AN:

JK: Updates have begun to lag, in case you haven't noticed. I'm lagging 'cuz I'm waiting for the manga. I'm waiting for a lot of things to happen, so the story's completion is possibly going to be...around December, maybe sooner. I do have some good news. I GOT THE PLUSHIE I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR!! (After re-ordering it) Oh, and a necklace.

Current Chapter Contains: References.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

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"Back to Konoha again?" Itachi asked.

"Yes, but this time, you're taking Naruto." Leader replied. "By now, you've gained his trust, Itachi-san. Use it against him, and take him to us."

"Well, I'm Uzumaki Naruto! It's nice to meet you!"

"...I'm Hoshigaki Sakana."

"Of course, Leader-sama." Kisame answered in place of Itachi.

"Hey, you said you're new here, right?"

"Are you deaf, or just slow?"

"A little of both! How about I show you around Konoha?"

"You'd do that? For a freak like me?"

"Of course I would, Sankaka!"

"Sakana."

"Right, Sakana, sorry!"

"Itachi-san? Are you alright?"

"I'm glad you did! I'll see you tomorrow, Macarena!"

"WHAT THE HELL?!"

"Itachi-san?"

"Thank-you, Naruto. I feel like...I'm really fitting in."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I'm going back to my room."

"Need me to escort you?"

"No thanks. I've got it."

"See you tomorrow, Sakana!"

"Hey-! You actually got my name right!!"

"Kisame, feel his forehead, make sure he doesn't have a fever. He looks...blank."

"You're going home, Sakana?"

"Yeah, I have to. I'm...glad I met you, Naruto-kun."

"Hey, wait! Take a picture, Sakura!"

"Huh? Why?"

"So Sakana will never forget us!"

"Sure! Say cheese!"

-FLASH-

"No, he feels fine. Itachi-kun? You okay?" Itachi was suddenly aware of Kisame's hand on his forehead.

"I'm fine, Kisame..." he muttered. (Where did I put that picture...?)

"Well...maybe you should lay down for a bit." Kisame removed his hand, his voice holding concern. "Leader, do you think that would be alright?" Pein nodded.

"He can't go on a mission ill, Kisame. He won't think straight, and possibly could get himself captured."

"Understandable. Itachi-"

"I'm going..." Itachi stood and walked upstairs to his room. Once in there, he removed his cloak and laid on the bed, over the cover. (Where DID I put that photo? Hmmm...) Suddenly, he sat up. "My T-shirts!"

Jumping down off the bed, Itachi opened his T-shirt drawer and, carefully, pushed them aside.

"There it is..." he grinned, pulling out the photo. He smiled for a second, looking at the picture of Naruto, Sakana, and Sasuke. Naruto was grinning and flashing the 'V-for-Victory' sign, one arm around Sakana, who had both arms around Naruto and Sasuke. Sasuke was glaring daggers, Sharingan active, and arms crossed across his chest.

Slowly, Itachi put the photo in his shinobi equipment.

(Maybe I should lay down...no need making Kisame worry...again...) he thought, reaching back to rub his bottom, which was still sore.

The morning after his delusion spells stopped, Kisame had taken him upstairs and finished what they started. It had hurt, and Itachi ended up crying, but Kisame held him as he always did and soothed him to sleep.

Itachi sighed, and slid under his covers.

"Only three more hours...Naruto-kun..." he murmured. "I can't wait to see your smile again."

-In the Forest Surrounding Konoha, Several Hours Later-

"Alright, Itachi-kun." Kisame nodded. "The coast is clear."

"Got it." Itachi slowly formed a hand-sign, and at once he was Sakana again.

"Looks like Uo got an upgrade!" Kisame teased.

Sure enough, Sakana's hair was now shoulder-length all around, his scarf now red and resting on his neck. His T-Shirt became black, and his blue jeans were now baggy, black, and had chains. He had also grown a little taller The only article of clothing not changed was the long, black trenchcoat he had worn the first time.

"Not funny, Kisame." Sakana growled softly.

"Alright, you go in and get Naruto. I'll stand guard."

"Yes sir." Sakana nodded, then vanished into Konoha.

