A/N: Last part of the fic. Enjoy.
Title: Nanakorobi Yaokito (adj.): Stumbling Seven Times but Recovering Eight.
Recipient: Everyone!
Rating: R
Pairings: Itachi/Naruto
Word Count: 15,238
Warnings: Minor character deaths and sexual situations. Torture
Summary: "There was only one useful thing he ever taught me, 'Stumble several times, but recover eight.' That's the life we all know. The only one we've ever known." In order to survive; ruthlessness is vital and love is but a hopeless dream.
Disclaimer:The characters hereon belong to their respective owners. No profit is being made from this work.
Beta: Imperial Mint.
Author's Notes:
Shinto:
Shinto is very loosely translated to, 'Way of the Gods.' So please don't quote me on it. It originated from the Chinese language before being adopted by Japan. I decided on this name because of Pein (Pain) of Akatsuki. His belief that he is a god spurred the idea for this name.
Consists of: Pein, Madara, Konan, Kisame, Itachi, Sasuke, Sasori, Deidara, Hidan and Kakazu
Nainteiru:
Which is translated to, 'Nine Tails' as opposed to'Kyuubi,' which means 'Nine-tailed.'
Not much of a difference, I know. But the smallest of details count. Each tail represents a member.
Consists of: Kakashi, Naruto, Gaara, Sakura, Ino, Kiba, Temari and Shikamaru. Kankuro – ninth member-deceased.
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Nanakorobi Yaokito
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Part 2
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Silence.
Naruto swore he'd fallen asleep with the television on. The gentle sound of water falling reached his ears in time with the knocking on his front door. It took him a second or two to rub the sleep from his eyes and muster up the energy to stand. Sighing audibly, Naruto padded over to the source of his wake up. He was fully prepared to swing the door open, when a thought struck him.
He shifted slightly, quietly peeking through the glass covered hole in his door. One look at the frizzy brown hair and red face tattoos and Naruto relaxed, swinging the door open carelessly as Kiba strode in.
"Finally! Do you know how long I've been waiting out there?" Naruto stumbled back as Kiba shoved his way into the apartment. "Do you have anything to eat?" Rolling his eyes, Naruto followed his friend into the kitchen where he was rummaging through the edible goods.
"How is Gaara?" Naruto asked sadly, already missing the brother-figure he hadn't seen in days.
Kiba paused, turning to look at Naruto as if remembering why he was there. "That's why I'm here. Nobody's been able to get a hold of you, Naruto. Gaara was worried, so he sent me."
Naruto frowned, confused. "Why didn't he just come here himself?"
Kiba's look turned more sympathetic, his gaze trailing past Naruto's form, towards the bathroom. "He said he couldn't handle being around one of them." Naruto nodded in understanding, while Kiba's face quickly shifted to anger. "How do you know it wasn't him that killed Kankuro?"
Naruto breathed in deeply, holding it in a moment before he spoke, "I don't."
"You really should make it easier to get in contact with you, Naruto; especially with him here. I don't trust him, or any of them for that matter. But, regardless of what I think, you should do it for Gaara. It's killing him knowing all this responsibility and risk is landing on you."
Kiba walked past him, brushing against his chest it what was meant to be a forgiving way. Naruto turned and followed him again, not really having any other choice. "Has anything new happened while I've been…away?" Naruto let the last word roll over his tongue, deciding it was the most discreet way to describe his lack of presence amongst the other members.
"Madara has been…quiet. Shinto in general hasn't been very easy to follow as of late." Kiba shuddered slightly. "It's kind of unnerving actually."
"That's not a good sign. He's obviously up to something." Naruto paused, grimacing as Kiba chewed without closing his mouth, a few crumbs straying from the corner of his mouth. "Kiba…" Kiba looked up at him, mouth full with food. He followed Naruto's gaze, seeing all the mess he'd made he quickly swallowed, setting his snack on the coffee table before him.
"Sorry."
Naruto chuckled, shaking his head as thought about how some things never changed. "Don't worry about it."
Kiba stood suddenly, brushing off his pants and heading towards the door. He hesitated for a moment, standing awkwardly by the exit. Naruto's features darkened, currently hating his ability to read people's emotions so well.
