I do not own Naruto, nor do I make any money off of this.
"talking"
'thinking'
Chapter 17:
"Class, as you know, today is my last day," the english teacher, Harumi said. She always had people call her by her first name as a sign of trust. "I start my maternity leave tomorrow." She happily put her hand on her stomach. "As such, I would like to introduce the one taking over for me." She turned towards her office door. A man with black hair and yellowish green eyes stepped into the classroom. His eyes met Naruto's and the boy's eyes widened.
The man smirked. "Hello, my name is Orochimaru. I love literature especially those related to science. I heard that you've been reading books that involve other subjects and that science is your next one. I'll me more than happy to help anyone understand the two subjects." He turned to Harumi. "Don't worry, your students shall grow well in my hands."
"That's good to know," Harumi said, not really liking this man. "I shall be back for your last month of this class." She turned back to Orochimaru. "Please take a seat. I'll continue the lesson from where we left off. Once again Orochimaru looked at Naruto. He licked his lips before sitting at Harumi's desk. Naruto shook throughout the class, neither Shukaku nor Gaara understanding why.
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"Are you ok?" Shukaku asked. Naruto, Gaara, and Shukaku were outside for lunch, not wanting anyone to overhear their conversation. Naruto shook his head. Orochimaru had given him one final look before he'd been pulled out of the classroom by Gaara.
"How do you know Orochimaru?" Gaara asked.
"He…" Naruto struggled with his words. "He was in Sound." Shukaku suddenly got a look of understanding. Gaara however, had no idea what that meant. Seeing Gaara's confusion, Naruto began to tell him about his life in Sound. Less than have way through the story, Gaara looked ready to kill someone. Shukaku thought about letting the red-head do just that, but decided he didn't want Gaara to go to Sound.
"That bastard!" Gaara said, still shaking from anger. "How could someone like that become a teacher?"
"Money," Naruto said. "Or blackmail."
"The real question isn't how but why," Shukaku said. "Why would he come here?" He glanced at Naruto. "I think we should tell Sasuke-san about this."
Naruto looked up at that. "W-we can't! I don't want to trouble him."
Gaara suddenly got down on his knees, lifting Naruto's chin up. "He'd want to know." Naruto hesitated before nodding. Shukaku squeezed his shoulder letting Naruto know that he wasn't alone. Naruto smiled. He was glad to have such good friends.
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Naruto and Shukaku stood in front of Sasuke and Kurama in Sasuke's office. Kurama had forced her way into the office upon seeing the looks on Naruto's and Shukaku's faces. When the three of them walked into his office, Sasuke looked confused. His eyes took in the three as it became clear that something was wrong. Sasuke closed the file he'd been reading and clear of his desk. He waited silently as Naruto and Shukaku finally sat down and Kurama parked her butt on the left side of Sasuke's desk. The raven didn't say anything, too focused on Naruto.
"There is something you need to know," Shukaku began. Shukaku and Naruto rushed through the story of Orochimaru. It soon became clear to Shukaku and Sasuke that Kurama didn't know about Naruto's time in Sound. Kurama had to grib her clothes tightly to stop herself from interrupting them by jumping off the desk and yelling.
Once they were done, the look on Sasuke's face was terrifying. It was clear that he was beyond pissed. Silently, he stood up, walked over to a filing cabinet and pulled out a file. He placed it onto his desk before opening it. Naruto and Shukaku couldn't see the file, but Kurama could. Her eyes were wide. Sasuke pulled out his phone and dialed the first number on the front page.
A gruff voice come on the phone, loud enough that everyone could hear. "What do you want, Uchiha?"
"I need a favor," Sasuke said.
"Oh?" the voice asked. "And what can I do for you?"
Sasuke glanced at Naruto and Shukaku. "I need you to come here. It isn't something I'd like to discuss over the phone."
"Alright," the voice said. "But I'm bringing Deidara."
"Fine, Kisame," Sasuke said before hanging up. He knew they'd be here soon. He pressed a button on the landline.
"Yes, Master?" the maid said answering the call.
"Get food reading for an extra two people," Sasuke said.
"Are Tenji-san and Kaguya-san coming back today?" the maid asked.
"No," Sasuke said. "It's Kisame and Deidara."
"Oh!" the maid said. "Alright, we'll get started immediately." The sound of the door ringing went off through the phone. "Where should I send them?"
"Itachi's office," Sasuke said. The maid gasped through the phone at what Sasuke had said. Sasuke hung up before standing up. Naruto, Shukaku, and Kurama followed Sasuke, none of them wanting to say a word. They stopped at Kohaku's room. Sasuke peeked in to make sure his son was ok. Kohaku was too busy playing with Matatabi to notice his father. Sasuke nodded before continuing down the hall. At the end was the one room in the house that was almost always locked. Sasuke pulled a key from around his neck and opened the door. Turning on the light, Sasuke looked around. Tsunade had cleaned the room just a few hours before. She was the only one with a key besides Sasuke.
