Thanks for the feedback! I had fun writing this chapter, so hope you have fun reading it. Enjoy!

Chapter Six: Sasuke's Army

Before Naruto could decide on how best to go about saving someone who didn't think they needed to be saved, he had a date with Karin.

When he got down to the kitchen, she was already there preparing an overly lavish lunch. She had three pots on the stove and bowl on the counter that she was mixing a salad in. Naruto commented on the large amount of food she was making. Karin grinned back at him.

"Well, if I know you, you've been trying to survive on ramen. So, I'm trying to get as many nutrients in you as I can."

"What's wrong with ramen?" Karin laughed. They sat and talked for a while, Karin curious to know what Naruto had been up to and what he thought of everything he had seen. Naruto didn't know how to bring up the subject on which he was most concerned, but as they finished their lunch, Karin brought it up for him.

"Well, we won't be able to do this much longer." She leaned forward with her chin in her hand and grinned sadly at him.

"Why not? Are you going someplace?"

Karin shook her head. "No, but it's expected that Sasuke will let Suigetsu turn me soon, what with you living here now. That was his main excuse for not allowing me to be a vampire, since it was my job to watch out for you. And once I'm turned, I'll technically be a member of Akatsuki. I don't know if you noticed or not, but Sasuke doesn't trust them. As a human, Sasuke trusts me; he won't trust me as a vampire."

That was what Naruto expected, but now that the topic was brought up, he could discuss with her what he really wanted to.

"If you know that Sasuke won't trust you because of who your sire is, why don't you have someone that he trusts turn you? Like Kakashi, or Kiba, or someone else."

"Because I want to be Suigetsu's fledgling. Besides, I'm close enough to them now that I don't think Sasuke would trust me regardless." She laughed. "Besides, I doubt I could get any of them to turn me. They have a thing about making new vampires. The last one they turned was Iruka, and that was a while ago. Akatsuki are much more willing to turn someone than not."

This fact seemed to please Karin, but it was an alarming thought for Naruto. Was it possible that Akatsuki were purposefully turning more vampires than those that Sasuke trusted? It would make sense that if they were planning a rebellion they would want to recruit. He eyed Karin carefully. Maybe there was still a chance to recruit her to Sasuke's side.

"Look, Karin, I think that Sasuke doesn't trust them for a reason. Maybe you shouldn't either." Karin sighed, and Naruto knew that she disagreed. Before she could open her mouth to argue, Naruto continued. "If it came down to it, and Akatsuki turned against Sasuke, who would you side with?" Karin looked surprised at his question. "If you had to choose, would you betray Sasuke?"

Karin never answered.

His discussion with Karin gave Naruto an idea. Sasuke needed more vampires that he trusted than those that he didn't trust. That meant that he would have to start convincing his friends to turn more people into vampires. He was torn about this, since this would include ending someone's life as they knew it. But, if it meant to save Sasuke, it would be worth it. And maybe they could find people who would willing.

The next part of his plan included finding someone who would be willing to turn that many vampires. Either that or he would have to convince all of Sasuke's friends to turn one. He supposed he should get started.

He came across Shikamaru first. He supposed he should apologize for yesterday while he was at it. He slid into the seat across from Shikamaru and waited for him to notice that he was there. Shikamaru's head remained resting on the back of his seat.

"Hey Shikamaru. How you doing?" Shikamaru rolled his head to look at Naruto. He shrugged. "So, sorry about yesterday." He went to continue, but Shikamaru flicked his hand, as if flicking away an annoying insect.

"Don't worry about it." Silence fell between them while Naruto collected his thoughts.

"So, Shikamaru, you seem like a pretty cool guy." Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. "Have you ever thought about becoming a daddy?" Shikamaru finally opened his eyes and sat up straight to stare at Naruto.

"I'm not going to turn you, Naruto." Naruto shook his head.

"No, not me! I was thinking, there was this bartender at the club, big guy. He'd be a good vampire, don't you think? He already looks like one."

