A/N: Okay…another chapter out….a lot happens in this chapter. I really felt I was dragging this out too long and therefore I upped my pace. Happy New Year people! Hope this year is beautiful and brings you all joy and happiness!

Chapter 14:

Iruka jumped up as the door slammed open. The sudden noise startled Kiyoi too and the baby began to wail loudly. Iruka picked her up and began to rock her as Sasuke stormed in with Naruto following close behind. Naruto signalled for Iruka to get out and took Kiyoi from him. The baby stopped crying the moment she smelt her "chichi-ue" nearby.

Sasuke punched the wall in an attempt to release some of he frustration building up inside him. They'd left as soon as they'd got word but no amount of searching had revealed any clue as to where Itachi had gone. He hadn't been anywhere within a ten mile radius, and before they could search further, the Hokage had suddenly disbanded the search. Itachi was his only living relative….to have him just disappear like that…

"Sasuke…he must be somewhere safe…dad must have had a good reason to call off the search…" Naruto tried a hand at comforting the distraught Uchiha as he placed Kiyoi in the cradle in the room next door.

At the moment Sasuke didn't want hear that. Anger and frustration boiled over. He directed it all at the blond and suddenly turned to slam the blond against a nearby wall, hand firmly around his neck. "Your father doesn't care, Naruto. Stop defending his actions…how do you know he had a good reason?"

Naruto looked right back at Sasuke calmly. "I'm worried too Sasuke. You know my father…he does care. To put it selfishly, even if dad didn't care…the village needs the Uchiha's…we cannot have them just running off somewhere."

Sasuke threw a punch at the wall right next to Naruto's head. "Need the Uchiha's? Is that why none of these villages were ever able to protect us?" Sasuke threw back his head and laughed. "What if Uchitake has him, Naruto? What are you and your father going to do about it then?"

"We'll get him back. Sasuke…I'm your family too…Itachi's my brother in law….give me a good reason why wouldn't I be worried?"

"Haven't you as good as broken up with me Naruto?" he smiled as Naruto remained silent. The silence was pissing him off. "Haven't you? So isn't Itachi no longer your brother in law?"

"I still care about Itachi. Sasuke, stop this. Don't mix all our problems up please…" Naruto looked away. "I care about you…I might despise you for what you did but…"

Before he could complete the sentence, the punch hit him hard. Blue eyes opened wide in pain and shock. "Sasuke…"

"You're lying…you just want me and Itachi out of the way so you can be with that Ran fellow…"

Naruto blocked another punch and stared hard into Sasuke's eyes. Then he just let go and let Sasuke punch him once more. "You're being very stupid…"

Sasuke turned away breathing hard. "I'm leaving."

Sasuke moved into his new room and looked around. It was bleak and dinghy…he hated living underground, but right now he had no choice. Suddenly pain welled up inside him and he fell onto his bed. Naruto…he shook his head hard. No no…just don't even go there. He turned onto his stomach. He'd hit him…he'd hit Naruto…he strangled the thought. Unzipping his bag, he dumped a picture of Naruto and Kiyoi that had been taken in the hospital on the table.

He heard a knock on the door and opened it to let a Kabuto in. The shorter man had brought a tray of food. He set it on a shorter table by the bed. "I hope you've settled in Sasuke-kun. Orochimaru-sama wants o see you as soon as you've finished eating."

Sasuke nodded and gestured irately for Kabuto to get lost. Shutting the door behind him he leaned against it. It just struck him that his life was gone…Naruto was gone, Itachi was gone and Konoha too…he wished that he could just go down fighting Uchitake. He shook his head…that thought would come when he found Uchitake. Not now. Sitting down he began to force the food down his throat. He needed this nutrition to get stronger.

Finishing his food, he lay back on the bed and shut his eyes. Naruto popped up right there…those sparkling blue eyes…Naruto jumping on his back that first time, Naruto almost hurt on that mission, Naruto pregnant, making Naruto pregnant…Ugh…he'd left…he should be able to deal with this! Ran would now make his move and make his dobe happy…

And Itachi…where the hell was he? To suddenly disappear like that…where to? Why hadn't Itachi said anything to him? What did the Hokage know? Sasuke suddenly sat up…Mirai…where was she? Itachi loved her…and they were both gone…had they eloped? No…there had to be something else…but Sasuke was sure they were connected somehow!

