This is the non-betaread version. I will replace it once I get it okie dokie? So, apologies in advanced for missed out spelling mistakes or sentence structure! Gomen!
Enjoy!
BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNEW 15Kakashi woke up five hours later, and was glad that he closed the curtains the other night. The once dark room was now dim due to the dark colored curtains blocking the morning light. He propped himself up on his elbows and turned to find Naruto with his back to him, one hand on the pillow while the other one wrapped around his middle. Kakashi shivered slightly at the intensity earlier that morning. It had been hot and passionate all in one. He could not get the image of Naruto's face during orgasm and how his voice sounded so husky, deep and arousing. Kakashi pulled the covers higher up till it reached Naruto's forearms, watching the young lad sleep. He could still see the large bite on his shoulder and for a moment, Kakashi wondered why Kyuubi did not heal the bruise yet. He was actually beginning to wonder if the fox had some twisted sense of humor. He found himself smirking and reaching out with his fingers to brush away some of the golden locks off Naruto's face.
He continued to watch Naruto, ignoring the fact that he really had to get out of bed and get to his duties, which were basically just report making and gate duty. But just watching Naruto sleep, beside him, completely naked save for the dark green blanket covering him, with his lips parted slightly while breathing made him too lazy to get to work. It was a rarity to find Naruto in a state like he was at the moment.
Naruto suddenly shifted, eyebrows creasing, a soft whisper of 'no' escaping his lips. Kakashi frowned, and continued to watch as Naruto's fingers clenched around the blanket that was covering him, knuckled turning white from the force.
"No." Naruto said, voice begging. "Stop."
Kakashi grew more puzzled, and decided to wake him. "Naruto." He whispered, and got no reaction. "Naruto!"
"Stop!"
Kakashi sat up and began shaking him. "Naruto!"
XXX
A hot kunai pierced in to his stomach and he cried out.
His hands were made immobile by another pair of hot kunais pinning them on to the thick stone-like slab he was lying on.
He could feel pulsating electricity flare through his body.
"Stop!" He begged, crying, as a pair of red eyes stared down at him, while others around him took notes on clipboards. "Please! Let me go!"
Black wheels spun. Red dissolved in to black. Black melted in to red, his deep voice ringing in his ears loudly.
"You will fall someday. And when you, I will come for you."
A hot kunai pierced in to his stomach and he cried out.
His hands were made immobile by another pair of hot kunais pinning them on to the thick stone-like slab he was lying on.
He could feel pulsating electricity flare through his body.
"Stop!" He begged, crying, as a pair of red eyes stared down at him, while others around him took notes on clipboards. "Please! Let me go!" He cried out in pain once more, as he felt more hot kunais burying themselves in to his stomach, right where his seal was. "Stop! Stop!"
"Stop!"
"Naruto!" Kakashi shouted, staring down at him. Naruto stared up blindly, eyes wide, pupils dilated.
Naruto continued to stare blankly at Kakashi, breathing getting heavier and heavier, as his eyes focused on the exposed Sharingan eye. He pushed him away, covering his face with his suddenly shaking hands, feeling oddly cold. He sat up and stared at his stomach, then his hands. It felt real. Just like before.
He wrapped trembling arms around his lean frame. Another pair of arms wrapped around his shoulders from behind. "It's just a dream."
Naruto shook awake at his words, and pushed him back. "I should go."
"What?" Kakashi asked, staring at him in disbelief, as Naruto stood up and began to pick up his clothes, pulling them on. "I shouldn't." He whispered to himself. "I mustn't!" He reminded himself once again.
"Shouldn't what? Mustn't what?" Kakashi asked, standing up and pulling his boxers on. "What are you talking about?"
"I should go." Naruto said, shaking his head as he looked for his jacket, finding it beside the shelf.
"You think this is a mistake? Us?" Kakashi asked, voice hard and hurting.