"What is it?"
He watched Kiba's neck tremble as he swallowed thickly, "Sasuke has been acting…weird." Kiba seemed to contemplate the word slightly, pursing his lips like he was trying to decide if he should continue. "Kakashi asked me not to say anything because you already have enough on your plate, but I think something is wrong."
Naruto's brows furrowed. "He's under a lot of stress, Kiba-" he started before being cut off.
Kiba waved a hand at him, acknowledging what he said was true. "Of course, of course, I shouldn't have brought it up. I better get back anyways," he said, a mischievous smile taking the edge off the sudden tension, "everyone is worried you're dead so it's the perfect opportunity for me to mess with them." With that said, Kiba exited Naruto's apartment, shutting the door heavily with little concern.
Naruto chuckled, thoroughly amused with his friend's ability to take a serious situation and make it into something of a joke.
The fall of water not far away ceased, bring Naruto's attention back to his house guest as the bathroom opened, letting out a cloud of steam and a half-naked Itachi with it.
Life was so very cruel to Naruto.
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-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
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Being stuck in his own apartment was not something Naruto liked.
He was used to having free reign of his own life; the constant loneliness his home supplied kept him out most of the time. He preferred fresh air over the smell of recently cooked food and the odd scent that always collected amongst one's belongings; each home had its own distinct smell. Naruto remembered the smell of his guardian's homes. Although he could barely remember each place they'd moved to, the smell always stayed the same; Tsunade's favorite poparie, the scent of her overwhelming perfumes – that Naruto had eventually grown accustomed to- and alcohol. The last being something he was never quite comfortable with.
He was never much of a drinker himself. Something about the way it blurred his vision and altered his movements; leaving him open and vulnerable to the dangers always lurking in dark alleys. Naruto didn't want to be that poor soul people watched on the news that made stupid decisions on an impulse and ended up dead or missing. More than anything though, he didn't want to grow attached to the numbing sensations Tsunade was so fond of.
Naruto's apartment had acquired the faint smell of cinnamon, a fact he really couldn't explain being that he never had any. According to Itachi, it had a relaxing aura. Normally Naruto would have disagreed, arguing that his home was gloomy; the very definition of solitude. But, with Itachi's presence he couldn't bring himself to dislike the meager living space as much as he used too. It wasn't just the lack of people other than Naruto living there that caused his feelings, Sasuke had been over countless times but Itachi added something to the mix that made Naruto feel at ease; at home, like he never had before.
Itachi felt like home.
The thought felt so foreign and so odd, considering Itachi's personality, which had been changing, or rather unfolding as of late.
"Pass go, do no collect two-hundred dollars…" Naruto stared at the card in disbelief. The stack had to have run out of these damn cards that made him pass go, without collecting his money and making him start all over again, just to pick up an identical card. "Impossible, I've already gotten four of these." His face scrunched in depression; frown deepening when he saw the sympathetic look Itachi was giving him.
Itachi leaned forward, sorting through the deck of cards for an explanation. "It appears you picked out the last of them," he stated calmly, watching for Naruto's reaction.
Naruto huffed in annoyance, but made no more arguments as he moved his thimble piece past the 'GO' space and did not collect the usual reward for making it around the whole game board.
"Just know that if you win, it will not have been on fair terms." Naruto smirked to himself when he saw the amusement drop from Itachi's face. His smirk didn't last long though, because the look on Itachi's face was enough to let him know that he was in some kind of trouble.
"All is fair in-"
"- In love and war? How does that apply here?" Naruto asked with a teasing smile while he crawled back away from Itachi's approaching figure.
"I was going to say Monopoly, had you not interrupted me." The feral look in Itachi's eyes made Naruto gasp, no other part of his face gave his feelings away, but as the growing red in Itachi's eyes drifted closer to him, his back hit the corner of the coffee table. The sharp edge dug into the skin between his two shoulders and he winced before Itachi's hands clasped around his ankles, pulling his back onto the floor and away from the source of pain, closer to the man now looming over him.
Naruto stared, waiting for Itachi's next move.
