Archive of Our Own ^beta

Lanterns glowed softly in the moonlight, and cries of joy echoed through the streets as all the citizens of Konoha celebrated their freedom from the Kyuubi. Children ran in groups, laughing happily and admiring all the merchandise that was up for sale during the festival. Adults swayed drunkenly, slurring their words as they recounted the events from five years prior, and cheered for their prosperity.

Not everyone shared this celebratory mood though, for some were still stewing in their grief and misery. They had lost their families, their homes, and their love for life, and only had room for hate in their hearts. This time of year was tough for them, but there was no one who suffered more than Naruto Uzumaki. The innocent orphan boy, who had yet to experience kindness, or affection; for all that the villagers saw when they looked at him was a monster.

They pulled at his red hair, red like the fox’s they said, and slapped his cheeks where three little whisker marks sat. They called him a demon, worthless and evil, and spit on him in the streets. Some days it wasn’t so terrible, and Naruto could walk around town without being harmed; but most of the time he couldn’t make it around the block without receiving harsh words and rough hands. For this reason, he preferred to stay inside, especially during the Kyuubi festival. He might be alone, but he was safe, and he would take safety over company any day.

Today was different though, he had finally received his monthly stipend from the Hokage and was excited to buy some food; he had consumed nothing but water the last couple of days, and was barely standing as it was.

Over time he had learned to disguise himself when he went out, to prevent any unwanted interactions or harm that may befall him. So he slipped through the crowd, his face and hair covered and protected by a long hooded cloak, and no one looked at him. No one cared, and he was able to buy all of his groceries with no issue. His lips curled up in a small smile as he walked back through the crowd, a bounce in his step as he daydreamed about all the food he could make now.

He had been looking up to the sky, his eyes twinkling in awe as he admired its beauty, when something barreled straight into him and knocked him over. He hit the ground hard and gasped as his breath was taken from him, yet he still managed to hold on to his grocery bag. The sound of crying reached his ears, and Naruto looked over with wide eyes at a child that screamed for its mother. He assumed that was what had crashed into him and quickly scrambled to his feet, saying a brief ‘I’m sorry’ and beginning to make his way through the crowd of people; that he now realized were all staring at him.

He tried to pull his hood up again, but froze when a hand reached out and grabbed hold of it first. Naruto yelped, and began to struggle when he was lifted off the ground by the hand, his bag of groceries dropped and forgotten by now.

“What do you think you’re doing, demon brat? Pushing a child over and running away like a coward?” The man twisted his hand around Naruto’s hood, beginning to choke the boy with the fabric, and grinned when he tried to scream for help. A few in the crowd laughed at the boy's cries, feeling some sick sense of justice from seeing him beg for mercy.

Then, the man led a group of villagers towards a lone alleyway, no one stopping them along the way, where he threw Naruto at the wall. A pained cry echoed in the dark street as Naruto crashed to the ground and curled in around himself, hoping that it would protect him, if only a little.

The lead villager cracked his knuckles and spit on the boy, who only curled up tighter in fear. Annoyed by the lack of response, the man ran forward and drove his foot into Naruto's side, grinning madly when he received an agonized scream in return. The kick had propelled Naruto head first back into the wall, which left him dazed and unable to move. This angered the villagers, as they had wanted to see more reactions from the boy.

“Oh no no no, you’re not going to fall asleep on us now little fox. We’re not done with you yet.” The man held out his hand, a dangerous glint appearing in his eye when one of the other men placed a kunai in it.

He took slow, deliberate steps towards the motionless child, and rolled him on his back once reaching him. He lifted up Naruto’s shirt, and dragged his kunai across the supple skin; laughing when a pained shriek was torn out of the boy. He put a hand on Naruto’s neck, and pushed down hard when he tried to thrash about.

“Stay down, or I’ll spill your guts right here and leave you to rot!” Wide violet eyes stared at him in horror, and Naruto began to whimper in fear.

The other villagers however, cheered the man on in hopes that he might actually see it through. The lead villager chuckled, and drew the kunai across the boy's skin again, ignoring the feeble cries and starting to carve letters onto his human canvas. When he was done he sat back and admired his handiwork; his eyes focusing on the word ‘demon’, written in the boy's blood.

Tears streamed down Naruto’s face as he tried to stay quiet, hoping that this would be it and he could just go home. Shocked gasps were heard from the crowd though as the boy's wounds began to steam, the skin already stitching itself back together. The lead villager growled and pointed at Naruto accusingly.

“See! You are a demon, and you dare walk around as if you’re one of us? After everything you’ve taken from us?!” He brought the kunai down once more, though this time he went deeper.

Naruto couldn’t help the terrified shriek that was pulled out of him when the man began cutting him up once more; as this was the worst thing that anyone had ever done to him. Words, beatings, glares, he could take all of that; but not this. It was like burning electricity, overwhelming his mind with pain, to the point where he could focus on nothing else. It was the most intense sensation he’d ever felt, and he could feel his mind unraveling from the sheer panic that coursed through his veins.

