So I took long again, no surprise there. I'm introducing some new faces in this chapter, sorry for any OOCness, I'm not familiar with these characters as I have not seen the episodes with them in it, I have yet to finish watching the series. So I'm apologizing now because I know that some of you will be reading and get upset that they are very out of character. I've read up on their background and personalities, of course, so hopefully they won't be too out of character. But I've never heard them speak, so I don't know their typical sentence structure. Thanks, hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Concrete Angel

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Chapter Seventeen:

"I don't think you know what you're talking about! He's not prepared for this world yet, he's still naive and innocent." A feminine voice spoke from the dark corners of an alley.

"He's ready." Was the simple, emotionless reply.

"No, he's not even remotely close to ready! You're putting too much faith in him!" She growled to the other. It almost seemed as though she could be worried for the well-being of the person at hands but for those who knew Temari Sabaku they knew her better, which weren't many, knew she was merely pissed that Gaara was trusting an amateur to accompany them on something like this. He was getting too much credit and she did not want to have to watch his ass at Gaara's orders. She would much rather focus on more important things and Naruto certainly was not high on her own priority's list. Keeping Gaara happy was, however, very high. It was her job to protect him, although when the time calls for it, he needs no protecting. It was just the boy's nature to stand idly by and allow others to do the work he would rather not do.

"You contradict me." It wasn't said as either a question or an accusation, but the dark underlying tone insured his sister he was not thrilled at how she was talking back to him.

Temari opened her mouth to respond but bit her tongue and growled to herself behind her open fan. As though coming to a conclusion, she snapped her fan closed, not even causing Gaara's breathing to hitch, and spoke. "I apologize brother. Your judgement should not be challenged but I don't think he's the kind of person you're trying to make him to be."

Gaara gave her a questioning glance which she replied to keenly, "The rumors about his mother are not him. I don't see it in him, not at all. He's too innocent and too much like his father. There is no hope into making him fit to join us."

Gaara shook his head, only a slight shake but enough to signify his disagreement.

Temari was clearly becoming frustrated, but she knew all too well how stubborn her younger brother was.

"Fine, have it your way." She scoffed not too happily. "But he's not my responsibility. Get Kankuro to babysit." With this she turned from her brother, but only diagonally as she did not trust him enough to not have him in the corner of her eye, and continued on their walk to the topic boy's house.

--

"Hey guys, it's not usual for you two to be late." Naruto commented as Temari and Gaara breezed threw the door and into the kitchen where he sat across from Kankuro who was currently stuffing his mouth with toast.

"We got caught up in an important discussion." Temari stated, not in the least considerate or apologetic. Naruto, of course, was used to this from the last couple weeks, or rather month as it seemed. So he merely nodded and turned back to his bowl of cereal, which he ate much more slowly than Kankuro's massacre of jellied toast.

As they stood and sat in silence, save for the sound of food being devoured, Gaara unusually grabbed Naruto's attention when he spoke. "Uzumaki,"

Over the past month Naruto had also gotten used to being referred to by his last name. At first he wasn't at all happy with it, but as time grew he got used to it and that grew to an unconscious tolerance to it. So naturally the blond turned his head to face him and, once he swallowed his mouthful of cereal, he responded. "Yeah?"

"We have something important we need to do tonight-" Before Gaara could finish Naruto nodded in response and turned back to his sugar coated cornflakes. He was used to this, Gaara and his siblings would go out some nights and leave Naruto to hang back at the house alone. Sure he wasn't bothered by Emi anymore but it wasn't fun being lonely those evenings when he'd spent almost every minute since he'd met the Sabaku's surrounded by their presence. "-and you're coming with us."

Naruto just about chocked on his cereal at Gaara's added statement. He had never been informed of these important secret things let alone invited to tag alone. "Really?" He asked in astonishment once he forced the corn flakes down his throat.

Gaara simply nodded, Temari rolled her eyes with a scoff as she turned away to make it seem like she was occupying herself with the tea she'd make every morning, and Kankuro gave a very confused, puzzling look to his younger brother. It seemed he was more stunned than Naruto because he stopped eating with half a piece of toast crammed in his mouth.

