The Ties that Bind Us

Hey, babes. Hehe. You all didn't believe me, did you? Told you I'd have the next chapter up in three days. I'm back! :D

Naruto arose with a start. He had no nightmare and it was not time to arise yet. The boy looked out his window, staring at the dark sky; the moon high rise to tell him it could only be midnight.

So why had he woken up so suddenly? There were no effects of some horrible dream he could not remember. Kakashi was not downstairs singing as he called, so-

Eeerrr…

The steady creaking in the corner of his room made the boy look to his closet.

At the end of his bed was Kyuubi, he too woken by the creaking.

Naruto's eyes adjusted to the darkness, making him finally sit up, if only just a little.

There was something there. Someone there. The silhouette of a tall man maybe. The person moved forward and Naruto sat up even more, if only to back away.

Kyuubi, still so small in his young age, stood high and mighty on the bed, growling and snarling at the figure. Naruto blinked. If Kyuubi saw the image, it must be real.

The person….thing, now standing beneath the moonlight, was clear to see.

Yes, it's image resembled a large man, but its face….. it's eyes were some form of hypnosis, larger than most. And the smile was viscous. A smile that literally stretched across its face and pointed teeth filling every inch.

It smiled even wider. "I shall see you soon." And then proceeded to walk back into his closet.

Naruto blinked. Blinked.

His scream was treacherous and loud as he ran from his room.

He ran toward the steps, finding his father running up, sword sheathed in his hands.

"Naruto?"

The seven year old began to sob. "Tousan! The devil's in my room!"

He hugged around the man's waist and buried his small head in his pant leg.

Kakashi crouched at his level, and let out a cry of surprise as Naruto moved back only to throw his small arms around his pale neck.

"Naruto, I must go check in your room."

The boy shook his head. "No… I don't want it to get you."

Kakashi smiled and suddenly most of the blond's worries disappeared. "I have my sword, love. I promise I will be okay."

Eventually, Naruto nodded and watched Kakashi unsheath his weapon and move into the blonde's room with a determined gaze.

Naruto waited anxiously for what felt like an eternity, almost crying in joy when Kakashi emerged from the room.

"It's clear." Kakashi picked Naruto up. "You can stay with me if you want."

"Yes please." Naruto smiled. He hugged Kakashi close and the large man let out out an experience of good mirth.

He told Naruto that it was once called 'laughter' and often helped when one was sick or in lowly spirits.

It was what Naruto enjoyed most about the man. The way he would let Naruto express himself. And while the world stared horrified, Kakashi would be there laughing too.

And although Danzo had made it clear that he wanted Kakashi to raise Naruto in such a horrid way that he would always be broken, Kakashi busied himself in mending the boy so he would always be loved.

"Daddy?"

"Hm?"

"What do you call it when you really enjoy someone? When it is within your deepest desires to always be with them as well as defend them from the horrors of the world?"

Kakashi laughed again. "Oh, Naruto. That's called love."

Naruto opened his mouth, trying to pronounce this foreign word. "Lu… ff...love?"

"Mhm."

"I love you then, daddy."

Kakashi looked around as if they were being watched. "Naruto, what you have just said is the most dangerous weapon in our society. Only in this house are you aloud to say it and only when you feel that you must."

Naruto's blue eyes glistened in the darkness of the stairwell.

"I am only doing so to keep you safe, Musuko."

"M'kay."

Kakashi once-overed the boy, closely observing the musky sweat on his body. And that sudden realization made his sniff the air. He looked down, finding a darker spot than usual in his son's pants.

"Naruto, did you have a nightmare?" He questioned, setting the boy upon his feet.

The blond blushed. "Oboetenai. I do not remember, father. But I arose abruptly as if to escape something."

Kakashi grimaced, wondering if the boy had been dreaming of Danzo or his biological father's bodiless head. Those were the only things that plagued him at night.

"Come, let us wash before bed. Seiketsu wa keiken ni chikai."

Naruto looked up with wonder, awwing at the wisdom Kakashi had in him. Eventually, he smiled and repeated the man, trying to keep the mantra with him. "Cleanliness is next to Godliness."

It did not take long for Kakashi to go outside to the well and fill the largest wooden bucket with water. He returned and stripped Naruto, himself following suit.

