Chapter 25

Naruto looked at the board in front of him. There was a connection, he just knew it. He just needed to find it. He scratched his head in frustration. He used to be good at puzzles.

Since Sasuke defriended him a month ago, Naruto had spent every available second trying to figure out why. He had known the man for twenty years, and had only really begun to know him for a few months so he was still learning Sasuke's cues.

Thier last conversation kept playing back in his head. Madara was not known for being a nice guy. Whatever reason he had for employing Sasuke, it wasn't out of the goodness of his heart.

Naruto looked at the information he had on Madara. A lot of it was above board. The youngest son of Gin Uchiha, born twenty years before Gin's only grandson Fugaku by his much younger mistress, a habit that seems to be common among the Uchiha men. Naruto liked Itachi more because he was deeply in love with his wife. In the past, Uchiha wives were picked based on their familial connections. Mikoto had been the daughter of a politician.

Madara never married. It doesn't even look like he had any kids. Pushing on sixty, the businessman obviously needed someone to take over for when he plan to retire. Who better than Sasuke?

But Madara was only ten years older that Fugaku, and while Sasuke made a good heir apparent on paper, men like Madara would be in power until the day they died. Why was he so interested in Sasuke now?

He held his chopsticks to his mouth and slurped up some noodles from his emergency stash. He may be eating healthier, but ramen was still his favorite food.

His vision became obscure when a bottle of light pink juice came into view.

"Strawberry, banana and yogurt," said Sakura.

"Wow, Lee actually let you put up with that," said Naruto laughing. "No lemon grass, or rag wheat locally sourced vegan crap?"

"That crap is my husband's lifestyle, and I made this in morgue mixer."

Naruto, who was about to take a drink, paused, and instead the bottle down.

"The clean one," said Sakura laughing.

"I'll take my chance with the heart attack," said Naruto. "What are you doing here?"

Sakura sat on the desk next to him.

"Everyone's worried about you. Since Sasuke pulled away, you've been working this case. It's not healthy."

"Sasuke asked me for help. I have to."

"Why not become an informant? Why cut everyone off?"

Naruto shook his head.

'" I don't know," he said. "Maybe he's afraid of getting caught."

"Who could instill that much gear in an Uchiha?"

Another Uchiha, but he wouldn't say that aloud. Not if his theory was true.

Sakura turned to study her friend. Since Sasuke's return, Naruto had been happier and more energetic than she had seen in years. Every boyfriend he had he had found something wrong with, even though they were all nice guys. None of them made him happy. Sakura may not have known Naruto as long as the Inuzuka's or Shikamaru, but it didn't take a genius to figure out why. None of them were Sasuke.

"How's Kyuubi?" asked Sakura. After Naruto got certified as a K-9 handler, one was rarely without the other.

Naruto sighs and picks up the smoothie. He took a sip and set it down, wishing it was stronger.

"He's getting worse," said Naruto. "Sora's taking care of him as best as he can."

Sakura nodded. Sora was the dog-sitter Naruto had hired to watch Kyuubi while he was at work. With Kyuubi's continued illness, it made sense to have someone watch then dog when Naruto couldn't.

"What does Kiba say?"

"That is should put him down." He turned to Sakura with tear damp eyes. "How can it put down my best friend?"

Sakura wrapped her arms around Naruto's shoulders and the blonde cried on hers. Even before they had became friends, Naruto had Kyuubi. It hurt that her friend was hurting and she couldn't do anything about it. It would have been more merciful to put the canine down, but it was Naruto's decision. All she could do was be there for him when he made it.

XXXXXX

Sasuke sighed in relief as he walked into his apartment. It was the only place Madara wouldn't invade his privacy and he was thankful. In the two months since he moved out of his childhood home and into this new world of crime lords and mob bosses. There were more rules than even legit corporations, treading a dangerous line between honor and deceit. If he had stayed with itachi, his job as the younger Uchiha brother would have been to support and advise Itachi in anything to achieve the business' success. Now, he was to help Madara conceal his organization.

He learned his uncle was basically the king of the criminal underworld, a position he fought, killed and blackmailed for. He had no qualms in killing whole families to make a point, and he had done it too. His underlings, who were too stupid to know when not to shut up, said that Madara's favorite method of punishment was killing the family of a betrayal because nobody could learn a lesson while dead.

Sasuke was scared that would be how he'd find Itachi's family and Naruto.

Sasuke's just ached at the thought of the blonde. It has been weeks since he had seen Naruto, and Sasuke missed him more than anything. Find out how Kyuubi was doing. He wanted to make Naruto coffee, sit on the couch and watch bad science fiction movies that Naruto loved to watch. Some were actually good, but what he loved the most was spending time with Naruto, bad movies aside.

More than once he had to force himself to keep from walking to the park where Naruto took Kyuubi and watch him play and walk the canine. Realize how much he missed the mundane everyday things that people do. I'm not having to look over his shoulder every ten seconds. Just being with the person he loved.

Find his key in the lock, he opened the door to his apartment and met that whimpering Aoi. He looked it is dog in shock. Usually she greeted it him enthusiastically, cheering him up even after a long day but the side of for crying on the floor worried.

