Chapter 11

Naruto stared into the mirror contemplating whether he should cut his hair or not. He typically preferred his hair in a low cut but for the last few months had allowed it to grow out, the length now reaching just above his shoulders. He eyed the pair of scissors on the dresser. It'd be easy to cut it all off. But Kiba preferred the longer length, something about it suiting his face better. He frowned as he turned from the mirror, grabbing his phone and keys from the bedside table.

Outside his room, he walked across the hall to his brother's bedroom and opened the door. "I'm going out."

"Don't just stand there." Kyuubi gestured for him to come inside.

Naruto ignored him. "I'll be out most of the day so don't call me."

"Text me if you need any-"

Naruto shut the door. He passed through the kitchen, grabbing two water bottles from the fridge. He opened the front door, startled when large flower bouquets were pushed in his face. "What the hell?"

"Sorry about that, man." The delivery man struggled to hold the flowers as he looked over the gadget in his hand. "Delivery requested to Kyuubi Uzumaki?"

Naruto admired the red and white roses. He glanced back, ready to call for his brother when curiosity suddenly got the best of him. He turned back to the man, a devious glint in his eyes.

"That'd be me." He stepped aside, allowing the man inside. He set the flowers on the ground, the front of their living room now a mini garden.

"Sign here, please."

Naruto quickly signed the gadget, perfectly mimicking his brother's penmanship. "Have a good one."

As soon as the man disappeared, Naruto's smile fell. He quickly looked through the flowers, the petals delicate against his fingertips. He found a small card tucked within one of the bouquets and he slowly eased it open, read the cursive font out aloud.

"Always thinking of you. Hope you're thinking of me too."

He repeatedly read over the short message. Since when was Kyuubi seeing someone? The words gave him a strange unsettling feeling. He turned over the card and read the company's name. The name was familiar to him. He tucked the card inside his back pocket.

"Jay!"

Jaron came running into the living room with eager eyes and a cheerful smile. "Yeah."

Naruto pointed to the flowers.

"Woah!" Jay gleamed. "Those are a lot of flowers."

"They're for your mom," Naruto said. "Go tell him."

"Ok."

"Wait, come here." Naruto called after the eager boy. He bent down and pressed a kiss to Jay's head. "I love you."

"Love you too, Naru." Jay dashed through the living room, giggling as he entered his mother's bedroom.

Naruto squinted his eyes from the bright sun. In front of the apartment complex stood Kiba leaned against his blue Porsche, a pair of dark shades on his face. Naruto threw him the bottle of water he requested.

"What took you so long?" Kiba said irritably, his harsh tone expressing his terrible hangover. "I'm not your fucking chauffeur."

"Jeez, I was late what, five minutes."

"Make that fifteen."

"Alright, fifteen, I'm sorry." They both sat in the car. Naruto strapped on his seatbelt, his eyes on a cranky Kiba whose head was leaned back on the leather seat. "What's wrong with you?"

Kiba sighed as he removed the hood of his sweater from his head, his fingers running through the messy curls. "Neji dragged me out to this new club last night. Might've went a bit overboard and now I have this monster of a headache." He pressed a button and the resting car came to life.

"Are you okay to drive?" Naruto asked, tentatively staring at Kiba.

"Yeah, I'll be fine. Took some aspirin, just waiting for it to kick in."

Naruto hummed, a deep frown settling over his face. He turned his head away when Kiba glanced at him.

"What's up?" Kiba asked as he drove the car into the street.

Naruto doesn't face him as he responded. "Nothing."

Kiba right away knew something was wrong. "This is about me going to the club last night?"

Naruto shrugged. "Why would I care?"

"Because you think I had sex with someone."

"Did you?"

Kiba laughed. "Did I what?"

"Have sex with someone."

"You gotta be fucking kidding me."

"Not really."

"I told you, I just had too much to drink." Kiba leaned back in his seat. "You don't believe me?"

"No, I don't."

"Why would I lie to you?"

"Because you always do," Naruto replied sharply.

Kiba scoffed. "Fuck you."

