Hunted

By Zenerific1

Chapter 5:

Naruto gasped and sat up in the blankets that were wrapped around him. His mind was full of half formed images. The puzzle was fragmented with memories of being in a dark alley surrounded by humans who wanted to hurt him, and then being in a white room with Sasuke and a woman. An aching pain just behind his eyes caused him to pull the blankets over his head to block out the light that streamed from the window showing him that it was late afternoon or early evening.

The sound of the door sliding open nearly pulled a whimper from him, but he suppressed it. He didn't know who had entered the room and he was afraid to pull the blanket down and find out.

"Naruto?"

Eyes wide, Naruto jerked the blanket off and launched himself at the raven that was standing in the doorway.

"Sasuke! You found me! You came!" Wrapping his arms around Sasuke's waist, Naruto broke into loud sobs. "I hoped you'd come and you did!" His ears swiveled back and forth as if they didn't know if they wanted to be upright with happiness or pushed back and hidden in the light locks. The tail was tucked tightly against Naruto's legs.

Naruto couldn't stop the trembling that was wracking his body but was completely grateful when Sasuke's arms came up to wrap around him. Naruto hadn't known how cold he'd been until Sasuke's heat began to push it aside. It was such a noticeable difference that the fox nearly moaned with pleasure. It was like cuddling up next to the fire with his favorite quilt on a winter's night and drinking a warm cup of milk.

"Naruto, I want you to gather up your clothes and get them packed. We're going to Suna."

Naruto pulled away and looked up at Sasuke. There was little inflection in the human's voice that gave the fox pause. There was a frown furrowing the space between Sasuke's eyes that Naruto had become accustomed to in the past week. The dark eyes held concern for Naruto's well-being but nothing else.

"Why are we going to Suna?" Then a thought occurred to Naruto. "A—are you going to sell me?"

The frown deepened and the concern in Sasuke eyes fled to be replaced for an instant with anger. "Why would you think that I am going to sell you? I've gone through a lot of trouble trying to keep you safe."

"But—but isn't that what people do with unwanted pets? I've been nothing but trouble, you say, so wouldn't you want to get rid of me?" Naruto had heard the stories, seen some of the pets when his family visited the towns.

"No, Naruto, I'm not going to sell you. But we need to find you a mate and the only fox that I know of here in Konoha already has one. I've been told that there is a fox in Suna that could be a potential mate for you."

Naruto withdrew his arms from Sasuke's waist and stepped back. He felt…he didn't know. There were too many feeling and thoughts filling his mind that the headache from earlier spiked up a notch and dulled his senses. His ears were tucked against his head but his tail twitched agitatedly from side to side. He wanted to strike out at Sasuke and he wanted to crawl back under the blankets and never come back out. The warmth from earlier faded replaced by that soul-deep cold.

"Very well, Sasuke," Naruto muttered, "I'll be ready in a few minutes."

Sasuke watched the fox's shoulders fall and his head bow in deference to the Uchiha's wishes. He took a breath and turned away. The fox would come to realize that it was for the best, and they would find a permanent mate for him once they came through this first heat. Maybe the fox in Suna would become Naruto's perman…

Sasuke squelched that thought and then had to suppress the rage that shot through him at another fox touching Naruto. Stalking from the room, the Uchiha made his way silently through the house. Rounding a corner, he stopped short and pulled back into the shadows.

Iruka was wrapped in the arms of one Hatake Kakashi. The sight was…arousing as the two kissed. Iruka's tail had curled up around Kakashi's hand that was holding Iruka's head still while he tried to devour the wolf. The white haired man's other hand had dipped under the waistband of Iruka's trousers and was currently exploring his ass.

Sasuke smirked. Now he knew where the wolf disappeared when he went into heat. Not wishing to disturb the intimate scene, Sasuke backed away silently.

Sasuke made his way back the way he'd come and took a different route to his room where he began to pack. While folding his clothes and stuffing them into a backpack, he made plans. He found another servant and sent them to find Hinata and Neji. He'd take those two with him since they'd proved invaluable on the way home. He'd already arranged the supplies; they were waiting out in the courtyard. Itachi had been informed that he was leaving.