"I don't know." Naruto answered, pulling his sandals on. "I don't know anything! Just – Just stop it!" He snapped, running shaking fingers through his hair. "I shouldn't have! You'll only get hurt!"
"What the hell are you talking about?" Kakashi demanded, slightly getting worried to what Naruto was babbling about.
"This is a mistake!" Naruto turned, looking at him. "Forget me! Forget I even came here! Forget everything! Just – just do it! It's for your own good!" He winced slightly, rubbing his temple. "You've lived without me for seven years. You can do the same for the next couple of decades."
Naruto darted for the door and fumbled for the locks.
"Damnit!" Kakashi hissed, frustrated and grabbed Naruto by the shoulders, turning him around.
"Don't touch me!" Naruto shrieked, pushing him back. "Don't touch me! You don't know what you're getting yourself in to!"
"Then by the heavens, help me! Make me understand!" Kakashi snapped.
Naruto was about to reply when the sound of a hawk flying the sky stopped him. Even Kakashi turned to his window and pulled the curtains open, to find the hawk circling the sky. If ever they needed all ANBU units to assemble, Konoha used a falcon. If it were the hunters, Konoha used the eagle. A hawk usually meant that all chuunins and jounins were needed.
An understanding came between them for the time being.
Duty calls.
XXX
Naruto found himself standing on one corner, beside Gaara and Haku, who were looking at him with a worried expression. Everybody from nearly all families was present. Some of the Hunters that even Naruto didn't know were present, along with several ANBU units that happened to be on duty. He had a pounding headache, and his stomach muscles were rippling, like he was being stabbed.
"Are you all right?" Haku whispered. "You look like you're about to faint."
"Something is wrong." Naruto whispered, wincing as his head pounded.
"Maybe you should sit down." Haku said, voice laced with genuine worry.
"I'll be fine."
Tsunade entered the room, and stood behind her desk, Jiraiya moving towards the windows, where Naruto, Gaara and Haku were standing. Jiraiya gave Naruto a long look, noticing his state immediately, but made no comment.
"Two weeks ago, two ANBU members had gone missing and two days later, their bodies were found in the river. A week ago, an entire squad of hunters were killed, and only their heads were left." Some of the shinobis in the room looked at the floor, while some tensed. "The same things are happening in other villages. The number of shinobis going after exiled ninjas in different villages has been decreasing. Akatsuki is moving. There is not a village that is not left in peace. Any could be a target, including ours." There was a murmur amongst the gathered shinobis. Naruto tensed at the news. "Security is going to be increased. No shinobi is to travel alone. He or she must be accompanied by two or preferably three more shinobis especially when near the village borders." She stared at everyone who dared opposed her decision and narrowed her eyes. "I will not risk loosing more warriors when we need them the most. So far, Konoha has managed to bring down some of the networks connected to Akatsuki in the past few months, and several ANBU have brought back completed missions in eliminating some of the important members of Akatsuki. But that in itself, is not enough."
"What do you propose we do?" Genma asked boldly.
"We go after them before they come after us. Other villages are doing the same, for their own safety. ANBU squads twelve, fifteen, nineteen and four will be dispatching tonight. Hunter squads three, nine, eleven and fourteen will be leaving as soon as this meeting is over. Jounins, Jiriaiya and myself will assign you to missions, and you will be traveling in groups. Chuunins, you will also be doing –"
The door burst open, one of the genins left behind to take care of the academy students staring wildly at the Hokage. "Godaime-sama! The students! They've been taken away!"
"What?" Tsunade shouted, standing up.
An explosion of anger and shock erupted. Several chuunins that left their duties in the academy disappeared in a poof of chakra smoke to check up on the problems. Naruto winced, bringing his hand to his head. A hand came to shoulder and he found Gaara peering at him with concerned eyes. Naruto sucked in a shaking breath, before the three of them joined in scouting the area for the children.
