A/N– so… things happen… I have a lot of work since its coming up on finals to updates will be a bit slower. Oh and look for my college on the news! Alfred U. we had a supposed gun man on campus. It ended up being a student with a Nerf gun used in a Zombies VS Humans game. (good game). It was funny.

JUST SO YOU KNOW I WON'T BE UPDATING UNLESS I SUDDENLY HAVE NO WORK. But it won't be to long I promise!

Summary-Naruto is not like everyone thinks he is, he hides his true self from everybody. The few who know about the other him know very little. When various events force Naruto to spend time with his team mates in situations outside of the norm he finds it hard to keep up the act.

Parings-SasuNaru, some KakaIru others not decided.

Rating- very much an R rated fic… or M… guess that's what it is now… -- bah

Warning- sexual situations, foul language, self mutilation, attempted suicide, a very OOC Sasuke. And bitchy Sakura! –– well she had gotten better in resent chapters.

Spoilers- for anyone who is not up to date on the manga –– that's sorta true now.

Disclaimer– Meh, I was a Pirate-Ninja-Fighter-Zombie yesterday.

XxXxXxX

Red Walkways

Chapter Ten

House

XxXxXxX

Sasuke didn't know what to do. There was something terrifying about looking into Narutos blue eyes as he lay next to him, in bed. Never before has Sasuke not known what to do, never before has he not been able to fall back on being a cold bastard.

Naruto looked right back seemingly unfazed, he didn't really want to be facing Sasuke, he didn't really want to think about the fact that he was in bed with him at all. The night Sasuke saved Kyuubi from him, and took care of Naruto he had admitted to himself he was falling in love with the other boy. Now he had to face it head on. He didn't think he could admit his feelings, he was sure Sasuke didn't feel the same way even if he was attracted to the blonds body. But there is one thing he wanted to say that he meant to say that night that seemed so long ago from where he is now.

"Sasuke..?"

Fluttering of lashes cleared glazed eyes. Sasuke focused on Naruto.

"I wanted to say… that night you found be in the bathroom…the promise.. I just…thanks… I just wanted to thank you."

All the blood… if Sasuke hadn't come. Naruto didn't want to think of what might have happened if he hadn't of been interrupted. Kyuubi might be dead. He might of… Like behind the door. He shuttered that the thought of the room, the room he had not entered for so long. What must still be back there, tears on the floor. Sometimes he thought he could smell them still, there were so many. Naruto felt something warm on his face. At first he thought he was crying, but it wasn't wet. Glance to the left. It was a hand. Sasuke's pale fingers were just grazing the side of Narutos cheek. His skin almost glowing white against Narutos tan.

"Just come to me when you feel like that, and let it be."

Sasuke was never one for thank yous, he wasn't really one for doing anything for anyone. Nothing like what he was doing for Naruto. He didn't know how to handle it at all. He just wanted Naruto to know he was doing it because he wanted to and there was nothing to be guilty about. Naruto had nothing to be guilty about.

"But… I don't want to…" Naruto started.

"NO" Sasuke cut in sharply. Naruto was startled, then hurt.

"No" Sasuke said softer reaching behind the blonds head to pull him into a hug.

"You don't have to be gu…"

RED, Sasuke didn't think he had ever been that red in his life. Both boys were still as stone… then.

"EEEEKKKK!!" Naruto flew six feet back off the bed, knocking Kyuubi to the floor, on the other side of the room was a red human shaped ball.

Sasuke was so shocked be didn't move or speak.

'Did…I just touch Narutos crotch…?' Sasuke had meant to pull him into a hug but his hand still at his side came in contact with a lower part of Naruto when he was pulled close.

Sasuke slowly got to his feet and walked to his bag taking one of the pillows with him. From it he pulled his camping blanket. He sat on the couched.

"Naruto, take the bed, I will see you in the morning."

Naruto nodded slowly. Sasuke curled up and listened as the blond moved across the room. The springs creaked, sheets rustled. Then there was quiet.

Naruto closed his eyes and smiled, after all his searching he found his place to be.

