A/N- yeah, I spent some time trying to figure out what I was going to do after the training and talk scene, since that the only part I have planed for this chapter but…. Well I'll just write and see what happens.

I can post now right…? Its Friday… one in the morning on Friday but still Friday!

Summary- Naruto is not like everyone thinks he is, he hides his true self form everybody. The few who know about the other him know very little. When various events force Naruto to spend time with his team mates in situations out side of the norm he finds it hard to keep up the act.

I can update now right…? Its Friday… its one in the morning but its still firday!

Parings- SasuNaru, some KakaIru others not decided.

Rating- very much an R rated fic

Warning- sexual situations, foul language, self mutilation, attempted suicide, a very OOC Sasuke. And bitchy Sakura!

Spoilers- for anyone who is not up to date on the manga

Disclaimer- right now the only think I own is a cold… and no money.

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Red Walkways

Chapter Four

Beneath the Surface

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It was late, probably later then the blond boy realized since he was so lost in thought, a notebook lay open on his lap like so many other nights. Ten pages had been filled in only three hours, once Naruto had gotten home and painted his floor black he went right to his work. He wrote for ten pages strait with the help of Kyuubi, only stopping to pull his rug back over the dried paint spot. After the hours of work, and the information from Kyuubi, Naruto came to a new plateau in his work. He had made a leap so huge even he was surprised when his hand stopped writing, he stared down at the paper with a disbelieving look.

"What is it kit? Why did you stop writing?" Kyuubi had been dozing off after answering all his host questions while listening to the continuous sound of pencil on paper.

"I don't need to give you sight…" the boy said in a dazed tone.

"What! Of course you do, we had an agreement!"

"no I don't, I thought I had to in order to let you out, like a step by step thing, but I don't." Naruto answered after the fox's anger snapped him back to the real world.

"wait, what do you mean." Kyuubi wanted to be sure he heard this right.

"I mean I don't need to give you sight before I let you out, which also means with some work I can get this done before the mission." The blond let the smirk in his voice show.

"I still don't know what to say…no one… not since…" Kyuubi stumbled over his words, he felt like he should tell his host something about his past he wanted to know but wasn't sure how.

"Hey, it's ok; we can talk about it later; right now I want to brief you on what might happen after I adjust the seal again. This will be complicated because I'm not doing sight, but sight will come with this. It will be a long process, maybe hours but after it's done you will have a physical body." Naruto was cut off as a wave of excitement washed through him from his demon.

With a smile he continued, "It will be the body you had that was changed and sealed into me, but there will be some things we will have to take into account. First, you will still be connected to me so that the seal is still intact enough to keep us alive, you and me both know it's only released if one of us dies. Second, our lives will still be bound and so is our power, but here's the cool part! All of your chakura will be at my command as much as it is at yours…"

"Hold on." Kyuubi cut in. "I thought your body couldn't handle all my power."

Naruto smirked "I thought you would say that, well since you will be able to leave my body I will be able to use you like an extension of my self. You will pick up the chakura that my body can handle, then once I use what I had in my body you will feed what you picked up back into me… like a big circle or something."

"that makes sense I guess."

The blond mentally nodded, "the third requirement is that I will be in control, the seal was made to protect me from you so I can control when you come out or go back in me. I will also control how far you go from me and how much chakura you can use. The last big thing is our links, they will all stay active. I will hear what you hear and you what I hear, same goes for sight, emotions and thoughts, and we should have relative control over these…" Naruto trailed off not sure if there was anything he missed.

"is that all?" Kyuubi was expecting a lot more restrictions, and since the kit had control over all of them this would be better then he had imagined.

"Yeah, at least that's everything I can predict, but any surprises should be small and unimportant. Oh and I need to get a forbidden scroll for Tsunade-baba… umm the one on binding souls. I'll need it to keep our spirits connected so they don't drift apart and die, it should work."

"we can hope…" the fox said with mock fear.

"are you doubting my abilities?" Naruto pretended to sound hurt as he shut the book and made his way to the bathroom.

"no, but there still a chance th"

"there's always a chance of that Kyuubi, but remember what I said"

"it's not life without risk…"

"exactly." Naruto smiled as he started to undress for bed; after he got his pajama pants on he looked at his arm. With a sigh he started to unwrap the injured limb wincing as the badge stuck to his cuts.

'Are you ever going to heal these?'

"no, it will teach you a lesson."

Naruto could feel the fox smiling to himself, 'plus there's still a chance that Uchiha boy can help.' He thought so only he could hear.

The blond left the bathroom still shirtless and let himself fall onto his bed, he was out before he even hit the pillow.

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Naruto cringed as he slowly woke up to that horrid new paint smell… he hated that smell. Creaking open one eye he glanced at his clock… he still had time; he was only late by an hour….

