Chapter Twenty-Three

The Company You Keep

Gaara's eyes smoldered with deep thought. He pulled the blanket from the floor closer to him, feeling oddly pleasured by its unique scent. Naruto seemed to remain even when he was gone. He shook his head quickly, forcing the odd thoughts from his mind. It was not easy to forget that absolute look of horror that came on Naruto's face this morning upon watching the gossip. He had never seen the blonde boy so disappointed, not that he knew him long. He just felt that this had to be a big deal to Naruto based on his reaction.

Gaara glared back to his computer screen where a delightful creation of his flashed on in animation. Sasuke's head cropped out of one of his online pictures, pasted over the head of a donkey. It suited him well. Yet it didn't bring him enough satisfaction. He scowled as he leaned back in his seat and looked around the room. It sucked being under house arrest for his thoughtless actions before hand, especially now that he wanted to leave now more than before. His eyes settled on the cut up remains of the newspaper he had stolen Naruto's picture from. Looking at the bold printed words he got a lovely idea.

His mischievous mind was not the only one at work. Itachi was faced with quite the shock as he sat in a secluded café across from Mr. Suna himself. Itachi looked to Kisame beside him with an irritated scowl.

"I thought it was perfect when you called last night about Gaara Suna. You wanted to know about him well this makes things easy doesn't it?" Kisame pointed out smugly.

Itachi was not fond of talking to parents. He was not always the model youth to hold up a decent conversation with parents. Especially after the events that ended in his own parents' demise, he could not comfortably enjoy a get togethers like this. He eyed the auburn haired man with an equally stubborn frown.

"I was directed this way. I hear you guys take care of…'problems'" he mentioned with a whispered tone. "I have one I will pay handsomely to be taken care of."

Itachi rolled his eyes. "You can't afford the Akatsuki's services" he declared as fact. He could tell by the man's appearance alone there was no way he could afford an assassination. He had seen the man's home and he knew from that as well there was no extra cash flow to spare among the Suna family. What was Kisame thinking bringing him here to talk with this man?

"One mil…is the amount on my son's life insurance. And another Thirty five grand is entitled to him through inheritance" he declared firmly. His eyes hardened. "My wife prepared well for her youngest son. Her favorite…" he muttered bitterly. "She died before I had the pleasure of convincing her to change her mind. Gaara will obtain his money by his eighteenth birthday. I want him gone before then…" the man replied deeply.

Itachi arched a brow of interest. A kid made of money was despised by his own family. He was not paid to care but he was still interested. A part of him was briefly reminded of Gaara's current standing with Naruto. He suspected it to be nothing more than friendship but he imagined Naruto would be heart broken if he discovered his death.

"I have treated him badly enough he should have no reason to want to continue his miserable existence. And try as he may, my pathetic son can not even take his own life properly" Mr. Suna retorted. "I can't have my own hands dirty. So if you could…make it look like an accident or even one of his successful attempts…I will pay you accordingly." The man replied.

Itachi held back a confident smirk. "You intended to promise me money you don't even have? Money that will be zapped away in taxes and legal formalities before you even see a cent of it…you must be simpleminded…" Itachi chirped. He moved from his chair swiftly but was stopped as the man desperately grabbed his sleeve.

"I-I'll pay you what I can now! Even if I have to sale my home. You will do this, won't you?" he insisted firmly.

Itachi lingered on the thought a moment longer and finally jerked himself free of the man's grasp. "When I see the cash…I'll get started. Until then you had better hope your son is successful in his next attempt."

The man growled as he recoiled. "No thanks to that damn boy…Gaara may still have some hope" he whispered lowly to himself.

Itachi stepped out of the café, thoroughly interested and amused by these arrangements. It seemed Naruto sure knew how to pick them.

This was proving to be true. The company Naruto kept was always odd. Naruto was reminded of that fact as he sat uncomfortably on Sai's plastic covered couch. When he offered to treat Sai for lunch he had no idea the male would bring him back to his apartment.