An hour later he was waiting for Naruto.

The sliding shut of a door caused Sasuke to turn around, but it was only his brother. One sleeve of the yukata he wore dangled empty waving lazily in the breeze, while the arm that would normally occupy it rested in the sling that was created by the material and the obi holding it closed. The white under garment contrasted brightly against the dark material of the outer robe, gleaming in the late afternoon sunlight.

Sasuke realized that he'd been up over twenty-four hours. Suddenly he felt tired, bone weary from the events of the previous day and night. His eyes began to burn and itch with the gritty feeling of someone who needed rest. He leaned heavily against the horse that had been saddled for his use and waited for Itachi to reach him.

"So my foolish, little brother is off on another errand for his fox." It was a statement and didn't require Sasuke to answer, but he nodded anyway. It was pointless to get angry with Itachi's constant jabs at his intellect; if he tried they would only get worse. Instead, he raised an eyebrow silently asking what his brother really wanted. "It would be best if you found a buyer for the cub. See if the owner of the fox, you wish to mate with yours, is willing to purchase it." The even tones, as well as the request, irritated Sasuke to the point that he was forced to respond.

"No, Naruto will stay with me. In the event of a successful mating, I might end up moving to Suna permanently."

"Hn. You prove that you are stubborn as well as foolish, little brother. I will hope that you see the error of your ways. Madara will not accept your toy, and neither will the rest of the world. They may look human in appearance but in reality they are just animals and the Gods do not look upon bestiality with kindness."

"I do not think that you should speak for the Gods, Itachi. And if I recall correctly, there are stories about gods who mated with animals."

"Only in the stories from foreigners, Sasuke. You will regret it if you continue with the path you have set yourself on."

"I refuse to follow in your footsteps, Itachi. I would have thought that you would have realized that by now. Or are you too lost in your own delusions to actually see something that is right in front of your face," Sasuke snarled, fed up with the pointless conversation and Itachi's better than thou attitude.

Suddenly, he found himself dangling from Itachi's fist as he shoved him against the far will of the courtyard. Itachi's fist was buried in his stomach. Pain radiated outward and he coughed up a spray of blood.

"You aren't strong enough to take me on, little brother," Itachi whispered in his ear, the mockery apparent even in his low tones. "You lack the hatred that I have cultivated throughout a lifetime. Only when your hatred is as strong as mine will you truly be as powerful as I."

Dropping Sasuke, Itachi turned on his heal only to be faced with a growling fox. The once blue eyes gleamed a deep crimson showing Itachi just how much of an animal the 'brid was. The whisker marks upon his face seemed to thicken as they slashed into the tanned cheeks. All in all the young kit looked like he'd gone feral in the space of a few seconds. Claws dug into fists and blood seeped from between the clenched fingers.

"Touch him again," the kit snarled in a deep, demonic voice, "and I will kill you."

Itachi raised an eyebrow at the over-protective fox. Studying the fox, his own eyes swirled red. He didn't doubt that the kit would try to kill him, but he very much doubted the boy had the stamina or skill to actually accomplish the deed. Dismissing the cub with a wave of his hand, he left the courtyard in favor of more pressing business. Sasuke had chosen his own course and would continue to stubbornly go his own way regardless of any advice Itachi gave him. Just as he always had.

When Itachi first heard that Sasuke had quit Orochimaru's service, he'd believed that his brother had finally come around and would join the family business. That was until he'd brought that fox home with him. Too caught up in the fox, Sasuke had yet to send in the documents that would allow him to attend the academy. It was yet another irritation for Itachi. His brother was as tenacious as a badger once he set his mind to do something, and his current project was the 'brid's welfare.

Naruto watched as the older brother closed the door behind him before he rushed to Sasuke where he laid unconscious. As Neji and Hinata approached tentatively, he picked the man up, cradling Sasuke gently in his arms. The glowing red eyes fading slowly back to their normal blue state.

"Let's get him back to his rooms," Hinata suggested.

"I'll find Iruka, and I think that Hatake is around. I can smell him." Neji dashed across the courtyard going in search of the two people he'd mentioned. He knew he was going to interrupt the two because he could smell the hormones that wafted through the air. Hatake wasn't going to be happy, but none of the 'brids where familiar enough about human physiology to know if Sasuke would need further help.