-Meanwhile-

"What the hell is your problem, Naruto?!" Sakura was yelling. "Why can't you just leave Sasuke alone?!"

"Sakura..."

"Why am I not surprised to see this?" a familiar voice asked, laughing. Naruto turned around to see Sakana, grinning broadly.

"Uo!!" Naruto and Sakura called, happy to see him again.

"Hey, guys! Long time, no see!" Sakana waved, walking over.

"Uo, I thought I'd never see you again!" Naruto bounded over and tackled him to the ground, hugging him tightly.

"Whoa...missed you too, man." he grinned.

"Uo, Uo, Uo!! Wanna get some ramen with us?!"

"Sounds like fun."

"SAKURA! We're going out for ramen!"

-The Ramen Shop-

"And after that, he fell right down the stairs and landed in the mud!" Naruto was explaining.

"Interesting." Uo commented, slurping his ramen.

"So, Uo...you're getting a lot more...mature now..." Sakura smiled.

"Yeah, well...oh, Naruto, I forgot to tell you! I'm a Chunin now!"

"Wow! Good for you!"

"I can't stay long, I'm afraid. I'm on a mission and traveling. I just stopped here to check on everyone."

"That's too bad, Uo..." they both sounded disappointed.

"Yeah...but I'll try to come back for a visit some time, okay?"

"I'd like that!" Naruto chirped. "Hey, maybe we could prank Kakashi-sensei next time!"

"Now I'D like THAT." Sakana smiled mischievously. "I've gotta go. See yah!" he turned and left, accidentally leaving his wallet on the counter (he paid).

"Uo! Uo, you left your-" Sakura tried.

"I'll get him." Naruto picked up the wallet. "UO!!"

-Back With Sakana-

"He should have noticed by now..." Sakana muttered, jumping through the trees.

"UUUUOOOOO!!"

"There he is...Yeah, Naruto?"

"Uo, you forgot your wallet!"

"Oh, whoops!" Sakana stopped and let Naruto catch up to him, and Naruto handed him the wallet. "Thank you!"

"Hey, Uo, what's that up ahead?" Naruto peered around the older boy.

"The Akatsuki!!" Uo hissed, grabbing Naruto and pulling him into the bushes. Once in the bushes, Sakana pushed Naruto tightly to his chest. "Don't move..." he whispered. Naruto just nodded, his face growing slightly red from being this close to the older boy. Sakana reached for a kunai, slowly, so he wouldn't be detected.

"Sakana?" Naruto asked softly.

"Yeah?"

"Are we gonna die?"

"No. I promise you, we will not die." Uo replied firmly. "Now, come on, we're gonna sneak out this way." as he spoke, he took the blonde's hand and slowly lead him out of the bushes, and toward the trees.

WHOOSH

SHING!

"Agh!" Sakana grabbed his arm where a shuriken had just sliced it. "Naruto, run! I'll hold them off!!"

"But, Uo-! Your arm!!" Naruto reached for his friend's scarf and wrapped it around the wound. "There! That should hold the-"

"RUN!!" Uo yelled. Naruto turned tail and fled. "Sheesh..." he stood up and made a hand sign.

"Sorry, Itachi! I was aiming for Naruto." Kisame called apologetically.

"No worries..." Sakana replied, transforming back into Itachi. "He thinks his precious Uo is fighting us." he fingered the bloodied scarf. "Kisame, would you mind bandaging this?"

"No problem." Quickly, Kisame bandaged Itachi's arm.

"Thanks. I'm going to go after him." Itachi tossed the scarf aside and charged.

"I'll go this way, just in case." Kisame nodded. And they parted.

-Back With Naruto-

"Oh, man...I hope Uo's alright...I should go back and help him." with that, Naruto turned tail and jolted back to the clearing he and Sakana were in earlier. "Uo? U...oh!!"

Laying on the ground was Uo's messed up, bloodied scarf.

"UO!! Uo, where are-?"

"Hello, Naruto." Naruto spun around to see Uchiha Itachi standing in the clearing, cleaning blood off his kunai.