There, bare man and child sat, Naruto trying to splash the water all over the laundry room floor, and Kakashi washing the boy with a worn sponge.

He grabbed the boy's feet from the bottom of the bucket and pulled them up as he sang quietly.

"Hush….Hush….Somebody's calling my name.

Hush….Hush….Somebody's calling my Na-a-ame.

Hush…Hush….Somebody's calling my name.

Oh my Lord...Oh my Lord… What shall I do?

What shall I do?"

Naruto had long ceased in trying to splash the water and went quiet, wondering how Kakashi knew such a tune and words he'd never heard before.

He was so lost in his thoughts, the boy squealed when he was lifted from the bucket, the cool night air breathing softly against him.

Kakashi dried him and pulled a big gown over his head, then proceeded to carry the boy to his room.

"Let us pray before you sleep, Naruto."

The blond nodded and repeated his father's movements, kneeling upon the floor, resting their elbows on the bed; their hands clasped together.

It was Kakashi who held the great wisdom and therefore it was Kakashi who knew the entire Shinto prayer.

"Spirits of purification created for order

and the mother that they inhabit. The Sky, exactly as when the God Izanagi no Mikoto bathed in the narrow estuary of a covered river with trees
permanently leafy, in the South region.

With all the respect from the depth of our hearts
We ask that they hear us, such as the spirit that hears our intent, with sharpened ears, together with spirits of the sky and the land, take the badnesses, disasters and sins and purify all.

Miroku Oomikami, you bless us and protect us

Meishu Sama, you bless us and protect us

For expansion of our soul and the fulfillment of your will."

Naruto hopped upon Kakashi's bed as the man went to his bookshelf, trying to find a good book to read.

He watched as Kakashi set himself down in a wooden chair in the corner.

Kyuubi understand that he was only allowed upon Naruto's bed, so the fox instantly jumped into the silver haired man's lap, snuggling close and watching Naruto closely.

Naruto faced Kakashi as he yawned. When he fell asleep, Kakashi was the last thing he wanted to see.

"Father?"

The man looked up from his book, staring softly into the pieces of sky that once fell to earth on Naruto's first cry ceremony.

"Hm."

"Why can't people need happy? Why is it wrong and odd to smile, laugh, love, or just be happy?"

Kakashi frowned, not liking that the terrible world was bothering his son. "You will learn that in due time. Sleep now, Musuko."

Once again silence ensued and Kakashi, believing the troubled boy was now asleep, went back to reading.

"Father?"

A soft sigh. "Yes, Naruto?"

"Would you choose me over anyone in the world?"

Kakashi smiled, but his eyes did not waver from his book. "Son, if I held this world in one hand and you in the other, I'd take you. I know not everything I do makes it look that way, but life is very complicated. You are my own child, and though I love this world with every fibre of my being, you mean more. Love means more."

Silence.

Silence.

"Father?"

His eye twitched. He grunted.

"I am sorry for wetting myself in my clothing."

"It is not your fault. Now sleep."

Three minutes of quiet had passed and Kakashi, intrigued by his story, turned the page eagerly.

"Father?"

This time a loud sigh. "Naruto." He hissed in a disapproving manner. He looked up, the fire in his eyes being washed away by the image before him.

Naruto was asleep, and probably had been this entire time. His thumb was in his mouth and one of his small arms hung from the bed.

"I love you." The boy uttered.

Kakashi's lips curved slightly. "Watashi mo aishiteruyo."

And the boy did not speak in his slumber for the rest of the night. Not even when Kakashi crawled next to him and began to hum softly, stroking the boy's blond locks and wishing, more than anything, that he could always keep the boy safe.

"Hmm….hmmm...hmmhmm hmhm hm hm."

The slaves stared at Naruto oddly as he sat hunched on a stool in the stables. The man sat sharpening his blade as his spar would begin when the sun was at its highest in the sky.

Such an image would have seemed normal, but his lips were curved upward at both ends and he sang softly to himself a tune no one had heard before.

"Hush….Hush….Somebody's calling my name.

Hush….Hush….Somebody's calling my Na-a-ame."

Jiraiya dully cleared his throat and the blond looked up, several eyes on him. With a grimace, the blond stood, leaving the common stables to sit upon his cot, his fox close behind.

"What is it that you were just doing?"