Naruto quietly carried Sasuke to his room, depositing him gently upon the bed. Crawling up next to him, he curled against his side. Worry and fear battling for position. Worry for Sasuke's health and fear that if something happened to him Naruto would find himself being sold into servicing people like the men who had attacked him.

Hinata found a cloth next to a basin of water. Wetting the fabric, she carefully cleaned the blood from around Sasuke's mouth. She watched the fox cuddle against their master sharing warmth and comfort. The picture they made was perfect contrasts, dark against light, like the yin-yang signs that she had seen in books and upon signs.

The hurried footsteps announced Neji's return, and Iruka rushed into the room concerned about Sasuke with Kakashi following lazily behind. Looking bored the white-haired man focused intently upon Sasuke's unconscious form. Iruka demanded to know what happened and even though Kakashi didn't appear to be listening he took in every word.

"Mah," Kakashi grunted gaining the attention of everyone in the room, "Itachi wouldn't actually do a lot of damage to Sasuke, thereby incapacitating him. I'm positive that all Sasuke needs is some rest and he'll be better in the morning. He'll be sore for a few days, probably enough to postpone his mission to find a mate for Naruto, but he will be fine." Grasping Iruka by the wrist, he pulled the smaller wolf out the door intent on finding a more private place, preferable one where he wasn't interrupted again. Iruka tried to protest, saying that he needed to be with his master but Kakashi ignored him.

"So we aren't leaving today?" Hinata fretted. "What do we do with the horses?"

"I'll take care of them," Neji spoke up. "I don't think that I'll be of help in here so I will bed-down in the barn for the night. I doubt if Naruto will be leaving Sasuke's side, so you won't need to stay, Hinata. I'm almost positive that Sasuke will still want to leave in the morning."

Hinata nodded, automatically deferring to Neji. She set the cloth next to the basin and the two left Naruto alone with their master.

Naruto sat next to Sasuke for most of the night holding his hand. It wasn't until the deepest hours of the night, when fatigue won out against the worry that Naruto drifted asleep.

The dream started the same as it always did, he was inside his tent with his parents and they were hurrying around to gather items that would make it necessary for Naruto's survival. The hunters were coming; they cry had gone up for the cubs to flee.

Through nightmare images of flames and darkness, Naruto relived that night but when his father was run through with the sword, Naruto felt the sharp sting of the weapon in his arm. He was catapulted back and was looking down at the sword then a deep, dreamless black enveloped his senses and as it slowly ate away at them, Naruto was sure that he was dying.

"Master Sasuke!" Insistent hands shook him from his sleep. Growling, he swept aside the hands and sat up wincing at the sharp ache in his abdomen. Remembering what had happened yesterday, Sasuke rubbed his hands over his face.

Looking up his saw that he was surrounded by Hinata, Neji and Iruka, all of whom looked more than a little panicked.

"What is it? And where's Naruto?" he asked, finally realizing that the blond fox wasn't among the worriers. Scowling he looked at Iruka, who dropped his head. "Don't tell me that that usuratonkachi has run away again?" He abruptly stood causing the others to skitter backwards.

"No, no Master! But Itachi…" Iruka trailed off unable to speak the words.

"Itachi what?" demanded Sasuke.

Neji stepped forward more brave than the rest. "Itachi sold him to Orochimaru sometime in the night and Orochimaru took him away early this morning."

Sasuke blinked at the cat as the words sunk in. "The HELL you say?" He stormed from the room leaving the hybrids trembling in his wake.

"I think he took that rather well," Kakashi said from the window as he dropped into the room. The levity did nothing to clear up the tension left in Sasuke's wake. He wrapped an arm around Iruka and pulled him to his side. "Don't worry. Sasuke will find Naruto and get him back." What he didn't say was that he hoped that it wasn't before it was too late. The kit had been through more than enough as it was. It angered even Kakashi that this had happened so closely after yesterday's events.