Shikamaru observed him for several moments. "Why do you want me to take a fledgling?" Naruto chewed his lip before replying.

"Well, I was talking to Karin today. She is positive that Suigetsu will turn her soon. And if a loser like him gets to take a fledgling, someone as awesome as you should be able to as well." Naruto could tell that Shikamaru was analyzing him. He flicked his eyes to where Suigetsu was sitting, before returning his eyes to Naruto.

"But I don't want a fledgling." The underlying question was there, and Naruto heard it loud and clear. "What are you up to?" He considered his options. Shikamaru was smart, and he was probably close to figuring out his motives. If Shikamaru did figure it out, Naruto knew that he would tell Sasuke. That would probably be a bad thing.

"Well, okay then. It was just a thought. Talk to you later!" Naruto got up to go look for another candidate, but he could feel Shikamaru's suspicious eyes on his back as he walked across the room.

"Kiba!"

Said man turned to face him. "Hey Naruto. What's up?"

Naruto grinned widely. Kiba would be perfect! Not smart enough to figure out Naruto's motives, but strong enough to train a new vampire. "Well, I have an idea."

Kiba laughed. "Uh-oh. That's never good." Naruto punched him lightly on the arm.

"Shut up or I won't tell you." Kiba apologized, laughingly, and Naruto continued. "I think that you should take a fledgling."

Kiba sobered quickly. "No thanks, Naruto. I rather like my head attached to my shoulders."

Naruto sighed. "Not me!" Kiba sighed in relief.

"Then who?"

"Well, surely someone like you would have a few candidates." Naruto grinned wider, and waggled his eyebrows in suggestion.

"Um, not really." He paused. "And I don't think that I'd be a very good sire. It takes a lot of responsibility. And effort." Kiba scratched his head, then nodded in confirmation.

Naruto huffed in frustration.

"Kakashi! Iruka!" Naruto flopped down on the sofa between two of his favorite people.

"Hello Naruto. How are you today?" Naruto went to reply, but Kakashi interrupted with a grin, "Any plans for your death today?" Naruto's jaw dropped and Iruka chuckled. Naruto huffed and leaned back into his seat. He supposed it wouldn't be fair to ask Kakashi to take another fledgling when he was already still training Iruka. And Iruka was still too young.

"Fine then." Naruto got up to leave, but Kakashi's light voice and Iruka's laugh followed him out of the room.

"Stay out of trouble!"

"Ino! Have you ever wanted a younger sister?" Ino slowly looked up from her book to stare at Naruto.

"No. Why?"

"I think it'd be great if you could find someone to turn. Doesn't it get lonely?"

Ino looked carefully around the room filled with other vampires. "No."

"But, there's a lot more guys than girls, right? Don't you think you should even it out a bit?" Ino snorted.

"No." There was a growl behind him, and Naruto turned slowly to see Sakura staring daggers at him.

"Right, then. I'll just be going now."

"Hi Hinata." Hinata waved. "Neji." Neji inclined his head slightly. "So," pause, "have either of you ever thought of taking on a fledgling?"

Naruto never realized that a vampire could blush. Neji's eyes narrowed as Hinata stuttered out an "Oh Naruto!"

"Not me!" Naruto was quick to amend. He'd have to be more careful with how he phrased that from now on.

Neji's eyes were no longer narrowed, but he still seemed overly curious. Hinata looked like she was about to faint. Naruto sighed. "Maybe not."

"Well, if you were to have a fledgling, don't you think that would the ultimate journey of self exploration?"

Tenten considered the question before replying. "No. One must know oneself before one can take to responsibility for the care of another. If not, the fledgling could end up confused and the result would be disastrous."

Naruto looked back blankly. "You don't know who you are?"

"Do any of us know who we are?" Naruto shifted nervously. That question was a bit too close to home.

Choji considered Naruto's question. Naruto held his breath in anticipation. This was it!

"No. There'd be more competition for food. That wouldn't be good."

No force on earth could prevent Naruto from letting his head hit his hand.

