A/N: Whew! For those of you who keep up with my homepage you know that I'm keeping my promise to have this chapter up by dawn (my time. it's 3:30 am which would make it 8:30 pm friday night EST).

Thank you for the wonderful reviews! You guys and your words mean a lot to me, seriously. I love y'all. Onward!

Chapter 4

Itachi arrived at the hideout to find things much as he'd left them. The other members of Akatsuki approached him with questions of where he'd been and what their objective was now.

"For now, we'll keep raking in the dough." Itachi said as he eyed his brother sitting in a corner. "We'll go over long term plans later."

There was general agreement to this. Konan was made the new treasurer. The members dispersed after the brief meeting when Itachi told them to leave him. Itachi let his eyes scan the main room of the hideout as he walked slowly towards where Sasuke sat.

Naruto was nowhere in the room.

Itachi stopped in front of Sasuke, looking down at him with red eyes.

Sasuke was leaning back on his elbows, his legs stretched out in front of him. He stared up at his brother's emotionless face, feeling the familiar sense of helplessness and awe Itachi seemed to always engender in him. Sasuke thought he hid the nerves twisting his gut well, keeping his face just as blank as Itachi kept his. Does he hate me? Sasuke thought. Maybe-

Itachi turned wordlessly and walked away.

Sasuke let out a breath. This, too, he remembered from when they were younger. Whenever Itachi was displeased with Sasuke he'd ignore him until Sasuke couldn't take it anymore. Eventually, Sasuke would go crawling to his big brother for forgiveness, unable to stand the solitude.

After awhile Sasuke got up and followed his brother, determined to get a word of acknowledgment from him. He wasn't going to wait this time.

Naruto released the concealment jutsu he'd been holding. It effectively masked his chakra and his body. He stood against the wall where he'd watched the entire scene between Sasuke and Itachi. He now thought he understood what was wrong with Sasuke. Cleverly done, the blond thought. Sasuke, I can not help you. You must help yourself.


Sasuke caught up to Itachi outside his older brother's room. "Itachi, wait."

Itachi turned to regard him. Sasuke jogged to a halt. He paused at seeing the unblinking stare his brother gave him. Then he opened his mouth to tell Itachi that he wasn't going to be ignored.

"I'm sorry," Sasuke said. "I…didn't mean to make you mad." He frowned. That hadn't been what he was going to say at all.

Itachi said not a word. He went into his room and closed the door in Sasuke's face. What's wrong with me, Sasuke thought.

That evening, all Akatsuki members gathered in the main room to listen to Itachi assign missions to each of the two-man cells. By rights Naruto should have been partnered with Sasuke as Kakuzu had been partnered with Hidan. Instead, Itachi said Sasuke would partner him while Konan partnered Naruto.

"What about me," Kisame wondered. His voice and face were equally reproachful. Kisame had been Itachi's partner.

"I want to partner Blondie," Sasuke spoke up into the silence. Naruto cracked a smile at this small show of defiance on Sasuke's part.

Itachi stared at Sasuke. Sasuke stared back, a small frown on his face. After awhile, he dropped his eyes. Only then did Itachi turn to his former partner.

"You can be with Zetsu if you want, Kisame, though you're strong enough to be on your own," Itachi said. "And Zetsu's like two people all by himself, the freak."

"Hey," Zetsu protested weakly.

Itachi ignored him. "These missions are high paying. Complete them and report back here. Konan, Naruto, your mission is a special one. Bring me the Eight-tails. He's only a few days away from here."

Konan inclined her head in silent acquiescence. Naruto folded his arms. "No," the big blond said. The others had been murmuring amongst themselves, comparing their missions. Now they all stopped and turned to stare at Naruto. No one refused Itachi. Ever.

"What's that, now?" Itachi said mildly.

"I am not a part of this organization," Naruto said in his musical voice. "I'm only here because Sasuke is here. I will not participate in your schemes."

"Is that right," Itachi said with his head cocked. "I see. Die, then." With that, the other members of Akatsuki responded to some signal from Itachi that Naruto missed; he was too busy watching them all come flying at him at once.