Once more he averted his gaze from his sword to a voice. Sasuke Uchiha stood there, his clothing hanging off his shoulders, making the cherry red circles on his chest and neck visible.

The pale thing had obviously gotten back from pleasuring a client of the Hyuuga's and just the appearance of Sasuke being flushed due to someone else made him feel bitter.

Looking down, the man continued his work. "It is called sharpening a sword."

"Not that, you imbecile. The prolonging of words from your mouth with both a rhythm and rhyme?"

"Oh… my song."

Sasuke's head tilted left, his confusion apparent. "Ss...song? What is that?"

Naruto smiled brightly and he enjoyed the way Sasuke's face turned red. "A song is a short metrical composition intended or adapted for singing, especially one in rhyme."

Sasuke opened his mouth, but Naruto already knew his next question. "When you sing, you make sounds with your voice set in tune. My father taught me this."

Sasuke looked away, almost guilty. "My father did not show me anything that is forbidden. He did not tell me about happiness or what you call 'love' because he was afraid for me."

Naruto hummed. "Mine as well."

"But I thought-"

"The father of my blood." Naruto corrected.

Sasuke looked away guilty. If Naruto had another father, it was safe to assume his blood parents had died.

"Oh… I am s-"

The heavy shake of a church bell cut Sasuke off and the raven watched as Naruto's pet eagerly jumped off the cot, running in happy circles.

Naruto smiled lovingly at Kyuubi and stood himself. "It seems I must make way to the arena for my battle. I will speak with you later, Sasuke."

Sasuke nodded. "I wish you the best of luck."

There it was again. Not exactly a smile of Naruto Uzumaki's, but the lift of just a single corner of his mouth still made Sasuke feel exceptionally odd.

"I was raised by Danzo's top ANBU assassin. I do not need much luck."

With that, the man was gone.

Despite the arena being filled with all of Konoha's people, Naruto walked out to a very quiet stage.

Kakashi had told him once before, the seats would be filled with loud screams of excitement. But now, all occupants only stared with little emotion, almost as if they wanted the fight be to end.

An announcer spoke in volumes.

"Naruto Uzumaki, slave of Konoha. Warrior slave of your royal family, Hyuuga. On this day, you shall envision your impending death as you fight…. Shiba."

Finally, the seats filled with the smallest of murmurs as the citizens began to speak of Shiba.

The cage door across from Naruto, large and entirely made of wood and metal, lifted with a creak.

He inhaled deeply and weighed the sword in his right hand, slashing it delicately at the air with a novice-like apprehension, and as hr did so the reflection of the orange torch flame danced warmly within the cool steel.

The handle of the sword was bound with black leather, the hilt decorated yet understated, and the blade short. Naruto knew much about swords. Kakashi had once told him this type of sword was a Sabina.

A low rumble echoed through the cave. Shiba, Naruto thought.

She was a fantastical creature, her life prolonged because death was afraid of her. She'd been on this land since the beginning of time and therefore was a sole predecessor before anything and anyone.

Just staring into her eyes led to the human seeing their own horrifying death. And after, such a death came as expected.

Shiba was nearly the most horrifying land animal known to all of Konoha and therefore, their own fear caused them to betray and capture her, using her as a slave as well.

Another vibration from cage.

Naruto was quick to pry the edged cutlass from its sheath and whipped around to stare at Danzo, high above all others, guarded well.

The audience went silent, fear stricken in their eyes. This was the boy who had been doing the forbidden for years. Why Danzo had yet to kill him was an undaunting quest.

Danzo stared wide-eyed.

Naruto smirked. "For you, my lord. My liege." There was a heavy breath let out as if Danzo had commanded it from the crowd.

With no more words, Naruto once again faced the cage, waiting silently, patiently.

He held the blade even; a perfect, undaunted horizon; always leveled with the nose, just as his father had taught him.

"Come, Kitsune." He told his fox as both man and mythical creature began to stride forward.

There she lay. In the world, the mighty world, the dragon sleeps tonight, Naruto thought.

Shiba lay as still as the dead. With her all-bronze scale, both Kyuubi and Naruto began to suspect it was either a statue or a beast turned to metal by a sorcerer.