"…"

"…"

"So, that's a no then?" Shino still didn't answer. Naruto shifted. "So, I'll just…" Shino got up and left. Naruto stared at his back. "Ok then."

Naruto collapsed onto a plush chair. This was ridiculous. It shouldn't be this hard to convince vampires to make other vampires. He was about to give up and try to think of another way to save Sasuke, when he saw a flash of green. Curious, he got up and followed it.

Lee! Lee was perfect! He'd bet all his ramen that he would be able to convince Lee to form an entire army for Sasuke. He called out to him. Lee was in front of him even before he could finish Lee's name.

"My friend! How can I help you?"

Naruto weighed his words carefully before replying. "I'm a little worried, Lee." Lee gasped.

"Whatever for? You should have no worries!" Naruto nodded.

"Well, I've noticed that half of Sasuke's coven is very…unyouthful." Lee gasped again, but Naruto continued before he could be interrupted again. "I'm worried that their unyouthfulness might start to affect Sasuke."

"No! It is my charge from my sire to protect Sasuke from those who threaten his youthfulness. Something must be done!" Lee jumped up to leave, but Naruto grabbed his arm.

"I have an idea, Lee." Lee sat back down and looked at him expectantly. "Well, I was thinking that what we need is several more…youthful individuals to combat the growing …unyouthfulness." Naruto felt so stupid, but it seemed to be working. "Sort of like a youthful army."

Lee considered. "You are suggesting that I turn vampires in order to form a youthful army?"

Naruto nodded sagely. "I know. But it's to protect Sasuke. And you want to protect Sasuke, right?" Lee nodded quickly.

"Of course I do! But to turn so many…"

"I know, I know. It's quite an undertaking. I wouldn't trust anyone but you. If anyone can successfully turn so many people, and not abuse them, it would be you." Lee seemed to still be hesitant. He just needed one last push. Naruto reached forward and patted Lee's shoulder. "I really think that this would be the best way to spread the youth."

Lee finally nodded, mostly to himself. "I will turn a hundred vampires or starve myself." Naruto bit his lip.

"Lee, I don't think that's a good punishment…" But Lee was already gone. Naruto shrugged. His job was done, and Sasuke's army was as good as formed.

He decided to award himself with a couple cups of ramen for a job well done.

Naruto was rather pleased with himself by the time he was headed to see Sasuke. Unfortunately for him, Sasuke was looking rather smug when Naruto entered his study.

"Hello, Naruto. How are you today?"

"Fine," Naruto replied carefully before settling himself in his normal chair across from Sasuke. Sasuke's smirk widened.

"And what have you been up to?"

'Uh-oh.' "Oh, you know, the usual."

"Is that so? I heard that you were quite busy today."

Naruto tried to remain nonchalant. "Oh? Who told you that?"

"Well, first from Shikamaru. He told me that you were concerned about some members, namely Akatsuki, recruiting."

"I never said that!" Naruto shrieked. "I never said that! Why'd he say that?"

Sasuke chuckled ominously. "Shikamaru is very observant. He also noticed that you were trying to convince some of your friends to take fledglings. This all happened after your conversation with Karin. From there, Shikamaru reached some conclusions. Is he correct?"

Naruto mumbled under his breath. When he noticed that Sasuke was still waiting for a comprehensible reply, he spoke louder. "Yes. And you should be too! You're insane if you think you have any control over them. They're going to turn against you, and then where are you going to be? Do you have any kind of back up plan for when they do turn against you?"

Sasuke leaned forward in his chair. "I have a secret for you, Naruto. I am not insane, nor am I stupid. As for Akatsuki, please do not worry your pretty little head about them. I know I have very limited control over them, but they are serving their purpose." Naruto wasn't sure that he believed Sasuke, but he was still holding on to Lee. Lee was his secret weapon.

"You said "first Shikamaru." Who was second?"

Sasuke's mouth twitched before he replied. "Kakashi."

"I never even asked Kakashi. What reason could he possibly have to be suspicious?" Sasuke just continued to grin. "Oh, Kakashi is one of your spies, isn't he?" Sasuke nodded once. "So, is that it, or did any of your other spies report to you?"

