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Red Dawn 3-Membership

Naruto had done a lot of thinking recently.

Contrary to popular belief, Naruto was not an idiot. He just had a really bad habit of acting before thinking…

But when you're alone, there's very little else to do.

Just a week ago, he had been a genin of the Hidden Leaf, proud and secure, friends around him.

Now?

Well, he was the son of a kage, exiled from that kage's own village by a treacherous old man. They likely hated him more now than ever before. The only people who could ever understand how he felt were the Jinchuriki.

So really, when the Akatsuki offered him a way to save their lives and keep his own, how could he refuse?

Well, at least his life was never dull.

* * *

"Naruto, there are two people we would like you to meet. Until you have a partner, they are going to look after you." said Konan.

Two more black robed figures entered the room Naruto had been led to.
He recognised them instantly.

"Greetings, Uzumaki Naruto. I hope there is no hard feelings." said the first.
"Yeah, I was only kidding about cutting off your legs. Would of made it easier though, y'know?"

"You two!" said Naruto.

Kisame grinned, and Itachi gave a small nod.

"Naruto, we have a mission for the three of you. It will discover whether you are worthy of being a full member or not. Our organisation bears a certain seal of membership." began Konan.
Naruto looked between the three of them.
"The cloaks?" he asked. One was lain on the bed behind him.
"Yes, but that's not what I mean." she said.

She lifted up her hand.
"See?" she asked.

"The nail varnish?" asked Naruto.
Konan sighed.
"No."
"The rings?" Naruto guessed.

"Hey, he's not a complete idiot…" said Kisame. "Great."

"Exactly." said Konan, ignoring the shark-nin. "To be a full member, you need to obtain the only missing ring."
"So, who has it? I'll destroy them and get this ring!" cheered Naruto.
"It is currently held by the Sannin, Orochimaru."

* * *

Hyuuga Hinata was standing just outside Konoha, maybe a minutes walk away.
She was shivering slightly, and it wasn't because of the cold.

In one hand she held her headband, in the other a kunai.
Her eyes closed, she scraped out the leaf mark.

She put it back on, sheathing the kunai.

And left.

* * *

"It's taken us days to get here." complained Naruto.
"Yeah, and?" challenged Kisame. "Stop complaining."

There was silence for a moment.
"Kisame-san?" asked Naruto.
"What?"
"Is Itachi-san always this quiet?"
"…" glared Itachi.
"Yes." said Kisame.
"We're here." said Itachi, quietly. "Kisame, deal with anyone who comes after us. I can find the way."

The shark-nin grinned, fangs shining, and he drew the bandaged sword from his back.
"Samehada will taste blood today!" he proclaimed, before charging in.
The sounds of battle rang out within seconds, along with screams of pain and maniacal laughter.

Itachi motioned to the top of the seemingly buried fortification.
"Katon: Yuuen Bakuha." said Itachi, with a group of handsigns.

With an almost silent explosion, the ceiling of the building crumpled.
Itachi motioned once more, and leapt over the top, and inside. Naruto followed him, but as soon as he did, he saw something he certainly wasn't thinking about.

"Sasuke…" he breathed.
"Hn. I guess you're trying to bring me back again?" said Sasuke, not even looking at him."
"Not this time."

Naruto heard the words, barely recognising them as his own.

Sasuke turned, seeing the Akatsuki cloak, Naruto's sliced headband, and then Itachi.
"There's no time for this." said Itachi. "He isn't ready."

Itachi's eyes changed.
Sasuke screamed, and collapsed unconscious, a foetal ball.
Naruto cringed.
"What did you do to him?" he asked.
"I showed him all the pain he has ever caused from their point of view." said Itachi.
Naruto shuddered.

"Kukukuku…" came a chuckle from behind. Naruto whirled around.
"Give me that ring!" he shouted.
"I don't think I will." said the Sannin, starting slightly when he saw Itachi. "Itachi, why are you working with your targets?"
Itachi refused to be drawn, and Naruto quickly used two techniques and charged.
"Kage Bunshin No Jutsu! Odama Rasengan!"

The giant sphere of rotating chakra crashed into Orochimaru's chest, spinning him around and blasting him through a wall.

Itachi stood over him, his eyes flashing again.

Orochimaru fell lower against the wall.
"What do you want?" he asked, his voice low.
"Give me the ring." said Itachi.

Orochimaru handed it over, and Itachi gave it to Naruto, who put it on.
"And remove that seal from Sasuke." added Naruto.

Orochimaru looked furious, but with a nod from Itachi he walked over to the ninja. He put a single finger over the seal, and it faded away, Sasuke squirming, giving a silent scream.

Naruto picked up the fallen ninja with a grunt, and they left the half destroyed lair.
"What did you do the snake-teme, Itachi-sama?" he asked.
"The same as I did to Sasuke." he said. "It took six days."

* * *

Naruto put down Sasuke's prone form a fair distance from Orochimaru's home. Kisame had caught up to them by now.
Itachi bent down to whisper something to his brother. Naruto looked like he was going to ask something, but Kisame shook his head.

And they left for the Akatsuki base.

* * *

Dear kami.
What have I done?

Everything I did for loyalty, caused my loyalty to break, shatter. Those that care for me are hurt, separated. What can I do?

And… wait, was that a voice?

"You gain more power from love than from hate, ototo-kun."

* * *

Katon: Yuuen Bakuha-Fire Release: Grand Explosion
Tsukiyomi-Moon God
Kage Bunshin no Jutsu-Shadow Clone Technique
Odama Rasengan-Great Ball Rasengan

* * *

Chapter End