Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto (either manga or anime!); the wonderful Masashi Kishimoto-sensei owns all rights. However, the plot and Namiko Uzumaki are mine!

Chapter 36: The Beginning

They made their way through the mostly abandoned town of Sora-ku and into a hidden tunnel underneath a crumbling storefront. Pipes and wires ran the ceiling above them, but it was dark and musty smelling.

"Sasuke, what is this place you're taking us?" questioned Suigetsu.

"This is a munitions store my clan used to use," explained Sasuke as he led the way through the winding tunnels.

"I only sense two people in this building and a large number of…cats?" She paused for a moment as she scanned the chakra signature more carefully. "Wait. They're not just normal cats. Maybe some ninneko too?"

"You'd be correct!" said a small voice.

The group looked down to see two cats with kanji on their foreheads and wearing clothes. Sasuke's stoic expression softened slightly toward the cats. "Long time no see, Denka, Hina."

The light-colored cat with dark brown markings on its face, tail, and paws spoke up again, "It is you, Sasuke-boy!"

"What can we do for you, mew?" asked the other cat, which was cream-colored with a red yukata.

"We need weapons and medicine, as well as some other supplies," said Sasuke. "We are preparing for battle."

"Who knew? Ninneko." Suigetsu mused as he crouched down to the cats' level. "Here kitty, kitty…" The cat with the dark markings hissed and swiped at his hand, which quickly turned to water and reformed.

Sasuke shook his head. "They're not normal cats. Be respectful or they'll tear you apart."

Namiko rolled her eyes. "Did you miss the 'nin' part of 'ninneko'? They're highly intelligent and skilled, just like ninken."

"I like you," the cream-colored one said to her before turning to Sasuke and asking, "Did you bring us a gift, mew?"

Sasuke pulled a bottle from the seal on his arm guard. "Here, Hina, a bottle of catnip."

Hina leaped and snatched it out of Sasuke's hand. "My favorite, meow meow." She turned and quickly slinked into the shadows.

Denka walked past the four and glanced over his shoulder. "Follow me to Nekobaa."

They followed closely as he led them to a large room where an old woman wearing cat ears sat on the floor smoking a pipe, surrounded by cats. Sasuke immediately strode toward her and knelt on one knee, bowing deeply. "I am grateful, Nekobaa, that you've allowed us to enter."

Namiko tried to keep her surprise off her face at his behavior. He never bowed to anyone. 'He must hold her in very high regard if this is how he acts when he sees her. He definitely didn't act like that with those store clerks when we traveled before.'

"It has been too long since I've seen you. You've grown into such a handsome young man," said Nekobaa as she took a long drag of her pipe. "Who do you have with you?"

Sasuke lifted his head and glanced over each member of his team as he introduced them, "The one playing with the cats is Suigetsu and the tall one is Juugo. And this," he paused as he locked eyes with Namiko who was standing a couple of meters from him, "this is Uzumaki Namiko."

Namiko walked to his side and mimicked his previous behavior. She bowed her head to the floor, staying momentarily before sitting with her legs folded underneath her. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Nekobaa-san."

"You are such a respectful and beautiful young woman. There's no need to be so formal with me, 'Nekobaa' is just fine." A faint smile was on the old woman's lips as she leaned forward to whisper to them both, "Sasuke, your girlfriend is just lovely."

Sasuke remained deadpan but Namiko's cheeks flushed a light pink, immediately turning away to focus on petting an orange cat. Nekobaa chuckled before asking in a louder voice, "So how long are you planning to stay?"

"We just need to get some supplies and clothes, then we'll need to leave," said Sasuke as he watched Namiko move a little bit away to pet more of the cats.

"It's a shame you have to leave so soon," said Nekobaa as she stretched out a roll of supplies in front of Sasuke to check over.

Sasuke perused the supplies. "I know, but I have an important task." A soft noise caught his attention and he turned to see Namiko hiding a yawn behind one hand as she petted a tiny black kitten.

"So, it's true. You're going after Itachi." Sasuke said nothing and just rolled up the supplies. Nekobaa clucked her tongue. "I've known you and Itachi since you were small. I never thought it would come to this. You two are the only remaining Uchiha, yet you try to kill each other." She let out a heavy sigh.