"You do," Naruto said, turning his head away. "Except you're too much of a pussy to let anyone know about it."

Kiba swerved the steering wheel and the car screeched to a stop. He brought his hands to his face, rubbing at his temples. "What the fuck do you want from me? We're not in a fucking relationship."

"I know that."

"Yeah, well then why are you acting like a fucking bitch?"

"Me?!" Naruto was in disbelief.

"Yes, you!"

"Fuck you!" Naruto spat. "Of course, it's me. When is it ever not me? You make all these empty promises that you'll change, that you'll stop sleeping around and when I confront you about it, I'm acting like a bitch."

"I didn't sleep with anyone-"

"I can see the fucking hickey you're trying to hide from me. I'm not stupid!"

"That was from you, you fucking psychopath." Kiba shouted, punching the side of Naruto's seat. "Fuck, you drive me insane."

Naruto tugged off his seatbelt and reached for the door handle. He pushed the door, frustrated when the door wouldn't budge. "Let me out."

"Shit, my head hurts," Kiba groaned.

"Open the door, Kiba."

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry." Kiba went to touch Naruto's arm but flinched back when Naruto roughly shrugged him off. "Relax."

"Don't touch me." Naruto ran his hand down his face. "I …." His words trailed off into a laugh. "I don't even know what to say."

"You can say you're sorry. You know, for accusing me of shit I didn't do." His green eyes stared wistfully at the dark ceiling of the car. He considered maybe listening to the little voice in his head last night that told him to stay home, just to avoid a confrontation like this.

"Look, I've never lied to you," he said softly. "If nothing else, at least that's one decent thing you can say about me."

Naruto leaned back into his seat and stared out into the wide windshield. He gnawed on the inside of his mouth as he tried to stop himself from saying anything else that would start another argument. Kiba's words meant something. Kiba never promised him a relationship. He shouldn't expect the courtesy of one either.

Naruto sighed hearing the engine start back up. "I'm sorry," he said softly.

"Climb on my lap and show me how sorry you are."

The smallest smile crept over Naruto's face. "You'd like that, wouldn't you?"

"Very much."

Kiba wanted to see Naruto smile more often, and not just when he was drunk. Naruto had one of those warm smiles, the kind of smile that made other people feel good about themselves. He wanted to see that more often. He was tired of the constant screaming match every time they were together.

Naruto leaned his head against the window. Four hours alone in a car with Kiba. It'd be a miracle if they make it to Konoha and back alive. Konoha. It almost seemed like a foreign place now. Five years. Memories of his childhood home flooded his mind, heartbreaking ones as well as cheerful ones. Naruto smiled remembering one of his sleepovers at Sasuke's home. They had been running despite being warned not to do so and he had accidentally knocked into a clay sculpture and knocked it down, breaking it. Sasuke took the blame for him and for punishment, he was not allowed to participate in a sports contest. Naruto remembered how upset Sasuke had been, but he never took out his frustration on him even though it was his fault.

That is why it was damn near impossible for Sasuke to have known where he was all these years and had chosen to stay away. It didn't make sense. A lot of things suddenly didn't make sense. Like this strange note in his pocket. What the hell did it mean?

Naruto needed answers, and if no one would give them to him, he would find them out on his own.

—

Yugito made herself comfortable on a stool beside the large counter. Her manicured nails drummed rapidly against the marble surface as she stared wondrously at the flowers decorating the living room. She frowned as she thought about the man Kyuubi guessed had sent the flowers. Yugito thought it was a cowardice apology. If Itachi was truly sorry, he should've had the balls to say it in person.

"What's with the face?"

Yugito glanced up at Kyuubi and a smile sprung on her face as he approached her. Her eyes followed him into the kitchen, standing opposite her on the other side of the counter.

"There's no face," she replied casually.

Kyuubi gave her a look that read 'yeah right' as he took a sip of his lemonade. He looked dreamily towards the roses spilling throughout his living room, turning his eyes away when Yugito coughed suggestively.

"Let it go, Yugi."