Sasuke was his house…

XxXxXxX

The morning came slowly, the sun was water in the hills surrounding the little hamlet. Team Kakashi stood outside a breakfast nook as the little old lady owner scuttled to the door and flipped the sign to open. They entered, the first customers of the day.

XxXxXxX

Tsunade looked at the paper in her hands. The Raikage expected an answer. What was she supposed to say? She had told him no and then Jiraiya went behind her back and made a deal in her name. Why was he so set on this deal, did he really think what the cloud had was something they needed? She didn't think so, it was nothing but dangerous. She saw millions more dead then already die every year. This is a problem they need to nip in the butt.

"Shizune!"

The large wooden doors opened and a dark haired head popped in.

"Yes Tsunade-sama?"

The blond put her hand through her hair and sighed.

"Bring me Jiraiya."

Shizune bowed "Hai Tsunade-sama"

The doors closed.

XxXxXxX

Naruto and Sasuke had not spoken a word to each other since the night before. Sakura didn't seem to notice but Kakashi had a sly look on his face and Kyuubi was napping across Sasuke's shoulders.

The sun was slowly moving across the sky, using the travelers and trees as clock hands telling the time with there very bodies. Soon hours later the trees started to thin and the floor of the forest became sandy.

Kyuubi Perked up, "we are getting close to Youkai no Yobi"

Naruto raised a brow, 'really?'

"Yes but we won't see it, not unless we are looking for it, and only those who know of it, look for it. It Is only an hour to the west along the bank" Kyuubi put his head back down on Sasuke's shoulder. "We will have to come back here."

Naruto looked up to the sky and wove his hands behind his head 'why? We can sneak there tonight. Its only a hour of travel… I can loose the sleep and be fine.'

Kyuubi's head popped up again, "you would do that for me?"

Naruto cocked his head still looking up, 'why wouldn't I? I care about you, plus I am curious.'

Kyuubi looked down, he cared about Naruto too… he had to tell him the full truth about the day he attacked Konoha. He cant protect him from everything, even little white lies like excluding information cant become the longest red walkway to nothing but pain for one of the parties involved. He will tell his… friend after the mission. The fox thought back to in Tsunades office before they left… that letter. The blond woman will have to learn to trust his kit or she will end up getting him hurt.

"I would like it very much if we went, I haven't been there since Karasu and me… since before I was sealed."

Naruto gave a slight nod so Kyuubi could see, 'then we go tonight after the teems asleep.'

XxXxXxX

The team was approaching the seashore. From where they were, they could see a white sail of the ship that was right on time, as were they.

The sand poured over the edges of Narutos sandals, the pure white sand was not coarse, it was the finest sand the leaf nin had ever seen. The sun reflected off the beach, the ground was made of light as she stepped off the boat. Her soft feet cascading from rough dirty wood that made the plank to the glowing light that sounded her small toes and trailed up the pale almost iridescent skin of her legs that showed under her knee length skirt. Her hair was a misty blue that fluttered around her face as if it was lighter then air, her eyes were a strange sea green that seemed to take in everything at once. Her skirt was simple and flowing as was her top, her sleeves fell to the same length as her skirt.

She was the most beautiful woman any of them had ever seen. Even Sasuke took a moment to look her over. Naruto on the other hand was staring at her without moving.

The girl who could be no older then seventeen bowed slightly in their direction out of respect. Sakura broke from her trance and stepped forward.

"Hello, welcome to fire country." she bowed in return, blushing pink when the beautiful nameless woman looked her in the eyes.

"Your welcome is thanked." her voice was soft and airy, she sounded like the fog steeling into the breast of a valley.

XxXxXxX

The woman's name was Evelyn, and everything about her was like classical music. Her every movement was timed and thought out. Her eyes almost never focused on one point but was never far from your face when she spoke to you. She was the granddaughter off one of the elder councilmen of the Wave village. She didn't wear a hitate from Wave but all Naruto could think is if she is a ninja she must be deadly.

