Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, but me and my plot bunnies do own the plot, so nuh!

Warnings: A lil bit of fluff 'cause I don't like being so serious all the time, upcoming violence, pissed off Gaara and Sasuke… Oh, and I only rated this M to be on the safe side seeing as I'm a just in case kind of person. And this story will forever have boy/boy love and some yaoi as well as pervy stuff here and there. And I love Naruto too much to show the torture he was put through. –sheepish grin- Ask my lil sis Gricel, I can make up some scary torture, but not towards Naruto or InuYasha… Heh.

A/N: I have decided…. to continue this story. There will be times when I stumble through it cause of writer's block and times that it'll be hard to post a chapter because people around here like me running around like a chicken with its head cut off. But I will still post chapters for this fic. As with all who write a fan fic, I do like feedback even if it's one lil two word review to lemme know if the chapter was good or if it just sucked. Since I hate it when others sit there and say well, you've gotta give me so many reviews before I post the next chapter, I'm not gonna pull that on anybody. It's kind of childish in a way. I only request one at the very least, but if I don't get any at all, the chapters will still be posted, I'll just go on wondering if the chapter sucked or not. –shrugs- I'm not going to punish you guys for not having the time to, or for choosing to not type a few lil words, it's not right. Thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter, it was really important to me to know that you guys really want this story to continue. Thank you so much for your support. And it took so long to get posted cause my document manager wasn't lettin me upload this chapter. Without further ado, I give you… chapter eight… Memories and Escape

Stumbling blindly in this world, we find the man who lost it all... Bits and pieces of scattered truths remain, to be pieced together with special glue. Here we watch as the sunset dances over his face, and the night is born anew...

Sunset was one of the few things he really enjoyed these days. Beautiful colors would light the sky as that fiery red orange orb would sink slowly below the horizon and he would feel at peace for a moment, just watching the day come to an end. It was odd really, how pensive he felt once the moon and stars arose in the night sky, casting a bit of light in the darkness for the weary in the world below them to sleep in peace under their watchful gaze… It seemed nowadays that the world got to sleep in piece while he had nightmares, confusing memories that seemed so good and so real would appear in his dreams and jumble together with the truths that Itachi had told him so many years ago. Somehow, his truths didn't add up with those images that kept haunting him. Standing there, beneath his favorite tree, Arashi continues gazing up at the sky, letting his mind wander. A dream comes to mind and for once, he allows it to play out.

Dream/Flashback

Clear blue skies dotted with white, puffy clouds is layered over fresh green grass as Konoha peacefully drifts through another perfect day just as it has weathered many storms. Childrens' laughter fills the stillness as they enjoy this day off from the academy and training with their Jounin senseis. Arashi was in the hospital, his beloved wife in a bed in the maternity ward, going through the early stages of her labor pains. He was there, holding her hand, voice loving, soothing her nerves, or was it to soothe his? He'd never really known. All that he knew was that his heart was beating at an erratic pace and he was exhilarated and afraid at the same time. This was to be their firstborn child. He was overjoyed that a little bundle of joy was about to enter their lives and yet, so afraid of what the future would hold for his child. The life of a ninja was unpredictable and had its hardships. Death was a danger they faced everyday of their lives. For his child, he wanted everything to go well and he wanted the child to be happy and feel safe, secure, and most of all… loved.

That's when it happened… the Kyuubi was released and it attacked Konoha… It was October tenth, a cool, clear morning… He fought in that battle, watched many of his friends, many good, strong ninja go down. He'd seen it as Obito Uchiha requested that Kakashi take his sharingan eye to replace the one Kakashi'd lost in battle. He'd watched as Rin preformed the jutsu, and he'd watched as tears were shed… Thinking quickly as he always did, Arashi ordered a ninja to bring him a child whose umbilical cord had yet to be tied. When the ninja returned, he found that the only child who fit the description given had been his own son. It made his decision a lot harder than it had been just moments ago as he held the baby boy in his arms taking in the tuft of golden blonde hair and big blue eyes so much like his own. Tears pricked his eyes, knowing already what kind of life he'd be dooming his own child to by performing this jutsu, but it had to be done for the sake of Konoha. Sarutobi was there with him. "What is this child's name Arashi?"

"His name is Naruto….. Naruto Uzumaki..." He saw Sarutobi's reaction to the use of his wife's maiden name, but ignored it as he spoke to his son. "Naruto… I hope you'll forgive me for what I'm about to do, and the pain this will surely cause you in the future… Promise me that you will always protect Konoha…" Somehow, looking into those clear blue eyes, he knew the child understood and agreed. Giving up on all reservations about this, Arashi stated, "This child will be the savior of us all, the hero of our village…" He then made the hand signs needed for the jutsu…

End Dream/Flashback

Wiping away the single tear that silently slips down his cheek, Arashi sighs softly before regaining his usual emotionless gaze. It wasn't real, this dream of his, because if it was then that young man in the holding cell was his son. If that dream was real, then that was his Naruto, the only member of his family left alive, and he couldn't possibly kill him. And it would mean, that the blonde in that cell, cursing the guards holding him prisoner, was innocent of the crimes committed against Arashi and Arashi himself was at fault. No, that wasn't the case here was it? No matter what, that dream had to be a fantasy world in which his mind wished to live and no matter how looking at the young man was like looking in a mirror with six scratches on it, it was only a dream right? Somehow, Arashi didn't think so, but if Itachi found out about the way his mind wandered, he'd not be allowed to remember anything at all.