The humor in Sasuke's face was apparent. "Lee."

Naruto sat up straight in his chair in alarm. "What did he say?"

"He wished to ask permission to…" To Naruto's surprise, Sasuke started to laugh. It was soft, but it was there. It was the most happy and most relaxed that Naruto had ever seen him. "Dear Lord, Naruto, what did you do to poor Lee? He asked if he could raise an army of youthful soldiers for my protection." Naruto mumbled again under his breath, to which Sasuke replied, "Poor, poor Lee."

Lee was his last resort. Now what was he going to do? Naruto frantically started to think of what he could do to protect Sasuke, but it was difficult to think with said man sitting across from him and grinning.

"I think that you are bored. Do you need something to distract you?" Naruto looked back at Sasuke suspiciously.

"Depends."

The grin on Sasuke's face became a little stiff. "Go on a date with me."

Naruto stopped himself from his hasty reply. "Where?"

Sasuke shrugged. "What is standard now a days when one goes on a date?"

"Movie and a dinner?" Naruto hadn't been on many dates, but it was what he had seen on his crappy reruns. Sasuke seemed content with that suggestion. He nodded once and relaxed back into his seat.

"The day after tomorrow, then."

"Why not tomorrow?" The question was out of his mouth before he could stop himself. He hoped that Sasuke would take his eagerness for getting out of the house, and not going on the date with Sasuke.

"Well, that was something I wished to discuss with you. Tomorrow, I want you to promise me that you will not leave your room." Naruto went to voice his displeasure, but Sasuke interrupted him. "Members from a neighboring coven will be visiting tomorrow. I have so far been unable to convert them to my philosophy regarding feeding, and I hope that the negotiations will be complete tomorrow. I would rather you not run the chance of coming into contact with them."

Naruto allowed the fact that other, unknown vampires would be coming tomorrow and the fact that Sasuke seemed concerned about it. "Are they that bad?"

The corner of Sasuke's mouth twitched before he replied. "They would not hesitate to kill you. And not necessarily for food." Sasuke paused to let the full weight sink into Naruto's thick skull. "So, will you promise me that you will stay in your room? And if you behave all day tomorrow, and keep your promise, I will take you on a date the following day."

Naruto sighed. "I promise, then."

If Naruto had thought that he was bored before, he was just about dead now. It was physically painful, sitting up in his room when he had grown so accustomed to having free reign of the house. But, he was nothing if not a man of his word.

Kiba had brought him some food, another overly lavish meal, and the book from Sasuke's study that he had been reading. Naruto had asked him how negotiations were going. Kiba had just grunted at him and said they weren't before reminding Naruto to lock the door and leaving again.

Naruto had read the book for a couple of hours before his eyes started to cross and he decided to take a break. He was sitting near the window and staring outside and over the garden with his back to the door, which is why he didn't notice the sand that started pouring in through the keyhole and underneath the door. He also didn't notice when a man materialized out of that sand. He couldn't help but notice that eerie feeling of someone staring at him though.

Naruto stood from his seat and turned around slowly. He didn't recognize the person standing in front of him, so he assumed that this was someone from the other coven that Sasuke was so worried about and knew he had to be very careful.

"Hi…" Naruto tried. The red-haired man continued to just stand there and stare at him. "My name's Naruto. And you are…?" Nothing. Naruto looked more closely at the intruder. He was about his own height, with bright red hair and startling aqua eyes that were narrowed in thought. It was obscured by the man's hair, but Naruto could just see a marking of some sort on the man's forehead. Naruto's eyes flicked to the door. To his unease, it was still locked. That was definitely not good. He decided to try again.

"So, are you from that coven that Sasuke was meeting today?" If the man had eyebrows, they would have raised. Maybe he should let this man know that he knew why he was in Sasuke's house. "How are negotiations going?" There was finally a reaction from the man, but it was something that Naruto would not have preferred. The man started to move closer to Naruto. Naruto backed into the wall, and tried to think of something to stop the man. "Don't you think you should be returning to the meeting? Sasuke might be missing you." To Naruto's horror, the man continued to move forward.

