"So, finding it difficult yet?"

"Screw off, old man, this is nothing."

Despite his cocky words, Sasuke was sweating so much he'd had to remove his shirt. Trying to make the water rotate inside the stupid water balloon was not working. If he were an idiot like Kaze, he might've had a few choice words to say to Jiraiya, who'd claimed the training was nothing major. As it was, he really did understand now why combining profanities was so satisfying—one curse wasn't enough to express his levels of frustration.

"Come on, Sasuke, we don't have all day," Sakura called from beneath the tree, hiding a laugh with her hand when Sasuke glared daggers at her.She wasn't standing in the heat, with the sun beating down on her while she used up every ounce of chakra she had. Her and Sai were in the shade of an expansive tree, lazily leaning against each other as they mocked Sasuke's pathetic attempts. Somehow during the course of the months they'd all spent together, Sakura and Sai no longer found him intimidating in the slightest. It was horrible.

"She's right. While you've been out here making a fool of yourself for the past week, I've been hitting up all the hot springs and bathhouses we've passed," Jiraiya said self-importantly, nodding as if he'd made some great sacrifice. "I found a woman—lord, the knockers on her, you should've seen them—who'd met Tsunade. She's gambling what little youth she has at a small city a few hours' walk away."

"Then I'll train while we walk," Sasuke gritted out, and Jiraiya openly laughed at him. Sakura and Sai joined in, and Sasuke would've destroyed the lot of them if he hadn't been so busy with the fuckingpieceofshit water balloon. Instead, he bore their laughter with dignity—in his opinion, anyway—and followed after them as they began making their way to the city. He'd have this down by the time they reached the city, and when he next met up with Kaze, his rival would be duly impressed. After all, this was a jutsu made by the Fourth Hokage, who was apparently a pretty amazing guy.


"This will hurt. A lot," Tsunade warned as she set Shizune down in an armchair across the room. Naruto took his shirt off like she'd asked him to and lay on her bed. Well, that wasn't encouraging. Naruto knew pain intimately, but he still wasn't a fan of it, and the pain that plagued him every time he tried to use his chakra was an experience that transcended merely 'unpleasant.' Still, it wasn't as bad as the agony of having the chakra cloak peel his skin away, so he'd suck it up and bear with it.

"I'm ready," he said bravely, offering Tsunade his best smile. She'd told him before they started that the slightest mishap could kill him, because if she slipped even a little when Kurama's chakra was healing him, the chakra would burn him from the inside out and he'd die in horrible, agonizing pain. Itachi's lips had gotten thinner and thinner as she'd spoke, and Naruto had slipped his hand in Itachi's and squeezed it reassuringly. It hadn't helped, and Kisame looked more green than blue, but it was necessary.

"Alright. Can you… er, this may be a strange question, but you can you contact the kyuubi?"

It always surprised Naruto how many people there were who didn't understand how being a jinchuuriki worked. The only person he could talk to about it was Gaara, although Sasuke had somehow been in Naruto's head and found out about Kurama, so maybe Sasuke would understand too. Nevertheless, he shut out his thoughts about that and closed his eyes. Kurama was waiting for him.

"Lucky little kit, I never expected you to find someone who could help so quickly," Kurama said, rising to pad over and stand at the bars of the cage. "I will do what I can, but if there's one slip-up, it's the end for both of us. Now is your last chance to remove the seal."

"Not a chance," Naruto laughed with a feral smile. "You need me just as much as I need you, so you'd better behave, stupid fox."

Naruto wasn't sure, but he could've sworn there was real amusement glinting in Kurama's narrowed eyes. Then Kurama's chakra oozed from between the bars, pooling at Naruto's feet and waiting. Naruto gave one sharp nod to Kurama, and the fox actually returned it, large ears twitching in anticipation. Then Naruto opened his eyes to stare into a pair of brown ones, which were studying him curiously.

"He's ready too," Naruto confirmed, and Tsunade reached out, laying one hand on Naruto's stomach and one over his heart. There was a strange sensation as Tsunade's chakra permeated through his skin and flowed over his chakra network. It was a strange, gentle probing sensation, but it was more uncomfortable than painful.

