The Fox Bandit

Ch 10: Betrayal

It had been nearly six months since Naruto had come to Konoha, and he loved it. He loved being with all the people. They were his friends. Where they had judged them at first they made up for it with every moment he spent with them. Even Kiba, who had judged him more than anyone even shot him close to death, had become one of his best friends along with Shikamaru, the lazy one that told him to stay in the first place. He loved being with his sister again. Every memory he had of her had returned to him. She was one of the few people he would die for. Being apart from her for so long had only strengthened their bond despite not knowing she was alive. Tsunade was like a grandmother to him again. He had even gotten into the habit of calling her grandma.

iFlashback

"Hey, Grandma Tsunade!" called Naruto, waving at the chesty sheriff from behind a mule he was grooming.

"Naruto don't call me that," Tsunade said kindly. Naruto frowned.

"Why not?" he asked. "You never minded before."

"It was cute when you were five," chuckled Tsunade. "Now it's just annoying."

Naruto just laughed, shaking his head, and continued to call Tsunade "Grandma" anyway.

Flashback ends/i

Tsunade was wonderful to have back again, as was Naren, but there was one person Naruto was glad to have met above all.

Sakura Haruno was the best thing that ever happened to him. To him, she hung the moon. Simple infatuation had turned into loving devotion to her. He did whatever she asked. She was becoming his closest friend. He loved her, even though she probably didn't feel the same way towards him. He had once thought of giving her the Pink Dahlia he kept in his pocket at all times, but decided against it after the disasterous ending to the last girl he had given it to. He held on to it though. Maybe one day he would give it to her. Right now the only person he would even let hold it was his sister. The flower signified his and Naren's mother since their mother's beautiful, flower-covered grave had been destroyed all those years ago. No, he wouldn't give the flower to Sakura. Not yet anyway.

These thoughts and more ran through Naruto's mind as he split logs for Sakura. If there was one thing good that could be said about Naruto, it would be that he was a hard worker and valued that fact. Where most would have complained about the work he did, he relished the opportunity to do it. His hands were strong and calloused now, his skin even more tan than when he started. He grew physically stronger with every passing day. It was wonderful.

With a loud WHACK, Naruto split the last log. He carried his small pile to the larger one behind the cabin. It was getting crisper outside. Winter was coming and he was not going to have Sakura freeze to death if he had to chop all the logs in the world. She already had enough to last her two winters. He stood up and stretched, but stopped when he noticed Sakura leaning out the open window, staring at him. He was suddenly conscious that he was not wearing his shirt, having taken it off hours ago. Judging by the way Sakura was looking at him, she was conscious of that fact as well.

"You look tired," she said, smiling.

"I'm fine," he muttered. Even after all this time he would not smile a genuine smile, choosing to hide behind that foxy sneer. She sighed.

"Come in and eat something," Sakura said, motioning for him to come inside. Naruto shook his head.

"I'm not finished," he rebelled. "I still have to tend the horses."

"They'll be fine for a couple of hours," she scoffed. "I know you're hungry. You haven't eaten since breakfast." She smiled again when she heard his stomach growl loudly, betraying him. Sighing, Naruto did as she said and went inside, but not before grabbing his shirt and pulling it on.

When he entered the cabin, he found Sakura's table loaded with different foods, even the noodles he called Ramen that he like so much.

"I thought I'd thank you for all the help you've given me," she said.

"It's no big deal," muttered Naruto, looking around the table and taking in every smell. "But I do appreciate it."

Sakura smiled as he sat down and ate. She soon joined him.

"Are you going to Naren's wedding?" asked Sakura. Naruto looked up.

"What?" he said. He had planned on leaving tomorrow. He had everything he needed.

"Did you forget? Naren and Kiba have been engaged for nearly six months now. Naren told me the wedding will be in a few days," said Sakura, watching. "She's so excited that you're going to be there. Also she mentioned something about you giving her away."

"Did she?" said Naruto, losing his appetite.

"Listen I know you want to leave. You've made enough money for a horse and food and water, but you haven't left yet, so you must mean to stay right?"

