All aboard! The bus is about to take off on an intense feel trip. So buckle up and prepare those tissues!

Disclaimer: *Looks into piggy bank* Huh, still don't have enough to buy Naruto.

Naruko-ナルコ-

Chapter 4

Taken

"You're what?!" Naruto exclaimed.

"I said I'm sleeping over Sasuke's house. Why do you sound so upset?" Naruko was surprised at his reaction. She didn't think he would care that much.

"Well I..." Naruto began to fidget, which was very unlike him "I dunno, its just going to feel weird having the house to myself."

"Are you sure thats the reason?" Naruko asked, becoming very concerned at his strange behavior.

"Yeah..." It wasn't just today, as of last week Naruto had been acting strange. He wasn't his usual, bubbly self. Something was off, and his twin could tell.

Should I press him on about it? She hated to see him like this.

Naruko decided maybe today wasn't a good day to ask "Well...I guess I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Wait!" Naruto shouted before she left "What uh, time are you coming home tomorrow?"

"I don't know, why?"

"Cause uh, do you wanna go to Ichiraku Ramen tomorrow? Its been awhile since just the two of us went." Naruko was shocked, in a content way. It had been a long time since they've just hung out. She was glad that she'd finally be getting to spend time with her brother.

"Okay! I'll be sure to come back early then. So you better not sleep in!" She grinned.

Naruto returned the smile "Are you kidding? I wouldn't miss Ichiraku Ramen for anything!" Before Naruko left, she hugged her brother and then kissed him on the cheek leaving her brother in shock.

"Love you brother! See you tomorrow!"

Even after his sister left, Naruto still stood there in shock until after a few minuets passed "Eww, cooties!"

Okay, I just have to make a right here and then I'll be at the Uchiha Complex, Naruko had to admit. She was surprised when Sasuke asked her to sleep over. No, she was actually more surprised his parent's allowed her to sleep over. Sure his parents treated her more nicer after she met them but like she said. It took time to adjust.

"Naruko?" spoke a familiar voice.

Naruko turned around to see a familiar Uchiha "Sasuke? Did you wait for me?"

"Tch, as if...I was doing some last minuet training and lost track of time."

"How'd that go?"

"Eh, pretty good. It would've been allot better if I had my training partner," he said, referring to Naruko.

"You're just being dramatic," she laughed "Anyways lets go. I don't want you to get in trouble," it was already getting dark. Last time Naruko checked it was only eight o' clock, which as abit odd. It looked as if it was already eleven.

"Thats strange. Its to early for everybody to be in bed." Sasuke stated, even he noticed the unusual amount of darkness. Nobody's lights were on whatsoever either. Plus it was quiet, very, very quiet.

"Ah!" Naruko gasped, as she latched onto Sasuke's arm.

"What is it?" Sasuke asked, slightly jumping from her touch.

"I...I thought I heard someone running..." she admitted, with her heart still racing.

"You heard that too?" So she wasn't going crazy. Naruko wasn't sure of that was a good thing or not.

A few minuets, later...Naruko did wish she was going crazy.

"Auntie! Uncle!" cried Sasuke. Bodies, more than three dozen scattered across the ground in blood. And from the looks of it, it look as though it had happened recently. Naruko's grip on Sasuke tightened.

"N-naruko...?" Sasuke looked at his friend to see she was even more scared than he was. Literary within seconds tears started to run down the young girls face "C-come on...we have to find mother and father." He took her hand off his arm and held it firmly with his. It wasn't just to comfort her, it was reassure him he wasn't alone. And that he wasn't going crazy...But every second that passed their fear increased, and their hearts were pounding with adrenaline.

The two children ran though the Uchiha Complex as fast as their legs could carry them. Being very cautious that they didn't trip over and bodies or kunai knives along the way. As soon as they reached Sasuke's house they dropped their things and headed straight for Sasuke's parents room.

"Someones on the other side of the door," Sasuke could practically feel it...their presence. It was incredibly strong.

"M-maybe its just y-your parents?" Naruko stuttered in fear.

"No...Theres someone else there." His grip on Naruko tightened, she could tell he was scared too. Very scared. Hesitantly, Naruko gripped onto one of the door handles.

"O-On three," Naruko couldn't even get a proper sentence out without almost choking.

"Right..." Sasuke whispered, gripping the other door handle.

"One...two..." And on three, they threw open the door. Only to find that they were too late.

"Mother! Father!" Sasuke yelled, scared at the sight in front of him. He was going to run to them, but was held back.