"There," Tsunade muttered, and all of her chakra came together so he could feel it like a lump near the bottom of his sternum. "It's in a tricky spot, so I can't hold it for long."

Kurama took over then, and the normally invisible seal on Naruto's stomach rose to the surface as the red chakra of the Nine-Tails flowed into him. It was like fire scorching his veins, chasing away rational thought and logic until there was heat, heat, heat, and the fire was lapping at his lungs and heart. He heard Tsunade inhale sharply, but he was too focused on not flinching away from Tsunade's hands to glance at her.

The power inside him only grew in strength, and he could feel the heat in his eyes now, narrowing his pupils and turning his irises red. His lips pulled back from his teeth as his canines extended, and his nails ripped the sheets as he dug them into the bed. He wanted to destroy something—anything—and every ounce of his willpower wasn't going to be enough to keep him from doing so.

There was pain, too—oh Jashin, there was pain, as his chakra network was forced to mould itself back together—but pain seemed to fade in the face of the hatred he felt. He wanted sharp claws in soft flesh, tearing, ripping, shredding, killing, butchering, slaughtering, bloody blood—

"Almost finished," Itachi said quickly, taking one of Naruto's hands. Tsunade shifted just a little as Kisame took his other hand, and it was at Kisame that Naruto forced his gaze to. Kisame knew what it was like to desire death, to thirst for it with a passion that only a good fight could slake.

"If for nothing else, hold it together for the fights to come," Kisame growled, gripping Naruto's hand with a strength that would break it if he weren't the Nine-Tails' jinchuuriki. Yes, Kisame understood, and the thought of future fights—maybe with Konoha—was enough to calm Naruto until Kurama's chakra gradually faded away. By the time Tsunade removed her hands, all traces of Kurama's influence were gone.

"Are you alright, kit?" Kurama asked from deep inside Naruto, and Naruto muttered an affirmative to him. When he sat up, his insides were still slightly sore, but he ignored the pain to try his chakra out. The feeling of chakra flowing through his network was as welcome as water after dying of thirst. Naruto had never realized just how much he'd taken it for granted until now, but as he flexed his hands and felt chakra tingling in his fingertips, he was overcome with relief. He was useful to the Akatsuki again. He could do his duty.

"That was certainly an… interesting experience," Tsunade breathed, wiping her brow as if what she'd done had taken a lot out of her. "I don't know much about the healing powers of a Tailed Beast, but I think you should rest up for a few days anyway."

"I'll be fine! I feel—"

"Then do you mind if he rests here with you in case anything goes awry?" Itachi interrupted Naruto smoothly. He was much more relaxed now that he knew Naruto wasn't going to die drowning in his own blood, apparently. Kisame and Naruto shot Itachi twin glares, but Itachi didn't waver. Tsunade's nose wrinkled as she watched Itachi, but it wasn't in disgust or malice. She seemed almost like she pitied him.

"I'll look after him for the next week, but you two need to find somewhere else to go. As a kid, he's less likely to look suspicious. Plus, he's not technically a rogue ninja—he's only a missing one. I don't want to draw any attention."

"That's acceptable," Itachi conceded, dipping his head in Tsunade's direction respectfully. Naruto wished he could be as cool and mature as Itachi, but keeping a cool head at all times was impossible. He'd mentioned it once or twice to the elder Uchiha, however Itachi always said he wished he was more like Naruto. Naruto really didn't get it.

"I suppose, but if you hurt him in any way, we'll be back for your head," Kisame snarled, his fist tightening around his sword menacingly. Tsunade waved this off with a roll of her eyes.

"As if I'd hurt him after healing him. Now go on and be off. I'll gladly give the brat back in a week."

"Oh you'll give him back. Though I don't know how 'glad' you'll be for that in a week. Our little fox has a way of getting in people's hearts," Kisame chuckled. He reached out and ruffled Naruto's hair before turning to leave.