Yugito continued. "I mean... flowers? How about coming over and showing some true sincerity."

"I told him we should stay away from each other," Kyuubi said, rightfully defending the father of his child. "I was the one being selfish. I was out of line. I should be the one owing him an apology."

"Still, to lose his temper like that?"

"It happens to the best of us." He should know.

Yugito relaxed her tensed shoulders as she softly voiced her opinion. "Kyuu, I've seen this cycle many times. We all lose our temper, I understand that. But what's stopping him from losing his temper again and this time what if his brother isn't there to stop him?"

"Like I said, we're probably never going to see each other again," Kyuubi said with a heavy sigh. "I blew the last chance we probably had together."

Yugito smiled apologetically. "Maybe that's for the best."

"Maybe."

Just then, Kota came rushing into the kitchen jumping up and down. "Mommy, mommy, look I got a new high score." He pushed the small tablet excitedly in his mother's face.

"I helped him get it." Jay quickly ran over, crossed his arms with a smug look on his face as he took away poor little Kota's moment of joy.

"You helped me a little," Kota argued with pouted lips.

"So what?" Jay disregarded with a roll of his brown eyes. "I still helped," he said smugly.

"Did not!" Kota said in annoyance, shoving back Jaron who nearly fell.

"Kota!" Yugito gasped in shock.

"Don't push me." Jaron retaliated with a harder shove, causing Kota to fall into Yugito's arms.

"Jaron Uzumaki!" Kyuubi scolded, his eyes stern as he stared unbelievably at his son. "What the hell was that?"

"Kyuubi," Yugito said, urging him to calm down.

The boys remained in their agitated stances. Kota squirmed in his mother's hold to get free while Jaron merely stood back with his arms folded over his chedt and a twisted smirk on his face. Kyuubi noticed the look on the child's face and quickly rounded the corner to stand in front of him.

"Jaron, fix your face," Kyuubi said, holding the boy by his arms. "Right now."

Kyuubi watched his son raise his head to look at him and instantly, Jay's narrowed eyes softened, the smirk falling from his face. Kyuubi felt his nerves relax a little but the previous display of his son's behavior has his mind unsettled.

"He pushed me first!" Jay protested. His shorter haircut grazed just above his shoulders.

Kyuubi knelt down to avoid his son straining his neck from looking up at him. "Jay, you don't ever hurt the people you care about. Even if they hurt you first, you don't ever try to hurt them back. Do you understand me?"

Jaron was hesitant but then he nodded taking in his mother's words. He relaxed his small fists and walked around his mother, a sad look on his face as he looked at Kota who was still in his mother's arms.

"I'm sorry, Kota," he said softly, walking forward and giving him a hug. He smiled when he felt Kota hug him back.

Kota turned to his mother who nodded to him in silent encouragement. He turned back to Jaron. "I didn't mean to push you, I was angry. Sorry."

Jaron held Kota's hand. "Come on, I'll show you how to play another game." He pulled Kota behind him as he led him back to the couch, giggling and talking.

Yugito shook her head in disbelief. She frowned remembering the troubling expression Jay had on his face, a look no five year old should have. "What was with that look on Jay's face?" She kept her eyes firm on the slouched body across from her. "And that reaction from you? Cursing at him like that."

Kyuubi stood up straight. He breathed out a tense breath as his hand came up and wearily massaged his temples. "Naruto," he simply replied.

"Naruto?"

"We got into a fight. He wanted to get a rise out of me. He said some things, I said some things, and I kinda hit him." Kyuubi looked down shamefully. "It all happened in front of Jay."

Yugito's mouth fell open in disbelief. "You hit Naruto in front of Jay?"

Kyuubi had a pleading look on his face. "I didn't mean to," he said softly. "Yugi, you don't hear the things he says to me. He's constantly taunting me. I try my hardest to not get worked up but, I just lost myself this one time." He sounded desperate, needed Yugito to believe him. "It won't happen again." He had already been warned on the matter.

Yugito turned in her chair to fully face Kyuubi. "It's getting that bad between you two?"

