xxxChapter 6: Under the Moon's Glowxxx

Sasuke stared down at his brother through hollow eyes. Orochimaru was beside him with a deep frown on his face.

Itachi slept silently on the bed, his hair loose around his face and arms crossed over his stomach, covered completely in white bandages. His right leg was wrapped as well, chest rising and falling in slow, steady breathes.

Despite how mangled the dog was when Sasuke found him, the fall hadn't brought Itachi to death. But it seemed that would have been a less punishing result. Now both his arms were broken and would take some time to heal. And his leg was beyond repair, with torn ligaments and shattered bone; there was nothing they could for him.

It had been confirmed that Itachi could not hunt again.

Sasuke bit his lip. If it was the last thing he ever did, he would avenge his brother and get Naruto back for this.

Orochimaru abruptly stood up, hastily walking over to a table and pulling on a tattered, black shirt over his blue jeans. Then, picking up his rifle, he made his way to the door.

Sasuke turned his head. "Where are you going?"

"To pay our dear neighbor a visit."

Coal eyes darkened. "I'll come too."

"No, you stay here in case Itachi wakes up and needs something." He cocked the gun and stepped out. "This won't take very long."

x-X-0-X-x

Naruto lay face up on the rug in his home, the fireplace crackling beside him. He sighed softly, bringing up his hand to stare at the long strip of bandage wrapped around it.

There was a painful tightening in his chest as he remembered the way Sasuke's eyes had burned red, the fury that seeped out of them.

His ears suddenly twitched, light vibrations running through them. He shot up to a sitting position, ears alert and turning this way and that like a radar.

Iruka glanced up from the book he was reading, "Naruto? What's the matter?"

The blond's eyes narrowed and his lips parted, but no sound came out.

The door suddenly began pounding, causing them both to jump and Naruto bolted up from the floor, dashing into the kitchen.

"Eh – Naruto?"

The pounding became louder, drawing Iruka off the couch and to the door.

When he opened it, a force pushed against him, and he reflexively thrust his body forward and spread his arms against the door frame, acting as a barrier as Orochimaru continued to try and force himself inside.

"Get out of my way Iruka!" the pale man yelled, his anger making him use less sophisticated words than his usual choice of diction.

Iruka grunted as other pushed harder, and he raised a hand against his chest and harshly shoved him back. "What the hell is wrong with you?!" Iruka shouted, "This is private property! You can't just force your way in here!"

Orochimaru stood erect, staring down at the other man. "Where is he?" he bit out.

"I don't know what you're talking about." He grunted again when a rifle was pressed into his stomach, but he glared at the man, unfazed.

"Don't play stupid with me! Where is he?! Where's that damn fox?!"

"You have no business with my son, Orochimaru."

The man sneered. "Your 'son' nearly killed Itachi. He seduces and fucks one then tries to kill the other! He's nothing but a nuisance that needs to be taken care of!"

"Naruto would never do those things. Whatever happened to Itachi was Itachi's fault; he attacked Naruto first-"

"Because he was on my property. Now thanks to him, I'm a hunting dog short!"

"That isn't his fault."

Orochimaru's jaw clenched, his eyes wild. And bathed in the moon's glow, he looked more demonic than human.

A pale finger was shoved into Iruka's face, pushing the rifle further into his stomach. "You can't keep him locked up and hidden in there forever, Iruka. Sooner or later, he has to come out. And when he does, have no doubt in your mind that I'll shoot him on sight. But this time," he stood straight, eyes narrowing, "I won't miss."

With those words hanging in the air, Orochimaru turned and left.

Iruka stood utterly still with wide eyes, letting the threat sink in before softly closing the door with a light 'click.'

He let his hands fall to his sides. "...I can't keep protecting him..."

"Don't worry Dad."

Iruka started with surprise, whirling around to face Naruto. He frowned, "Didn't you hear what that man just said?"

Naruto nodded with a smile, but his ears were flat against his blond locks. "But if he hasn't caught me before, what makes you think he'll catch me now?"

Iruka snapped, "This isn't a child's game Naruto!"

The fox flinched, surprised by his father's outburst.

Iruka stared at him with an unmoving frown. But inside, he could hear his own heart shattering into a million pieces at the decision he was about to make.

A barrage of memories flooded his mind, a year with the fox that suddenly seemed far too short.

But living here was no longer safe for Naruto. And despite how Iruka felt, he valued his son above all things. And he'd tear himself apart, if it meant Naruto's safety.