Memories in the form of dreams, sometimes nothing is at all what it seems…

With a soft sigh, Iruka relaxes in the steamy hot water of the hot spring Kakashi had taken him to on vacation leave and Naruto's blessing. Iruka insisted they'd give Naruto his birthday present before leaving. He should've known that it was something kinky and perverted given the fact that it was Kakashi's turn to buy Naruto's present. He'd turned as red as Naruto had when the younger man had pulled out a few bottles of different kinds of lubricant, a good sized dildo, leather chaps, a black cowboy hat to match them, and a collar and leash. It was funny to think of Naruto wearing the chaps or cowboy hat, but it was one of Kakashi's odd quirks, and the look on both Sasuke and Gaara's faces was a good indication that the new toys would be used very soon. The sound of someone else slipping into the water snaps Iruka out of his current thoughts and he smiles as Kakashi settles in next to him.

With a soft smile on his handsome, uncovered face, Kakashi pulls Iruka over to him and settles him between his legs, his back against his chest with Kakashi's arms wrapped around him and his chin lightly resting on his left shoulder. "I love you 'Ruka-love…"

Smiling softly at the husky, sincere voice and the love that fills his heart from hearing those words, he speaks softly back to his husband, "As I love you Kashi-bear." Kakashi kisses his cheek gently and holds him as if he's never going to let him go. His heart swells with his love for the man in his arms as they are happy and contented to share this moment, relaxing in each others company, blissfully unaware of Naruto's capture. Blissfully unaware of all else but each other and the love they share as lazy caresses become bolder, bodies turn and lock in a passionate embrace, once again proving their love in every way possible, just as they have since the very beginning of their relationship.

High tide's a rollin' in, comin' with a side of wind and stinging rain, oh, the pain one can feel, when secrets are revealed...

Everything hurt. He was stuck in his damp, smelly holding cell in the hide out of the Akatsuki, and he'd already been 'spoken to'. They wanted cooperation did they? Well, the proud Rokudaime of Konoha would never back down, would never surrender. He'd been through worse pain than these fools could ever think to put him through, and all before his thirteenth birthday, so if they thought they could torture their answers out of him, they were sorely mistaken. He would protect Konoha at all costs, even if he had to forfeit his own life for it. Life was never a picnic, so he was use to it… the only thing that bothered him was that member that looked like an older version of him. The likeness was so striking that had the other man been younger, they could've been twins. He vaguely remembered seeing a picture in Hokage tower of the Yondaime that had sealed the nine tailed fox within him. He found that he couldn't find fault in the man for doing what was best for Konoha. It may have been the reason for Naruto's painful childhood, but he couldn't hate the man for it.

Deciding to sit down, Naruto waits until the guard goes to switch places with someone else before murmuring to himself. "Yondaime Hokage… I forgive you…. I forgive you for sealing the Kyuubi inside of me when I was a baby. I forgive you for the pain and all the hardships I've endured all my life because of the kyuubi I contain… As I promised, I have tried to spend my life always protecting Konoha… and when I bust myself out of this hell hole, I will continue to protect Konoha."

A voice startles him, snapping him out of the almost trance-like state he was in. "So my dreams are true… Itachi lies. Thank you Naruto… for not hating me."

Looking up, Naruto gasps when his eyes meet the blue ones of the man that are identical to his own. "Who are you and why do you look like me? Why did you listen to Itachi anyway? He killed his entire clan but for Sasuke! Of course he's lying!"

Arashi studies the blonde before him silently, still unsure of what to believe, but deciding that going with what his gut instinct tells him would be a wise decision at the moment. "I am Arashi, the Yondaime hokage who sealed the nine tailed fox within you. Naruto Uzumaki, I am your father."

Naruto looks at him in disbelief. "You!? Alright buddy, I don't know what your game is, but I seriously doubt any father would kick his son's ass and help the enemy who wants his son DEAD capture him! So why should I believe you? For all I know you're using genjutsu on me right now!"

"Calm down kid and think about it. If you're half the hokage you think you are, then you should be able to spot a genjutsu from a mile away and be able to repel it with little to no effort at all. If I was using genjutsu or lying to you, you'd know it."

Thinking for a moment, Naruto scowls, but slowly nods his agreement. "Okay, so you're not using genjutsu and you're probably not lying, I still haven't decided that one yet. If you're my father, why'd you leave me orphaned?"