Chakra exploded out of Naruto as he jumped, dodging most of them. A storm of paper butterflies came at him from above while two clay owls came at him from the left and right. Naruto spun in midair and avoided the majority of the blast. A puppet shot searing flames at him while Kisame's sword shredded his back, swallowing the Kyuubi chakra that pumped off Naruto in the process.

Sasuke stood, the veins in his neck etched in sharp relief as he fought with himself. He wanted to go to Blondie's aid but Itachi's eyes held him in place. It was as if all strength to go against his brother left him whenever he looked at Itachi. Sasuke couldn't understand how his brother could have such power over him. For fuck's sake, they were killing Blondie! "Please," Sasuke hissed desperately. "Don't."

Itachi frowned. He looked toward where the big kid was putting up one hell of a fight. Deidara was down. Kisame's arm hung limp at his side. The blond fucker was damned strong, a skilled fighter.

But he was outnumbered.

His attacks weakened, slowed. His wounds healed more slowly. By the time the fight had gone out of him, Naruto wasn't moving. Kisame held his huge blade to Naruto's throat as Zetsu held him up by his thick blond hair. Sasuke was crying softly. He'd never seen Blondie beaten, not even once. He hadn't thought it was possible. Itachi pulled out a kunai and went to where Naruto was being held up, barely conscious.

"No," Sasuke whispered. "Itachi…"

Itachi turned to look at Sasuke. "Little Brother. Let me show you what happens to people who go against me."

Itachi rammed the kunai into Naruto's chest. Naruto jerked but didn't cry out. Sasuke did. Itachi watched the blood welling from Naruto's mouth as Zetsu dropped him and Kisame removed Samehada from his throat. Then he walked over to where Sasuke stood.

Sasuke couldn't take his eyes off of Blondie. "Oh, God. You…you killed him."

"Not yet," Itachi said mildly. "He's close to being dead, but he's one tough kid. He'll hang on a bit longer. As long as you stop bucking me, that is." He caressed a lock of Sasuke's hair, so like his own.

Sasuke looked at his brother. "What do you mean," he asked in dread. He had an idea that he already knew what his brother meant, though.

Itachi shrugged. "Keep pissing me off and I'll finish the job of killing him. Do as I say and he goes in the dungeon, where he'll live until I'm ready to extract his Bijuu. All up to you, really." His hand moved from Sasuke's hair to his neck, where it rubbed soothingly. Sasuke shuddered. He looked from where Blondie lay in a pool of his own spreading blood back to his brother's smiling black eyes.

"You won't hurt him?"

And Itachi knew he had his brother at last. He ordered Naruto chained in the dungeon hand and foot. Sasuke saw that the chains were huge, thick things several inches in circumference. No way Blondie'd be breaking out of those things, not even if he weren't so injured. The kunai still protruded from his chest as Itachi checked the chains before giving Naruto a vicious kick to the head. He exited the dark damp cell with a bouncy spring to his step.

Sasuke didn't think he'd ever been so miserable in his life. He went to his room, shut the door and looked around.

Blondie, he thought. No. Naruto. His name is Uzumaki Naruto and I am the worst shit alive. Sasuke looked at the big bed and reflected that until Naruto had hooked up with him, the blond's life had probably been fine. Sasuke had ruined his life. Thanks to him, Naruto had no village, was pursued by hunter-nin, a killer and now captured by Akatsuki and lay dying.

Sasuke covered his mouth with both hands to stifle his wrenching sobs of regret and self-hate. I have to get us out of here. Somewhere in the back of his mind he registered that he never would have had such a thought in his brother's presence. It was only now that he was alone that he seemed capable of thinking. He looked around his room. There wasn't much to pack. He was wondering how on earth to get past all the members of Akatsuki when his door creaked open. Sasuke spun to find Itachi closing the door softly behind him.

Itachi studied his brother thoughtfully. He could see the defiance all over his face. "You thinking of escaping, Little Brother?"

Sasuke refused to answer.

Itachi clasped his hands behind his back and paced slowly towards Sasuke. "Don't you want to be with your only remaining family member, Sasuke? I'm all you have. You know I won't hurt you, so why do you want to leave?"

Sasuke found it hard to speak. The words came with difficulty. "You won't hurt me?"