The sun was setting quickly, the crew of the boat that Evelyn had traveled in agreed to stay the night so she would not have to sleep on the ground. The Mist country boatmen seemed thrilled to have the graceful girl on their deck for another night.

Everyone was a bit surprised when Evelyn decided to sleep on deck with her protectors. Sasuke was sure the delicate looking girl would of opted for sleeping in the cabin. Evelyn on the whole ended up being a surprising person. Though her looks were that of a pampered princess, she acted more like a ninja. Naruto felt relieved about this, though nice to look at, he was worried that he would have to put up with a snotty bitch the entire journey to Sand.

Naruto lay quiet on the deck, he used Kyuubi's keen hearing and waited until all the others breathing evened out. It was an hour later when the only one that was still awake besides Naruto was Sasuke. Another twenty minutes passes without any change to the Uchiha's state of consciousness. Naruto let out a little sigh.

Kyuubi shifted slightly, "if we can get out of his sight for a moment I can transform and take us faster then he can follow."

Naruto glanced at the little fox on his chest, 'you sure about that?'

"Positive"

Naruto gave a little nod. He waited a few minutes and then sat up. Slowly he slipped to his feet like liquid, Kyuubi on his shoulder. Within seconds he was off at a run towards the trees.

Sasuke slipped his eyes open and watched until the blond was about to break the tree line on the shore. He was up and running after him.

Naruto broke through the trees and could feel Sasuke coming up behind him. Suddenly Kyuubi jumped from his shoulder and in a blaze of fire transformed into a horse sized fox with four tails. Naruto claimed onto his back and hung on for his life as the fox took off at speeds he had never traveled at before.

Sasuke got to the trees only seconds after Naruto was in them, he whipped his arm over his face when a flash of light and heat flooded the cracks between the trunks. When it ended he ran into the forest and was shocked to find no one there. He looked all across the ground for signs of travel and was confused. Naruto's tracks come up into the trees, then there was a weird scuffle mark and the trail ends…

XxXxXxX

Naruto was concerned. "Don't you think that this will make Sasuke even more suspicious then he already was?"

He felt Kyuubi's shoulders rise into a shrug, "maybe, but it was bound to happen, you too need each other and hiding something like me will only push him away."

"Well I am kinda worried that when he sees our trail ends with no sign of us he might wake the other to find me."

Kyuubi took to the tree tops now that they were far from the camp. "I don't think so, he will wait until morning. I will bet he will be waiting for us when we get back."

Naruto sighed, "great…"

XxXxXxX

Sasuke stood at the edge of the boat, he looked at his reflection over the railing. He trusted that Naruto was OK. He had an odd feeling that this had something to do with that fox, it was just a hunch, but what else could it be? He would wait here until morning and if the blond was still gone he would inform the other of what he saw. With that set he sat on the deck and let himself fall into a light sleep to wait for Naruto.

XxXxXxX

An hour of high speed travel later brought a sight that amazed Naruto. Over the tree tops the first sign of the village was a orange glow of thousands of lights. The dome of light got brighter as the approached, Kyuubi slowed down to take in the view. Then the first building came over the horizon. It was unlike anything the blond had ever seen. The Village was more like a city. Nothing was made of wood or sand but instead of stone. The center was like hundreds of castle reaching for the sky. As you looked out wards the building became smaller until you were looking at a sea of cottages. Around the entire place was a wall higher then Naruto had ever seen.

"THIS PLACE IS HUGE! I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT!!"

Kyuubi chuckled, "this village is older then any or your hidden ones."

Naruto nodded, "yeah but every things made of stone… this would be one hell of a village to try and destroy."

"Every things made of stone because that's how it started. A demon from the west came here, his name is no longer known, and he built a castle in the western style. He gained many subjects and demons loved him for he brought us organization. They started to live near him. As time went on the older homes added on in the eastern and western style until they to became castles. And since then demons have been moving here to be with their own kind and for protection. The wall went up after the first attack by humans that found us, since then it has expanded for the new homes."

