A/N: Well how 'bout this – chapter five already, and I've managed to keep up timely updates! Hooray! (jumps with joy)

Heh, before getting to the actual chappy… THANK YOU, from the bottom of my heart, for all those AMAZING reviews! (huuuugs) Your comments really, REALLY are precious to me, ya know? (grins and nods)

Awkay, I'll quite the babbling now so you can get to the actual business, un. (grins) I REALLY hope you'll enjoy this one, because I definitely did love writing it!


/ When there was a knock on her door late at night, a part of Mikoto knew to expect trouble. That's why she ushered Itachi into a closet, and would've placed baby Sasuke there as well if she hadn't been crying hysterically.

She frowned when finding her uncle Madara from behind the door. " Now what are you doing here at this hour?" Then she saw the three grim faced soldiers behind the man. Her heart nearly stopped as she began to understand. " What…?" Quite slowly her eyes turned towards her uncle, demanding and filled with fear. " Madara, what's the meaning of this?" (1)

Madara's eyes didn't change. " She's the one", he announced, speaking as though she hadn't been there although he was looking at her. " She let a vampire bite her two years ago. It was the man you just arrested."

Her eyes widened while his fell to Sasuke, who was still crying hysterically. Her eyes smoldered while she tried to shield her baby from prying looks. By then she was trembling pitiably, from rage and about a dozen other emotions. " Don't you dare…!"

Madara didn't seem to even hear. The man's eyes darkened still from their usual shade. " That brat's also a vampire." Dark eyes then darted around. " There's also another child, but he's human. He should be here somewhere."

" Let him starve to death – we got what we came for." The man's – Danzo's, his nametag said – hold was harder than iron when he grabbed her, putting silvery handcuffs to her wrists. She wasn't sure which made her scream more – the way silver burned her skin, or watching how Sasuke was roughly stolen away from her arms. Seeing her tears, the man punched her viciously. " Stop that whining before I break your jaw."

The tears wouldn't stop rolling while she bowed her head, not bearing to look at the still crying Sasuke or the closet in which Itachi was. " Please…" She tried, although she knew those words would be of nose use – she had to try, for the sake of her children. " Don't do this to my babies… Don't make them…"

But it was much too late for any prayers.

The next hit indeed shattered her jawbone.

-

They didn't know that the second child Madara had mentioned was nearby. From the closet he'd been watching the scene with wide, teary child's eyes that simply couldn't comprehend what was happening.

During the three full days Itachi spent in the closet he didn't utter a sound. /


/ Exactly twenty-four hours before the time of her labor, Kushina's eyes were filled with despair and something close to terror while she stood outside the humans' base, shivering as icy wind slashed her skin over and over again like a whip.

She must've stood there for over an hour – repulsed by the looks of pity people passing by gave, as well as despising the suggestive glances soldiers took her way – until the one she'd been waiting for finally arrived.

Danzo's eyes were just as hard and stony as she'd remembered when he stood before her, his gaze flaring with hatred when straying to her mightily swollen bump. " I thought we said everything necessary the last time around."

She was a strong person, but even she had her limits. And right then, hard as she tried, she couldn't help the tears that rose into her eyes. " I… I need your help." Never before had words tasted that bitter in her mouth. She swallowed thickly and closed her eyes for a moment before going on, her whole frame trembling uncontrollably. " They, the vampires… They caught Minato yesterday." When those words were out, when she was finally forced to actually believe them, her eyes overflowed. She didn't wipe the tears away, didn't want to give the still stone-faced man the pleasure of seeing how her hands trembled. " And… I know you can help him – you're the only one who can help him. So please…!"

" I'm not about to let that beast out on the lose just because you were an idiot enough to let him knock you up!" The ferocity of Danzo's voice would've made a lesser soul take several steps backwards. " I'm not jeopardizing my men because of that thing!"

" He's the father of your grandchild, damn it!" she snarled back, tears – this time those of fury – still rolling. She grit her teeth, fought with all her might to keep herself from punching him while the baby kicked persistently inside her. She took several deep, wheezing breaths. " Dad, please…" I'm begging you.

But the man's expression didn't change, didn't soften the slightest. He turned around sharply. " You may be my daughter, but you also made your own choice. Now live with it."
With hot tears rolling and the shivering of her body intensifying, she couldn't hold it back any longer. " I hate you!"

