Authors Note: Happy Holidays and a Merry Christmas to all.

Beta: Ancestral Romance

It Wasn't Me, it was the Voice

Chapter 8

"Are you really going out?" Kyuubi asked suddenly. All morning he'd been quiet, occasionally he would be muttering something under his breath, but that was it. This was the first real proper sentence he'd said all morning.

"Yeah. Breakfast with Hinata." Naruto answered, toweling off his hair scowling as water droplets dripped onto his white undershirt. He woke early; before anyone else had and decided to take a long hot shower to ward off the cold. Much to his surprise, he had slept soundly the night before and woke well and rested.

"I see. I leave you alone and suddenly you have game?"

Naruto didn't miss the snarl in Kyuubi's tone, but decided that ignoring it would be best. "I don't see the problem, Kyuubi." He threw the towel on the ground and stared at his reflection in the slightly foggy mirror. "It's good, we're fine- you and I."

"You mean that you're fine." He hissed darkly.

A spike a terror ran down Naruto's spine as he watched as his blue eyes flash black for a second; so quick he didn't think it had really happened.

"Everything is good for you, boy. You get all the fun...everyone sees you. Everyone loves you..." His voice was so low and deadly, Naruto wasn't sure whether it was Kyuubi or his subconscious talking.

"Wha-"

"But soon it will change."

Again his eyes flashed black.

"It will all change."

OOO

Sebastian found Naruto sitting on his bedroom floor, staring at his reflection in a small compact; something one of the girls must have accidentally left. It was slightly unnerving to see the normally energetic blonde sitting despondently on the floor, staring into a mirror. It was like something out of a twisted fairytale. "Good morning, Sir." He spoke softly as he closed the door behind him.

Immediately Naruto's head snapped up and his eyes locked with his butlers. "Sebastian! What color are my eyes?!"

Taken aback, Sebastian frowned. "Blue. As normal Sir." He answered cautiously. "Any particular reason they wouldn't be blue today?"

At the sound of his butler's worried voice, Naruto snapped back to normal. He picked himself up off of the ground and tossed the mirror onto his bed. "No, no. Just-you know a dream."

"Right. Of course."

Blushing at his idiocy, Naruto hunted around his room for his mobile, whilst Sebastian began to straighten up the room. He found his mobile under one of his dirty shirts and turned it on, pleasantly surprised to see a text message from Hinata blinking.

"Naruto? Breakfast?"

Before he could reply, last night's conversation with Sebastian replayed itself through his mind. He needed to ask Kakashi before he just waltzed out. "Where's Kakashi?"

Sebastian schooled his features into a blank look and brushed nonexistent dirt off if his suit jacket. "I really do believe you should call him Uncle Kakashi, Sir."

Despite the lack of expression Naruto saw the clenched jaw of his butler and the fleeting looks of annoyance flit through his eyes. "Right." He cleared his throat. "You're right, he's Uncle Kakashi."

"You may find him in the library."

OOO

Just as Sebastian said, he found Kakashi in the library; a bit worried he knocked on the open door and leaned in to see Kakashi standing in front of a bookcase perusing the selection. "Morning."

"Good morning to you too Naruto." Kakashi greeted warmly.

"So...I was uh...just wondering...is it okay if I go out to breakfast with Hinata?"

Kakashi could barely keep the smile off of his face as he nodded. "Sure. Be back in time for your lessons."

"Okay!"

He knew Naruto's history with Hinata; he knew that it was because of her that he pushed to be in the real world, that he's adjusting so well-and that he's acting like a teenage boy instead of a drugged up dummy. As worried as he was, he was also aware that Hinata was good for Naruto; and maybe with a little luck, she might be able to help find out what happened on that fateful night so many years ago.

OOO

The second Naruto turned around; he pulled his mobile out of his pant pocket and started texting Hinata.

"Hinata! Meet at the diner in twenty minutes?"

Within seconds she replied. "Make it thirty. Do you need me to come pick you up?"

"It's just us, right?"

"Yup."

"Then it's alright, Asuma and Kurenai will drive me."

"Okay see you in thirty. :) "

"Sebastian! He said I could go! I need help!" Naruto shouted as he dashed up the stairs, almost mowing over Martha, the maid, as he went. "Sorry!" He apologized over his shoulder, tripping on the last stair. "Where's Sebastian?"