Sasuke placed a stack of money in front of her and stood. "We'll leave as soon as we've gathered everything. Thank you for all that you've done."

Nekobaa took another puff of her pipe. "I wish you weren't going right now. It's going to rain tonight; I can feel it in my bones. Rain is no way to start a mission." His eyes flickered to Namiko who stifled another yawn as she stood.

He breathed out forcefully in surrender. "Are you sure you have room for us to stay?"

"Tamaki," Nekobaa called out and a girl with light brown hair popped up from the trunk she was digging through. "Can you show them to the spare rooms?"

Tamaki nodded. "Of course. I will once I find what I'm looking for, but I can't find anything to fit this big guy."

Nekobaa waved her hand dismissively. "Just wrap him in that curtain." Tamaki's mouth opened to argue but was cut off by Juugo.

"It's alright, this works." Juugo shrugged, ripped the curtain down, and wrapped it around him like a cloak.

Suigetsu gave a toothy grin. "Lookin' sharp there, Juugo. You'll get all the ladies now." Juugo avoided eye contact with anyone and bent down to pet the tabby cat weaving around his legs.

Tamaki stood up and closed the trunk. "This way," she beckoned, leading them through the dimly lit corridors of the old building.

Tamaki opened the door to reveal a small but comfortable space as they reached the spare rooms. "Here's where you'll stay, Namiko. We'll put the rest of you in the room across the hall since it's slightly larger. It's not much, but it should be enough for the night. Feel free to rest and I'll get started on dinner."

Sasuke nodded in appreciation. "Thank you, Tamaki."

Tamaki blushed and began to walk away, but Namiko spoke up. "Would you like some help?"

Before Tamaki could answer, Sasuke cut in, "You need rest, Namiko. You'll need your strength for tomorrow. I'm sure she'll be fine on her own."

"I appreciate you worrying about me, but I want to help." Namiko laid her hand reassuringly on his arm for a brief moment before turning to Tamaki. "If that's okay with you?"

Tamaki smiled brightly. "I'd love the help! We rarely have visitors, so this is a treat." Namiko followed her without hesitation.

Sasuke watched Namiko and Tamaki disappear down the hallway, a hint of concern lingering in his eyes. He sighed, turning to the room they were given. Juugo and Suigetsu were already making themselves comfortable.

Suigetsu flopped onto one of the futons, stretching out lazily. "Relax, boss, she's just tired. Your teammate is fine…fine as hell." He chuckled as he watched Sasuke's jaw tense again.

In the kitchen, Tamaki and Namiko were working together seamlessly. The aroma of cooking filled the air, mingling with the sound of their quiet conversation.

"I'm glad you're here," Tamaki said, stirring a pot on the stove. "It's been a while since we've had company. Nekobaa can be a bit lonely, though she'd never admit it."

Namiko smiled, chopping vegetables with practiced ease. "It's nice to be able to rest somewhere with a roof overhead, even if it's just for one night. And I like getting to finally talk to another girl my age."

As they finished preparing the meal, Tamaki turned to Namiko. "You're welcome here anytime. Both of you."

"Thank you," Namiko said sincerely, "that means a lot."

They carried the food to the dining area, where the others were already waiting, set the dishes down, and settled in for the meal. The conversation flowed freely and was mostly polite except for a few snide remarks from Suigetsu.

Nekobaa also had a mischievous side to her that prompted several of those remarks. "Well, obviously you two," she gestured to Juugo and Suigetsu, "are not from Konoha. Namiko-chan, I take it that you are?"

Namiko nodded as she finished chewing. "Yes, I was born and raised there my whole life."

"Did you go to the academy at the same time as Sasuke?"

"I did. We were in the same class but assigned to different teams. He is on a team with my twin brother."

Suigetsu raised an eyebrow and scoffed, whispering under his breath, "Don't you mean was?" Sasuke shot him a glare and he immediately shut his mouth before changing tactics. "Okay, baa-chan, got any good stories about Sasuke to share?"

Nekobaa took a long, thoughtful drag of her pipe. "Well, Sasuke has always loved animals. I remember his mother, Mikoto, telling me she found a cat hidden in his backpack after they'd visited one time."