"Never. I will hurt your friend, however. Do you want that, Sasuke?"

"No." It was easier to speak if he looked at Itachi's collar.

"No. I didn't think so. You're going to make sure he stays alive for as long as possible, right?"

Sasuke was tired. Of everything. He was tired of running, tired of fighting. He suddenly wanted his brother to take care of everything. Itachi was right, he belonged with his family. And if…if he did what Itachi wanted, Blondie would be safe…everything would be fine, so long as Sasuke gave in.

The fight went out of him and Sasuke felt something he hadn't felt since before the night his clan had been slaughtered. He felt peace. He raised his eyes to Itachi's.

Itachi smiled. He brought his hands from behind his back to place them slowly around his brother's shoulders. Sasuke didn't resist. Itachi relaxed into the embrace, feeling as if he'd come home. This was his life, his own little brother.

"I've missed you, Sasuke."

Sasuke tentatively brought a hand up to place on his brother's back. Itachi felt it and pulled back slightly. Black gazed into black.

When Itachi's lips touched his, Sasuke felt nothing at first. It was just…skin. Nothing. He allowed it because Itachi wanted it. He would do whatever Itachi wanted. He wasn't even thinking about Blondie. His mind was a blank.

Sasuke watched with detachment as his clothes were removed, item by item. Then Itachi removed his own clothes. Sasuke was led to his bed and made to lie beneath the sheets. Itachi crawled in beside him. Their skin touching left Sasuke feeling slightly warm.

They watched the big Jinchuuriki through the bars of his cell for awhile. Many of them were injured badly. For a surety, the Jinchuuriki could have killed them easily had they fought him one at a time. It was well that they had collaborated to bring him down.

Gradually, they each left to tend to their injuries. They took their torches with them, leaving the Jinchuuriki to the darkness beneath the building and the creatures that inhabited it. A steel door clanged shut, sealing their prisoner away.

Alone at last, Naruto coughed weakly, spat out blood. He'd had to take that dive or they would have killed him. Even so, it had been a near thing.

The blue eyes slit open, seeing nothing but black. Every part of Naruto hurt. Bones were broken, some joints dislocated. And the kunai was fiery agony in his chest. Every breath jostled it, sent a stab of sharp pain radiating through his lungs.

Naruto grit his teeth. He lifted his arm painstakingly to drop on his stomach. Once that task was accomplished he needed several long moments to catch his breath. The effort had left him near a faint. He could feel the broken bones in his arm grating against each other as he inched his hand up his stomach until it was brushing the kunai. Just that small touch caused the kunai to move and make Naruto bite back a moan of pain. He took a few breaths to brace himself. Then he wrapped his hand around the hilt and pulled as hard as he could.

Naruto clamped his teeth shut yet the scream tore out of him anyway, along with the kunai.

He panted harshly in the dark, trying to listen for footsteps approaching. There were none. When Naruto could manage it, he accessed Kyuubi's chakra. His body glowed balefully in the dark.

Sasuke was so used to Blondie's forceful strength that Itachi's soft touches and smooth seduction beguiled him. Yet he still felt a prickle of unease that caused him to be unresponsive. Itachi's lips trailed down Sasuke's chest as he lay still. A tongue laved his nipple. Sasuke shivered. Itachi raised his head to skewer Sasuke with his red eyes. It's my brother, Sasuke thought incoherently. He's my brother and its okay.

This time when Itachi kissed him Sasuke kissed him back.

It was hesitant. Sasuke's tongue was approached. He allowed his brother admission and Sasuke's body was suddenly on fire. He couldn't remember ever having kissed his brother like this. It was oddly like kissing himself, such was the familiarity of the touch. My brother, my blood. There was a closeness that was quite different from what he shared with Blondie. This was wrong, yes, but Sasuke also felt like there was a rightness to it that he was powerless to resist. Or maybe it was just his brother he couldn't resist. Sasuke wondered if Itachi would penetrate him or if this was as far as they would go. The thought of sex with Itachi sent a tremor through him that the older man interpreted as desire. Itachi moaned.