He pressed his lips into a thin line to keep the tears at bay.

Naruto stepped forward, "Dad? Are you alright?"

He nodded, "Yeah," and the lie tasted bittersweet on his tongue.

x-X-0-X-x

Naruto groaned softly as something shook him awake. He rolled over and blinked away sleep, blurry vision becoming clear to find

Iruka hovering over him.

His brows knitted in confusion, and he peered out the window behind his father's head, eyes settling on a full white moon.

"What...time is it?"

Iruka shook his head. "That's not important. Put some warm clothes on and let's go."

"But where-"

"Just come on."

Naruto still looked confused as Iruka walked out the door. But nevertheless, he threw off his covers with half-lidded eyes and picked up a pair of jeans from the floor, tugging them on. Then he went to a drawer and pulled out an orange undershirt and a matching sweatshirt, fitting them over himself and walking out barefoot.

Iruka was waiting patiently by the front door, and looked up when Naruto came in. "Ready?"

Naruto blinked, awake now. "Um...sure, but dad, why-"

"We're going for a ride."

"In the middle of the night?"

The man tipped his head and turned around, opening the door and stepping out. "C'mon."

Naruto sighed softly and followed him outside to the truck, wondering why his father was acting so strange.

Iruka turned the key as Naruto slipped inside and shut the door, the engine roaring to life.

The fox shrank into his seat as they pulled out of the driveway. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was in trouble for something.
And why was Iruka being so secretive?

He looked outside, noticing that they were driving right past the forest.

Where the hell was Iruka taking them?

He turned to ask again but the stern look on the man's face trapped the question in his throat. Instead, he simply exhaled a breath and leaned his head against his father's shoulder, stared out the window at the round moon.

The last time they'd driven the truck out on a night like this was a few days after Sasuke had left, when Naruto was still a kit. Iruka had forgotten to buy fodder for the farm animals, and Naruto couldn't stay by himself.

The moon had been bright and full, like it was tonight, and Naruto had been staring at it just the same..

Naruto leaned against the window of the truck. The same, sad frown plastered on his face.

So Iruka was a bit surprised when the little blond suddenly spoke up, "Daddy...why does the moon follow us when we drive?"

Iruka raised a brow at the question and contemplated an answer.

He could tell Naruto the truth. About the earth's constant rotation and the moon being so far away, that it seemed everywhere at once. But the last thing Naruto needed right now was cold logic. So instead, "Well, it's dark at night Naruto. The moon wants us to be safe. So it follows us to light the way and keep us happy."

Naruto's eyes widened slightly. "Oh...you know what, daddy?"

"Hm?"

"The moon...it reminds me of Sasuke."

Iruka's lips twitched upward, "Oh really?"

Naruto smiled a bit, "Yeah."

"And why is that?"

The kit sat straighter, entranced by the white orb. "Because it's so beautiful," he turned to Iruka with azure eyes bright enough to put the moon to shame, "and because he makes me happy too."

Naruto closed his eyes to cling to the feeling, but found he could no longer remember Sasuke as his moon.

The vehicle came to a halt, and Iruka let his hands rest on the wheel but didn't shut the engine off.

Naruto raised his head, catching tear stains on the other's cheeks. "...Dad?"

Iruka shook his head and opened the door. "C'mon Naruto, he murmured, before stepping outside.

Naruto lifted a brow and got out, quickly making his way around the truck to meet up with his father. "Dad, tell me what's wrong. You're acting really weird."

Iruka bit his lip, hesitating. But Orochimaru's promise re-surfaced in his mind and he released a long breath, looking straight at his son. "Naruto...you have to stay here."

Naruto flinched. "What?" he questioned. He had been so focused on Iruka's strange behavior, he hadn't even taken time to notice where he'd brought them to. He scanned their surroundings, finding that they were in some deep part of the forest; much farther than Naruto had ever cared to go.

He averted his gaze back to Iruka, confusion evident on his face. "What do you mean 'stay here'?"

"You can't come back with me."

Naruto's whole body jerked. Couldn't come back? Why was Iruka doing this to him? What had he done wrong?

His eyes shifted nervously from left to right, breathing becoming difficult as his heart picked up speed.

Was it because of the way he'd brushed off Orochimaru's threat? Should he have taken it more seriously? Iruka was abandoning him out here because of that?