His skin took a little longer to heal this time, but still the villager was not satisfied; he wanted the suffering to last, he wanted to see the boy bleed out. On and on he kept cutting, carving the word ‘demon’ until it was too deep to heal. By now only the most twisted, sickest individuals were still around to witness his actions; and they all watched with joyful smiles, and bated breath as the boy's breathing began to slow.

The man dropped the kunai and stood, feeling content with the results of his actions, and kicked the boy one last time before exiting the alleyway. The small crowd followed him, all of them laughing and feeling lighter than air at the thought of the demon brat finally dying. Meanwhile, Naruto was barely holding on to his consciousness as the searing pain reaped his fragile mind and body. He wondered if this was where he would die, alone in a dark, cold alleyway, no one to miss him, or mourn him. A tear slipped down his cheek and he closed his eyes, feeling cold, sleepy, and far too exhausted to care anymore.

The sounds of cheer began to fade away and a sense of calm washed over the boy, a small smile gracing his features as he gave in to the temptation of sleep. Right before reality completely faded away though, he felt strong hands slip under his body and lift him up. Two black eyes, swimming with grief and horror, stared at the frail boy in his arms. To think that anyone, let alone his own people, could treat a child like this was absolutely disgusting. He cradled the tiny body close and hopped to the rooftops, his body flickering across them while he raced towards the hospital in panic.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had been Hokage for far too long, and he was exhausted.

Everyday he thought of what life for everyone would have been like if the fourth was still with them; how peaceful their village could truly have been. Hiruzen knew he was past his prime, far past it, and he knew that changes needed to be made to the village; but he hadn’t realized how far they had all fallen. How low the villagers were willing to stoop in the name of hatred. And, how deeply he had failed the only son of his successor, as well as the jinchuriki of their village.

Shisui Uchiha had done them all an amazing service by rescuing the boy, no matter how late he had been, and Hiruzen had found himself in debt to him. Without him Naruto certainly wouldn’t be alive today, and they would have more than one problem on their hands regarding the child. Not only would they lose their jinchuriki, as well as one of the few remaining Uzumaki, but Hiruzen could name a few shinobi that would be outraged upon hearing the news of the boy's death.

A masked shinobi appeared at the man's side when he activated his ANBU seal, and the withered man looked up at them with tired eyes.

“Fetch Shisui Uchiha for me, Panther.” The ANBU bowed in understanding and vanished moments later.

Hiruzen waited patiently, filling and lighting his pipe while he waited. His patience turned to confusion though, when Panther appeared once more instead of Shisui.

“Sir, Shisui has declined to come. He is located at the hospital, in the room of Naruto Uzumaki.” Hiruzen sighed and rubbed at his forehead in distress, waving Panther away seconds later.

His bones creaked as he stood from his chair and stretched lightly, a few satisfying pops echoing around the room as he did.

“Well, I suppose a walk through the village during this fleeting, nice weather would be beneficial.” The old Kage made his way towards the hospital, taking his time to appreciate the warm breeze that swept through the area.

He smiled at everyone who greeted him along the way, and arrived in Naruto’s room shortly after.

Shisui was perched at the edge of his chair, watching the young boy while he slept fitfully. Hoarse cries gurgled at the back of Naruto’s throat and he curled up in a ball when the Hokage entered, his body shaking in fear. Shisui turned his attention towards the aged man, and Hiruzen’s eyes widened as he met the boy's fierce stare. His dark eyes were burning with anger, and his frown deepened when the older man moved closer.

Hiruzen raised an eyebrow at the Uchiha and sat at the edge of Naruto’s bed, reaching out a hand to brush the boy's bangs away from his face. Naruto flinched away, but didn’t wake up, and Hiruzen felt his heart clench painfully at the sight. He looked back to Shisui and sighed when he saw how much the boy's expression had darkened.

“Why were you unwilling to come to the tower?” Irritated onyx eyes bore into his own, and Hiruzen looked at him sternly.

“I understand your anger, but to disobey a direct order from your Hokage is a punishable offense.” Shisui tsk’d and crossed his arms, appearing much like a petulant child which surprised the older man.

While Shisui was one of the more open and good natured Uchiha, he was also fiercely loyal and rationally minded. To see him display such blatant disrespect and disregard for his Hokage was concerning.

“Forgive me Hokage-sama, but I cannot believe that you’ve let this happen to him. That boy has done nothing, and they were willing to let him die in the streets like a criminal. Where was his ANBU guard?” The old Kage said nothing and lit up his pipe, standing to open the window as he did.

“I cannot answer that, they have failed him, as have I. There is no excuse.” Shisui scoffed and ran his fingers through his hair.

“So what will you do now? How will you protect him in the future?” Hiruzen looked at Naruto, the lines on his face deepening as he frowned.

“I could assign more shinobi to guard him, but I fear the results will be the same.” Shisui nodded in agreement, his lips pressed into a thin line while he thought.

They were both silent for a while, both lost in their worry for the boy, and minutes had passed before Shisui was able to come up with a solution. He stood abruptly and bowed to his Kage, trying his best to get on the man’s good side before he opened his mouth.

“Sir, please let me take care of him.” Hiruzen's eyes widened briefly, as he wasn’t expecting such a proposition, but quickly shut it down.

