Thanks for the so many reviews! I'm hitting over 18000 views on this right now! It makes me so happy! Thank you all again!

BTW- I'm in the process of making 2 other SasuNaru fanfictions. That and RPing and homework up to my neck. So yeah thanks again for your patience. But onto this matter!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto… or Sasuke… I wish I did cause then I'd have them mouth muffled

Chapter 11

Ceremony of Earth

Or the Sasuke Remembrance Chapter

"Nii-san!" A little boy yelled over towards the other who was coming into the gates of the family territory. Bending down the older one caught his younger brother in a tight embrace.

"I missed you Nii-san!" The little boy said to his elder brother burying his head in his brother's chest holding the fabric of his ANBU uniform in his small delicate hands. The other took his brothers hands and smiled at the other boy. "How was school today Sasuke?"

--

Sasuke woke up during the night again, hearing his brother's voice was creepy. It sounded like he was really there. Maybe it was just a figment of his imagination. His brother couldn't really be with him could he? No his brother passed away years ago… Maybe the voice of the elder could still be heard if listened to hard enough. Looking around Sasuke only saw trees, hearing the sound of the calling wind. The voice of the night was dark and mysterious, just like Itachi's voice. He kept the voice dear to him and nothing took it away from him thus far.

Sasuke stood up feeling a wave of dizziness from the cold he knew was coming on. Shaking his head from the feeling Sasuke walked a little ways away. From the camp that he and Kakashi set up Sasuke noticed a place that he hadn't been to for years. Touching the cold dead bark of the beaten up tree he remembered all that his brother had taught him here.

"Nii-san how did you do that?" Sasuke shook his head as he saw the two figures in front of him. Noticing them to be part of his imagination he walked around a little bit more. He knew he should be resting for the rigorous training that was coming for him the next day but as he heard the dark voice beckoning to him he had to fallow. It called to him by name repeatedly and it was as if Sasuke was the only one who could hear it. "Sasuke… Sasuke…"

He knew that the voice was leading him somewhere. And he just had to figure out where. His curiosity was strong and he knew the voice somewhere.

"Sasuke… where'd you go?" He heard it call to him. It was new to Sasuke to hear the voice ask. The voice was getting louder and Sasuke had to know what was there. When he got to the place the voice beckoned him. He saw a crystal lake, frozen over by ice. Sasuke saw someone at the edge of the lake looking like they were going to cross. Sasuke went down to the edge and that was when he heard the voice from the person he was going to.

"There you are Sasuke… I've been waiting for you to come…" Noticing the voice Sasuke took a step closer. Seeing a man with silver hair and one eye being covered by the headband, Sasuke noticed it to be Kakashi.

"The night is beautiful is it not?" Sasuke looked across the barren frost covered land. For the length he could see was all snow that was illuminating a brightness that ones eyes could describe as an eerie glow. The frost covered lake could only become such a sight because of the moon that was hovering above. It was to be a full moon in a few days on the ceremony of Fire. He knew it wasn't going to be this snow covered in Konoha on that day for everything would heat up with the fire ceremony.

"It is…" Sasuke replied back. He watched as clouds hovered over the moon causing everything to go dark. "Why did you call me here?" He asked the question that had been on his mind for a while.

"Your mind is clouded by thoughts of wants and desires… Your brother should've taught you better that way." Sasuke looked over at Kakashi with glaring obsidian eyes. "How do you know my brother…?" Kakashi smiled under his mask.

"You need not know how I know him… He would come and visit Naruto every once in a while between his ANBU missions. He would tell all of us of his little brother about how he needed to get home to see him. Kyuubi-sama told us that he was to be trusted, so we allowed him into the city to talk with our King. No one but Kyuubi knows what he told your brother that day but the memory is clear to all of us…You might want to listen through training today. This will be a long story…." And training began along with Kakashi's story.

--Flashbaku!

Itachi walked slowly on the path between the different nations. The path known as the animal god path. It was said that all of the gods met on the mountain and were claimed to live there. Itachi crept into the trees as travelers from the rock country came by on the path. Itachi stayed in the tree listening carefully to them talk.

"I told you there was no such thing as an animal god!" One of them said to another.