But it never came. All he did was copy Naruto's own actions, observing the details of one another. He wasn't sure what was holding Itachi back from making the next move, until Itachi reached up, letting a few stands of blonde hair run along his fingers, his eyes flickering from playful and captivating to cultivated and hesitant. Something about the uncertainty he was emitting was more charming than any of Itachi's other emotions Naruto had been introduced to. He breathed deeply through his nose, pushing himself up onto one elbow and using his other arm to wrap around Itachi's neck, pulling him down to close the last of space between them.
Naruto let their lips touch briefly, keeping his eyes open as Itachi did. He made no response to Naruto's affections, but Itachi sighed when he moved his head lower, kissing along Itachi's jaw up to his cheek. Taking that as a sign to continue, he kissed Itachi's eyelids, smiling as the fluttered shut under Naruto's breath. His hands moved along broad shoulders, rubbing into the hard flesh in an attempt to help relieve some of the tension. Itachi grunted when Naruto hit a particularly stiff spot where his neck met his shoulders.
Itachi finally started to act in response, moving his hands in a similar motion up Naruto's back and lifting the green fabric of Naruto's shirt, exposing his warm skin to the cold air. Naruto tensed for a moment at the sudden chill, arching away from the sensation and into Itachi's chest, with strong hands helping to pull him against it harder. A sudden vibration tickled Naruto's inner thigh but Itachi seemed determined to ignore it. He pushed against the hard chest above him, attempting to put some distance between him as his mind began to rationalize through its fog of desire.
"Your phone," he said breathlessly.
"Later," Itachi responded, leaning back down to catch Naruto's lips again, but he pulled as much as the floor would allow using his hips to prevent any more of Itachi's endeavors.
"It might be Sasuke," he tried again, giving Itachi a somber look.
The results were immediate; Itachi sat up right, slipping his hand into the pocket of his pants and pulling out his phone, quickly and gracefully. Naruto watched slightly amused and amazed at the ease in which Itachi always performed.
He flopped back down onto his back, staring up the slightly stained ceiling of his apartment. Naruto titled his head to the side, wondering if the blemishes had always been there, escaping his notice. A sudden idea occurred to him, smiling as he pictured Itachi armed with a paint brush and sporting many spots of white paint. Although he knew it was only something he'd imagine because knowing Itachi, he could paint the entire apartment and manage to finish cleaner then he started.
It would do well to pass some time though. He'd been having so much fun with Itachi, he almost forgot why the man was here in the first place.
"I see."
Naruto wrapped his arms behind his head, turning with mild interest in time to see Itachi's body tense and his tone grow unexpectedly cold. He'd grown so accustomed to the peaceful, laid-back side of Itachi that he'd almost forgot what he was normally like. Sighing, Naruto turned back to his musings, deciding that he'd go to the store for supplies and dub tomorrow 'Painting Day.'
Itachi's phone snapped shut, echoing through the room and pulling a startled jump from Naruto.
"I have to go." Itachi wasted no time in making his way to the door, refusing to make eye contact with Naruto as he jumped to his feet.
"Whoa, wait! Can you just talk and tell me what's going on Itachi?" Naruto reached out to take hold of Itachi's arm, but his grip was easily evaded, "I can't help me unless you tell me what's going on."
Itachi ignored his protests, opening the door a crack, before Naruto's hand stopped it, putting his weight into the push to keep the door in place.
"Naruto…" Itachi's head dropped as he whispered Naruto's name. He gazed at Itachi's defeated position, reaching out to stroke his long hair until the head snapped back up, blank and detached like the first day he came to Naruto's apartment. "Move."
Naruto swallowed audibly, hand swinging lifelessly back to his side. He looked away, staring off into empty space as he tried desperately to hold back the tears he knew were threatening to fall. The last time he remembered crying was in grade school; he had taken a hard fall playing with Sasuke and scraped up his knee pretty bad. Almost half of his calf had been covered in blood. Sasuke had run around crazily trying to find some help for his friend while Naruto had cried silently to himself, biting his lips while he tried to suppress the tears. He hadn't wanted Tsunade to see him upset, because his grandmother had always taught him that crying was for the weak. Naruto hated being weak. So he'd wiped his tears, reassured Sasuke that he was okay, and limped the whole way home.