"What are we doing?" The blonde asked eagerly, like an excited puppy who'd just been told he was going for a walk and then a ride in the car.

"You'll see when we get there," Temari snapped before Gaara could respond in a much calmer way.

"Okay..." Naruto muttered, bringing his attention back to his cereal before Temari could yell at him further. Though she did it a lot, he was never one to feel comfortable or tolerable of someone yelling, he could barely stand to do it himself. Like he'd done with Sas... like he'd done the other day. He was trying his best not to focus his mind too much on that event but every moment he let his eyes close for longer than a quick blink, his memory would display it across the back of his eyelids. And every dream he'd had during the past couple nights involved that situation, but it always stopped right before Gaara interrupted. As though the two were suspended in a time of their own. There was even one dream where Gaara didn't seem to be present because Sasuke moved in to kis... to continue his response to the last of the yelling.

What would have happened if Gaara had not invaded their... discussion in the real world? How would Naruto have eventually responded and how would Sasuke continue to respond to Naruto's silence and unmoving nature? Questions that Naruto tried not to remember.

--

Sasuke felt a chill run down his spine just before he sneezed.

"Oh, someone's talkin' but ya man." Kiba commented with a full mouth of... same kind of meat. Why anyone would want meat for breakfast was beyond him. But Kiba had showed up to meet him on his walk to school and told him they were stopping at the shop before school.

Sasuke, of course, had already ate at home. His own cooked meal was more healthy than the dried meat Kiba was continuously shoving into his mouth. It was as though every time he felt a pocket of air within his mouth he had to instantly fill it with the meat.

"I highly doubt that." Sasuke answered, rubbing his nose. He never believed in that superstition, or any other for that matter.

"Actually... so do I. So many people talk about you every second of the day, you'd be sneezing nonstop if that really happened." Kiba agreed after a huge gulp. How he managed to swallow all that meat without choking... Sasuke did not want to know.

Quickly he shook off the disgust and amazement at his friend's eating abilities, and continued walking, pretty much forgetting what they were talking about.

"Hey, did you finish-"

"You're not copying my math homework." Sasuke cut him off, it was like clockwork. They'd been friends so long Kiba rarely had to finish these sentences and Sasuke new what the Inuzuka wanted to bum off him.

Kiba grumbled as usual, but let it go. Sure he was going to got a stern "lecture," more like an absolute promise of a detailed and torturous death, from Ibiki, but the Uchiha was very stubborn and never gave up his work for plagiarizing.

"So what are you doing tonight?" Kiba asked casually, taking another bite of his jerky-like meat.

"Working, sleeping." Sasuke didn't bother to ask why, he would be informed of some sort of invitation shortly.

"You should come to the movies with a bunch of us. We're gonna see 'The Strangers'." Before Sasuke was given a chance to say no, Kiba hastily continued, " Now I know you love being an anti-social loser but it isn't the annoying ones that are coming. And I can 100 percent guarantee you won't be bothered by any rabid girls, especially Sakura and Ino."

"How do you know this?" He had to admit that he was rather curious by an absolute guarantee by Kiba. He never knew anything for sure.

"I have my sources." the brunette feigned an evil genius who was about to reveal his dastardly plot..

"You paid someone to take them to some chick-flick didn't you." Sasuke predicted flatly.

"Yes, but which someone?" Kiba countered, not always having that opportunity

Sasuke ran over people in his mind... with Rock Lee it would have to be the girls being paid, Shikamaru would find it too troublesome even for money, Shino was more anti-social than him (with people other than Hinata and Kiba), Neji was a pompous prick, Tenten was too busy, Hinata was too shy...

"Chouji?"

Kiba glared instantly. "Surprisingly he likes chick flicks and Ino and him have been tight since last semester so..."

"Sure."

'Sure what?" The brunette was taken off guard by this sudden word.

"I'll come to the movies."