Naruto fell forward, winding his arms around the man's torso and crying into his neck. "Don't leave me here daddy! I'm sorry!"

Iruka froze at the endearment, having not heard it for so long. Naruto was desperate, sounding like a helpless child who needed his father, innocent and loving.

Making it that much harder to let him go.

Iruka slowly raised his arms and wound them around the blond, holding him close and whispering into his hair, "You've done nothing wrong."

Naruto suddenly pulled back, looking back at him with wet blue eyes. "Then why are you leaving me here?"

That triggered and unbearable hurt in Iruka's chest. He remembered Naruto as a kit, all the pranks he used to pull (and still did actually), the games they used to play, all the trouble he'd gotten himself into. And it all seemed so long ago.

But he had, and would continue, to treasure every moment.

He lifted a hand to slowly stroke the other's hair. "Because I love you," he murmured.

"That doesn't make sense!" Naruto protested.

"Living with me isn't safe for you anymore, Naruto. You'll be better protected out here."

The fox bit his lip, eyes searching the man's face. "But..."

"You'll be fine, Naruto. Kakashi trained you on how to be on your own, didn't he?"

Naruto's ears flattened. Of course he could take care of himself, but that wasn't the point. He held the other tighter, tilting his head back to peer up at him, silent tears spilling out of his eyes. "...I'll miss you too much," he murmured.

Iruka's heart jumped. This was becoming more difficult by the second.

But there wasn't another choice. He found it a bit ironic that Naruto's only hope for survival when he was small was to be taken out of the forest. Now his only chance was to be put back.

He slid one hand down to squeeze the Naruto's shoulder, the other stroked a velvety red ear. "If you're sure you won't get caught, you know you can come see me whenever you want. And Kakashi will be out here with you too."

Naruto listened and considered this for a moment before nodding, his lips tilting half-way. He pulled his father into a full hug, murmuring softly into his chest, "I love you, daddy...thank you, for everything."

Iruka smiled and pulled back, kissing his son's forehead. "I'll miss you, Naruto." He slowly let his arms slip away from the fox and turned back to the car. But something occurred to him as he moved for the handle, and he paused, "Naruto...just one more thing."

Naruto blinked, "Hm?"

Iruka gripped the door handle, keeping his eyes focused on Naruto's reflection in the window. "How...do you feel about Sasuke now?"

Naruto froze, his blood running cold.

Iruka was careful with his words, "Do you still love him?"

The fox remained silent, but his lips twitched. Had it really been that obvious? Naruto had never said he loved Sasuke other than to Sasuke himself.

But he remembered the dog's stinging words over his brother's body, his eyes filled with rage, and he frowned deeply. Yes, Naruto did still love him. But...was it the same love as before? "I...I don't know," was all he said.

"Don't let him use your emotions to manipulate you, Naruto." Iruka warned, "Remember whose side he's on."

Naruto nodded, though it hurt him to think that Sasuke would actually use him that way just to get revenge. He looked up at the slam of a door. Iruka had gotten back inside the truck. The window came down, and the man stared at him, "...I'll see you."

Naruto smiled slightly. "You bet."

And with two heavy hearts and a promise between them, Naruto watched his father drive until he was nothing more than a speck in the night.

x-X-0-X-x

Sasuke's eyes narrowed, following Iruka's truck as it pulled back into the driveway, only to widen when he came out of the vehicle alone.

He stuck his fingers under the window and slid it up, sticking his head out slightly and sniffing the air.

Whiffs of pine tree and dirt hit his senses, but not Naruto's scent. There were faint smells of him here and there, where he had been that sent shivers up Sasuke's spine but nothing strong enough to indicate the fox was anywhere near here.

Sasuke turned his head back to look at his master, who was sitting beside Itachi and polishing his gun. "He came back without him," he stated.

This caught the man's attention. He stood up, leaning the rifle against the fire place and walking over next to Sasuke.

Orochimaru bent forward, fingers curling around the lip of the window as he observed Iruka walk into his home. He snorted softly. "He must've dropped him off at the game preserve," he muttered.

Sasuke stayed quiet.

Licking his lips, Orochimaru stood up again. "Come Sasuke, I want to show you something." He motioned for the dog to follow, and he obeyed.

Orochimaru led them into another room, pulled something off a table and crouched on the floor, setting it down with a loud 'clank.'

Sasuke raised a brow, coming over to crouch beside him.