"Sorry, but we all need you to be okay," Itachi said. He reached out with two fingers and poked Naruto in the forehead while Naruto scowled; he didn't want to hang around this old bag for a week, he wanted to be back training with his family. The only reason he didn't interject with a speech on how he'd be fine was because he wasn't entirely sure if he was completely healed or not. As soon as he knew he was fine, though, he was gone!


Sasuke had been so proud of himself when he'd gotten the water balloon down, mostly because he'd thought that now it was time to learn the Rasengan. Unfortunately, Jiraiya had revealed that it was only the first step, and that now Sasuke would have to practise with rubber balls. Goddammit.

He'd given up for the moment as they finally reached the city Tsunade was supposedly staying in. It wasn't anything special—there were a lot of civilians, a lot of taverns, and tons of drunks—but it was a change of scenery. There weren't as many ninjas here, and the merchants on the side of the road were selling more produce than weapons. People also seemed friendlier to strangers here; they'd flash him smiles, wave at Jiraiya, coo at how cute Team 7 was. There wasn't as much suspicion or fear; things were more unbiased.

"Since you guys can all handle yourselves, I need to bathe," Jiraiya snickered, drool at the corners of his mouth as he took in a couple of young beauties walking by. "Tsunade is at one of the inns here, so split up and start searching. I'll help later on. Buh-bye!"

He took off after the women, leaving Team 7 to make faces at each other. They each decided to take a portion of the city and check the inns, meeting up again to share their results when they were finished. Sakura took one end, Sai took the other, and Sasuke was left in the middle.

He shoved his hands in his pockets moodily, angry that he hadn't been able to train more. Angry that he hadn't found anything more on Naruto Uzumaki. And that Kaze was gone. And that he still didn't have any solid leads on Itachi.

Itachi… his brother was never far from his thoughts, but things were starting to change now. He kept finding himself back in memories where Itachi was the kind older brother Sasuke had convinced himself was a lie, and he kept coming back with a start, hearing his younger self wonder why. Kaze's words also played over and over again in his mind like a melody he just couldn't get out. Could it really be… could Itachi really have had a reason for killing their family? He didn't want to believe there was anything that could justify the killing, but…

"Another kid?" the woman whose door he'd just knocked on snapped. He'd been lost in his thoughts, knocking on doors and asking people if they were Tsunade, but this reaction took him by surprise. Had he accidentally strayed into Sakura or Sai's territory?

"So you're not Tsunade?" Sasuke asked, wishing he'd paid more attention. He was sure he'd stayed within the parameters Team 7 had set. The woman's expression went from annoyed to suspicious, and she squinted at Sasuke with a frown.

"And not just a kid… an Uchiha," she muttered. Sasuke did a double take, wondering how she knew. His eyes went up to her forehead, and he stared dumbly at the telltale diamond Jiraiya had mentioned. Wait… so she actually was Tsunade? This young, big-breasted lady who was supposed to be Jiraiya's age? Jiraiya had said she'd look young, but still, this was insane.

"We've been looking everywhere for—"

The door was jerked from Tsunade's hands and she stumbled back in surprise as it was opened all the way from the other side. Sasuke leapt back, wondering if someone was about to attack, but the person who launched themselves at Sasuke was too quick for him to dodge or use his Sharingan. He felt hands on him and thought he was about to be torn apart, but apparently this attack wasn't one meant to harm.

"SASUKEEEE!"

Sasuke stumbled back and almost fell, only just managing to hold himself up. When he realized who was squeezing him so tightly he could barely breathe, however, his knees almost gave out again in shock. It was impossible, there was no way… yet here Kaze Naminato was, hugging him and giggling like a schoolgirl.

"Kaze?" Sasuke asked dumbly. He was too stunned to react beyond staring at the fluffy yellow that was tickling his cheek.

"You're here, you're really here! I dunno how you ended up here, but this is fucking great! I'm so super happy, Sasuke, you have no idea!"

The familiar voice brought him back to his senses, but it still took him a minute to regain his composure. The relief he felt was almost overpowering, and he had no idea why. Seeing Kaze alive, happy, and well somehow made his heart swell dangerously, and for half a second his arms rose as if to hug Kaze back. Then he got a hold of himself, his face flushing a little as he tried to scowl.