“You know I can’t do that, he can’t be affiliated with any of the clans. It will cause too much unrest among the citizens and shinobi; and tensions are already high, especially with your clan.” Hiruzen gave Shisui a pointed look, hoping that the boy would let it go.

Unfortunately for him though, Shisui had found a solution, and he wasn’t willing to back down when it came to the boy's safety any more.

“He will not be affiliated with the clan, I live alone and away from everyone else. My clansmen aren’t particularly enthused about his existence either, considering the circumstances, so it will just be him and I.” Hiruzen shook his head, knowing the uproar that this would cause with the council.

“Shisui, this just isn’t possible. Things are like this for a reason, we can’t change what has already happened. The tension that this would cause is too much for the village to handle.” Shisui felt the last of his composure snap, and before he knew it, he found himself shouting at his Hokage.

“And what about Naruto?! You don’t think that this-“ Shisui pointed at the blood that stained parts of the boy's visible bandages.

“-is too much for him?! Is he supposed to sit back and accept this for the rest of his life? Pretend like he’s worth anything more than trash to these people? No, I won’t accept this. If you won’t fight for him, then I will.” Shisui’s sharingan had activated in his anger, and his voice was shaking from the emotions that coursed through him.

Despite this though, he remained firm and didn’t let his gaze waver; he was determined to get his way, just this once. After all, this wasn’t just about him, this was about Naruto; the boy's life, happiness, and sanity were on the line, and Shisui would not watch as the village tore him apart.

Hiruzen said nothing, only stared into Shisui’s determined eyes while wondering if it would be more effort to deny, than indulge him. Shisui seemed to become emboldened by his silence, and let something slip from his mouth that was better left unsaid.

“If I need to, I’ll make you change your mind.” He bit his lip, immediately realizing that what he spoke of was treason, but he couldn’t and wouldn’t take his words back.

Hiruzen scoffed and looked at the boy with disbelieving eyes, almost questioning what he had heard.

“Is that so?” Shisui took a deep breath and nodded.

“Yes. Putting my feelings aside, he is a huge asset to the village; raising him to be abused like this will surely cause him to defect and become a rogue nin in the future. That should provide more motivation to treasure him than anything else. Also, I’m a possessor of Sharingan, if need be I can subdue him should anything occur.” This, Hiruzen could not deny. Shisui had made many valid points, most of which had been dismissed years ago when they had first discussed what to do with Naruto.

While he knew it would be difficult, Hiruzen would rather work with Shisui on this, than against him. As much as he didn’t like his authority being questioned, he figured that it was about time for someone to step up and take care of the child. He would rather fight for Naruto’s happiness, than for his misery. So, he willed away the headache that began to bloom at his temples and decided to acquiesce to Shisui’s demands.

“Alright, I will bring this matter to the council and advocate for you both. Until the council and I have reached a decision though, you’re not to go anywhere near him. We don’t need any suspicion to grow among the other clans. Is this acceptable to you?” Hiruzen raised his brow again, giving the boy a dry look when he put a finger to his lip, and pretended to think about it.

Shisui grinned, his previous gloomy mood having been replaced by his normally sunny, and cheerful disposition.

“Yes sir, I appreciate your help.” He bowed deeply in thanks, trying to show how grateful he was despite his teasing tone.

Hiruzen’s expression softened and he patted the boy on the shoulder.

“Take care, once he is deemed fit to leave you can drop him off at home. But be discreet, and keep witnesses to a minimum. I’ll be in touch.” The Hokage vanished from the room, leaving Shisui alone with a still unconscious Naruto.

The older boy watched in interest as Naruto seemed to relax again, and he hummed in thought, wondering if it was a coincidence or if the boy could sense other presences, even in his sleep. Shisui smiled, small but genuine, and leaned back in his chair so he could get a light nap. He was excited for all the possibilities that lay not only in his, but Naruto’s future as well.

Hiruzen had kept his promise, he met with the council immediately and pleaded Naruto’s case. He was met with much resistance, but for once his position as Hokage had served him well and he overrode all the opposing votes. He had the support of the majority of the council, which was all he had needed to drive his point home.

Naruto would be put under the guardianship of Shisui Uchiha, effective immediately.

Shisui had been overjoyed to hear the news, and had spent countless hours deep cleaning his home and setting up Naruto’s room.

He felt like a new parent, fussing about and fretting over the smallest things. He just wanted Naruto to be comfortable and happy; he wanted him to feel safe and like he always had a place to come home to, and someone that cared. He couldn’t imagine how scared and lonely the boy must’ve felt, laying there in the alley waiting for death to take him. It made his chest ache painfully, and he vowed to make sure that Naruto never felt that way again. He wouldn’t allow it.

His anticipation turned to nervousness though as he neared the boys apartment. He was worried that Naruto wouldn’t take well to him and would be too scared to leave. After all, he was a complete stranger that would be waltzing into Naruto’s home to tell him that he’s being taken away. Shisui cringed at the thought, knowing that he wouldn’t have appreciated that much either. But he didn’t know how else to go about this, he would try his best to be gentle and kind, but the truth was that he was taking Naruto away. Away from the only sanctuary of solitude that the boy had.

