AN: So, I know it's been over a year since I updated anything, for which I'm very sorry… Haven't had internet, and the times I was able to use someone elses internet were solely dedicated to the massive amounts of homework I had… I know I said I wasn't going to work on this story any more, but when summer break came around I found myself bored out of my mind… there's only so much you can do on a computer with no internet, and solitaire gets really old really fast… anyway I worked on this story as well as second impressions, and I have internet again at last! I'm leaving the stone age! Unfortunately it is only a temporary fix, but I'll try my best to get as much done as possible… okay… so without further adieu

Chapter Nine

Kakashi was almost panicked. Almost being the keyword. He couldn't find Naruto anywhere. While normally, that wouldn't be reason enough to panic, there was reason this time. He couldn't find Sasuke either.

Okay, so it was normal for him to not be able to find Sasuke. The kid was a loner, and often retreated to the Uchiha compound on his own. But Naruto was nowhere! He wasn't at his apartment, he wasn't with Iruka, he wasn't at Ichiraku's, and he wasn't training. And this time, Kakashi actually took the time to search the town for the blonde. He wasn't anywhere!

There was one place that Kakashi hadn't checked, because there hadn't been a reason to when he passed it. That place was the Uchiha compound.

But now that he had scoured the town, he was sure that Naruto was there. And it only meant one thing. They were conspiring against him!

Worse! They were spending extra time together to do so! Those two would never, in a million years voluntarily spend extra time together.

Kakashi was livid. They were doing it on purpose, and whatever they were hiding was enough to make them work together—for once. Damn them!

The Jounin was also torn about what to do about them. Should he confront them? That was just a little bit of a problem, because he couldn't very well go charging into the Uchiha compound. At the moment, he was perched in a tree looking down at the compound.

The door opened, and Naruto came out. THERE! His theories were proved true! Sasuke stepped outside with the blonde.

"Okay. We'll get together again in a few days. Hopefully, we'll be able to think of something better." Came Sasuke's scathing voice.

"Yeah." Naruto agreed. "But remember, no one needs to know."

"Hn. Like I would tell anyone."

Kakashi took that opportunity to jump down from the tree and land beside his two students. "Tell anyone what?"

Both boys jumped.

"Are you spying on us!" Naruto yelled at his sensei.

"Not at all." Kakashi replied. "I'm simply interested in the lives of my students and secret meetings two of them are having that they don't want anyone to know about."

"It's not your business." Sasuke said coldly. "But if you must know, me and Naruto have been trying to work out our differences for the good of the team."

"Yeah." Naruto agreed, crossing his arms and glaring at the Jounin.

"Really? And why is that such a big secret?"

"Because! I don't want anyone to know that I'm getting along with him!" Naruto pointed at Sasuke. "I'm gonna go. I'm hungry." The blonde took off, leaving Kakashi and Sasuke there staring at each other.

"So, you two are really starting to get along." Kakashi smiled. "Before you know it, you two will be the best of friends!"

"Not likely." With that, Sasuke went back into the house and shut the door.

Kakashi scratched his head. Oh! They were good! They were making it look like he was just some paranoid loser who thought the world was conspiring against him. This was going to make it really hard for progress.

Wait! He was a paranoid loser! He was convinced that his students were conspiring against him to make him look like a paranoid loser!

No! They were conspiring against him, and it just so happened that they were managing to make him look like a paranoid loser. It was just luck on their part.

Kakashi laughed to himself. Well, their luck was about to change, because they were no match for his superior intelligence. By the end of it, they'd want to tell him everything just to stop the humiliation!

But, there was still one small problem. He didn't have a plan. Damnit. He'd have to get creative. He'd still been trying to avoid that.

3 ½ years earlier

The Uchiha compound was overrun. Countless ninja were flitting around, and amidst the chaos, Naruto was completely ignored.

He looked around desperately for Sasuke, not seeing him anywhere. In fact, he didn't see any of the Uchihas.

Naruto's panic was growing as he was pushed aside by much more important people, and he was close to tears when he finally caught sight of Sasuke.

The boy was standing alone, completely unmoving. His pale face was paler than it should have been, and he was shaking violently. He didn't notice when Naruto approached him.

"Sasuke?"

Sasuke didn't answer. His eyes were completely unfocused, a look of horror on his face.

"Sasuke?" Naruto stepped closer, swallowing down his fear. "Sasuke? What happened."

Finally, Sasuke glanced at him, but still didn't seem to see him. When he spoke, his voice was distant.

"He killed them. He killed them all."

Naruto was confused. "Who? Who killed who? Sasuke?"

"Itachi…. He killed everyone… My mom… My Dad… My Great Aunt…." Sasuke fell silent again.

"What! No! He couldn't have!" Naruto suddenly felt sick. He had heard Itachi threaten his father only the day before. He had threatened to kill the whole family. And he had promised Naruto he wouldn't kill Sasuke.

"He killed everyone…." Sasuke's eyes suddenly focused on the blonde. "He said he did it so I could be with you…" There was another moment of silence.

Then, Sasuke shoved Naruto. "This is your fault."

Naruto remained silent. He had been thinking the same thing not two seconds before.

Sasuke shoved Naruto again, harder this time. "If it weren't for you, I would still have my family! I would still have my 'Tachi!"

Naruto took a step back, but Sasuke was after him again, pushing him hard enough to knock him to the ground.

"I hate you!"

Naruto squeezed his eyes shut as the words sunk in and tears came to his eyes.

"I hate you!" Sasuke was getting louder, and some people were stopping to watch the scene. "I hate you! I never want to see you again!"

Naruto slowly stood up, staring at the ground and wincing at every word Sasuke shouted.

"I hate you and I wish we had never met! I wish we were never friends! And I wish you were DEAD! Go away! I HATE YOU!"

Naruto didn't have to be told again. He turned and left, careful not to look up at anyone he passed.

It was all his fault. He knew Sasuke was right. He had been there when Itachi said he was gonna do it.

And now Sasuke was all alone.

Naruto had never felt worse. All the beatings, all the abuse didn't even come close.

He had made Sasuke miserable.

"I wish you were dead!"

Naruto sniffed, wiping the tears off his face. There was one thing he could do to make it a little better. He couldn't change the past, but he could grant Sasuke's wish.

Hopefully, that would make Sasuke happy.

Naruto shivered as he made his way back to the foster home, trying not to think about how painful it would be to die.

He wasn't entirely sure how he was supposed to die, either, but he had a plan.

Sir had once threatened to kill him if he ever talked back to him again. It had been a long time since then, but Naruto had learned plenty of knew, colorful words since then.

He didn't think it would be that hard.

"Aren't you dead yet!" Sir asked aggressively when Naruto found him sitting at the kitchen table.

Naruto was silent for a minute, fighting down his fear. Then, he took a deep breath and said "Shut the fuck up! Asshole!"

It took only a second for Sir to slam him hard against the wall.

"What did you just say to me, you little cocksucker!"