"I'm sure he's on his way to find you, with all you're hollering." Martha snipped, not at all happy with Naruto's running around and shouting at six in the morning.

Sure enough, Sebastian appeared at the top of the winding staircase looking concerned. "Sir?" He offered one hand to help Naruto up. "What is it?"

Mindlessly Naruto accepted his butlers outstretched hand and started to speak as he was hauled to his feet. "He said yes I can go-is it alright to go in this? I'm dressed."

Casually Sebastian looked over Naruto, noting the thin sweater, blue jeans and dirty converse. The pants and shoes were passable, he knew that it wasn't worth the fight and inevitable chase if he tried to get him to change completely, but the sweater wouldn't do. "You need a warmer sweater Sir."

"Then get a move on! And someone tell Asuma and Kurenai!" He shouted as he took off like a bullet down the hall back towards his bedroom.

Sebastian sighed and shook head, Naruto always kept him on his toes.

OOO

"He sure can sleep." An idle voice muttered.

"He's old. Leave him alone." Another voice, this one irritated spoke.

"But it's already after lunch."

Before he could respond, the man they were assigned to watch chose now to wake up. Slowly he groaned and stretched, trying to move the muscles stiffened and aching from sleeping on a chair. After a good couple seconds of neck rubbing and swearing he looked up; right into the two men's faces.

One was middle aged and the other young; they both sat opposite him in chairs wearing casual matching suits of tan pants, a white button down and a black jacket that hung open.

"Good evening, Mr. Jiraiya. We trust you slept well." The middle aged man spoke.

Jiraiya swore and tried to stand up but only flopped back into the chair, his body betraying him.

"I wouldn't struggle if I were you. That chair wasn't meant to be slept on and we aren't interested in harming you."

Jiraiya stared warily at the two men, sizing them up. Where the middle aged one was calm with close cropped hair and a very forgetful face, like you would see him but not remember anything specific; the younger one almost emanated energy with his messy brown hair and wide eyes and large smile.

It took a few seconds for him to pull himself together, whilst he did so the older man motioned for the young to pour water from the pitcher. "Are you...the man?" Jiraiya cautiously asked, accepting the glass.

"No. Of course not." They answered in sync.

"Then who are you two?"

The elder chose to answer with a half smile. "We work for him. And you will never know who we are." He stated ominously.

Jiraiya eyed the two men wearily; he was thirsty, he wanted to drink the glass of water but didn't know if it was poisoned. And he didn't want to take the risk. The situation he was in could only go from bad to worse; he wasn't as young as he used to be and it was obvious that the two men before him were skilled in this sort of thing. What was he to do? Reflexively he swallowed and thought about Naruto and how glad he was that he told Kakashi everything. At least he knew the truth and would seek Naruto's benefit, should he not come back.

So instead of fighting like he wanted, he settled for asking some questions. "How'd you two get in here?"

"Stupid question."

"Answer it."

"We don't take orders from you."

Clearly the elder was the one in charge since was the only one answering the questions.

"Then who do you take orders from?"

That earned him a grin from both of them. "Take a shower and get dressed Mr. Jiraiya. We're going to take you to meet the man in charge."

OOO

Just as Naruto said they would, Asuma and Kurenai drove him to the diner instead of using the driver. They commandeered the perfect table from another teenage couple; it was exactly opposite Hinata and Naruto with a large potted plant separating the two tables. It was far enough to give them privacy, but close enough to intervene if anything happened. Not that that scenario was likely.

"This is ridiculous." Asuma mumbled grumpily rubbing his eyes and motioning for the waitress to bring him more coffee. "The kid could have come himself!"

Kurenai rolled her eyes and stirred her coffee. "You know he can't. It's our job to shadow him. Babysit him. Follow him-Asuma you know this." Her tone was hard and unfeeling; she was a stickler for following the unwritten rules of the job, don't ask too many questions and just do what she was paid to do. Once one followed those two rules, a paycheck was guaranteed to come.

"I know, but I still think it's a waste of time." He smiled when he saw the waitress walking towards him with a fresh mug of hot coffee. "Naruto hasn't been in any trouble at all-well no more trouble than any other teenage boy." He gratefully accepted the mug and took a taste, sighing in contentment as the liquid settled in his stomach.

