Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and its characters…except for my own created OCs.
AN: I forgot…. In the start of the anime, Itachi and Iruka are only supposed to be 17 and 25 respectively. Just a note: Since I don't want Iruka to seem too old for Itachi, I changed both their ages to 20 yrs old to fit my story better. So sorry for the mistake…
PS: Ignore the text inside the () for they are merely my comments.
PPS: The italicized words are flashbacks.
Tutor et Ultor
Formerly known as 'Shards of My Secret Unkempt'
By Paranoia-shoujo & lain-trigger01
Chapter 09 : Traitors in our Midst
/Once I thought that the melodrama of life would stop the moment I step outside the gates of that village. I believed that I would be free from everything… but I was not. They still had me chained to them. Many people believe I'm already dead. Sorry to disappoint them but I'm still very much alive. /
/Sometimes I wonder, what would have happened if I stayed there? If I hadn't run away… This was useless; thinking of the past will get me nowhere. I'll just go back when the time comes. And maybe… maybe I'll see him again, my brother./
Their first destination upon reaching Suna was its closest hotel. Feeling wary about her companions, Ayako decided to only pay for two rooms. Omi and Kyle would have to share, she decided.
Dropping her things in the room, she walked over to the window to survey the land below. Wandering merchants were peddling their wares, and children of all ages were playing about in the sand. It was a beautiful sight, peaceful. Her thoughts were cut off with the entrance of Omi. Turning away from the window, she wondered of his purpose, "Omi?"
A nod was her only reply.
"Is there a problem?" She asked.
"You don't trust him."
"He's new to the team. I am merely being cautious."
"You trust me."
Shrugging, she replied, "Believe what you will."
"Very well," Turning to leave, he paused when she called him name.
"…Omi…"
"Hm."
Sighing, she whispered, "Watch over him."
Giving her a lingering look, he gave a short nod before leaving her presence. For some unknown reason, Ayako felt more troubled than before.
"WATCH OUT!" Kyle screamed out as a group of unseen enemies attacked them. Kyle, in a burst of adrenaline, pushed Ayako out of the way to meet the sharp ends of multiple kunai and needles.
With her eyes wide open, Ayako turned to her bloodied teammate. "Kyle," She gasped out as he struggled to stand.
"Ayako!" Omi called out, "The two of you should escape. Leave it up to me."
"No." She whispered furiously. "This is our fight. If anyone's leaving, it's you and Kyle."
"Ayako."
"I'm not leaving like a coward." She insisted as she stared down their enemies. Unseen, Omi's eyes flashed purple.
"Damnit." He growled out. Ayako, in concern, turned her attention to him. The last thing she saw was his bright purple eyes watching her.
"What exactly are you planning, Haku?" Kenji asked, his amused eyes twinkling like sapphires.
Haku's eyes shifted silently from Naruto to the older man. Nonchalantly, he whispered. "I don't know what you mean."
"Oh? But you do." He stated with conviction as the young boy's eyes strayed back to the oblivious blonde.
Silence enveloped them as Haku continued his watch. Minutes ticked by before a loud "SASUKE-TEME!" shattered their peace. The two however remained unmoved until Haku opened his mouth to say, "I'm putting out the weeds, Kenji-sama."
A raised eyebrow answered him.
"The Uchiha, I do not trust him. He is not worthy of Naruto-kun."
Surprised, Kenji let out a brief cough before he replied. "And you are?"
Smirking, Haku replied. "Who says I'm competing?"
"…"
"I see Naruto-kun as my otouto. I'm only the judge in this contest…."
"Sou ka."
Kenji was about to leave when, "Isn't it interesting, though?"
"The Uchiha?"
"…"
"…"
"…No…his jealousy…" And with that said, Haku left the branches with a small smile on his lips.
Sigh "Youth these days…They love to complicate things."
Within Kumogakure, a young kunoichi was faced with two strangers bearing large straw hats and black cloaks with red clouds designed on it. "Who are you, trespassers?"
"Trespassers?" One of the cloaked men from underneath his straw hat whispered. "No. We are not trespassers, lady..," he continued, his mouth forming to a smirk as the next words passed his lips. "We are merely collectors."
"Collectors? In this part of the town? Only ninjas come to this place, the market place is on the other side." She countered, her slanted eyes narrowing in consideration as she stared at the two.
"Aa. We are collectors: collectors of powerful beings, actually. We believe that you have something we want…"
Hearing those words, Yugito realized exactly what they were talking about. Jumping away in time, she was able to dodge their first attack. Running through the training's traps, she managed to create a good enough distance between them. Her two pursuers, caught up to her just as she reached her destination, the remote training field specifically made for the higher jounins. Closing all the available exits, she screamed out and unleashed a power within her.
