A/N– ok so thing happened in this story… it was cute. Now more things are going to happened and stuff. *looks at her notes for this story* yup stuff…
Once again I know I have errors, they will always be there until I get the time after I finish to edit it all together. I DO NOT need to be told about it in the reviews, though I do thank those who did it politely. If you have a serious problem with the errors please don't read this story until its done and edited.
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– READ MURIPURI IT ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!
XxXxXxX
Red Walkways
Chapter Thirteen
Beat to the Punch
XxXxXxX
Tsunade was very pleased with herself. She had managed to not just "lose" the paper work needed to travel to the Cloud she also managed to completely clog the paper network that those forms needed to go through.
Shizune walked in with a tray of tea expertly balanced in her hands. She approached the desk quickly and placed the tray on the edge. She gently lifted the ceramic pot and placed a soft hand on the top as she began to slowly pour the fragrant tea into a ceramic cup.
"I love paperwork"
CRASH!
Tsunade jumped back out of her chair as hot tea cascaded over desk.
Shizune didn't move to clean up the mess she made dropping the tea pot onto the cup, she just starred at her Hokage in shock.
The Tea cooled quickly…
XxXxXxX
Naruto woke up warm; the sun in his eye wasn't irritating for the first time he could remember. What was irritating was the red head with his face an inch away from Naruto's starring at him…
"Is Sasuke going to be my new daddy?"
Naruto raised an eyebrow opening his mouth, but Sasuke's voice floated over the silence before he got a chance to tell Kyuubi he was an idiot.
"like I would want to your dad, you dumb fox"
Each word Sasuke spoke was punctuated with a hot breath on the back of Naruto's neck. It was then that Kyuubi's comment made all too much sense. Even fully clothed in pajamas the two boys position was more than a little compromising. Sasuke was curled around Naruto from behind with his arm draped over his waist.
Oddly enough neither was bothered by this, both felt comfortable. Last night they seemed to come to a silent understanding that they cared for each other as more than just a comrade, or friend, or as someone who they leaned on. They didn't know if the other one could feel for them the way they wanted and they weren't rushing to find out and possibly ruin this new level of connection they had come to.
Naruto felt warmth in his chest that over shadowed the hole that was always there, the hole that told him it wasn't enough and he would never put all his trust in one person, but he knew he would put as much as possible in Sasuke.
Naruto knew when he got home he had something to do, he didn't know why but he knew he would have what it takes to see where this thing with Sasuke was going once he opened the door and look at what he left inside, until then this is where it would stay. He was OK with that for now.
"Mommy I'm hungry! Are you and daddy going to have sex or feed me?!" Kyuubi bounced up and down next to the bed.
Naruto sat up and turned around to look a Sasuke, their eyes met. There was no regret. Naruto smiled, Sasuke smiled a small smile back, reached out and ruffled blond hair.
Naruto gave his foxy smiled,
"Mommy wants Ramen" he said cheekily.
"YEAH RAMEN!" Kyuubi threw his arms into the air "can we daddy?!"
The sound was so soft it seemed imagined, red eyes met blue and there was a brief exchange.
'was that?'
"could he of…?"
'noooooo…'
Sasuke caught on to the fact that the other two were talking without talking, he gave them a suspicious look. They seemed to be in shock over something but he couldn't imagine what.
All he had done was laugh…
XxXxXxX
Sasuke was having a strong feeling he has done this before as he sat in the ramen stand next to Naruto with K-chan on the counter.
Naruto was shoveling down ramen like he was breathing for the first time today. Sasuke was glad the other boy seemed more upbeat then he had been the entire trip so far.
Sasuke glanced to his right as two middle aged men sat in the empty stools chatting about local news. K-chan raised his head, Naruto continued his ramen breathing, but he was completely aware of the men's chatter.
The man closest to Sasuke slammed his fist on the counter.
"we have to do something! Alert Konoha! They are only ten miles east of hear!"
The other man put a calming hand on the firsts shoulder.
"by the time the message got to them it wouldn't matter, that man is a phantom, he would already of moved on."
The first man heaved a sigh, "I guess your right, I just cant believe Uchiha Itachi was spotted not a mile away from here, what would he doing out here in the middle of no where, and so close to Konoha… makes me nervous."
The second man nodded "for good reason you feel like that."
Naruto already had a hand on Sasuke shoulder. His entire body was tense but he stayed in his seat. Ever since the cursed seal faded after the snake bastard died, Sasuke's homicidal compulsions lessened along with the need to bolt after every lead of his brothers location.
"you OK?"
Sasuke took a shaky breath, "I think so, I would like to check out the rumor but we're on a mission."
Naruto nodded, happy Sasuke's logic hadn't fled his mind like it once would of years ago at his bothers name being mentioned.
K-chan clamored off the counter and into Sasuke's lap, the boy carded his hands through the red/brown fur without even thinking about it.
Naruto's hand tightened on Sasuke's shoulder, he was remembering a conversation he heard in Youkai no Yobi . some demons had been talking about Itachi being in the area back then.
'is that bastard trailing us?'
"he might very well be doing just that."
