I want to apologize for this "slow" update and though this hasn't been pooped out nowhere near as slowly as my recent chapters have I call it slow just because it should have been completed sooner than this was posted…I mean I got started on it relatively faster than usual, a lot so, actually but then progress was semi-halted off and on…because a certain game came out .

Also Apology #2…Before I finish Laizze-Faire, I needed to get rid of a certain something and I couldn't without writing the Hinata scenes first so…basically what I'd originally planned to write after the Guest's Surprise Appearance is now before…so in a nutshell the rest of the Naruto's Secretes story will come after Hinata's has been fully exposed in these final parts…Man I'm such a bad writer-I know I am, I can't even read this story without cringing during certain parts XD But as I got started writing a certain fight scene in this chapter it kind of evolved and I was like man…it needs dealt with before Naruto can move on in the way he needs to in order to be ready for Laizze-Faire and then the final Trials before this sucker is put to its long deserved end that I've been planning for OVER a year by now.

Oh this is gonna sound SO pathetic but it's true…I can no longer adequately keep up with my own TURNs so therefore I am dumping the title markings all together. Yup. I'm that bad.

Wow…I must sound so stupid don't I? XD Anyway enjoy this sucker…that I used quite a bit of Wikipedia for…I swear I didn't make up any of the technique names or BS random jutsu crap while writing this! Don't know what I'm talking about? Well keep reading!

A GAME OF SHOGI/ TO START A WAR

"You're surrounded," his voice hissed viciously for what Naruto felt was the umpteenth time that hour, his command monotonous in its repetition yet under-laid with harsh impatience as its owner gripped Naruto's arms harshly behind his back. It was a position he was unlucky enough to be extremely familiar with by now.

The teen being pinned from behind groaned in response but otherwise made no move to free himself. Exhaustion had set in and dominated over his senses like a wicked tyrant, leaving his body too weak to defend itself or fight back. And though his skin was slick with a layer of sweat, the hands latched onto his arms were unyielding and only tightened as they waited for the captive's response.

His partner further surrounding him by guarding his front, only sighed in irritation, impatiently tapping their feet on the ground. "Just finish it already."

There was an impatient shake that rattled his teeth but the only thing that came from Naruto's lips was his labored breath, faint and fragile.

"NOW!" the voice barked, harshly snapping like a rubber band as he gave a hard kick to the back of Naruto's legs.

Besides the terrible feeling of forcibly buckling to his bruised knees while being held onto from behind Naruto felt like screaming in anger at the bastard holding him but was too tired to muster the energy to raise his voice at this point. They had just been at this for too many hours like a bad interrogation gone wrong. "I don't know," he finally whispered, being utterly honest. "I don't…"

There was a frustrated sigh behind him.

"I can't remember it!" Naruto said quickly in attempt to defend himself. "It's too many steps…Just give me a moment…"

"Like hell. Again, you're surrounded, one in front, one in back, so what do you do?!" He repeated once again.

"Um-" Before he could even continue there was a harsh blow to the back of his head that made him grate his teeth in pain. "I TOLD YOU TO STOP DOING THAT!" He exclaimed, nearly screaming as the pain and anger roused his energy just enough. He couldn't even begin to describe how over abuse he was.

"What? This?" Again he was met with a blow that made his insides boil as the hit intensified the aching in his body, and his anger flared up dangerously now. Fists shaking, he closed his eyes in deep focus.

Okay, I can do this. Just have to remember-

Head bashed. He was head bashed.

That was all it took, the hands behind him knocking the side of his head into the tree they were by.

In a series of bursts of blurry images and movements his body moved, almost automatically. His feet kicked at the "goon" in front of him, strait into her ribs, catching her off guard and causing her to buckle and gasp for breath. He pushed his weight forward with all his might preparing to go for her again but then suddenly lurched back surprising his "captor" that was behind him and swung his now-free arms at their face. When the young man dodged, his head was met with Naruto's in a hard head butt that sent both of them to the ground, sight flashing white with stars.

But the blond was fast and by sheer force of adrenaline was the first one to recover, as he twisted around onto one knee and pressed the other on the Uchiha's chest. Quicker than that he had pulled the raven's own sword from its sheath and held it to his neck, using it against him. The Uchiha stared up at him in pure surprise. He was on his back. And the Jinchuuriki had won.

"I told you," Naruto said, panting for breath as his hands trembled over the pale skin that was the Uchiha's neck, "it was too many steps…Couldn't…remember them…"

Sasuke's lips widened into a smirk as he rubbed his forehead that was now reddening from where it had been hit by Naruto's. Karin, recovering herself, made a light laugh noise. "Well," she said, her voice slightly raspy, "we didn't teach him that but it did work."

