Yay, I managed to write a lot this weekend! You should check my tumblr for the rest if you haven't already. I'm also halfway done with part 2 of the "Fantasy" drabble... it's going to be yummy.

Also, I forgot to mention last chapter, but I wrote a spin-off drabble for this story, so everyone that haven't read it and can't wait for some nice smut with these two, go read it! You can find it under "My stories" and then "Drabbles".

I'm fully aware that Naruto is acting pretty depressing lately, well, he's just so worried about Sasuke. We'll be getting more on that later. And if anyone wonders from last chapter, Itachi has that cut through his forehead protector because that's how it was in the movie. I made up my own explanation, though. Sorry that this chapter is a bit short though, I've got exams next week and shouldn't have written at all really, but of course that's when inspiration strikes. I hope it won't take more than two weeks for the next chapter.

Chapter 9: Support needed

xxx

Facing Itachi the second time was somehow easier than the first. Not more pleasant, but yes, easier. Maybe because he now knew their true identity, and apologized for not having realized it before. Sasuke couldn't help but think that his Itachi would have noticed before they even opened their mouths to speak. They sat on the porch, drinking some homemade juice that Itachi had found in the fridge, and Sasuke stayed silent while Naruto explained how they'd ended up in their predicament. Kisame kept giving him amused looks, especially every time Naruto had turned to him for confirmation. Itachi listened with a serious expression on his face, not bothered when Naruto wouldn't answer some of his questions.

"This is certainly intriguing," Itachi concluded, leaning back on one hand and placing his empty glass beside him. "We didn't receive much of an explanation last time, but I had my guesses."

"Yeah," Kisame agreed, "I thought Itachi was cracking up when he said the fight had been between Menma and some alternate version of him."

"Hmm, well, I don't know if Obito can help you, but I can help you find him."

"That's great, thanks," Naruto said, looking relieved. "We're kind of causing trouble for everyone now."

Kisame let out a bark of laughter, the large sword on his back squirming when his shoulders shook slightly. "Trouble is what we live for," he said, patting Naruto's head and grinning at the indignant look it earned him.

"Well I prefer the opposite," Naruto retorted with a huff, crossing his arms, and Sasuke couldn't help but make a small disagreeing noise. "What, it's true! I just keep getting dragged into it, 's not my fault…"

"I'm sure," Itachi smoothly agreed, but a glance told Sasuke he seemed amused as well.

For some reason, the whole situation didn't sit well with him. It wasn't exactly uncomfortable, but definitely surreal. There was just something about the casual way Itachi lounged against the wall, the cloak left inside neatly folded on a chair but his forehead protector still in place.

"Why do you have that line through the leaf symbol?" he asked, everyone pausing to look at him curiously.

He hadn't meant to ask, but it bugged him. If this Itachi hadn't betrayed the village, what was the point of cutting through the village's symbol? Kisame's forehead protector had a similar line, but neither of them seemed bothered by the question.

"It simply means that as members of Akatsuki, we still belong to our respective villages but don't take orders from them. We're a separate entity, neutral towards the villages."

Sasuke nodded slowly, narrowing his eyes for a second before averting them. He decided not to ask anything else, even though he'd like to know. There were so many differences between this world and his own, and underneath the unease he felt curiosity bubbling. If he could, he would like to question Itachi in private. He was just torn between wanting to know, and dreading having to tell him why he wanted to know. Thinking of the past had never gotten him anywhere good, and while he still had trouble shaking it off he at least tried to ignore it nowadays. It made life simpler to live, if anything.

"That's right," Naruto said, changing the subject, "I never thanked you for the help properly last time."

"That's fine," Itachi waved him off, and Kisame shrugged at him.

"We got paid, so no problem."

"Okay…" Naruto looked a little doubtful, flicking his eyes between the two older men.

