A/N: APOLOGIES ARE IN ORDER!. I'm SO sorry! I know nothing I say could make up for it, but please note I am really really sorry. March was be a busy month for me. It was my birthday and I also had family issues. I should have put something up saying i wasn't going to be updating. From now on i will do that. Please forgive me if you are still reading this story. Now that I started this I want to see this through even if people stop reading it. But again, I am very sorry.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto in any way, shape, or form. It belongs to Masashi Kishimoto. I don't write for any profit.

Warnings: it's a yaoi, which means boyxboy. I'm not twisting your arm to read this story so if you feel that this isn't your style, don't read. As the story progresses, there will emotional, psychological, verbal, and maybe physical abuse.

Rating: T for right now but it might change and I'll put any warning in each chapter if there is any.

Pairings: For now it's SasukexNaruto but at one point or other it will turn into ItachixNaruto. Other pairings will be added as the story goes on.

"Talking"

'Thinking' or 'Text message'

Flashbacks and memories

Chapter X

After being discharged from the hospital, Naruto was currently in his old room at Iruka's house. Iruka's house wasn't big but it wasn't small either. It was a comfortable single family home. When Iruka first brought Naruto home from the orphanage, it was difficult to settle in. Naruto, who had nothing, finally had a place he could call home. He loved this house. It was everything to him. Naruto may have his own apartment, but he would always come back to this house.

Laying in his bed Naruto thought about everything Kakashi told him. The death of Sasuke's parents by the hand of his older brother. The older brother who ran away and hasn't been seen since. According to Kakashi, nobody knows why Sasuke's older brother did it. That's what bothered Naruto. What would cause Sasuke's brother to kill his own parents? Furthermore, why did he leave Sasuke alive? There were so many questions.

Naruto found himself wondering what kind of person Sasuke's brother was. Did he look like Sasuke? Did he have a moody, emo personality like him too? Naruto was always fascinated with anything that dealt with the Uchihas. Naruto had been lost in his thoughts, that he didn't hear someone knocking on the door until they walked in.

"Geez, are you that wrapped up in your mind that you didn't even hear me knocking?"

Naruto looked over to see Shikamaru leaning on the door frame. The Nara boy walked in and sat at the end of Naruto's bed Indian style.

"Shika!" Naruto exclaimed "I was getting bored. Iruka-sensei said he didn't want me moving around too much, but it's hard for me to sit still!"

Shikamaru let a chuckle out. Naruto never seemed like the person who can just stay in one place.

"Maybe sitting still will help you to concentrate more"

"My concentration is perfect!"

"Whatever" Shikamaru huffed.

The two boys sat in a comfortable silence. Shikamaru came over to see how his blonde friend was doing. Everything seemed so surreal. One minute Naruto and Sasuke were dating, then they're not, then Sasuke put Naruto in the hospital, and now Naruto is at home recuperating. Shikamaru knew that the blonde wanted to figure out why everything happen the way it did. He was going to let Naruto bring the subject up first.

"Ne, Shika" Naruto started. Naruto knew he would need help and Shikamaru was the only person who could help. Not to say Kiba or Neji wouldn't help, but they weren't too fond of Sasuke and with the recent events, Naruto was sure Sasuke's popularity stock plummeted.

"I decided what I wanted to do about Sasuke"

When Shikamaru didn't say anything, Naruto continued

"Sasuke…he's hurting just as much as I am and I want to help him. It's no longer about whatever relationship we had. He is my friend and he needs someone to be there for him."

Naruto was always the one to give someone a second chance, even when they didn't deserve it.

Shikamaru let what Naruto say sink in. The Nara boy didn't like Sasuke but at the same time he didn't hate him either.

Flopping backwards on the bed, Shikamaru spoke

"Geez, Uchiha isn't around but he still seems to be so damn troublesome. All right Naruto, I'll help you"

Naruto seemed surprised "R-Really?!"

"Sure. If I let you do handle this by yourself, your brain might overload"

Smiling Naruto said "Shika you're the best!"

Naruto pumped his arms in the air, but regretted the action as he felt the cuts and stitches

"Ow shit!"

"Oi, calm down baka. The last thing you need is to re-open you're stitches"

The blonde sheepishly grinned "I couldn't help it"

The two boys shared a laugh, before Iruka knocked on the open door and walked in.