Naruto took in this information, as he got closer he noticed many of the middle homes were build in the style of the old Asian stone temples. The mix of east and west was interesting.

"So no one knows who the demon who started the village was?" this bothered Naruto for some reason.

Kyuubi thought for a moment. "Well the stories say that he was a kind ruler to the demons that chose to keep under his protection, but he hated humans. He was said to have lived a full demon life, and on his death bed a human came to him. The human was said to have come in peace to see the most powerful demon that ever lived. This played into the demons ego and he let the human come. The man struck the demon down on his own death bed. His spirit was so enraged that he entered the man in order to destroy the human race from within. Now demons say he is the whisper of evil in all humans heads"

Naruto listened to the story with rapt attention. Something about it rung a bell in his head. "Does anyone know who the man was?"

He saw Kyuubi shake his head. "His name was lost long ago with the demons. But then again demons didn't keep good records back then like humans do, we have picked up on it in recent centuries"

Naruto thought about that… he felt like he remembered reading something about the origin of evil in humans… he will have to look for it in the forbidden scroll room. He must of seen it there.

Kyuubi started to descend. Naruto watched as guards flowed to the front gate to greet the new comer and see if his visit it acceptable. Kyuubi made sure to land in some trees off the shore where they couldn't be seen. Once he was humanoid again Naruto felt more of his chakura flow into his seal.

"Let the chakura into your system Naruto."

Naruto did as he was told and knew his eyes were red with slits and his markings darker. He turned and looked and Kyuubi who let three tails sprout from his back and two fluffy red ears poke out of his hair.

"You can let more of the chakura into you, it won't become a shell if I am not trying to take you over."

Naruto nodded and reluctantly let more of the red chakura fill him, he felt a strange tingle in his back side and head. He looked behind him to see one red/blond tail and felt ears he assumed were the same color on his head, they seemed a bit smaller than Kyuubi's.

"I am Kurama and you are my son Turasu."

Naruto cocked his head "you don't want people to know who you are?"

"No, people probably think I am dead. Your village kept it very secret what they did to me. Only Akatsuki know where I am and they aren't telling so they don't get competition. Also I don't know how the demon population as a whole thinks of situations like ours… you know with the seal."

"Makes sense." he couldn't argue with the logic.

Together they walked out of the trees looking very much like father and son. Kyuubi's chakura split between them and Naruto mixed a bit of his with Kyuubi's so that they have similar chakura but not exactly the same at first glance. Only someone with a special blood limit would be able to pick out that Naruto has two different chakuras and not just his own that resembles his "fathers".

Two guards in front of the gate came forward.

"Hawk demon and a cat demon"

Naruto nodded only enough for Kyuubi to see. The two pairs met equal distance from the tree line and the city gate.

"Who goes there?!" the hawk yelled.

Kyuubi stepped forward. "We are just a father and son fox demons looking for a few hours of rest on our travels. Since we were in the area I thought I would take my son here for his first visit to Yokai no Yobi."

The cat demon nodded with a pleased look. "Well then welcome young lad! I will be needed your names."

Naruto was shocked by how friendly the demons were to their own kind. Kyuubi gave a equally friendly smile, though Naruto could feel that he was irritated by having to wait.

"I am Kurama and this is my son Turasu."

Naruto nodded in agreement. The guards seemed to be fooled. They both gave a small nod.

"Welcome guest, all we ask is that you leave a drop of blood with us. don't worry just a precaution, it allows us to track you within the city if needed." the hawk demon gave a friendly smile.

Naruto looked up to Kyuubi who nodded for him to do as they said.

"This just means we need to keep our noses clean, and get out of here before they find reason to analyze the blood and find out I an the Kyuubi and you are really human."

Naruto let his understanding reach through the link. Both men put out a hand. Naruto let Kyuubi guide him so he didn't do anything suspicious. The two guards took a small knife each and pricked their fingers. The blood hit the paper they were holding out and from the small red spots black writing shot out like a web. From what Naruto could see it seemed to be a tracking Jutsu, but he was sure there could be a lot more information if they wanted.