Then he saw the red welt across her nose, and he saw red. Despite Sasuke's protest, Madara assigned one of his men as Aoi's sitter as a way to keep Sasuke in line. As if Sasuke didn't need any more reason to work with the snake. Deidara was an eccentric man that is said to handle Madara's tougher cases. When Deidara introduced himself he called himself an artist, and Sasuke saw him using clay to sculpt, but Sasuke learned through the grapevine that the man's favorite form of art was clay explosives. He molded the clay into a masterpiece and attached a destonation device to places themin people's homes who Madara wanted eliminated. Sasuke had heard of him since before his days as a dog. The newspapers refer to him as the Mad Bomber. Sasuke preferred insane.

"Deidara!" he yelled.

The blonde walked out of Sasuke's kitchen, eating a sandwich. That was another thing that annoyed Sasuke with the man. He ate Sasuke's food, a week's worth, and one time found him asleep in Sasuke's bed, and his television had just been upgraded with adult channels.

"What's all the yelling for," asked Deidara.

Sasuke pointed to Aoi.

"Why did you hit my dog?!"' he said.

Deidara looked perplexed by Sasuke's outburst.

"I didn't. Kazuku did."

Sasuke clutched his fist in anger.

"Out," he said, softly at first, but his voice grew when Deidara didn't move. "Get out!"

Deidara scoffed with annoyance, but left. Sasuke knelt next to Aoi.

"I'm sorry, girl," he said as she huddled against him. Too big to be held, Sasuke petted her and cooed in her ears. " It won't happen again. I promise."

Reaching for her leash, he clipped it to her collar and walked out of his apartment. Walking out of the building, he walked down the street and hailed a cab. He paid extra for the charge of Aoi and gave the destination to the driver. The driver only took twenty minutes, but it felt a lot longer to Sasuke. The cab stopped in front of a park and Sasuke lead Aoi out.

The park was crowded, which suited Sasuke just fine. Dogs ran back and forth, playing with their owners.

Sasuke spotted one and smiled. A blonde haired man played with a red Labrador. The man laughed as he wrestled with the dog over a piece of rope. On her leash, Aoi whimpered and jerked, wanting to play as well. Sasasuke knelt next to grab her collar so she wouldn't run off when he on clipped early. Dutifully, Aoi stood still until her master gave the word.

"Go," said Sasuke softly, choking up a bit.

He released her collar and Aoi pelted across the park toward the man and dog. Sasuke stood as Aoi joined them and left.

XXXXXX

Naruto laughed as he wrestled Kyuubi for his you rope. That day had been a good one so Naruto decided to take Kyuubi to take park to exercise. Kyuubi liked the idea, running around and barking like a puppy again. It made Naruto happy to see Kyuubi play again.

But at the same time, it hurt. He knew this these good days were going to be less and less until Kyuubi could barely be able to walk or even get out of his bed. The more the time went by, the more is going to hurt when Naruto lost him.

Hell, did hurt. Naruto has had Kyuubi since before he graduated from the academy. Kakashi was the one that place the puppy into the K-9 training program and helped Naruto train train him when Naruto's training period ended. They had trained and served together. He couldn't imagine having another partner than Kyuubi.

Naruto pulled Kyuubi's rope and hugged the dog around his neck. The Labrador panted and nuzzled Naruto, as if the canine could sense his owner's thoughts.

"We'll be okay, right, Kyu?"

Kyuubi barked as if in agreement, and then started struggling. Curious, Naruto let go of him and Kyuubi dashed off to greet another dog, a puppy no more than six months old. As soon as Naruto saw the other dog, he immediately recognized the puppies vivid blue eyes.

"Aoi?" he said in surprise, and then gasped in realization. "Sasuke!"

Naruto shot to his feet and looked around, but he couldn't find the raven haired man anywhere. Why had Sasuke brought Aoi here? Was it too dangerous for her? That could be the reason why Aoi was here and Sasuke was not.

His chest tightened at the knowledge of Sasuke being nearby but not letting Naruto see him. Did he even care that there were people worried sick about him? Who would do anything to help him. Surely there must have been some way for Sasuke to get a message out. The man was a genius after all.

Maybe Sasuke didn't see a way out. Not yet anyway. How was Naruto supposed to help him if Sasuke doesn't say anything.

Naruto gritted his teeth in frustration. A wave of emotions was swirling through him. Anger hate frustration all centered around Madara, but most of all worried for Sasuke. Worried that Sasuke would get influence by the organization, or even hurt or killed. Naruto couldn't breathe at the thought of last one. If Sasuke felt that not even Aoi was safe than the situation must have been bad.

"SASUKE!"

XXXXXX

Itachi looked at the file in front of him. Its face for the expression this but anyone who knew him to see that he was furious. How dare his uncle do this behind his back and to invoke his brother who had only returned home a couple months ago. The man work fast when he wanted to get his way.

"Is this everything," he asked.

"There was more, but this is the gist of it," said Haku. Zabuza was leaning against the wall near the door. The man was ever vigilant.

Itachi closed the folder with an audible snap.

"Thank you, Haku. I would like everything on my desk tomorrow." He pulled out a checkbook and wrote in it. "Here's half for your trouble. You'll receive the rest when I have the rest of the evidence."

Haku takes the check grimly. When he and Zabuza had taken the job to locate Sasuke ten years ago, this wasn't the ending both of them had in mind. While Haku had been glad that Sasuke was eventually found, he had hoped they would have been the ones to find him. Itachi still paid them for their services, but it hadn't been the same, and now to find out Sasuke was working with some bad people wasn't something Haku liked telling Itachi.

"Thank you, Mr Uchiha,"said Haku.

"You may leave."

Both nodded and left. Itachi looked at the picture of Sasuke standing next to Madara and Sasori.

"What are you doing, little brother," he asked himself.

TBC