"WHAT!" Kiba's eyes just about fell out of their sockets as he howled. "But you never say yes, never!"

Sasuke just shrugged. It was about time he'd gotten out of the house and socialized. He'd been brooding so much over the last month, he deserved a movie to take his mind off things.

However, for the rest of the walk to school Sasuke almost regretted his change of mind because the entire way Kiba behaved like a dog in a bone yard.

--

Sasuke's studies were abruptly interrupted by loud banging on his front door followed by screams and cries. It didn't alarm him, however, because he could make out the words: "Open up emo kid!" and "We're here to kidnap you from your lonerdom, come out prepared for fun or we'll dress you in pink!"

Sasuke rolled his eyes at his friend's unoriginality. Theyassociated him too much with being a loner and an emo, but it didn't really bother him enough for him to complain.

Before Sasuke could get up from his desk where he had pretty much been since he arrived back from school, his door was already open and the teenagers flooded in. All of which following Kiba, who was the most likely suspect for barging into someone else's house without being answered. Again, Sasuke didn't care. That was Kiba, he would never change and damned if Sasuke wanted to think of a changed Kiba... too difficult and far too weird.

"Yo! Where's you corner of emo darkness!" The Inuzuka yelled from what sounded like the kitchen, the opening of the fridge door was also a big assistance in located the dog-boy.

"In here!" Sasuke hollered back, not quite as loudly or obnoxiously.

"Hurry up or we'll miss the movie!" Kiba now yelled with what seemed like a full mouth.

Sasuke, already on his way down the hall, stopped in the doorway of his kitchen to see Kiba getting the leftovers from his dinner last night. Nothing special, just some dumplings. Also in the kitchen stood Shikamaru, leaning against a wall, Shino, standing eerily still, Rock Lee, looking as energetic as usual, and Tenten, sitting on his counter.

"Get out of my fridge." He muttered.

"I haven't eaten yet." Kiba whined, stuffing his face with another dumpling.

Sasuke eyes rolled, Kiba never STOPPED eating, it was surprising he wasn't fat; but he had such a high metabolism and ran track so it wasn't too surprising. "Buy something at the movies."

"I don't have no money."

"Then how are you getting into the movies?" The raven already knew the answer and the pleading, 'can-one-of-you-take-pity-on-me?' look the Inuzuka replied with helped all the more.

"How troublesome," Shikamaru moaned.

"So does that mean you're paying his way in?" Tenten asked, obviously implying it would not be her.

"Not a chance." Was Shikamaru's response.

"I'll pay for him, one must be generous in life." A typical answer from the aspiring fitness instructor.

"Then we're all set!" Kiba announced, shutting the door of Sasuke's fridge.

"Where's Hinata?" She was the only one beside the bribed that was missing.

"She doesn't do horror, too chicken." Tenten replied, "And Neji doesn't do movies." She added the next tidbit as though anyone really cared why the egotist was absent.

Everyone, however, besides Lee, did a round of "OOH's" as though it solved their wondering.

"Let's take this out of my house, shall we."

"Right, I'm driving." Tenten hopped off the counter and strolled past Sasuke. Everybody, in turn, followed her out the door and piled into the car. Sasuke was the last to leave as he had to lock his door.

It was a rather tight squeeze in the car. Tenten and Rock Lee were up front, while Sasuke, Kiba, Shikamaru and Shino were crammed into the back.

--

His eyes shifted back and forth. Where were they going? They'd walked such a far distance away from the main part of town into a rougher looking part of town that he forgot existed. It was darker, and so many building were kept in the same condition his basement room used to be.

"Where are we going?" Naruto whispered, as though he thought speaking loud would provoke something ominous.

"I said you'll see when we get there." Temari turned her head and snapped through clenched teeth. She stood up front on Gaara's right, he stood behind Gaara and Kankuro was beside him, keeping an eye behind them every-so-often.

What's going on? The blond thought in what would sound like a distressed voice if audible.

