Title: In your Shadow I Stand

Summary: From the start, Naruto was bound to be with Itachi but when Itachi left the village he entrusted his brother, Sasuke to watch over Naruto until his return. Sasuke chose to remain hidden as he protects his brother's love. But how could he keep his distance when something keeps pulling him closer? AU. SasuNaru. ItaNaru.

Warning: Yaoi..

Disclaimer: Naruto © KISHIMOTO Masashi / Cover Image © Reng

Note: Concerning their ages, I'm sorry I forgot to put in the past chapters, I'll incorporate that later on. I don't like listing ages, it's a pet peeve I have for my writing.

Chapter Three:

Unprecedented Sighting

The word 'livid' doesn't even compare to how Kakashi was feeling. The day before, they received a mission, a simple retrieval mission, barely even B-rank. The objective was the standard 'head to a village and retrieve an item requested by the client' so he and his team of genin took it without a second thought since it was the usual and simple stuff. But when they got to the location of the village, no one was there. The village was in ruins. Turned out all of it was a lie but an ambush. The people behind were an underground organization whose M.O. was to lead a group to their ambush point and abduct the genins, drug them and sell them off somewhere else.

They were very powerful shinobi, Kakashi had to fight tooth and nail just to protect his students. Fortunately, they managed to escape but the bad news was the culprits were gaining up on them.

"Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura called him, "We can't outrun them, we have to think of something!"

She's right. From the brutal rampage hours prior they engaged in it left them tired, wounded, and low in chakra, save for Naruto, but they can't exactly rely on him completely since his chakra has been incredibly unpredictable than it already was when he was twelve years old, the boy could be a ticking time bomb for all they know and might end up harming all of them. They can't outrun them in their state as of the moment but what other plan could they do? They can't fight them anymore that's for sure, and stopping to hide was out of the question because the moment they decrease their speed they'll be hounded.

"I know that. But we have to keep going and hold on until the backup I called for arrive!" He ordered

Naruto's blue eyes watched his teammates worriedly, unlike him they don't heal rapidly so jumping from tree to tree is taking a toll on their already battered form. Sai wasn't talking anymore since he was wounded and severely tired. Sakura too was wounded; he saw the large bruise on her left arm and cuts on her face. Kakashi, on the other hand, was looking way worse out of all of them. His hitai-ate gone and forgotten, his mask had a few tears, so many wounds and bruises covered his body and that deep gash on his waist looked terrible. With the way their Jounin teacher appeared, one would think he was a dying man and he probably was.

A cough brought snapped Naruto out of his thoughts and turned to their teacher's face. Another cough and he saw a dark stain seeping in the mask. "Kakashi-sensei…" He murmured. 'He's coughing blood…' Naruto thought. 'I… don't want him to die too.' He felt a pang of hurt. Is someone else going to die in front of him again? No. He just has to believe that they'll make it.

He looked back and saw that no one was following them anymore. 'Maybe they gave up…'

An explosion woke Naruto up from that wishful thinking.

The branches from where they stepped on collapsed and each of them landed forcefully on the hard forest floor. Sai grunted for landing on his side where he had a broken rib. Sakura held her now sprained ankle from that unplanned collision with the ground. Kakashi, being used to the unexpected managed to land with little damage but his condition still took its toll.

The Jounin groaned and looked up to face his students and see if they're fine. Well, as fine as they could be. He saw Sai and Sakura, but where's Naruto?

"KAKASHI-SENSEI!"

"No…!" A smoke bomb obscured their vision when it subsided, their youngest member was gone. Kakashi cursed under his breath. Just when he thought he did everything to keep them safe. Ha slammed the ground in frustration. "Shit!"

Kakashi was never a religious man, but right now he couldn't stop himself from praying that somehow he'll be saved.

Sasuke's heart beat accelerated at the same rate he was running. Earlier, he was following Naruto and his team in their journey to complete their mission. When the team was about to get to the village, the young Uchiha was ensnared by the perpetrator's allies and rendered him unconscious. The moment he woke up he immediately went to the village. When he got there, his heart sank. Fury filled him, his bloodshot red eyes surfaced. "I'll kill them."

With that resolve, he bolted from the wrecked scene where a brutal fight obviously occurred and went to the direction he felt Naruto's chakra. From the speed of the chakra was moving it could only mean two things, either the blonde was captured and the party of criminals were hurrying to get on their way or Naruto and his teammates managed to escape and was being followed still.

His vision almost a blur from the speed he was racing, he had to get there, no matter what happened. Whether Naruto was taken or fleeing.