Danzo stopped, for just a second, then kept going as though nothing had happened.

It was the last time they met. /


CHAPTER 5: Betrayals


Naruto's heart thumped while he licked his already very well moist lips before attacking the ones only millimeters away, pouring in absolutely everything there was in him and more.

He was beyond reason, beyond caring, beyond modesty. All he felt was the need inside him, burning like lava.

" You really enjoy scratching me, don't you?" came a rather dry voice that shuddered slightly with the same there was pulsating all over his being.

He grinned, his fingernails trying out the soft skin of the other. " I love listening to you moan."

Sasuke's onyx eyes flashed while meeting his. The vampire's skin – as well as her breath – was hot when she pushed her upper body upwards, erasing absolutely all the distance there'd been and whispering into his ear in a voice he didn't know. " Do you want me to bite deeper?"

He emitted a growl, giving her shoulder a nearly possessive bite. She tasted like salt and something sweet he'd never met before this. " I'm the only one doing the biting here", he all but barked out, making his point even more pronounced with several steamy kisses.

He grinned mischievously when the raven's bag arched and she granted him an easy entrance. " We'll see about that, Naruto."

" Naruto."

He frowned. That wasn't Sasuke's voice.

" Naruto, wake up before I hit you, damn it."

Now that made his eyes fly open – to meet Kiba's face. He blinked twice. " Huh?" Pushing himself into a sitting position he blinked again, trying to comprehend. The disturbing dream was seriously messing his brain functions. " What… Why are you waking me up?"

The brunette gave him a dry look. " Naruto, you were moaning so damn loudly that I'm surprised you didn't manage to wake up half of the place." One eyebrow moved with curiosity. " What were you dreaming about, anyway? It must've been damn good stuff."

He felt his cheeks heat up gloriously while he half glared at his friend and crawled out of the bed. " None of your business, pervert."

Kiba only smirked toothily. " With the sounds you just made, you shouldn't call anyone a pervert."

He threw a pillow at his friend. Then – just as the brunette's head turned – he noticed something that made a frown appear to his face. There was… something on the other's neck – a bruise or something similar he couldn't see clearly with all the shadows hanging in the room. " What the heck is that?"

Kiba – obviously knowing what he'd just spotted – quickly brought a hand to cover the mark from his eyes, and managed to create a grin that almost fooled him. " Nah, it's just a practice injury, that's all – you know how rough those bitches can get."

His frown deepened and his tongue burned with questions wanting crawl out, but in the end he decided against addressing them – Kiba would never tell him the truth when the brunette was like this. So instead he sighed, taking a glance towards the clock. " C'mon then, cat breath", he commanded. " It's time to go to train, anyway."


Sasuke's eyes flew open and she drew in a deep breath, blinking twice at the ceiling above her before her eyes narrowed.

Her dreams were getting far too disturbing.

Emitting a groan she got out of her bed and put on her clothes, eventually leaving the room without making much of a sound.

She needed a lot of fresh air.

Unfortunately as she entered the base building's balcony she found Orochimaru instead of an opportunity to ease her mind. Before she ever managed to hurry away the man's eyes met hers, gleaming a little in moonlight. " Ah, I see you woke up already as well." The man studied her as she took a stand as far away from him as she possibly could. " Did your dreams disturb you?"

She frowned without looking at him. How could he…? " Any news on Gaara?"

Orochimaru, apparently, wasn't entirely pleased with her question. There was a long pause before the man finally spoke. " No. But I've instructed all my… associates to keep their eyes open. I assure you, Sasuke-kun… If he's alive, we'll find him."

The 'if' part made her eyes narrow.

There was a long silence, and she almost managed to forget the man's very unwanted presence until he spoke. " I have a feeling your friend and dreams aren't the only thing bothering you."

" I'm capable of doing my job", she snarled through her teeth. " So long as that doesn't change, I don't feel obligated to give you any further report on the workings of my mind."

" Fair enough." It was incredible, really, that although Orochimaru didn't even approach she felt his touch as he spoke. " Take care of all your duties, and you're allowed to play however you please."

She grit her teeth and all but bit her tongue to wipe away venomous words. She was extremely privileged to have as many liberties as she had, she knew – many vampires from her clan envied her. She couldn't jeopardize her position, no matter how much this all sickened her.