Maybe Naruto, too, was feeling a little awkward in their presence. He hadn't acted strangely, but he wasn't entirely relaxed either. It could be like he'd said earlier, about meeting dead people feeling weird. Instantly, visions of Itachi's last moments flashed before Sasuke's eyes, and he was forced to take a deep breath to steady himself. The memories didn't hurt as much anymore, but that didn't mean he enjoyed them.

Things were quiet for a minute, and Sasuke chose to stare up at the sky where clouds were now gathering. The weather was still warm, but he preferred to keep the chuunin vest on as often as he could ever since he'd received it. It served as a good reminder for where his loyalties now stood, and some days Sasuke needed that reminder. Right now, however, it reminded him of how things should have been instead. Like here. Things should have been like they were here.

There were sounds from the front of the house, and Itachi smiled again.

"It seems like mother is already here," he said, getting up on his feet. "I promised we'd help her with dinner."

"Uuh, I'm not very good at cooking…" Naruto mumbled, making a grimace but standing as well.

Kisame burst out laughing again, shaking his head and cracking his neck slightly once he'd stopped.

"I wouldn't mess with Mikoto's cooking if I were you," he advised, heading inside without waiting for them to follow.

"Don't worry, Naruto. She'll find something for you to do."

Naruto nodded at Itachi, but hesitated with a glance towards Sasuke.

"I promised to fix some things in the garden, I'll come inside later," he lied, wanting a few minutes to himself.

No one disagreed with him, even though Naruto looked like he wanted to. Turning his face away again, he waited for them to walk inside before getting up. Walking across the grass he headed for a small artificial spring, the spot rather secluded but in view of the porch. There was a pond in front of it, and he sat on his haunches to stare down at the few koi fish swimming lazily in the water. They varied in color, spotted with red and orange and black, and he thought it must be nice to be a fish. No need for thinking, and no blond ninja coming back to hover in the doorway leading to the porch to spy on him.

He put one finger into the cool water, startling one of the fish close to it. He wished Naruto would either join him or stop staring. It seemed as if no matter what he did, Naruto was never far away, never losing sight of him if he could help it. He supposed he'd brought it upon himself. At moments like these, it didn't feel annoying, but rather like he had a well-meaning babysitter with a knack for worrying too much. If Sasuke didn't want to socialize with this world's Itachi, he would have said so. When Itachi's presence joined Naruto's on the porch, he turned to roll his eyes at Naruto's reluctance to let him pass.

Sure, his lungs felt like someone gripped them tightly as Itachi neared him, and he focused unseeingly on the artfully placed stones in the middle of the pond surrounding the fountain. It still didn't mean that Naruto helped him by telling Itachi not to talk to him. His supposed brother paused next to him after brushing Naruto off, then sat down with crossed legs to calmly observe his face. Neither of them appeared eager to speak, and Sasuke stubbornly refused to start.

"I got the feeling that your question wasn't so much about what this line means," Itachi finally said, pointing at his forehead, "as it was about why I have it at all. Am I correct?"

Sasuke said nothing.

"When I saw you before, I was surprised that my brother was dressed in his chuunin vest. He hates it, as far as I know, and I thought that perhaps father had told him off for not taking his job seriously. The two of you seem very different in that aspect."

Again, Sasuke didn't answer. He wasn't sure what he could say, without revealing too much.

"Judging by your reaction towards me, I'd say that my counterpart is either someone you have a bad relationship with, or he's dead."

This time, Sasuke looked up with a sharp frown, not happy with how much Itachi was guessing already.

"The less you ask, the better," he said, taking care to keep his voice devoid of emotion.

"Better for whom?"

Sasuke clenched his teeth, but gave in and sat down to face Itachi.

"For everyone. For me. We're not here to swap stories."

"I thought you didn't know why you were here?" Itachi didn't seem worried, in fact, he looked far too understanding as he held Sasuke's gaze in his. "If it makes any difference, feel free to ask anything you wish about me."

"Do you tell him everything?" The question left his mouth before his brain had time to stop it.