Orochimaru dug his fingers between the metal, carefully prying it apart like the jaws of a wild animal. He set it down again, flipping something to keep it in position.

"This," he began, "will make that damn fox feel what Itachi feels."

Sasuke's ears perked up as he continued to stare at the silver death trap.

Orochimaru reached behind him and plucked a piece a piece of firewood that had been against the wall, "We'll set them up all over the place," he continued. "Then, while he's walking along without a care in the world," he held the wood over the trap, hovering, "we'll get him." He let go. And the moment the wood made contact with the metal, the jaws clamped faster than the eye could see and louder than the bang of shot, causing Sasuke to fall back on his rear.

He stared at the wood, now on either side of the trap, splinters sticking out in utter defeat.

Naruto didn't stand a chance against this thing, and this made Sasuke's stomach twist. He imagined Naruto, frolicking with his bright self and rolling around in the leaves of the forest earth. Then suddenly screaming in agony as metal teeth dug into soft flesh. Flesh that he'd kissed, caressed and whispered love to. And his ears flattened.

Orochimaru looked up at him, observed his face. "You're not going to be able to do this, are you Sasuke? I know what you did with him, and if you're only going to slow me down, I'll leave you here."

Sasuke glanced at him, needles of guilt stabbing at his heart. Could he really do that to Naruto? Track him down and watch coldly as he's torn and shot to death right before his eyes?

A sudden 'thump' in the other room made Sasuke jerk. He scrambled up from the floor and quickly ran towards the sound.

All breath escaped him when he found Itachi on the floor, lying on his side a few feet from the bed.

"Itachi!" he yelled in panic before hurriedly picking him up and setting him down in a chair by the fireplace.

Sasuke fretted over the dog like a protective mother over her child's wound. He cupped Itachi's face, bringing it up to look at him.

Strands of hair fell over the other's eyes; he pushed them back, keeping them away. "Brother? Are you okay? Does anything hurt?"

Itachi didn't answer, simply kept his eyes averted with an empty look, like he'd been for days.

Sasuke bit his lip and stroked his brother's ear. "You're not healed yet," he whispered, "you shouldn't try to be walking on your own."

Itachi switched his gaze, staring blankly at his little brother, not murmuring a word.

Sasuke sighed heavily and brushed his thumb along the other's cheek. His features glowed eerily from the mixture of darkness and fire. "I'm here for you brother."

But Itachi didn't so much as blink.

Sasuke gritted his teeth. Even if it wasn't physical, his brother was dead inside. Hunting was Itachi's life, and now that it had been snatched away from him, what was left?

Nothing. And there was only one person to blame for that.

Orochimaru came into the room and leaned against the doorframe, folding his arms. "Well, Sasuke?"

Sasuke snorted softly. He pulled Itachi close, rubbing his cheek against the elder's ear, burying his face into dark locks. Then he turned his head, his nose peeking through strands of his brother's hair.

Eyes red as murder, his lips parted, "I'll kill him."

x-X-0-X-x

Naruto wiped away his tears and sank to the ground.

This was the first time he'd ever truly been alone. Where was Kakashi? Where were all the other damn animals that were supposed to live here?

He blew a bang out of his face with a frustrated grunt and tilted his head back to the night sky.

The moon stood out sharply against the black background, and Naruto narrowed his eyes as a cloud cut in front of it.

Suddenly, something cold and wet plopped on his nose, evoking a surprised snort.

Naruto shook his head and touched the tip of his nose with his forefinger. "...Water?" he muttered, before another droplet hit his cheek. And just like that, it started to pour.

Naruto ears flattened slowly and his mouth pulled into a frown, eyebrows furrowing. "Of course," he grumbled and stood up. He made his way over to a tree and again, sank to the earth.

But not a minute after he sat down did his eyes widen as something pushed him up from the ground, making him jump slightly.

He spread his legs and looked down, raising a brow and yelping when he was shoved off his butt and fell onto his back.

When he sat up, there was a young male with small, round ears peeping out from long, dark hair glaring down at him through two of the palest eyes Naruto had ever seen. "Um..."

The animal snorted and grit his teeth, bottom half of his body still underground. "Who the hell do you think you are? Sitting on top of my home!"

Naruto shook his head confusedly, "I'm sorry, I – I didn't know..."

The other scrunched up his nose. "Everyone knows that this is my property! Who are you? Go home!"

Naruto flinched, his eyes trailing down. "I..."