"Worse," Kyuubi said. "Practically threatened me the other day." He frowned. "He went somewhere today, didn't even bother to tell me where he was going. Don't even know if he's okay. If he's in good company."

Yugito rubbed Kyuubi's arm, comforting him. "Maybe you should reconsider his wish to have his own place."

"He's sixteen, Yugito."

"Not much younger than when you were on your own."

Kyuubi sighed. "He's the only family I got. If he leaves, I have no one."

The doorbell sounded. Kyuubi eagerly went to answer the door, raising his brow at the stranger standing before him. The posh woman stood tall with perfect posture. There's a small smile over her face. She is dressed in long black trousers, a white button up and a fitted blazer.

"Itachi would like to see you, Mr. Uzumaki," she said in a poise voice. Her honey brown hair was placed into a neat ponytail that made her beautiful round eyes appear cartoon like.

Kyuubi has a skeptical look on his face. He remembered her as one of Itachi's security guards that had accompanied him to the store yesterday.

"Where would he like to see me?"

"I am to take you to him. That is what Itachi has requested me to do." Her words were smooth, her voice calm. She sounded like the recorded voices you heard over the phone.

Kyuubi was unsure. He invited the woman inside. She stood by the door even when Kyuubi offered her a seat. She also turned down the refreshments offered to her.

"Itachi wants to see me. I don't know what to do," Kyuubi whispered frantically.

Yugito took a long sip from her wine glass. "I thought you two had an agreement to stay away from each other."

"We do."

"Well then, you two aren't doing a very good job at that."

Kyuubi looked back to the woman, her unwavering gaze focused on him. "Looks like she's set on taking me to him."

"Do you want to see him after what went down between you two?"

Kyuubi pulled his bottom lip between his teeth as he pondered over the idea of seeing Itachi again. After what had happened yesterday, he's not sure what to expect from the requested meeting. He sighed. "Maybe it's important."

Yugito shrugged her shoulders when Kyuubi gave her a look. "Go. I'll watch the boys until you get back." She rolled her eyes when Kyuubi leaned forward and kissed her cheek.

"I owe you."

"Damn right you do."

Kyuubi returned out of his bedroom in a change of clothes and his hair pulled back into a ponytail. He followed the woman out of the apartment, down to the black car parked outside. As the car drove off, he couldn't help but wonder if this was really the right time to see Itachi again. He assumed Itachi sent him the roses as a sign of remorse for what had happened at the store. It would've been more clear if he had received a card with the roses. But apart from Itachi, he had no other person in mind who would send him flowers. Unless, he had a secret admirer he didn't know about.

Itachi suddenly wanting to see him proved to some degree that Itachi still cared for him. Maybe this was the time they rebuild their broken relationship. With this meeting, perhaps this was the time they started to heal.

—

"Holy shit, where the fuck are we?"

Kiba stared amazingly at the large estate that seemed to stretch for miles, built on the greenest grass he's ever seen, the mansion separated between two fields with a stone pathway carved in between. He drove smoothly down the pathway leading to the tall gates, peered through the windshield to the high hills surrounding the areas, the tall trees, the trimmed bushes lining the outskirts of the property. It was like something straight out of a movie.

Kiba looked over at Naruto, raised a brow at his nonchalance. "What, you gonna tell me this is your house?"

"No." Naruto was silent for a moment. "Sasuke's."

Kiba pulled his car around to the side where he was directed. They both exit, Kiba handing his keys over to the valet who approached him. They are led by another man, tall and clothed in an official uniform, through a passage way that led them straight to the entrance of the mansion. They are instructed to wait for the butler as the man quietly excused himself.

The house was remarkable. Kiba can't see where it started and where it ended. He's marveled by the large stone lion statues placed on either side of the entrance, the fountain not too far away spewing water in an intricate dance. He watched the security guards lined around the exterior, suddenly feeling nervous. The place felt like its own city, heavily guarded and private. Kiba had drove through what seemed like an endless path of trees until he finally arrived at the estate. The place was completely hidden away from the rest of Japan, a place inaccessible unless given direction.