There was a knock at his door. "Sasuke-kun! Orochimaru-sama is getting impatient! You had better hurry!"

Sasuke growled a bit under his breath, but walked to the snake's room. He slammed all his feelings of feeling dirty into some chamber of his mind and then prepared to greet the snake Sannin. After all this was for Naruto…the blond would never understand, but at least he could go ahead knowing that his family was safe…

Naruto threw himself onto the bed. A gasp tore itself out of him as his aching back sent another surge of pain up his spine at the contact with the mattress. Kiyoi had been very cranky and he'd been on his feet for a long time trying to get her to calm down. He envied how well Sasuke could do that. Sasuke…so it was over? Was it finally over? After having a child and all? The bastard had said nothing about coming back…he dashed away the tears that came impatiently. He refused to cry anymore…enough of crying. This pain was going to be there and he would handle it. Naruto sat up and rubbed his back, the fading light playing on his features. There was a knock at the door…Naruto knew it was Ran.

He opened the door and let the older man in. "Hi…" Ran nodded and took a seat.

"Naruto…how are you?"

"Not too good. Sasuke is away for a while…Kiyoi just went to bed…she misses him terribly…I don't even know how she can tell that he's not here…but she can…" he frowned but then looked at Ran. "Coffee or juice?"

"Juice. When will Sasuke be back…?"

Naruto handed a glass of juice to him and sprawled on the couch again. He wore grey slacks and a grey t-shirt. "A week…" he felt something sink inside him. Maybe never… but he didn't say it out loud. "Maybe two…he wasn't too sure…I'm going to ask Iruka-sensei to come over for that bit of time…I need help with Kiyoi."

"I'll help…I can stay as long as you want…"

Naruto looked at him sharply. "No. I mean…it isn't a good idea…"

"I won't make a move on you, Naruto…I love you…but I'm not going to try and get you to break up with Sasuke…he still doesn't deserve someone like you…but you chose to stick by him and I'll respect that." Ran looked at him sincerely. "Naruto…"

"What about the others? What will society say?"

"In this part of town no one knows you and nor do they care." Ran's voice was bitter. "Are you so afraid of me?"

"It isn't that Ran!" Naruto shook his head, his hands clenched. "I don't want to lead you on! I'm sick of relationships! I want Iruka-sensei here! He's an old friend, a mentor and I need him here now!"

"You want comfort…" Ran let his head fall, staring at his lap, his bangs covering his face. "And you don't want me to be the one giving it you…why can't you let me help you?"

Naruto stared at him for a long moment. "Fine. Just come over during the day and help out. You will not stay over…and Iruka-sensei will still come here okay?"

Ran nodded looking a little pained. "You look tired."

"I'm taking care of a young baby who is solely dependant on me and she's only just fallen asleep…it's barely been a week since I delivered and it hasn't been that great a week…my body doesn't have enough chakra yet and my back feels like a bull ran over it…fuck…yes…I'm tired."

Ran stood. "Go to bed, Naruto…I'll cook dinner and I'll also stock your refrigerator for the rest of the week okay? If Kiyoi wakes up, I'll care for her…if anything happens; I'll wake you…so just go to bed."

Naruto let his suspicions go to hell. He shot Ran a grateful look before heading to the bedroom and falling onto the futon. The Sasuke-ness of the room made him comfortable and he suddenly felt too tired to feel sad. All his thoughts were washed away by a tidal wave of sleep.

Ran spent this time pottering around in the kitchen making numerous dishes that wouldn't spoil and that could last for the week. Then he threw himself into making miso pork ramen for dinner and tried his hand at making it better than Ichiraku's. Once he was done, he placed a lid over the dish and let himself take in his surroundings. It felt so right. Standing in this kitchen, doing something as domestic as cooking, with Naruto and Kiyoi asleep in the room…it felt like this was his family he was cooking for…his house and his spouse and child. It calmed that relentless bloodlust he'd felt since the Uchiha Massacre.