" I need a little walk." With little effort she managed to climb to the edge of the balcony, her by then red eyes directed towards the landscape below. " I'll be back for the midnight briefing." With that she jumped, falling away from Orochimaru's grasp.

-

About ten seconds after Sasuke's departure Orochimaru's eyes moved while Kabuto appeared to the balcony. " Well?"

The younger male nodded. " The half-breed's out."

He grinned icily. It was time to strike. " Send in the troupes." His eyes turned dark, sinister. " We have to take care of this swiftly."


As the raven opened his eyes, he blinked once when meeting nothing but darkness. Then, very slowly, his eyes were able to make out a roof, and his ears sharpened to soft sounds. The last sense to return was feeling, and he shivered when sensing someone wrapping a bandage around his arm, which had been wounded pretty badly when he'd first woken up in this strange place.

" So you finally woke up." Sakura's voice carried something he'd never heard in it before – stiffness, almost. " I was wondering if my mentor's mixture was too strong for you."

Very slowly he turned his gaze, and could just make out Sakura sitting in a chair beside his bed, working on his injuries with such skill that it truly baffled him. It took several moments before he found the strength and will to speak. " How… can you work in this darkness?"

He was fairly sure she smiled slightly. " I've had a lot of practice." She then made a tugging motion, almost bringing pain. " Now hold still and be quiet, so I can get this done."

He frowned, by then convinced something was out of place. " Is… something wrong?" He then clicked. " Have I done something wrong?"

Sakura, apparently, decided to cut the chase." When you slept I saw your tattoo – the raven", she announced, catching him by surprise he wouldn't show. The girl held a long pause. " I know you're a vampire."

He frowned, looking at her with a frown and trying to understand what he saw in her eyes. " Why haven't you gotten rid of me yet?"

The pinkette smiled faintly. " Not all human beings feel that way. I'm just… surprised, that's all." She then got up slowly, picking up the equipment she'd brought along. " I'll come and check up on you as soon as I can. Try to rest – your wounds are healing nicely, but you're still far from full health."

He nodded, feeling bemused while watching her leave and close the door behind her.

It seemed this human cared about him for some reason. She took care of him, ignoring all laws and regulations.

Suddenly things seemed much more complicated than before.

-

Once she was out of the room, Sakura leaned her back heavily against a wall and rubbed her face with one hand. Hard as she tried she couldn't ignore how weak her legs felt, how completely defenseless she was all of a sudden.

She was losing her mind, wasn't she? Getting this worked up over a vampire…

" Sakura." Her mentor's – Tsunade's – voice was all it took to make her jump and almost yelp. The woman frowned. " Is something wrong?"

Miraculously enough she managed to smile. " No. I just…" She glanced swiftly towards the door behind her, hoping the blonde wouldn't notice. " I've been up far too many nights, I guess. I'm tired."

Obviously Tsunade didn't believe her, but didn't press forth, either. " Well, then…" The woman looked towards the door as well. " Did you find out anything?"

She nodded, swallowing. " You were right." For some reason saying those words made her feel cold inside. " He's a vampire."

Tsunade nodded, not appearing surprised. " I had such a feeling." The woman then seemed to come to think of something. " Why don't you make me a cup of tea? There's a ton of paperwork I have to go through. Then go to sleep before you pass out."

She nodded, her mind far away. " Of course, Tsunade-sama", she muttered absentmindedly, starting to make her way towards the kitchen.

" One more thing, Sakura." Tsunade's voice was so sharp that she didn't dare to turn around. " Relationships between different species are complicated, to say the least. Trust me – I've experienced it." There was a pause. " Remember to keep your distance, for your own sake."

She grit her teeth. " I will", she all but breathed out, once more starting to walk away.

If only things had been that simple…


Meanwhile Neji felt something far too close to guilt when he realized that he awakened the female vampire when entering her newest cell. She'd had barely any sleep for quite a long time – she would've needed rest. " I came to make some tests", he announced, his voice just as formal as usual.

She nodded, seeming to try and wake herself up. With how many times over they'd done this her stretch of an arm no longer carried tension – apparently she'd decided to trust his needless, at least a little bit. (For some reason that made him feel… good, almost, although thinking so made him feel like he'd been betraying his girlfriend's memory and his daughter.)

The female's eyes were thoughtful when she pulled her arm from his reach, withdrawing into herself. " You're the only one who doesn't make it hurt", she said after a moment, her voice barely above a whisper. He was surprised when she decided to speak that much – usually 'thank you' or something as short was all he got from her during these visits.