"O-okay, okay, I get it. You can let go of me now," Sasuke choked out as Kaze pressed his face into Sasuke's shoulder and inhaled. Was Kazesmelling him? The idiot was seriously like an animal!

It took another few minutes for Kaze to let go, and when he did he practically glowed with joy, radiating happiness as if it were about to burst through skin. Sasuke flush grew into a full blush and he had to look away, scratching his nose to hide his crimson face. He didn't understand his own reaction to Kaze's sudden appearance at all. All he knew was that it felt like he could breathe a little easier, and had Kaze always been so attractive?

I can't believe I just thought that. I did not just think that.

"What are you doing here?" Sasuke asked, feeling uncomfortable and happy and awkward all at once. Kaze, as usual, was oblivious.

"My older brothers brought me to Tsunade to heal my chakra network. And it worked! Hey, since I'm staying here for a week, we can train together again!"

"Kaze, I mean… where were you? What happened?" Sasuke asked, his emotions trying to sort themselves out. Right now, they were somewhere between incredulous and angry. He wanted to hit Kaze for being so nonchalant about the disappearance, for not contacting him to say he was okay. He wanted to hug Kaze for ending up being okay, for looking at him with such an adoring expression Sasuke didn't know what to do with it.

"I can't say much, but my siblings don't like me in Konoha, you know? I was planning to get into contact with you, though, honest! I heard the village was destroyed and I was worried about you, too, but I thought you just had to be alright—"

"The village was destroyed?" Tsunade asked, speaking for the first time since Kaze had launched himself past her. She'd visibly paled, and her hands were trembling. Sasuke exchanged a glance with Kaze, then nodded mutely. For a moment, he'd forgotten the reason he'd came, but he still had a mission to do. If he could complete it quickly, maybe he'd even time to hang out with Kaze. Gesturing for her and Kaze to sit (except not on the chair, since there was a passed out woman there… what was that about?), Sasuke explained the reason he'd come and what everyone needed Tsunade to do.


Kisame and Itachi parted ways to check out different parts of the city. That, and also because two sinister shinobi dressed the exact same way would certainly draw unwanted attention. Kisame didn't know where Itachi went, but he knew exactly where he wanted to go. Cities made his skin itch, the desire to fight surfacing quicker than usual, and Kisame couldn't afford to get into a fight and fail his comrades.

So he went a little ways out of the city to go check out a lake they'd walked by. He supposed that if he really wanted, he could summon a few sharks and try to fight them, but that wasn't very satisfying since sharks couldn't fight back. In the end, all he did was sit on the end of a rickety old dock leading into the lake, staring at the water.

He remembered his first conversation with Itachi, and it was hard to believe things had come this far since. He'd been so convinced he had no place in this world or any true identity, but Itachi and Naruto had changed everything. Itachi had quietly and without judgement accepted Kisame as his partner and companion, giving him a place to belong. Naruto, who was one of the few other people within the Akatsuki who knew about the Infinite Tsukiyomi plan, had given Kisame an identity as someone who was trying to protect a dream.

The two of them had given Kisame hope, and he sometimes wondered lately if maybe he wasn't destined to die meaninglessly after all. He still liked fighting, but it wasn't all he had anymore. What he had now was Naruto's unshakable faith in the future, and for the first time, he was happy. From now on, maybe things would be—

A cold feeling sliced through Kisame's body, and his entire soul shuddered as he felt something foreign enter him. Shocked, he looked down, sure there'd be a sword or something sticking through his midsection, but he didn't see anything. Slowly, his neck creaking with the effort, he turned to look over his shoulder.

"Y-you," he spat, as blood ran down his back and seeped into the cracks on the dock. "I don't… understand…"

Zetsu stared at him unblinkingly, but instead of his usual black-and-white self, this Zetsu was completely black. His arm was stuck through Kisame's lower back, and the sight was so unexpected that Kisame didn't know how to react. He knew the Eye of the Moon plan better than anyone, and he wasn't planning on betraying it anytime soon. He and Naruto were supposed to help enact it together along with Zetsu, so why…

"Dragging his desire to kill away… You're good at that, aren't you?" Black Zetsu asked, his face full of scorn. "You, Itachi, everyone, you're becoming too soft towards him, and turning him too soft in return. I think a little betrayal is just the thing to put an end to that."