Suigetsu burst into laughter. "See? I knew you were soft and squishy inside." Namiko shot him a glare and Suigetsu slowly closed his mouth, this time for the rest of dinner.

After dinner, they all decided it was best to get an early rest before their journey to find Itachi started in the morning. Namiko walked toward the hallway and glanced back at him with a smile before continuing down the hall. Sasuke locked eyes with her for a moment before turning back to the others. "Juugo, Suigetsu, get some rest. We leave at first light."

Juugo gave a silent nod, his large frame moving quietly down the hall. Suigetsu stretched his arms above his head, yawning loudly. "Yeah, yeah, boss. Just wake me up when it's time to go."

As Sasuke turned to follow them, Nekobaa's voice stopped him. "Sasuke," she called softly. He looked back to see her standing at the end of the hall, her expression serious. "Remember, no matter what path you take, there's always a choice. Don't let hatred consume you."

Sasuke's face held his usual stoic demeanor. "Thank you, Nekobaa. I'll keep that in mind."

"One more thing," she called out before lowering her voice for only Sasuke would hear, "Don't you dare let that girl go. She's everything you could ever need and more. She's smart and witty and somehow able to handle your attitude." A bittersweet smile crossed her face. "She would be an excellent Uchiha matriarch. Your parents would have loved her, especially your mother."

The corner of his lips turned up slightly. "I don't plan on ever letting her go. She's my life."

With that, he made his way to the shared room, the weight of his mission pressing down on him. The sound of distant thunder rumbled outside, and as the first drops of rain began to fall, Sasuke couldn't shake the feeling that tonight was the calm before the storm, so he decided to take advantage of it.

Sasuke waited until he was certain Suigetsu and Juugo were asleep before slipping out of his room and making his way to Namiko's door and stood in front of it, debating if he should knock. But before he could, the door opened. Namiko stood there, peering around the edge, hiding her body behind the door. "Is everything okay?"

"I just wanted to see you. Did I wake you?"

Namiko shook her head as she opened the door wider. "I couldn't sleep, so I was drawing. Come in."

The room was dimly lit by a small side lamp next to a futon. He stepped inside and she quietly closed the door. Sasuke turned around at the sound and his eyes widened at the sight before him.

Namiko still had her back facing him as she locked the door, her hair was loose and swishing with every move she made. She was wearing an oversized black shirt that barely covered her butt, allowing him to see the white underwear she had on underneath as she bent down to put her notebook back inside her backpack. Her hair shifted to the side and his mouth went dry at the sight before him: the Uchiha crest emblazoned across the back of her shirt.

He finally collected his thoughts and cleared his throat before speaking, "Where did you get the shirt?"

Namiko looked over her shoulder at him. "Tamaki gave it to me to use as a nightshirt after my bath. I guess it's no surprise that most of the clothes here have the Uchiha crest on them." A seductive smirk played on her lips as she walked over to him, tugging on the bottom of the shirt. "I may just decide to keep this when we leave."

"You should," he said as he grabbed her hip and pulled her toward him. "It suits you all too well." He swept her hair away from her face and kissed down her neck slowly. "Maybe one day I can make that your permanent clan crest."

Namiko let out a small laugh as she laid her hand on his cheek affectionately and moved his head up so she could stare into his dark eyes. "Are you trying to propose to me?"

"Not officially." He pulled her flush against his chest, one hand at her waist as the other still rested on her hip. "More like I'm stating my intent to make that happen when we're older."

He kissed her forehead dotingly before his eyes grew serious. "Though you need to remember that I'm not a prince. We'll never have a fairy-tale love story like the ones you read in your story books."

"I know that, but I'm not a princess either. I'm more like part dragon, or demon fox, if you want to look at it that way," she replied with a playful smile. "I'm a kunoichi, and I don't break easily."

"I'm quite aware of that. You remind me often enough." He rolled his eyes and pressed another kiss to her lips before his expression slid back into seriousness. "Namiko, you are the only woman I have ever truly loved and the only one I ever will. Before you, I wasn't worried about coming back alive from my battle with Itachi. Now, I'd fight like hell to stay with you. If anyone were to take you from me, I would set the world on fire to get you back. I will always come to your rescue."