This time, it wouldn't be so easy to thwart off the impending tears that were ready to burn along his water line and pour out to continue their fiery path down his cheeks.
He could feel Itachi watching him from the corner of his eye, but he made no move to comfort Naruto.
"Go then." He made a shooing motion towards the door, backing away to stare into bright red eyes as his vision began to blur. "What are you waiting for? Leave, I'm used to it."
Itachi face grew warped into an expression of indecision, making Naruto's stomach clench in disgust. He clamped his teeth together, a plea for Itachi to stay dangling on the very tip of his tongue, but Naruto quelled his hurt down until it was so small, a few deep breaths were all it took calm him down completely. "Please go, Itachi."
Just like that, Naruto was alone.
The emptiness returned just as quickly as it had gone and Naruto instantly wished for Itachi's presence in the hellish silence of his lonesome. His knees hit the ground soundly, awkwardly shifting to let him sit completely on the floor. Every part of his mind and body screamed to let him cry, to free all the emotions swelling up inside of him, but he couldn't. A choked sob was all that got out before Naruto rose to his feet, tugging his hair insistently to save himself from useless sulking of heartbreak.
Naruto chuckled to himself as his grandfather's old saying ran through his head, "If you fall seven times, get up eight." He'd fallen more than seven times in his life. Frankly, more times than he could count. But somehow Itachi had managed to wiggle himself into Naruto's heart, securing his place there. If something happened to Itachi, Naruto wasn't sure that was a fall he could recover from.
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-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
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Itachi waited until the door shut behind him, slumping against the sturdy frame and clenching his eyes tightly. He had to do this. Sasuke always came first, no matter what.
Letting out a long breath that was meant to calm his nerves, Itachi took off down the hallway, his pulse racing as he altered between a jog and a fast-paced walk. The elevator came into view quickly. Itachi pressed the down button without thinking, repeating the action a few more times to assure himself. The number lit up above the metal doors, '2.'
"Too long." He spotted the red glowing exit sign not far away and practically threw himself down the emergency stairs, making his way toward the garage of the building; he would get there faster if he drove. After all, risk didn't really matter now that Sasuke was in trouble. He was about to throw himself into a den of carnivorous wolves that were happily waiting to kill one of their own pups.
Not that it mattered to Itachi what they did to him, as long as he stayed alive long enough to protect Sasuke. After that, Naruto would take care of his brother. The thought made him stumble slightly on a crack in the cement stairs guiltily.
He just had to keep reminding himself…Sasuke came first.
'What about Naruto?' a part of him questioned. Itachi couldn't deny the developing feelings of closeness for his brother's best friend, but what could he do? They were on opposite sides of the spectrum and whether he liked it or not, he didn't deserve Naruto. The darker side of him wished to take Naruto and never let him go. The part that cared greatly for him would not allow Itachi to taint such a good-hearted person. Besides that, he would never get the chance if tonight went as badly as he was expecting.
Mentally shaking free of thoughts that would only make his meeting with Madara worse, Itachi continued his quick search for a fast car, ignoring the loud sound of a car alarm and distant sirens; it wouldn't take long to shake them.
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-.-.-.-.-.-.-
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It was so much like that day; so much like the day he had lost Shisui. But Itachi refused to let it end the same way it did all those years ago. He stared impassively toward the tall, glass windows, considering for just a moment to push Madara through the glass and to his death, disregarding that it would mean his own death. Madara would be disposed and that was more important than his own worth. Unfortunately his plan would leave Sasuke with the remaining members of Shinto, and although he doubted any of them were close enough to avenge the death of his uncle, Shinto didn't take to well to traitors- let alone leaving Sasuke to the devices of the sadistic, pierced siblings, Konan and Pein.
"I always wanted to see you angry Itachi." Madara had slithered a few inches from his face, making it had to breath as the stench of greed and authority wafted through his senses. "But you make it so hard with that impassive exterior. I just wonder," a long boney finger traced down the line of Itachi's cheekbone and his mask threatened to fall to pieces; a growl edging up into his throat, "what is it like in that head of yours? So dark and cold, much like my own I assume." Madara threw his head back, laughingly happily at his expense, before straightening with a slightly crazed look on his face.