Naruto stared at her belly and nothing else for a few minutes, straining to see movement. Then he turned his gaze to her nostrils; nothing, not even a wisp of vapour or smoke.

He turned and ushered his large fox forward. The dragon was serpentine like most large worms but her back was plated oddly and it had an odour the fighter slave could not put his finger on.

It was almost sweet, but it had an undertone of something rotting. He signalled a stop to Kyuubi.

There were buds on the side of the beast he could have sworn weren't there a few moments ago.

Before the Kitsune could move back, the buds grew to legs and Shiba turned her hypnotic eyes on Naruto, silvery orbs that moved like fog trapped in a land depression.

But Naruto continued to stare at her large nostrils.

Shiba held a wisdom like no other and, yet expressed a toxic greed. Her bed crafted from jewels, gold, and the treasures she stole. Always trapped in slumber, unless she went to quench the hunger she could not satisfy, or when one was stupid enough to face her.

"What quarrel do you have with thy, Naruto Uzumaki; son of Amaterasu's descendant; slave of all men and none; forbidden boy."

Naruto sheathed his sword, and the crowd gasped as Shiba walked forward.

His eyes skimmed, the gold coins stuck within her scales, nearly covering all her bronze scales.

Naruto ushered Kyuubi closer. "I only wanted to see if the rumors were true."

Shiba's shoulders hunched forward, and her head back, as if she were cowering from the word rumor.

"And to what doth I oweth these rum'rs attention?"

"As if the rumor could be true…" Naruto murmured. "As if all that glitters is not truly gold."

Shiba stared into his eyes, and it took Naruto a moment to realize he did not envision his own death. As it took a moment for Shiba to realize the insult to her form; her legend.

She hissed, and moved away, sizing Naruto up. "Blinking idiot. Thee dareth dare me in physical f'rm?"

Naruto shook his head. "It is not I who have made these rumors. Besides, I do not believe them anyway."

Her orbs narrowed. "What does the Naruto Uzumaki believe? Nani o shinjiru no?"

Naruto smirked, and the crowd he'd forgotten about gasped. "Stop this at once!" Someone yelled.

"I believe you are afraid. I believe you do not like being held captive and I believe that the only way you make yourself look strong is by covering yourself in treasure, attempting to be more than you are worth. Trying to hide the bronze. I believe the lies in which we are truly punished for are the ones we tell ourselves."

Shiba blinked once. Twice. And then she let out a growl so shaking, a few coins dropped from her belly. Naruto watched with widened eyes as her stomach glew, evidently preparing the flames.

He picked up Kyuubi and ran as she screamed. "Prepareth to square! I shall heave the gorge on thy livings, naughty mushrump!"

Naruto jumped behind a stone obstacle and clutched Kyuubi tight as the flames went over them. It became increasingly heated until it suddenly wasn't.

Both man and fox peeked out, and Naruto resisted the urge to laugh at both of them.

Shiba was there, looking around frantically for him and Naruto's head twisted in confusion. Kyuubi's doing the same.

He giggled. "Refrain the copying me, Kitsune." The fox gave a look as if to say the same thing.

Shiba moved around with clumsy movements. "Wretch'd soul of a knave, wh're art thee? I shall burneth thee f'r thy stupidity, killeth thee f'r thy fleer'ry and consume thee f'r thy brav'ry! visage me anon."

Naruto stood up and the realization of this unfair match hit him hard. "You are blind."

The dragon stilled in her frantic search. "Naruto uzumaki wilt not speaketh on issues his weak mind cannot und'rstand."

It was a warning to him, but Naruto Uzumaki had always been a forbidden child.

"Why must you still fight when you cannot see?"

Shiba growled and moved toward him again, listening to the patter of his feet.

"We must create a diversion, Kyuubi." The fox nodded and Naruto stopped to place him down. "Her ears are her strongest organs."

Kyuubi seemingly nodded and ran to the left of Naruto. Shiba ceased moved and growled, wondering how the man had gotten behind her so quickly.

Turning, she faced Kyuubi. "Naruto Uzumaki." She growled.

When she was close to Kyuubi, the man behind her spoke softly. "I do not wish to fight you, but if you continue to advance, then I have no choice but to kill you."

She stopped once again. "Thee deceiveth me. How couldst thee?"

She turned again, her long tail hitting Kyuubi and smacking the fox against the wall.