Kiba ruffled his thick curls, stretched out his arms to relieve the tensed muscles from the long drive. Four fucking hours on the road. The shit he did for Naruto.

"What are we doing here?"

Naruto concentrated on typing something on the touch screen device given to him by a personnel of the house. There was a short file to complete and verfication of identity before they could be lead inside.

"Wait here," the man said after taking the device from Naruto.

Kiba roughly pulled Naruto against his body. "I drove four fucking hours to this place. Least you can do is tell me why we're here."

Naruto wrenched his arm free. "I need to speak with Sasuke's mother. I have questions and she might have the answers I'm looking for."

"The fact that you can actually say that with a straight face." He licked over his lips. "Questions about what?"

"How's that any of your business?" He's roughly pushed back with Kiba glaring down at him.

"Don't get me into trouble with these people," Kiba warned him.

"Like they'd give two fucks about you."

Kiba clenched his jaw. "I'm being serious." He knew how dangerous and powerful this family was. They had no business being at a place like this. "I'm not fucking around, Naruto."

"I heard you," Naruto said, an annoyed look on his face. The doors creaked open and he turned around, his tense shoulders dropping at the sight of an old friend.

"Minato's boy, is that you?" The middle aged man greeted them with kind eyes, his thin lips pulling into a genuine smile. He wore crisp white gloves on his hands, looked just like how one would expect a butler to look.

Naruto walked over and embraced him. "Hayate, you look so old." His smile widened when the man's eyebrow twitched at the comment.

Hayate groaned. "And you're still as vocal as ever I see. You got that from your father, you know."

"I practically stole all his best qualities."

"Hm, not all."

Naruto playfully nudged him. "Don't be rude."

The kind butler smiled. "You are the spitting image of Minato. Come. Please have your guest follow you."

Kiba trailed behind, fascinated by the scenery surrounding him. It was like an art museum. Twin spiraling staircases greeted him within the main hall as black polished stairways led to higher floors. The high ceilings seemed to touch the sky. Paintings scattered the walls, the space lit up beautifully from the sunlight pouring in through the glass exterior. Kiba looked inside some of the rooms, his interest peaking as he watched the housemaids cleaning and walking around in silence. He smirked at the beautiful women dressed in their short uniforms. He could get used to living in a place like this with these kind of luxuries.

"I'm afraid your company will have to wait here, Naruto," Hayate said lethargically.

Naruto turned and watched Kiba who was at the moment distracted by the few housemaids wiping around the place. He walked over to Kiba and threw his arms around his broad shoulders. His fingers slipped inside Kiba's soft curls and he tugged at the hair harshly, causing a low groan to sound from Kiba's throat.

Kiba clenched his jaw. "What are you doing?"

"They might be servants but they probably make more than you'll ever make in your life."

Kiba sunk his teeth into the corner of his lip. "Trying to make me upset?"

"Just want you to have a little self-respect."

"Maybe you should take your own advice."

Naruto's hand combed through Kiba's curls while the other snaked down Kiba's chest, slowly making its way back up to the back of Kiba's neck. He gently pulled Kiba down into a kiss, their lips moving slowly as they tasted each other. Naruto pulled Kiba's hair harder, sounding another low groan from Kiba's mouth. He felt Kiba press deeper against him, winced from the tight grip around his waist.

"You'll kiss me here no problem but won't kiss me in front of your boys." Naruto looked Kiba in his green eyes that had darkened. "You're that scared of them?"

Kiba grinned. "You really do get off seeing me riled up." He leaned down, languidly kissing Naruto's wet lips. He licked his lips when he pulled back, his forehead leaning against Naruto's, a grin on his face. "You're twisted, you know that. You're so desperate for any kind of attention, you'll even put up with a guy like me just to have it. You love being controlled. You love the aggression. I know you do and deep down, so do you."

"You think so?" Naruto shoved him away. "You don't know shit."