XXX
Forty-eight children, and only one clue.Akatsuki.Two hours later, Naruto, Haku and Gaara were back in the Hokage's office, reporting nothing but the fact that it was indeed Akatsuki who took the kids because of the organization logo burned on the wall of the classroom where the kids were in. It had caused uproar; making mothers cry and fathers just loose their temper. Naruto himself was going mad. He could feel his blood boil.
"Hunter squads six have reported." Tsunade said, a frown on her face and the veins on her neck bulging from controlled anger. "A trail was left behind that leads directly to Akatsuki's main headquarters." There was an explosion of murmurs and curses. "ANBU squads one, three, five, eight, twelve, fourteen, eighteen and twenty will combine. Uchiha Sasuke, you will lead them."
Sasuke's eyes were already flaring with anger. Naruto saw the look of determination in Sasuke's face, and how his eyes morphed in to red, for a moment causing a spark of fear at the back of his mind. Almost immediately, he countered Tsunade's decision.
"No!" Naruto said, stepping forward.
"What?" Sasuke hissed, turning to give him his most angry and heated glare. "You stay out of this!"
"Uchiha-san." Haku said, his tone warning him.
"You cannot possibly agree!" Sasuke said, half-shouting, turning his gaze back
"Uchiha-san!" Haku warned again.
"Don't send him." Naruto said as calmly as he could, voice tight from the sheer amount of willpower he was putting in to controlling his temper. His face was already flushed red, and Gaara, beside him, was already throwing a very, very dirty look at everyone in the room, who seemed to think that Naruto was completely insane.
"You are being irrational." Shikamaru said, stepping forward. "Sasuke is the best choice to lead the squads, plus, only a Sharingan can fight another Sharingan."
Naruto promptly ignored what Shikamaru said. "You send them, then you run the risk of loosing your best squads!" He snapped, pointing to Sasuke. "You send him to his own death!"
"How dare you? What the hell do you know about this?" Sasuke roared fuming.
"Don't. Send. Him!" Naruto stressed. "Don't send them!"
"Then who do you think should go after them, hmm?" Neji asked. "There is no one else here fitting for the job! Sasuke is the best choice."
"Send me." Naruto said calmly.
"Hokage-sama." Sasuke said, stepping forward. "I disagree with what Naruto suggested. The bloodline of an Uchiha can only be countered with another. And you know that!"
"I am aware of that." Tsunade said calmly.
"Then you cannot possibly agree to what he says!" Sasuke pointed at Naruto, who was standing as rigid as stone, staring calmly at Tsunade, the tensed neck muscles indicating his controlled rage.
"Send me." Naruto said, calmly, flatly. He gestured to Haku and Gaara. "Send us."
Silence.
"With all due respect to Gaara-san and Haku-san, and to you Hokage-sama, I do not find the logic behind such an act." Kakashi said, turning to look at Naruto who was throwing him his most heated glare. "I – I do not think that Naruto is fitting for the job."
"I agree." Iruka said, stepping forward. "Naruto, please. Do not throw your life away like this. Hokage-sama's decision is a wise one."
"Try to understand, Naruto." Gai added, stepping forward.
"Send us." Naruto repeated.
"You are not experienced enough to go! There is absolutely no way you'll live! You walk to your own death. All these years you've been gone, there is no way you can make it!" Sakura reasoned.
"You!" Gaara said, turning to her and pointing a finger at her. "Shut it!"
Tsunade turned to look at Jiraiya who had a serious expression on his face. Tsunade turned to look at Naruto. "What are the chances of the children's safety, should I send you after them?"
"One hundred percent." Naruto answered, confident.
"And yours?" Tsunade asked, eyes glazing with worry.
Naruto took time to answer. "None."
Tsunade paled visibly. "H-Haku? Gaara?"
Gaara stepped forward. "I will follow Naruto, wherever he may choose to go."
Haku stepped forward to be inline with Naruto and Gaara. "Naruto protects the village. I protect him."