'shit'
"shit is right if he tries to confront us."
Naruto felt Sasuke's muscle un-tense beneath his fingers and felt it was safe to let him go. Kyuubi stayed in his lap just in case, fully prepared to transform to four tail and lay on him if necessary.
'I don't think that will be necessary…'
"yeah but it would be fun."
XxXxXxX
Traveling again, Naruto will forever hate traveling after this trip; Gaara owed him after this mission…
Evelyn's presets was again freaking Naruto out, she always seemed to be pressing on the back of his mind. Her eyes were on the road ahead but it felt like she could see him anyway…
Naruto spent most of this travel time trying not to feel like he was going crazy, K-chan was back on Sasuke's shoulders. Sasuke was walking next to him; closer then they would of before last night. Kakashi walked in the front, Sakura next to him, Evelyn behind them and the boys brought up the rear. Their charge had a shinobi on each corner.
They were taking a route that kept them 10 miles west of Konoha while aiming for a certain part of the boarder between countries that they knew was being kept clear for them by the guards.
"where were you two this morning before we left the village?" Sakura suddenly inquired.
Sasuke raised an eyebrow "having breakfast."
Sakura was surprised that he answered her. "well you could of ate with me and Kakashi, this is the second time you ditched us for breakfast when we stayed in a village."
"Naruto wanted ramen I didn't think you would" Sasuke was getting irritated.
"well you could of asked us." Sakura was walking backwards to face Sasuke with her right hand on her hip.
Naruto rolled his eyes and opened his mouth but Sasuke beat him to the punch.
"he's been doing that a lot lately"
"what's it matter to you?" Sasuke said coolly.
Sakura opened her mouth to snap back, angry that when Sasuke finally starts talking more he's being an ass. She closed her mouth again not wanting to say something she would regret.
Before they left on this mission they all learned things about Naruto they wouldn't have dreamed. He seemed to be a completely different person then they had all thought him to be. Now Sasuke is spending all this time with him and Sakura couldn't help being jealous, she still liked him after all… even if it wasn't on the creepy stalker like level it was when they were young.
Ever since Sasuke came back to Konoha he had been less rash, he didn't go off the handle over his brother, he even used the sharingan less. He used to always whip it out at even a hit of a fight might be starting. Actually she couldn't remember the last time she saw him use it. He was quieter when he came back, if the was even possible. Then Naruto turns into a different person and Sasuke spends time with him, and to top it off he starts talking more, but instead of good things coming from him, he just talks back at her instead of having a conver-freaking-sasion, it wouldn't kill him too!
Sasuke could see Sakura working herself into a frenzy in her mind and found some sort of strange satisfaction in it. He might have to do this more often.
Naruto looked between Sakura and Sasuke for a moment, and then Sasuke smirked. Not a mean evil smirk but one of satisfied amusement.
"the worlds ending…." Naruto muttered
"no kidding" Kyuubi answered.
Sakura's fists were down at her sides now, clenched and shaking as she continued to walk backwards. She took a deep breath, the boys waited for her response with curious anticipation.
"YOUR FACE IS STUPID!" Sakura whaled at them and spun back around.
Naruto faltered and tripped.
The entire group stopped. Kakashi seemed to have missed everything up till Sakura's out burst and just stared on in confusion.
Sasuke stopped and held a hand out to Naruto
"Dobe…" it was muttered softly and quietly so only Naruto could hear. He smiled and reached out to take the offered hand.
It was the first time Sasuke had called him that since he came back to Konoha. Things between them were falling into place.
"thanks" they stood an inch apart and locked eyes, there was a long moment before Naruto turned back to the trail and continued walking.
K-chan gave a foxy smirk then yawned going back to his napping.
Everyone started walking but Kakashi who stood still a moment longer.
"can someone tell me what just happened?"
XxXxXxX
Night was falling fast, the group was halfway to the boarder and the climate was already getting warmer then in Konoha, but the cool of the night was rolling in to relieve the travelers of their warm discomfort. They could feel the wet heat of Tea country that gave the Rain Village its name crawling up their skin and making it stick to everything.
It was going to be humid and hot until they came to the dry heat of the dessert. But right now with the sun setting slowly in the direction they were walking, the group couldn't help but feel peaceful. Unfortunately moments of peace for a ninja on a mission are the moments they should be most alert.
While giving off the appearance of relaxation Naruto and K-chan were keeping their heightened senses wide open for anything unusual.
"Do you feel that?" K-chan lifted his head.
Naruto nodded. For the past few minutes he was aware of the chakura coming in their direction from the north/east. He didn't say anything incase he was wrong about his hunch, but it felt like the chakura was coming right for them…
Itachi was on their trail.
Naruto was almost 100% sure the Uchiha was coming for them because of the whispers in Yokai no Yobi of him being in the area and then again it happened in the last village. But he was going to keep it to him self until he was completely sure-
Sasuke stopped dead in his tracks and whipped around.
Naruto felt his stomach twist, Sasuke was facing the direction Itachi was coming from.
A/N– well there will be a fight next chapter. AND some new surprises! I have had this next chapter planned since I started this story ^^