Sweet. Little Brother was incredibly sweet to taste. Itachi could scarcely think, so overcome with the craving to know Sasuke's body was he. It wasn't even a sex thing for him. It was some primitive, visceral need to join with his brother. They were one. They belonged together. He sucked Sasuke's neck, feeling his pulse beat against his tongue and Itachi knew he had to have him. All of him. He had to consume Sasuke, nothing less would do.

Bones set and knit together seamlessly. Lacerations healed and bruises faded. Naruto sat up with a faint clinking of chains. He grasped a length of the heavy links in one big hand and felt them in the dark, gauging how strong they were. Then he turned to examine the stone wall behind him. He judged himself to be a couple of hundred yards beneath the ground.

One tail. No more.

Naruto crossed his legs and closed his eyes, concentrating. When he had one tail established, he opened his eyes. He spoke to the darkness, to the soul he was leaving behind. "I said I would never leave you, Sasuke, but I can't save you this time. You have to save yourself. I'll wait for you. Come to me when you can, Sasuke. I'm sorry. So sorry. I love you."

A loud explosion rocked the hideout. Deidara picked his head up from between Konan's thighs. "What was that?"

The members of Akatsuki all came running into the main room in varying states dishabille. Itachi came last, tugging his cloak over his nudity, Sasuke following behind him more slowly. "What's going on," he barked. "What was that sound? Deidara, did one of your bombs misfire again?"

"Wasn't me, Boss," the blond man said.

"I think it came from the dungeon," Kisame said quietly. His bandaged arm was held stiffly.

Itachi led the way beneath the hideout. They all stood in front of the same cell they'd stood in front of less than two hours ago. It was now empty.

The chains were warped and twisted, as if yanked apart by great strength. That wasn't what they were all staring at, though. What had their undivided attention was the large hole in the wall opposite the cell bars. Itachi made a gesture to Konan. She understood and sent a paper centipede through the bars and into the hole. After a few minutes, she told him that it came out on the surface, some distance away from the hideout.

Naruto had escaped.

Itachi refrained from having a conniption. He eyed his brother from the corner of his eye. Sasuke studied the hole with a blank expression on his face.

"Find him," Itachi hissed to the waiting members. "Bring his ass back. I don't need to tell you how I'll reward failure."

No, he didn't. The members of Akatsuki all disappeared through the hole, vanishing within seconds. Sasuke remained. Itachi studied him a moment before turning and going back up to the main room of the hideout.

Sasuke stared at the hole, feeling strangely bereft. There's no reason to let my brother touch me now. He's gone. He's safe. They'll never catch him and if they do they'll be sorry.

"Sasuke, are you coming?" his brother called.

Blondie's safe, but I don't think I am.

Sasuke went up the cracked and crumbling stone stairway, following the sound of his brother's voice and knowing in his heart that if Itachi wanted to touch him he wouldn't resist. Oh, Blondie. Why didn't you take me with you?


Naruto ran hard. He ran for days. Deidara had come upon him, swooping from the sky on some huge winged creature. Naruto had lost his mind, leaping with an insane burst of strength from his legs to catch the ninja by his blond ponytail. They'd fallen from the sky in a twirling tangle of limbs. Naruto twisted the head in his hands, snapping Deidara's neck before they'd hit the ground. The impact had knocked Naruto out for a time.

He woke to sense more pursuers not far behind and set off running again. On and on without stopping. Once he'd gotten his foot caught in a rabbit hole. His leg had snapped, sending him sprawling. He'd gotten right back up and kept running, Kyuubi mending the appendage as he fled. When Zetsu rose from the ground in front of him Naruto ran into the plant nin without slowing down, his claws ripping the bastard's throat out. Naruto was out of sight before the echo of the gargling scream had entirely faded from the valley.

His body was at its limit. He dropped from exhaustion in a rocky ravine. He used the last of his chakra to conceal himself, praying he could hold onto the jutsu long enough for his pursuers to pass him by. If they caught him in this state...

This time when Naruto woke, it was to find himself very sunburned. A very large dark-skinned man was standing over him. He had on shades. A tattoo of bull horns adorned his cheek. He held a hand out to Naruto's wary face.

"Brother," the man said in a deep voice.