"So this is the power of the Nibi…" Kakuzu murmured appreciatively as the form of a two-tailed fire-breathing cat appeared before them. Turning to his partner, he witnessed the taller man clasp his hands together and pray. /Tsk. What a waste of time./ He thought as he turned away from his religious partner, Hidan.
Hours later, Yugito found herself pinned to the wall with a kunai. She glared at the two men, breathing raggedly.
"Time for you to die, nekomata…" Hidan murmured sadistically, his eyes glinting at the thought of her death.
Yugito closed her eyes. She could feel the pulsating need inside of her. It was waiting for her, her demon… its imminent release. It would be destructive to her people but there was no other choice. It was time to do it… It was her time to die. Laughing bitterly, she opened her eyes to look over the two. A twisted smile on her lips, she whispered her last words, "To burn in hell… I'd rather have that than to let you have Nibi…"
"Unlucky you, then."
"Iie. Unlucky you…" she replied as she whispered her final goodbye to her demon. Releasing a burst of charka, the two Akatsuki members were made witness to the Nibi's freedom. /Goodbye… Nibi…. I'm sorry…/ Yugito thought as she watched the Nibi bound away from her to escape their captors.
"You have failed." Zetsu remarked as he appeared seconds later. "Leave for your next assignment. I will take care of the Nibi."
"Grandfather." Ran saluted as he entered the threshold of the Uzumaki mansion.
"Ran." The elder nodded his head in recognition. His forehead wrinkled in thought as he stared at the young lad. "Your sister's mission was in Suna, wasn't it?"
"Hai. Is there a problem grandfather?" Ran asked, worried.
"No. At least, I hope not. It's just that she has not sent any word since they arrived in that village. I cannot help but worry… my only granddaughter…"
In truth, theirs was an easy mission. Ensure Sand's loyalty to the alliance. /Piece of Cake./ She had thought as they entered the village two days prior. Everything was going so well. She was even starting to trust her new recruit when it happened.
Cringing at the thought of grandpa and Ran's lecture about her carelessness, she opened her eyes blearily. Accustoming her eyes to the light, she turned to look around her holding cell. A muffled groan alerted her of the presence of her co-captive. /Kyle…/ She thought as she stared at her companion. He was sitting on the side, his left arm bleeding profusely and a collar that seemed to be seeping his chakra was around his neck. /Then…/
Kukukuku
"You seem to be in quite an unpleasant situation, young Shinimegami." Orochimaru cackled as he stared down at Ayako.
Her response was muffled by the cloth crammed down her throat but her eyes made the message clear. /You'll pay for this, bastard./
"And how can you fight me when you are so weak? After all, who are you compared to me? A puny girl to fight a powerful sannin, who do you think will win?" He taunted the tied up girl.
Glare
Turning to the man hidden among the shadows, he whispered, "Who do you think will win..., Omi-kun?"
Leaving the safety of the darkness, Ayako was immediately sieged by a bitter irony. There before her stood, her former co-captain, Chi TsukiOmi.
One word passed through her mind… /Traitor…/
Hours passed since their confrontation, Kabuto in a rare case of kindness had taken the cloth from her mouth, allowing her to breathe more freely. Kyle was still out of it, his injuries had unfortunately been worse than she thought. It was infected, and she had no means to treat him.
Kabuto, and Orochimaru had gone already but Omi had preferred to stay, insisting that he was to watch over the captives himself. He could feel Ayako's eyes on him but he shrugged it off. It was a mission. A mission he'd taken even before he was assigned under her and he could not let his emotions, his guilt, to take over him.
Passing his eyes over her, he chanced a look upon the poor lad that got dragged into this mission. He'd known Ayako was wary of him, and he'd used this against her very well. Compared to their new member, she trusted him fairly well. He'd saved her dozens of times and this had only strengthened her belief in him. /How foolish…/ He'd thought, he was after all, their traitor.
Looking towards the window, he noted the time. /Orochimaru-sama must have already killed the Kage…/ Their plan was easy. Kill the Kage. Orochimaru-sama would use Henge to take his position, and ally Sand with Sound in attacking Konoha.
Watching the Fourth Kage of the Sand was Gaara. It was a hobby he'd gained from the long hours of boredom. The villagers were pathetic, as well as the nin, even this man before him… his father. He was afraid of him, the very monster he created. Examining the man's movement, his eyebrows furrowed. It seemed different, the Kage's actions… It seemed awkward at best. /What are you hiding, father/
Seeing the Kage stare at him, he caught his gaze before leaving. /I will find you out…whatever you're hiding…/ Knowing that he may no longer watch the Kage in close proximity, he formed his Sand Eye and instructed it to follow his father, unseen. From afar, he observed him as he turned away from the documents that needed his attention. Walking pass the desk, the soldiers, he turned to the hall that was almost never used. Gaara's eyes narrowed. It was the pathway to the dungeons, a place that was never used before as sand nin killed more than imprisoned their enemies. Sending his 'eye' to follow his father, he saw the outline of a girl chained to the wall, her body beaten and bruised, her companion, two men, other than the Kage, who were watching her torture and two co-prisoners, one who was dead to the world, and another unconscious and bleeding. Seeing this, he shrugged. Releasing the charka for his Sand eye, he turns away and leaves.