Both blue eyes flew open when he realized what he had just thought,

"I'M LATE!" he yelled while jumping up from the bed.

"Well that's what happens when you go to bed at one in the morning when you have to be up at six…" the fox seemed to be very amused by the situation.

"You could have woken me up on time!" the blonde's loud voice responded.

"Now how the hell would I do that…? I can't see the clock…" Kyuubi dead panned.

'Knock, Knock, Knock.'

Naruto stopped rushing around for his clothes when he heard someone at his door.

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Sasuke grumbled as he walked to Naruto's apartment, why had he been picked to find the blond idiot? Walking up to the door he was about to knock when he heard a yell from inside.

"I'M LATE!" came through the thin walls crystal clear.

Seems like dobe over slept, raising his hand again to knock Sasuke was surprised when he heard another yell.

"You could have woken me up!"

Who the hell was the idiot talking to? Only one way to find out, the Uchiha knocked three times.

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Slowly walking to the door Naruto let some of his chakura flow through it to feel out who was there. The blond let out a sigh when he realized who it was, just Sasuke, he was probably the one sent to find him.

"who else would it of been?" Kyuubi asked when he felt his host searching beyond the door.

'I don't know.' Naruto shot back shortly not wanting to tell the fox the some unfriendly people sometime come to harass him.

Ripping the door open the blond glared at his teammate.

Sasuke was a bit taken back by the blond's apparent anger, and then his eyes traveled down his bare chest.

Naruto was in no mood to care at the moment; he just made a sharp turn and walked back into his apartment leaving the door open for the other. The Uchiha took that as an invite and walked in shutting the door behind him, he turned to say something to Naruto but he was gone. The sound of the shower turning on answered the brunet's question, not that he was thinking of much else besides Naruto in nothing but blue pajama pants.

Sasuke looked around the apartment but saw no one that Naruto could have been talking to. The apartment was just as he remembered except for the fresh paint smell. Looking around again he was suddenly confused, what had the blond painted? He didn't see anything black, not that black would really match the room. Continuing his search Sasuke moved around the main room looking left and right, then he glanced down and spotted something black on the floor. He nudged it with his foot but it didn't move, it seemed to travel under the rug, bending over the brunet lifted part of the carpet up. All that was there was more black, lifting it as far as it would go without flipping any furniture Sasuke saw that all of the floor under the carpet was painted black. He noted that it wasn't a neat square or a shape that could be the start of a pattern; it was just a messy splotch like it was hiding something that had been there.

Sasuke put the rug back into place and stood strait, this was getting interesting… his blond teammate was hiding more then just cooking skills and his sexuality. Listening he heard the shower still running, he probably had another few minutes. Glancing around the apartment again he stopped at the book case, maybe he was hiding something else there.

Sasuke was not normally this nosy, but the fact that someone like Naruto was hiding things made his curiosity burn. Who would expect the village idiot to be hiding something, maybe that's what Naruto was playing off of… no that was giving the dobe a bit too much credit.

Stopping at the shelf the brunet pulled away a few of the first manga revealing the second layer, nothing new. Sasuke was about to put the books back when he noticed the book case was deeper then these two layers. Reaching out he slowly pulled one of the hidden manga away, instead of seeing a wood back to the shelf he saw a jumble of other books and scrolls. Reaching in he pulled out a scroll and read what it said on top.

Katon: Hi no Kami Jutsu ((1))

Was scrawled across the front in unfamiliar hand writing, then over that there was a Hokage seal, the red stamp was the kanji for forbidden.

Sasuke shook his head, where did the dobe get this? He couldn't perform it that was for sure, Sasuke himself couldn't even perform this, and Kakashi could have trouble with it. All the Uchiha could think after that was, 'I hope he didn't steal it…'

Not having enough time to pull apart then reassemble all the books Sasuke put what he had away and turned to explore something else. He made a mental note to bring this up with Kakashi; he would know what make of it.

Walking back to the middle of the room Sasuke noticed the door he had thought was the bathroom. Naruto obviously didn't want him to go in it, walking over he reached out for the handle. Sasuke jiggled the knob but it didn't turn, locked, another secret, deciding to leave the door alone for now he noticed a cupboard on the bed side.

Before the Uchiha could get to the small table he heard the shower turn off, cursing to himself he changed his course and sat on the couch.

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Naruto stepped out of the shower and grabbed a towel drying himself a bit then realized he had no clothes in the room.

'Fuck…'

Rapping the towel around his waist he grabbed another one and draped it over his bleeding arm. The shower had opened up his cut again. Opening the door he walked into the main room.

Sasuke looked up and turned red almost instantly; Naruto was standing in nothing but a towel. His hair was still wet and there was a thin sheet of water on his chest making his tan skin glow.