Shisui shook away those thoughts though, and decided to be optimistic. Even if Naruto reacted harshly, they had plenty of time to build a bond; Shisui just had to be patient. He arrived outside the boys’ door, and knocked on it lightly; not expecting it to open a second later, revealing a bright eyed child that stared at him excitedly. Shisui stood quietly in surprise, not expecting such a positive reaction, and waved awkwardly.

“Hello, my name is Shisui.” Naruto smiled, wide and cheerful, and wrapped his arms around the older boy without hesitation.

Shisui froze up for a few moments, his mind not understanding Naruto’s sudden affection for him, before ruffling his hair gently. Naruto beamed at him and spoke in a soft, hesitant voice.

“Why you here, Shishi?” The Uchiha felt his heart melt at the innocent tone, and smiled down at the boy.

“I came to ask you something, do you mind if I come in?” Naruto nodded enthusiastically, and pulled Shisui in by his hand.

The older boy looked around with a sad expression, noticing how cluttered yet empty the room was, and looked back to Naruto who was gazing at him with stars in his eyes. The boy had practically nothing, yet he still managed to smile for a stranger like Shisui. It was incredibly heartwarming, and the Uchiha wondered, absentmindedly, what he had done to earn Naruto’s trust.

He got down on one knee, and held Naruto’s hands in his, smiling at him softly.

“Would you like to come live with me, Naruto? I want to take care of you and give you a home, so if you want to you can come with me.” Naruto’s lips parted in shock and he went silent for a minute, not quite believing what he was hearing.

He squeezed Shisui’s hands and began to tear up, not knowing how to react or respond to the question; and Shisui waited patiently, a kind smile pulling at his lips. Eventually, Naruto wiped his tears and nodded at the older boy, who grinned at him and pulled him close. Naruto relaxed into his hold and closed his eyes, feeling happier than he ever had in that moment. After that, Shisui helped the boy gather his meager possessions into a storage scroll, and guided him towards his home.

They walked hand in hand through the streets, Naruto sticking close to Shisui when the villagers began to whisper about him and send scathing glares his way. Shisui protected him though and flashed his sharingan at the villagers, laughing smugly when they cringed away in fear. Naruto watched in interest as the Uchiha interacted with the crowd, never having been around someone that defended him like this, and noticed that it made him feel safe, and kind of…happy. He squeezed Shisui’s hand, and beamed when the older man met his gaze with a reassuring smile.

They made it to Shisui’s home shortly after, where Naruto stood in the doorway looking unsure of himself. He fiddled with his hands, looking anywhere but at Shisui when he noticed the man was staring. The Uchiha sighed and crouched down again, forcing their eyes to lock.

“This is your home now, it’s okay to be here and I promise you’re safe. It’s just you and me, okay?” Naruto nodded, sniffling a bit as he fought back more tears.

Shisui tousled his hair, and gestured for the boy to follow him as he began walking down the hallway. Naruto trailed after him, a curious expression pulling at his features as the older boy led him towards a room in the back. He switched on the light and Naruto gasped when he saw the room; it was about the size of his entire apartment, and was furnished with a large bed, a desk, a dresser, a small couch and table, and a closet that was already filled with new clothes.

Shisui had wanted Naruto to feel like he had everything he needed in his own room; if the boy wanted to be alone then Shisui would rather he be comfortable doing it. That said, he also bought books, basic academy scrolls, art supplies, and a few stuffed animals that he figured Naruto would like. He worried that he might’ve gone overboard, but after seeing the boys awed grin, he decided that he had done well. Shisui patted himself on the back and watched as Naruto began to explore his new room, tentatively running his fingers over everything, as if it might vanish at any moment.

The boy stopped in front of the stuffed animals and picked up a little orange fox. He looked at it for a while, seeming conflicted, before he pulled it close to his chest and hugged it tight. Silent tears streamed down his face but he didn’t let himself cry out, at least not until Shisui began to rub circles in his back comfortingly. A choked sob escaped him, and for a moment he felt embarrassed, but then Shisui assured him that it was okay. He was safe to cry; and he did. He let it all out, knowing that he finally had someone that would be there for him, care for him, maybe even love him.

Shisui gathered the boy in his lap and wrapped his arms around him, sighing in relief when Naruto clung on to him and stopped crying. If physical reassurance is what he needed, then Shisui could provide it; after all, there was a damaged child inside him that craved it as well. And, as sad as it was to see the boy like this, Shisui couldn’t help but feel glad that he was able to be with him during this time. If he was going to fall, he should at least have someone to catch him; and from now on, Shisui would always be there to catch him.

That night, Shisui ran a bath for Naruto and went to leave the bathroom, but was stopped by a tiny hand pulling at his sleeve.

Glassy, violet eyes stared up at him, pleading for help as Naruto patted the bandages that sat over his still healing wounds. Shisui’s eyes softened and he nodded, crouching down immediately to help the boy remove them. The wounds were nearly healed, but were still raw enough that they needed to be cleaned, and Shisui had to bite down the frustrated growl that threatened to escape him. Even for a jinchuriki, they had managed to wound him deep enough that it would leave a scar; a hateful, ugly scar that would probably haunt the boy for the rest of his life. The lines were jagged and thick, that began right below his belly button, and went all the way up to the middle of his chest.