"You always were better with coming up with your own things," Sasuke commented. He then gave Naruto a push. "Now get off….and damn you have a hard head." He rubbed his head again and glared openly at the blond who now sat beside him. Naruto grinned mischievously…

Then promptly collapsed to the ground. Karin looked down at him, pity in her eyes as she checked him over real quick. He seemed to be nearly at the point of unconsciousness. "Man, Sasuke," she said. "He's so exhausted…I think he could use a full break this time."

Sasuke only kicked him. There was an audible moan from the sweaty heap to which the Uchiha curled his lips in a cruel smirk. "Come on. Get back up. We're only just getting started."

There was another moan but this one was somewhat translatable: "Jus' gimme a sec."

"No. Now."

And so their little dance continued on.

_-xXx-_

ECLIPSE-Return of His Shadow

_-xXx-_

Naruto remembered training so hard during his childhood-practicing throwing ninja tools at targets, punching the hell out of things, or angering the school bullies so he could fight them-that he would pass out on the training grounds or in the school yard. Did anyone drag him back home? Nope. He'd wake up (with empty pockets or bags, the damn thieves) and crawl back with his skinny and aching limbs, scrapes from schoolyard fights already mysteriously healed (at the time his fast healing seemed so natural he hardly even noticed it).

Now it seemed when he woke up from being unconscious due to training or fighting matches if he wasn't in the hands of the Akatsuki he was back in bed having been dragged there by either Juugo or Karin. (The latter now as the former had left him. He still didn't understand why Juugo had left Taka and trying to figure it out only made him feel more burdened down as he blamed himself for it. Moping about it wouldn't bring him back though and as long as this chaos was going on Juugo didn't need to come back. At least this way he was safe…) And he wasn't nicely healed.

Naruto kicked the blankets off him and carefully tried to think back to what had happened last, before he had conked out. All he could remember was a long blur of movements and steps, some old, a lot new and a shit load of "what do you do in this case?" scenarios as his training with Karin had ended up being a joint session with them and Sasuke instead. It was all a jumbled mess in his tired brain of offence, defense, bits of reconnaissance tips and multiple manners of jutsu he had never even heard of before: Bartitsu, Jujutsu, Hojojutsu, and Kenjutsu. (but honestly after a while it all became blah, blah, blah, hit, kick, slash, guard, and kick the nuts if those don't work. Repeat if needed.)

Then there was his body, his muscles, and hands. Every joint and nerve was throbbing like hell and he winced at the slightest movement. It was by far worse than the cramming he had went through on Myouboku before Pain's attack. A lot worse:

1) Sasuke smacked him around A LOT more than even Fukasaku, the old frog patriarch (who was dead because of him technically) had. And that had been WITH A STICK. Sasuke just strait up slugged him anywhere and held nothing back most of the time during their training sessions. Naruto suspected part of it was payback for…well, everything he had ever done to him. From the time they had met (like when Naruto had knocked him out, tied him up, and transformed into him all in attempt to woo Sakura, not to mention outdid him in the later days of Team 7-that had been a big blow) until now (i.e. too much to count or mention). 2) Karin's insistent "healthy" meals were worse than even Fukasaku's wife's, Shima's, disgusting bug meals-they were at least meat, not his least favorite vegetables. (Though he could drink whatever he wanted when around Sasuke. As long as Naruto never reached the point of intoxication as he had at the Akatsuki's Sasuke didn't give a damn.) And 3) even then the training spanned for days. He had time to sleep (Hmm, what was that like again?) and roam off to practice on his own. This was just cram, cram, cram!

Part of the reason for the forced extra sessions was partially because they never knew when trouble would come again that could put Naruto in an extremely dangerous position and then there was the summit to prepare for-and not just any summit…a five KAGE summit…as in the five top dogs from all four corners of the world…That meant a hell of a lot of training. Yeah he was all for training but…Sasuke and his team of rogues with uncertain origins thus styles…were, well, a challenge. The sort he wasn't exactly used to yet. At least not at this level.

Never in his life had he went through such a big arsenal in a single day. Years worth even, he wagered. A little of everything non-chakra related. Was he a master in any of it? No. There was a thing called time, instinct, talent, and muscle memory. So no, he was not a master, just a novice but a novice in more fields than the next person. And more endurance than anyone, he did have that going for him at least.

It was just now around twilight-with the exception of having woken up now in bed he had trained since that morning…and the times he had passed out from exhaustion or the bastard had hit him a little too hard on a pressure point or his neck Sasuke had been extra quick to revive him and the process repeated. He had gotten back up…until the last time that is.

Naruto let himself fall back into his pile of blankets. Hours upon hours…surely he deserved rest, and if Sasuke saw fit to allow Karin to drag him back in the boys' room this time than surely he could let himself do what they expected of him now. Rest.

