Finally! Chapter 9. I really like this chapter. Now, my question to you all is which do you think Itachi would chose. The Akatsuki or Sasuke? I forgot to ask at the end of the last chapter. This chapter also contains mostly SasuNaru moments. Nothing much, but if you're not interested then it is not necessary that you have to read this chapter. Oh well, enjoy! Sorry it took me so long but I had a lot of work to do recently. I'll try to post within the next few weeks or so.

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Itachi crossed the parking lot to his car parked by the side of the road by the woods. Barley anyone came down this old road, and if they did it was because they were lost. So there was no fear about getting caught or his vehicle getting stolen. Itachi had just stepped up onto the curb separating the lot from the woods when he heard the smooth voice behind him.

"I saw him, you know."

Itachi stopped short and didn't move for a minute. He took a deep breath and looked over at 'The Leader' standing ten feet behind him. "Saw who?" Itachi asked, but he knew the answer.

"That brother of yours. You've mentioned him a few times. It was his first day at that school; I was watching him from the roof ((AN/ See chapter 3)). I wanted to see the person who you seem to hold so dear to your heart, Mangekyou." 'The Leader' said. Itachi figured that 'The Leader' knew about Sasuke. He knows everything about all the member's lives even when they don't mention anything.

"In fact, Mangekyou, I believe he is too close to your heart. A killer like you shouldn't hold to such a weakness. It is most unbecoming." He continued.

Itachi swallowed hard. If 'The Leader' truly knew, he'd probably tell Itachi to get ride of him or have one of the other members to kill him behind Itachi's back. 'The Leader' did that once with Sasori's cousin. Sasori was forced to make her live with a friend all the way in Kyoto to protect her from 'The Leader's' wrath. Itachi couldn't bare the thought of losing Sasuke because of his duty to the Akatsuki.

"And…" Itachi dared ask. He held his breath.

"And…I've decided," Itachi couldn't see 'The Leader's' face, but he could fell his eyes brooding into him. "Your brother will become a burden upon you in time. I can see you refusing to do missions cause your brother is sick and you don't want to leave him. I can see that he catches the eye of everyone who happens to pass him by and thus he gets a lot of attention drawn to him. I believe he may be the downfall of our organization. Normally, I would have him sent away or killed."

"No!" Itachi yelled at 'The Leader' before he could stop himself. 'The Leader' took in Itachi's out burst. "And it seems he has already made you forget your place." He told Itachi much to the other man's horror.

"However…" Itachi's eyes widened for a second, but he quickly made himself go back to his emotionless face. Yet, 'The Leader' did notice Itachi's face change. "if you make sure none of that happens and that he stays out of the Akatsuki's way, he may stay with you."

Itachi, not wanting to press his luck with 'The Leader' hid his happiness inside of him keeping the calm, serious look on his face. "I'll make sure to it personally." Itachi said with a slight bow.

"Don't disappoint me, Mangekyou." He told him with a bitter edge. Itachi walk off, going back to his destination. 'Sasuke is not a burden, and he never will be.' Itachi thought to himself, disagreeing with what the man had said.

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"Whoa! He lives here?!" Naruto exclaimed to Neji who stood next to him then turned to see his reaction. Neji couldn't say anything for he had never been here before. They both looked at on another and nodded. It was time to enter. The apartment complex was even more amazing on the inside. Naruto marveled at the interior design while Neji approached the security desk.

'They have security here?' Neji thought. Anko gave a happy grin at the two new victims (I mean visitors) who had entered.

"May I help you?" she asked in a sweet way that sounded anything but sweet. Neji noticed he eagerness and it made him flinch. Despite his intuition, he answered, "Yes. We are here to see Sasuke."

Anko's grin widened wickedly. "Oh yeah?" She got up and walked towards the two boys. "What would you do if I say that I can't help you?"

That's when Naruto finally realized what's going on. "What?"

"What will you do to make me help you?" Her voice continued in a seductive way. Lucky for them they did not have to answer because right then the elevator doors opened and Sasuke stepped out. He had been upstairs and seen the other two enter the building. Knowing Anko, she was going to give them a hard time.

Sasuke had showered and put on some clean clothing. It was starting to get cold out, so he had on long khaki pants with black sneakers, a black short-sleeved shirt, and a blue sweatshirt on top of that. Sasuke looked at the situation happening in front of him.