Shisui began to clean the wound, his heart aching as he caught sight of Naruto’s distraught expression. His eyes were screwed up and his head was turned to the side, like he couldn’t bear the idea of looking at it. With the way it was healing, Shisui wouldn’t be surprised if Naruto hadn’t touched it at all since being discharged from the hospital. And the Uchiha wasn’t able to give him any instructions when he took him home, as the boy had still been asleep.

Once he finished cleaning the wound, he looked Naruto in the eye and tried to be as gentle with his explanation as possible.

“Naruto, it’s important for you to clean your wounds or else it’ll take longer to heal. And it will hurt more. You heal faster than most people, but you’re not invincible, don’t forget that. I’ll help you with this now, but in the future you’ll need to learn how to take care of them yourself; because I won’t always be here. Okay?” Naruto nodded, soaking up Shisui’s advice and gaining an expression of determination.

“Okay, Shishi.” Shisui smiled and ruffled the boy's hair.

“Good, now take your bath. I’ll be outside if you need anything, okay?” Naruto gave him a thumbs up, and Shisui left as the boy stripped himself of the rest of his clothes.

Later that night, Naruto snuggled up under his new, fluffy covers and sighed in contentment; feeling more relaxed than he had in his entire life. It all felt like a dream to him, a beautiful dream that he hoped he would never have to wake up from.

He sent out a silent prayer of thanks to Shisui, unable to express how grateful he was for the man's kindness, and let his eyelids finally close.

For the first time in a long time Naruto slept soundly, not stirring once the entire night.

The next morning Naruto woke up feeling refreshed and clear headed, a smile tugging at his lips when he noticed that he had woken up in the same room. Part of him had been sure that it was all a fantasy, one that he had conjured up in a moment of desperation. But he had been wrong, he had a home now, and someone that he hoped to be able to call family in the future.

Naruto laid in bed for a while, just basking in the warm, comfortable atmosphere while he thanked his lucky stars. Eventually, he decided to greet the morning with an excited smile and stood from his bed; stretching lightly and making his way towards the closet.

His jaw dropped when he noticed that Shisui had filled it, wall to wall, in various kinds of clothing. The boy was overwhelmed by the color choices alone, not to mention that he had never even owned a jacket, yet found himself having ten now. Naruto wondered if there were more clothes in the dresser, and promptly scurried to it so that he could find out. To his surprise, each drawer was filled to the brim; and Naruto gathered that the dresser was for casual clothes, like sleepwear, and the closet was for more formal, outdoor wear.

The boy could hardly believe that all of this was his, but he soon adjusted and picked out an outfit for himself. Minutes later he smiled in the mirror, feeling good about his appearance, and made his way towards the door after grabbing his fox plushie.

Shisui had just finished setting up the table when Naruto wandered in, and he gestured for the boy to sit down with a smile on his face. Naruto smiled back and took his seat, staring with wide eyes at the table full of food.

After a little encouragement from Shisui, the boy dug in and quickly filled his stomach. Once full, he leaned back in his chair with a content expression and hugged the fox close to his chest, murmuring a thank you to Shisui as he did. The older boy smiled and let him know that he was always welcome to anything he needed, before finishing his own plate.

Naruto watched then, as Shisui began to clear the table and felt a little odd sitting there doing nothing, so he decided to help. The Uchiha looked surprised when the boy brought over the remaining dishes, but soon recovered and thanked him while he finished cleaning. Naruto hovered around him, clutching his fox and looking around aimlessly. When he spoke, his tone was hesitant and sad, and Shisui immediately gave him his full attention.

“What is the fox?” Shisui took a deep breath and ran wet fingers through his hair, not knowing if now was the time for this conversation.

He met Naruto’s pleading stare and sighed, trying to summon a smile as he guided the boy towards the couch. Once they were both seated and comfortable, Shisui began to explain things to the boy in the simplest way he could.

“The fox is called the Kyuubi, it’s one of the nine tailed beasts. On your birthday five years ago, it attacked the village and killed a lot of the villagers, including the fourth Hokage. Do you understand so far?” Wide, violet eyes stared back at him, but Naruto nodded in understanding. Shisui smiled gently, and continued.

“Tailed beasts are strong, many times stronger than our previous Hokage. So they can’t be killed, they need to be…contained. You remember when I put your stuff in that scroll yesterday?” Naruto’s eyes lit up in recognition and he nodded again.

“It’s like that, but instead of a scroll they used a human, a baby. So that baby holds the Kyuubi inside of it, like the scroll.” Comprehension began to dawn on Naruto’s features and his eyes turned fearful.

Shisui slowly reached out a hand and wrapped it loosely around Naruto’s, while he ran his thumb comfortingly across it.

“That baby was you Naruto, that’s why the villagers treat you that way. They don’t understand that you’re the scroll, not the kunai.” Tears welled up in the boy's eyes and he began to curl in on himself, while Shisui’s heart began to ache.

He lifted Naruto’s chin up with his hand and forced their eyes to meet.