After the guards stood aside the doors to the city creaked open slowly. The cat demon motioned for them to follow him the distance to the gate.

XxXxXxX

Naruto had never been so overwhelmed in his life. The lights and sounds of thousands of demons rushing about to do their business. The farther they got into the chaos the taller the buildings got, Naruto was sure he was going to hurt his neck just to see the tops of the castles and temples.

Soon they both reached a slightly slower but much louder area. Kyuubi pointed to a tavern.

"Were going to go there for a drink, but I am going to leave you for a little bit to take care of some things that need taking care of. Will you be able to keep out of trouble?"

Naruto gave a slow nod, his head a taken up by the new information. He had to try not to stare at some of the odd looking demons…and demonesses that chose to wear very little…

The tavern smelled like musty stone and cedar. There was almost no free tables, the pair manage to squeeze into a table in the corner. Soon a slim demoness in a Chinese dress came to their table.

"What can I get'cha?"

Naruto tried to figure out what type of demon she was, she seemed to have a bat like quality to her face.

Kyuubi ordered something that the younger missed but before he could say anything the waitress was gone. Naruto was about to yell at his partner for not allowing him to choose his own drink when he felt the words die in this mouth. Kyuubi sat staring off into the smoky room, his eyes had a glassy look. Naruto knew he was thinking about Karasu without even asking. This was where they were supposed to meet all those years ago. Kyuubi never made it here, and Gobi made sure the raven never made it here as well. Kyuubi thought of what it would be like if they met up like they meant and life went on from there. He was snapped from his thoughts by the clank of their drinks being put in front of them. He looked at the blond staring at him… if things had gone as planned he would never of met Naruto… he wished their was a way he could of had both of them.

Naruto watched the other snap from his thoughts. Not wanted to seem like he was being nosy Naruto took a swig of his drink. He was surprised at how strong it was. After being with the pervert for three years it didn't phase him much. It was actually quite good.

"This isn't half bad"

Kyuubi nodded, "its what me and Karasu ordered every time we were here."

Naruto gave a soft smile, happy the Kyuubi was opening up to him. After a few seconds of silence a voice cut through the din of the room. It was a drunk tiger demon who was yelling about something destroying their race and allowing the humans to take over the world. He was going about ignoring the loud drunk when he heard it, that word. The one that was in Tsunades letters, he was sure that was how the weird Kanji were said. He leaned over and listened to the man.

The tiger demon swayed as he climbed onto a chair. "The humans are gaining a power we are yet to understand! A cloud ninja killed my best friend! They will soon be upon us like death with those…" the demon was cut off as a bar maid with goat horns pulled him off the chair.

"Now sir I am going to have to ask you to leave." the tiger seemed to have lost his train of thought when he glanced at the succubus demon.

"Why anything for you pretty lady." the female sighed like she got that all the time and pushed him out the door.

Kyuubi chuckled "well that was interesting but I have to be on my way." he threw back the last on his drink and stood. "You be good hear me? I don't want to have to help you fight a angry Ox demon you piss off."

Naruto nodded absently still thinking about what the tiger demon said. Kyuubi shrugged then wound his way through the crowd.

"That Akitauki group is still after those poor bastards stuck in those humans, I heard the Itachi guy that's been making all that trouble was spotted near by. He gives me the willies…"

Naruto whipped around to see the demon holding the conversation disappear in the crowd. This seemed to be a good place for information gathering, he could see why Kyuubi favored it. The blond settled down and opened his sensitive hearing. He sorted through many useless conversations before a deep voice caught his attention.

"Yeah, I hear he's dying. Its sad when a demon that actually makes it past the five hundred year mark it dying from something like depression. But loosing a life mate will wear down on the strongest demon." there was a noise of agreement from the listener. "I hear he's still held up in hiding, been like that for years the poor raven…"

Narutos breath hitched…

A/N– ooooooh! OK sorry for the cliff hanger but if I did everything I wanted this chapter would never end and I would fail my classes! So look forward to the next one!