"Even if it's a waste of time, we get paid either way." Kurenai pointed out. "So stop complaining."

Suddenly his whining tone changed to serious. "But it isn't right."

"What's not right? Your coffee?" She asked exasperatedly. All she wanted was to drink her coffee in peace, then eat some breakfast. Thanks to Naruto's last minute warning, there was no time for her morning coffee and cigarette ritual, which made her one incredibly cranky woman to be around.

"What they're doing to that poor kid-Kurenai you know as well as I do that they are drugging him."

"And we don't know what for su-"

"What for? For nothing obviously! All I'm saying is why don't we-since we are in charge of his meds while he's out here-just...you know...relax them a bit?" His voice had dropped low, barely audible over the clanking of dishes and low murmur of the diner.

Kurenai was stunned into silence. She couldn't believe what her partner just said. It was a unbelievable, unethical thing to think about- let alone suggest! "Asuma! What the fuck are you thinking?! You can't do that-you aren't a fucking doctor!" She hissed and glanced around to make sure there wasn't any nosey waitress hanging around.

Confused he only blinked. "I never said I was?"

"You can't just choose your own dosage idiot! You don't have any idea what the medication does, what it's used for or even what could happen if you change the dosage!" She hissed, face turning red. "Don't you even think about adjusting Naruto's medication Asuma. You don't know what you're doing. You could kill him for all you know."

OOO

Together, Naruto and Hinata sat at a booth near the windows, both nursing cups of hot coffee trying to warm by the sunlight. They had shrugged off their coats but Hinata still wore a white cable knit hat and matching scarf while Naruto hadn't bothered to remove the scarf Sebastian had tied in an intricate knot around his neck.

Naruto smiled, his stomach bubbling with nerves. This would be the first time he was really alone with Hinata. Since this morning, Kyuubi had been keeping his silence again.

Even though he was more than happy to be having breakfast alone with Hinata, he couldn't shake the cold feeling that kept creeping up his spine. Every so often, he would see his eyes change black in his mind's eye, and immediately he would replay the mornings happening.

"It will all change." That's what Kyuubi said- but what did it mean?

"Naruto, are you alright?" Hinata rested a warm hand atop his own.

That drew back his attention to the present. "Sorry, sorry. Just a lot on my mind." He smiled halfheartedly at her and turned his hand over to squeeze her fingers reassuringly. "I didn't get a chance to thank you for yesterday."

"It wasn't all me." She smiled shyly at him, her cheeks turning red. "Everyone did it you know...but yeah, the guys really like you. It's not often they like someone so quickly." She slowly drew her hand back to fiddle with the edges of the menus.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah...I don't know it's like you and Kiba especially clicked. Its weird-it's like he respects you." She shrugged and wrapped her hands around her coffee cup. "And he doesn't respect much people. So hats off to you."

"Seriously?! You get fuckface to have a soft spot for you, but not the gorgeous woman sitting in front of you?!" Apparently Kyuubi still fancied criticizing him.

OOO

After breakfast, Naruto politely declined Hinata's offer to wander the mall or go hang out at Ino's. By sheer perseverance, he managed to make it through the hour with Hinata, he didn't think he could push for the entire day. Luckily she was understanding and chalked it up to him wanting time to speak to his guardians about the vacation.

"Don't worry too much; there's still time." She comforted. They stood in the parking lot, Kurenai idling the SUV with Asuma riding shotgun. Hinata had already started the engine in her car, letting it warm up. Smiling, she leaned on the side of her car and tugged her coat tighter around her.

"When is it again?"

"Didn't Sasuke text you?"

"Yeah but he made it hard to understand."

At the she frowned. "Can I see?"

"Of course." He pulled of his mobile and scrolled through, 'till he found the messages from Sasuke and handed it to her.

Two weeks before Christmas Eve is when we leave.

Start getting ready three weeks before Christmas Eve.

Have that butler of yours pack only three pieces of luggage. Anymore and it won't fit.

You'll be riding with Kiba. Yes. The idiot has a license and a fucking Hummer but still bugs the shit out of me for rides.

You're not allergic to anything are you?