"I do?" asked Naruto. Did he want to leave? He told himself otherwise. "Look, I've caused you enough trouble. I can't stay in one place for too long or I'll be found. You know who's after me."

"We would protect you, Naruto," said Sakura sadly. "You don't have to leave. Besides, don't you want to see your sister get married?"

Naruto didn't answer. Of course he did. He wanted to be there . But should he stay and risk Akatsuki finding here? They would do anything to have him, even if it meant killing his friends. He wouldn't have it. So he lied.

"I'll stay," she said, giving her his fake fox smirk. But he promised himself he would leave by dawn the next day.

o0O0o

Angel drank deeply. Ever since she'd found Naruto again she had done nothing but. All her planning and work had failed the moment that blonde bandit broke her ankle. She hadn't counted on him being so tough. She could remember wrestling with him as a child and being able to pin him easily. She had still had this image of him as seven years old and as sweet as candy. The little boy she knew wouldn't hurt a fly. But this new Naruto, The Fox Bandit, he could kill. She also hadn't counted on seeing Naren there, alive and well. Naruto had tricked that whole town into accepting him, and Naren being there had only made it easier for him. That crafty fox was once again making her look like a fool.

Angel swallowed the rest of the whiskey, blaming every burning sip at in her throat on Naruto rather than the drink. Oh, how she hated him.

Suddenly, the door of the bar was slammed open. Angel glanced behind her and gasped. It was Deidara and Sasori of Akatsuki.

"We're looking for The Fox Bandit, hn," said Deidara, twirling a stick of dynamite in his fingers. "If you've seen him speak up now and I won't blow this place up." Angel chuckled.

"Well, well, looky here Sasori," said Deidara, coming up beside Angel. "It's our little devil in disguise, hn. What do ya say, Angel?"

"Looking for Naruto are ya?" she asked, picking up another glass of whiskey. "Well you're wasting your time. He's not here."

"Then where is he?" asked Sasori in an evil tone. He sat down beside her. "And be quick. I hate waiting."

"Why should I tell you?" she scoffed, taking a large drink of the whiskey. "I'll get nothing out of it. Besides, maybe I'm after him myself."

"You're wearing my patience thin, Devil," said Sasori. "There wasn't that much to begin with."
"Sasori, calm down, hn," said Deidara, still twirling the dynamite. "You know where the Fox Bandit is, Angel?"

"Maybe I do, maybe I don't," slurred Angel. She felt something eating at the back of her mind as she spoke. A feeling she didn't like. As if she was betraying Naruto. No, it had to be the whiskey. The beginnings of the inevitable hangover she would surely have. What did she care? She hated him…right?

"If I tell you where he is, what are you going to do?" she asked.

"Capture him of course, hn," said Deidara, snickering. "The boss has big plans for him."

"You're not going to kill him, right?" she asked. Why'd she ask that? What did she care what they did to him?

"Of course not," said Sasori impatiently. "We need him to bad to kill him."

"If I tell you, you have to promise you won't hurt him or anyone else in that town," said Angel, thinking of Naren. The people had been kind to her, and she still considered Naren her friend.

"We promise, hn," said Deidara. iFor Now./i

"Alright then," said Angel, shaking Deidara's hand. "He's thirty miles from here in a town called Konoha. And if I hear you hurt a single person in that town, I'll personally make sure you go through what they went through a thousand fold, ya here?"

"Alright Angel," said Deidara. "Thanks a bunch. Here's something for your trouble." He tossed her a small sack of gold dust and he and Sasori left. Angel didn't touch the bag. She felt dirty. Whether she hated Naruto or not, she still harbored a slight feeling of friendship to him despite everything. She had betrayed her two best friends. And she hated herself for it. Tossing the gold to the bartender, Angel left. She would have to rest till she was sober again, but she would leave tomorrow, hangover or not. And she would stop Akatsuki. If anyone was going to claim Naruto's bounty, it would be her. As much as she despised Naruto right now, she was not going to let Akatsuki control him like she'd seen them control some of the other Nine Great Bandits. No one deserved that fate.