Inuzuka Kiba, Haruna Sakura, Hyuuga Neji entered the hospital room after being guided by Iruka. The four of them, including Naruto, had been friends since high school, somehow the energetic blond had bonded them all and even after going to separate universities, they had never severed their ties. Sakura had become a talented surgeon, Neji was more interested in literature and he was an assistant professor at the same university Naruto was studying and Kiba himself was a striving dog breeder. There was a usual fifth of their group but he was not present at the moment. Iruka after notifying them had gone off to buy ramen for Naruto so they were alone at the moment. But even in all of these years of knowing the blond they were not expecting what they encountered.
"Naruto. Sakura, Neji and Ki-" Iruka said only to be cut off with a flying pillow to pass right through him and smack itself right on Kiba's face.
"Wha…" Kiba tried to say.
"THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!" Naruto's yell caused many things unknown to them, an elderly patient suffered a minor stroke, the babies in the hospital started to wail at the same time, the secretly dating nurse and doctor jumped away during their private time in the janitors room, and finally caused patients in the psychiatry ward to believe that maybe just maybe the end of the world had come. It took three cups of ramen, one secretly brought beer and seven chewing gums to calm the boy, who then related what had happened on that fateful day after persuading Iruka he would not try to strangle, burn, drown (with a spoonful of horrible hospital jelly) or maim Kiba anymore.
"And that is my very long Saturday story." Naruto drank a big sip from his beer using a straw.
"I am sorry man if I had known I wouldn't have given Akamaru your milk." Kiba said apologetically, Naruto shot him a glare.
"It does seem tough..." Sakura spoke quietly. "But seriously why are you drinking beer in the hospital!"
"But Sakura-chaaan..." Naruto whined as Sakura grabbed the beer from him.
"Your wound is not fatal or anything but you should not drink alcohol Naruto." Sakura commented.
Neji nodded at the far corner of the room and decided to speak for the first time.
"I know this Uchiha Itachi, we studied in the same university."
"Neeh neeeh? Isn't he a demon? You believe me don't you Neji?"
"Actually he was more of a distant person; he excelled in all of his classes."
Kiba tilted his head.
"Why would someone like him want anything from you Naruto? Uchiha's, well, nearly rule over the economy. He could get anyone he wanted."
Naruto pouted.
"Well actually Naruto would be the best candidate... He knows how it is to have no parents and as I heard neither does the Uchihas'." Sakura said thoughtfully.
"Really?" Naruto seemed surprised.
"Don't you know about the big fire Naruto, it happened about six years ago. The Uchiha estate burned to the ground, killing Uchiha Fugaku and his wife."
"I remember that too, the Uchiha's were close friends of Uncle Hiashi." Neji stated, the Hyuuga's were like the Uchiha's of the literature world so this information did not surprise Naruto much.
"Heh maybe it was a good thing that I accepted their offer then..." Naruto seemed solemn, even though the Uchiha brothers felt like they were from hell it must have been tough for them.
Sakura giggled.
"Of course it is!" Her voice became fan girlish a habit she would never be able to get rid of. "Do you know how many women would just die to only meet Uchiha Itachi? He is so dreamy..."
Kiba laughed.
"I wouldn't know about that nor would Naruto or Neji..."
Naruto chewed his lower lip.
"Well I was kind of panicked so I did not well... in your terms Sakura check him out. And why would I check out a guy nonetheless?!"
Neji snorted.
"Just give in to her fantasies Naruto she is already lost to us..."
It was true, Haruno Sakura was lost in her La-la Land and it didn't look like she intended to return yet. Three boy's unconsciously shivered, this was one of the most fearful aspects of Sakura; one, she usually was grumpy when she returned back from her dream land and two, if anyone bothered her girly daydream time Sakura herself turned into a Hannya causing total annihilation. All of the boys looked at each other; Kiba sneakily snatching the beer from Sakura returned it to Naruto. Neji quietly sighed and Naruto widely grinned as took another large sip from the beer.
Sasuke glanced at his brother curiously.
"What is the problem otouto?" Itachi asked as he drove his car not making eye contact with his brother.
"Nothing." Sasuke crossed his arms.
"Otouto, believe it or not I am quite aware that you have been glancing at me ever since we left the hospital. Now would you mind telling me what the problem is?"
Sasuke gave the tiniest smile.
"Aniki... Isn't that dobe interesting?"