"Then how do you explain the ones they sell on the black market! We'll get an animal god of our own and use it as a sex toy. I hear they love to be fucked no matter how many times you do it to them…" The other said to his companion.

"Really! Then what are we waiting for? Let's get one for ourselves…" Itachi shook his head; he knew he should have his mask on about now to cover his face so he reached for it. Grabbing it out of his shirt where he kept it close to his heart he placed the mask on his face. Jumping down once the coast was clear he continued on his way.

--

An hour later as Itachi was reaching the end of the mountain path, he was going to reach his descent. Itachi carefully placed one foot in front of the other and tried not to loose his footing on the edge of the mountain. Placing his right foot next he was close to his goal of reaching the path again. Once on the trail he kept walking and noticed some more travelers. Hiding in the trees again Itachi watched as they went by.

"Did you hear? The king's son is probably out today. If we get him then we'll be rich!"

"Yeah, he'll put up a fight but he's still just a kit at the moment." All of the group laughed and went into the forest. Itachi knew this to be a bad omen for them. It was forbidden to go into the Animal God forest. He was even now breaking the rule but it was for the safety of his Village and his Identity.

Itachi came down from the tree and began to walk, after a while of walking Itachi heard a scream come from the forest. A loud enough scream that anyone could've heard it. Itachi instinctively moved towards the sound. Hearing it come within the forest Itachi went inside forgetting everything he was taught in his training. His job right now was to help whoever was in need at the moment.

Itachi beheld a little child of about 5 at the time struggling from the hold of the men. Itachi stepped on a twig mentally hitting himself for making his cover blown. All eyes were upon him as he was frozen in place with his cold poise and his mask covering his eyes.

"What do you want wimp?" There were two things you never did to an Uchiha. Challenge them and step on their pride. And that man did both… Itachi threw a shuriken at the man skillfully and no body saw it until the man fell over dead. Watching as their companion fell to the ground they looked over towards the ANBU member who was taking out his weapons. One had his arms on the little child and Itachi knew more then anyone that they were trying to rape the poor boy or take him prisoner. Itachi appeared in front of the man and stabbed him in the chest ripping his kunai out of the flesh keeping blood from spilling on the little child.

The other men were long gone before Itachi had time to deal with them. His only priority was to figure out where this child was from.

"It's okay. You'll be fine now… They can no longer harm you…" The little boy looked up at him and that was when Itachi saw them.

Cute little orange ears popping out of yellow hair. Bright blue orbs that shined brighter because of the tears in them. Nine small but fluffy tails growing from the boys tail bone. Itachi saw the little underdeveloped teeth that were only good enough to chew rats or small animals. Little paw like hands were bundled up near his chin and feet scarred from running around barefoot… But the looks of his clothes that were now quite undone the child was most likely royalty because of the sashes he wore and the highly expensive material that made up his autumn colors.

"You wont hurt me like you did them will you!" The little boy cried at him, when Itachi shook his head the boy jumped into his arms and began to bawl. Itachi cradled the boy close to him like he would his brother when Sasuke was a young child of this age. "Don't leave me alone…" The little boy cried as he nuzzled himself into Itachi's embrace.

Soldiers surrounded Itachi at that moment and Itachi pulled out his kunai blades again grabbing the child tighter to himself as if he were protecting his younger brother from danger. Looking at his enemies he realized they had ears and tails like the little child. But how was Itachi to know that they were enemies or not. Itachi watched as one took a step closer. The child looked at them and brightened.

"Kakashi-sensei!" So apparently the child knew who they were. Itachi let the child loose but the child still clung to him. Itachi stood up with the child in his arms still. Walking towards the man known to be Kakashi he placed the child down. The child looked at him and clung to his leg begging him not to go. Itachi looked at the man and bowed his head in apology.

"I'm sorry; does he belong to your group?" The man nodded and bent down. "Naruto-sama… you need to come home before your father gets scared." Itachi now knew the child's name. Naruto… such a beautiful name for a sweet innocent child.

Naruto stuck out his tongue, "I don't want to go back until daddy get's here!" In a gush of wind a man appeared beside "Kakashi" and ran to Naruto. "Speak of the devil" Kakashi muttered.

"Naruto!" Grabbing the child from Itachi he cradled him in his arms like a new born child softly rubbing his cheek against the young boy's hair. Looking at Itachi the man was confused. "Who are you?"