And so the endless messages went, on and on until Hinata just stopped reading to laugh. "Oh jeeze!" She wiped a tear from her eye and handed Naruto back his mobile phone. "He's something isn't he? Well really what he's saying is that we'll be back before Christmas; one week before Christmas actually. So really we leave two Sundays before-I think it's the eighth?" She shrugged absently and twirled a lock of her hair. "When you talk to them and need the exact information just text me, I'll send it to you okay?"

Naruto smiled and nodded. "Okay. Thanks, Hinata."

"Of course."

Just then Kurenai popped the horn, signaling it was time to go.

On the way back, Naruto filled Asuma and Kurenai in about the holiday. Needless to say Asuma was supportive while Kurenai wasn't. She insisted that the best thing for him to do was to stay home and forget the idea. And to not get his hopes up about going before talking to Kakashi. "Remember that he's the one in charge now." She reminded stiffly, pulling into the driveway.

As soon as she stopped, Naruto jumped out of the back seat and ran up to the front door, determined to get this over and done with.

Instead of doing the sensible thing and asking someone where Kakashi was, he ran around the house, checking the living area, kitchen, patio all until he ended up at the library. The double doors were propped open, giving anyone a cursory glance inside. He stopped in front of the open doorway to catch his breath before; he saw that Kakashi was seated at the opposite side of the room near the widows.

"Hey, Uncle Kakashi? Can-can I have a word with you?" Naruto asked quickly staring down at his shoes. He figured might as well plunge straight in rather than beat around the bush. Belatedly, he noted that his shoes were dirty and he had probably tracked grass stains all over the house. No wonder the cleaning staff wasn't too fond of him.

Surprise was evident on Kakashi's face as he looked up to see Naruto standing in the doorway of the library. Quickly he shut the book he was flipping through and smiled. "Of course." He gestured to the vacant seat opposite him.

Stiffly, Naruto nodded and scurried into the chair, a cold sweat breaking out all over.

Together, they sat in uncomfortable silence with Kakashi waiting for Naruto to begin and Naruto trying not to regurgitate his breakfast.

"If you hadn't been such an asshat to me, I would help." Kyuubi stated unhelpfully. Apparently he was still sore about the incident.

"I'm not a mind reader, Naruto." Kakashi coaxed. "I'll never know until you talk."

"I was invited to Sasuke's cabin for one week." He blurted out.

Kakashi didn't say anything for a few seconds, but instead studied the young man sitting in front of him. He was the very picture of nervous; from the sweat beading on his forehead to the hands clenching in his lap. He was worried and scared and probably wanted to go so much he'd sell his left leg. "Who's going to be there?"

Clearly that was not the question he was expecting, because his eyes shot open and his jaw dropped for a few seconds before his brain remembered how to work. "Da-uh-ju-just the usual. You know Sasuke, Kiba, and Hinata-the everyone you know?"

He could almost feel Kyuubi shaking his head inside of him in shame.

At his terrible explanation, Kakashi merely raised an eyebrow. "Adult supervision? Who's in charge of Sasuke?"

Naruto frowned. "Uh...no one?"

"There won't be any parents?"

"Uh...maybe? I don't know?"

"...For fucks sake- repeat after me!" Kyuubi took pity on him. "I don't know the full details yet; I've only just been invited."

Instead of mindlessly repeating what Kyuubi said like he normally would, Naruto hesitated. All day he was ignoring him and just sulking and creeping him out, why all of a sudden he wanted to help? What was Kyuubi up to?

"Just say it! I hate this overbearing pretend daddy of yours! A week with those stupid idiots is better than sticking round here!"

Deciding to trust Kyuubi on this he repeated the sentence. "I don't know the full details yet; I've only just been invited."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, yesterday at the diner."

"Yeah, yesterday at the diner."

Silently Kakashi nodded. "I'll think about it." Kakashi sympathized. "But it's not a promise."

"Hinata has all the information. She told me this morning that if you wanted she can send it all to you."

Naruto knew Kyuubi wanted him to repeat it, but he couldn't.

"Say it kid! Repeat what I just said!"

But he couldn't, because it was then that Naruto realized that Kyuubi was always listening. Even when he wasn't offering his two cents or making snarky comments he was ways there, always watching always listening. Naruto was never truly alone.

OOO

Asuma strolled into the kitchen, hands shoved in his pockets and an unlit cigarette tucked behind one ear. A smile automatically appeared on his face at the sight of Kakashi sitting at the counter sipping tea, while the chef hustled around preparing dinner. "Evening." He greeted.