Itachi chuckled at his brother.
"Why would you think so?"
"He said weird things before he took the shot for me." Sasuke said thoughtfully. "And I think that I enjoy mocking him to get a reaction."
"I realized that. What did he exactly say otouto?" Itachi sounded curious.
Sasuke smirked.
"He was adamant that those three were wrong to attack a child no matter what my family could have done. Oh and the stare he gave me when I took the gun was hilarious."
Itachi frowned.
"I don't remember teaching my adorable nine year old otouto to use guns actually."
"Well that adorable nine year old brother of yours was so scared that he did whatever he could to survive." Sasuke slightly fidgeted. "It was horrible aniki, I only wanted to scare her but when the dobe got shot my finger pulled the trigger reflexively."
Itachi extended his right hand to pat his little brother's spiky hair.
"I am sorry Sasuke, I should have been more careful." His voice was full of regret.
"Aniki, don't be an idiot. Just make sure it never, ever happens again."
Itachi smiled lightly.
"And tell me about the dobe, you probably know his whole biography don't you?"
Sasuke's grin was wide.
"Well first and foremost he was an orphan, Umino-san is his foster father."
"Hnn... Obviously, they don't even look similar."
"His parents seem unknown but I believe further investigations will prove fruitful." Itachi continued. "He is 20 years old, graduated from psychology one year ago. Has been a postgraduate student for one year. His high school grades are barely above average but his university grades are superb. Also no criminal records, no other kind of reports or anything. In other means he is clean in that aspect."
"Is that all?" Sasuke asked curiously.
"No, he has been taking wing tsun course in highschool, before he worked in a ramen shop, interned in Suna Hospital whose director is his friend's father. His social environment is one of those chain ones, and currently he lives alone and is single."
Sasuke let out a smirk.
"Well I doubt that any girl would want to date the dobe..."
Itachi looked unfazed.
"He seems like an interesting fellow, don't you agree Sasuke?"
"Hnn."
"I will take that as a yes."
"You seem to be interested aniki." Sasuke glanced at Itachi trying to hide his mischievous expression.
Itachi let a smile adorn his face.
"Hnn."
Iruka scratched his head nervously. On his other hand stood the bane of all existence, the destroyer of humanity and the most dangerous weapon ever known to man. The machine made a small beeping voice -a warning that it's battery was low- and Iruka jumped in his seat, the cellphone which was only good when he wanted to call Naruto seemed so demonic at the moment. Sitting in the park of the hospital Iruka gathered his courage and pressed a button, leading the phone to his ear. After a millisecond he pressed another button and resumed staring at the phone. A nurse in the corner shook her head in pity thinking 'Poor man he must be a mental patient, he has been doing this for an hour now...'.
After a few moments Iruka again pressed the button and held the phone, this time waiting for the other party to open, maybe He would not open the phone; infact this could become his new mantra repeated over and over again. Iruka as it was revealed early was known to be a mother hen, but there were some who were even more worried than he was, or should he say that there was someone who would wreak revenge because Naruto was hurt. Iruka normally would have kept this silent but he knew that hiding from him would make things even worse. Suddenly the dialing beep was gone; Iruka forced himself to smile even though the other party could not see it.
"Hello, how are you?" His voice albeit a little shaky was fine.
"What happened?" The monotone and low voice demanded an answer.
"Ah... Well, everything is fi-"
"What happened?" Damn, he must have picked up something.
Iruka's smile cracked.
"Ahem... you would probably want to know that Naruto is fine before anything..."
"What happened to Naruto?" The voice now had dropped a few octaves and was certainly what any sane being would call murderous.
Iruka gulped.
"He has been shot."
A minute of silence descended between the two speakers.
"Where?"
"Konoha Hospital. But listen to-"
"I'll be there as soon as possible."
Iruka sighed.
"You don't have to..."
The call was ended.
"...worry."
Iruka placed the phone in his pocket. Again he was worried.
Kisame had been enjoying his life, ignoring the pestering looks of his coworkers.
"I think it is time you tell us who this Uzumaki Naruto is, if you do not want to pay for your own beer, un." The blond, slim of the coworkers said grumpily.
"I know who he is..." The man next to him said, his only distinguishable characteristic was that he had pulled the hood of his shirt so that his face was hidden. "Apparently he is a 20 year old Japanese boy whom Itachi asked me for his life details."