Madara was destroying himself. Slowly, yes but the once in-control man of a powerful group was oxidizing into a mass mad-desperation. When one only wants more and more, what does one do when they have it all? Power always went straight to his uncle's head and after years of being on top, the power was finally getting to him. Itachi always hoped for this time; when Madara would grow too irrational and somebody finally stepped forward to overthrow him, but he never imagined it to happen with Sasuke in his clutches. This was the worst scenario he couldn't have seen coming.
Itachi let his eyes drift over to Sasuke's hunched form. He seemed unharmed for the most part, just tired. He wondered how long his brother had been in his current position of 'hostage', for lack of a better word. Guilt, an emotion he'd recently become very familiar with, swelled up inside of Itachi as he considered that all the time he was spending with Naruto, carefree and safe, Sasuke had been suffering from his absence.
His chin was yanked back forward. He didn't remembering turning it to his brother's direction, but something was there; something in his expression told Madara that he had Itachi right where he wanted him-vulnerable and at his disposal.
"I don't want to hurt Sasuke." Madara forced his head back to look at Sasuke, who chose this moment to look up at Itachi. Madara's lips tickled his ear, repulsion shooting to every part of his body. "You are my family. But family doesn't…hurt each other!" Each word was emphasized with a hard tug on his hair; head smacking against the wall behind him. He heard - felt – his uncle take a deep calming breath to reign in his madness. He could feel the menacing smile against his ear again. "Help me to help you."
Sasuke began to frantically shake his head as if already knowing what Madara would request. Fear resided in every blood shot line of Sasuke's eyes, making Itachi's brows furrow and his skin perspire in scared anticipation.
"Anything," Itachi whispered desperately.
Sasuke's face dropped with disappointment clear in his fallen posture. Itachi ignored it. Sasuke could hate him all he wanted but at least he'd be alive. "Kill him."
His own eyes widened. "I won't let anything happen to Sasuke."
"Not him…" Madara coaxed, begging Itachi to figure it out on his own.
Realization dawned on him at impossibly fast pace. "Naruto."
"Yes, yes." Madara finally released him, letting his body give out and slump to the cold floor. "Do you know how long I've waited for this day? Do you?" Madara's footsteps brought him a few inches from Sasuke, but his eyes were trained on Itachi's reaction; like they always had been. "This was never about your foolish little brother. No, this was about something much more. Something I couldn't finish myself, years ago. At first I thought why not wait until he's unguarded and finish off the last of Minato's family, preventing any potential of rebellion against our goal, but that would have been too easy."
Itachi watched Sasuke's shaking form, knowing his brother was a few steps ahead of his comprehension and hating that he could do nothing to comfort him. He was the one that was going to cause his brother even more pain.
"The wait was worth it, I think. This way will be so much like last time. I needed a guarantee that this would continue after my death, Itachi and you are the perfect person to complete my plans. Unfortunately, you have not yet fully succumbed to my ways. I have great assurance that after tonight, you will."
Sasuke was never the target, never the one in danger.
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-.-.-.-.-.-.-
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"Sasuke's been taken hostage."
Naruto gasped, now aware of Itachi's sudden disappearance. He glanced around, confused as to why everyone seemed aware of the situation but himself. "How long have you known?" he asked suspiciously.
Kakashi's visible eye closed in preparation for Naruto's anger. "Since Itachi went under your care."
Naruto's fist clenched tightly and he rushed at a specific body in the room, grabbing the collar of Kiba's shirt and throwing his against the wall. Hands grabbed at him from every direction but he refused to loosen his grip.
"You acted as if everything was ok," Naruto snarled. "I had a right to know and you betrayed my trust."
"He was under orders not to speak a word of Sasuke's condition-"
"Don't speak to me!" he shouted in Kakashi's direction, keeping his gaze locked on Kiba's flushed face. "I trusted you. You meant more to me than any orders. Had it been Hinata," Kiba flinched, looking away from Naruto's intense gaze, "I would have told you."