"Leave them alone Anko," he told her. Anko sighed and returned to her post.

Sasuke joined up with Naruto and Neji with an apologetic smile. "Sorry about her. She hits on anything that breathes."

"I'm so glad you agreed to come with us Sasuke!" Naruto pretty much yelled with a huge smile plastered onto his face.

Sasuke didn't know why but he smiled back. "Sure thing dope."

"Why do you keep calling me dope? I'm your senpei when it comes to school, grades, the area, and in life. You should be calling me Naruto-sama!"

Neji and Sasuke both snorted at him.

"Firstly, I'll never call you –Sama anything. Second, you may be a senpei then it comes to school and things like that, but that does not mean that you are smarter than me. And third, you'll always be 'Dope' to me."

Naruto blinked. "Fine then," he gave Sasuke a glare. "Then you'll have a nickname too!"

Sasuke snorted a laugh. Naruto was practically trembling at the sight of Sasuke smirking at him. "You've already given me one dope. 'Chidori', remember?" Neji suppressed a laugh too, but Naruto shook his head.

"Aside from that! That's just your codename. I mean I'll give you a nick name."

"Oh? And what will it be dope?"

Naruto thought for a second. Just as they exited the apartment complex, Naruto shouted, "I know! From now on, you're Sasuke-teme!" Naruto would have just called him bastard, but he wanted to continue saying Sasuke's name.

"Sasuke-bastard, huh?" Neji repeated. "Sounds almost as catchy as dead last." Both Sasuke and Naruto glared at the Hyuuga.

"You know, I could have you both kicked out of my Yakuza." The blonde threatened them.

"Yeah right!" Sasuke said sarcastically.

"Why shouldn't I? You both seem to already be ganging up on me."

"Well," Sasuke began, "You've had Neji in your Yakuza since before you even became leader (Shikamaru told me yesterday) and you'll be so upset if you kicked me out."

Naruto's blood went cold. 'Oh fuck! Does he know?'

'No.'

Naruto nearly tripped as he stepped off the curb. 'Dammit Kyuubi!'

'Miss me yet?'

Naruto gritted his teeth as he unlocked the car doors. He hated Kyuubi with a passion. Why couldn't the damn fox just leave him alone for one day? It was Naruto's car so he was in the driver's seat, Neji in the passenger's seat, and Sasuke got into the back. Sasuke noticed Naruto's irritation.

"We're just messing around with you dope. No need to get angry."

"No, you're right. I won't kick you out of the Yakuza. Even if you are a bastard, Sasuke-teme."

"It's good to know that I'm always right, dope." Sasuke laughed. Naruto couldn't be upset with a guy whose laugh was better then a chorus of angels. "Where are we going anyway dope?"

"Ikedayama Park. We'll just be there a few minutes. We are going to meet someone." Neji answered before Naruto could. 'Neji always talks before I can.' (That's saying a lot). Naruto made continuous glances into his rear view mirror to look at Sasuke. After a few minutes, Sasuke was having a conversation with Neji and kept his eyes out towards the window. Neither one noticed Naruto's unusual quietness or his focused attention on the boy in the back. Naruto also hated the fact that he had to tear his eyes away from the mirror to watch the road. He wished he had a self-driving car.

'What am I doing? I'm practically obsessed! This is your fault Kyuubi! I could have just ignored our second meeting in the hallway and gone on with my life, but no! You came and screwed it up! Look at what I've become!' Naruto shouted to his demon in pain. Naruto knew that there was no way that Sasuke would want to be with him the same way he does. Just the fact of it made Naruto want to die.

'You may not win his heart, no. But that does not mean you can't be his friend. This is your chance to get to know him. Ask him something!"

'What?'

'You said you needed to know someone to be able to love them, right? So ask and learn. Maybe as you said, he'll become your best friend and one day he will come to you for help and he'll probably fall for you. You never know.'

Was Kyuubi worried about him? Is that why he was trying to reassure him?

Naruto wanted to comply but now he was nervous. 'What should I say?'

'How the hell should I know?!' demanded Kyuubi. 'Do your "human" thing already.'

'Now he admits that he doesn't understand human feelings?'

'I'll give you pointers. How's that?'

'What? No! No pointers!'