Naruto's eyes widened as the fox whimpered and struggled to stand. "Kyuubi!"

The dragon's eyes narrowed, mischievous now. "What is your concern with that animal? I hear…. What is the emotion called…. Love?"

More indefinite gasps.

Naruto growled, unsheathing his sword. "Of course I love him, you idiot! I've known him my entire life. I tried so hard to cease this meaningless quarrel. But you took this too far."

The dragon sneered. "I doth not feareth thee, human."

Naruto smiled. "You should." He ran toward the dragon, and just as she swiped her claw at him, the man moved to her left, his sword drawn.

Shiba hissed in pain and recoiled her hand, staring in anger as her black blood dripped and burned the ground.

She looked around, trying to hear his feet against the earth, his breathing against the calm wind. "Who is't doth thee bethink thou art, spilling mine own blood as if 't be true t w're thy owneth?"

Naruto growled. "Do not think that you can hurt my friend and live."

The dragon turned sharply. "Naruto Uzumaki…. Do not thinketh that you are invincible."

Once more, her chest lit up inside and the flames came forth, heating up the arena more than usual.

And it was in such a moment that Naruto noticed the dent in her neck. A wound. Naruto covered himself. "You either." He whispered.

He began to run toward her again. Shiba lowered her head upon the ground, heat combusting in her chest once more.

"Farewell to thee! I shalt rip thee to shreds and sav'r the flav'r of thee strength."

Her mouth opened. Her claw cut open Naruto's chest wounds. She let out a hiss of smoke. The crowd let out a gasp.

Shiba's silver irises stared at Naruto for a moment. And slowly, they dimmed down to a grey, one that could describe a day full of rain.

Finally, the eyes were covered by scales that seemed to be awake for far too long. And Naruto chose to believe that when her death came all was gone and there was no hunger left, and gratitude was all she felt.

The crowd was still extremely silent.

Naruto turned to the once more wide eyed Danzo. "It is better, I believe, to reach for that stars than to sit flustered knowing that you cannot reach them."

With that, he retrieved his wounded fox and walked away from the arena.

"Your fight has earned the Hyuuga's a great sum of currency, Naruto." Hinata murmured. "And for that we are treating the slaves to a night within the estate. Are you sure, you would not like to join?"

Naruto grimaced as Sasuke pulled the needle through his wounds. "I am fine in this position, Sama. I would like to rest."

Evenly, Hinata nodded. "Very well. Join us when you are done, Sasuke."

The Uchiha nodded and continued to intensely stitch Naruto's wounds up.

They were quiet, besides the heavy breaths of both Naruto and Kyuubi. Sasuke smiled now that they were alone.

"That is one strong animal." He murmured.

Naruto glanced toward Kyuubi, who lay tired and weary just like Naruto. "You believe that? He merely copies my very movements and emotions."

Kyuubi grumbled and Naruto let out a very large laugh. "True. We basically are the same being of this world. Or merely twins born as two different species."

Kyuubi stood on his hind legs slowly and left the room, feeling Naruto's proud eyes on him as he left. And then only Naruto remained in there with the fellow slave. "The fox will end up getting me killed one day. And therefore, I shall end up getting him killed."

Sasuke let a small laugh this time, not one that was loud and jolly, but one that could hardly be described as a laugh.

Naruto hummed. "Thank you, Sasuke for caring for my wounds. Had Shiba not hurt Kyuubi, I would have given myself time to think instead of rushing into the fray. And therefore I am sorry."

Sasuke ceased in his motions, and Naruto realized that the man had been done stitching him for a while, but was now applying some warm ointment. "For?"

"You could be enjoying a warm bath, meal, and bed. However, you are here, tending to wounds I should be fixing myself."

"I chose to be here, baka."

Naruto only hummed, and closed his eyes as Sasuke's applied the healing ointment.

The movements were rhythmic upon his skin and Sasuke's lithe fingers could make the argument that the Uchiha should be some kind of a sorcerer.

The fingers lifted, if only for a moment, and Naruto felt himself become heavier as something shifted. Peeking upon his eyes, he found Sasuke on the bed too, his knees on either side of the blond.

Naruto gasped and leaned up, only to hiss in pain and to have Sasuke push him back down gently.

"What are you doing on the bed, Sasuke?"