"T-theres someone..." Naruko pointed with her free hand "Over there..." Sasuke stopped in his tracks and waited for the ninja to appear.

To his relief, it was Itachi. Naruko however, didn't feel the same. She knew that look all too well. His crimson eyes were full of pure hatred.

"Itachi! Mother and Father are dead! I don't understand, who could've-" before Sasuke could finish, a shuriken was thrown at him, cutting through the sleeve of his shirt along with his skin.

"Itachi...it was you?" Naruko spoke in disbelief. From what she heard from Sasuke he was having problems with his father and family but she never thought things were this bad.

"Indded it was...nine tails," he spatted. The way he said it sent chills up the children's spine.

"Nine tails?" she repeated, why was he calling her that?

"You haven't figured it out yet?"

Is he saying that I...I'm a monster? Naruko didn't want to believe it.

"Itachi...why...why did you do this?" Sasuke asked, with his voice shaking.

"To test my abilities." Sasuke was in disbelief. The slaughter of his own family was just for this? It was impossible for Sasuke to even believe.

"Hn," within seconds the cold-hearted Uchiha had his brother trapped in his genjutsu. Blood, screams, tears and death. Every single family member that Itachi had killed Sasuke had viewed through his eyes.

"Itachi! Why are you showing me all of this!" Sasuke cried as he held his head. Naruko became confused, unaware of what Itachi had done. He hadn't even moved a finger and he had Sasuke on his knees crying.

After a long, sixty second Sasuke managed to stumble onto this feet. Grabbing the nearest kunai knife and charging at his brother.

"Aaaargh!"

"Sasuke no!" Naruko cried, he was going to get himself killed. With ease, Itachi countered his brother's attack, jabbing him in the gut "Run!" Grabbing his hand, Naruko sprints out the door with him.

"Where should we go?" Naruko asked, "Sasuke?" Turning around her heart dropped only to see she wasn't holding onto Sasuke's hand, but a tree branch. She then called out his name again, hoping he would hear her.

"Sasuke! Please, this isn't funny!" She then heard a door shut close from behind her. She didn't want to turn around, but her body didn't listen.

"Nine tails, your coming with me."

"W-what?" she whispered, why was he calling her that? she wondered.

Why? Why? I'm not a monster! No, I'm not! I'm not! Her mind refused to even acknowledge the possibility of it.

"The Demon that attacked the village seven years ago. That killed thousands, including the fourth Hokage...is you. You are the Nine-Tailed Fox."

"No! I'm not! I'm not! You're lying!" Naruko hiccuped, she almost choked on her tears.

"Now, come with me." He slowly took a step towards her. Naruko tried to run, but within seconds he appeared right behind her. He had her checkmated.

Fearing for her life, she let out a bloody scream before slipping into darkness.

"Naruko!" Sasuke shouted hearing her scream "Where are you? Naruko!" One minuet she was with him and the next she disappeared. He was almost out of the Uchiha Complex, but he had no idea where Naruko was. As he turned into the next street he then found himself standing across from Itachi holding a body. And not just any body.

"Naruko!"

"Oh shut up. Shes not dead," he spoke with an ice-cold tone.

"Please! Let her go! What do you want with her?!" he pleaded.

"She has something most ninja don't have, a powerful tool that few can control. And that is the Nine-Tailed Fox."

"Big brother please! This isn't like you at all!"

"Foolish little brother," Itachi sighed "I only acted like the older brother you wanted to find out one reason. To see if you can obtain the powers the Mangekyo Sharingan."

Sasuke's stared at his brother went into more detail "In the main hall of the Nakanoa Shrine under the seventh tatami mat on the far right is the clans secret gathering place. There you will find a document of the Uchiha Clan's justu. If you wish to kill me, now that I've made you hate me."

The only reason hes telling me this is because...hes not going to kill me?

"Oh don't worry. Your not worth killing," Itachi said "If you wish to kill me one day and rescue your beloved friend, then live in hate and revenge. When you finally have the same eyes as me, come back and face me."

Two days later...

"W-what?..." Naruto gasped.

"I'm sorry Naruto. But it is the truth. Naruko is...gone," the Hokage closed his eyes and sighed. Breaking the news to Naruto was hard for him. Though many ninja die everyday, breaking the news of a missing loved one was never easy.

"I...we..." Naurto cried. The poor child was in shock he couldn't even finish as sentence.

"Love you brother! See you tomorrow!"