When the man was right in front of him, Naruto opened his mouth to scream, but the man's hand was clasped tightly around his jaw. Naruto's fisted hand came up to collide with man's face. He didn't even flinch, didn't even move. Naruto's hand hurt more than he thought this man's face hurt. Instead, his wrist was caught in a vice grip and slammed against the wall. And when Naruto tried to kick out, his body was pinned by the other man.

He seemed oblivious to Naruto's struggling. 'Oh God, he's going to kill me! Sasuke, where are you?' And then the man's mouth was covering Naruto's. Naruto tried to jerk his head away, but the grip on his jaw kept it in place. Soon, Naruto felt claws pressing into his wrist and jaw. He tried to stop it, but the yelp of pain allowed the man entrance into his mouth. The tongue under his pulled it into the stranger's mouth. Nothing prepared him for the keen sharp pain of a fang sinking into his tongue. His scream at the back of throat was muffled by the other's mouth and the blood that was now freely pooling in his mouth.

Through the lightheadedness, Naruto heard a snarl. And then the stranger was being ripped away from him. His knees started to go out from underneath him, but Iruka was there, holding him up.

"Gaara, explain yourself." Naruto was never so happy to hear Sasuke's cold, commanding voice. Sasuke wasn't alone. Two other non-familiar faces were standing next to the man- Gaara, Sasuke had called him. Neji, Kiba, and Kakashi were also there, standing between the strangers and Naruto.

"I was curious." Sasuke's low growl showed his displeasure at Gaara's answer. "I was trying to find a reason as to why you would take a pet." Gaara's eyes flicked back to Naruto, but the line of sight was quickly obscured by Sasuke's back.

"Naruto is a guest in my house. Other than that, he is none of your concern." Gaara shifted, but Sasuke continued. "Neji, Kakashi. Please escort our guests back downstairs. I will be down shortly." Neji and Kakashi shifted to flank the strangers. Gaara took one last look at Naruto before he turned and left.

Once they had left the room, Sasuke turned to face Naruto. Naruto held back the flinch as he saw Sasuke's vibrant red eyes. Sasuke raked his eyes over Naruto, and growled low in his throat when he saw the imprints of Gaara's claws in his skin. Naruto rubbed at his wrist to get the marks out. "Kiba, Iruka. You will guard his door for the duration of the negotiations. Go." Iruka gently let Naruto go before heading to the door with Kiba. Naruto swayed slightly, but with the adrenaline leaving his system, he could at least stand on his own. When the door closed firmly behind Kiba and Iruka, Sasuke growled out, "I was a fool not to leave guards for you before."

Naruto shrugged and smiled weakly at Sasuke. He couldn't let Sasuke beat himself up. "For the record, I didn't break my promise. I'm still in my room." Sasuke grinned weakly back at him, and Naruto sighed in relief as he saw Sasuke's eyes fade from red to black. The grin also slowly faded, though, as Sasuke took a delicate sniff of the air.

"You are bleeding." Sasuke's eyes roamed Naruto's body again, looking for any injuries he had previously missed. Naruto stuck out his bloody tongue.

"'e 'it mi tongue." Sasuke reached forward and grabbed Naruto's tongue and applied pressure to the wound. "Ow!" Slowly, the bleeding stopped and Sasuke pulled on his tongue to check on it before letting it go. Naruto quickly brought it back into his mouth and rolled it over in his mouth to feel the puncture wound.

Sasuke sighed. "I suppose I should get back down. You are all right?"

Naruto nodded. Sasuke turned to leave, but Naruto called back out to him. "I still get my date, right?" Sasuke faced him and smiled.

"Of course. Tomorrow, then." And then Sasuke was out the door.

"Bye." Naruto was left waving at empty air, but there was huge smile on his face. He couldn't wait for tomorrow to come.