"I-I could have paid for something you know…" Naruto muttered out again. He stared in disbelief as Sai slaved over his stove, filling the small home with pleasant scents. "At the very least you could let me do the cooking…"

"I don't trust other person's cooking" he stated.

Naruto sneered lightly. "Oh…so what are you making?"

"Momen tofu."

"That's it?"

"You said you were going to treat me. So I should eat my favorite correct?" Sai asked seriously.

Naruto gave a nervous laugh. "Yeah I guess that makes sense…but it's a little strange don't you think?" He sighed in defeat and peered back around the room. There weren't many photographs around but definitely a lot of artwork. They looked to be by the same artist as well. "Did you…paint all these?"

"Yes."

Naruto's eyes widened. "Wow! That's so amazing! You must make a lot of money for them. I wish I had a talent like that" he mentioned.

"You have many talents I'm sure. You're smart…" Sai retorted.

"Me? How so? It's certainly the first I'm hearing of it."

"You know how to get out of tight places…trouble…" Sai commented.

Naruto shook his head lightly. "No…not really." He fidgeted in his seat as Sai came over and gave him a glass of water to drink. He noticed briefly how Sai stared at him.

"I should treat that" he stated bluntly, eyeing the small scrape along Naruto's arm from the fall.

"You don't have to. It doesn't bother me" Naruto threw out. He took the glass of water and took a long sip.

"So Naruto. What were you doing at that bar today? It's a little early to go out drinking don't you think?"

"You saw that? Crap, now I'm embarrassed" Naruto chuckled. "I was just looking for someone."

"A friend?"

"No…I don't really know her exactly…She did something really mean."

Sai arched a brow. "So you want to punish her?"

"What? No! I-I just wanted to talk to her I guess…know why…" Naruto looked down uneasily, cupping his drink with both hands now. "I guess that sounds pretty stupid. If someone does something to hurt you I guess it's only natural to want to make them sorry for it…" Naruto muttered. "I just want to understand…"

"You're looking for an excuse not to believe it" Sai confirmed.

"I guess so." Naruto sipped again. His stomach growled as it was neglected still.

"I'll get your plate" Sai mentioned. He rose up quickly to fetch the first helping. He paused as he heard a soft vibrating sound in the room. He looked over his shoulder, catching Naruto pulling his cell phone from his pocket and answering the call.

"Hello?"

"Naruto where are you right now?"

The blonde blinked in confusion. He didn't recall ever giving Itachi his number but he supposed he got it from Sasuke. "Umm I can't say right now. Why?"

"I wanted to speak with you."

Naruto frowned deeply. "If this is about Sasuke I don't want to hear it. If he wants to talk he should do it in person!" Naruto exclaimed. "He doesn't get to act like an ass and not apologize for it."

"This isn't about Sasuke. This is about you and your friend."

"My friend?" Naruto commented. He thought for a moment before it occurred to him. "What about Gaara?"

"You should stay away from him."

"Stay away? Why? What's going on?"

"Just do as I say" Itachi demanded.

Sai kept his distant from the blonde's line of sight but he remained within reach of hearing. The black haired man mentioned by the witness, he wondered who he was and what ties he held with Naruto. He had a feeling this call had to do with the matter. Perhaps the girl Naruto was looking for was the next target or even this Gaara character. Whoever it was he knew he had to keep an eye on this suspicious kid.

Naruto grumbled as he hung up. "What's with everyone lately" he huffed out. He waited till Sai came back into the room before he asked the very next thing on his mind. "Sai, are you busy tonight?"

"Why?"

"Will you be my wing man?"

Sai was thoroughly confused.

To Be Continued…

A/N: Sorry it's short, the next one will be longer . On the plus side I have just posted up a new fanfic for ItachixNaruto. It's called 'A Hunting We Will Go'. I hope you will all go give it a read! I want to know what you think!