Naruto looked at him and smiled brightly, "He is nice man! He saved Naru-chan's life!" The man looked the other straight in the eyes. Itachi knew now this man had to be Naruto's father. By the looks of it Itachi was being praised at by the other.

"Please ANBU-san… there is no need for your mask here. The only people that are allowed to go to Konoha or anywhere at that are Kakashi here, Gai over there and myself. I am Uzumaki Arashi…"

"No yous not silly! That's not your name!" Naruto giggled at his father. Itachi recognized the name as the 4th hokage. Bowing instantly to the other Itachi lowered his head. "Forgive me Hokage-sama. I did not know this was your son…" Arashi smiled and told him to lift his head.

"Not many know of him… Only poachers who have direct links with my kindred. And I'm not known as Hokage around here ANBU-san… I am only known as Kyuubi around these parts." Itachi raised his head and beheld Kyuubi. He was like Naruto in all ways except his eyes which were a reddish-orange. Two dark slits piercing through the middle of the calm narrowed eyes.

"Please ANBU-san… remove your mask from here. I must know who the man responsible for saving my son was." Itachi obeyed the Hokage and took off his mask. Immediately he heard an intake of breath as Kyuubi looked at him. Dark red eyes with 3 tomoe were activated. But quickly went back to dark obsidian.

"Fugaku… san?" Itachi's eyes went into a state of confusion. "That is my father's name, Uchiha Fugaku… Mine is Uchiha Itachi." Kyuubi was smiling at him…

"I've known about you for a while Itachi… Please come to the castle…" Itachi knew he had no time to talk go with them. He had to get back to Konoha… to his little brother… To Sasuke…

"I'm sorry Kyuubi-sama. But I really have no time to do this… I need to get to Konoha as soon as possible." Kyuubi placed his hand on Itachi's shoulder. Digging deep into the thoughts of the other he found what the other was talking about. Quickly pulling away Itachi backed off. "I'm sorry… I really need to go."

"You're brother will be fine…" Kyuubi stated. Itachi froze in place and look at the other. "You don't understand my reasoning…" Itachi stated. Naruto squirmed in his fathers grasp, jumping off of it he quickly ran over to Itachi.

"Itachi is your name?" Naruto asked him. Itachi looked into those eyes. Crystal blue eyes that spoke his emotions, and right now he was sad Itachi was leaving. When Itachi looked into them he saw Sasuke and the sight made him snap out of it.

"Yes little one that is my name…" Naruto's eyes beamed at the sound of hearing Itachi's name that he jumped at the other.

"Then Naru call you 'tachi-nii!" Itachi closed his eyes and looked over at Kyuubi again.

"I really must be going Kyuubi-sama. My brother will be deathly worried if I'm not home by tomorrow morning."

"Then by all means you should get going. But please be sure to stop by any time you wish. My castle's walls are always open to you." Itachi bowed and then was gone.

--

Sasuke listened as Kakashi finished the story. While working on his endurance again and also building up speed.

"You brother Itachi was welcomed into our lands as one of us. There was no controversy against him being a human but it was because he was accepted by the king that everyone was happy with Itachi there. And to tell you the truth, Naruto thought him to be his Nii-san and loved him very much." Sasuke was a little jealous of his brother that he was accepted into the Animal God territory so easily. Just because he saved Naruto's life or something along those lines.

"You brother was an amazing man and so are you Sasuke. But I must wonder what happened to him. Six years ago he just stopped visiting all together."

Sasuke stopped his training as he looked at the ground. "He died…" Simply stated by the others mouth.

"How did he die?" Kakashi asked, desperately wanting to know. Sasuke looked towards the sky that was getting close to midday by now. "He killed himself… after that my family started to die off until I was the only one left. I don't know how it happened. But I saw my brother die before my eyes." And with that Sasuke began his training again. Trying to avoid Kakashi seeing the tears that were forming quickly in his eyes.