Naruto released him, watching Kiba fall to the floor as Sakura jumped into action, checking for any injuries on her downed teammate. He regarded them for only a moment before turning his attention back to the head of the room, eying Kakashi with a lack of respect he never thought he'd have for his leader. He pinched his nose, a feature Kakashi would normally joke about, saying Naruto had picked up his bad habits. Now was not the time for teasing though.
"Forget it. What's the plan?"
"For you…nothing. We are infiltrating Shinto's whereabouts as we speak."
"Who?"
"Gaara, Ino, Shikamaru and Temari are waiting for my signal. You will be in contact as Sakura, Kiba and I go to the rendezvous point. You will be informed and will help Shikamaru through the layout of the building. You know better than any of us the ins and outs of the place." Kakashi laid a small black object on the end of his table, using the tip of his finger to push the device close to the edge. "This will be our form of contact."
Naruto picked it up carefully, afraid the small thing would break under his touch. He rolled it between his fingers, getting a good look at the expensive looking electronic.
"Now, go home, and be ready for our call," Kakashi said, leaving no room for argument. "It's the best place for you right now and we need to know where you are in case anything goes wrong. It's too dangerous for you to stay at the hideout by yourself during this mission."
Naruto nodded, still focused on the ear piece in his hand. He turned to walk from the room, bypassing any goodbyes or good lucks like he would normally give out to everyone before a mission.
"Naruto, I'm sorry!" Kiba's voice called after him, but he was already out the door.
Naruto readjusted the piece in his ear again, worried that he had broken it during his trip from the base to his home. The only sound he could hear was a slight static – fuzzy- noise. As if on cue, a click alerted Naruto that another person had turned on their own head piece, followed by six more identical noises.
"Naruto?" He sighed as Gaara's voice echoed into his earpiece. He was relieved to know he was safe, and seemingly unhurt. Naruto pushed away his annoyance and accusation, knowing they had probably already gotten through the initial security of Shinto's main headquarters and hadn't tuned in until now. Although he knew they did it for his own benefit, it still annoyed him.
"Yes, I'm here. How far have you gotten?"
Gaara mimicked his earlier sign of relief, sighing briefly before he went back into what Naruto like to call his 'down to business mode.'
"Temari has confirmed Sasuke's location; they're working on getting to his position. There's men at every floor Naruto…they knew we were coming." Naruto's fists clenched beside him. He pushed his back up against the wall, bringing his knees up to rest his forearms on top of them. His head fell forward, eyes closed in realization.
"Itachi."
"What?"
"Nothing. Gaara…I need you to be honest."
"Always."
"What is the probability of everyone getting out of this alive?"
Naruto heard a gasp over the line but was unable to determine whether it was Ino and Sakura. Sasuke, he was so important to Naruto, he was practically a member of their own gang. It seemed unfair…selfish really, for him to expect everyone else to risk their lives for someone that, although provided them with a lot of useful information, held no personal significance. They wouldn't go this far to save an informant. They would only go this far to save someone close to them; to save Naruto, because Sasuke's death would only result in plunging him into a darkness of guilt and despair. They were risking their lives for his well-being.
Naruto thought of Kiba; the friend he'd pinned up against wall and scolded only hours ago, who was now trusting himself into a dangerous mission that could cost him his life.
Overlooking the fact that Gaara hadn't provided and answer for him, Naruto spoke again, his voice solemn. "Kiba…don't do anything stupid."
Like the breaking of a dam, the tension cleared Naruto's mind and body, leaving in a rush that brought a relieved smile to his face. "Me? Not in a million years."
A chorus of laughter broke free and Naruto was amazed at how easily they could cheer each other up in such stressful situations but it distracted them. "Temari!"
Just like the laughter, gunshots littered Naruto's hearing. He jumped from the floor, pacing quickly from each side of his room in an attempt to quell his anxiousness.
"She's fine I got her! Kiba, Gaara and Sakura, you stay. Tend to Temari and hold back any of our pursers, they'll be sure to send more!"
"Understood," three voices synchronized.
Shots continued, some spaced apart and others coming in fast repetition. The volumes of the weapons being fired told Naruto who they were coming from. The loudest of them obviously being his team members and the distant booms were that of the enemy. Occasionally one would sound off nearby followed by a grunt or curse as a member of Shinto got too close for comfort.