"Oh Neji, do not be so mean to him!"

Neji twisted his body and looked up, allowing Naruto to eye the thick, black line that ran down his pale back, drops of rain trickling along it.

"He SAT on me!" Neji yelled.

The other creature, who had small spines poking out from behind him and black shorts, shook his head. "He is new to the forest. He did not mean to disturb you."

Neji 'hmphed' and turned back to Naruto, pointed at him. "You, watch where you sit next time!" he warned, before disappearing back into the earth and covering the hole with wet dirt.

Naruto's brows slowly rose as he leaned forward, staring curiously at the ground. But he jumped back when something landed in front of him; the creature that had been talking to that Neji guy.

He smiled at Naruto through the rain. "Hello youthful friend! I am Rock Lee, a hedgehog. I apologize about Neji; badgers are grumpy when you wake them up."

Naruto blinked. "Uh," he bent his legs under him and loosely laid his arms on his lap. "I-I'm Naruto," he stuttered, "Sorry about...er – sitting on your friend."

Lee shook his head, "Not at all! Do not worry about Neji; he is not usually like that. You surprised him, that is all."

"Oh..."

Lee cocked his head. "You are new, right? I saw you earlier, with your...father, I think it was?"

Naruto looked at him, suddenly a bit pissed. "And you couldn't warn me about sitting here?"

The hedgehog smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "Yes, well, I am sorry. I did not want to startle you and I assumed you had not seen many forest animals before."

Naruto absentmindedly glanced at the ground. "Not like you guys."

Lee nodded. "If you like, you are welcome to stay with me for the night."

Naruto bit his lip and looked over his soaked self, then at Lee through a sheet of rain and sighed softly. "Yeah, that'd be great," he murmured.

Lee shot up from the ground with clenched fists, his black shorts slipping a bit from the sudden movement. "FANTASTIC! Let us go!"

Naruto tilted his head at the other's energy, and wondered briefly why he was wearing human clothes out here. He hesitated when Lee stretched out a hand, but then allowed the other to help him up. He carefully stepped over the spot Neji had popped out of and followed the hedgehog to another, quite large tree with a small hole in the middle.

Naruto cocked his head. "We won't fit in-" his eyes widened as he watched Lee squeeze through the hole and completely disappear.

He blinked, "Um...Lee?"

The other poked his head out, making Naruto flinch. "You will fit fine. It is much larger than it seems, and your body is built to fit through small spaces, is it not?"

The fox whined, unsure, his body beginning to convulse from the chill of the rain.

Lee retreated back into the hole and Naruto reached forward, sliding his arms inside, followed by his head.

He hunched his shoulders and twisted his body, shocked by how easily he squirmed and crawled his way into the hole. And Lee was right, it was much bigger than it looked from outside.

This part of the trunk had been carved hollow, with an arched roof and leaves scattered across the ground. Space just wide enough to barely fit two bodies.

"You live here?" Naruto asked, eyes roaming.

"No, only sleep."

The fox 'hm'ed' and peeled off his soaked sweatshirt, letting it 'splat' on the ground. Then he glanced outside, noticing the rain had let up to a light drizzle.

His ears flattened as he again, thought about Sasuke. "Lee?"

"Yes?"

Naruto laid down, curled up on his side with his hands clasped and tucked between his bent legs. "If you...love someone...and you hurt them really badly without meaning to...do you think they can forgive you?"

Lee raised a very furry brow. "That is an odd question."

Naruto curled tighter, and sensed Lee lay down beside him. "Does this person love you back?"

His eyes darkened, body shivered. "Not anymore."

"But they did love you."

Naruto's lips fell apart. He thought about Sasuke's kisses, his words...how he had claimed him. "...Yeah."

"Then yes."

Red ears perked up, muscles loosening. "You...you really think so?"

"Love is an emotion you can never completely erase, Naruto. It is the ultimate symbol of youth! If they loved you once, then there will always be a part of them that will continue to love you, no matter what. And you will always forgive someone you love, even if it takes time. That is what I believe! Is it a suitable answer?"

Naruto's mouth spread out slowly, and he resisted the urge to turn over and hug the other male. "Yeah, that's a good answer. Thanks Lee."

The thought that a small part of Sasuke could still love him, it swelled Naruto's heart with hope. And he fell asleep with the dream of him and Sasuke, whispering love to each other by the crashing waterfall.