For a moment, there was heavy silence. Tsunade forgot that she was Hokage, and just stared at Naruto and the other two that were with him. All three were outcasts, unwanted, hated and despised, yet all three stands together, strong and united, all willing to die for a village both who hated them and at the same, foreign. It was ironic and painful at the same time. For Naruto's sake and protection, she didn't want him to go.
"I don't want you to go." Tsunade said. "I don't want you to die."
"I make no promises." He headed for the door.
Without another word, all three left, to the place they called home, perhaps for the last time.
XXX
In pure outrage and bafflement, Sasuke had blindly chased Naruto down the streets of Konoha until he caught up with him. Naruto wasn't even surprised by his action when he grabbed him from the back by his shoulders and turned him around roughly. Gaara and Haku were already ready to render him unconscious when Naruto shook his head.
"Go. I'll follow." Naruto said, and the two nodded, glaring at Sasuke for brief seconds before continuing down the street towards the apartment they all shared.
"You're mad! Everyone said you were crazy, and now I'm starting to believe them." Sasuke spat out. Naruto said nothing and continued staring at him. "I will stop you! I will stop you from leaving! You left before and now you're back! You're leaving again and you might never come back!" Sasuke pressed on.
Naruto looked at him for a moment before closing his eyes and turning around. "Live with it."
Arms grabbed him from behind, wrapping around his middle, Sasuke's face burying in to his neck. "No."
Naruto swallowed hard, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable. "Sorry, Sasuke. But I can't." He gently pried Sasuke's fingers off him and faced him. "I – "
"Someone else." Sasuke said, face paling slightly, and then smiled. "So you're not that cold then."
Naruto shrugged. "I guess not."
"When are you leaving?"
"Tonight. Maybe at dawn tomorrow."
"Take me with you." Sasuke said.
"No."
"You cannot go alone!"
"I have Haku and Gaara with me."
"What good would they do?"
"They're good enough."
"How can you say that?"
"Because I know them." Naruto said, narrowing his eyes. "They will not betray Konoha."
"Why won't you let me go with you? You owe me an explanation for that at least!" Sasuke pressed. "And don't underestimate me! I can follow you if I want too!"
"I never underestimated you, Sasuke. Even when we were younger." Naruto pointed out. "I do not doubt your skills. At all."
"Then why won't you let me go?" Sasuke asked, feeling his patience run dry.
Naruto turned and began to walk away. "Because I don't want you to die."
Sasuke was suddenly very stumped and frozen on his standing spot that he only reacted when Naruto took a turn in to one of the streets.
XXX
Their gear was all ready. All they had to do was wear them and leave the village.
"You don't have to come." Naruto spoke, looking at Gaara and Haku who were sitting opposite him. "You don't have to throw your life away."
"I go because I chose to." Haku said, smiling at Naruto. "I just can't leave you alone."
"Same here." Gaara answered.
"It's a death mission. No chance of survival." Naruto pointed out, hoping that he'd at least change their minds.
"Then let it be." Gaara shrugged. "At least we die on the field. And not from paper work."
"Yeah." Haku rubbed the back of his neck. "And not in the classroom either." Naruto couldn't help but smile at the poor attempt of a joke. "Ah! Now that's better?"
"What?" Naruto asked, tilting his head to one side, suppressing the smile.
"You're smiling again!" Haku smiled back. Gaara gave a little smirk and threw his arms behind the couch, staring at Naruto. "It's better if you're smiling."
"Yeah." Gaara closed his eyes. "It makes up for those who are incapable of doing so."
Silence.
Then Naruto was laughing, laughing until tears were running down his cheeks. "Did you just crack a joke?"
"Should I be offended?" Gaara countered.
Naruto laughed in even more, banging his open palms on couch's armrest, while Haku covered his mouth to look discreet, but he couldn't stop the amused chuckle from coming out.