"I know you would. Just like I would for you." She paused, a look of concern painting her face as she bit her lip nervously. "But honestly, I'm worried about your fight with Itachi. I know you're strong enough to take him on and win, but do you really think defeating him is going to solve your problems? It's not going to bring your family back…"

"But he's hunting you now too. The Akatsuki sent him three years ago because the Mangekyo Sharingan was said to control the kyuubi which made him the perfect person to gather you and Naruto." He took a deep breath and looked deep into her blue-violet eyes. "Namiko, you are my family now. I'm not going to allow my so-called brother to take you from me. Ever."

Her thumb stroked his jaw rhythmically. "He can't exactly take me when I can disappear in the blink of an eye. Remember, I've trained with two Sharingan users, you and Kakashi-sensei, so I know how to avoid the Sharingan. Itachi can't hurt me." She kissed him tenderly and whispered against his lips, "No one and nothing can keep me from you. I'm yours. Forever."

"Hn," Sasuke smirked. "Mine. I love hearing you say that."

His lips captured hers in a deep, passionate kiss. Namiko responded eagerly, her arms wrapping around his neck as she pressed her chest against him. The kiss grew more urgent, their breaths mingling as they lost themselves in each other.

Both of his hands moved to her hips and Namiko could feel the heat and desire radiating from his body. She tugged at his shirt collar, and he shrugged it off his shoulders letting it hang loosely tucked into his pants, never once breaking their kiss. Sasuke's hands slid under her shirt and she gasped into the kiss softly, arching into him as his fingers trailed down her back. He smirked and firmly grasped her butt, pulling her hips to his so she could feel the extent of his desire.

They broke apart briefly, both of them breathing heavily. Sasuke's Sharingan unconsciously swirled to the surface. "Do you want to keep going?" he asked, his voice strained.

For a moment, they stared at each other, their eyes dark with desire. Namiko shivered under his touch, her fingers tracing the muscles of his chest and stomach, exploring the familiar yet thrilling territory. "I want you." She kissed him reassuringly. "Who knows when we'll be alone like this again? I want to enjoy my time with you while we can."

That was all the confirmation Sasuke needed. He kissed her again, more fiercely this time, his hands working quickly to remove her underwear. Namiko responded in kind, her fingers deftly unfastening his belt and tugging his shirt off. He helped her remove his pants and underwear, but he stopped her from removing her oversized shirt. His eyes grazed over her body from head to toe. "I like seeing you in the Uchiha crest. Keep it on."

Sasuke guided her to the futon, laying her down gently. He kissed her deeply, his hands exploring her body with a mix of reverence and urgency. Namiko moaned softly, her own hands tracing the lines of his muscles, feeling his strength and warmth.

Their movements became more frantic, driven by their shared desire. Sasuke's kisses trailed down her jaw and neck, his hands sliding over her slight curves, eliciting soft gasps and moans from Namiko. She pulled him closer, her nails grazing his back, urging him on.

"Sasuke," she whispered, her voice filled with need, almost a desperate whine. "Please?"

Sasuke smirked and kissed her lips slowly. "You're so impatient."

When Sasuke finally entered her, it was slow and deliberate, a moment of pure connection that left them both gasping. They moved together, their bodies finding a rhythm that spoke of deep intimacy and promises for the future. The world outside ceased to exist, leaving only the two of them, lost in each other.

He quickened his pace, their breathing becoming more erratic as they climbed higher, driven by a need that went beyond the physical. Namiko's nails raked across Sasuke's back, her head thrown back in ecstasy while she bit her lip to try and stay quiet. He opted to bury his face in her neck, his breath hot against her skin as he whispered her name.

They reached their peak together, a shattering release that left them both trembling and breathless. Sasuke collapsed beside Namiko, pulling her into his arms, their bodies still entwined. They lay there in the aftermath, their hearts pounding, their breaths slowly returning to normal.

"I love you," Namiko whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

Sasuke tightened his hold on her, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I love you too," he replied, his voice soft but steady.

"Stay with me tonight?" she asked sleepily.

He nodded against the top of her head. "Just promise me you'll wake me if you sense anyone else is awake. The last thing I need is Suigetsu getting wind of this."

"I will."

They stayed like that, wrapped in each other's arms, until sleep claimed them. For that night, at least, they were free from the worries and dangers that awaited them as they listened to the rain pouring outside. In the safety of each other's embrace, they found a peace that was all too rare in their lives.

