Inari Blessed: chapter 18

The Sacred Seven

Naruto opened his eyes breathing rapidly from the nightmare.

He rubbed his forehead and tried to remember the exact theme of the nightmare but his memories scattered like ashes in the wind. He shivered when he felt a sense of forboding settle over him.

He wondered what was going on? Why he felt like something was going to happen... Only one he knew would have answers to that question is Inari but he had been rarely present with them these days.

"What is this feeling father?" He asked out loud wishing that Inari was there with him, "What is waiting for me in the unknown?"

Your destiny...

Naruto tensed and sharply looked around but no one else is in the room with him.

The wind swept past him gently and he shivered again.

Your destiny...

Naruto closed his eyes. The feeling of uneasiness never left him.

Inari stood in front of the tree of fate. Different paths created and destroyed with every choice one would make.

He closed his eyes when he felt his child's longing for his comfort.

What is this feeling father?... What is waiting for me in the unknown?

Inari smiled softly, "Your destiny..."

His smile turned sad as he whispered again, "your destiny..."

"Hey."

Naruto looked up from his scroll with a smile.

"Hello Sasuke."

Sasuke looked at Kyoshiro and Uzume sparring at the other side of the training ground.

"Where is Yumiko?"

"She's taking some time off to deal with some stuff."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow at that but didn't question it any further.

"What are you doing here? Don't you have training with your team?"

Sasuke sighed and sat down beside Naruto.

"Kakashi-sensei let us go early because he had to go see the Hokage."

Naruto nodded thoughtfully, "And what else is going on? You are very worried about something."

Sasuke sighed again, no matter how good his poker face was Naruto and Kyoshiro could always tell what he was feeling. Of course, Sasuke had no idea about their emotion sensing abilities.

"I can't tell you."

Naruto simply nodded. Sasuke had purposefully sought out Naruto because being with the blonde always managed to calm him down and it also helped that Naruto never pried.

"So you want to join us for lunch?"

"Kyoshiro and Uzume will be done soon..."

Sasuke nodded at that. So Naruto smiled and went back to his scroll.

"What are you doing?" Sasuke asked curiously.

Naruto was still concentrated on the scroll as he said, "working on a new seal..."

"What's it for?"

"A lot of things... Mental projection, memory suppression, mental protection, memory recording..."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow, "all of this with one seal? Are you trying to become a Yamanaka or something?"

Naruto chuckled, "no... This is for something else."

"Naru, you done? Hey Sasuke" Kyoshiro said as he walked up to them.

"Almost done just some problems."

"Hey Kyoshiro."

Uzume joined them, "So ready for lunch? Will you be joining us Sasuke?"

"If you don't mind," Sasuke said causing her to chuckle.

"Let's go. Yumiko will join us there."
_

They were having lunch at Yakinique, the barbeque place; Uzume's choice today.

Yumiko sat silently in the corner seat. Even though she had been polite and friendly Sasuke could see that she was distracted. Sasuke himself was distracted because he was thinking about Itachi.

It has been a week since he last saw his brother. So far there was no news about Itachi.

He wondered what was bothering her before shaking his head. It was not his place to ask since Naruto was clearly indicating to give her some privacy.

Lunch was not as lively as usual. Sasuke occasionally joined them for dinner so that he could avoid his own teammates and because he genuinely liked the four of them.

Sasuke frowned when he saw Kyoshiro's gaze focused on someone standing behind him. Sasuke tensed before turning to look at who it was.

It was man and by the looks of his eyes, a Hyuuga.

He gave a small nod of acknowledgement to all of them, "Good afternoon everyone..."

The man looked nervous but out of the corner of his eyes be saw Naruto giving the man an encouraging smile.

"Good afternoon to you too Hoseki-san. Here for lunch?" Kyoshiro asked with a friendly smile.

Sasuke noted that Yumiko was not looking at the man while Uzume had her eyes narrowed suspiciously at her genin and the man.

Hoseki shook his head, "I was just passing by when I saw you inside and I thought to come talk to you..."

"Would you like to join us for lunch then Hoseki-san?" Naruto asked politely.

"I..." the man began unsure and Sasuke noticed how his eyes strayed to Yumiko sadly.

Sasuke frowned not understanding but then he saw Yumiko. She was looking at the man with something akin to determination. She took a deep breath and just as Hoseki was about to decline she said,

"Please. I would like it if you join us for lunch, father."