A red color mysteriously appeared beneath both Sasuke's eyes. "I am trying to better apply the ointment."

"Watashi was bakade wanai." I am no idiot.

The color became deeper, almost turning brown on the pale skin. "I am curious and because I am like you; because I do forbidden things such as see colors in a different light, smile, laugh, be happy, and creative, I explore things I want to read upon."

"You are a pleasure slave. There is no more to be curious about."

"What if pleasure and happiness were integrated?"

Naruto said nothing to that. Nor did he say anything as Sasuke began massaging his pale hands up and down tan legs, like he knew all about this.

The blond man's breath hitched. Sasuke's head turned in confusion and wonder as he watched the object raise ever so slowly in Naruto's pants.

Of course, he knew what it was; a penis. He'd seen them aroused all the time, but usually men were ready for him before he arrived. He'd never seen a penis rise like such.

Naruto suddenly felt hot in the face. He felt guilty and disgusted with himself. He wanted to crawl to a place where he felt he would not be ridiculed for looking like such an idiot. Such a...freak.

Slowly, Sasuke grazed a single hand along the man's groin, flinching as it moved like a serpent. He grabbed the hemline of Naruto's trousers, saying not a word, murmuring not a sound.

Finally, the cloth was removed. The penis sprang forward.

Sasuke stared at it. Naruto stared at him.

To Sasuke, it looked powerful; long; smooth. "I am going to touch it now." He whispered before doing so. The base grasped in his hand felt strong and with that hand, Sasuke stroked up and down the shaft of his penis, stopping just short of the head and kneading his fingers carefully back down.

Naruto still sat watching him as he pulled the pants down even more, revealing the sack. Naruto's breath hitched as Sasuke leaned down, pecking them and then put the balls into his mouth. While his hand stroked the penis, the Uchiha busied his tongue in twisting around the balls., His free hand clutching the Uzumaki's inner thigh.

Naruto's breath grew more unsteady by the the seconds and Sasuke revealed a small, sinful smile.

After a while, he felt that maybe Naruto's sack had sufficient attention. He gave the man no warning as he flattened his tongue at the base of the cock and slowly licked the length of his entire penis.

Naruto shook with anticipation. He felt like he was dying; the way his breathing was erratic; his heart thumping, ready to break free; his chest hot.

Sasuke placed both hands around his cock and continued to stroke, choosing to flutter the tip of his tongue at the top.

This was sudden technique was so new to the both of them that Naruto let out an odd sound. His voice was higher than the norm and he covered his mouth, shocked.

Finally, Sasuke took the whole head of the cock in his mouth. He felt his lips part as they wrapped around the imposing crown and he continued to flutter his tongue along Naruto's penis as he put more of it into his pale mouth.

His hands clawed around underneath Naruto's shirt as he worked the man's cock with just his mouth. His head slowly bobbed back and forth, twisting as he moved up and down his shaft.

His eyes stung only slightly when he felt the thick penis touch the back of his throat.

Naruto began to writhe in pleasure. A large hand went through black locks. "I now understand why they chose you to be a whore, Sasuke. You are exceptionally good at this."

Once more, it was no insult and Sasuke hummed, the vibration making Naruto gasp.

Tan hips rocked ever so slightly back and forth as Naruto slid his cock further inside Sasuke's mouth. The Uchiha grabbed his legs and kept his own head still as Naruto guided his long penis in and out of his mouth.

The pleasure slave felt it cease and tense in his mouth.

It throbbed. Naruto clutched on the back of his head and thrust deeply as he finally released down Sasuke's throat.

The blond was shuddering, shaking as he tried catching his breath.

Sasuke pulled the man's pants up and crawled upward, laying his face in the crook of Naruto's neck. "I would like to stay here tonight. Just like this."

"Mhm…" heavy breaths. "Okay."

"I would also like to have intercourse with you when you are healed."

Naruto only hummed. He felt oddly good in all the wrong places. He wanted more, more of what the Uchiha had to offer. Because he'd experienced many times.

But, honest to kami, it never felt this good.

Ha. It is 12:17 in my region of America. This is still technically three days. That only reason it's 17 minutes late is because of that ending scene I decided to add in. True question…. Was it hit or not? Did it leave you wanting more? Hehe.