“Remember this Naruto, you’re not the fox. No matter what anyone says to you, that’s not who you are. You’re Naruto Uzumaki, and nobody can take that away from you.” The boy was openly sobbing now, not knowing how much he needed that reassurance, and feeling so relieved yet conflicted at the same time.

Naruto allowed Shisui’s arms to pull him closer, and let out a shuddering breath when it felt like the tension was being drained from him. He was silent for a while, seemingly lost in his thoughts, and Shisui waited patiently for him to speak while he cradled the boy in his arms.

“Why did Kyuubi attack?” Shisui hummed in thought, not knowing the answer to that himself.

“No one knows. Between us two, it doesn’t make sense. Tailed beasts may be strong, but they’re not dumb; and attacking a major hidden village is a dumb move.” Naruto mulled that over in his head, becoming increasingly more curious about the Bijuu.

“Can I talk to Kyuubi?” Shisui’s eyes went wide, and he found himself at a loss for words.

Naruto pulled away and looked at the older boy in question, not understanding his hesitance. The Uchiha didn’t know if he should be honest or not, on one hand Naruto was bound to discover the truth eventually. But on the other hand, the boy coming in contact with the Bijuu so early could be a recipe for disaster. This was not a decision he was prepared to make, as he had expected the boy to want to stay as far away from the fox as possible.

“Why do you want to talk to it?” Naruto tightened his grip on the plushie in his arms, and looked at Shisui with an innocent expression.

“Maybe Kyuubi didn’t mean to..” The Uchiha didn’t know how to respond to this either.

Of course it was possible, after all there had been rumors of an Uchiha being involved in the attack; but Shisui could say nothing with certainty. Instead, he tried to deflect the conversation again.

“What made you think of this?” Naruto looked around anxiously, wondering if he should be honest after what he had heard.

Shisui squeezed his hands reassuringly and spoke in a gentle tone.

“Hey I’m not going to be upset, it’s okay to tell me.” Naruto alternated between tightening and loosening his grip on the older boy's hands, trying to find the courage to speak.

When he did, his voice was nearly inaudible and Shisui strained to hear him.

“I think I saw Kyuubi. That night when I fell asleep, I saw a big eye in a scary room.” Shisui sucked in a deep breath and inwardly cursed, not knowing if this was a good or bad thing.

He was silent for a minute, while his mind got lost in thought, and was caught off guard when Naruto asked him another question.

“Do you think me and Kyuubi can be friends?” Shisui tried to speak, but found that he had no response.

This was just another question that he didn’t have the answer to.

Naruto seemed to deflate at his silence and looked down with a small pout. The Uchiha sighed again and tousled Naruto’s hair, finally finding the courage to reassure him.

“If you put your mind to it, you can do anything. If you want to be friends with the Kyuubi, then I believe that you can.” Naruto grinned and gained an expression of determination, feeling excitement begin to flow through him.

Then, thoughts of the Kyuubi started to rush through his mind; and he wondered if that scary room was where the fox lived. That thought made him sad, to be stuck in there constantly must be miserable. He then wondered where the fox came from, and about the life it had lived. It must have parents right? Did it have kids?

A quiet chuckle echoed through his mind and Naruto looked around in shock, not noticing Shisui’s perturbed expression. The boy noticed no one else in the room, but swore that he had heard something.

“Naruto, are you okay?” Confused violet eyes stared back into his own but Naruto stayed silent, deciding to keep that to himself for a while. Maybe he had just misheard something.

Instead he plastered a smile on his face and nodded, removing himself from Shisui’s hold.

“Yes. Can we go outside, Shishi?” Despite him using the question as a way to redirect the conversation, Naruto was keen on going outside and finally being able to safely enjoy it.

Shisui raised a brow, not believing the boy, but didn’t argue; if it was truly important, then Naruto would tell him eventually.

Naruto adjusted to Shisui’s presence surprisingly fast, as he had quickly learned to trust and rely on the older boy.

For the first month, Shisui was with him everyday, never too far from reach. They got to know each other better, tried new food, explored the various training grounds around Konoha, and had more than a few heart to hearts. Naruto had confided in him, and told him about some of the things that the villagers had done to him; how alone and scared he had felt. Shisui promised that he would never treat Naruto that way, and would never let anyone hurt him again while he was around. The boy surprised him though, when he assured the Uchiha that he knew he could trust him.

Shisui questioned him of course, asking how he could be sure, and Naruto’s answer was one that he had been hoping for.

“You saved me that night, I know it’s you.” Shisui smiled mischievously and answered in a playful tone.

“And how do you know that?” Naruto’s face screwed up in thought, while he tried to find the right words to explain.

“I don’t know, you just…feel the same-“ The boy reached out a hand and pointed at Shisui’s chest.

“-in here. I just know it’s you when I feel it.” Shisui hummed in understanding, his smile growing.

“Can you feel where I am even if you can’t see me?” Naruto nodded, his smile growing to match Shisui’s, and the older boy silently cheered in his mind.

“Do you know what that means Naruto?” The boy shook his head, but his eyes were wide and inquisitive.

“That means you have a gift, you’re a sensor. That may even be due to your friend, Kyuubi.” Naruto’s eyes sparkled in wonder and he hugged his fox plushie tighter.

“I’ll thank him one day.” Shisui arched a brow in question.