He went into the bedroom and sat by the futon watching the blond. Naruto's chakra was in fact depleted as was the Kyuubi's. Uchiha Uchitake Ran let his fingers slide into the sleeping man's hair. He watched as Naruto sighed and burrowed into the blankets a little more. Beautiful beautiful perfect Naruto…Ran sighed as he stroked those gold spikes. He had to defeat Sasuke…he had to defeat Sasuke and gain Naruto…and the blond need never know about who Ran really was…

It was the middle of the night when she suddenly woke up. Something was awry…was it a dream? There was no way…but then the Hokage had told her…she pulled on a black tank top and black pants and slipped out. Using as much stealth as she could muster she fled outside. Activating her bloodline limit, she let herself blend into her surroundings and then used a bit of chakra to confuse anyone who might follow her. It took fifteen minutes to find what she was searching for…

"Itachi…"

He whirled around. He looked bedraggled and filthy…more like a tramp than a member of the prestigious Uchiha clan. He stared at her for a moment before lunging at her. She dodged the punch and quickly blocked another kick. She fought him for a while but them moment his sharingan activated she caught him before poofing out of Akatsuki range. They landed with her straddling him in a clearing.

"Asshole! Why did you activate it so close to them?" She let him land a punch to her stomach, it was a weak attempt. Then she looked at him for a bit before crumpling on top of him. "Why…Itachi?"

He didn't say anything. But he let his hands win themselves into her hair and held her close. He fought to get his emotions under control…he hoped this wasn't a genjutsu. But then it didn't feel like one…this felt so real…he sat up a bit, keeping a hold on her, keeping her face pressed against himself. "Mirai…where the hell have you been?"

Mirai moved away and sat down in front of him. "My birth parents are the leaders of the Akatsuki. They want Naruto and his daughter…if they capture the nine tails then they want to release the bijuu to make wars…and I'm going to stop them. Please go home…"

Itachi shook his head. "So that's your secret. What do you plan to do?"

"I'm not sure. I'll stop my parents…but I'll only know how once the battle begins. Go home…protect Naruto…"

Itachi raised a grimy eyebrow. He didn't really look that handsome with grime and leaves all over his face and hair. "You need help…one girl against many S-class nins….no go. But two? Maybe…"

"Itachi…"

"Mirai…I want to stay…I want to help…"

"You can help…fine you don't want to go back that's fine. But I'll be heading to Konoha with them…Could at least please wait around near Konoha? I promise you we'll fight them together…"

"How will you let me know?"

Mirai grabbed his hands quickly performing a chakra bind. "Like that. I have to return now. Someone will have noticed that I've left…I'll need an excuse…" For a moment she felt like any girl who'd snuck outside to meet her boyfriend. She waved it away. "I'll see you then…" He grabbed her for a quick kiss.

"Be Careful…I'll wait near Konoha somewhere…"

She nodded and poofed close to the lair. Then she snuck back in. as she stepped into the room, she felt a hand on her shoulder. It was Kisame.

"I don't want to know where you've been and I won't give you up to your father…but I have news. We'll be heading for Konoha tomorrow."

Sasuke's chopsticks clacked as he played with his food. All around him Oto shinobi milled around gossiping about the news spreading all over the village. He couldn't have cared less…Shinobi should be out there on missions, whether D-rank or not…they shouldn't be sitting here gossiping. He was glad he had never had to spend more time in Oto…this was the first time he'd spent over half an hour in the company of sound nins other than Orochimaru, Kabuto and his old gang. That was when one thread of gossip caught his interest. As he listened, it dawned on Sasuke that maybe he should have spent more time in the company of loose tongues.

"Did you know we're waging war on Konoha?"

Sasuke stiffened before relaxing and trying to seem normal. He was glad that he'd left his hitae-ate in his room. He used an imperceptible amount of chakra to hear better.

"Orochimaru-sama gave out the call to muster today. All Oto-nin have been called back to the village. Orochimaru-sama said he would join as at the border the moment he finished a bit of training with that new guy who keeps showing up."

"You mean it's really war? How are we going to take on Konoha…? Don't we have anymore allies?"

"Maybe cloud…But the Akatsuki is also moving! I think Orochimaru-sama thinks they'll let him come back without any qualms if he helps them."