"KAKASHI-SENSEI!" A familiar voice echoed through the forest. It was close. Just a few meters ahead

'Naruto…!'

Blue eyes glared furiously at the group of shinobi before him. He struggled from the strong binds on his wrist holding his arms up. Naruto stopped tugging when he saw who he supposed was the leader, he also was the one who posed as their client, smirk at him. It seemed like the bastard found entertainment in watching him struggle.

"You know normally, when our victim's escape, we just let them off. But we can't just let merchandise like this slip out of our hands." The man said.

Naruto hissed at him, "What are you talking about?! I'm nothing special, let me go!" Though in his mind, he knew how 'special' he actually was, being the vessel of the Kyuubi-no-Kitsune. But those people couldn't possibly know that, could they?

The leader laughed, "Oh you don't know how wrong you are. You see, in the business we work for the price of merchandise depends on their hair color, eye color, age, and appearance." He walked closer to the captive, "The moment I laid my eyes on you I already knew you'd earn us quite a fortune." He cupped Naruto's chin tilting it up, "Mmm, yes. Young, nice face, almost unblemished skin, blue eyes, and of course, blonde. Blondes are rare and very much desired, so you could only imagine how much money my clients would pay just to have you." He chuckled and let the other's chin go. "Once my men have rested, we'll get moving again. I still have yet to decide whether to sell you off for a big price or… just have you for rent. Hmm... I wonder how much they would pay for a night with you 'warming' their bed."

Fear etched his features when he fully understood their motives for him, "Bastard!" He growled and thrashed more than ever. His rage swelling up in him. They deceived his team, gave Sakura-chan an ugly bruise and cuts on her beautiful face, harmed Sai to the point that he can't smile and give annoying and weird remarks anymore, beat up Kakasi-sensei almost leaving the man close to death, and for what? To whore Naruto out to some... some... filthy immoral men?! Oh no no no, that's not how things are going to go. He can feel it, the chakra of the monster he's cursed with bubbling up in him, normally he'd suppress it, but now was completely willing to let go. His eyes flickering red, "You don't know what I'm capable of." Naruto spoke in a eerily calm tone.

"Oh?" The leader amusingly asked, he remembered the boy from the fight earlier, almost every one of his jutsu collapsed on its own, his chakra always plummeted to zero when he tries to use it, he's a complete joke, the boy doesn't have a future in being a shinobi he might as well just take on the offer, he thought with a laugh, just like now he can't feel any chakra on the blonde. And who was he threatening again? A group of more experienced shinobi? So cute. "You're a feisty little piece of meat aren't you?"

Naruto let out a chuckle, "I can be a handful." Almost there. It's so difficult to have the damned monster sealed so deep inside, especially when he needed it.

The criminals prepared, they can feel it. It was strange; it was too calm. Everything seemed to stop. Sweat trickled down their foreheads as they watched their captive, who was looking down on the ground, eyes unfocused, body unmoving. Earlier he was struggling and gnashing, now he's... lax. Maybe he gave up. They jolted when those unseeing blue eyes suddenly darted to them, a frightening smirk glided up his features.

"You all look cold." Naruto licked his fangs, "Shall I warm you all up?"

Sasuke was peeved at how fast those bastards could travel. Don't get him wrong, he's quick in his own right but damn those burly men can sprint. After what seemed like thirty minutes of catching up, he can finally sense all those people. He had to lock on the supposed leader's chakra since Naruto's kept waning to the point of vanishing to the senses. He suspected that the enhanced seal was affecting not only Kyuubi's but also Naruto's chakra. Sasuke stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the situation. The culprit's were almost cowering he can see and feel why.

"Aww, what's wrong? Fox got your tongue?"

High up on a tree and still hidden from view, Sasuke watched, eyes transfixed at his best friend. Naruto's eyes were red with slitted pupils, fangs lengthened, and a bubbling red chakra covered him in a shape of a nine-tailed fox. "...it can't be." he muttered under his breath. Things just got a whole lot complicated. He can't let this happen, he can't let Naruto destroy all these people, even though they are guilty, it's just not right for him to kill especially with Kyuubi's power. As he dwelled, a cry of pain echoed through the forest. Instantly, his Sharingan eyes focused on the sound and saw the leader being held by throat by Naruto. The other culprits were badly injured and still alive much to Sasuke's appreciation.

"Don't you like it rough?" The empowered Naruto asked teasingly as he slowly squeezed the man's neck tighter earning him a choke. "Fight me. Don't make this easy, old man."