"You..." Naruto seethed. "You BASTARD! What have you done to Uo?!"

"Uo?" Itachi asked. "Who is Uo? Oh, never mind. You're coming with me, Naruto."

"No, I'm not! Where's Uo?!" the blonde ranted. "I'll kill you if you hurt him!!" he flicked out a kunai and charged toward Itachi, who nonchalantly caught him up against him.

"Sorry, Naruto...I said you're coming with me." Itachi whispered into his ear.

"No I-" (Hunh?) Naruto paused. (He...smells nice...like...an ocean breeze...and his hair smells like strawberries...just like...Uo...)

"What? I'm sorry, I can't- Ow!" Itachi yelped slightly when Naruto slid his hand up onto his right arm. "What are you...?"

"Are you hurt?" Naruto moved his jacket to reveal bandages. (Uo was hurt here, too...and Itachi's bleeding...no...no, It can't be...) Naruto looked up at Itachi's cold stare. "...Uo?"

"Beg pardon?"

"Uo..." Naruto repeated.

"I told you, I don't know who Uo-"

"Itachi-kun, any luck on your side?"

"Gah-!" Itachi looked annoyed. "Damnit..." He grabbed Naruto's arm...and ran in the opposite direction of his partner's voice.

"What are you doing?! I thought you said-"

"Shut up!!" Itachi hissed, stopping at the gate. "And get in there!"

"But, this is Konoha-And Uo-"

"I didn't kill your little friend, okay?"

"Then where is he?!" Naruto demanded, tears filling in his eyes. "Just tell me!!" Itachi took a breath, paused, then said softly:

"Right in front of you."

"What?!" Naruto gasped.

"I promised you we wouldn't die...and...I intend to keep that promise." Itachi formed a hand-sign, and he became Sakana once again in front of the hyper-active blonde. "I...was using a henge to pose as my partner's son. It was my mission to come here and deceive you into thinking I was your friend while gathering information on you. I...I'm so sorry, Naruto..." Itachi became himself again, his eyes tearing.

"But...why?"

"Because, we needed to know where to find you, who you hung around with, what you do daily, so it would make you easier to track." Itachi paused. "I...had strict orders not to get attached but...how could I not?"

"Uo...I trusted you..."

"Naruto, understand this: I. Told. Them. NOTHING."

"But, you had orders!"

"Screw my orders." Itachi grinned, then it vanished.

"Why would you disobey them?" Naruto questioned.

"Because..." Itachi reached for his back pocket, and pulled out the photo they had taken when he left. "I owed you one."

"You kept the photo?" Naruto asked, startled.

"Of course. I'd never destroy this. It's hidden, so they don't think I was attached, but I'll never destroy it. It means to much to me." Itachi put it back in his pocket.

"What about Kisame?"

"I'll just tell him you got away and there were to many guards for me to try to get in."

"Why?"

"Because, I owed you one." Itachi smiled. "Here." he tossed the scarf at him. "A little token of your own. I apologize for the blood. Kisame was aiming at you."

"Your scarf?"

"I don't need it. Uo is gone, I'm afraid."

"Wait! Just one more picture?"

"Do you carry a camera?"

"Right here! Never know when you'll need it!"

"Self-timer?"

"Yup!"

"Okay, hang on..." Itachi made a Shadow clone in Uo's image. "It'll be a group shot, without my pesky brother."

"Ready?"

"Hang on, ten seconds!"

"Get into position..."

"CHEESE!"

-FLASH-

-Later-

"Kisame!" Itachi panted, running toward his partner. "No go. He got away."

"What?!"

"Too many guards...must have seen Uo running in and thought something suspicious."

"Oh, for-!" Kisame sighed. "Mission failed, then?"

"Maybe..." Itachi nodded.

"Let's go, then." Kisame jumped off. Itachi took out his new picture and smiled.

"Knucklehead..."

"Itachi!"

"I'm coming!" Itachi placed it in his back pocket, next to the old one, and followed Kisame.

--

AN:

JK: Oh, one little thing stolen from Sailor Moon...the scent identification. When Naruto recognizes Itachi's/Sakana's cologne. See yah next time!