"You mean Sasuke?" When he nodded, Itachi gave him a thoughtful look. "I tell him what he has business knowing."

Lips thinning into a tight line, Sasuke broke eye contact. This Itachi was eerily similar to his, if you disregarded the apparent difference in strength, and his mind was starting to mix the two up. When two gentle fingers against his chin tilted his head back towards Itachi, he looked to him in surprise.

"I can't guess what happened to you, Sasuke, but your eyes resemble mine more than my brother's. You've been through a lot."

Oh, if he only knew the irony of that statement… Sasuke sighed through his nose, convincing himself that the simple touch wasn't something he had missed in too many lonely moments.

"Yes," he admitted, letting his defenses relax for a second. "I am nothing like your brother, I think."

Itachi smiled then, moving his fingers to poke between his brows, effectively causing Sasuke's eyes to widen.

"Perhaps not, but I am like yours it seems, and I don't want things to be awkward between us. So please rely on me, even if it's just a little."

xxx

Okay, Kurama, we're having an emergency meeting right now.

Barely a second after throwing the thought out inside his mind, Naruto was staring up at the large fox inhabiting his body. Kurama was lying down, paws crossed and head resting on top of them, an unimpressed look in his eyes.

"What's the emergency, you've been here for days already."

"Yeah, but it's about Sasuke! He-"

"Not again," Kurama groaned, flicking his ears irritably. "He's all you think about, how much fun do you think that is for me, huh?"

"What!" Naruto spluttered, feeling his cheeks heat up as he scowled at the fox. "Are you listening to my thoughts or something?!"

Kurama let out a mixture of a snort and a sigh, and he would have probably rolled his eyes too if he hadn't closed them instead.

"No, that'd be pretty gross. But you seriously worry too much."

Naruto crossed his arms, fists clenched as he bit his lips instead of retort immediately. Sure, Kurama was a good friend, but he didn't think he'd take well to hear some of the things Naruto wanted to call him right now. Under normal circumstances he wouldn't have cared, but he was stuck in this alternate world, and Kurama was the only one besides Sasuke he could speak to freely. And Sasuke wasn't talking, so…

"It's just, I don't know what to do. Sasuke being here is just bad on so many levels. And he obviously wasn't too happy meeting Itachi… I hate seeing him like this."

Kurama opened one eye, staring in silence at his dejected face for a few seconds. A few of his tails swished behind him, settling into a more comfortable position.

"I still think you worry too much."

"Yeah, well, you already said that," Naruto replied, voice testy, and he promptly sat down in front of the cage.

"Because you needed to hear it again. Brat."

Letting out a frustrated groan, Naruto rubbed his palms over his eyes, feeling tired suddenly. He'd gone home after dinner, but it felt as if his mind had stayed with Sasuke in his room. What was he doing? Was he thinking of Itachi, was he hurting? And what exactly had Itachi said that caused Sasuke to all but forget how to speak throughout the rest of the evening? Naruto had no idea, all he knew was that his whole body felt like it was prickling with unease.

"I just want him to be okay," he whispered, mostly to himself, but Kurama of course heard him.

"You're talking about the guy who managed to kill his brother and live with it, I doubt seeing a copy of the same brother will cause some sort of breakdown."

Naruto inhaled sharply, and it felt like his lungs were stung by Kurama's words. He couldn't think of anything to say to that, because he didn't want to admit the first part. Not that Sasuke had lived happily or anything, but he still hadn't returned to Konoha afterwards… He gritted his teeth, pushing away all thoughts of the past. He might have been too late a few times, but Sasuke was back and he refused to admit that he was scared of losing him still. Even so, his throat hurt at the thought, and he bent his knees and hugged them to his chest.

"I don't like it," he mumbled, "I don't like Sasuke being here."

"Well, I don't like the Uchiha brat at all, and never did, so…" Kurama hesitated, and Naruto could feel his gaze on him, and hear the click of his tongue when Naruto let his forehead connect with his knees. "Sheesh, you're looking like it's the end of the world. What happened to that never ending spirit of yours?"

