--

((Sorry it took me so long… Had to install the new computer…))

Disclaimer: Still don't own Naruto…

CHAPTER 11: 'What Happened?'

"Setsuna," Sasuke called. "It's time to go home."

Setsuna looked over his shoulder at his father and smiled happily. He started over towards him, the grin never leaving his face. Sasuke turned to leave, knowing Setsuna would be beside him in no time.
He turned his gaze upward and turned to look over his shoulder when he heard Itachi begin to follow. The brother's eyes connected for a moment and Sasuke said nothing. His hatred had dulled considerably after the five years with Itachi helping him raise a child that wasn't even his, but the hatred was still there and burning though it was hard to concentrate on that emotion when sarrow clouded everything whenever Setsuna smiled the smile that only had belonged to Naruto…

'Naruto…' His eyes settled on the ground in front of him and the depths of his sadness was well hidden behind a mask of emptiness.

"He did well today, Sasuke." Itachi said, suddenly walking beside him with Setsuna between them.

Sasuke looked over with minor curiousity and smiled faintly. "Did he?"

Itachi nodded before turning away from Sasuke for a while. He knew his little brother was still bothered about the absense of the beloved blonde and he couldn't blame him.
The word that had reached Sasuke was that Naruto had been captured by Konoha's forces and was taken back for interigation. He refused to cooperate… Sasuke smiled faintly. It was so like the stubborn ninja. But the failure to compensate cost him his life and he was executed under the fith's instruction while a warrant was set up for Setsuna. Setsuna was to be found, taken in for study, and if he too refused to either rejoin Konoha as a citizen then he would be put to rest with his mother.

Citizen…Tch. Sasuke knew better. They only wanted Setsuna as a weapon to use during war. It was the only reason they were living in hiding now with the Akatsuki.

Naruto's death had Sasuke bedriden for over a month before Setsuna's crying brought him into the world again.
None of it had made sense to Sasuke at first. How could Naruto die so easily? Especially after having bonded with the Kyuubi as Itachi had told him, how could it have been so easy to take him.

According to Jiraiya (Itachi was told via messenger hawk) Gaara had rushed to aid Naruto in returning his child to him and was the target in which Konoha took interest; they had sent Naruto's closest friends in order to successfully obtain him. They knew Gaara was nothing without his demon and eaier to capture.
Naruto, hurt and confused, was then an easy take down and within the walls of Konoha was subject to chakra restraints, the likes of which had never been used or seen before. Naruto was stripped of any possible weapon and after a semi-successful escape attempt, beaten senseless. Still stubborn he had continued to fight and was told by all his friends to give in. He screamed at them. Called them cowards for being scared of Konoha's elders. Claimed they got their power from the Jinchuriki harberors, that they used them; planted them within the people themselves. All the hosts had been loyal to at least one of them and that once their power had been used to the most efficiant aspect they were either destroyed or cast out. More than half were dead. It was shortly after that accusation that Naruto was tortured till he confessed he was allied with any of the neighboring factions that were against Konoha. After stating that he could not confess that he was any other faction other than the one that belonged to the creatures they saw as demons. Naruto's last words to them were, "The only real demons…are the ones that abandon their real sense of pride. Maybe demons really do exist but they are of human flesh after all…" His eyes dulled and faded to blue as he began to weep shallowly, looking up to stare Tsunade in the face. "What sort of people are you…to take my child and my life from me? Wouldn't that make you the real demons?" And he was killed.
Tsunade was later reported to have attempted suicide with a letter to Naruto of apology.

Sasuke sighed deeply. It was all so sudden. And the entire time Naruto was being held captive, couldn't he have gone to help him? Couldn't any of his so called friends spare him? Why did no-one stop any of the chaotic hell that broke loose?

"Dad, did you hear me?" Setsuna's voice broke through Sasuke's inner turmoil.

"Hm? What did you say, Setsuna?" Sasuke asked.

The boy pouted his bright blue eyes reminding him so much of his Naruto. "I asked you when we were going to the festival. It's already been set up for two days now."

"Festival? You wanted to go to that?" Sasuke looked down at him. "Would you like to go tonight?"

Itachi smiled a tiny smile in approval.

"Yes!" Setsuna chirped.

--

The festival wasn't what Sasuke had expected at all. It was full of energy and people. Almost too many people for his taste.

Setsuna was getting to excited and his grip on his father was too loose, he'd be gone in a flash if Sasuke wasn't careful with him. Fireworks were going off, little stands were set up for games and contests, painted fans and paper lanterns hung everywhere. A concert of sorts was going on in the distance with a lot of lights and sound to back up the female singer.

In short…This wasn't Sasuke's seen at all. He would've much rather stayed at home and read a book or learned a new technique or took revenge on Konoha for taking away his light…

And with that tiny instant of being lost in thought Setsuna went missing.

--

Setsuna's eyes widened. This place was amazing! Lights, music, games, children! Everything he had ever imagined it would be was here and more. It was far beyond amazing, this was something he had never seen before.

There was nothing that ws going to whipe the smile from his face.

Except maybe an unwelcomed bump that sent him and whoever hit him crashing their way down the river bank and landing just inches away from the rushing water.

Setsuna heard the other person groan in discomfort as they pushed themselves up and off of him.

"Are you okay?" They asked. It was a small voice and even smaller person.

"I'm okay." Setsuna admitted. "Just a little surprised. I didn't expect to fall so soon in the evening." He said sitting up and finally got a good look at the stranger.

It was a boy, at least three to four years younger than himself. His hair was a firey red with tints of blonde sparatically placed, his skin was paler than his own by maybe one shade, and bright azure eyes. Setsuna stared with his mouth suddenly agape.

"What?" The stranger asked uneasuly, sinking further back and into themselves out of embarrassment.

Setsuna leaned closer, slapping the ground with both of his hands to catch himself with enthusiasm. "You're beautiful!" he exclaimed.

The child being informed quirked an eyebrow. "I know…" Was all he said and this caused Setsuna's mouth to drop further.

"You're not supposed to say that!" He snapped.

"I don't…care." The child responded with a bit of uneasyness.

"How old are you, you conceited brat!?" Setsuna yelled.

"I turn five today, Mr."

'Mr.?' That threw Setsuna off. And after hearing it was the kids birthday, he didn't want to tell him anything mean anymore.

"What's your name then?" he sttled for asking.

"Kyuubi."

--

CHAPTER 11 END…