A/N: I have a strange urge to write fics before major midterms and finals… I wonder why. After I have completed this fic, I will be sure to do a rewrite because all these chapters aren't edited and there are major mistakes in every one of them. So..bear with me! P.S. Trying a different format!

Disclaimer: Naruto is licensed to…whoever bought it because I'm dead broke right now.

Ookami Kage: Air? Oo I went to download it because is sounded interesting! But I haven't been watching until you spoke of it. Thanks for the review! GaOu!

:Admit Defeat:

Chapter Seventeen – Fated Meeting

"Shinzui."

There was a moment of silence as everyone stared at the novelist at the head of the table.

"It can't be." Naruto finally whispered when he dared to breathe again. He gripped the edge of the table and felt the satisfaction of his nails digging into the polish wood.

"Shinzui." Haku said in quiet voice. "I thought it was just a child's tale."

"It is a tale told to children." Jiraiya said, looking amused. "But yes, Shinzui does exist."

"What is the name of my grandmother?" Naruto asked finally. He has realized throughout Jiraiya's story telling, there had been no mention of her name, except of his father.

Jiraiya placed a finger on his lips. "It's a secret. But I'm sure you have had fated meetings with her."

"What kind of answer is that?" Naruto asked as he slammed his hands onto the table. The table shook from the force and threatened to collapse. Jiraiya nodded in satisfaction as he took in this outburst.

"Just like your grandmother." Jiraiya laughed. "I'll tell you brat. Your grandmother is a powerful woman. If her name is freely given out, Shinzui can collapse. Do you understand?"

"Shinzui is a mysterious force that has operated underground since the beginning of Konoha." Zabuza spoke up. "If the name of the leader is found out, the whole chain could collapse. It must own a lot of businesses in its divisions."

"Can…I meet her?" Naruto said, hesitantly.

Jiraiya picked up his cup of tea and brought it to his lips. "She will find you when the time is right."

"Well that was fun." Kakashi said brightly as they exited the hermit's house. The man had practically kicked them out when they had finished their meeting.

"I should have killed him." Haku muttered as Zabuza patted his shoulder comfortingly.

"I am sure Jiraiya-sama has reports to file, since he is a major clan leader." Kakashi explained as they walked over to their car.

"What clan is that?" Naruto asked as he slid into the leather seat in the back. He picked up his cell phone and turned it on.

"It is called Gamabunta and he is one of the three Sannin. " Kakashi said.

"Sannin?" Haku repeated as he closed the door behind him. Kakashi waited until Zabuza got in his seat and turned around to look at them.

"One of the legendary three fighters that is strong in mind, spirit, and body. Orochimaru, your grandmother and your grandfather are the three." Kakashi said. "There is no doubt that Orochimaru knows your grandmother, since they had grown up in the same gang. But he does not know Arashi was her son. But you are a valuable asset since you are the Uzumaki heir."

"I see." Haku nodded as he glanced over at Naruto. With a start, he placed a hand on his younger friend's shoulder. "What's wrong?"

Naruto had been listening attentively to his voice mail messages. Now, his complexion had paled and his grip slackened so his cell phone fell onto his lap. "No. No. No." He moaned as he buried his face in his hands. Gripping his hair, he tugged it viciously and let out a half-hearted growl.

"Naruto?" Haku tried again.

"Sasuke's gone to Orochimaru."

"Calm down Sakura!" Tenten said desperately.

"I couldn't stop him!" Sakura sobbed. "He left! He went to Orochimaru!"

"Why in the name of hell would he do that?" Kiba asked as Akamaru whined in agreement.

"He said something about having power and finding out where Naruto was." Sakura continued. "I wasn't strong enough to stop him! Why am I so weak?"

Tenten narrowed her eyes and slapped the girl sharply.

"Don't say such things about yourself." Tenten snapped. "No one will pity you if you are weak. You are strong."