"There's a shit load of them around this bend, he has to be in there."
"Move forward."
So focused in what was going on miles away from him, Naruto barely registered it. It was his trained senses and overly paranoid state that stole his attention away from his earpiece, narrowing his eyes in the direction of his apartment door. He moved his hand slowly and cautiously, turning the volume down and taking light, quick steps towards his bed. His hand slipped under the pillow easily, making contact with hard metal and he grasped in instantly. Naruto adjusted it accordingly before he pulled his hand back out from the pillow, armed.
The sounds from a far away fight were quieter now, but they still threw him off as he tried to make out any nearby activity in his otherwise quiet home. He tried not to let it distract him as he ducked his head around the hallway's corner, squinting his eyes to adapt to darkness. Light pooled out from behind him, sending a beam halfway towards the living room. Naruto realized his mistake one second too late when he saw his shadow interrupt the bright flow of light along his carpet, barely dodging the hit that came towards his face from his right side, a place he hadn't even thought too look; a dead end with only a few feet of space but an infinite amount of pitch black darkness and the perfect hiding place.
He threw himself down, feeling the powerful hit bypass his head and skim the tips of his hair as he bent down. Kicking out swiftly, Naruto's foot slammed the door shut, trapping a silver gun, very similar to his own. It ripped free from its trap, allowing the door to close quickly while Naruto locked it and regained his senses, diving for his own gun that had fallen just out of reach. One shot, perfected and loud, was all took for the lock to blow loose, leaving a quarter-sized hole in its wake.
Naruto remained in his place, back on the ground with his weapon pointed towards the door. Making the effort to stand would only agitate his opponent and unintentionally divert his complete focus on avoiding any injuries or death. The door moved at a slow and agonizing pace, teasing Naruto with inevitable reveal of his enemy.
He almost dropped his gun again; lips parting and eyes widening in shock. Naruto let the gun go slack in his previously tight grip, "Itachi." The door opened completely and he wished it hadn't.
Naruto wished that Sasuke had never been found out. He wished that Itachi hadn't tried to play hero and ended up in his care. He wished the last few weeks of his life had never happened and that the man standing in front of him, holding a gun pointed down at his face, hadn't become so important that Naruto could never imagine shooting him.
The question burned his lips horribly and they trembled in an effort to speak up. "All along?" he wondered out loud. The moments, the days, the kisses, the touches…his emotions had seemed so real, but Itachi never failed at anything, so Naruto couldn't really put it past him.
The strained look of indecision that crossed Itachi's face made Naruto's body flinch in shame for even considering the possibility. It made his own actions during their time together seem less meaningful even to himself, let alone how it would make Itachi feel.
Itachi stayed quiet, his lips dipping down into a frown so deep it aged his face. Naruto didn't like the way Itachi looked torn and resigned at the same time. Even with a gun pointed at his head, and an obviously distressed wielder prepared to pull the trigger, Naruto couldn't care less about himself. He wasn't worried about his own well-being as his hands lowered, leaving him open for attack and less threatening all the same.
The screaming of his name attempted to tug him back to the earpiece that was just a few notches from silent, but Naruto ignored it in favor of being attentive to Itachi.
"Itachi…"
"I have to. I'm sorry Naruto, I never wanted this to happen, but they have Sasuke. It's unavoidable."
"We can help you, Itachi."
"No, you can't. This is the only way. I hope you can forgive me," Itachi choked out and Naruto could see the desperation written clearly on his face.
He sighed, gazing into Itachi's resolve and finding himself unable to argue with it. He raised his hands in a sign of surrender, rolling to his side and raising himself up to eye-level with Itachi. The gun followed Naruto's every movement, steady and straight despite the changing emotions playing out in front of him. "Do it."
Itachi's eyes widened, his brows furrowed in suspicion.
"Do it for Sasuke, alright?"
Voices cried out in protest, unaware of what was going on. Naruto smiled, eyes closing as he accepted his fate. He missed the trembling of Itachi's hand, but he heard the clattering of his finger against the trigger. He covered Itachi's hands with his own, wrapping them under the warmth of his skin. Itachi's skin was cold and sweaty. The trembling stilled beneath his comforting hold until he repositioned them a bit higher, letting the gun's point rest against his forehead.