Silently, Naruto followed, his eyes never staying on one building or dark corner too long for fear of catching movement. He was noticeably the only one out of the four that was nervous. Gaara was completely without emotion, Temari was calm yet irritated to her natural degree, and Kankuro seemed somewhat anxious.

What exactly was this family up to? Normal people didn't go walking in near darkness in the bad part of town for just anything... that he knew of at least. He'd never really been a normal person but Sasuke had to be a normal person and they'd never gone walking out here.

Naruto felt his heartbeat thud louder in his chest as they turned down an alleyway. Why did he have to be kept in the dark... figuratively speaking. He didn't enjoy this secret thing and he was going to have a heart-attack if anything moved or made a sound.

"Sabaku." Naruto jumped at the low, greeting voice coming from their right. Through the empty and open doorway of a dark, beaten down house, a person wearing a long, high collared, black cloak with red clouds emerged. Once in the light, Naruto noticed the person was a boy with short red hair very similar to Gaara's, just not as bright. He wore a very listless expression on his face but did not look mean. Another person, wearing the same neck-high collared cloak, stepped out from the building. The person had blonde hair, half was up in a ponytail behind their head while the other laid in front of the left side of their face, covering their eye. A headband which seemed to have a scar through a symbol was half hidden behind the hair, and the visible eye was traced with the very same black eyeliner Naruto wore, only not as thick. Strangely, Naruto could not tell if this nicer looking person was male or female. Perhaps it was just the lighting?

"How are my puppets, Kankuro?" The redhead asked in an unemotional voice that was just like Gaara's. It was almost as though the two were twins separated at birth.

"They're fine, Sasori. Much better in my hands."

The redhead known as Sasori, promptly ignored this and turned to Gaara. "Why did you want us here?" He wasted no time getting down to the point, whatever that was.

"We've got a proposition for you and your little groupies."

"Groupies? Better show some respect kid." The blond spoke with a light but clearly masculine voice that was also annoyed.

'Whatever. You need some real management. A leader who's not afraid to get their own hands dirty." Temari further invoked the blond, but Naruto wasn't entirely sure if it was purposeful or not.

"Don't act as though you know anything, you ignorant-"

"He probably doesn't know what blood looks like. Sending all of you around to do his deeds, he couldn't even stab someone."

Stab? Naruto's eyes widened in shock and terror. Why was Temari talking about such violence? What was all this about and who were these guys? He was beginning to wonder if Sasuke might have been right... But he trusted Gaara, he protected him and wouldn't lead him into something dangerous.

The blond growled in response to Temari's comment and was obviously holding back.

"Silence." Sasori spoke impatiently. "What do you have?"

The blond girl in front of him moved closer to the two strangers and spoke something in a hushed voice. Naruto only caught a bit of what she said.

"... very close...little brother... valuable... loved..."

What could that mean? Was she talking about Gaara or Kankuro? They were her little brothers, but how could that be a proposition.

"Interesting." Sasori said, "What say you Deidara?"

"I like... and so might he... or rather so might they both."

"Indeed."

"Ha! For once we agree on something."

It was at this point Sasori ended this discussion and turned back to Gaara and Temari, who had stepped back into her position beside her youngest brother. "What do you want in return. To join?"

"Not just to join. We want power. Sabaku's are not followers."

"We're leaders." Kankuro finished in a smug voice and it was at this point that Naruto took notice that he had been scouting the area, always on the lookout. Naruto took this opportunity to whisper, "What's going on?"

He was promptly answered by Temari, "Shut up Uzumaki!" At which point he did and remained so, running question through his mind at high speed. He was terrified out of his mind and he knew it showed, he was surprised the others couldn't here his heart beating.

"You've got to be joking. As though some pathetic little family business of children is going to frighten us." Deidara laughed, mockingly with a slight annoyance still audible.

"Need I remind you what family we are. And what us children have done in the past. Recent past I might add."

"It's only recent because you don't have a long enough past." Deidara retorted, glaring at Temari who glared back with her normal arrogance.

