A/N– Another storm, it the forth one in the last week… and my god people I know what countries the villages are in! Go read the mission specs again, its right trust me, the tea country thing is in it because its between fire and wind!

Yeah so that authors note above… I wrote that last year… so I am writing again but I will be VERY slow at updating… lots of work but its my last semester. MY GOD I started writing this before I went to collage… and I still have two more books to go after this. I need to plan shorter stories…. Well enjoy.

THERE WILL BE ERRORS… TO BAD!

Summary-Naruto is not like everyone thinks he is, he hides his true self from 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 outside of the norm he finds it hard to keep up the act.

Parings-SasuNaru, some KakaIru others not decided.

Rating- very much an R rated fic… or M… guess that's what it is now… -- bah

Warning- sexual situations, foul language, self mutilation, attempted suicide, a very OOC Sasuke. And bitchy Sakura! –– well she had gotten better in resent chapters.

Spoilers- for anyone who is not up to date on the manga –– that's sorta true now.

Disclaimer– Holy Crap I am writing again… and not owning things…

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Red Walkways

Chapter Thirteen

Weight of a Man on my Shoulders

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Jiraiya took a deep breath. He was about to bring a wrath down upon himself that the world has never seen, not even the entire sound army had anything on her anger.

With two elders from the council behind him Jiraiya began.

"I have taken my case to the elders; they also feel that an agreement with the Cloud in written contract is in the best interest by unanimous vote."

Tsunade let her anger show; small amounts of pure chakura were spilling from her body. A unanimous vote by the elders is the only thing that can over ride the Hokages authority. The very few compassionate on the council are the only thing that have kept Naruto safe and part of the village for so long.

"We will communicate with the Raikage for a few days to settle some small parts of this agreements, then you will be expected to go to the Cloud and sign the appropriate papers."

The elder on the right went quiet after Tsunade nailed her with glare.

So they still had things to settle? Well Tsunade was going to draw that process out as long as possible. Multiple ways to delay the process for as long as maybe a month started to shift through her mind.

XxXxXxX

Naruto felt like he was moving through a think crowd. Dozens of people were brushing against him at once as he slipped through the crowed streets. His mind couldn't focus and Sasuke wouldn't shut up. His body was warm and comfortable with Sasuke's weight on it, it felt right. He need to make the room silent, he sat up, Sasuke was straddling him, Naruto reached out and put his hand over his mouth.

Soft lips pressed against the palm of his hand. Narutos clouded mind focused on that feeling and only that feeling. There was complete silence as Sasuke was stunned and Naruto was enthralled by the lips he was feeling.

Slowly Sasuke reached up, covering the hand on his mouth with his own and pulling it away, putting it to his side not letting it go. He took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry."

Naruto blinked. Sasuke sighed.

"I'm sorry I didn't understand until Kyuubi came and explained, and I hope you understand that I have reasons for not understanding. We have both had bad times and…"

Naruto could only lightly nod in response. For a brief moment he felt a little of something return to him, something that he had left behind that door a long time ago. He smiled.

Sasuke felt a light blush on his face. Naruto was very cute when he smiled a real smile.

Suddenly Naruto was standing, still holding Sasuke's hand, he pulled him up as well. With eyes half closed Naruto led Sasuke to the bed and crawled on. Neither let the others hand go, and together on top of the covers they fell asleep.

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The night was short, or felt short for the two boys on the small bed. One was just waking, the other covered in red flakes was still very much asleep. The waking boy brushed the red from the tan face of the other. The sleeping boy was hugging the waking boys arm keeping him on the bed. The sky was lightening but the sun was still down. The waking boy didn't mind his imprisonment, he put his head back down and slept again.

XxXxXxX

The 6:00 AM sun pierced Sasuke's eyelids. He rolled away from the sun and into something almost as bright. He wrinkled his nose at the blond hair tickling it. Naruto was still sound asleep. His face and arms covered in red flakes that he shed onto the bed and onto Sasuke as the night passed.