"Naruto!" Sasuke yelled for the sixth time. Naruto turned back for a second before returning them to the road. "Yes?"

"Who are we meeting?"

'He asks questions.' Kyuubi pointed out.

'Shut up!' "Um… we're just getting information from on of our spies. It shouldn't take long." Naruto promised him.

"A spy? From what?"

Naruto glanced at Neji who gave him 'You're-the-leader-not-me-plus-he-asked-you-so-you-answer-him' kind of look. Naruto sighed. "He's just a spy from a rival Yakuza. He gathers information circling around about us and the plans of other Yakuzas should the try anything."

"Who?" Sasuke asked getting annoyed that Naruto was beating around the bush.

'I wished I lived in Sasuke's spirit. Much braver and more interesting.'

Naruto cleared his throat. "Sorry Sasuke. I can't disclose that information. That is a violation of the contract we have with him." Naruto said as even as possible. He could feel Sasuke looking at him.

"Hmm…didn't think you had it in you, dope."

Naruto was confused. 'Huh?' "What in me?" he asked then realizing from Kyuubi how dirty that phrase was.

"That leader quality. No offense, but you don't seem like the leader type. I'm surprised you know the words 'disclose' and 'violation'."

'That's what I said! I love this kid!" Kyuubi admired.

"Yeah? Well you don't seem like the rich type." He spat back.

Sasuke smirked to himself.

They had reached the meeting place in front of the entrance to Ikedayama Park. Sasuke could see the group they were joining. Sakura was there talking with a girl that had her brown hair in two buns. Then there was Shikamaru getting yelled at by a blonde girl Sasuke knew as Ino. Two other people were in the group that Sasuke did not know. One had short blackish-purple hair and pale eyes. The other person was next to her was a boy, most likely a freshman with very untidy brown hair and 2 tattoos of upside down triangles on his cheeks. Noticing the new company, Naruto made a sound of surprise and delight.

"Kiba-kun! Hinata-chan! What are you guys doing here?"

Hinata looked as Naruto walked over and she was frozen for a minute. Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped. Sasuke noticed her flush bright red and quickly look away. 'She must have a crush on Naruto.'

"We heard you were getting together. Figured we'd join ya!" Kiba told Naruto. Naruto laughed merrily.

"That's cool Kiba, but we still need to finish our mission."

Kiba placed his hand on his hip and used the other one to punch Naruto in the arm. "Fine by us. We'll wait." That's when Kiba first noticed Sasuke standing beside Neji. He gave him a quick look over, completely unimpressed. "Who the hell is this guy?" Kiba finished with an angry glare.

Naruto's grin vanished as he saw Kiba's hostility towards Sasuke and he matched Kiba's glare with his own. "This is Sasuke. He's our newest member, 'Chidori'. Sasuke, this is Hinata Hyuuga and Kiba Inuzuka. They're freshmen in our school." Sasuke grunted to them a hello.

"I-it's a p-pleasure m-m-meeting you S-Sasuke-kun." Hinata stuttered.

"Wait, Hyuuga. Like Neji?"

Hinata blushed even more. She was a very shy person. "Y-Yes. Neji is my cousin."

Sasuke wasn't surprised. They looked so much alike.

"F-forgive Kiba-kun. I'm sure h-h-he doesn't m-mean anything by it." She apologized for the dog guy.

"It's okay," Sasuke, said to make Hinata fell better. "I'm sure my presence just startled him." He teased. "He looks like the kind of guy who gets scared easy."

Kiba continued to glare at Sasuke and Naruto in turn continued to glare at Kiba. They both were shouting with their eyes, "Make a move and you're dead!" Suddenly Kiba's mouth twitched and his lips curled up as he threw his head back, roaring with laughter. "You've got guts." He told the Uchiha. "I like ya. You're okay in my book."

'I don't believe it. There is a dumb ass here almost equal to Naruto…almost."

"Well," called Saukra to everyone. "Hurry up so we can go!"

Everyone moved in the big group, talking amongst each other. Sasuke wondered if the Akatsuki was like this, if Itachi got to be this calm and happy with his fellow members.

Sasuke didn't want to be on a mission with a rival Yakuza of his brothers, but he liked being at this park. It was very traditional Japanese style gardens with lots if Sakura trees and red maples. He wanted to come here again with Itachi.

