Okay guys, this is something you don't want to hear... I am putting Spring in the middle of Winter on hold. Gah! I am so sorry for those who are waiting for that to update. I know I said I would soon, and I honestly thought I would, but I am enraptured (If thats the right word) with this one and I have had a sudden major writer's block with that story and would be great if someone could give me suggestions for that one... anyway, here chapter four. Lol, its longer this time. I think about seven pages on word... hey, I'm improving.

Anyways, this time its a song called 'Thank you!' by Dido.

Lol, anyways, Enjoy:

Chapter four: Thank you
My tea's gone cold, I'm wondering why
I got out of bed at all
The morning rain clouds up my window
and I can't see at all
And even if I could it'd all be grey,
but your picture on my wall
It reminds me that it's not so bad,
it's not so bad

::T.Y::

To see everything move as if they weren't really there. To fight with a subconscious mind as they never really look at their opponent. Always, always watching, turning, blocking and intercepting each attack as the opponent got angrier.

"Do not underestimate me," Naruto, in the face of his other self, Juan, said detachedly, "Do not underestimate me only because I'm a mere teenager Hatake." His eyes showed no emotion as he watched in slow motion as Kakashi brought in another attack.

Naruto fought with half a mind as he dodged each movement with a grace only a fox could provide. "I am not your everyday opponent Hatake. Stop fighting me with half of your potential."

Naruto finally did a couple of hand seals as Kakashi, yet again, aiming a punch, but before it reached Naruto, roots sprouted out of the ground at amazing speed as he whispered the attack and twisted around Kakashi's body, making him immobile. Naruto gave Kakashi a shadowed smile.

"You're the one underestimating me!" He said, his cool, calm composure lost somewhere in the battle between them, "You stupid kid, do you think I could be defeated so easily."

Naruto shook his head. "I know you as the copy ninja from Konoha. With the fact you hadn't even showed me your Sharingan eye proves that you are underestimating me, thinking that you could defeat with half of what you can pull. I'm disappointed."

Kakashi's visible eye glared at Naruto hard and Naruto got a brief flashback of Kakashi smiling at him in his younger days. Naruto smiled softly at the former teacher and Kakashi's eyes widened in surprise at the smile. Just, why in the seven depths of hell was Naruto smiling? …Naruto just couldn't hate him and his former friends for too long. It wasn't really their fault that they hold such great hatred towards Kyuubi.

"I really am a fool," Naruto said as Kakashi looked at him with more confusion than he'd seen in his life, "I really am," he repeated as he pressed a pressure point on Kakashi's neck as the adult fought for consciousness. The last thing he heard before going out was, "See you Kakashi Sensei…"

Naruto dispelled the jutsu and Kakashi fell onto the ground with a thud. Naruto sighed and looked at the night sky, then proceeded towards the mansion, already seeing that Itachi and Kisame had gone through this side as scattered bodies lay on the ground unmoving.

Naruto winced as the wind blew on his wound on his arm that Kakashi managed to inflict earlier with Chidori. He had to be more careful next time. The only reason he got hit was because his mind was wandering off as they fought. He sighed as he ran through the estate, seeing the ninja that were protecting the Hintatori estate were either unconscious or dead.

Naruto sighed. Oh well, shit happens. At least Kisame and Itachi were kind enough to let some of them live.

"Juan! What are you doing?" a voice called out and his head whipped around to see…

::T.Y::

Kisame grinned maniacally as he held Samehada in front of himself. Itachi was on the other side of the estate probably killing with more grace than Kisame… not like the shark-like man cared. The ninja made hand seals as Kisame attacked and realised as a lamp was smashed into pieces that the ninja had used Kawarimi no jutsu.

Kisame looked about him, pinpointing where the ninja was hiding. Kisame grinned evilly, "You cannot hide from me!"

The ninja's eyes widened as Kisame came at him fast. He quickly did hand seals and slammed his hand onto the ground. "Doton Doruki Gaeshi!" He said quickly as a mud wall appeared before him as protection, but it was useless. Kisame merely broke the wall that guarded the poor ninja before he lay in his own blood.

::T.Y::

Itachi closed his eyes as he sensed a dark figure following him. He smirked to himself as he recognised who it was. "Sasuke," he said in monotone. He turned around to be faced with his little brother who had an angry fire burning in his eyes.

"What did you do to Naruto!" he yelled at Itachi, "What sort of hypnotism did you use to make him follow you!"