"Iruka-sensei!" Naruto chirped

"Hey Sensei" Shikamaru casually said.

Iruka looked at the two boys. Even though Iruka teaches these kids, he never saw them as just his students.

"Hey boys. I just came to see how you guys were doing and Naruto, I think it's time to change your bandages."

Naruto cringed at the thought. It takes a lot to gross him out, but seeing dried blood mixed with pus and scabs made Naruto want to throw up.

Shikamaru decided it was time to go. This whole situation with Sasuke was going to take some time and discretion. Anything that had to do with the Uchihas was taboo. At least for the adults since Naruto and his friends, as well as Sasuke didn't know anything. If they weren't careful, it make blow up in their faces.

Iruka noticed that Shikamaru was getting ready to leave when he asked

"Shikamaru-kun, aren't you going to stay for dinner?"

'Geez Sensei really is like a mother' He thought "Sorry Sensei, not today. I just came by to see how Naruto was doing. Maybe next time. Naruto, I'll see you later"

"Sure!" the blonde said with a smile

Shikamaru left the room and headed down the stairs. In the hallway, Shikamaru saw Kakashi leaning against the wall.

"So, you decided to help Naruto?" The grey-haired man asked

While slipping on his shoes, Shikamaru replied

"If I didn't, he would do everything by himself and end up causing a bigger mess than necessary"

Kakashi let out a chuckle "Yes he would"

"Well, I'll see you later" Shikamaru said walking towards the front door

"Shikamaru" Kakashi said "Be careful"

The Nara boy looked at Kakashi for a moment, nodded his head, and walked out closing the door behind him.

'I really would have like to avoided coming here'

Itachi arrived at his childhood home. He stood before the large house. Memories resurfaced. Shaking his head, the older Uchiha went to unlock the door but was surprised when it wasn't locked. Itachi pushed the door open and entered.

The house was just as he remembered. Cold. As Itachi ventured further inside, He noticed how there were no pictures hanging up. Walls that used to show a family lived here were now bare.

'Sasuke no doubt took them down' Itachi thought. Even though he hasn't been here for years, to see there were no pictures, seemed to hurt Itachi. Itachi stopped when he got into the kitchen. He widen his eyes. He saw that there were small droplets of blood and that the paper screen door was destroyed.

"What the hell happened?" Itachi asked out loud.

Walking through the kitchen to the living room, Itachi almost lost his breath at the sight he saw. Furniture was knocked over, the glass coffee was shattered into a thousand unfixable pieces. Itachi's heart stopped. A million questions were going through his mind. A jacket on the floor caught his attention. Itachi bent down to pick it up. He recognized it as a uniform jacket that belonged to the high school down the street. Dropping the jacket, Itachi decided to go upstairs.

When he reached the top of the stairs, the older raven saw that all the rooms, including his old room, were closed. There was one door that was open.

'That must be Sasuke's room'

Itachi walked into the open room. Despite the house being empty, the light in the room was on. He looked around, noticing how clean the room was. Itachi remembered how Sasuke hated to be dirty. Itachi saw how the bed was the only messy thing in the room. He also noticed how the room was decorated in white and dark navy. That somehow annoyed Itachi.

While the downstairs had no pictures, Sasuke had a few on his dresser. Itachi decided to take a look. There was one with Sasuke and a group of friends. Well, not really friends by the scowl on his face. Another one was of Sasuke when he was younger. Itachi picked that picture frame up and stared at it.

"I'm so sorry Sasuke" he said to himself. After a few more seconds, Itachi put the picture frame back down. As he set the picture frame down, another picture definitely caught his attention. This one surprised the older Uchiha.

The picture was of Sasuke, who was dressed in a sleeveless dark navy wide collared shirt. He also had matching forearm bands that came up to his elbows. Sasuke's signature hair was the same, but his bangs were a lot longer, almost touching his shoulders. The thing that gave Itachi a shock was that Sasuke was smiling. He wasn't frowning, he wasn't scowling but actually smiling.

Itachi looked at the person who was wrapped in his brother's arms.

"Minato-sensei" Itachi whispered. But Itachi remembered that his old teacher is dead. He took a closer look at the person. This person had brighter blonde hair, his eyes were blue and endless. He had honey colored skin which stood out against Sasuke's alabaster skin. The six whisker-like marks made Itachi stare at the picture.