Kakashi looked up and nodded. "Asuma. Nice to see you, I take it Naruto is in lessons?"

"Yes, Sir." Asuma sat down on one of the stools. "Speaking of Naruto, did he talk with you yet?"

"About that holiday vacation he wants to go on?"

"Yeah, that." Asuma nodded at the chef's silent offer of water. "Are you going to let him go?"

Kakashi sent him a sidelong glance whilst sipping his tea. "Why are you asking?"

Idly, Asuma drummed his fingers on the counter and nodded at the glass of water. "I think you should let him go, if I may say so."

"And why's that?"

"Because he's been doing really well and he's excited about the holiday."

"There won't be any adult supervision."

"Kurenai and I will be there."

"In the cabin with him?"

At that, Asuma faltered.

Kakashi sighed and pillowed his chin in the palm of his hand. "I understand his excitement. I was once a teenager too, you know- which is why I'm carefully thinking about letting him go; even with you and Kurenai tagging along. It's not just going to be guys at that cabin. There will be Hinata and Ino and whoever else there as well. And even I know how he feels about Hinata." He let out a long suffered sigh. "And even with you two going along it's not like you will be in the cabin with them."

A calm silence settled between the two men. Kakashi had a point; there wouldn't be any parents at that cabin, however several of them were technically speaking, adults. Though pointing out that fact wouldn't exactly get him the desired outcome he was after.

Getting Naruto on that vacation would work out perfectly; it would be the ideal time to test his theory that they were pumping drugs into a perfectly normal healthy young man. It would be one week without anyone but Kurenai and him giving Naruto his medication. At home there was Jiraiya and now Kakashi and of course the chef, but at the cabin it would just be the two of them.

"Not to mention," Kakashi began quietly his eyes trained on the chef warming a pot on the stove. "The question of how the two of you will get Naruto his medication."

There it was.

The big question.

The one big worry.

The thing that was really stopping Kakashi from saying yes.

Of course Kakashi couldn't tell Naruto no flat out without a reason but this was it. This was the real reason. The medication.

But Asuma and Kurenai had planned for this, were instructed by both Kabuto and Jiraiya on what to do should they end up in a situation like it. "We put it in his drink."

"What?"

"He knows he will need to check in with up face to face at least twice a day." Asuma explained quietly. "He wouldn't want his friends to see or know, especially since they think we're his parents so the meeting spot will have to be a good distance away. By the time he walks that long, he'll be thirsty. We say we'll bring him something to drink, and we will, put his medication will be in it."

Kakashi didn't say anything for a few seconds, but when he did an impressed smile crept onto his face. "Not bad. Not bad at all."

"Thanks."

Kakashi glanced curiously at the man seated beside him. "Seems like you genuinely care about him, since you want him to go. Even though it would make your job harder." It was a statement, but he meant it as a question. Why would a total and complete stranger take such an interest in Naruto?

Asuma shrugged. "He's a good kid. He's had a rough life."

"I'd say."

"He's found some friends that like him. I just think that he should be allowed some medium of happiness."

Kakashi mulled over his words before nodding in agreement.

OOO

The two men escorted Jiraiya to a posh residential manor, up the column staircase, through the arching foyer and into the guest seating area. The room was circular and slightly crowded with the oversized furniture and and wall decor.

"Have a seat." One of them, he wasn't sure who, pointed out a large brown leather chair in the room.

Wordlessly, he took a seat, unbuttoning his suit jacket to let it hang open, his head swiveling to take in as much as possible. He didn't have much time to look around though because soon enough a man with short cropped black hair and heavy tan strolled in. He wore a three piece brown suit with a white shirt and loafers.

"I trust you were treated alright?" The man asked as he made a beeline for the roll cart filled with alcohol and ice.

Curious, Jiraiya studied him; he was taller than average but skinny to the point of starvation. His face, though smiling had a gaunt, haunting look about it-as though he's seen unmentionable horrors since he was a child. Even his voice seemed wrought with terrible knowledge.

"Can I offer you a drink?"

"No thank you."

The man grinned over his shoulder and made the drink anyways. "Don't worry, it's not poisoned." He poured a generous amount of Rum over the ice and handed it to him before taking the chair opposite. "I don't usually like my drinks on the rocks but I figured we best keep our heads this evening."