There was a quiet click, click noise that soon roused him, something light and sharp tapping against the wood floor. But as his body would have it, he was too tired to even turn his head at this point. It didn't take long for the clicking to become clear at least as a feathered face stared back at him in his peripheral vision. Mamoru. The Sharingan Crow was walking along the floor, next to his master. Click, click went his little nailed toes. Naruto smiled.

"Hey bud…" He was too tired to even complete the word "buddy." He inwardly laughed at that. The bird meanwhile crept up to the side of his head and leaned against it. It was as if he was trying to snuggle against him as a cat or dog would.

Okay…he thought. Not a furry house pet but I'll take it….

"Don't blame me if I roll onto you," he whispered to the creature as the bird settled down beside him on the pillow. He slowly moved his finger up to its back so he could trace along its soft ruffled black spine. "Though I'm probably too tired to roll…"

The bird made a quiet caw sound as if in response. He remembered Juugo's words from what felt like ages ago: "He's really intelligent, at a surprising rate."

It's so hard to believe…he thought, unwilling to speak the words on his mind out loud to Itachi's oh so priceless gift that gave him an extra eye in battle and was a constant reminder of Itachi's faith in him. You were Itachi's…and…you have a single eye. Where's the other one? I can't help wonder…maybe it's something me and Sasuke need to figure out.

He closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against the small creature. He could hear a very faint little heartbeat and feel warmth from it a bit. Why are you so fixated on me when Sasuke's his little brother anyway? And now that I think about it…aren't we, me and Sasuke I mean, on to the same side now? Wasn't that your original purpose…so why cling to me yet?

Because deep down you know you can't trust him but yet you still prance around like you do. Chib' here don't and he's just a birdbrain. Literally.

Naruto groaned at the ever present voice. Seriously, shut the hell up.

Tell me then, why else did you sell yourself in the second deal? Why would you have felt the need to?

I said shut up! My plans are-

Shit, your so-called plans are complete shit. SO much could go wrong. I swear it's like you like pushing yourself on others…

I SAID SHUT UP!

Why? You going to break another mirror? Hmph, like that will get rid of me. You just can't accept the fact I am you.

Gasping Naruto rushed up from his bed and stormed down the halls and outside, Mamoru barely keeping up with him "Hey Sasuke!" he yelled. "We gonna lay around all day or what!?"

_-xXx-_

"But how do I know you won't use this endeavor as an opportunity to escape? Especially after I just witnessed you awaken that blood teleportating ability of yours…Tell me, Naruto. Why should I leave you alone?"

"I figured you would say that, which brings me to Number Two. If it's what it takes to convince you to trust me then I'll-"

I know what I'm doing dammit!

His fist sailed through the air in a sharp swipe…

What guarantee is there?

Only for the Uchiha to smack it off its course and push his own into Naruto's face. His pale knuckles landed with a hard whack that sent the blond reeling back. He landed in the grass and rolled onto his knees where he shakily tried to stand back up, his nose letting out a line of red that sprinkled the tips of the grass below him with crimson drops.

"Ugh," Naruto groaned wiping the blood from his nose.
Sasuke didn't even bother to help him up, only stared at him, shaking his head in a disappointed manner. Seeing Naruto stand back up so slowly, so pitiably…

"We can't do this," he said.

"Wa-oo-a'in-out?" Naruto mumbled still covering his bloody face. He'd meant to get out 'what you talkin' about'.

Sasuke sighed, not caring what he said one way or the other. "You're finished for today."

"No I'm not!" Naruto protested pulling his hand down. He waved it for emphasis as he exclaimed, "I can still go-I've had enough rest!"

"It's not that," Sasuke said. "It's the fact you're obviously not able to hold up a consistent spar. You're way too sloppy and slow at this point. We shouldn't have to stop every minute. We'll just continue tomorrow."

"But-"

"Your body is exhausted, Naruto," Sasuke snapped curtly. "Even I have to admit that at this point. At this rate there is nothing to gain."

"Come on!" he whined. "Please…"

The Uchiha shook his head and Naruto found his chin sinking down in defeat. Sasuke was usually always up for the idea of a fight with Naruto…but apparently he just wasn't good enough now. Shit….Really, he mused, it shouldn't bug him this much but…It was just, when he moved…the voice didn't talk as much. "I need this, bro." he said delicately.

Sasuke rubbed his head at the nickname and sulkily kicked at a patch of grass with his foot. "Fine. Once more…But this time I want you to not hold back."

"Alright. I…wasn't before, though."

"Fool. By everything I mean everything Naruto. Don't hold anything back."

Still not getting what he Uchiha meant Naruto readied himself, moving his body into an offensive stance as he pointed a blade out at his opponent. Sasuke nodded and unsheathed his own blade. Offensive stance too, Naruto noted. Okay, so he's looking to not go easy as usual…The smart thing to do would get into defensive immediately since at this point he has the advantage over me because my energy's down…But since when did I ever do things the "smart" way?