"umm… I forgot my clothes and I need to change sooo…"

Sasuke realized he was staring and looked away.

"I'll wait in the hall." The brunet mumbled then wandered past the blond.

Naruto let out a breath once Sasuke was out of sight, then went to his dresser.

The Uchiha had stopped outside the open bathroom door and waited to be told it was ok, he looked in the bathroom… maybe there was something interesting in there.

Sasuke did feel a bit guilty about snooping but it was to late now, pushing the door fully open he wandered into the small room. There wasn't much, he looked under the sink to find nothing out of place, and then he opened the medicine cabinet. He moved bottles here and there and felt around for smaller objects, a sharp pain shot up one of his fingers and he pulled his hand back. He was bleeding, putting the injured finger in his mouth he used his other hand to reach for what had cut him. He pulled out a small metal object; it was a blade from a razor, the one that wasn't in the trash the night of the storm…

What the hell does he wants with this? Sasuke reached forward to put it back when something in the sink caught his eye. A single drop of something red, he pulled his cut finger out of his mouth and reached for it with his injured hand touching it with an uncut finger.

'blood' he recognized the feel almost instantly.

Sasuke looked around the sink for more but there was none; he then turned to the floor and spotted another drop on the cream tile. The spot was a bit bigger then the one in the sink and was between the sink and the shower. Slowly Sasuke walked to the bath, he reached out and grasped the curtain pulling it away.

He held in a gasp as what he saw.

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Naruto cursed as he fastened his vest, the sleeve of his fishnet was pulled up on one arm and a towel was around it. Pulling the towel away the blond cursed again, the cuts were bleeding a lot more then he thought, he had to cover them. He needed to get Sasuke out of the bathroom; he could probably get by the boy without him seeing the wounds.

Kyuubi hoped to himself that the Uchiha was more observant then the blond gave him credit for…

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Sasuke started at the bottom of the shower, it was still damp but all the water was a pink hue that varied from light to dark, like water mixed messily with blood.

The brunet whipped around when he heard a gasp from behind coming face to face with Naruto. It all came to him at that moment, the bandages on his arm out side the shop, the broken razor, the hidden blade, the blood in the shower. Sasuke looked from the bath to Naruto then to the towel on his arm, before the blond could even react in his shocked state Sasuke was in front of him pulling the cloth away.

The brunet stared at the still bleeding cuts, Naruto tried to pull his arm away but Sasuke grip was to strong.

"You did this didn't you?" he asked.

Naruto didn't respond, he didn't even make eye contact.

"didn't you!" Sasuke yelled.

No answer.

"DIDN'T YOU!" he screamed

Silence

"Answer me damn it!" Sasuke's grip tightened and Naruto flinched.

The brunets eyes softened and he let go of the blonds arm, he put a hand on his cheek and turned his head to look him in the eyes.

Naruto's eyes were glassy with unshed tears as he met his teammate's gaze, then ever so slowly he nodded. The blond had expected many reactions from Sasuke, more yelling, a look of disgust, maybe even for him to laugh in is face, but he never expected what happened.

The hand on his cheek slid forward and behind his neck, with some light pressure he was pulled forward and into the others chest, then an arm went around his back as Sasuke held him in a tight hug.

The blondes shock wore off and he leaned into the embrace, this was the first time anyone had ever comforted him. As that thought passed through his mind Naruto let go of all his emotional walls and started to cry.

Sasuke felt warm tears on his neck as Naruto's hands gripped his vest, then small sobs fallowed. Nothing loud and dramatic, just a small sod and silent tears and a quiet pain that radiated from the body in his arms.

Naruto didn't know what he would do, Sasuke knew how weak he was, and though he didn't know his intelligence he knew that the blond wasn't as ignorant as he let on. Maybe he could trust Sasuke, he wouldn't tell him of the research or his power… but maybe the Uchiha could become his emotional pillar of strength. They had a lot in common after all, a lot of pain and secrets.

Naruto calmed enough to stop crying and Sasuke pulled him to arms length, the blond turned his head not wanting the brunet to see his tear streaked face. Sasuke used his hand again to turn the others face to his.

"Don't think you're the only one who's ever cried." He said.

He wasn't sure why he said it but it was true, Sasuke had cried to himself many times. But that was the most open thing he had ever said to anybody, maybe his idea of being able to share the real him with Naruto was very possible.

Naruto was shocked by the statement and let Sasuke lead him to the medicine cabinet; the boy grabbed some things he needed to dress the wounds and walked him to the living area.

Sasuke sat them both on the couch and started to clean the cuts, the sting of disinfectants snapped Naruto back to the real world.

"ow." He hissed.

"you did this, this morning didn't you." came the deep voice of his teammate.

Naruto held back a shiver at the smooth sound.

"no" he murmured.

"don't lie to me."

