So these chapters are going to go back and forth between Naruto's situation to Kurama/Sasuke's. I'm sorry if that makes you mad, but I promise to split the chapters so that part of it is the scene with Naruto and the other part is with Kurama and Sasuke''s group. There are still at least 4 more chapters to go.

I do not own Naruto nor do I make any money off of this.

"talking"
'thinking'

Flashback/Memory/Dream

Written Words


Chapter 18:

Itachi was surprised that he already got a reply from his father. The Namikaze hawk his used to send his letter was the fastest in the world. It reminded him of Kiba and his dog Akamaru. It was ironic that Fugaku had chosen to send those on ahead. They were the fastest of the Uchiha Army. About ten minutes after Itachi read the letter, Kiba and Akamaru appeared at the door of Namikaze Castle. Itachi welcomed them in.

Sasuke looked up when Itachi walked into the dinning room followed by Kiba and Akamaru. Itachi handed Sasuke a letter and the younger raven read it quickly.

Itachi,

How dare they! They are messing with the wrong family! I'm sending Kiba and Akamaru on ahead. I'm sending Sasori, Deidara, Shikamaru, and Sai with some men after Kiba. Another group will search around the Uchiha Kingdom. Find Naruto! He belongs to Sasuke and is therefore one of us. Also, tell Sasuke that I accept his choice of bride. That boy seems to have a good head on his shoulder. The Uchiha Kingdom has already lost a queen to the evil hidden in the Namikaze Kingdom. Don't let us lose another one.

King Fugaku

PS. Once Naruto is safely brought back, I expect a wedding will need to be planned. I asked Ruby and some maids to help plan it. I must say that women are strange.

Sasuke stared at the letter. Could his father really have written that. Sasuke raised an eyebrow at Itachi. Itachi nodded. 'So he really wrote this. Must be Ruby's influence.' Ruby was a maid that the Uchiha family took in about a year ago. She reminded them of Mikoto. It still amazed them that she was only eight. Ruby had a strange disease that caused her body to age twice as fast. It was said that she wouldn't make it past thirteen. She currently has the body of a sixteen-year-old.

Ruby was smart for her age, her true age. She wasn't as smart as Shikamaru, but pretty close. She tried to hide her genus by acting like those around her. It was bad when she acted like Kiba, but worse when she acted like Sakura. Sasuke had to yell at her to stop being annoying or he'd kick her out. Of course she cried and Itachi in turn told Sasuke to be more understanding. Ruby then started acting like Itachi and has been ever sense. Sasuke shuddered at the thought of his wedding being planned by a female Itachi. That gave his nightmares.

Ebisu came out with food and Kiba quickly ate. "The others should get here within the hour," Kiba said. "They took the fastest horses."

"It took us three days to get here," Sasuke said. "How did you get here so fast."

"I left the moment King Fugaku read the letter," Kiba said. "Shika and I were with him. So I left right away. I've trained to run as fast as Akamaru for at least a half hour. We didn't take several breaks like you guys did. Because there was four of you, you had to go at a slow pace. We kept going only to pause once or twice. That's why we are so hungry." Sasuke nodded. "And Shika said he has a plan." Sasuke straightened. He knew that any plan made by Shikamaru was a good one. With their help, he was going to find Naruto.

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Footsteps caught Naruto's attention. He turned to the door to the room in which the cage lay. He only prayed that it wasn't Orochimaru. The handle turned and the door opened slowly as if the one opening it was doing it on purpose. A man stepped into the room. A smirk was on his face. "It's nice to meet you Naruto-kun," the man said. His voice had a sinister tone to it, yet it was rich and thick as if the man was a noble. "My name is Uen Uchiha." He grinned. "Welcome to hell."

Naruto gulped. This man scared him even more than Orochimaru. He back away and into a wall. Uen stepped towards Naruto. Uen raised a hand and grabbed Naruto's chin. Another hand was raised. Naruto closed his eyes, expecting to be hit. A laugh made him open his eyes. Uen was hunched over his arms holding his stomach.

"S-sorry," Uen said. "You're just too cute! I was just kidding!"

"Eh?" Naruto was confused.

"I'm not going to hurt you," Uen said. "You belong to my nephew after all."

"You are Sasuke's uncle?" Naruto asked.

"Yes," Uen said. "I'm Fugaku's younger brother by five years." Uen flicked on a light. Naruto closed his eyes to block out the sudden light. Then he opened them to get a good look at Uen. Uen had black hair that covered his right eye. His hair was long and spiky (kind of like Madara, except that it is more flat at the top). He was wearing black pants, a dark blue shirt, and a black cloak with a hood. Around his neck was a necklace with the Uchiwa with swords in an X in the middle.

"Why am I here?" Naruto asked.

"Simple," Uen said taking a chair out of no where and sitting on it. "Someone doesn't want you involved with the Namikazes."

"What are you going to do to me?" Naruto asked.

"Nothing really," Uen shrugged. "I was paid to remove you from the Namikaze Castle."

Naruto frowned. There was something about Uen that told him that the Uchiha was lying. "You're lying. You're hiding something."

Uen smirked. "So what if I am? What are you going to do about it?" Naruto knew there was nothing he could do. "Tell you what, I'll ask you a question and you'll answer it. Then you can ask me a question. Let's promise to tell each other the truth." Naruto nodded. "Ok. let's see. Ah! Are you in love with Sasuke?"

Naruto blushed "Yes."

"Good," Uen nodded. "Ok, what's your question?"

"What are you hiding?" Naruto asked.

"About this situation?" Uen asked. Naruto nodded. "I wasn't the one paid to take you from the Namikaze Kingdom. Orochimaru and Kabuto were. Next question, how do you feel about Kurama?"

"I love him," Naruto said. "Like a friend. Or brother." He paused. "You said Orochimaru and Kabuto were the ones hired to kidnap me. Then how is it that I'm with you and not them?"

"I killed them," Uen said. Naruto's eyes widened. "Don't worry about it. They diserved it. There seems to be a mystory involving the Namikaze family. What is it?"

"I don't know," Naruto answered honestly. "I was only there until I was seven and my memories are few. I only remember being Kurama's friend and Tsunade's son." Again he paused. "Why didn't you bring me back to Namikaze Castle?"

"We wouldn't be able to talk it I did. Besides, I'm not really welcomed there or the Uchiha Kingdom. And before you waste a question on why, I'll tell you that I'm somewhat of a criminal. That's all I'll say on the subject. I'm sure you understand that some things are better left in the past." Naruto nodded. He did understand. The two continued to ask questions back and forth until Uen finally decided they needed to take a break and get something in Naruto's stomach as well as his own.


The disease is called Progeria, but with Ruby it is only 2 times the normal age. Since it isn't that much of a different speed, Ruby looks like a normal teenager (as opposed to someone who ages at a rate of 8 times the normal aging rate). Sadly there is no cure for Progeria. That being said, I'd like to dedicate this chapter to those who have or had this disease.

I bet you thought Uen was gonna be an evil character, but he isn't. He is basically a more serious version of Tobi. His name is pronounced You-N.