Taking in a deep breath Naruto was just about to make the first move when suddenly the Uchiha dashed forward without any warning or heads-up whatsoever. He had hardly any time to prepare himself as the Kusanagi blade skittered across the silver edge of his smaller blade.

"Hey! Watch it!" He yelled, parrying another blow. "Wait for the signal to start!" He swung his blade to deflect yet another attack. Sasuke was being relentless at this rate and not allowing him any time to even think of strategy which basically made this exercise pointless now. Were Karin here instead of taking a beauty nap or whatever she was doing she'd stop the match right then and there and lecture the both of them.

"Sasuke-slow down!" He exclaimed again ducking from what could have been a fatal blow-and knowing Sasuke if Naruto hadn't ducked he would have only stopped the tip of his blade millimeters from Naruto's skin which was always a nerve-racking experience.

The Uchiha scoffed as he swung Kusanagi inches from Naruto's head and had he still had his longer spikes of blond hair a few of the strands would surely have been cut. "The real battle field is not that forgiving, idiot," he said pulling his attacking arm down finally. "You won't always have time to think things out…And knowing you, all the time in the world wouldn't be enough."

"HEY!"

Sasuke's facial expression was cruel as he stared the blond down, his smirk vicious. "Now come on, fool. I told you to not hold back…Or are you too stupid?"

The taunt worked. With a howl Naruto lunged for Sasuke pulling out a second blade from his waist and he swung both at the Uchiha like a mad reckless child. There was no pattern to his swings, only the hiss of blades slicing the air as they came from all directions, each of which Sasuke dodged flawlessly.

Once Naruto seemed nearly finished Sasuke's Sharingan spun to life in a crimson haze and with hardly any effort he kicked his knee up into Naruto's peroneal nerve-a pressure point-temporarily distracting him so he could slither his blade between Naruto's arms and face, and his fingers into more pressure points on his chest, halting the mad attack completely.

Naruto remained locked into place, his breathing fast and his arms shaking as his eyes remained fixed on the cruel sword inches from his face. "Fucking cheater," he croaked. "Cheap shots…"

"You left yourself open. Stupid."

The Uchiha moved back allowing the blond to collapse. Sprawled out on the dark grass he clutched onto his leg, eyes narrowing in anger and pain. He let out a string of curses.

"So vulnerable," Sasuke said crouching next to him. He placed his hand on his leg and Naruto wasn't sure what he did to the pressure point again, but the pain soon became less intense. No doubt tricks he'd learned from both Orochimaru and Kabuto.

"You're very quick to anger," the Uchiha noted. "It moves you to recklessness…but also makes you more outgoing…"

Someone seemed chatty…Where was he going with this?

"Still not something I should rely on, so stop trying to taunt me," he replied stiffly.

"Something you don't need to rely on? That's what makes you a fool. As for hatred…You have plenty of it and need to learn to harness it almost the same way you do anger."

So that was his game. Sasuke was trying to bring out his hate. That's what he'd meant by hold nothing back.

"Are you kidding me?" Naruto exclaimed. "We are NOT having this discussion Sasuke! I'm not going to turn into you!"

"You never could. You're too stupid."

"Stop calling me stu-"

"Having a similar berserk state to Juugo's cursed seal you have the capacity to go beyond the limit's you've set for yourself but refuse to accept it. And because recent events you've limited yourself even more by your fears. It would have been easy to kill Kisame then but you didn't. You let memories and idiotic hope cloud your judgment. Naruto you're too soft…and stupid."

Naruto shook his head angrily and attempted to get up but Sasuke wouldn't let him. Sasuke, instead, raised his fist, causing Naruto to stiffen and his body, recognizing the danger, wanted to move out of the way even more but Sasuke's free hand was clutched onto his shirt too tightly.

"Stop, Sasuke," he whispered furiously. The Uchiha ignored him and briefly glanced around their surroundings, almost as if he were double-checking to make sure they were completely alone before he continued. In fact he was, he was making sure Karin wasn't in eyesight to stop what he was about to do.

"Come on-show me, stupid. Show me it!"

Seriously what was his deal?! Why was he trying so hard to piss him off?

The punch that came across his face came hard and before he could roll out of the way Sasuke delivered another one and he felt hot liquid burn down his face. "What the hell?!" He snarled to him, his fingers desperately trying to loosen the Uchiha's grip. "Stop it Sasuke-let me up already!"

"What are you going to do Naruto?" He hissed, slugging him again. "Huh? What are you going to do in this position? Stop holding back, stupid!"

"I said stop calling me stupid!"

He felt all of his senses suddenly overwhelmed by the darkest sensation he had ever felt as his body moved without his command. His insides seethed with deep hatred he hadn't even realized he had towards Sasuke and it was taking over completely, kicking up at Sasuke and slashing at him with blades-he tried to stop it-but everything went black.