"I'm not, I did them yesterday." The blond couldn't figure out why he was answering Sasuke, it was like the words came out before he could think. This boy in front of him seemed to naturally draw out the real Naruto.

Sasuke sighed "if that's true they would have already healed, I know the demon gives you that power I've seen it."

"He won't heal the ones I give myself anymore… he's mad at me." now that Naruto thought of it, this is probably why he didn't heal them… stupid fucking fox.

"I heard that"

'good'

"you can communicate with it." Sasuke seemed a bit shocked.

'shit…'

"ummm… yeah." Naruto mumbled as Sasuke finished rapping his arm.

'What else is there I don't know about him.' Sasuke thought in irritation.

One second the brunet was thinking of what he didn't know about Naruto and the next he was saying it out loud, his mouth moving without his permission.

"Your not as stupid as everyone thinks, you do see how much they hate you… right?"

"How could I not?" was the blond's raspy reply.

Sasuke looked away, his eyes held hints of guilt; he was one of those people who assumed Naruto's ignorance.

"How could I not have?" he whispered back.

Naruto locked eyes with the remorseful boy before him,

"what?" he blinked his confusion.

"How could I have missed it? How could anyone be stupid enough to miss all that anger?" Sasuke seemed to be loosing control over his emotions as he spoke like he had in the bathroom. "How could I assume you were that oblivious! How do you take it?"

The Uchiha was almost yelling when he finished his frantic questioning.

"Take which part?" Naruto asked calmly.

"both," Sasuke answered once he regained his normal composure, " how do you take all the hatred?" he continued "how do you pretend not to notice?" though he was calm the emotion in his words was hard to miss.

Naruto let his firm gaze slip from his teammate's eyes to the white bandages on his forearms. Sasuke followed the travailing eyes to there destination then abruptly looked away.

"Don't you ever wish…" he began, his mouth running away with him again as his mind tried to ignore the disturbing realization that was dawning upon him.

"Don't you ever wish you really are that stupid? Ignorance it bliss or so I've been told." Sasuke's voice was laced with bitterness but the longing that lay beneath did not go unnoticed.

Naruto looked up from his arm and into ebony eyes when the quiet voice finished. Wearing an expression of amusement and irony he answered his cracking voice was like a pounding in the room.

"ignorance may be bliss…but its still ignorance."

In those few words the conversation came to an end.

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Once Sasuke was out the door Naruto let out a long breath, he couldn't believe that had happened. He trusted his teammate not to tell anything he had learned but it still unnerved him that the other knew at all. Walking over to his bed the blond pulled his notebook from the small table and plopped down to try and finish his work for the next alteration. As he worked he made a mental list of things he needed to do that day, besides the meeting with Kaita… crap. Naruto realized he missed breakfast, he rushed up to get food for his homeless friend, promising himself he would finished the work before the day was done.

Kaita was going to give him an earful.

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Sasuke heard the door shut behind him as he left the small apartment, he started to walk away and looked back. In the window he saw Naruto pull a notebook from the bedside and start writing. So many secrets the blond held, Sasuke was starting to see what a maze his friend was to him, maybe he didn't even know the real Naruto…

The images from the bathroom filled his mind; he would have to keep a closer eye on the blond. Right now he knew they were going to pretend it did happen just like they did after Sasuke regained the blonds trust all that time ago. The Uchiha knew that the blond was hurting much more then he let on from what he had seen in his eyes, and Sasuke knew what that pain could do to a person. He also never got to talk to Naruto about that… but some things are more important and that will have to be put tothe side so Sasuke can make sure his blond will be ok. (Sasuke realized how right he was when after training Naruto avoided him completely never even mentioning the "lunch date" they had "planed").

But before that he had to worry about what he was gong to say to the others when he came back without Naruto. Maybe he could just not say anything and have Sakura yell his ear off when he shows up late.

Continuing to walk away the brunet turned around just in time to miss Naruto jumping up in a panic then running to his kitchen.

A/N- yeah I hated this chapter, it felt odd to me… I really hate this chapter… it felt poorly written, like a bit flaw in the story.

On a side note I thought of a name for chapter six! Finally! Not that you knew I was having trouble thinking of one but now you do. The chapter is called…

Enter K-chan!  (Not an OC character… technically)

There will be an OC character but only one main one the others will be named in passing… and I promise you will like the character, it will explain a lot of shit that your not confused about yet but will be '. (Note that the bold and italics are to avoid confusion of what I meant by those words)

-all rights to the character belong to Yami Hiko.

That's right I didn't make up the character, she made up the OC along time ago and I made up "K-chan" and all his other "forms".

Well that's all I'm giving away for now! Keep your eyes open for other things I let slip in rants!

Glossary (still hate it)

1. Katon: Hi no Kami Jutsu- fire skill- fire of god technique.