Rain poured as they stood at the gate. Naruto had been the first one there, over an hour before the mission launch, but he was beyond ready to get Namiko and Sasuke back home where they belonged. Sakura had arrived about a half hour early, and Kiba and Hinata had shown up right after.

Hinata had the hood of her cloak pulled up over her head, but her smile shone brightly when she made eye contact with Naruto. She jogged up to him. "Hi, Naruto-kun!"

Naruto beamed back at her. "Hey, Hinata!" He placed a hand on her shoulder and absentmindedly ran his thumb over the curve. "I'm really glad you're going to be there with me on this mission. I know you can't wait to see Namiko either." He suddenly realized his hand's movements and stopped them, beginning to pat her shoulder awkwardly instead. "We'll get them back, Hinata, I promise!"

A person approached with their face mostly obscured by a covering over their mouth and a hood over their head. All Naruto could see was dark sunglasses. "Who are you?"

"This is Aburame Shino. He was in class with us at the academy," said Kiba. "Do you not remember him?"

Naruto shook his head. "Nope, not at all. You weren't in the chuunin exams, were you?"

Shino nodded. "I was in the same first chuunin exams as the rest of you, but my team was eliminated in the Forest of Death."

"Oh, that makes sense why I wouldn't remember you then."

"Hey, wait, Naruto, you never passed the chuunin exams, did you?" Kiba smiled mischievously. "That means you're still a genin."

"That's one of the reasons I decided to see you all off," said Tsunade as she and Jiraiya walked up with Kakashi, Yamato, and Sai close behind. She smiled proudly at the blond. "Naruto, before you leave, I want to give you the official title of Chuunin. You showed restraint in your fight with Kakazu and were able to leave him alive long enough for Kakashi to try and get information out of him."

"Restraining an enemy takes a lot more skill and intelligence than killing him does," explained Jiraiya, "and with the teams here, you should have no problem completing the mission. Congratulations, Naruto."

Congratulations erupted and Naruto couldn't help but stare at Hinata who looked like she was about to burst with pride. Tsunade held up her hands to quiet them. "I know you all will succeed in your mission. I can't think of better teams for something like this."

"Thank you, Godaime. I believe we're ready to set out now." Kakashi sighed heavily. "Though what terrible weather for a mission launch."

"Alright people let's do this!" shouted Naruto, full of determination.

Kiba snickered. "I think the rain is appropriate for cooling down those who are a bit too fired up."

"Alright, let's make it official." Tsunade stretched out her hand. "I hereby authorize the mission to locate and detain Uchiha Itachi, and recover Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Namiko." She smiled at the teams. "All of you be careful, but make sure you complete the mission."

"You got it, baa-chan! Now let the mission begin!" shouted Naruto as he started running with everyone else following closely behind.

It was still dark outside when Namiko opened her eyes. She lifted her head and leaned on her arm that was under Sasuke's. She lay there for a moment, watching his serene face. 'I don't think I've seen him this relaxed in all the time we've been together.'

She brushed a piece of hair from his eyes and Sasuke stirred, his eyes opening to find Namiko watching him. "Morning," he whispered, his voice still husky with sleep.

"Morning," Namiko replied, leaning up to place a tender kiss on his lips, her eyes sliding closed as she relished feeling the gentle caress of Sasuke's hand on her back, just under the Uchiha crest on her shirt. She opened her eyes to find him gazing at her, a rare, tender smile on his lips. She reached up, brushing another strand of hair from his face as she giggled. "You're starting to get bangs."

She shifted her weight but didn't get up. "We need to get ready. Juugo is stirring and I'm sure if it wasn't for the fact that Suigetsu is so hard to wake up, Juugo would've woken him with his burly frame and Suigetsu would be knocking on my door to see if you were in here."

"Hn." Sasuke didn't say anything else, he just kept his arm around her waist, gently stroking her back. And for a few precious moments, they lay there, wrapped in each other's warmth and the quiet intimacy of the morning. But reality soon intruded, and Sasuke knew they couldn't stay hidden away forever.

"We should get moving," he said reluctantly, his hand pausing on her back.