Guilt wrapped around his chest. It was then the young boy realized how distant him and his twin had become over the recent months. Ever since we started the Ninja Academy we haven't gotten to play each other. I was pre-occupied with my friends that I...

He never got to eat Ichiraku Ramen with her. He didn't get to hang out with her. He didn't get to show how much he appreciated her. He failed to protect his the only family member he had.

His heart was full of regret.

Naruko...I promise I'll bring you home.

"Hey, did you hear what happened?" Ino asked.

"No what?" replied her new friend Sakura.

"That girl Naruko went missing last night," Ino stated "Nobody can't seem to find her."

Aka gasped, she was shocked something like this actually happened "Seriously?"

"Whos Naruko?" Sakura asked.

"Shes that girl that used to hang around Sasuke allot. Naruto's twin sister," Ino told her "And seriously Aka. The Hokage even came and took Naruto out of class today."

"Oh...," though Aka wouldn't admit it, she secretly hoped that Naruko was okay.

Everything was lifeless. It was as if time stopped for the young boy. Everything, everyone he cared for and knew was gone, and it all happened in an instant.

Uncle...Auntie...Mother...Father...Naruko...

The Uchiha's grip on the rock beside him tightened. As he stared down at the lake all he could feel was despair and sorrow. What was he supposed to do now?

You have to toughen up! His friend's words rang in his head.

Hmph, I don't need a crybaby to tell me to be strong. How ironic, now he felt like the crybaby.

He threw the rock into the lake without a care, as the lake rippled from the rock he then saw a familiar figure.

Itachi...Itachi! Without a moment of hesitation, he jumped straight into the reflection of the lake. From that day, he was no longer the young Uchiha boy. He became an avenger.

I will become stronger. Strong to defeat you! I promise Naruko...I'll bring you home.

At all made sense. Everything started to click. The reason she was shammed by the villagers. The reason the adults feared and avoided her. It was because she was actually a monster.

Naruko wanted to run, run as far away as she could. But she knew that even if she tried she wouldn't be able to find her way back to Konoha.

"Welcome Itachi Uchiha," spoke a dark cold voice.

"Hn," after the incident. Itachi became very quiet and distant. It didn't shock the child though, how else was a murder supposed to act?

"I didn't expect you to bring a child here. Tell me, who is she?" it was too dark for Naruko to see who was talking. Squinting her eyes she could only see about seven figures standing across the room.

"This is Naruko Uzumaki. The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki."

"A Jinchuriki? Excellent work Itachi. You'll make a fine member of the Akatsuki. Bring her here," the voice spoke out.

Naruko froze in fear, only to be shoved forward by Itachi. After stepping far enough into the room, Naruko was grabbed by the wrist by an unknown man. Hanging like a trapped kitten waiting for its prey to eat them.

"Itachi," the voice began in a more serious tone "I believe you are mistaken. This child is nothing but useless."

"What do you mean?"

"This girl is not the host of the nine-tailed fox."

"Impossible," Itachi stated "The Fourth Hokage sealed the beast away within his offspring."

"Hmm... Well this sure does make things more interesting," said another male voice.

"That would mean he would have to have another child," stated another voice, this time a female.

Naruto... Naruko gasped at this information. That would mean...that all this time, Naruto was the one who had the Nine-Tailed Fox all along.

"I see, the Third Hokage must have used his girl as a decoy in order to hide the true location of the jinchuriki," the first voice said "How clever."

"I apologize for such a mistake. It will not happen again," Itachi stated.

"At least now we know the true location of one of the tailed beasts."

"What shall we do with the girl then?" asked a third voice.

"We could sell her, virgins are worth some money," suggested a fourth voice.

"This is the daughter of the Yellow Flash of the Leaf. If anything she could be of use to us as a hostage," began the first voice "Itachi. You know this child allot better than we do. Does she hold potential?"

"..." Itachi paused for a moment. Naruko knew her life was in his hands. She only wished she was tougher. Tough enough to break free. Tough enough to escape.

Afte a painful moment Itachi finally answered "Yes."

"Very well. Until she is capable to carry out missions you will be her instructor," order the first boss, as he dropped Naruko onto the floor "Now then, I suppose now would be the most appropriate time to introduce you to your partner, Orochimaru."

From that moment, Naruko knew that her childhood was over. If she ever hoped to escape she would have to become stronger. She was prepared and determined to do anything to return home, even if it meant she had to get her hands dirty.

I will get out of here. Just you wait.