Naruto didn't know. He just felt… empty. His mind had been whirring with thoughts and worries ever since they got here, and it didn't help that they had no clue as to why. He'd felt great because Sasuke had finally agreed to stay, officially, even if he hadn't been very enthusiastic about it. To Naruto, that was the final piece of the puzzle he'd needed. And then, just a few hours later, everything had changed. At least it felt like things had changed, gradually, sneaking up on him and only becoming all too obvious by the arrival of Itachi. The way Sasuke had said it that morning in his kitchen, it sounded like he was only staying because he had nowhere else to go.

And now? Naruto dug his fingers into his pant legs, frowning. He had never backed down from his resolve to bring Sasuke home with him, and why should that part change now? If they could get home at all…

"Relax, kid. After all the trouble you went through, I doubt he'd forget about you just like that. Take it from someone who's lived through every friendship speech you ever made."

"Easy for you to say," he muttered, tilting his head and glaring at nothing in particular.

"You'll be home in no time, stop moping around, it's creepy."

Naruto only made a disagreeing noise, narrowing his eyes. Part of him fervently wished Kurama was right, and they really would go home soon. Another other part was more skeptical, but worst of all was the part that-

A knock on his door snatched him out of his inner turmoil, and back to the outer world.

"Come in," he called, Kushina opening the door a second later.

"Hey sweetie, I remembered we've got some leftovers if you want to bring on your trip tomorrow?"

"Oh, no, that's fine. Itachi said we'll eat when we get there."

"Mm, okay." Kushina then narrowed her eyes at him, stepping fully inside to close the door behind her. "I was going to say it's exciting you'll get to meet Akatsuki, but you don't seem very cheerful."

"No, that's…" He hesitated, grimacing and running a hand through his unruly hair. "I mean, meeting them will be fun, I guess. Hopefully we can meet Obito, though."

She sat down next to him, lips pursed in thought, her red hair framing her face nicely. Then she smiled, taking a reassuring hold of his shoulder.

"It'll be fine, I'm sure. You don't need to hurry back for my sake, but I understand that everyone must be worried about you."

"Yeah…" Honestly, Naruto hadn't put much thought into it. He was more concerned with Sasuke at the moment, and while he felt bad for skipping out on his duties, he knew that there were several competent ninjas that could cover for him. A while, at least. He didn't like worrying people, but he'd heard many times that he tended to get stuck on his thoughts of Sasuke and forget everything else, and he supposed it was true. Even Kurama had noticed, obviously. "I feel bad for disappearing without anyone knowing where we went."

"Well, at least you've got Sasuke with you, right? I'm sure they're not as worried knowing that."

Naruto felt like laughing, but it would have probably come out sounding bitter. Despite his efforts, there were still many who doubted Sasuke, and he couldn't exactly blame them. The guy had a thing for changing his mind, after all. Though, the cold greeting back into the village that Sasuke had received at least served to calm him down a little, and rethink his possibilities of becoming Hokage. Not that Naruto would mind if Sasuke became Hokage as well, but…

"It's going to be so interesting when Menma comes back with our Sasuke," Kushina continued. "I'm sure they'll be surprised! Maybe now Sasuke will wake up and start acting a little more his age."

The last part was said with an almost pout, and Naruto felt his mouth twitch in amusement at the thought. He just hoped the wake-up call wouldn't be bloody, and that he wasn't the one who had to clean up the mess afterwards.

I have to confess I'd almost forgotten about Kurama. Good thing the latest manga chapter reminded me. It's going to be rather difficult to adjust this story to canon all the time, so some of it won't be added for obvious reasons. But yeah, Sasuke needs to be slapped around a little. Then I want him and Naruto crying in the rain before making out. That should do for an ending.

Anyway, next chapter we'll get more Itachi and also Akatsuki!