Narako was shocked as memories bombarded him, he felt like for the first time in a very long time that he wanted to cry, something he hadn't done since the day Nagato had taken him off the streets.

Naruto. The name that had been on the tip of his tongue for years, the name he had struggled to remember ever since they had been broken apart. Time had no effect on the bond between twins; it was tattooed down to their very soul.

It changed everything; time seemed to stop as the earth to them had ceased moving.

It didn't matter that they didn't know each other's favourite colour or what they liked for breakfast. Who their friends were or why they had been separated. They were together again, aware of each other's existence and nothing could change that.

An understanding formed between them an unspoken connection that was undeniable and potent, like a power flow of energy that buzzed between them.

Narako had no idea how much time passed as they just stood there soaking up each other's presence. Narako was the first to slowly pull back.

"I…I…" He didn't know what to say. What were you supposed to say? Was there a social protocol for finding a lost twin brother you had forgotten? Narako didn't think so, so he said the first thing that came to his mind. Which in later contemplation wasn't the greatest impulse.

"Narako."

Naruto frowned in confusion.

As soon as the single word came out Narako wanted to face palm, he was so shaken he couldn't even string a sentence together properly. It was strange being so out of his element, words had never been come to him or more like the right words.

"My name is Narako." He clarified.

"Narako…it suits you somehow." Naruto nodded pulling back further to put a hand on Narako's shoulder.

"What…How…Why…Um." Naruto struggled to get the right words out. Narako knew instantly what he was trying to ask.

"I have no idea…coincidence, fate, instinct, who knows?" Narako said softly his voice a little shaky.

"I wasn't ever expecting to ever…you know." Naruto cleared his throat.

Narako nodded.

"Me neither."

There was a moment of silence not awkward more thoughtful as they just stared at each other comparing each other to themselves. Naruto suddenly frowned.

"What are you doing here?" Naruto asked bluntly in a tone of amazement.

Narako suddenly had the strangest urge to do something he hadn't know he still knew how to do…smile. There was just something in his voice that made Narako's stone ice heart melt. A childlike innocence yet vast wise experience shone in his blue eyes something that when he looked in the mirror had ached to see, instead of the haunted swirling depths that stared back at him.

"You are not educated in the art of subtlety, are you?" Narako asked with a hint of amusement.

Despite the seriousness of the situation Naruto grinned.

"That's what Sakura always says – oh shit! Sakura! The Akatsuki! The mission – oh shit!" Naruto repeated, cursing at his own stupidity.

"Don't worry they have yet to get through my shields around the camp." Narako assured him reaching out his senses to discover that they were dangerously close to breaching them though.

Naruto froze.

"Why are you protecting the Akatsuki? They're all murderers and traitors, anarchists in the least." Naruto whispered disgusted.

"You're not…you're not….with them are you?"

"I'm not a member but yes I am traveling with them." Narako confessed not remembering a time where he had spoken so much let alone to someone he barely knew. Yet in his broken scarred soul was a voice that said he could trust him, said that he would never betray him or others he considered family or friends…if he had any.

He was still in a state of shock somewhat, the situation almost unreal he struggled believing what his heart told him was true. He had a brother. A brother that his instincts told him could trust something they didn't do often. But he had learnt a long time ago to trust in his gut instinct… even if it went against his very nature.

"Why?" Naruto asked stunned.

Narako hesitated, his sense of duty and confidentiality to Nagato fighting against his need to be truthful to his brother. He wanted – needed even craved someone that he didn't have to lie to.

Brother…he had a brother…he had family….he wasn't…alone anymore. His mind faltered trying to understand and accept even the concept of what had turned into his reality. He had had Nagato but it wasn't the same…they were student and teacher, father figure and lost boy. His loyalty to Nagato had never been tested so greatly.

"We are travelling to the Hidden Sand." Narako replied vaguely opting for a part-truth.

"Why?" Naruto was relentless.

"I...I…I can't tell you." Narako sighed in frustration he just couldn't bring himself to betray Nagato there was too much history between them too much friendship. Naruto's frown deepened.

"Can't or won't?" Naruto challenged suddenly angry.

"Won't. Okay? You may be my…my… brother, but no offense, but I don't know you and even though I want to trust you...I just can't tell you, not yet anyway." Narako rubbed his temples a headache forming from keeping Naruto's team mates away from his traveling companions. They were beating against his barrier with surprising strength.

"Fine, but promise you will tell me eventually and I'll drop it…for now." Naruto frowned more concerned than angry.

Narako was halfway through nodding when he felt a shifting in the air around him. He dropped to the ground as he missed the sharp bladed edge of a kunai knife. He had been so distracted he had let someone sneak up on him!

"No! He's my brother!" Narako shouted throwing his arms out as if to protect him with his very body. Something no one had ever done before. He had no doubt Nagato would protect him but this man his…brother a stranger in many ways did it so readily.

But Naruto got in the way and the knife pierced his heart gruesomely. Narako's eyes widened and his heart lurched, his stomach dropped and he felt sick as he watched Naruto fall almost in slow motion. He was sent into a dark well Naruto's agonised scream renting through his mind making him want to arch up from the agony of knowing once again he was being parted from his brother forcefully and once again he could do nothing about it. Powerlessness tore through him and ripped into his heart deeper than any knife could pierce.