"Blood" Sasuke's fuzzy brain concluded. Then he remembered the night before, he looked around the room. K-chan was still sleeping at the end of the bed, other then that you couldn't guess that this same room was so full of pain last night. The only clue left was on the bed, little red flakes.

'They look like a red stone path on the bed' Sasuke thought absently.

"Naruto…" he reached out and touched the boys face. Sasuke couldn't deny he was falling for the little blond.

K-chan Cracked a red eye open and smiled a soft, genuine smile.

"Both are falling but nether can feel the other rushing past through the air, how foolish are the young."

Naruto felt something warm on his face, and even though it was waking him from his warm sleep he didn't want to pull away. He wanted to be enveloped by it. He slid his eyes opened and was greeted by Sasuke's face. The warmth left Narutos face and he saw it had been Sasuke's hand.

"We should get up and take our showers, we're both covered in dry blood."

Naruto blinked and looked at himself and the bed, then as Sasuke and saw he was right. He nodded but didn't moved. Even thought he knew Sasuke could never truly love him, a monster, back. Naruto wanted to enjoy this moment for as long as he could.

XxXxXxX

Both boys were clean and no trace of the night before was left. Naruto didn't know what Sasuke thought of him after he had been so weak. If he looked down at Naruto for this, then what would he think of what was behind his door. He left something from inside himself behind that door when he locked it. He never truly trusted anyone again after that day.

A young Naruto, no older then ten, walked into a small side room to his apartment for the first and last time. His foster family declared him old enough to live on his own. The third couldn't find any other family to take him. So here he was, in his first apparent, alone…the small room off to the left that would be his bedroom was dark and empty. He didn't have a bed or a dresser yet. He had a blanket on the floor and a small bag of cloths that were all to big. None of them trusted him and he didn't know why, so he would stop trusting them completely. He would never trust anyone completely again…

Sasuke was the first person he ever got this close to trusting completely since then, but something was stopping him, something he couldn't explain. It was like he was missing a part of himself that bridges the gap between where he is and completely trusting someone.

"Do you want to get something to eat?"

"Huh?" Naruto came back to reality.

Sasuke took the towel he was drying his hair with off his head.

"I said, do you want to go get something to eat. Probably would be good before we move on."

Naruto gave a light nod.

"Then lets go" Sasuke threw the towel onto the floor and opened the door.

XxXxXxX

Naruto sat in silence, with Sasuke just to his right and K-chan curled up on the counter of the ramen stand that Naruto had insisted they go to. He ate as he normally would but his spirit just wasn't into it. His mind wandered from the events of the night before, to what he had learned about Karasu, and something else tickled his brain. Something he had heard that same night at the bar… Itachi. That's right! One of te demons was talking about him being spotted in the area!

Naruto dropped his chop sticks, the clank the wood on the ceramic edge of the bowl had Sasuke Snapping his head to the left.

"You ok?"

Naruto gave a slow nod, "I just remembered something, no big deal." he hastily scoop up his sticks and continued eating. Slowly Naruto sorted through his thoughts and decided it was best not to tell Sasuke about his brother, or to think to much on any part of last night.

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Traveling again… it wasn't so bad the first time but now it was everything they had already seen but backwards order…. Nothing new. Kyuubi was stretched out on Sasuke's shoulders which seems to have become his seat of choice al long as he was on good terms with the boy. Sasuke didn't seem to care either way.

Evelyn walked quietly and never spoke unless spoken to. Her way of never looking you in the eye but still looking close enough to seem like she was creep Naruto out so he kept his distance from her. Plus he still has the deep feeling that she was very powerful…

They had been traveling for quite some time, Kyuubi mentioned they weren't to far from the fire country boarder. Naruto made a mental note to keep all his senses open for News on Karasu once he got there.

'What are you thinking about kit?'

Naruto jumped a bit 'nothin'! I was just wondering when we would get to eat next!'