“How do you know it’s a he?” Naruto shrugged casually, not really putting much thought into it.

“He says things sometimes, not a lot though. He told me that he was a he, when I was thinking about if he was a girl or not.” Shisui’s eyes widened in concern and he tentatively voiced his next question.

“Have you talked back to him?” Naruto shook his head, looking a little sad at the idea.

“No, I can’t reach him yet.” Shisui breathed an unconscious sigh of relief at the news.

The Hokage hadn’t been informed of anything regarding Naruto and the Kyuubi thus far, but if they both were to make contact and begin conversing, then Shisui would have to tell the old man. As it was, he was already digging himself into a deep hole by staying silent; but he didn’t want Naruto being pulled in and questioned. Shisui had a good feeling about the Kyuubi and Naruto’s relationship; he couldn’t explain why, but he wanted to give them as much time to cultivate something good, before having to take drastic measures.

He just hoped that his decision wouldn’t come back to haunt him.

After the first month, Shisui was called back into active duty, which did not go over well with Naruto at all. He was screaming, crying, begging the older boy not to leave; and it took all the self restraint that Shisui had not to break down and call off the mission. He had been away from the field long enough and he had a village to serve, this is what he told Naruto.

“I’m a shinobi Naruto, it’s my job to protect the village. I promise you I’ll be home soon, and you’ll be safe here.” Naruto shook his head and clung on to Shisui with all his strength.

“No! Don’t leave me, please!” Shisui fought back tears, his chest aching painfully at the thought of leaving the boy like this.

Suddenly though, he got an idea and crouched down to look into those distraught, violet eyes.

“I can’t stay, Naruto. But, if you follow my instructions and work hard, you can join me one day. How does that sound?” It was almost comical how quickly the boy’s tears dried up, and seconds later an excited smile pulled at Naruto’s lips.

“Really? I can be like you?” His eyes were brimming with hope, and Shisui chuckled fondly.

“Yes, but you have a lot of work to do before you get there. Are you ready for that?” Naruto nodded, and hopped from foot to foot in anticipation.

“Yea Shishi! I’m ready!” Shisui laughed in response and headed towards Naruto’s room, a little red blur hot on his heels.

He pulled out all of the academy scrolls he had gathered for the boy, and laid them out on his little table. He explained what the academy was, what they taught there, and how it would be Naruto’s gateway into Shisui’s world. The redhead nodded his head excitedly while Shisui explained everything, but frowned when the older boy opened one of the scrolls. Shisui saw his smile fade, and immediately understood the problem.

Naruto couldn’t read yet.

So, he had made a quick trip around the village, and returned with a handful of books about the basics of reading and writing. He then spent the last of his remaining time before the mission helping Naruto get started on it, and marveled at the boy's sponge-like mind. Once something was explained to him in a way that made sense, he absorbed it and greedily moved on to the next thing. He seemed incredibly determined to progress as quickly as possible, and Shisui left that night with a satisfied smile on his face.

He hoped he had taught the boy well enough, that he would be able to pick it up from there on his own. The Uchiha had a feeling that he would though, Naruto was a lot more intellectually gifted than he appeared; he just learned differently than others.

From that point on, Naruto had become unstoppable. While Shisui had been gone, he spent all of his waking hours studying; sometimes even cutting back on sleep so that he could take in more information.

He needed something to focus on, because the crushing weight of Shisui’s absence was too much for him to bear. He had gotten too used to the older boy being around, and he needed something to fill his time. And, the promise of being able to work by Shisui’s side was far too tempting to pass up. Naruto would dedicate his entire life to becoming a shinobi, if it meant he could just stay with the older boy. So he studied, and by the time Shisui returned, Naruto had read every single book and scroll in his room.

Shisui could spot the difference as soon as Naruto came to greet him, his gaze was more calculating, and his vocabulary had broadened immensely. It seemed that he had taken his personal mission very seriously, and was slowly molding his mind to become like that of a shinobi.

Despite this though, he still hugged Shisui half to death and refused to let him leave his sight for the night. Shisui wasn’t upset though, he had missed the boy more than he would’ve imagined; and he had spent all of his guard shifts thinking about what the little redhead was up to. He hadn’t thought that Naruto would progress as far as he had; and was beyond proud when the boy recounted everything that he had learned. Shisui had ruffled the boy's hair and praised him for his hard work, enjoying the elated grin that pulled at Naruto’s cheeks.

The next day, Shisui took Naruto shopping and let him buy any study materials that interested him. The redhead had spent hours perusing the shelves of various stores, asking Shisui questions about things he didn’t understand, and returned with a full storage scroll, and an excited grin.

Naruto didn’t waste any time when they arrived home, and immediately started reading from a scroll about basic chakra theory while Shisui watched in fascination from the doorway. He made his way in and sat on the floor next to the redhead, looking at him curiously while he read.

“You don’t want to spend time with me, Naruto? I haven’t seen you in over a month ya know?” Naruto’s eyes tore away from the page and he smiled at the older boy.

“Of course I do! But if I work hard now, then I can spend the rest of my life talking to you.” Shisui’s heart skipped a beat, and began to swell with adoration for the boy.