Sasuke gaped. Sasuke briefly noted that Uzume's eyes had widened just like his.

Father? She's a Hyuuga? I thought she was an orphan...

Now when he paid attention to her features he had to admit that she did look like a Hyuuga. The only thing that would dismiss the notion was the fact that her eyes though a llightbshade of lavender, were not the pupil less eyes of the Hyuuga.

It was like some weight had been lifted off of Hoseki's shoulders as he relaxed and smiled happily.

"Thank you..." He whispered.

After that lunch was silent except for the light conversation between Yumiko and Hoseki. Everyone kept their breath like they didn't want to interrupt the duo.

It wasn't bad per say, just awkward for Uzume and Sasuke. Naruto and Kyoshiro seemed pretty happy with the situation.

Outside the restaurant the Hyuuga elder watched Hoseki interact with his exiled daughter and narrowed his eyes. It seemed that some discipline would have to be enacted. After all they can't have the branch member doing something foolish out of sympathy for a useless daughter.

"How did this happen?" Uzume asked Naruto and Kyoshiro.

Sasuke too was looking at them curiously.

After lunch Hoseki had asked Yumiko to take a walk with him and the both of them had left chatting happily.

Naruto and Kyoshiro exchanged a quick glance before Naruto answered, "I met him through aunt Mikoto apparently she and Hoseki-san were teammates. She asked Yumiko to give him a second chance. Said that he wanted to try and things right. Last day Hoseki-san talked to Yumiko and she said she needed time to think. Today she accepted his apologies."

Uzume raised an eyebrow, "That simple? Naruto..."

Naruto shook his head, "anymore and you would have to ask her."

Uzume sighed, "Alright... I am not going to ask. I am fine with it as long as she's happy."

Naruto and Kyoshiro both smiled at that.

"Yumiko's a Hyuuga?" Sasuke finally asked.

Naruto shook his head, "No she was exiled from that clan when she was little because she didn't have their bloodline. Yumiko and her father didn't have a great relationship and now they're trying to fix that."

Sasuke frowned, "can that man be trusted?"

Naruto smiled, "Yeah don't worry he won't hurt Yumiko."

Sasuke's frown just deepened but he didn't ask any further.

Uzume spoke up, "Since Yumiko won't be coming back and we are short one member, do you want to join us for our spars Sasuke?"

Sasuke shrugged. It was not like he had any other plans.

After the spar Naruto and Kyoshiro was about to leave when they noticed Sasuke looking a little forlorn.

Kyoshiro nudged Naruto and Naruto shook his head. Besides sensing the weight of Sasuke's anxiety and sadness he had no idea why.

Kyoshiro sighs as he sees Sasuke walk to wards the Uchiha compound.

It's getting a little late and Yumiko should be back home by now. One of them needed to check on her to make sure that everything went well with her father even if they are 99% sure that it did. It never hurt to double check.

And Naruto's better at the he whole silent comfort thing when it comes to Sasuke. Honestly Kyoshiro would be a lot jealous if he couldn't feel that the abundance of love that Sasuke had for Naruto was nothing but friendly and brotherly. There might have been a small crush at first on Sasuke's part but that long since died out to become their bond.

Even knowing that Sasuke wouldn't be interested in the blond like that, Kyoshiro feels jealous sometimes.

Kyoshiro sighs feeling like an old man(or Kitsune spirit in his case) in a child's body (which he is) and in love with a boy(which is also true).

Naruto looks a little amused at Kyoshiro's by play of emotions and gives him a brief look before taking off after Sasuke when Kyoshiro nods.

"Hey Sasuke wait up..."

Kyoshiro smiles. Now he had to go and check on Yumiko.

"Naruto?"

Naruto smiled at Sasuke, "It's been a while since I've seen Aunt Mikoto. So I thought I would pay a visit tonight."

Sasuke shrugs and doesn't say anything because he has a pretty good idea what Naruto is doing.

He tries to hide a smile as Naruto starts talking about training and pranks and the latest incidents in his life. Sasuke knows that he is trying to distract him from his funk and it is working.

Oddly Naruto is great at conversations and knows very well how to steer clear of sensitive areas even if he isn't all that subtle with his subject change.