Payback time.

_-xXx-_

Sasuke lurched to the side just as another small blade was thrown at him by the blond's hand. He had barely missed it because his Sharingan had been glued to the black eyes of the Jinchuuriki. Or rather, they were black and red, the colors he had heard so much about. He was finally witnessing it! And it amazed him.

He never could have imagined Naruto held so much dark emotion inside him, he was the bright innocent sun who had always tried to shed light on the Uchiha's darkness but this…it was pure hatred embodied: a contradiction of Naruto's light. It was similar to the Cursed Seal's berserk state or his bubbly angered Tailed-State…but somewhat worse and personal.

And it was thrilling. The malice held nothing back and fought dirty. It made dangerous lethal moves Naruto never would and if Sasuke didn't know any better he'd say it was trying to kill him. And judging by the fact it just tried impaling him in his right lung-ironically in the same exact way Sasuke had so long ago-it indeed was.

Something inside Naruto had not forgotten that blow…

And the Hatred inside him apparently had not forgiven it.

Sasuke was forced to pull back again when another blade came flying at him, further rendered more dangerous by ninja wire that zipped around the trees and field, making it difficult for him to jump out of the way in fear the wire would catch and slice him. Every second there was new wire somewhere else to try to avoid along with a new blade thrown at his direction that tried forcing him into the stringed traps.

Getting close enough to him to avoid the wire meant facing the Dark-Eyed cretin close range and Naruto's body gave him no chance to formulate a plan to counterattack as it came at him. A feigned move later and with a wide arc of an arm the anomaly had pulled Sasuke's own katana from its sheath. Apparently the time Naruto had scratched his chest during one of their Hideout Night Spars with it had not been enough. This bastard was looking to finish it.

Sasuke attempted to grab the snarling host's arm to force the blade's hilt from its clutches but was stopped by a sickening crack sound as his left wrist was twisted out of shape by the host's free hand. Shit! He gritted his teeth as pain flared from the area around the broken bone and the black-eyed Naruto laughed maliciously, in such a way that did not fit the blond at all whatsoever. It was the laugh that would fit Kabuto or Orochimaru, even berserk Juugo…but this…It was detestable.

"How's it feel now, huh?" The feral voice hissed in his ear. "Bastard."

Sardonically, he spat at Sasuke's face. The glob of saliva was mixed with blood and trailed down his cheek and for the first time in a long time Sasuke felt fear in the deepest parts of his gut…What had he done? No answer was to be had as he felt himself thrown into a tree a number of meters away. Naruto laughed manically again as he watched Sasuke struggle back to his feet, his hand wiping the bloody spit off his cheek.

"So you have not forgiven me for that either," Sasuke muttered, remembering back to their final battle that fated day so long ago. How he had spat at him, sneered…. "Understandable."

"You've still not changed, either, you detestable dog of an Uchiha."

"How so?" He asked. Maybe if he could distract the black-eyed version of Naruto he could get him to calm down and revert back. He had seen enough to satisfy his interest by now…Meanwhile he tried to reach back into his kunai pouch with his good hand only to find it gone. The dark Naruto had removed it dammit! And anything Sasuke summoned from the seals on his arms and threw at him would only be used against him as the being seemed so humored to do. Any Ninjutsu seemed unlikely either with his left wrist broken…

The Dark Naruto had found a way to shut down so many of his options in a matter of seconds and it didn't help any that he had not came into this fight prepared-his mindset was still focused on sparring…Then he had to factor in the fact he couldn't make any moves that would endanger Naruto's life…So that left him with Sharingan techniques. Whatever he did it had to be quick as Naruto's body walked towards him, a wire rigged kunai glinting in his hands.

Grimacing at the throbbing pain that came with using his eyes anymore Sasuke let the tomoe in his Sharingan spin to life in preparation for a Genjutsu…Only for Itachi's crow to land on the possessed host's shoulders. DAMMIT! That thing still had the ability to disable any Genjutsu cast on the blond.

"Get away from him!" He screeched at the bird. The fiend only stared at him and it made him grit his teeth in anger as the sight of it brought up images of the crows flying about during his fight with Itachi…the unpleasantness of the truth of those memories…His brief daze was interrupted when he saw Suigetsu in the distance, on his way back from town. But he was heading towards the inn.

"Now die scumbag!"

Dark Naruto raised the sword, preparing for a lethal blow when suddenly he was tackled down by Suigetsu. The swordsman had rushed to the sight thanks to Karin who had been roused by the yelling. "Stop it Swirls!" He exclaimed holding the thrashing blond in an arm lock. "Calm down! You won, alright. Spar's over!"

Apparently he hadn't seen the black in Naruto's eyes. After another moment of struggling Naruto's head slumped down and his body went limp. Sasuke didn't relax until the blond opened his eyes again, and they were white and good old sky blue.