Surprisingly enough he managed to keep his expression rather blank. " Hn." She had no need to know that her words made him feel warm for the first time in a long time. He was mercifully unaware of the fact that his eyes were slightly softer than usual while he put away his equipment. The vampire, on the other hand, wasn't as oblivious.

He frowned when spotting the strange look on her face. " What?" he asked, more harshly than he'd intended.

She shook her head. " Nothing of any importance."

Not really understanding, he focused on what he was doing once more – until something Danzo had given him less than an hour ago slipped to view from under his uniform. It was a rather beautiful bracelet that could be meant for either a man or a woman, made of silver and leather.

The vampire's eyes moved in an instant, locking to the item. He'd never seen a change as dramatic and sudden as the one coming over the female just then. Her green eyes flashed hazardously, and something close to a hiss erupted through her tightly grit teeth. " Where did you get that from?"

He frowned despite himself. " Why do you care?"

Her eyes narrowed, locking with his. " Get out of here, right now", she snarled, a hazardous hue covering her eyes. It was apparent she was more than willing to use force.

He knew there was no point in arguing – he'd only make things worse with staying against her will. That's why he turned slowly, starting to make his way out and wondering what had happaned. " I'll stop by again later. Maybe you'll be calmer then."

The vampire didn't respond.

He wondered why he felt as bad as he did when leaving the room, admitting defeat. As soon as he closed the door he could hear a vicious scream from the room.

-

Kimimaro inhaled and exhaled sharp, wheezing breaths, her eyes blazing with rage and tears she wouldn't shed in this place.

They… had Gaara. Those bastards had actually caught Gaara, trapped him the way they had her to do who knows what.

And she… She'd been an idiot enough to almost allow herself to believe that perhaps Neji wasn't like the others.

Her eyes narrowed to slits while she brought a protective hand to the bump in which her child grew – she and Gaara's child.

This was no time to get sentimental. She'd have to work fast if she wanted to save her family.

She wasn't planning on rotting in this place much longer.

-
Stood in an observation room that opened a much too clear visual into to room and towards the vampire, Sai felt somewhat sick to his stomach when watching her anguish.

No being deserved that.

" Well, I think this confirms that one knows the male – they must be from the same clan. The ogre she carries may be his." Danzo's eyes were sharp, almost chilling. " This is going to be interesting."


In the meantime Naruto found his instincts leading him once more. Although he wasn't in his wolf form his moves were swift and suave while he zoomed through alleyways and passed by a building after another. Then, so suddenly that he confused even himself, he stopped before fire ladder and climbed up as fast as he possibly could.

For some reason he wasn't surprised at all when he noticed Sasuke as soon as he got up, sitting cross-legged a beat away from the roof's edge.

In a second her gaze turned towards him, and her eyes flashed. " You again."

He grinned, approaching without an invitation. " Nice to meet you out of trouble for once", he commented.

The raven scoffed. " In case you haven't noticed, trouble often follows on your tales, idiot. I'm expecting you to have at least half of a army chasing you."

Half jokingly he peered over his shoulder. " Nope, no one there, unless you count some pretty nasty looking crows."

Sasuke looked away, appearing mildly amused. " Hn." She went on after several seconds. " Shouldn't you go back to your pack before they find out what's going on?"

He shook his head without even thinking. " Nah. I'm having way too much fun here."

Sasuke's eyebrow rose. " You know what the law says about this kind of interaction."

He shrugged, taking a seat without even thinking about it. " Yup." Koharu had reminded him so many times that he remembered much too clearly. " But… It doesn't matter that much." He yawned foxily and stretched, his skin almost touching the female's. " With this view, I'd say fuck the stupid rules and laws." Neither of them noticed that his eyes flashed towards Sasuke.

Was that a smile he saw almost catching a hold of the Uchiha? " Dobe."

He rolled his eyes, only to notice that a smile wouldn't stay away.

Suddenly the city spreading far below them didn't seem threatening or gloomy. Actually, with the torches placed everywhere it seemed to be filled with fallen stars.

" You know…", he murmured after a second of thinking. " I kinda understand why you like coming here."

Sasuke shot a halfhearted glare his way. " I come here because it's quiet here. So shut it before I push you off the roof."

He made a small, rather amused sound, refocusing on the view. He never noticed that his hand crept slowly to side and grabbed the vampire's.