Namiko nodded, understanding but not wanting to let go just yet. "I know," she said, slowly sitting up and reaching for her clothes. "But I wish we could stay like this a little longer."

Sasuke sat up as well, pulling on his clothes with practiced efficiency. "We'll have more time after this is over," he promised. "Once we're finished with all of this, we'll go back to Konoha." He hesitated before adding, "But we probably should keep our relationship quiet there as well. For a while at least."

Namiko turned quickly, her long red hair swishing with force. "Why on earth would we do that?!" she hissed and she quickly twisted her hair into a bun. She could sense Suigetsu was awake now, probably thanks to Juugo, but she wanted answers and wanted them now.

"Because I'm a rogue shinobi and have been for three years," groaned Sasuke. "People will talk and I don't want to tarnish your good reputation."

"Good reputation? People already talk about me! In case you've forgotten, I have a demon living inside my mind that's made me a pariah my whole life." She laughed incredulously. "I rarely listen to Tsunade-sama. I killed a man against orders and got put on suspension." She paused briefly, lowering her voice, "Plus, I left to find you against orders not once, but twice. How is that a good reputation?"

"I told you before that you shouldn't have come back after me."

"If I hadn't, would you have returned?" She leaned over to grab her backpack and crossed her arms over her chest.

Sasuke refused to meet her eyes. "No."

She expected that answer but it still knocked the wind out of her chest. "And that's exactly why I came back." She grabbed his hand, forcing him to turn and face her. "This is what you do when you love someone. Sometimes you break all the rules to be with them. I wouldn't trade a minute of the last six months if it meant I'd have a 'good' reputation." She pursed her lips before cracking a smile. "I take that back. Maybe except any time I was in the same room as Orochimaru."

Sasuke shook his head in amusement. As they prepared to leave the room, Sasuke pulled Namiko into one last embrace, his lips finding hers in a brief but passionate kiss.

"Stay close to me," he murmured against her lips. "I won't let anything happen to you."

"I know." As he turned to leave, she kept hold of his hand and she looked at him guiltily. "By the way, Suigetsu and Juugo are both awake and in the main area. Sorry…"

Sasuke sighed and Namiko let go of his hand and they left the room and went down the narrow hallway. As they approached the common area, they found Suigetsu and Juugo gathered amongst the cats in the main room, discussing the day's plans in low voices.

Suigetsu glanced up as Sasuke and Namiko entered. "About time you two showed up," he remarked, his tone light but curious. "We were starting to think you had disappeared. What were you two doing?"

"Nothing!" she said too quickly, causing Suigetsu to give her a skeptical look. "Just…discussing the plan to find Itachi with my chakra sensing." Namiko tried to force her blush to stay below the surface and failed miserably. 'Please tell me he doesn't know…we were careful and quiet! I would've sensed anyone if they woke up last night, right? He's just making assumptions to mess with us.'

Sasuke gave a curt nod, his expression impassive. "We're ready. Let's move out."

As they ventured away from the city and into the forest, leaping through the trees, the atmosphere grew heavier, the weight of their mission pressing down on them. They moved with purpose, each step bringing them closer to their goal of finding Uchiha Itachi.

Namiko's mind began to wander as she constantly scanned their surroundings. 'I truly don't want to hide my relationship with him once we reach Konoha, but I also don't want to tell Naruto that I'm with his best friend. He's too overprotective, but then, so is Sasuke. Why can't relationships be easy?' She mentally groaned before giving an audible sigh. 'But if they were easy, you'd never grow together. We've both already grown so much over the last six months. I wonder what is in store for the future?'

The memory of last night together kept replaying in her mind. While the sex was great, it was the words he said and the promises he made that gave her hope and sent a thrill of excitement down her spine. The promise of a future with Sasuke was in her grasp. The beginning of a new life with him, and she knew they would do anything and everything to protect it.

He just had to defeat Itachi first.

A/N: Is it hot in here or was it just them? I decided to write their night together but let you use some imagination to fill in some of the juicy details instead of the fade to black. I hope you all liked it! (I'd love to hear which you prefer: fade to black or imagination details.)
Updates may get a little choppy for the next few weeks as my family is about to move, so make sure you check out my Twitter (_Eriisu_) for notifications in case of delay. Thanks for reading and I'll see you next chapter!
Love, Eriisu

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