Sasuke threw open door after door of the estate looking for his brother. "Itachi!" He yelled as he went. "Where in the hell are you?" He reached his brothers apartments and entered without bothering to knock, only to be met with a calm Itachi.

"Little brother, what are you thinking causing a scene in front of the servants?" Itachi asked.

"Don't you fucking be all cool," Sasuke raged. "Who the hell gave you the right to sell Naruto?"

"He became a part of the Uchiha holdings when you brought him home. I made quite a profit off of him so you should be thankful for helping out your clan. Besides I'm letting you keep the cats. They should breed up quite nicely and make a better profit from their offspring."

Fuming, Sasuke clenched his fists at his sides. "You knew that I wanted to keep Naruto. He wasn't supposed to be sold! You knew this! I was taking him to Suna to be bred."

"Maybe you were and maybe you weren't. I couldn't be sure if you were just taking him on this supposed trip so that you could breed with him. And I wasn't going to let you ruin our clan's reputation by fucking a 'brid. I thought I made myself perfectly clear yesterday."

"Fuck you, Itachi and fuck this clan's reputation!" Sasuke turned on his heel.

"If you pursue the fox, Sasuke, you will leave me no choice in having it euthanized. I've instructed Orochimaru to do so if you go after it," Itachi called after Sasuke.

Sasuke's steps faltered but he kept going. Orochimaru was scared enough of Itachi to actually do it and screw the loss of profit. The snake had done much worse and at a greater loss to his profits because Itachi had suggested it. He'd just have to make sure that Orochimaru didn't see him coming.

Reaching the room, he wasn't surprised to find Kakashi. The man was hugging Iruka to him in a comforting embrace, Hinata was sitting on the edge of his bed worrying the hem of her jacket while Neji paced back and forth muttering about how cruel the fates were to the fox.

"Shut up, Neji. It's my own damn fault for thinking that my brother wouldn't actually do anything to hurt Naruto." Sasuke snapped as he began to gather up the items that he would need to go after Orochimaru. He strapped the katana to his back and pulled several maps from his desk. "Neji, saddle the two fastest horses I have and make sure that everything we take with us is light weight. Kakashi, will you get Kiba and Shino together? I might need more than one tracker and I know that Shino won't let Kiba go without him, plus they both are good fighters in a pinch."

"Of course," Kakashi reassured Sasuke, "and I'll be coming too."

Sasuke stopped long enough to look up at the silver haired man in gratitude. "Thanks, Kakashi. I'll have Iruka set up in your house when we get back."

Kakashi smiled behind his mask and raised a hand to the back of his head. "Ah, ha, know about that do you? Sorry, we tried to keep it quiet."

"Yeah, well, the next time don't go making out in the middle of the gardens."

"See, I told you that someone had seen us," hissed Iruka at the man before slapping his arm in petulance. "I could have gotten kicked out and had to live on the streets."

Sasuke shook his head. "On second thought, we should get that out of the way." He disappeared out the door. Striding into the empty office where the documents on the properties of the Uchiha clan were kept, he opened a filing cabinet. Sasuke shuffled through the files before he found the certificate of ownership on Iruka. He pulled it out and then began filling it out for the transfer of ownership.

He returned to his quarters and gave the papers to Kakashi, who smiled warmly at him before giving them to Iruka. "Go home and wait for me. You will sleep in my room, in my bed. You have complete control of the house."

Iruka hesitated before turning to Sasuke. "Thank you, Master Sasuke," he said fervently, bowing low. He turned back to Kakashi. "Please be careful, Kakashi."

"I will." Iruka left them to make plans.

"I'll go ahead with Neji. We should be able to pick up their trail easily enough. The problem is that if Orochimaru sees us coming then he'll kill Naruto on Itachi's orders."

"But that would cut into his profit…" Kakashi said. "Why would he make such a deal with Itachi, if he thought that he would be losing money?"

"Naruto is a rare specimen. The breeding possibilities alone are almost worth the risk. If his venture is successful then he stands to gain enormous profits for the offspring. But I'm doubting that Orochimaru has plans to breed him, at least, not right away. He is going to want to recuperate his losses in the quickest way possible..."

"Which means a pleasure house." Kakashi concluded.

"Yes."