The coldness radiating outwards from Black Zetsu's arm spread, and Kisame could feel himself rapidly losing control over parts of his body. He instinctively understood that Black Zetsu was planning to take him over, and along with the words he'd spoken, it was clear the dark man was going to use Kisame to hurt Naruto. Kisame struggled against the feeling, but he was more or less helpless. As blackness threatened to consume his conscious, Kisame thought back to the first time he'd thought life was more than just killing and death.

"Come on, one more story!" Naruto begged as they made their way to the Village Hidden in the Mist. It was the first time Kisame was going back there since he'd joined the Akatsuki, and it was giving him the jitters to think about it. Itachi remained silent, but he kept casting Kisame wary looks, almost seeming concerned. Naruto, of course, didn't seem to notice anything out of the ordinary.

"I'm all out of stories!" Kisame sighed, rolling his eyes to the heavens and wondering what he'd done to be cursed with such a talkative kid. Since all their mission entailed was grabbing a scroll and getting out, Pain had allowed Naruto to go with them. As annoyed as Kisame was with how much Naruto poked and prodded him for stories, he couldn't help also feel slightly cheered up by the brat's presence. Naruto, even more than Tobi, brought something to the Akatsuki that no one could quite name, but that was incredibly welcome.

"Aw come on, you always say that and it's never true," Naruto muttered, puffing his cheeks out in annoyance.

"If you don't indulge him, he'll never give up," Itachi pointed out, much to Kisame's surprise. Itachi was usually so silent Kisame sometimes forgot he was there, but there were sometimes moments here and there where he showed some backbone and personality. Kisame had only been with the Akatsuki for a couple of months, but he had to admit he was actually starting to like his partner and the brat.

"Fine, just one, though. After that, I'm all cleared out."

Naruto had screeched that Kisame was a total liar—which was true, he had hundreds of stories—then quieted down to listen. Kisame told him a story about Zabuza, and everyone was so engrossed in the story that it took a second for Kisame and Naruto to register the fact that Itachi wasn't with them anymore.

"Itachi?" Naruto asked, turning to glance behind them. What Kisame saw almost made him fall over in shock. Itachi was picking leaves out of his hair, his face resigned as if he'd accepted the fact that he'd never live down what had just happened. Which had been, amazingly, Itachi walking into a tree. Kisame had thought Itachi was paying attention for politeness' sake, but apparently he'd been so captivated by the story that he'd literally ran into a tree.

Itachi Uchiha, one of the strongest shinobi in all of history, who had massacred his entire clan in one night and stolen away with the Leaf's jinchuuriki, had ran into a tree. Naruto and Kisame were so stunned they didn't even have time to laugh, and Itachi walked past them as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. There was a beat, then two, and Naruto and Kisame exchanged a glance.

Then Naruto burst out laughing so loud half of the birds in the forest took off. He tumbled onto the ground, kicking and banging his fists against it as he howled with laughter, and that coupled with Itachi's complete refusal to acknowledge what was happening made Kisame burst into laughter too. They laughed and laughed at Itachi, who calmly continued picking leaves out of his hair, not speaking or making eye contact with anyone.

"G-guess you f-found the one t-thing you can't d-defeat, Itachi," Naruto choked out between helpless peals of laughter. "TREES!"

Kisame had regained some semblance of control, but at that he couldn't hold back anymore and the laughter continued until there were salty tears streaming from his eyes and his stomach ached. He hadn't laughed like this in… well, ever.

"Funny," Itachi said, the exasperated look he wore one of the most expressive things Kisame had ever seen on the Uchiha's face. Things felt good, suddenly, not just like the adrenaline rush Kisame got when he fought, but like something purer. Was this… happiness?

"Let's just finish the mission," Itachi said with a disappointed shake of his head, but Kisame couldn't help but feel like he'd never be able to think of Itachi the same again. That day, they went into the Hidden Mist and pulled the mission off without a hitch. On their way back, Naruto ran ahead and began walking backwards, studying Kisame's face.