--

Naruto sighed as he looked at the pictures of Itachi and Sasuke that were hanging up on the walls. There were only a few but they were the ones that stood out the most. There were ones of Itachi and his group age. And one of Sasuke by his lonesome. But the more beautiful ones were of Itachi and Sasuke. The two men he loved the most. Besides his father and Gaara…

Naruto missed the way Itachi would visit him when he was five. He was 10 when Itachi stopped his visits and Naruto felt alone for the first time in his life. The same feeling was in his gut right now. He missed Sasuke dearly and wished that he'd come home before the ceremony that was tomorrow.

But knowing Kakashi the training would last for a long while.

Turning towards the window Naruto looked out it noticing how dull and empty the Uchiha Manor looked. He wondered what it looked like when Sasuke was a child. Was it filled to the brim where the whole family was content with their lives?

Naruto looked at the pictures of Sasuke's father and mother. His father looked so uptight and his mother was so peaceful looking. It was a wonder that either Itachi or Sasuke came from such a kind looking mother. Well he could imagine Sasuke but Itachi no… It was just straight that. Itachi looked more like their father anyways. And Sasuke had all the workings of his father except for the beauty of his mother. Itachi was beautiful as well.

Naruto snapped out of his thoughts as a knock was heard at the door. Naruto ran to it looking through the peeking hole he saw Neji and Tsunade. Opening the door he let them in.

"Hey guys what's up?" Neji nodded towards the other. It was only outside of the castle that Neji didn't use honorifics or anything like that. They just talked like old friends and they were indeed.

"Naruto there is something I need to tell you. And don't think for one second I'm confessing my love to you because you know I'd never do that…" Naruto smiled and they all sat down on the ground. Neji brought out a scroll and some sheets. Naruto remembered those sheets. They were called Z-rays was it? Or something along the lines.

Neji sighed and went on speaking, "This surgery is going to be extremely difficult. I saw this X-ray and I knew this would be difficult. He pointed to a particular place where the chakra lines looked like the large one was cut in half. "You see this right here?" Naruto nodded. And Tsunade looked at it as well.

"To any other eye it would look like just one thread was cut loose. But if you were to magnify this you would see other wise…" Neji showed them what he found and Tsunade groaned at the sight. Thousands of chakra lines were cut up, "That's not all, and you can also see that even the smaller chakra lines that have been cut up are carrying these smaller lines as well…"

Sighing again Neji looked at Naruto. "You do understand if one of these lines is out of place when this procedure is done that it could result in you dying?" Naruto looked at them again and then at Tsunade and Neji.

Grinning he patted his friend on the back, "That's why I have the best doctors in the world." Neji smirked and Tsunade had a sigh of relief.

"Well Neji, this procedure could take days to finish are you up to the challenge?" Nodding he gave his friend a pat on the back and left towards the door, Tsunade fallowing after him.

"Wait! Tsunade?" Naruto called out and then she stopped. Looking back at the other she saw the sadness in his eyes. "Could you resume being Hokage for the rest of the ceremonies?"

Neji looked at his friend. "It would be good since his fiancé is coming. And really we would all wish to have Naruto's being here a secret from him." Tsunade smiled and turned towards the door. "You have my word Naruto, just as long as you'll still dance on the Fire day." Naruto nodded and turned around. "Goodbye…" He stated and went back to Sasuke's room. Hearing a faint click of the door closing he fell on the bed and dreamed of Sasuke.

--

"Nii-san!" Running towards Itachi, Sasuke grabbed out to him. Itachi embraced his brother and carried him back to their parents. Mikoto greeted her oldest son with a smile and took Sasuke into her arms and let him down.

"How are my two boys today?" She asked. Sasuke smiled and Itachi smiled. He loved his mother; she was so happy and cheerful all the time. Itachi loved her and Sasuke; those were the only people who were important to him. But then there was that Kyuubi child. Itachi wondered about these things.

"Nii-san? Are you okay?" Itachi nodded and took off his shoes. "I'm going to bathe; I'll be out at dinner time okay." Mikoto nodded and let her son off.

"Now that Itachi and your father are out of the way Sasuke, why don't we make dinner? I know something that your brother will love to have for dinner." Sasuke nodded happily and went into the kitchen. Itachi smirked and shook his head. I'm sorry Sasuke…

TBC

Riiiight…. This is a shorter chapter. And the next couple of chapters will be short. When I get into the Fire Ceremony chapters then they will be longer.

Next Chapter: The Ceremony of Sound. Orochimaru arrives in Konoha…