Hey guys. I've been writing a lot more consistently on different accounts and I'm sorry if you've been waiting for a continuation. Naruko will continue onward with her journey when I have the time.

Thank you to you all for reviewing; it is much appreciated since my writing has been really bad with this story.

And sorry, no props. Those days are done with all my accounts...

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We were walking along a trail with me admiring the clouds as I walked next to my dad and also next to Sasuke. He was being moody as always, but I really didn't know why. Something about his face, though… I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but he still looked troubled from a few days ago. We had been searching high and low, yet still no luck… still, no sign of that godfather of mine.

I remembered back to the time a few days ago, when we first left village…

XXX

"Tell me, goddammit-"

I couldn't believe it! My father punched Sasuke in the stomach!

And it looked like he did it hard, too...

That's when daddy looked to Kotetsu and Izumo and shook his head to show everything was under control. They backed off and Itachi soon piggybacked him, the unconscious victim out of the village ahead of us.

"Naruko, forget what you saw here and let me talk to him later. Remember that everything's going to be alright." said my dad, putting one hand on my shoulder and squeezing rather unbearably hard.

"Ow, daddy… you're hurting me! Are you really this upset?" I said grabbing his arm and wincing. He let go.

"Everything will be alright, sweetheart. Don't you worry." dad said as he started to walk down the road. That only made me worry more! That jerk.

Well, he probably didn't mean it.

XXX

I still didn't know about the cryptic 'It will be alright' bullcrap my dad gave me... but heck, if I couldn't tell something was up right now, then call me Shirley. Thank goodness you don't have to do that much! Sigh… why do things have to be so complicated now…?

XXX

It was later in the next town and we had been cooped up in my hotel room. I had the room to myself at least while I was sleeping (no way my dad would trust me with Sasuke with our past). I had been lying on the couch with a tummy ache and wet hair from the shower I took moments before. I was tired of not knowing what was going on, so what did I do about it? I friggin asked even though it might bring crap onto me.

"Sasuke?" I said to him as I looked at the sky outside the window.

"Mmm?" he said irritably from the loaded kitchen as he got a cola from the fridge.

"I was just wondering what the hell was wrong with you back at the village… it's almost scaring me." I said with a nasty scowl.

"Well, you don't understand what it's like!" Sasuke yelled to me as he slammed his cola down on the island countertop in the kitchen.

We both looked at each other silently.

"Well, maybe I know something that could put your mind to rest if you just tell me what the hell is going on!" I said, turning away crossing my arms again uncomfortably.

"You don't deserve to know! I hate you... you ruin everything about my life somehow!" said Sasuke as he shook uncontrollably as he looked down to the ground.

"Well screw you then! I'm worried, okay? If you can't tell me what's wrong, then go to hec-"

"Will you shut up!" said a voice from below. "The love birds apparently don't know when to go to lunch and leave other people the heck alone!"

I was halfway tempted to scream at the idiot smoker below us. Agh… I started to cry silently… I didn't understand what my dad said and it was killing me.

XXX

It was day 7 of our trip, marking the first week around the Land of Fire. My dad was following all the possible leads like a hound, but still no luck. When we were with him one day last week, we stopped outside of a Geisha house that was apparently the finest around. My Godfather must be a pervert and I had no IDEA what my dad was thinking entrusting my head on him. I mean, I am a pretty girl after all! Hmpf… this sucks. Now I'm going insane being with some pervert rest of my life if my daddy can't take care of me. This sucks! Worst part of it was that Sasuke was being a dickhead again...

And he was a big one at that.

"Dammit daddy! How long do we have to walk until I can take a shower?" I said sounding more spoiled than I had intended.

"We have to think outside the box for this next one, sweetheart. I know of a great lakefront that has crystal clear water cascading from a hill's lower summit." said my dad with a smile.

"I have my bathing suit! Great, I'm glad I knew to pack for the summer ahead of time!" I said happily.

"Remember the last time you went to the lake? You were afraid a fish would eat you." said my dad, staring at my smile with his own.

"I ain't afraid of no fish! It's the snakes now that are the worst…" I said as I shivered.

"Just goes to show you how fears come and go, eh, Sasuke-kun?" said Itachi.

"Heh, yeah." said Sasuke as he looked away and to the side of Itachi.

I knew there should have been something in that, but I didn't know what it was. Damn just another thing I can't stand! GAHHH!

And then I remembered something. "Awww! I forgot to bring sunscreen!" I said loudly.

"Well I have some so my neck won't burn when we're walking like this…" said Sasuke matter-o-factly while still being a dick.

What? Isn't he always one?

"Oh, okay. Whatever…" I said with a sulky tone.

"Do you want any or not? You're going to burn in just a bathing suit." said Sasuke.

"What, you don't wanna see my hot bod get hotter? You're not going to like that." I said haughtily. I gave a mocking laugh.

"Grrr…" he growled disdainfully.

"Alright you two, let's just see if we can get a cabin out there first." said Itachi.

XXX

So long~! Farewell~! Until we meet again~!

Brightfame, OUT!