The group crossed one of the old Japanese style bridges and walked just a little ways when they saw a masked guy waiting for them. Sasuke thought he was seeing things at first, but the guy was tall and had an animal mask on. Yep, he was real…if he was actually a boy. He did look kinda like a she the closer they got to him...

Naruto held up his hand and everyone but Sasuke stopped at a dead halt. Sasuke took two more steps. But stopped himself when he noticed no one else was moving. "What…?"

"Naruto will go on and talk to him. We play as backups in case he double-crossed us." Neji explained. They all watched as Naruto jogged up to the masked boy and went into 'Kyuubi, leader of the Akai Yakuza' mode. It was the first time Naruto had to become 'Kyuubi' since he met Sasuke. To be honest,. When he was in 'Kyuubi' mode, he was one hell of a powerful Yakuza leader.

The boy was Naruto's age, a senior from another school with long black hair pinned up into one bun in the center of his head. "The mist hides many secrets, does it not Haku?" Naruto told him when he was out of hearing distance from the others.

"That, and the snow is deep in the high mountains this year." Haku answered. That was their code to make sure that they were the real Naruto and Haku and not doubles.

"Good." Naruto was always relieved when Haku answered right. That means he can breathe easily. "How are things? And what was so important that you had to call me on such short notice?"

"It's terrible." Haku answered.

"What happened?" Naruto was always worried when one of his friends told him something was terrible. The only other time this has happened was when The Kaze Yakuza was destroyed. The Kaze Yakuza wasn't an ally or anything, but it kept the Akatsuki Yakuza off their Yakuza's back. 'Akatsuki' that was the one thing in this world that Naruto feared. Even thee Kyuubi was afraid of the awesome power of the Akatsuki. The Akatsuki had the ability to remove demons from host bodies. Naruto could lose Kyuubi if he wasn't careful.

"A few things," Haku began, "First, it seems like your Lady Tsunade has gone missing again and it has pissed off a few gang members of various Yakuzas in our nation. Plus, if anyone in your Yakuza gets hurt, medical supply for you will be cut into fifths."

Naruto rolled his eyes. 'She always does stupid stuff like this! Leaving right when we need her.'

"And there is another Yakuza on the rise and it is going to be a big one."

Naruto wasn't expecting that. "What? When?!"

"Just a few weeks ago. Some of his recruits came to my school at Kiri High and was enlisting help. I know the leader is an ex-Akatsuki member. Not that we can do anything about him right now because-"

"Because we don't know what the Akatsuki is planning yet. If we make a move on this new Yakuza, then the Akatsuki may see it as an opportunity to attack us." Naruto finished.

Haku nodded. "What's more, the Akatsuki has been called into an emergency meeting today. They may be planning something 'Kyuubi', so be on your toes." He warned.

'How can this get worse?'

'It can always get worse.' Kyuubi corrected.

"Anything else Haku?"

Haku shook his head. "For you, no, but…"

"What is it Haku?"

Haku sighed heavily. "It's just…well…you know Zabuza. He's getting worse. I mean, I know he's strong and that he'll remain at your Konoha High till the end…but he still…and I'm still…"

Naruto understood. Zabuza was an old member of the Yamato Yakuza. That's how Zabuza met Haku who was an orphan taken into the Yamato Yakuza. They were very close until Zabuza was diagnosed with cancer. Haku is still worried that Zabuza is pushing his body to hard. Naruto placed his hand on Haku's shoulder. "I know. But, you have to give Zabuza more credit than that. They didn't call him the demon of the hidden mist for nothing!"

Haku nodded. "I hope you're right."

Naruto was about to say, "Damn straight, I'm right!" but Haku stopped him before he got the chance. "We'd better part. Who knows who could be listening."

"Alright." Naruto said looking around. By the time Naruto's eyes returned to Haku, he was gone.

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This chapter was short and so will the next one. The next chapter will continue with the confessions and another yaoi is sure to follow. I'll post the next chapter in 10 days or less. I just need to finish typing it. Please R&R. Thank you for reading. Another honorable mention I should say is sAyUrI-aNbU and BlackAgony. sAyUrI-aNbU has read it and rated since I first started the fanfic. and BlackAgony for going through the trouble of reading my fanfic even though it was in English.