Itachi smirked at his fuming younger brother and decided to amuse him before they fought. "I assure, otouto, Naruto is all good and well… for now." Sasuke narrowed his eyes at him. "As for the hypnotism… I assure you, I did nothing. He came with me willingly."

"Bullshit!" Sasuke said as he charged at Itachi with chidori, "You liar! Give him back!"

Itachi caught Sasuke's hand and as he did, he felt some kind of Déjà vu, like this had happened before. The attack dispersed from the 18-year-old's hand. Itachi pushed the teen to the wall hard and held him up by the neck, Itachi's blazing red. "Do you think I'd ever give him back to you to that hellhole? If you hadn't noticed while you were so obsessed with gaining power from Orochimaru and poking a hole in your best friend's chest you would have noticed that he was slowly breaking."

Itachi's hand tightened around Sasuke's neck as he held Itachi's wrist, trying to get it off him as he choked. Itachi stared at Sasuke with hatred, red eyes blazing. He shouldn't have let him live and killed them with the rest of the family.

- Flashback -

Naruto sat in front of a cave of the mountains as he overlooked the view of a village, his chin on his knees. It wasn't the village of Konoha, but it still reminded him of his old home as he stared down at the working village. The wind blew about his body making him pull the Akatsuki cloak wrapped around him tightly even more closely to him. It was cold. Of course the Akatsuki cloak was warm… but he was cold.

Itachi watched the boy from the cave mouth. The boy hadn't been smiling ever since he left the cursed village and he was shivering. Did the boy still miss the place? That place was a hell hole, that didn't even look passed outer appearances…

"You know Itachi," The boy's soft voice reaching his ears and Itachi looked at the boy questioningly. "I miss Konoha, but I'm glad I left it be… cause I know I would have sunk lower into… depression."

The smell of salt reached Itachi's nose and he knew the boy was crying and Itachi made a move and sat beside the boy. Naruto choked a sob. "But… you kn-know," he said, trying to keep his voice steady, "Th-there were still happy times… B-but it all turned b-bad when Orochimaru off-offered him power. H-he was s-so ob-obsessed with i-it that h-he we-went as far as using Chidori on me and made a hole through my chest i-in an attempt to k-kill me…

"B-but I still ma-managed to get him unconscious with Rasengan and carried his body back to Konoha," Tears poured down his face and Itachi felt a little uncomfortable, never dealing with this before. Hesitantly he brought his arms around the small frame and hugged him as he sobbed.

"B-but I… I never got one thank you," he sobbed out, "I was half dead, but they cared more about their precious Uchiha that they didn't noticed my wounds 'til almost too late. Even Sakura went back to being a bi-bitch and once everyone found about Kyuubi, everyone hated me…" he hiccupped as he buried his head even more into Itachi's warmth, "Everyone… thought I was going to kill him… He was my best friend and he… almost k-killed me…"

Itachi's grip tightened around him as the boy sobbed and for some odd reason he kissed the boy's forehead in an odd way to comfort him. "Naruto-kun," he said softly, "Don't worry, I'll be here to protect you. Those people can no longer hurt you."

- End of flashback -

Itachi's eyes blazed angrily at the choking and gasping teen before him as his scratched at Itachi's wrist. "I would never let anyone like you go near him," he slammed him into the wall again for more effect. Itachi narrowed his eyes, "No one from your village will never go near and hurt him again…"

Itachi stared at Sasuke for a while before he scowled and let him drop. "You're pathetic… you're not worth killing."

He let Sasuke drop to the ground gasping for breath. Sasuke glared at Itachi, "Do not… underestimate me!" he said in a raspy voice as Itachi turned away from his brother, "I'm not going to ever listen to your lies!" Sasuke threw kunai with extreme speed, but Itachi dodged them with graceful movements.

::T.Y::

Naruto looked back and saw Shikamaru and Neji looking at him. "Juan, what are you doing here? It's dangerous," Neji exclaimed, "We're in the middle of battle." Naruto's eyes widened as they didn't think of him as the perpetrator of the crime that's going underhand… He could use this.

"You're injured," Shikamaru stated, seeing the blood trail down Naruto's arm and drip on the floor and he noticed not too far away Kakashi lay on the ground unconscious. He looked at Naruto with suspicion, but didn't say anything… yet.