Jiraiya glanced down at the glass in his hand. "Who are you?"

"Details." The man in the brown suit smiled and took the seat opposite him, crossing one leg over the other as he waited. Waited for the gears to start moving and pieces to start clicking in Jiraiya's head.

He didn't have to wait long.

"You're the stranger." Jiraiya stated, sitting up straighter in his chair.

"Aren't you clever." He smiled again and sipped his drink. "Why don't we lay everything out in the open shall we? It will make things clearer that way."

Jiraiya nodded and swirled the drink. "I agree. You go first."

"I was planning on it." The stranger grinned and leaned back. "It all began with Minato, Naruto's father. The curious architect." He closed his eyes as if he were reminiscing about his own childhood. "He came to this land like the all do, seeking to know what they shouldn't. Wanting what wasn't theirs to take. He gained access to one of the most dangerous tombs to excavate in, no one had minded. Back then we could have used all the manual labor; but on one condition. Minato was not only told but warned not to take anything he found. We would find out."

He stirred his drink and motioned for someone to fetch something. "He disobeyed and took something. The box. He smuggled the relic back home. The naive soul thought it was just a simple box and no one would notice."

Just then a woman walked in with a large platter of sausages and placed it on the table between them. He nodded at her, gestured to Jiraiya to have some then continued on with the story. "But it wasn't just a simple box. Within that box contained a Fox Demon; the Nine Tails, sealed within that small innocent box for countless years." He smiled charming at Jiraiya who turned paled. "But you know that one already don't you?" He asked innocently.

Jiraiya's mind was reeling with information, he suspected but to actually hear someone else confirm it was almost too much.

But the stranger didn't care, he simply carried on. "Do you know why that particular demon was so securely locked away? Because he's not only powerful Mr. Jiraiya, but incredibly intelligent." He reached forward casually and picked up a bite sized piece of sausage and popped it in his mouth. He chewed slowly and swallowed. "Do you know what his method of control is?" He took a sip of his drink and sighed. "It's genius really, incredible method of survival skills. He sends his host into unconsciousness then takes over the body. He doesn't rip it to shreds or sacrifice it but just systematically replaces the human mind with his own."

At that Jiraiya's heart nearly gave out.

"But you've delayed that with all those illegal medications." He raised his glass in a mock toast. "Impressive."

"You said you're going to explain everything. Get on with it." Jiraiya hissed, scowling as he took a much needed gulp of his drink to brace his nerves.

The stranger didn't even bat an eye and carried on. "But that fateful night." He shook his head. "Perhaps I should clarify one thing. Naruto did not kill his parents. The demon did. And I framed Naruto." He smiled beseeching at Jiraiya; waiting for the other mans reaction.

None came.

Jiraiya just sat there with his poker face. "Continue." He encouraged. But underneath he was a tangle of emotions; anger, worry, nerves, and most of all fear. He feared for Naruto and whatever this man had planned.

With a roll of his eyes the stranger plowed ahead. "I had to frame him. How else was I going to keep an eye on the little vessel? And you Mr. Jiraiya did exactly as I hoped; you paid off the entire hospital board-nice work by the way-and got that greedy little Doctor under your thumb. Though I will say you should have thought about buying off the police as well. I thought you would have; well at least I stepped in and paid them to turn the other cheek."

"I'm sorry what that last bit was?"

The stranger raised an eyebrow as he sipped his Rum. "I paid off the investigators to just turn the other way so long as Naruto remained in that particular hospital." He smiled.

Jiraiya squeezed his eyes shut and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Let me get this straight. The demon is real and he killed Minato and Kushina."

"Correct."

"You framed Naruto."

"Yes."

"Just so that you can keep an eye on him."

"Yup."

"But how the hell could you have possibly kept an eye on him when I fucking paid off the board?!" Jiraiya's face grew red in frustration. All this time he thought he had everything under control to now learn that this man; this snake like man was the one who actually held the strings.

The stranger chuckled and downed the remainder of his drink. "One should never trust those he pays." He stated ominously. "Kabuto Yakushi."

OOO

Reviewing would be a wonderful holiday gift for you to give me.

You know tell me if you like the story so far, what do you thinks' going to happen.

All constructive and unconstructive criticism welcome.