Naruto followed after Hayate who led him up the stairs and down a corridor. He looked around, memories of his childhood within the estate rushing back as he recalled the many fun moments he shared with Sasuke. Hayate stopped at a large door and knocked gently on it. He stepped in first and announced Naruto's presence before allowing him inside. The office was the size of a hotel suite. He's in awe all over again. It's been so long since he's been here. He looked around briefly before setting his eyes on perhaps the most beautiful woman he has ever seen.

"Naruto, my precious boy, look how much you've grown."

Mikoto Uchiha wore the kindest smile Naruto had ever laid eyes on. Her amber eyes were gentle and warm. Her gown reached past her toes, her jet black hair curtained down her back like a veil with some strands left out to frame her face, white skin as smooth porcelain. Naruto found himself again overwhelmed by her beauty. She looked so young still and Naruto wondered how she managed to look so unchanging, like painting in a museum.

"Lady Uchiha." Naruto finally found his words. He bowed fully, showing nothing but respect. "It's been so long." He lifted himself up, smiled when he's warmly embraced.

"What's with the formalities, Naruto? You are like a son to me." Her voice was tender, graceful as she moved. "My, how many years has it been?"

"Five," Naruto replied shyly.

"Five long years. Look at you, you're a man now." She stepped back and studied the teen before her. "How is Kyuubi?" Her hands held onto Naruto's, gently ushered him to sit down. "Bring some tea, Hayate."

"Yes, Madam."

Naruto waited until Hayate had left before answering softly. "He's doing well. We're both okay."

"I'm glad to hear." Mikoto smiled and merely watched the nervous teen beside her. "You are the spitting image of your father."

"I get that a lot." He felt his face warm up as he sat there bashful. He looked at his fingers that refused to lie still over his lap. He wanted to ask the questions he had traveled all the way to Konoha to ask, yet he found his words stuck in the back of his throat. He tried to calm his nerves. He stared into the woman's kind eyes that reminded him greatly of Sasuke's.

"Um, I actually came here to get some information from you. I know initially you had wanted to adopt my brother and I. Well…. I, uh, something happened between Itachi and Kyuubi that I know nothing of and well I guess I just want to know if maybe, you have some information you can give me."

"Well, unfortunately Naruto, I don't know much. Like any children, my sons choose to share certain things with me but not everything. Perhaps speaking with Shisui would be better use of your time. Itachi and Shisui are still very close."

Naruto frowned, disappointed. He had expected some answers. "Where can I find Shisui?"

"He is currently in Italy with my husband. I'll have Hayate share his personal contact with you so you can contact him." Mikoto placed a comforting hand over Naruto's knee. "It's so good to see you again. You have grown so handsomely. If only Kushina and Minato could see you now."

Naruto remained silent. He didn't want to speak much. However, if he was to get answers, he knew he needed to open up. With a deep breath, he explained the situation to Mikoto.

"Itachi and my brother reunited recently. Some days later, Sasuke came to see me. Thing is, your family has a lot of influence and if you had intended to adopt us, why didn't you come looking for us?"

Mikoto removed her hand from Naruto's knee. "I did search for you, both you and your brother and I found you. But then, Kyuubi assured me that you were both in capable hands. I even offered to financially support the two of you. Kyuubi refused me each time. He kindly asked that I let the two of you live freely. I was hesitant, yes. But then, Sasuke called and encouraged me to go along with Kyuubi's wishes. I said okay, thought that perhaps it would be to both of your interest."

"Kyuubi asked you to abandon us?" Naruto was in utter disbelief. "Why would he do that knowing the kind of person we had to live with?" He shook his head, refusing to believe what he is told. "Fuck, I can't believe this."

A soft knock sounded at the door and Hayate appeared. He waltzed inside, placing down a tray of two small cups full of tea. He bowed, excusing himself.

Mikoto watched Naruto with sad eyes. She wanted to reached out, hugged Naruto close to her chest. "Kyuubi must have had his reasons for doing what he did, Naruto. It was a tough time for the both of you. With the loss of your parents and his breakup with Itachi, I can understand why he didn't want me involved in your lives." Mikoto grabbed Naruto's hand, gently rubbing circles. "I should've done more. Please don't feel like I abandoned you. Not a day went by where I didn't think of you both. I am so sorry."