Naruto gulped. Okay, what lie could he make up this time…? Shit, he was screwed. "It's nothing, a wound just reopened when I got up and yeah…"

Oh man he was really screwed and he knew that by the way Neji was staring at him with narrowed suspicions. Naruto tried to run. Oh crap, he couldn't… He was stuck in Shikamaru's shadow bind. "Shit!" he swore.

"Neji check on Kakashi," Shikamaru said crossing his hands so Naruto's hands was not near any weapon. "I can deal with Juan, after all, he can't move."

Neji nodded and quickly checked on Kakashi and looked at Shikamaru with shock. "He's just passed out. There aren't any injuries."

Shikamaru narrowed his eyes at Naruto. What exactly is his intention? He watched as Naruto struggled and his eyes widened as Naruto managed to move and break free and collapse on the ground panting. How the hell did he do that?

Naruto looked at them both on his guard. He knew he was already screwed as it was. His injured arm, the surrounding dead bodies, Kakashi unconscious. Yup, he was screwed.

Naruto narrowed his fake green eyes at them, "Do not get in my way. I thank you both for helping me earlier, but you will not get in the way of my mission here," he said in a deadly low voice, "Leave me be and I promise you, your lives will be spared."

Neji and Shikamaru looked at the opposing boy incredulously. "Look here," Neji said, "We are ninjas. We would not abandon our mission to protect people so we could save our own lives."

"Very well," Naruto snarled, "You have chosen and I would not spare you." Oh hell, he knew it was a lie and they would probably end up like Kakashi… only with a few injuries this time. "At least entertain me this time."

All three were in a fighting stance. Naruto closed his eyes. These two were stronger than they were three years ago. It wouldn't be easy as Kakashi in half his strength. Naruto opened his eyes and stared at his two opponents.

"You cannot catch me again in that shadow bind. I've already seen it once," Naruto said, his voice void of emotion.

Neji watched the teen before them. Why was he doing this…? What exactly was his mission? Does he work with…? Oh hell no…! Could he really be…?

"Are you working with the Akatsuki?" Neji asked, narrowing his eyes.

Naruto smirked at the question. He figured that Shikamaru already figured out, but didn't think Neji would catch on nearly as quick. "Sharp one," he said, "But I bet you already figured out, ne, Nara-kun?"

Shikamaru looked at him and narrowed his eyes. How did he know his name? This teenager knew something that they didn't. Knew them, yet they didn't know… He paused. The covered cheeks… why he spared Kakashi… of course, it all fit. Why didn't he see earlier? He stood up lazily getting out of his stance. Neji looked at him curiously.

"Well, Juan, if that is who you really are," he droned out lazily, "I don't feel like fighting you this day." Neji looked at him with suspicion, "But I do not want you to go ahead with the mission. Tell me honestly, why are you with the Akatsuki?"

Naruto sighed. He should have known Shikamaru would have figured it out. Oh well, he did slip up a few times. "So you know," he said standing straight, slightly sighing, "You know, I went with them willingly. What is there to do when everyone practically hates you once they find out about your secret? I couldn't exactly stay."

Neji looked between the two. What in the world were they both saying? Were they friends? This Akatsuki member and Shikamaru? Lazy Shikamaru.

"I'm guessing you're about to spill my whereabouts and what I'm doing to everyone?" Naruto said, eye's watching both teens suspiciously. "Cause me more pain? I don't blame you Nara-kun. After all, I am a demon in my own rights, aren't I?"

Shikamaru shrugged. "Believe it or not, I figured it out when you had your match in the Chuunin exams. I didn't bother telling anyone then."

Naruto looked at him shocked and Neji thought it'd be time to speak. Still on his guard he asked, "What are you guys on about? He's part of the Akatsuki Shikamaru. I suggest putting past feelings aside and start fighting!" And with the last word, he threw five kunai at Naruto and his eyes widened as he just stood there smiling and taking the hit.

Both Shikamaru and Neji were in immediate alarm as he disappeared in a puff of smoke, but were knocked out as their pressure points were hit and the last word that they heard was 'Sorry' with an echo of two voices of the same person.

Naruto stared sadly down at the two unconscious figures before and sneaked a note into Shikamaru's pocket with a sigh. They spent so much time speaking that they hadn't noticed he had clones around. Oh well. At least they were able to escape injuries. God help him if he were to meet Sasuke. Although former friend, Naruto held some kind of grudge against him. It was his fault he nearly died, it was his fault that everyone thought he was trying to kill him and it was his fault he suddenly felt everything leave him.