"I called Naruto but his cell phone was off. But that was a day ago." Sakura whispered as her eyes glazed over. "Where the hell is that idiot when you need him? Has he abandoned us? He probably is with Orochimaru, letting him screw him like the stupid fuck toy he is!"

"SAKURA!" Neji thundered. "Do you understand what you are saying?"

"That was wrong Sakura." Hinata said, quietly. "Naruto isn't like that."

"You are delusional right now, so I will let this slide. Or there would be a severe punishment from your actions." Neji said. "You know that Naruto is better than that, he treats like you are family. Hell, you are family."

"Ryuujin's family." Chouji nodded in agreement, he had abandoned his chips and was now sitting mournfully next to Shikamaru.

The doorbell rang and Marie went to open the door.

"Young master! You are back!" They heard from the foyer. Sakura leaped up and made a mad dash to the front of the house.

"Sasuke?" She asked, hopefully.

"No." Naruto turned around and shrugged off his cloak, giving it to one of the maids. Haku and Zabuza did the same.

"Naruto!" Sakura sobbed and threw her arms around him. "I'm sorry. So sorry."

"Calm down." Naruto said as he led her slowly back to the den. "You're all here. Good."

"Naruto!" Neji gasped. There was a bombard of greetings and questions, but they fell silent at Naruto's gesture for silence. Akamaru let out a short bark and a suspicious sniff at the two men behind him. Naruto gestured for them to sit down.

"I have been away, searching for my past." Naruto told them. "To those who haven't formally met, this is Zabuza and Haku. They have been long time friends of mine and are currently my appointed bodyguards." Kiba let out an amused chuckle and Naruto clasped his hands together. They glanced at the ring on his finger and they stared at him hopefully.

"Orochimaru should be sending a note to me soon. If indeed, Sasuke went to Orochimaru. I am sure he is being held hostage." Naruto continued. "My clan name, Uzumaki has a tragic past. My father was in debt to Orochimaru and he wanted it paid back in blood. Sasuke's blood."

"What?" Sakura stared at him.

"But I couldn't do it." Naruto said, wincing as his voice cracked from pent up emotions. "But I'm sure he wants to posses me in anyway possible. If I go to him, Sasuke will be the exchange."

"Why does he want you so much?" Shikamaru spoke up.

"I am not human." Naruto said as he raised his head up. He calmly stared out at them and he watched as their eyes widened. Haku placed a hand on his shoulder and Naruto watched as Kiba broke out into a fit of laughter.

"You got to be joking." He managed. "What kind of excuse it that?" Shikamaru whacked him in the side of the head and Kiba growled, nursing his cranium.

"I was genetically engineered, just like Gaara. We are brothers in a way." Naruto continued. "Orochimaru wanted us to be his tools to take over Konoha. Our genes were altered and we were inserted into our mother's wombs. My mother survived after my birth but Gaara's died."

"Oh no." Hinata whispered, quietly.

"That is why we are the 'demons', because in fact we are monsters." Naruto finished his last sentence and stood up. "I'm tired so I'm going to turn in. You all should too. If you want to stay, feel free to."

Their speculating gazes watched as Naruto walked up the stairs followed by Zabuza and Haku. They waited until they heard a door open and close before breathing again.

"Wow." Chouji managed as Neji closed his eyes. "I wouldn't have ever given it a thought that Naruto is…"

"Don't say it." Hinata frowned. "He's Naruto and that's all that matters. He's always been a human and he'll stay that way."

"I have had an idea at the start." Shikamaru commented lightly. "Naruto has always been special."

"Should it matter that he is different?" Tenten asked, softly.

"No." Sakura whispered as she buried her face in her hands. "It shouldn't matter at all."

Naruto stayed in Sasuke's study that night. He stretched out onto the fur rug in front of the fireplace and Zabuza sat in one of the two armchairs. Haku would alternate from an armchair to the window before sitting back down again.