"It is against your better judgement to regard us with such little respect. Gaara has more power than you could ever dream of obtaining. I advise you not to treat us lightly."

"I advise you to shut the hell up and back off," Deidara was thoroughly angry now.

Sasori interrupted the blonde's dispute, noticeably impatient "We reject your offer. But we will take him anyway."

"You wanna bet?" Kankuro growled, taking up a defensive position.

Who are they talking about? Gaara? Did the two strangers want Gaara? Naruto asked in his head as he looked frantically between all the people present to notice that both Deidara's and Sasori's eyes were locked on him. They couldn't be talking about him... could they? But he wasn't anyone's little brother. He didn't have any siblings, let alone much of a family. What the was going on?

"You all can die in the process. I don't care, you would have anyway." Sasori's voice so closely resembled Gaara's that Naruto was unsure at first as to which redhead had spoken. But Gaara soon answered.

"You're mistaken. You are the ones who will die, knowing your fate could have easily been avoided."

Before Naruto could understand what was happening, a fight broke out. It all started with a small explosive that was thrown from Deidara's hand. The homemade explosive was deflected by Temari's fan from which hidden knives flew out of. They hit some kind of clay puppet Sasori pulled out, instantly he took the knives and aimed them at Gaara who avoided them with a lightning quick step. Naruto could barely follow what was going on. Kankuro stepped in front of him, protecting him it seemed, and took out his own puppet from which he had his own knives hidden.

Only when Deidara lunged forward did any contact fighting break out and that was between Temari and him. She punched, kicked and stabbed with the bladed still attached to her fan, while he did the same, only releasing bombs before jumping back. Temari, however, was quite skilled in deflecting these small, but potentially deadly as it seemed, bombs.

Suddenly a gunshot rang through the air and Naruto ducked down instantly. Even though the gunfire was from his side, a secret gun hidden in Kankuro's creepy looking puppet. The bullet missed the two boys fighting opposite them, but Sasori retaliated with his own firearm hidden in his own puppet. This bullet breezed right past Kankuro, missing him but hitting Naruto directly in the forearm. Immediately Naruto cried in agonizing pain, never before experiencing the pain of having a bullet tare through your body, muscles and all.

--

The six of them flooded out of the movie theatre and once again piled into Tenten's car. Sasuke had to admit it had been rather fun. Listening to the occasional screams of Tenten, Lee and Kiba. Yes, Kiba screamed in terror a few times. It was quite entertaining. He himself hadn't even jumped through the entire movie but it was a very thrilling movie. Shino didn't seem at all fazed through the entire movie, which made him wonder even more about the boy. The only one left was Shikamaru, who Sasuke was sure fell asleep more than once and would have remained so if the very loud shrieks of the other people, as well as their own three screamers, had not woken him.

He was glad he took part in this little outing, much better than sitting at home and moping because he lost the affection of a certain someone.

Sasuke was the last on the agenda to be dropped off since he lived the furthest out. Tenten, however, was thoroughly spooked and was terrified to drive home by herself so Sasuke had to volunteer to go with her to her home, walk her in, look around to make sure no one was going to kill her, then proceed to walk to his own home. Luckily he and Tenten didn't live a great distance apart, just a twenty minute walk, if that considering Sasuke was a fast walker when he wanted to. Tonight, he wasn't really in the mood to walk at a casual pace. It wasn't as though he was afraid, but that movie was slightly creepy and hell knows what could pop out at any moment.

Upon arriving at his own house, Sasuke narrowed his eyes at his doorstep which seemed deformed. Something did not belong there. Something was placed there. As he approached, this something turn out to be a human, sitting with their back against the door, with their head down. It was too dark and far from the edge of his yard to tell who this person was but his stomach lurched at the possibility. He had been having dreams about him. What if he really was coming back.

Luckily he had good night vision and didn't have to proceed with caution much longer because what he made out haunted him. Black t-shirt with rips and tears, pants torn apart, every piece of clothing and showing skin was dirty and bloody. The orange jacket he'd been wearing at school was missing. Blood caked his blonde hair.

--