"T-That was a good one!" Naruto said, and laughed more. He leaned back against the couch and brought a hand to cover his eyes, the smile from the laugh slowly fading to be replaced by a slightly parted serious expression. "That was a good one." He whispered, and his breath hitched suddenly. He suddenly smirked. "When I was younger, I would have given anything to have what I have now. Companionship, trust and dare I say friendship and understanding." Haku dropped his gaze to his hands, while Gaara stared at his feet. "M-Maybe if I had this then, it wouldn't be so bad." Haku closed his eyes and clasped his hands together. "I didn't know that life could get this good and better." Silent tears trickled down his cheeks. "That I could finally have people to come back to, and call them home."
"Then being a cursed person does have its good things in the long run." Gaara looked up at Naruto, who still had his eyes covered. "Because I sure as hell feel good, for once. And I'm glad I've had a chance to feel like this."
"To feel wanted. Understood." Haku added, smiling.
"To feel home." Naruto finished, and wiped at his eyes with his hands. "I told myself I wouldn't cry."
"So?" Haku said, shrugging. "I cry. Gaara does too."
"Uh, no." Naruto chuckled. "He doesn't, really. Do you?" He turned to look at Gaara.
"More than once, a long time ago." Gaara said, and smirked, as Haku and Naruto began to laugh.
Hours ticked by, and Haku prepared them some sandwiches as snacks. A few hours till midnight left and they'd be getting ready to leave. Naruto played soft music on the deck and leaned against the chair, staring at the ceiling, waiting. It was the high pitch sound of a nin-whistle being blown that alerted all three, and made Haku peer out the window.
"A summoning?" Haku questioned.
"Something must have turned up." Gaara answered, grabbing his jounin turtleneck while tossing Naruto his vest. "We should go."
Haku picked up his vest and all three of them vanished, approaching the gathering point.
XXX
Naruto stared wide eyed at the open village gates, where ANBU and Hunters along with other available high level jounins were assembled, all looking out a the army of Akatsuki members, the front line holding the forty-eight kidnapped children, a kunai held at their throats.
"No illusion." Neji confirmed. "They're all real."
"Damn!" Tsunade cursed, staring at the small army of two hundred, clad in black and red cloaks. "What is you want of us, Akatsuki?" She asked, stepping forward from her own army of Leaf Shinobis.
Naruto felt his heart quicken, paling as he watched someone step forward, long dark hair blowing in the wind, cold dark eyes narrowed at Tsunade. Just as fear came, anger popped, making his blood boil and his fists clench, as he stared at the figure.
"Itachi." Kakashi whispered from the corner lines of the assembled shinobis, pulling up his forehead protector and exposing his Sharingan eye, unease and outrage evident in his voice.
"He's still with them." Gai hissed, narrowing his dark brows.
Sasuke was seething with hatred.
"We will release the children, safely, unharmed, in exchange for Uzumaki Naruto." He said, voice calm and collected, as if one was requesting information at a help desk. There were simultaneous shuffling of feet as the announcement was made. "Give him to us, and they go unharmed.
"And If I disagree –" Tsunade was cut off by Naruto's hand landing on her shoulder sharply.
"You won't." He said, shaking his head. Jiraiya turned to look at him, surprised. "I'm going."
"You cannot possibly-" Tsunade was cut off again.
"I'm sorry. There is no other way." Naruto looked up at Jiraiya and blinked, before dropping his gaze to turn to look at Gaara and Haku. He grabbed them both, embraced them tight, and whispered. "Wait for the signal." He pulled his necklace off and handed it to Gaara. "Kakashi."
Then he released them, and began to walk towards the Akatsuki army, protests and callings from his previous teammates and friends, and lover ignored. Each step was tearing at him inside, but he kept his head high, as he approached the gates, and took the final step to render him 'outside Konoha land'.
Hands clamped on his shoulders, as he was guided to the back of the army, the loud cries of relief from children and running footsteps the only thing he could hear, as he was taken further and further from Konoha.
From home.
From safety.
From sanity.
TBC
Oops?