The blond man sighed then started to make exaggerated gestures as he spoke.
"I get that Zetsu but what does he have to do with Itachi, un? Why would he be of interest to him?"
"Maybe he found the boy on the street, trying to make money." Another coworker Kakuzu chimed in.
"Or maybe the will of Jashin was at work!" This time Hidan spoke with his one hand showing the air, actually the ceiling.
"Konan, why are we even here?" Nagato, the one with many piercings asked to his girlfriend.
"I want to know." Konan sent a look of defiance to her lover, and every man knows that when a female wants to know she will stop at nothing to learn.
Nagato sighed and turned to the blond man who was between shouting and crying.
"Calm down Deidara, he is just waiting so that you will get riled up."
Deidara sat down with a pout.
"He is right Deidara, I am sure that he will tell us now if he wants to live." The redhead next to him spoke roughly. "But I would like to tell that I have heard of an Uzumaki."
Konan's eyes widened.
"From who Sasori?"
"My cousin, this Uzumaki Naruto is his idol."
"Kankuro?" Konan seemed disturbed.
"No Gaara."
Konan's nose twitched.
"Well he did work at your uncle's hospital and my resources said that they were close." Zetsu said.
"Then is he a serial killer?!" Deidara screamed, he would never forget the day he met the youngest of Sabaku's.
At this point Kisame laughed, or cackled would be more accurate, he cackled maniacally.
"Doubt that. He is jus' a regular kiddo."
All of the crew stood silently, waiting for him to continue on.
"Who saved Sasuke kiddo's life today."
"Saved?" All of the crew spoke at once and glared at each other.
"Kin, the latest babysitter, she was working for the old snake. She and two other nipple suckers tried to kill Sasuke. An' that Uzumaki kiddo was there by chance, he saved the brat and got shot."
Kisame looked at the others and decided to continue.
"Sasuke stayed with th' kiddo and then Itachi came and he asked the kiddo..."
"What did he ask?!" Deidara was fuming.
"…To become the nanny of Sasuke."
The group looked at each other and laughed at the same time.
"And I thought that it was something serious, un."
"No free beer for Kisame." Konan added.
"Wait wait!" Kisame licked his lips nervously. "He had the Look."
All laughter ceased. They all knew the Look, Itachi Uchiha never had the Look. While normal human beings had it when they were attracted to someone, Itachi never sported it on anyone.
"Y'know the Look. And he didn't even wait an extended investigation... did he Zetsu?"
Zetsu nodded.
"Kisame is right, my report was very short. Usually Sasuke's nannies are investigated for a few week before Itachi can be content."
Nagato interfered.
"Maybe it was quick because he protected Sasuke?"
Konan snorted.
"No, they are right; at least he would have waited for one day or a better report."
All of the Akatsuki crew, at least all which were there looked at each other.
"So that's why he was uninterested in the fine ladies I tried to hook him up with..." Kakuzu said thoughtfully.
Konan hit the man on the head.
"No that's not why we are looking at each other you idiot."
The other nodded.
"We need to make sure that Itachi gets what he wants..." Deidara grinned.
"…Or at least help them." Sasori added sliding his arm around Deidara's waist.
"Why do you all think that he is gay for this Uzumaki?" Nagato asked in horror.
("Because it is a shounen ai fanfiction." The author said from her dark corner, though her answer was heard by none.)
"Just a hunch." All of them spoke at the same time again. And this is how the Akatsuki crew decided to get active in the game of who will help Itachi the most in his conquest to get Uzumaki with a reward of a life time beer.
AN: Well I think I am a few days late but I had no access to computer honest. Thank you all for your interest in my story, I hoping to keep you entertained.
ash2000ice: Thank you! I am and will =) TechnoAngelprincess: Haha yeah they are demonic indeed. ^^ sousie: Yeah but he will give them run for their money. 777angeloflove: Thanks! I sorta aim for that. Darklife21: Gaara? Soon. And Iruka is always motherly awesome like that. Sachiel Angelo: Well gotta admit Gaara is one of my favorites, I couldn't just leave him out. And thank you =). mangaevil101: Yay! Thanks! Zakudeath: It took me three days to stop laughing about Kisame and the bears (and I will not correct that mistake), also on the previous version (this is the last one I wrote before reupdating) the intro to this chapter was way different but your review really inspired me, so I hope you like it. =)