Sasuke wonders if it some kind of bloodline because he knows for sure that no one is that good at reading people to know which subject they want to avoid. Most of the time Naruto isn't even looking at his face to check his reactions or anything.

It's not just him either. Naruto does that with most people. So does Kyoshiro so maybe it is a bloodline.

"What are you so curious about?"

Naruto asks looking at home curiously.

See this is what I am talking about, Sasuke thinks, he wasn't even looking at my face and he just knows that I am curious.

He's about to ask Naruto how he does it when Naruto goes rigid.

Sasuke tensed because the look on Naruto's face is cautious and worried.

There are standing right outside the gates and Sasuke's mind flashes back to a similar situation almost five years ago. He remembers the way Itachi and Shisui tensed just like this standing outside the clan compound.

He lost all but the three of his family that night. Sasuke doesn't know why he panics but he's suddenly remembering the Hyuuga doctor that came out to say that Shisui was gone and he is almost shaking.

Naruto glanced at him. His tense posture relaxing under a false calm demeanor that even Sasuke can see through and places a hand on Sasuke's shoulder.

Sasuke steadies himself. A little embarrassed by his reaction but more than embarrassment he felt shaken. Maybe Itachi's impending mission was affecting him more than he thought.

Naruto is still tense as they move towards the compound. Sasuke tries to ask what's wrong but Naruto looks just confused like even he doesn't understand the reaction.

They step inside the Uchiha home and it's silent and dark. Which is more than a little ominous because, where is Mikoto?

"Mother..." Sasuke calls slightly worried.

Sasuke feels Naruto tense once again beside and Sasuke too tenses.

Sasuke activates his sharingan. But even that didn't help him dodge the strike that sends him crashing into a wall.

"Shit! Sasu-"

Sasuke didn't hear Naruto finish that sentence and when he raised his head it was to see Itachi with his sword sticking out of Naruto's stomach.

"Nii-san..." Sasuke whispered horrified but the Naruto that Itachi had stabbed turned into a log and Itachi ducked under a kick from behind while grabbing hold of the outstretched leg only for the blonde to disappear again in a displacement technique.

Itachi turned to Sasuke and Sasuke saw the crazed look in his eyes.

"Nii-san!" He cried out not understanding what was happening... Did this have anything to do with his mission?

But why would Itachi attack Naruto?

"Amaterasu,"

Sasuke's eyes widened but he couldn't move, frozen as he was, as he watched the flames converging in on Naruto.

But Naruto used a shunshin to get out of it only for Itachi to grab him by the neck as he appeared exactly where Naruto appeared by the shunshin.

"Tsukuyomi"

Naruto's eyes became blank just before he began screaming.

Scream was not enough to define the inhuman sounds that Naruto let out.

Sasuke watched too numb to react as Itachi stepped away and let the blond boy crumble to the ground like a doll.

"Nii-san... Why?"

"Because he was in my way."

Itachi was bleeding, Sasuke noticed it only then. There was blood dripping out of his eyes were the Mangekyo spun lazily.

"Move Sasuke. You are not my target... Not tonight."

Itachi's eyes flickered up towards the stairs and Sasuke followed his eyes to see his other sibling standing there.

Shin was standing there eyes wide with bemusement and wariness. He was cautious and didn't make any moves toward them but it didn't help as Itachi disappeared.

Only Sasuke saw Itachi appear behind Shin. Shin had no time or chance to turn around before three blades were coming out through his front; on the neck, torso and abdomen... and then two more were added; one through each shoulder.

Sasuke didn't move as he watched his twin become a living pincushion.

Itachi... Itachi was smiling. Not the gentle smile his big brother reserved only for him but this was a deranged, psychotic grin that scared Sasuke.

"What's going on here? It-Itachi? What are you doing?"

Uzume had appeared inside the Uchiha home along with Kakashi.

Then Kakashi saw Naruto and his visible eye widened.

"Naru!" He whispered then turned back to the psychotic Uchiha,
"What did you do?"

Itachi grinned and let shin's body fall down the stairs.
But before he could hit the bottom Uzume grabbed him and came back to stand infront of her downed student.

Carrying both injured genin Uzume gave a nod to Kakashi. It was clear that she was taking away the two of them for medical care but Itachi wouldn't have any of it.

Uzume had to curse as she dodged a strike from the Uchiha but had to let go of the injured children.

Kakashi appeared behind Itachi ready to strike him down.