Kyuubi sighed 'if you say so, by the way we are about to pass into fire country, we are traveling strait past Konoha to the west side of fire to break through to Tea country correct?'

Naruto thought for a moment, 'ummm yeah we will be passing right through Heiya no Hi…' he trailed off… something about that name…

'OH SHIT!'

'WHAT?!' K-chan jumped up on Sasuke's shoulders causing the boy to startle and spin around looking for an attack.

'Nothing I just remember something important is all…' Naruto looked sheepish.

K-chan puffed up like an angry cat 'well keep it to your self! I thought you sensed attackers you scared me half to death!'

Naruto put up his hands in defense "Sorry!"

Both Sasuke and K-chan Glared at him while the rest of the group gave him strange looks,

"Sorry for what?"

Naruto glanced at Sakura "its nothing I was talking to myself!… hahaha…"

She shook her head and turned back to the road ahead. Kakashi's gaze lingered a moment before going back to his book. Evelyn on the other hand continued to stare at the side of his face for a while; Naruto intentionally did not look at her.

Naruto thought back to his time in the demon bar and remembered one of the men he overheard said something about Karasu being rumored to live in hiding where his mate was last known to be… Heiya no Hi.

If Naruto had any chance of finding the raven that valley they would be passing through would be his best bet.

XxXxXxX

It was becoming dark and luck would have it that they found another village to stay in. this one was much bigger than the one on the shore. They had the same room arrangements, Neither Sasuke or Naruto complained.

They got their key and went to their room. It was about the same size as their last room but this one had a fire place across from the couch.

K-chan upon entering the room jumped from Sasuke's shoulders and was transformed to his human state before he touched the ground. He sighed and stretched as he walked over the to bed and fell backwards onto the mattress. He spread out on the blankets and closed his eyes.

Sasuke stared at the man for a minute; he had an image of Kyuubi in this form trying to curl up on his shoulders but shook it out as soon as it had come. But he was not used to seeing the fox like this; he had only seen this form once before. He glanced at Naruto who didn't seem bothered by it at all. Sasuke pushed the topic out of his mind and went to the couch to read before going to bed, he hoped Kyuubi transformed back for sleep…

Naruto wanted a shower, which was his first priority. He walked by Sasuke who seemed to be pondering Kyuubi's human form and strait to the small bathroom. The shower was a standing shower only but Naruto didn't care.

He turned the water as hot as he could stand and stripped. It felt like heaven on his sore muscle…

Sasuke Heard the shower turn on and flash to when he had stayed at Narutos apartment came to mind. When he had the chance to see Naruto topless, his firm lean chest, his tan skin… now that skin was wet in the shower, Sasuke began to blush and shook his head as if it would shake the thoughts out.

"He is a hot man. To bad hes like a bother/son to me, luck for theres no relation… or unwilling imprisonment in his body. I'm sure all times in his body will be consensual for you."

Sasuke whipped around to glare at Kyuubi who was not lying on his side facing the boy with his head propped up on his hand. His red hair all mussed up to one side making him look like a play full puppy.

"Forgot I was here didn't you?"

Sasuke only glared harder, thought the effect was dampened by his red face.

Kyuubi gave a small smirk, rolled off the bad and pranced over to Naruto's bag pulling out the Loveless Volume he left off on and sat next to Sasuke on the couch to read.

"Its so much nicer having you in the loop, I don't have to pretend to be a regular fox." Kyuubi opened the manga and began reading.

Sasuke continued to be silent; he was in slight awe at how the fox could have a conversation without partner. They read together for a short while before Sasuke Decided he was going to change for bed. He put his book down while announcing his intention to change out loud.

Sasuke went to his bag and pulled out his night wear. He was about to start changing when he glanced at Kyuubi to find him with his book in his lap and his eyes on the himself.

Kyuubi waved a dismissive hand "don't mind me just go about your business."