Currently Naruto had been in a light doze, his head resting on folded arms. A gentle hand buried itself into his hair and he cracked an eye open. "Mn?"

"You should go to bed, Naruto. It's been a long day." Haku scolded.

"I want to stay here." Naruto replied as he shifted. "I have good memories in this room."

"Naruto, you sound like you are going to never come back here." Haku frowned. Naruto just smiled slightly before closing his eyes. Haku sighed and turned his head to glare at his companion. Zabuza raised an eyebrow as Haku in Naruto's direction. Zabuza sighed before shifting his armchair.

"Naruto…" Zabuza began. He cleared his throat and coughed nervously. "Kit…" He tried again using a pet name that he hadn't used in a long time.

"Won't you two stand by me?" Naruto interrupted them quietly. "I have made my decision so please support me."

"Aa. We do support you Naruto but it is a big risk." Zabuza continued.

"I won't leave Sasuke in his hands; you know what Orochimaru is capable of." Naruto replied. "I will depart once Orochimaru gets in contact with me. When Sasuke returns, find Jiraiya and make sure he contacts my grandmother. I'm sure she already has a plan."

"And if she doesn't?" Haku asked.

"Then you will assist Sasuke to storm the Shinja headquarters and take it over." Naruto told him. "Leave Orochimaru up to me."

"Naruto!" Haku jumped to his feet. "Are you crazy? You know what kind of effect he has on you!"

"I can handle this, Haku." Naruto responded, patiently.

"Zabuza!" Haku protested as he eyed the taller man. Zabuza sighed and tilted his head back, calmly closing his eyes. Haku narrowed his eyes and finally nodded slowly. "I trust you, Naruto. But please be careful."

"I will." Naruto promised.

It was the crack of dawn and no one was awake in the household, save for the kitchen cook who had begun to start breakfast. The shrill ring of his cell phone jolted Naruto from an uneasy sleep he had been in. Haku and Zabuza stirred as Naruto slowly reached into his pocket and withdrew the damn noisy thing.

"Hello?" He mumbled.

"Good morning, dear Naruto." Came a cheerful reply.

The blood in his veins ran cold and he slowly sat up. Keeping his voice steady, he cleared his throat. "You woke me up Snake-bastard." He said.

"My sincere apologies for disturbing your beauty sleep." The man on the other line chuckled. "I had a visitor the other day, and he is very close to you."

"Oh?" Naruto said, calmly even though his heartbeat had quickened dramatically. "Do enlighten me."

"Naruto!" Sasuke's frantic voice came over the line. "Naruto! Don't you dare listen to him! No matter what you do, don't attempt any heroics!"

"Sasuke!" Naruto yelled. "You bastard!"

"If Ryuujin wants their leader back, I want you in his place. Do not attempt any rescue mission, or I will slit his throat in front of you." Orochimaru said, coolly. "You may bring no more than two people to validate the exchange."

"You fuckened bastard!" Naruto snapped.

"Now Naruto, I advise you to mind your tone. Your dear brother is still in my friends if you haven't forgotten." The Shinja leader said, silkily. "We will meet for the exchange at the piers in 2 hrs. If I don't see you, I will slit Sasuke's throat and throw him in the ocean for the fishes."

The call ended and Naruto shot to his feet. With a furious yell, he threw his cell phone against the wall and watched as it shattered in plastic bits and pieces.

"Orochimaru." Naruto whispered. "If you hurt him, I won't forgive you!"

Not even ten minutes later, the main group of the Ryuujin had gathered in the den. Those who hadn't woken up at Naruto's furious yell had woken up when Naruto had slammed the study's door open.

"I have made a decision." Naruto said calmly as he raked a hand through his disheveled hair. "I will meet Orochimaru in less than two hours and we will make an exchange for Sasuke."

"What will be our exchange?" Sakura asked, shakily.

"Me." Naruto said, evenly.

"No!" Hinata cried out as she jumped out of her seat. "You can't do that!"