"Don't be," Naruto said, fixing his collar as he sat back. "It's not your fault."

"Sasuke's necklace." Mikoto said in surprise, her eyes fixed on the necklace now visible around Naruto's neck. She reached out her hand and touched the wolf pendant, her fingers gently brushing against the silver. "He gave it to you."

Naruto's taken aback. "No, this was a gift from my dad."

Mikoto moved closer, her eyes intently observing the necklace. "No, this is Sasuke's. It's one of a kind, designed by a jeweler in France. It was a birthday present from Fugaku. Sasuke absolutely adored this necklace. This is definitely his."

"Kyuubi gave this to me the day we left Konoha. He told me it was Dad's necklace."

Mikoto shook her head. "I'm sorry, dear. It's not."

Naruto clenched his jaw. He wanted to scream. He wanted to scream so fucking bad that it hurt.

Downstairs, Sasuke strolled through his home alongside his bodyguards. It's been a long time. He was raised in this house yet as he walked through it, he felt no real feeling of nostalgia, just painful memories that he wished he could forget. He promised himself he wouldn't step a foot inside this house again. Yet somehow, Suigetsu had managed to persuade him to see his mother before he departed back to America.

He entered the living room, his eyes instantly falling on the unfamiliar boy leaned against a table flirting with the maids. Sasuke watched as the women giggled shyly at the words spoken to them.

"Who is this?"

"A guest of Naruto's." Hayate replied. "A rather spirited one if I might add."

Hayate cleared his throat loudly and the young maids quickly turned around, bowing their heads to Sasuke before rushing elsewhere to continue their chores.

Kiba eyed the influential figure in front of him. "Sasuke fucking Uchiha is standing in front of me. I bet those idiots will laugh in my face when I tell them." Especially Lee, he'd even pee himself from laughing so hard.

He slowly moved forward and extended his hand. "Hey man, it's a fucking honor."

Sasuke recognized Kiba as one of the portraits on Naruto's desk. He figured this must be the infamous asshole Naruto had spoken so fondly of. Sasuke accepted the hand in a firm handshake. "You are?"

"Kiba, Kiba Inuzuka. I, uh…" Kiba suddenly stopped when his eyes fell on the wolf pendant around Sasuke's neck. "That necklace..." Kiba trailed off, feeling strangely uncomfortable seeing the same necklace he played with on Naruto's naked body around Sasuke Uchiha's neck.

It didn't seem like a necklace that a lot of people would own. He found it rather strange that Sasuke would have the same exact necklace as the one of a kind Naruto told him once belonged to his father. Kiba didn't get the chance to question Sasuke on the matter when Naruto swiftly moved to stand between them. Before he could say a word, he watched Naruto swiftly move his hand and slap Sasuke Uchiha across the face, the impact loud in his ears. Kiba stared in disbelief, moving to restrain Naruto when he went to hit Sasuke again.

"What the hell are you doing?" Naruto thrashed in his arms.

Sasuke raised his hand when his bodyguards moved to go after Naruto. He pointed a finger to Kiba, and the twins moved, swiftly pulling Kiba off Naruto and holding him by the neck.

"The fuck are you doing?!" Kiba seethed feeling powerless against the large body keeping him hostage. "Get the fuck off me!"

Naruto again attempted to slap Sasuke, his arm caught mid air by Tsukasa who apprehended him and held him by the hair.

"Try to calm down," Sasuke advised him.

Naruto thrashed to get free, wincing when his hair was gripped tighter. "You're a fucking liar. Just like Kyuubi. I hate you. I hate you so fucking much right now, I could kill you. You're a liar, you're a fucking liar!"

A silent minute passed. Sasuke sighed running a hand down his face. "Let him ago."

"Are you sure?" Tsukasa asked skeptically. He released Naruto when Sasuke gave him a nod.

"You self-righteous asshole. To think you gave me shit the other night for lying to you. Gave me a whole speech about how much honesty means to you. You're so full of shit."