Sasuke stood up. What the fuck? He took off towards Orochimaru's chambers at fast pace. He stopped as he heard voices clearly behind the door. Luckily he'd suppressed his chakra way back, so there wasn't much possibility that they would sense him. He wondered who his master was speaking to. One voice was a tad bit familiar, Sasuke worked on placing it.

"We move out tomorrow. If everything goes as planned, you will have Konoha and I will have my revenge. You get an added benefit if everything goes perfectly…I'll let you live. Now tell me about our precious Sasuke…"

"Sasuke-kun is here. It seems that he had a spat with that Kyuubi-boy." His voice filled with disgust at the last two words. "He trusts me, he has no idea that you are around, and your disguise was perfect. But tell, you like the Kyuubi-boy too, don't you?"

The other voice snarled. "Keep Naruto out of this! Your spies are supposed to be keeping an eye on Konoha's higher ups…not me…"

Sasuke drew in a sudden breath. He knew that voice…he very faintly heard Orochimaru pleading about something in the background before fury caught him in its path. "!" the sound was out before Orochimaru could move a crackling filled the place. "Chidori!"

Sasuke ran at the man, but Orochimaru got in the way, using a guard to shield the smirking man. While Sasuke hand was trapped in there a pair of snakes wrapped him up tight. He struggled but his chakra was seeping out him slowly and into the snakes if he'd guessed correctly.

The older man looked different, brown hair instead of white. But those eyes…those very same eyes…Sasuke wanted to lunge for him, but he was effectively trapped. He cursed at letting his rage get the better of him. "You…"

"Yes, little Sasuke-kun…me." Uchitake Aakui smiled. "Wondering why I'm here?"

"Fight me!"

"Oh I plan to do that Sasuke…I plan to fight and kill you. But it must wait." Aakui sat down by Sasuke head and smiled evilly. "I have to first deal with that beautiful little wife of yours…"

Sasuke eyes widened. "Don't!" desperation laced his voice. "Not Naruto…don't hurt Naruto!"

"Of course not. I wouldn't do anything to hurt Naruto…or Kiyoi. Though I don't see why you would bother about that…when I saw them at dinner earlier tonight, they seemed quite badly off without you. Naruto misses you…"

Sasuke glared at him. "What did you do? Naruto would never have let you in…"

"You don't remember? Oh wait, you've only seen me once…at the hospital ward holding your child…and you didn't see all of me did you? To think I was worried that you might recognise me…tsk tsk Sasuke-kun…you never really pay attention to what matters, do you?"

"Takeshi…Ran?" Sasuke looked shocked and at the same time angry at himself. "You can't be…"

Ran laughed and it echoed all around the room. He waved Orochimaru and his lackey's out of the room. Then he leaned towards Sasuke making full eye contact, his long hairs pooling around the Uchiha's head. "I am, Sasuke-kun. Your wife's closest friend as of now is me. I tricked you, Sasuke…I knew you'd be out looking for me…and all I had to do was use that to get you where you are right now. But Naruto…Naruto was the only surprise in this whole charade…"

"Leave him alone!" Sasuke yelled.

"Definitely not. I love him."

Sasuke felt the breath sucked out of him. "You…"

"You don't deserve him…I'll take very good care of him. I'll stay by his side and make him happy, unlike you. I don't crave power…" he turned to his dark haired half brother and laughed. "I'll kill you and Naruto need never know…but you can be sure that Naruto will be mine."

He punched the captive Uchiha hard, sending him flying across the room. "I'll kill that Itachi too. Or maybe I should introduce myself and stay by his side too?" he shook his head. "Decisions, decisions…but that'll be sorted out later. Now be a good boy and stay in the dungeons, why don't you?"

The last thing Sasuke saw as one of the snakes bit him, was Takeshi Ran's triumphant smirk.

Arashi jerked awake as Mirai's message reached him. He ran into his parents' room. "Akatsuki's moving tomorrow…they're heading here!"

Tsunade sat up, alert. "All ready? Naruto's too weak!"

Arashi opened his mouth to reply when suddenly a guard burst in. "Otogakure troops are assembling outside the gate…they're declaring War…"

A/N: Sigh that was tiring…I'd gotten everything planned out but I realised that it seemed really boring and lengthy and had to cut everything down to size again! Please review…this story should be updated again pretty soon!

Ja na!

Taka

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