionally, Naruto got a whiff of Sasuke as he manhandled him down the hallway that suddenly had a lot more turns than he remembered. "You smell...like forest?" He articulated, complete with and gestures and a genuine befuddled facial expression thrown in for a good measure.
Sasuke snorted as Naruto tried to take the hallway wall with him when he suddenly veered right. "Yeah. That's because Shikamaru and I were actually doing work instead of drinking our ass off." He stared at the blonde, debating whether he should help him back up or not.
"Drinking's fu," He hiccupped and groaned, his eyelids closing down. "nnngddd…"
"WAKE UP, YOU BLONDE IDIOT! DON'T YOU SLEEP! NOT HERE, NOT NOW!" Kyuubi shouted, hoping to jolt Naruto up.
"Yup. It is fun. Loads of fun." Sasuke sighed, and bent down to haul Naruto up onto his feet then gave him his shoulder to lean on as he dragged him to his room, Shikamaru not too far behind. "But that sort of fun is to be had when we have the important things sorted."
"Drinking important." Naruto mumbled.
"So is firewood. And outside lighting. And door locks." Sasuke answered, kicking open the bedroom door. "You're lucky you're light." He muttered, shuffling to dump Naruto unceremoniously onto the bed. He landed in a heap, with one arm trapped under his dead body weight and one leg hanging awkwardly off the bed.
"You pathetic fool! Why the fuck would you drink so much, you can't even get to your own goddamn bed?!"
Naruto groaned and turned slightly so his head was sideways and he could breathe. Seconds later, Shikamaru brought Kiba in.
"Just sleep it off." He heard Shikamaru advice as he tossed Kiba onto the bed opposite him then leave, shutting off the overhead light and closing the door.
Naruto lay there for a few seconds, blinking lazily at the moonlight on the flooring before he finally fell into a deep, alcohol induced sleep.
That night, with Naruto unconscious and everyone else sound asleep, Kyuubi quietly slipped into control.
OOO
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