Naruto, Shukaku, and Kurama kept their amazement of the room to themselves as they followed Sasuke into what looked like a living room. What looked like a room divider stood at the back of the room. Naruto wondered if that was where Itachi use to sleep. Sasuke took a seat on one of the couches, facing one that would fit two people. It was clear that Kisame and Deidara would be sitting there. Naruto took the spot of Sasuke's right while Kurama slid into the spot on his left. Shukaku took the lone chair next to Naruto. The four of them only waited a few seconds before Tsunade, Kisame, and Deidara stepped into the room. Tsunade had seven drinks made up, making it clear that she was going to stay here. She set the drinks down before going back to lock the door. She knew that Sasuke didn't want anyone interrupting them. She took the chair next to Kurama. Kisame and Deidara took their seats silently. Naruto could tell right away which was which. Deidara looked ready to bounce out of his shoes while Kisame looked like a stern businessman.
"So?" Kisame asked. Sasuke handed Kisame a note. The man grinned showing of his shark-like teeth. "I see." He handed the note to Deidara who read it with a smile on his face. He tucked the note into one of his pockets for safe keeping. "I think the best one to watch over them would be Sasori. He's more likely to fit in."
"What about me?" Deidara pouted.
"I'm assuming you want someone to watch over your son as well?" Kisame asked, ignoring Deidara. Sasuke nodded. "Konan will do that. As for the rest, we need to know everything." His eyes turned to Naruto and Shukaku. Knowing that was their cue to talk, the two explained the situation, avoiding the more explicit details. Once they were done, Sasuke gave Tsunade a look that told her to get Naruto and Shukaku out of the room.
"I bet Kohaku-kun and Matatabi-chan are wondering where you two are," Tsunade said. "Shall we go check on them." Naruto and Shukaku glanced at each other before quickly getting to their feet. Tsunade looked the door behind them before they headed towards Kohaku's room.
"I'm guessing you don't want them to see the dark side of your plans?" Kisame asked. Sasuke said nothing. Kisame rolled his eyes knowing that Sasuke was just like Itachi. "We need to know when to act and how far we can go."
"My father once told me that if I come across an enemy to the Uchiha family that I should eliminate them," Sasuke said.
Kisame grinned. "Understood." He stood up. "Any threats to Naruto or Hokaku will be taken out. I'll let you know when we step in." He headed for the door. Deidara pouted before standing up mumbling that it wasn't fair and that he wanted to have some fun too.
"What about payment?" Sasuke asked.
"Don't worry about it," Kisame said. "Afterall, we still owe Itachi one." Without another word, he unlocked the door and left with Deidara. Sasuke didn't bother to move to relock the door.
"What are you thinking?" Kurama asked.
"I'm going to protect this family," Sasuke said. "Even if I have to dirty my hands."
"And what will Naruto think when he finds out what you're planning?" Kurama asked.
Sasuke glanced at Kurama as thoughts of Naruto went through his mind. The last thing he saw was Naruto shaking in fear with tears in his eyes. He clenched his fists. "It doesn't matter what he thinks of me. As long as he is ok, I'm fine with the outcome." He stood up and left the room.
Kurama looked after her brother-in-law as he took a step into the darkness of the world. She had heard that Uchihas were like moths to a flame when it came to the darkness that their love tended to create. She wonder briefly if Itachi was the same. Nodding to herself, Kurama realized that yes, it Kurama had been in Naruto's place, Itachi would have welcomed the darkness if it meant Kurama would be safe. Love was a powerful thing after all, and it changes people for better or for worse.
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"Orochimaru-sama, what are you planning?" a man with silver hair asked.
Orochimaru smirked. "I'm going to take him." He licked his lips. "He has gotten more beautiful since that time the other brat got in the way." Orochimaru pictured the way Naruto shivered in fear every time their eyes had met during Harumi's lecture. He couldn't help but smile evilly as he thought about making Naruto his. Dani had been a good replacement for Orochimaru's desires. Sadly, one of the guards had gotten in his way from having Naruto as well. After Dani's death, Naruto had been moved away from Orochimaru and security had risen in the male department of Sound. Even after the death of said guard, Orochimaru could not get to Naruto. Fear of ending up like those six that Orochimaru had secretly been behind, had caused the men to cool down. Orochimaru knew that even if some of them still feared him, death was by far the greater fear. Orochimaru had tortured a few of the men that he turned him down, but they refused to even go near the blond. The last male to come to sound that had gotten close to Naruto had been a baby. After doing some research, Orochimaru found out that the baby had been thrown in there by Sasuke Uchiha. It baffled the man even more when Sasuke had come to pick up the baby, taking Naruto with him. Orochimaru had been forced to watch as an outsider took away the last chance he had at getting what he wanted.
Then again, Orochimaru now had plenty of chanced to have the blond. He had used money and connections to get out of Sound. From there, it had taken his three years, three long and tiresome years, to find a way to get close to the boy. Naruto never left the house without someone else being with him. That didn't give Orochimaru the opportunity to kidnap him. He thought about just killing the driver and taking Naruto, but then Kohaku would see him. Orochimaru wasn't afraid to be seen by the brat, but he knew that messing with the Uchiha family was something only mad men did. Sure he was a bit crazy, but he wasn't stupid.
The opportunity finally came when Naruto enrolled into high school. The principle was a man that could easily be bribed. Of course, blackmailing the man had also helped. Now that he was Naruto's teacher, he could spend as much time as he pleased with the boy. Orochimaru glanced at the man in front of him. He'd have Kabuto be his assistant so he could have him at his side. Kabuto would be useful in keeping the pests away. Suddenly, laughter filled the dark room.