"What?" Kisame asked, amused at how hard Naruto had to try to stay on two feet while walking backwards through the forest. He was truly bad at multitasking. Naruto tilted his head to one side, then the bothered expression on his face changed into one of relief.

"Ah, nothing. You just seemed tense before this mission, is all. I'm glad you're okay now!"

Then Naruto spun around, stretched his arms out as if he were a bird, and ran way ahead, yelling over his shoulder that he would 'scout things out.' Kisame blinked, watching the small blonde's back far ahead of him. Naruto had noticed? This entire time? Kisame snuck a glance at Itachi, and was surprised to see the raven-haired man's lips tilted up at the corners ever so slightly.

This is where I belong, Kisame thought. The thought came out of nowhere, startling him, but it felt right. Yes, this was where he belonged, and protecting these two people would now become his reason for existing. Kisame Hoshigaki had an identity, as the friend of Itachi Uchiha and the brother of Naruto Uzumaki, and he would hold onto that identity until the day he died.

"Heh, if this is the way things are, so be it," Kisame chuckled. Zetsu shoved forward to invade his conscious more, but Kisame managed to get his hands up to do one final jutsu. It was too late to stop Zetsu from invading him, but he didn't need to stop the invasion. He brought his hands together, doing signs that were as familiar as his own scent, and water rose up from the lake. Zetsu didn't let go; the man must've been confident that as soon as he had full control, he'd be able to stop Kisame

"Water Style…" he clapped his hands together and the water rose around him like it wanted to consume him. "Water Prison Jutsu."

The water coalesced around him to make a perfect prison, sealing both him and Zetsu inside of it. He could feel Zetsu's attempts to take him over grow more desperate as his air was cut off, but he paid them no mind. He brought his hand up to his mouth and sank sharp teeth into it, breaking the skin and letting blood turn the water around him scarlet. His teeth, skin, and general appearance had always made people think of him as a monster, but right now he was happy to be one. If being a monster allowed him to save his comrades, so be it.

He summoned two of the deadliest sharks he could, ones that wouldn't obey a soul in the world. They circled him, and Kisame could feel Zetsu's panic at the great predators' eager smiles. If there'd been more time, Kisame would've tried to summon other sharks to deliver a message to Pain that Zetsu was betraying them, but there was no more time. All he could do was put his belief in his friends.

"Naruto…" he spoke into the water, bubbles drifting up to the surface of the prison. "Sorry. This time, I really am all out of stories."

As soon as the bubbles from his distorted voice popped, the sharks attacked. Oddly, although he was being torn apart, Kisame didn't feel any pain. Instead, trapped in the watery prison that was to be his grave, Kisame felt more free than he'd ever felt in his life.


Zetsu just barely managed to escape the prison, using the last vestiges of his strength just as Kisame's heart stopped beating. That stupid, useless fish man! Naruto needed to be darker, get even stronger, to suit Zetsu's purposes. He needed to be betrayed, beaten down, destroyed until he was nothing more than a hollowed out husk that could be filled to the brim with an inky blackness. Naruto's hatred would become greater than Madara Uchiha's, greater even than Indra Otsutsuki's. To corrupt someone who had inherited the Will of Fire…

It gave Zetsu chills.

He glanced back at Kisame's body, narrowing his eyes as he took in the wounds. They were obviously the work of sharks, but with a little manipulation they could look like something else. His thoughts drifted back to Indra, a man whose purity had been delicious to destroy. Sasuke Uchiha… He reminded Zetsu of Indra. If he turned Sasuke against Naruto, perhaps it would turn out the same way Indra and Ashura's story had. But that was boring, because Indra and Ashura hadn't hated enough for Zetsu's purposes.

He'd always regretted that, going after Indra. If he'd been able to get at Ashura, it would've felt much more satisfying. Yes, Sasuke Uchiha could play a part in this just as Indra had, but this time the roles would be reversed.

This time, Naruto Uzumaki would be the one to take the hatred of the universe upon his shoulders.