For the first week or so Naruto wandered aimlessly but started following rumors and bits of whispered conversations he had heard that sounded uncomfortably like Orochimaru. Naruto was beginning to get frustrated, maybe he was misunderstanding the rumors and they weren't about Orochimaru at all, he hadn't seen the basterd snake or any of his goons any where.

The Kyubi warned him that he was being followed, this was the third time this week and Naruto was getting tired of it. He sat down and pulled out some traveling rations while he waited for his guest.

"What are you doing here little fox?" Fuck, well he just had to have luck like this.

"Looking for your brother." The blond replied, outwardly calm. He had been training a lot since his last encounter with Itachi but he wasn't sure he was up to the elder Uchiha's level.

"I haven't come to kill you today, strictly off the record, but I was hoping you could explain this." Naruto winced as the older Uchiha held the booklet open to the page displaying his own face. It was a hunter nin's booklet, Itachi must have killed someone to get that. Naruto started to reach for it before deciding he liked all of his extremities where they were and simply shrugging. What was there to say? Trying to find a way to change the subject Naruto said the first thing that came to mind.

"Did you know that the Uchiha clan no longer exists?" Mentally he smashed his head against a wall, Itachi just raised an eyebrow. Why had he said that, come to think of it, why was he here talking civilly with his rivals worst enemy and brother? Why was he trusting the man who had been trying to kill him since before he even knew what he was?

Because he wanted to tell someone, to share the knowledge and pain that it brought him to be so betrayed. It had been too long since he had had a full conversation with anyone who even remotely understood his position. "I'm looking for Sasuke." He said quietly. "I left 

because I heard them talking about calling off the rescue mission. They were only humoring me." He grit his teeth as Itachi threw the book at his feet.

"You are foolish, he knew as well as I what leaving the village would mean." Itachi scoffed at him. Naruto jumped to his feet, eyes flashing.

"Well excuse me for not wanting to never see him again." He could feel the Kyubi growling at the other man as well.

"Don't be stupid boy." He hissed mockingly at Naruto. "If you release the Kyubi here you will have the entire Akatsuki on you within minuets." The blond made a visible attempt to bring his rage under control. It was made very difficult as Itachi continued to speak. "My brother has always been weak, he has made poor decisions in his past and he has turned himself into a pitiful shadow of what he could be, and you are foolish to try so hard for such a waste of humanity."

"He is worth a thousand of you." Naruto gritted out, hands and teeth clenched. "I will find him and we will kill Orochimaru and then if he still thinks your worth it, we will find you and I will help him destroy you." The Kyubi was wrestles, pacing back and forth in its cage.

There was a rustling in the bushes to his right but Naruto didn't flinch as the fish-faced Kisame entered the clearing. If Itachi had wanted he could have used his (evil eye) jutsu at that very moment because Naruto was glaring strait into his the eyes.

"We are being called." the other man said barely sparing a glance to the blond. Itachi returned his glare for a moment longer before dragging his eyes away from Naruto but couldn't resist a parting shot.

"Next time I see your pathetic face I wont hesitate to kill you." Then he followed Kisame out of the clearing. Naruto sat down heavily pouting for a moment before jumping to his feet 

again and shoving his forgotten lunch back into his bag. He hesitated for a moment and then added the hinter nin's booklet as well. He would find Sasuke but he had to do so soon. Itachi's words had worried him, it almost sounded as though he knew something about his brothers current location, was angry that Naruto would bother to look for something everyone else already knew was gone.

The blond once again took to the trees and followed the path that Kisame and Itachi had taken, perhaps they knew something he did not. He followed at a safe distance and listened to the Kyubi if and when it told him to change his immediate course. He presently found himself on the edge of a clearing where he could see a circle of ninja in the akatsuki robes. One of them was talking but Naruto was still to far away to hear him clearly. As he inched closer a twig snapped and he froze but none seemed to hear and the blond allowed himself to relax again before listening closer to the topic of conversation.

Hi people, sorry I abandoned you all for so long T-T. I am hoping to get my act together and actually continue this story…angst ridden as it is (who cares angst makes a good read) please stick with me, I really enjoyed the few reviews I have gotten so please either tell me to shut up or keep going(but be nice about it). This chap was supposed to be longer but I had this laying around and decided to put it up for you.

much luvz,

of the Wood

ps, its kinda crapy and over a year old XP