The ringing in his ears panned in and out. Naruto tried his best to fight off the fear that, cold as ice, was trying to take over.
"Naruto we've got him, we've got Sasuke!" Kiba spoke loudly, gasping in his efforts to make Naruto notice they'd succeeded in their mission. It wasn't the volume, but his slow, deliberate words that finally caught Naruto's attention. He inwardly smiled, relieved beyond belief but held his ground and remained silent, unwilling to back down.
In a perfect world, Naruto's parents would be alive. He'd be in college or starting an internship, on his way to creating a successful life, free of so much violence and bloodshed. Sasuke would openly be by his side, like a best friend should without fear of horrible consequences.
In a perfect world, Itachi's hand wouldn't be wrapped around a dangerous piece of metal that was meant to take his life. But, instead, it would be wound tightly in his own. fingers clasped firmly and wishing the moment would never end. Naruto opened his eyes just in time to watch the gun drop, the carpet absorbing most of its solid weight. It wasn't until the threat of death had finally left that he realized how close Itachi had been to taking his life; how easily Naruto would have ceased to exist.
Itachi trapped his head between two strong hands but cradled it softly like he thought Naruto would break.
"Naruto…"
The contradicting feelings made his head swim and he didn't want the words Itachi was going to speak, he wanted to show him. That this changed nothing and that he understood- that in the end, Itachi had chosen not to kill him, a fact Naruto could never easily forget. He inched forward quickly, silencing whatever Itachi had been ready to say.
Itachi was tense and unsure while Naruto was desperate and unrelenting. Assuming he knew the cause of Itachi's distress, Naruto whispered carefully against his lips, "Sasuke's safe."
The sign of reprieve left Itachi in a gust of breath, fanning it over Naruto's face, and unintentionally causing a hunger in Naruto like no other. No matter how close he pulled them together, or how hard, how soft he kissed, the hunger only grew.
He vaguely registered the strangled noise Itachi made in the back of his throat as Naruto continued with his attempts to tame the fire burning them both alive, this time drawing out an equally eager reaction as Itachi mapped ever part of his mouth before moving onto his body.
The world was far from perfect.
With every fall, getting up only became that much harder. But, maybe it wouldn't be so bad to have someone there to help him up.
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-.-.-.-.-.-.-
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Kiba sat squatted in front of Sasuke, his face dropped in shock and disgust. Sasuke observed him offhandedly, letting a small smirk slip onto his face,
"Turn if off," Gaara commanded, ripping the small piece from Kiba's ear.
Kiba cried out in pain. "You think I wanted to hear that?"
Sasuke processed the information with resignation, slightly surprised, but not completely against the idea. He disregarded Kiba's shouts of distress, tilting his head to the side as he tried to imagine Itachi kissing anyone.
"I didn't think you had it in you Naruto," he spoke to himself. Really, when he thought about it, the possibility of Naruto and Itachi falling for each other didn't seem so strange. If anyone was ideal for his normally stoic brother, Sasuke would say it was Naruto.
He shook his head to clear his line of thoughts, rounding on Kiba. "Hey dumbass!"
Kiba looked too troubled to recognize that he was being insulted. He looked up with wide, disturbed eyes.
"Stop whining and untie me," Sasuke spoke, his voice held no sympathy for the obviously traumatized person in front of him.
Kiba growled as he became more aware of Sasuke's degrading tone. "Untie yourself!"
"That's impossible moron, or I already would have."
"I ain't a moron."
Sasuke smirked again, raising an eyebrow. "Ain't?"
Kiba's blush only caused Sasuke's amusement to grow, watching the red spread out over Kiba's face.
"I can't help it! It happens when I'm angry."
"What becoming even more of a moron?"
Kakashi interjected swiftly with the color of Kiba's face turning almost purple. He placed a restraining hand on Kiba's shoulder and Sasuke leaned away, afraid his head was about to explode.
"I think you'll fit in just fine."
.
-.-.-.-.-.-.
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A/N: Thanks so much for reading. Review are loved as are all of my readers!