"Stop talking."

"Fuck you," Naruto spat, shaking his head when the tears fell down his face. "How could you?"

"I had no choice."

"And what about the necklace?" Naruto countered. "Why lie about that?"

"I wanted you to forget about me."

"You don't get to use my father's fucking name to do so," Naruto shouted. "How could you do that to me?"

"I get it," Sasuke said softly. "I was wrong."

Naruto sniffled, tears streaming down his face. He looked to Hayate when the old man approached him.

"Shisui's contact information," Hayate said with a sympathetic smile. "From Madam."

Sasuke swiftly walked forward and snatched the card from the butler's hand. "No," he said sternly. "No, you don't get to have this."

"Give it to me." Naruto rushed after him and was again apprehended by Tsukasa. "Fucking give it to me, Sasuke."

Sasuke ripped up the card. "Take him outside. Make sure he doesn't come back in."

Naruto kicked and screamed as he's dragged out, and all the curses he spewed at Sasuke, nothing hurt more than his wish to never see him again, the sobs that choked him as he wished Sasuke had never returned. Sasuke pretended to be unbothered, all while his heart was being torn into pieces.

"I said get the fuck off me." Kiba was a force to be reckoned with. Charlie, a man twice his size, had to use more of his strength to keep him restrained.

"Sasuke." Charlie called out in his struggle. "A little help here."

"He's just a kid, man." Jackson laughed. "You're making us look bad, Charlie."

Charlie scoffed. "You wanna hold him?"

"Let him go." Sasuke said softly.

Kiba wrenched himself free. He turned and shoved Charlie, the man barely budging from the attack. He grinned when Charlie stepped towards him. "Touch me again I fucking dare you."

"Kid's got heart." Jackson grinned.

"Kiba, was it?" Sasuke said, gaining all attention on him. "You are Naruto's boyfriend, I assume?"

"Your assumption is wrong."

"His friend?"

"What the fuck is this? An interrogation?"

Charlie squared his shoulders, tall enough to look down at Kiba. "Hey kid, try showing a little respect."

"Fall back, Charlie." Sasuke sighed as he figured this wouldn't go anywhere. He would deal with this problem but not now, not here. He walked over to Kiba, their similar heights allowing them to stand eye to eye. "Take this as a threat because it is a threat. Stay the fuck away from Naruto. If I find out you have gone even as much as an inch near him, and believe me I will find out, I will personally deal with you." Sasuke mocked Kiba's grin with his own. "Disrespect me again if you're so bold."

A part of Kiba's conscience urged him to tread carefully, knowing how powerful Sasuke was. Yet, the stubborn part of himself forced him to remain combative and prove a point. In this whole encounter, he questioned why an Uchiha would be interested in his involvement with Naruto. The fact that he even knew they were involved. Naruto had been running his mouth, and all unpleasant things he imagined.

He chuckled as he turned to leave. "You know at first, you seemed like a pretty chill dude, a guy I could get a drink with." He turned around, walking backwards as he waved tauntingly at Sasuke. "I'll try my best to remember this conversation when I'm fucking Naruto tonight."

Sasuke lunged at him but was held back by Charlie's large arms. He snarled, his nose and mouth twisted into an angry scowl as he watched the teen walk away untouched. He swiftly removed himself from Charlie's arms, turning to Tsukasa who had called his name.

"Sasuke, something's wrong." Tsukasa quickly handed the cellphone over to Sasuke.

Sasuke forced himself to calm down. "Hello." The last thing he expected to hear was the trembling voice of his lover. His brown eyes widened. "Ana?"

"S-Sasuke, I don't know what's happening-"

Sasuke couldn't figure out how he remained standing when he felt his entire world crumbling before his eyes. He slowly sat down, felt the weight of his emotions come down all at once.

"Ana, where are you?"

"Welcome home, Sasuke," the sickly calm voice that responded has Sasuke's blood turning cold and goosebumps rising on his arms.

"I'll fucking kill you."

—

As always, thanks for reading.