Sasuke didn't know what to do. His best friend was about to kill that man with more suspects-turned-victims to follow. He wanted to stop him, to tell him he'll do it for him, to get him somewhere safe, to get him back to normal, to... to... he didn't know! He wanted him to stop, not kill the man, don't be the monster... 'please... stop... STOP!'

Suddenly, Naruto eased his grip with his eyes wide. His hand let go of the man leaving him in a coughing feat. Sasuke was surprised, it was as if Naruto followed him. But that's not possible, was it? Yet seeing as how the younger stood there quietly piqued his curiosity, '...back away from them.' A few seconds passed, and the blonde did take a few steps back slowly. As he did, Naruto looked down at his own hands with wide eyes with fear, fear that for some reason his body moved without his complete permission. Sure he's under Kyuubi and he's not in control to begin with but he did know what he was about to do and that was to punish these people. That didn't exactly happen.

'How could you do this to us, Kit?!' The demon fox within him roared as he slowly gave the control back to Naruto.

"W-what... what did I do?" Naruto whispered to himself in response.

As the Kyuubi's slowly power lifted, the men's fright slowly dissipated and gained a bit more courage to stand despite their condition, everything happened to quick they were knocked, pounded, slashed, and beaten almost under a few seconds. They were going to enjoy seeing this one suffer. Sasuke saw this, 'Sleep now.' was his last order. He needed the younger to be unconscious for him to freely move about. Naruto slowly drifted and fell on the ground. When Naruto was out, the men finally gathered their senses and was about to approach their catch. This boy was obviously worth more, they just needed to contain him.

The leader rubbed his throat and still frazzled from the ordeal earlier, "Get the chakra binder, this boy's more dangerous than we thought."

"I don't think so." Sasuke stated as he appeared before them.

"Boy, we were stormed by that little bitch, we're pissed as hell. Don't fuck with us now. Leave." Sasuke merely smirked up at him. The leader clicked his tongue and nodded to his men, "Kill him."

Everything was a blur when blue eyes slowly opened half way. Hair dark as night was the first thing that registered in his mind and the caress of a rough hand was the last when he gave in to slumber again. A few moments after, he felt someone shake him gently but the frantic pleading cries were telling another story.

"Naruto?! Please... wake up. Naruto!" Sakura tried desperately to see if he was okay. Kakashi and Sai were brought back to Konoha with the help of the reinforcements led by Shikamaru but she wanted to come along with the search for her missing teammate despite her own injuries and fortunately the medic managed to heal her sprained ankle. Just enough to get her going to look for Naruto. To find him unconscious was frightening to her, and although he was breathing she won't be at ease until he finally open his eyes. She cried to his chest still praying. Shiakamaru watched with concern, Naruto wasn't injured badly, yet he wasn't moving. The best course of action was to bring him back and have the medics look after him.

"Sakura." He placed an assuring hand on her shoulder, "We should take him back."

Sasuke looked at his reflection on the clear surface of the lake. He decided to leave Naruto with Shikamaru and Sakura. Besides, he's still close enough in case a danger occurred. He just needed a bit more room to think. His hand covered half of his face as he sighed with his eyes closed. Everything was so confusing. He opened his eyes and stared down once again on his Sharingan for a while, he released it not wanting to strain himself. He was already exhausted in fighting those shinobi, it was a good thing they were already injured.

As if a fog has been lifted, Naruto stirred. Slowly he opened his eyes and saw the familiar ceiling of the hospital in Konoha. He felt a weight on the bed by his left and saw Sakura with her head resting on her crossed arms placed on the bed. Naruto sat up and winced a bit on the sudden sharp headache, it was gone the second it came.

Sakura felt the movement and woke up. "Naruto?" She was about to hug him but his expression worried her. He looked at her with despair and confusion in his eyes. "What's wrong?"

"Sakura-chan..." he called desperately.

"What is it?" She came closer wanting to know what's bothering her young teammate.

It was at that moment Naruto cried and Sasuke embraced an idea.

"Sasuke is still alive..."

'I can control Naruto.'

"I saw him!"

'...should I tell Itachi?'

"He saved me."

'No'

Sasuke gazed at himself on the lake. His emotion gone as he pondered. For some reason unknown to him, he can make Naruto obey him with no question. Naruto obeyed him. The Kyuubi obeyed. He knew well enough that not a lot of people could. For once in his life, he can do something that Itachi could not. But what if he could? Sasuke will just have to wait for that question to be answered, but for now he shouldn't play out all of his cards. He smirked.

"This secret is mine to keep."