He knew there was a great chance of someone finding out what he – they – were doing. But at the moment all threats and punishments felt impossibly distant.

He'd never been one to worry about the future too much. Why should he start now?


When Kiba woke up from the slumber into which he'd sunken after hard training, the hair in the back of his neck immediately rose high up and his eyes flashed while cold shivers of dread ran through him.

Something was seriously wrong.

Making far more noise than he'd first intended he got out of the bed and all but stormed out of his room, ignoring the fact that he had only his boxers on and barely noticing that Naruto still hadn't returned. What he found when entering the building's main hall made him freeze and his face blanch.

Vampires, at least half more of them than he knew there to be werewolves in the building. They'd been sloppy enough to get ambushed in their most important base.

His eyes grew significantly, and his breath hitched. " Oh fuck…"


As per usual, Danzo's face carried no emotions apart from annoyance as he entered a laboratory, followed by Neji whom he'd ordered to come along. " I understood you had an important demonstration for me", he stated gruffly, feeling revulsion when seeing the redheaded male vampire strapped to a chair nearby. The male's eyes mirrored his emotions.

" Yes, I do." His best scientist Gatô had what looked like an expression of excitement on his face while the man started to work on the vampire. " You see, I just finished the new type of silver – I found the part we'd been doing wrong." The man took a huge needle, pulling gray, liquid looking substance into it. " This new prototype is even more effective than the one we had at first – unlike the first version this attacks directly to a vampire's cells, then explodes them from the inside."

His eyebrow rose with genuine curiosity. " Are you sure it works?"

" Of course." Gatô didn't seem to even notice how the vampire gave a restrained wince when the man placed a cuff extremely tightly around the redhead's right arm, then injected the serum. " I'll isolate the damage to only one limb, to give you a demonstration."

He nodded sharply, anticipation making his skin tingle.

At first it looked like nothing was going to happen. Then, so quickly it caught him by surprise, the vampire's skin started to change – bubble. Blisters appeared one after another, and as they burst one by one more and more skin died away. The vampire fought remarkably long and bravely – most definitely forcing himself to show no other signs of discomfort but trembling – but in the end a loud, nearly animalistic howl of pain after another erupted. In the end the redhead fell unconscious, the pain undoubtedly becoming more than he could bear. In a matter of three minutes the limb had been damaged far beyond repair.

Danzo found himself trembling with excitement, barely daring to believe.

Gatô grinned somewhat wickedly. " See? I told you my product would work. And the best is that anything can be made of it – bullets, weapons, bombs, gas… The effect is always the same."

He nodded, his flashing eyes barely noticing anything but the suffering being before him. He could hardly believe that after so many years they'd finally succeeded. " Neji." His voice was filled with emotions he couldn't hold back. " Get the money. Give Gatô anything he wants. Then call Madara and tell him it's time."

The brunette nodded curtly before leaving. If he'd paid more attention he might've noticed nausea on the boy's face.

His breath hitched while he balled his fists to keep himself from roaring victoriously.

It'd been done – finally. They had the perfect weapon against both their enemies.

They were ready for a full flexed attack.


TBC, if you want it to.


1) Just to clear things out, in this story Mikoto is a member of the Uchiha family. I haven't decided if Fugaku's surname needs to be mentioned later yet.


A/N: Oh dear… (gulps) It looks like things are only heading downhill from here. Poor… everyone! (almost huggles, but changes mind when seeing A LOT of glares)

Gah, I've gotta get going now! PLEASE, leave a review before tuning out – you know how much hearing from you means to me, ne? And I've got a ton of chocolate chip cookies I'm not indenting to eat… (wink)

'Til next update – 'hope ya'll all stop by then!

Take care!


The species and genders of characters (male/female):

Werewolves: Naruto (m), Kiba (m), Koharu Utatane (f)

Vampires: Sasuke (f), Gaara (m), Kimimaro (f), "the stranger" (m), Orochimaru (m), Kabuto (m), Suigetsu (m), Juugo (m), Karin (f) (Zaku (m)) / Kakashi (m) / Konan (f), Hidan (m), Kakuzu (m)

Humans: Neji (m), Sakura (f), Sai (m), Shikamaru (m), Shino (m), Danzo (m), Gatô (m)

Unconfirmed: Tsunade (f), Temari (f), Madara (m)