Sasuke almost let the shock of how forward the demon was, show on his face, before he could retort the bathroom door opened and Naruto stepped out fully dressed for bed with his hair damp covered in a towel and followed by a cloud of steam. Sasuke didn't say a word to him or the fox, he brushed past the blond and into the bathroom shutting the door with a sharp snap.

Naruto glared at Kyuubi.

"What?! Why does everyone keep looking at me like that? I didn't do anything!"

"Sure you didn't"

Naruto finished drying his hair throwing the towel in the corner.

XxXxXxX

Tsunade went through all her papers looking for anything to throw at the elders to slow them down. She had the weight of every person in this village on her shoulders and she was feeling every one of them right now.

She could not let this deal go through she had to stall. The cloud was treading into dangerous waters and she wanted nothing to do with it or those things… the Ninja of the eat had seen them coming long ago and all the Hokage kept them from public knowledge and away from their lands, it was one of the few things they all agreed on and upheld. Until the Raikage that is.

Tsunade perked up when se found the papers she was looking for. The paper work needed for the formation of treated and for the Hokage of one village to enter another. She walked to the window and opened it, letting the cool wet air from the storm hit her face.

"Oops!" Tsunade gasped and she "accidentally" let go of the papers.

"Guess we will have to start that process over again, what a shame…"

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It was bed time… yup, they were in bed.

Sasuke thought he could take the couch to avoid any awkwardness, but Kyuubi had insisted that being in his human form was the next best thing to being in his true from, and he needed time to stretch out. He offered to turn into his 4 or maybe 5 tail form but the chances of a maid coming in, in the morning and finding a horse sized fox demon on the floor was a bit high.

Then Kyuubi insisted that since he was being such a bother he would take the couch and the boys would take the bed.

So there they were in bed, this time they didn't try to not touch or face each other. They were both curled up with the from of their knees touching.

Neither boy would look directly at the other. Sasuke was looking slightly down and Naruto was looking up ward. Both wanted to say something, anything was better than the silence but the only thing that both could think of was what it would feel like to curl up against the other.

"So…"

Sasuke looked up, waiting for the blond to continue. He didn't expect to be captivated by the site of Naruto. His face was shadowed, the dark seemed to cascade down his face and over his eyes, but his bright blue irises still shown as if they were giving off their own light. Naruto blushed a bit as Sasuke continued to stare at him.

"Sasuke… is there something on my face?"

Sasuke registered the a few seconds after they were spoken.

"Why would you ask that?"

Naruto fidgeted and grew more red. "Well you were staring at me and not saying anything I thought maybe there was something on my face because why else would you be staring at me like that its not like my face it very interesting to look at I mean I don't think it is but it is my face so I guess I see it every day and so I cant really say if its interesting or not it could be a very interesting face to lo-."

Sasuke covered Naruto's mouth before he knew he had moved his hand, but it was effective at stemming the flow of words from the other boy's mouth.

Naruto's entire face turned red; through the clouded haze of embracement and nerves he vaguely wondered if his lips felt as soft on Sasuke's hand as Sasuke's lip had felt on his own hand.

"maybe we should just try and sleep." Sasuke said while fighting down his own blush.

Naruto nodded and slowly reached up and pulled Sasuke's hand from his mouth, but didn't let go.

Sasuke looked at their hands and then back into Naruto's eyes. There was something there that seemed to make all his embracement flow away. Naruto must of seen it Sasuke's eyes because his face wasn't red anymore.

'I don't know of he can love me, but something tells me that he truly cares. Something stronger than all the times he came to me when I was down.'

Naruto felt all the doubt about Sasuke caring drain away in that single moment. He loved Sasuke… but there was still a block, he could still never put his full trust in him, or anyone. He didn't think he could even completely trust Kyuubi not to hurt him.

"whats wrong with me…?" Naruto whispered to no one. Sasuke's eyes had drifted closed minutes ago.

Naruto felt his eye lids betraying him, as he felt himself drift away he found comfort in the warmth of the hand in his.

A/N- there it is, let me know what you think.