But Itachi turned out to be a clone.

Kakashi and Uzume tensed waiting for him to show himself.

"Kakashi-sensei, Naruto and shin!"

Sasuke screamed.

Kakashi's eye widened before he and Uzume turned to face where the two genin lied but there was no one there now.

Toby waited for his little puppet to arrive.

Seriously the village was lacking in security.

So much for the village you died to save sensei...

Itachi arrived just as predicted. However the two boys hanging on his shoulders was unexpected.

Toby blinked, "what did you bring me, Ita-chan?"

Itachi blinks slowly at Toby's cheerful persona before he smiles wide and happy. For anyone who had known Itachi before that smile would be disturbing.

Itachi was a hardened shinobi, with a track record and kill count so long that he even wondered why he fought all this while, but now here he was, the famous Itachi Uchiha smiling like an innocent child.

That gullible look didn't belong on any shinobi's face much less Itachi's.

Toby smirked underneath his mask.

When the two unconscious boys were dropped on the ground Toby took the time to observe them.

The current and previous Kyuubi jinchuurikis. One an Uchiha who also happens to be Toby's distant cousin much like Itachi and the other... The other the legacy of the man he once saw as a father then hated.

Toby was intrigued, "Thank you Ita-chan, but why did you bring them to me?"

Itachi is still smiling and then shrugs like he has no idea why he did it. Toby suppresses a sigh, sure he had Itachi under his control right now but Itachi's most revered weapon, that ingenious mind of his was now out of his reach.

It would've been much easier if Itachi had joined him willingly, but no, the Third's plan was to send Itachi to him as a spy.

Ha, as if he wouldn't figure it out.

So instead he took Itachi and he destroyed him. It was a forbidden technique courtesy of the snake sannin and it worked like a charm.

After all scrambling a shinobi's mind and not just any shinobi's Itachi's; the strongest of the Uchiha in Konoha even when his clan was alive, was by no means an easy feat and Toby had to applaud the snake nin on this master piece.

The jutsu took a lot out of him.

The only fact that helped him was that Itachi had no idea about the trap that had been laid when Toby approached him.

Now Itachi was his to do as he wishes.

Toby chuckled.

Itachi was looking a little dazed now. He left him staring at the sky as he turned to look at the boys. The whole point of sending Itachi on a rampage on the village was to make a point. It shows Sarutobi how much of a fool he had been to send Itachi to him.

The Kyuubi jinchuuriki would have to wait. He would deal with him later. But...

Naruto Uzumaki, he would have to be dealt with as soon as possible.

Ever since that fight with those kids in the forest his sharingan had been acting wierd. Using his Mangekyo was becoming harder each day.

Toby was almost sure that the blonde had something to do with it.

He knelt down and grabbed the boys chin to look at his eyes. Dull blue eyes stared unseeing at him and Toby activated his Mangekyo sharingan.

"Tsukuyomi huh Ita-chan? Is he having fun in there?" Toby giggled causing Itachi to smile.

It was wierd seeing the Uchiha smiling and painful to see the proud shinobi so utterly... destroyed.

"Leave the jinchuuriki back in the village it is not time for his capture yet. I will deal with this one."

Itachi looks at him curiously for a moment before shrugging and leaping away taking Shin with him.

"Oh and Ita-chan has some fun with him... Show them that they are weak enough to let their jinchuuriki get kidnapped and tortured inside their own village... Maybe it wouldn't be much different from how they treated Naruto-kun here..." Toby giggles and adds thoughtfully, "while you are at it, take his eyes as well."

Toby is caressing Naruto's cheek softly as he says the last line and then slaps the boy so hard that his cheeks stain red.

Naruto doesn't react.

Itachi didn't understand half of it but perked up at the thought of torture and disappeared with his younger brother in hand.

Once Itachi is gone Toby chuckled which turns slowly into deranged cackle.

"It is fitting that you meet your end here at the very place that you were born."

Toby had not gone from the village. And while the whole village panicked on finding their missing jinchuuriki and Uzumaki heir Toby stayed in the village. The cave that Kushina gave birth at.

Ah... So nostalgic!

Before he ends the boy he wants to make him suffer. He would leave his mind shattered beyond any repair.

"Tsukuyomi," and he's inside Naruto's mind and inside the illusion that Itachi had created and was still going on.

Time for some fun...