"Calm now? Good," Suigetsu tried, slowly letting the blond go. Naruto moaned, completely out of it, and after another moment he looked around, clearly confused as he took his surroundings in and noticed the changes. The wire-rigged trees, the blood…

"Wha…" He saw Sasuke slumped over, his dominant hand at a wrong angle, and his clothes bloodied from light lacerations. "Oh no…" he whispered, stricken in horror. "What happened?"

Suigetsu also had similar questions as he saw the state of Sasuke, and noticed his weapons scattered about. "Shit…and I thought I let loose too much…"

Wait-this was my doing?! I don't understand! Man it's Four-Tails all over again! He looked to Suigetsu for help but the swordsman only stared at him with harsh accusations written on his face.

Karin on the other hand rushed towards Sasuke and the next choice of action was obvious. Naruto could feel Suigetsu stiffen in response as he watched the Uchiha lean over her shoulder…."Suigetsu," he tried saying but then the swordsman backhanded him before he could even continue.

"You idiot," he hissed, lowering his hand back down. "You know not to go so far while training. Now look what you've fuckin' done. You gave him an excuse to-I mean you just had to break his wrists!? What is wrong with you?!"

"I'm sorry," he whispered in return, rubbing his cheek. "I-I don't know what happened…"

Suigetsu would not have it. He shoved him away and stormed off leaving him alone, save for the crow sitting on his shoulder.

Once Karin was done she approached Naruto carefully. She didn't even need to say anything. He knew he was in trouble and she was damage control. He let her pull on his hand and lead him back to the inn. Strangely though, she first led him to the check-in desk. Pairotto was waiting there, smoking a cigarette. "We're going to need to rent another room," she told him.

The man shrugged boredly. "'Ight. It'll cost you extra."

She nodded and leaned closer to the man whispering something into his ear that Naruto didn't catch-he was too busy staring at the floor. There was a squished spider stuck to one of the floorboards.

The man nodded in response to her request. "We do have a room with that kind of feature…" he mumbled. "So it's not as nice."

"It'll do," she said more harshly than she meant to. She quickly handed him the money.

"Last room down," the man said. "Number 9."

Naruto found himself led by Karin's hand again. They walked slowly through the wooden halls, silently. The atmosphere felt thick, and it made his throat feel dry. He tried to speak but the words wouldn't come. Somehow she spoke instead. Eventually.

"Suigetsu's going to be on watch mostly tonight then I'll take over," she said quietly, breaking the thick silence. Naruto didn't respond, just kept his eyes glued to the floor. They came to a brown door that had a number "9" roughly painted on it. The lock on the door was a bit different from the other doors too, he noticed.

"Sasuke thinks it's best if you had your own room," she said, leading him inside. As Pairotto had mentioned, the room definitely wasn't as nice as the others. It was extremely plain, even plainer than Deidara's room had been. Inside she led him to the small joint bathroom and told him to sit down. He shut the lid on the toilet and did as she bade, watching as she tinkered around with the first aid kit over the bathroom sink. As he waited again the air felt so thick with uncomfortable silence that it was tangible.

Finally after a moment she leaned down so they were eye to eye. "Let's see…" she whispered, tilting his face up by his chin. "There's dirt in the cuts," she said silently to herself.

"Karin, it-"

She put a finger to his lips before he could continue. "I don't want to hear it. Just don't talk."

He nodded and watched again as she went to the sink. She put a cloth under the faucet and soaked it. When she tried to dab it on his cut cheek he flinched as his body became rigid. "Oh! I forgot-I'm sorry," she said. Cold water…

She went back to the sink and used the hot water this time.

"Naruto," she said as she waited for the water to heat. "You need rest, okay? Just forget what happened and after I'm done, sleep."

"Karin, I-" he tried again but she shook her head. "I don't know what that was but you need help, Naruto. We'll figure it out in the morning but for now…don't leave this room until I come back for you. Understand?"

Carefully she tended to the bleeding cuts on his face and he remained still, his heart heavy the entire time. Nothing he could say could help or take back the fact he had endangered Sasuke. Nothing could change the fact there was hatred inside him he didn't know how to handle and it was growing exceedingly worse with each day. And nothing could change the fact she was scared of him…and he was scared of what was inside him.

When she left she locked the door from the outside and it was this function, he realized, that she had requested of Pairotto. He didn't care. They both knew he could get out if he really wanted to, all he had to do was give the lock part a good kick or two. The real question was would he, and no. He wouldn't. Not after scaring them all like that…Letting things out of control…Running to Sasuke just because he didn't he couldn't take it anymore…Why was he so weak? When was it going to end?

Sighing he made his way to the bed and curled up into a ball. Mamoru crept up to him and leaned against his side.

In spite of himself he found his fingers stroking the bird, and finally he gently smiled, it was grim, but it was a smile all the same.