Arashi lets out a slow, tired sigh before answering him. "I honestly have no idea how that happened Naruto. That jutsu was supposed to take my life. I was the sacrifice. After the jutsu was completed, everything went black, but then... I woke up with no memories other than my name and Itachi filled my mind with information that was supposedly about me. Had I been myself, I would have gone back to Konoha and raised you as it should have been. I'm still trying to remember things. The only thing I remember was the day you were born, the day I sealed the Kyuubi inside of you. I remember nothing from before that. It took seeing you up close for that one memory to resurface completely."

Grudgingly Naruto nods his understanding and decides to accept his story no matter how weird it sounds. "I was wondering if I was at home, looking in a full sized mirror when I saw you. If you were a few years younger, and I didn't have these whisker marks, we could be twins." Serious blue eyes meet the sad ones on the other side of the bars. "Now that that's over, are you coming back to Konoha with me when I escape?"

Arashi smiles at his spunk and pulls out a key. "Not only am I going with you, but I'm helping you escape. What better way to get out of a holding cell that having the key?"

Naruto grins as he unlocks the cell door. Walking out, he decides to risk being lead to the torture chamber by following Arashi. Arashi silently shows him the signs for his body flicker jutsu and watches in amazement at how quickly Naruto catches on to it. With a nod to one another, both use the jutsu to escape the confines of the Akatsuki hide out and head towards Konoha, blood soaking the path behind them, one lone black cape with red clouds on it fluttering as it lands on the ground useless to the one who once wore it now.

Escape is easy but does not fool the two, as they know their enemies will follow after them soon…

Surrounded is what they were. There was no escape, no end of their attackers in sight. Cloud had decided to attack Konoha, they needed their Hokage but no one could leave. The women and children were already evacuated and safe within the confines of Hokage Mountain where five faces were looking over the village and the sixth was in progress. Sasuke could feel his chakra escaping him as he used the chidori for a second time. He didn't notice the attack coming at him from behind until he heard a very familiar voice behind him and felt the blood splatter against his back. With a swift turn, he faces none other than Naruto, who has the attacker speared with a kunai. "Watch your back Teme I don't want to lose you. Now stop using your Sharingan and fight like a ninja damn it."

Sasuke smiles and surprisingly obeys him, then gives him a quick kiss, thankful that he's returned. "Don't get killed Dobe."

Naruto snorts softly, but grins in amusement as Sasuke turns and starts fighting, better able to concentrate on the enemy now that he knows Naruto's back. "I'm not plannin on it Sasu." Naruto turns and concentrates on forming his chakra into his hand, shaping it into a rasengan. He smirks at his shocked father, who grins and does the same, both attack, using the rasengan to clear the field in front of them of Cloud nin. Hours later, the tide turns and finds Cloud ninja retreating, taking the bodies of their fallen comrades with them as they are allowed to leave.

Once they're gone, people turn to Naruto and gasp at the one standing beside him. "Yondaime Hokage!" Arashi gives the crowd a small smile and waves cutely at them, his quirky sense of humor kicking in.

Gaara growls and charges at him, only to get stopped by Naruto. "Gaara stop. Yes, he was in on my kidnapping, but Itachi was the, mastermind behind it. Arashi is my father, and until I was captured, had no solid memory from before Itachi and the Akatsuki took him in. I'm not saying I trust him completely yet, but I'm not going to allow you to harm him. The only thing he's done was to beat me in a fair fight and capture me. Kisame, Itachi, and their leader were the ones to torture me. Speaking of the torture, I need Tsunade's help."

Gaara looks at him sternly. "You fought this battle wounded?"

Naruto grins happily at him, not at all affected by that dangerous tone of his. "The obvious answer there would be yes as this village is more important to me that a few wounds that can easily be healed, it's the sprained ankle and broken wrist I'm worried about." Sasuke shakes his head and lets out a laugh. Gaara looks between the two of them, confused and thinking they're both crazy.

Calming his laughter, Sasuke walks over to Naruto and swings him up in his arms, smiling when Naruto's arms slip up around his neck, holding on to him loosely, showing the trust he has in the Uchiha. "Let's get you to Tsunade you idiot."

Naruto snorts softly and mocks him lightly. "Yeah, well, I love you too you bastard." Amused, Sasuke lets a small smile twitch the corners of his lips up a little.

Not as easy as it seems, one blonde injured while another schemes...

A/N: Sucky ending for this chapter, but hope it was alright anyway.. As for the easy escape, that's going to come back and hauint them both soon enough. I don't think the Akatsuki would let anybody get away with walking out on them with one of their targets. So, that said, there will be trouble in the future, and seeing as I am a just in case kind of person, I rated the story M for safety. This one could've gotten by under the rating it was before, but oh well. Another chapter completed with one on the way. I hope it didn't suck too bad.