Naruto knew he wouldn't let Sasuke off that easily.

Naruto ran into the building, staining his hands with blood of ninjas as he made his way to find the scroll and the Hintatori members.

::T.Y::

Sasuke panted as he glared at Itachi, Itachi almost in the same situation, only not as puffed out. The brothers glared at each other. Kisame came into view of the fight and blinked.

He looked at Itachi, "Oyo, Itachi, hurry up will you. I have the scrolls. Let's just kill off the members now. Anyways, our little buddy is waiting on us. He took care of the other Konoha nin."

Sasuke glared and looked at Kisame suspiciously. Little buddy? He thought to himself. This wasn't right. Akatsuki only travelled in pairs and only ever rarely did they ask for help.

Itachi nodded. "It seems that I have very little time to waste on you little brother," he smirked and then sneered, "I won't be as tolerant next time. I will say this once, and only once: Naruto will never go back to Konoha." With that he left and Sasuke fell onto the ground in a tired heap. He'd get Itachi next time…

::T.Y::

Naruto looked at Itachi from the tree he was leaning on before running up and hugging him. Something common in the group since Naruto joined. "Yay!" he said happily, his features back to normal, "I missed you. I haven't seen you in ages!"

Itachi mentally sighed, "It's only been a day." He said to the teen. He put an arm around the teen's shoulders and looked at Kisame.

"They seemed to be very weak," Kisame said shrugging as they fled off into the brightening sky. Naruto nodded in agreement as he jumped with his group. The Hintatori clan; they specialised in the Earth. Controlling it without the need of hand seals and even if that were the case, they didn't seem to fight back very well.

::T.Y::

Kakashi groaned as he woke up, feeling that his back was very stiff. On a nearby rock, he saw Sasuke in a sedative manner, sitting with his eyes closed. "We failed," he said to Kakashi in a soft voice. Not far from him, Neji and Shikamaru were unconscious.

Kakashi looked around with blank eyes. … They had failed and hell, the Akatsuki didn't even try…

"Kukiria Juan is gone too," he said quietly, opening his obscured eyes and looked at Kakashi. "Do you know anything of that?" Kakashi sighed as the other two began waking up, "And how you three are unconscious, even though you don't have a scratch on you?"

Kakashi blinked and checked himself. Indeed, he had no injuries. "You can't be serious," he said and looked at the now awake figures of Neji and Shikamaru and both were also unharmed.

Shikamaru stood up and put his pockets in his hands, feeling a suspicious brush of paper. However, he ignored it for now and stared at the now ruined estate. He looked at Sasuke. "Kukiria Juan was part of the Akatsuki."

At this Sasuke visibly stiffened and he looked at Shikamaru. "What?" he said.

Shikamaru sighed. "So troublesome. I said—"

"I know what you said!" he exclaimed, "I am saying we practically let them inside. We let that Juan kid, Itachi and Kisame in!" he said, causing Neji to widen his eyes.

Itachi and Kisame were here! And he was dealing with the kid! Shikamaru, however, had a feeling, as soon he had figured out that Juan was Naruto. Why he hadn't told them yet, was puzzling to him. He hadn't told them of Kyuubi the first time he had felt the power, nor had he told them of Naruto's appearance. Oh no, he felt sad actually that he had lost the blonde idiot.

It was Konoha's entire fault. A boy could only take in so much hatred and be so forgiving. Shikamaru knew he was bound to break. No, Shikamaru felt he had lost a good friend. A friend who was none other than himself and not some monster sealed to save their godforsaken lives. So, no one really deserved to know of Naruto's appearance.

"Let's get moving and report to the Hokage," Kakashi said solemnly, "There is nothing else we could do."

They all nodded and went off. Shikamaru stayed for a bit and took out the note placed in his pocket and smiled. Four simple words, but Shikamaru was happy with that. He placed it back in his pocket and ran after the others.

Thank you, old friend.

::T.Y::

Push the door, I'm home at last
and I'm soaking through and through
Then you hand me a towel
and all I see is you
And even if my house falls down,
I wouldn't have a clue
Because you're near me and

I want to thank you
for giving me the best day of my life
Oh just to be with you
is having the best day of my life

Hey hey, how was that? Good? bad? In the middle? Lol, people, need those reviews! Anyways, Secret13! I'd love it if you'd be my Beta reader... only I never got your email address xD. Anyways, Love you all and review!

-SxT