_-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-_

Later in the evening the original Taka trio met together in Karin's room. The topic: Naruto's outburst. Whether it was their intention or not he heard it:

"We have no clue how to handle a Jinchuuriki," Karin said. "This….is a disaster and we need help."

"I provoked it," Sasuke countered. "We handle him as we always have."

"But what the fuck was that!?" Suigetsu demanded. "He broke your wrist!"

"Again…I provoked him-or should I say it."

"But why would you do that to him, huh? Why?"

"…"

"Hmph, he'll do anything if it's for his benefit…It's amazing Naruto's not messed up more than what he already is."

"What's she talking about, Sasuke?"

"Nothing. It's of no concern to you Suigetsu."

"Whatever, like it matters. The real question is how do we get rid of it, huh!?"

Karin spoke up, "there's a reason it's there and it's because of Sasuke."

"So it's my fault?"

"No-that's not what I'm saying. I'm saying…you're the only one that can fix it, Sasuke. Some part of him needs to confront the origin of the strife-to have it purged so he can move on, and I believe that some of it is…well, you."

"Fine. I'll talk to him later and get it sorted out…Now, there's something else that needs discussed. Suigetsu, what of the meeting?"

"Everything seemed fine, Granny was insistent you get to her as soon as possible, though. Then coming back I thought I saw some suspicious tracks but they proved to be a dead end."

"Alright. We'll leave the day after tomorrow."

There were noises of shuffling, people leaving the room. Then he heard Suigetsu from the hallway: "Hey, this is probably gonna sound weird but…did I miss something or is there something different about Swirl's hair?"

He rolled his eyes and a minute or two later he heard the lock on the door click and it opened. Sasuke entered right on in. Naruto barely glanced at him before he turned his attention back to the Icha Icha book he'd been thumbing through the last hour. Mamoru had settled into a sleep in the corner of the room leaving him to thumb through the pages to stave the boredom of solitude and guilt.

He wasn't really reading, just staring blankly at the pages, wondering if there was still some hidden helping message from Jiraiya that could be deciphered from the pages…

Sasuke pulled a chair up to the bed and sat. "We need to talk," he stated bluntly.

Naruto shrugged. "I heard….This place isn't exactly soundproof."

Sasuke stared at him. Naruto sighed and continued, hoping that Sasuke would just leave him be, "I'm sorry…I kind of listened to all of it and I think Karin…she just…I don't know…and I don't know what happened earlier but I shouldn't have went to you when I knew that…thing was bothering me But really, the fact it came out at all like that is really your fault-whether you acknowledge all of it or not."

"It was," he said. "But I learned something about you."

Uh-oh… "Like what?" Naruto nervously set the book down and gave Sasuke his undivided attention.

"Though you deny it some part of you has not forgiven me. You tried killing me, Naruto."

"I would never…"

"Ah, but part of you did…Now be honest with me. Why? Why would that part of you try so hard to do me in?"

It was silent for a long time. Sasuke just stared at him with his arms crossed, waiting-no, expecting an answer and Naruto felt pressure build up from the depths of his long abandoned emotions until it cracked and he confessed something he had long neglected the idea of: "Because you left…and it hurt."

"…"

"It hurt so bad…I guess…some part of me hated myself for not bringing you back…and part of me hated you even more for it."

Sasuke nodded understandingly. "All right. You deserve…an apology to some degree. But, at the same time, I won't say I regret ever going to Orochimaru and I never asked you to chase after me. That was your doing."

Naruto rolled his eyes. So typical-he should have seen it coming.

"But," Sasuke said, reading Naruto's expression and guessing his thoughts, "I am sorry I took that fight too far. And that I made you feel responsible."

Naruto blinked. Did he just…apologize for real for that incident from so long ago?

Strangely, he expected something inside him to…loosen, or just feel different having these dead ends cut off after so long but Naruto felt nothing. No release, no relief…Something was still off here and he just couldn't unjumble the mess.

"But at the same time," Sasuke continued, "that was years ago, Naruto. So what's the excuse now? Is it a trust issue?"

He felt his heart stop beating as the fog mixing his emotions together began to clear a bit. Everything he was feeling…was linked to a single idea… "Sasuke," he said quietly. "Can I ask you something that's been on my mind…and I need you to be utterly honest with me."

"What is it?"

"If…If I wanted to go back to Konoha…right now, would you let me?"

That was what all this boiled down to. His trust, and hate, every bit of it now weighed on this single truth: the extent of his current freedom and their relationship. What it truly meant anymore.

Sasuke looked down. Naruto would not like the answer.

"Tell me Sasuke. If I just needed to go home…would you force me to stay?"

He might as well have just spelled out Am I still a prisoner?