It felt like Deja-vu. Something was missing but Itachi couldn't figure out what.

'Minato-sensei is dead. I was at his funeral. But' Itachi again looked at the boy in the picture 'This kid looks so much like him'

Itachi's chest tighten.

Namikaze Minato had been everything Itachi admired in a person. In fact, he was the only person Itachi admired. Minato-sensei was Itachi's homeroom teacher. There weren't many adults who Itachi considered worthwhile. Minato was different. He was kind, patient and caring.

He had also been Itachi's first love.

When he younger, Itachi thought a person, boy or girl could be attractive. He didn't have a specific preference, but when he got older he started to become only interested in guys. Itachi dated only once though. His boyfriend at the time, Deidara, just turned out to be a giant headache. Deidara always wanted Itachi to buy him things. Expensive things. He would go on about how art was a bang and how Itachi had no taste or artistic talent. It amazed the Uchiha that they had lasted a year.

After they broke up, Itachi could finally focus on Minato-sensei. The raven wanted nothing but all of Minato's attention. The feelings Itachi had toward his teacher were foreign. Even though he dated Deidara, Itachi knew he didn't love him. The only feelings he had for his ex was irritation and nausea. It was different this time around. Itachi knew he loved Minato. He couldn't wait to see him, talk to him, to just be in his presence.

Itachi was brought out of his trance by his phone ringing, but he chose to ignore it. Most likely it was either Pein or Kisame. They could wait. He once again looked at the picture. His eyes narrowed. Not because Sasuke was with a guy, but because the boy was wrapped in Sasuke's arms. What Sasuke had with this boy, is what Itachi wanted himself.

The older Uchiha looked up from the picture. He covered his face with one of his hands and shook his head.

'This is ridiculous. Minato-sensei is dead and Sasuke ran away. Yet here I am jealous of my younger brother and this boy who looks like he could be Sensei's son'

Itachi stilled. He pulled his hand away and brought the picture up for a closer look. Besides the marks on his cheeks, this kid resembled Minato. Not only that, he looks to be the same age as Sasuke if not a year younger. 'There's no way' Itachi started to think 'If Sensei had a kid, everybody would have known. Everybody loved Sensei and respected him. I would have remembered if he had a child because Mother always gossiped with the other housewives over the phone. Loudly'

For once Itachi's attention wasn't on Sasuke. There was something about this kid that was starting to draw Itachi in.

Again Itachi's phone rang, he grabbed it out of his pocket and answered it.

"What is it?" he asked with an annoyed voice

"Maa, Itachi-san that's not how you answer the phone"

Itachi, not one for games said "Kisame"

"My bad" Kisame chuckled

Resisting the urge to crush the phone, The Uchiha said "I highly doubt this is a social call. I'll ask again, what do you want?"

Feeling the murderous intent through the phone, Kisame realize he better get to the point.

"So far Pein and I haven't found anything remotely close to Orochimaru's whereabouts"

Walking over to the bed, Itachi sat down. His head was beginning to hurt. The whole situation was becoming difficult. Sasuke made a rash decision. Then again, it was Itachi's fault that it had gotten to this point.

"Itachi-san, are you still there?" Kisame asked

"It shouldn't be this hard to find him" Itachi bit out.

Kisame recognized that tone. The older Uchiha was beginning to lose his patience. Kisame has never really seen Itachi lose his composure but Kisame knew he wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of his anger.

"You're right. Konoha isn't that big of a town"

That moment Itachi thought of something. 'Hiding in plain sight would be something that bastard would do. He would enjoy watching others go around in circles. But now that Sasuke is with him, he probably would stay put in a place where we wouldn't think of looking'

"Kisame" Itachi said "Get Pein and start looking for him outside of town"

Confused by what the younger man was saying, Kisame asked "That's fine and all but where would should we start at?"

"I don't care just get it done" Itachi looked at the picture that was still in his hand "As for me there's something I want to look into."

Without hearing Kisame's response, Itachi hung up the phone. Finding Sasuke was important but at the same time, he wanted to find out more about the blonde boy in the picture.

Taking the picture out of the fame, Itachi stood up, put it in his pocket, turned the light out and made his way out of the house.