"There is no fuckening way…" Neji began.

"I am going to raise hell if you…" Shikamaru said at the same time.

"Over my dead body!" Kiba yelled. "Naruto you selfish bastard, what the hell do you think you are doing?"

"Naruto, please reconsider!" Tenten gasped.

"Enough!" Naruto roared angrily, silencing whoever else wanted to object. "The well-being of Ryuujin comes first. We are more than a gang, we are an organization of powerful clan members and we aim to protect the public at any cost." He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

"Haku and Zabuza will go with me for the exchange. They will bring Sasuke back safely." Naruto continued, ignoring their angry glares and desperate pleading eyes. "When I am with Orochimaru, help Sasuke devise a plan to storm Shinja headquarters and collect forces."

"Wait Naruto, if it wasn't Sasuke, would you still go?" Chouji asked quietly.

"Sasuke is more than just a leader to Ryuujin. He keeps the bond between the clans and is the strength behind our organization." Naruto replied evenly. "If the head should die, the bond will immediately fall into chaos."

"Naruto, you are also our head." Shino spoke up. "If Sasuke should die, you will immediately become the next head." Naruto fell silent and buried his head in his hands. After a moment of silence, Naruto slowly got up on his feet.

"I am not an Uchiha." He said, calmly as he exited the room. Haku and Zabuza turned to follow him but Sakura jumped to her feet.

"You two! Aren't you supposed to be bodyguards?" She asked, angrily. "Why don't you stop him?" Haku stiffened and stopped in his tracks before walking briskly out of the room.

"We are his bodyguards." Zabuza said. "But we are also his friends and we will support him. Why won't you?" Then he also walked out and left the room eerily quiet to its occupants.

Sakura let out a sob before collapsing back onto the couch.

It was bitterly cold that morning and it didn't help that they stood at the piers with the harsh wind blowing in their faces. They had arrived an hour early and Naruto had taken the time to stand before the ocean, contemplating his thoughts.

"It is almost time." Zabuza said as he glanced at his watch.

"Do not worry about my safety when you storm Shinja. If I have become an enemy, do not hesitate to kill me."

"Naruto! Please be careful!" Sakura cried as she hung onto him. "I don't want to lose you or Sasuke!"

"Naruto, we appreciate your sacrifice." Hinata said, knowingly. She had placed a hand on his shoulder and Naruto had regarded her strangely for a moment before nodding back.

"Naruto." Neji had stepped up to him. "Keep safe."

He stretched his arms high about his head and breathed in the saltiness of the ocean breeze. Each breath he took, each step he walked was a memory. Slowly he raised his hand to his lips and bit his finger, deep enough for it to well up a small spot of blood.

"Kenji. Itachi. Have I become a strong man now?" He asked, quietly while offering his hand out.

The rumble of a car engine interrupted the silence of the piers as it pulled up.

"Naruto!"

He could faintly hear Sasuke's voice and he turned; the melody of the ocean in his ears.

Kin and another man with shoulder-length white hair watched them from beside the car.

"We will make the exchange now." Naruto said calmly as he walked forward steadily. Kin gave Sasuke a push and Sasuke growled before falling into a slow walk. They studied each other as they neared and Naruto smirked slightly at the sight of his foster brother's bruised lip.

He raised his hand with the bitten thumb and slowly brought it up below his eye. He dragged his thumb down the side of his face, repeating the same procedure to the other side. Sasuke looked startled at the blood markings as they passed each other.

It was as if he was crying blood.

When they reached the other side, Kin had opened the car door for Naruto and the man with white hair had walked over to the other side of the car. Naruto's eyes never left Sasuke's ebony depths as he ducked into the vehicle.

"Naruto!" Sasuke yelled again. He looked angry and his expression was desperate.

Finally Naruto tore his gaze away and closed his eyes, leaning his head against the headrest on the back of his seat. The car drove away.

I won't ever let you cry, Sasuke.

TBC