All his training, the fact they weren't telling him any specific details like they were afraid he'd be captured and interrogated and the truth that he already knew they were heading the opposite direction of Konoha. Why he was babysat so much…Like a tool. A little tool of only few purposes: theirs.

Sasuke remained silent still.

"Tell me…" he urged. Why am I so important to you that you have to keep me around? Why does part of me not trust you? Even Mamoru doesn't… "What happens when my use runs out? You feed me to the dogs. I already found out about your Trojan Fox plan-how you planned to turn me in to Danzo once you were done announcing yourself to the Gokage with me, the symbol of the imbalance of the Bijuu, as your prize to wave over their faces. Of course you changed your plans again. It's hard for me to keep up with everyone being so secretive around me."

"…."

"And why not let me meet the last host? You afraid he'll teach me to control the Kyuubi like he can the Hachibi? Because then you wouldn't be able to control me. But here's the thing…and my problem-I'm not a fucking pawn, in fact I had to go through a lot just to ensure that you'd-"

He felt himself stop as a strange feeling suddenly overwhelmed him. It was tingling that he wasn't familiar with either, and the strangeness hurt a bit. "Oh!" He cried, the world around him blurring. He gritted his teeth and moaned as his insides squirmed. What was going on?

Sasuke dashed from the chair towards him to check his forehead. No fever, no poisoned drink he could have drunk…it was all so sudden! "Naruto! He exclaimed. "What's going on?" Again he looked around for a cup or some sign of a drug but there was none.

"I'm so dizzy!" he exclaimed covering his mouth, it felt…almost like what he'd felt after he teleportated back in town…THAT'S IT! Realization struck Naruto. It was a teleportation! But why? Then he remembered:

"Karin…I need you to do a favor for me…I'm really worried about Hinata. Even if she gets out there's still a chance she could be suddenly attacked or put in danger before she's reached her team. Seeing as how it's my fault she's in this mess I want to be able to at least give her assurance of rescue no matter what…I saved her once by teleportating by blood so I need to give her some to carry on her in case of emergency…I need you to collect it for me."

"I'm not sure I understand but…"

"Please!"

"Fine but I want something in return; you'll need to be sneaky…"

A vile…he gave it to her-tried to explain to her how he could instantly teleportate to spots with his blood, similar to a summoning and there was a chance it could be worked like a reverse summoning technique as well-a reverse teleportation

And if he was feeling like this right now it could only mean one thing-

Hinata was in dire trouble!

He didn't know how he knew it was her for sure but it was gut was telling him it was.

"Sasuke!" He screamed. "Move my chakra-just trust me on this! I promise we'll finish this conversation later!"

_-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-_

TO BE CONTINUED

If she can summon him-actually he has to make the conscious decision to go or not once he feels the technique trigger (touch of blood and cry of name)-then can't anyone with access to his blood? No. It requires a mental contract because I'm lame like that and this is the idea I mused of long ago. I'm too pooped to iron it out and make it sound more professional…

As for you BriEva (oh I finished catching up on Introverted-yeah never read his stuff before and I love how he invents Icha Icha books. Priceless .) And…43? 43?! HELL NO! XD I would hope that by such an age I would have learned to write and about some major important elements of craft known as Grammar, Consistency, and Pace/Plot! I feel so young now! Thank you! You were one year off when you said "18" :3 I'm terribly 19. Still high but…not 43…Is anyone on here that old? Seems like collage fades people away from this universe….(Moans about Daybreak)

Now to more than one of you…one of you were close to guessing some of my "walking deads" lined up.

(yes a reference to something I've not even watched…actually I'm starting to throw a lot of references in here…AGoS CONCEPTION TRIVIA: Like Pilot-the blond inn keeper, a reference to Cid from Final Fantasy and he's gonna pop up everywhere from now on like Nurse Joy and Officer Jane from Pokémon, the KARATE KID reference! (did anyone even catch that!? Wax off XD) and the Red District scene which was inspired by an episode from 24! 'Cept the genders were switched and it wasn't help from a dark hobo. Then I'm pretty sure there's some mild HIMYM references…including the Drunk Incident which I will write…eventually)

In fact you named two I definitely had planned for THE SEQUEL! So close man! So close! As for the ones I really have lined up…well you guys didn't guess and really it would probably have been more better to say "efficient guns" more than "powerful" though I do wager they're powerful enough….and by efficient I mean what I have planned is so…bad I hope no one can guess it because it's a major slap. It's…I'm so horrible. XD STAY TUNED!

I mean it's lower than Obito. Yeah. LOWER.

Oh…Next time…What Hinata's been up to…Hee…have fun hanging in suspense…just as she might be doing right now in the story-oh what could it be? :)

Okay-Imma be honest and confess…it feels like this fic is dashing off on rabbit trails…but be patient. LOL. The end and following surprises should be…suspenseful thus fun. Trust me.

I just crapped this chapter out because Dark Naruto has GOT to go…