Four days upon seeing the dungeon occupied, Gaara spied the Kage, his father, yet again leave his office. By now, it had been a routine occurrence but he still could not shake of the feeling of deceit. By now, he and his siblings had been informed of the plans to attack and conquer Konoha. It was his mission to create havoc and destruction upon the village. The thought pleased Shukaku somewhat, that he was certain. The bloodlust was almost palpable. It hung on him like a cloak that everybody could see. But the uneasiness he felt… it was distracting. Against, his better judgment, he decided to follow his father. Reaching the cells, he watched silently, the form that was his father, change shape to become a long-haired pale man.
Watching from the shadows the turn of the events, he couldn't help but feel a tingle of pity for the man, the dead carcass he saw before, that he now realized was his father. Turning away slightly, he closed his eyes and shut off his heart. He would not feel pity for a man who had made him this way. He would not feel for the man who wished for his death and constantly sent assassins for him. No, he wouldn't care for him. Not at all.
It was minutes later that the imposter and the glasses-wearing man left. Gaara was finally alone with the two prisoners. He was contemplating on killing them both when he took notice of their hitai-ate, they were nins from Konoha. The ones who were suddenly missed. He saw the female open her eyes groggily. "Who..?" She whispered before the sound of the cell's door opening caught her ears.
"Ayako." The newcomer called to the female.
Glaring at him, she hissed "Omi, what brings you here?"
Letting his eyes roam her bloodied body, he felt a devious idea form within his mind. In all the years that he'd served under her command, he'd always had the thought but never really acted upon it. It wouldn't matter now but the thought nagged him. "You…"
It all happened so fast that Ayako could barely process his words inside her mind before she found herself stripped to her underwear. He was standing before her with a wicked grin and she couldn't help but feel fear settle in her heart. She was about to surrender to her fate when she felt sand crawl up from between the space between them. Watching the small grains dance, creating a barrier around them, she didn't notice her red-headed companion leave the shadows. She barely saw Omi crushed as said companion whispered the words Desert Coffin as she felt her eyes grow heavy in exhaustion. Her last thought was that she's never seen eyes as green as the ones the red-head had.
"You can't beat Sasuke-kun so just up already!" Sakura shrieked at Naruto as the blond once again challenged her beloved. /Kick his ass, Sasuke. You're the best/ Inner Sakura hollered out as she watched the show from the sidelines.
The two boys gave no indication that they heard her. /Perhaps they didn't…/ Kakashi thought as the two stared down each other. He was about to dismiss them when he caught a flash of amusement cross Sasuke's eyes.
"Dobe."
A tick appeared suddenly on Naruto's forehead. "Teme…"
"Arm-wrestling?" He repeated, seemingly pleased with the idea. He was silent for a while before nodding. Falling prone unto the grass, their faces inches apart, their battle started…
Minutes later, the two boys were seen lying side by side on the ground. Kakashi and Sakura have long since gone, the former having gotten tired of watching their match, and the latter, suddenly remembering her chores. Naruto was leaning to the side, panting. His cheeks flushed from exertion, his lips, an adorable pout. Sasuke, unseen, smiled at the sight.
The night was cold. The stars were hiding in the darkness when Sasuke awoke from his sleep. Beside him lay a still sleeping Naruto. They'd been too exhausted after their fight to get up and leave so they decided to stay there for a while.
Sasuke could feel slight apprehension at his teammate's care-free attitude. If he'd been an enemy, he'd have died already. Just like before… during their time in Wave when Haku had been an enemy /He's still an enemy./ His mind supplied as he carefully sat up to avoid awakening the other.
Staring up to the sky, he could see the twinkle of the stars tease him. He remembered his mother saying once that wishing upon stars would make things come true. It was probably something she'd said to make him happy… But he couldn't help the words that fell from his lips as he once again looked at his sleeping companion. "I don't want to be alone again…"
TBC…
AN: Sorry for the year long wait. Studies and Major subjects have made me busy and drained. Just regained from my writer's block. Let's hope I can make more chapters before it takes me as captive again. Love you, my dear readers. Please leave reviews and suggestions. I'm losing ideas here so please give me some help with the scenarios. Thank you for your time.