“Alright then, I look forward to working with you.” He knocked their heads together affectionately and stood to leave; he stopped at the door though, when a quiet voice called out to him.

“Thank you Shisui, you mean the world to me.” Shisui fought the tears that burned his eyes, and laughed instead.

“Likewise. Study hard and let me know if you need anything, I’ll be here.” Naruto smiled at him warmly and turned his attention back to his reading, while Shisui left the room feeling a little giddy.

He had forgotten how nice it was to be missed, and cared for by someone; the only other person who came close was Itachi, and he hadn’t seen the boy recently as they had conflicting schedules. Shisui reminded himself to introduce Itachi and Naruto, maybe they would bond as well; perhaps he and Sasuke could even become friends.

Shisui grinned like a schoolgirl at the idea, for some reason everything about this just felt right. It was like he had his own family again, and there was so much potential for their future, he couldn’t wait.

Before Shisui knew it, a year had passed and they were celebrating their freedom from loneliness.

Naruto had grown a little taller, and had gained a considerable amount of muscle after beginning his physical training with Shisui. Once the Uchiha was satisfied with his book studies, Naruto was put through a rigorous training regimen that left him nearly immobile at the end of each day; but he loved it. He loved the feeling of surpassing his body’s limits, and the satisfying ache that came from a hard day's work.

Taijutsu came easy to him, and he reveled in the look that appeared on Shisui’s face when he was able to slip through his defenses. Of course he had a long road ahead of him if he wanted to be at the Uchiha’s level, but his motivation to succeed was endless. His every waking moment was dedicated to becoming worthy enough to stand by Shisui’s side; that was his only dream in life, and he was determined to see it through.

Shisui enjoyed teaching the boy, he was incredibly bright and a quick learner. Sometimes his temper flared up, or he needed something to be explained differently, but he never gave in; he always got back up and tried again until he got it right. Shisui felt an unbelievable amount of pride as he watched the boy grow, and eventually he had to boast to his only other friend.

Itachi had become curious as the months passed, because Shisui had been uncharacteristically tight lipped about the redhead. He wasn’t going to go out of his way to snoop either, so Itachi was left with nothing but theories while he waited for Shisui to confide in him. He had been training Sasuke when the older boy came around, and watched in interest as he gushed about his little apprentice.

“Itachi, he's so smart, I just know he’s going to be amazing! You have to come meet him, he’s finally agreed to it.” Itachi blinked in shock, not expecting the sudden invitation to meet the boy, and gestured to Sasuke. Shisui waved a hand dismissively, already walking away.

“Naruto won’t be scared of him, you’re the one he’s worried about.” Itachi seemed a bit hurt after hearing that, as he wondered why the boy would be scared of him.

Sasuke looked between both boys as they walked towards Shisui’s house, feeling curious about who they were going to see. As they walked around towards the back, the sound of metal crashing against wood reached their ears. Sasuke’s eyes widened when they rounded the corner and he caught sight of that wild red hair; his heart beating a little quicker when he saw the boy fiercely demolishing a training post.

Parts of it began to splinter off as Naruto jumped and flipped over it, slashing at it from all angles until nothing but a stump remained. Sasuke’s lips parted in awe at the boy's skill, and while some part of him felt envious, most of him was brimming with admiration. Shisui had been watching Sasuke’s expressions, and he grinned when the boy's lips pulled into a small smile; Itachi had been watching as well, and shared a knowing look with Shisui.

Meanwhile, Naruto had finally acknowledged their presence and hesitantly walked towards the trio, a suspicious glint in his eye as he stared at Itachi. Shisui frowned, but introduced his clansmen to the wary redhead with a cheery tone.

“Naruto Uzumaki, this is Itachi and Sasuke Uchiha. Little Sasuke is about your age you know?” Sharp, violet eyes looked Sasuke up and down, before Naruto smiled at him and walked over.

He reached out and grabbed Sasuke’s hand, holding it between his own and staring deep into the boy's eyes.

“Nice to meet you Sasuke, I like your hair.” Naruto let go of Sasuke’s hand and began to play with the boy's bangs, completely oblivious to Sasuke’s reddening face.

Shisui reached out and put a hand on Naruto’s shoulder, drawing the boy's attention to him, and gave him a gentle, yet firm look.

“What did I say about boundaries, Naruto?” Naruto’s face reddened in embarrassment and he withdrew his hands, taking a small step away from the still blushing Uchiha.

“I’m sorry Sasuke, I’ll ask next time.” Sasuke didn’t respond for a moment, his mind still catching up to reality, but when he did his voice was quiet, and shy.

“It’s okay, it’s nice to meet you too.” Itachi and Shisui smiled at the pair, already recognizing that a bond was beginning to form between them.

Naruto held out a hand to the other boy, smiling when Sasuke entwined their fingers, and guided him towards another training post so they could practice together. Sasuke was happy to be pulled along and looked at Itachi with a hopeful smile, the elder Uchiha smiling back reassuringly. The pair went off to train together, leaving Shisui and Itachi to sigh in relief; knowing that it would be good for both of them to have a friend.

After this, Naruto and Sasuke were nearly inseparable; they would study together, train together, eat together, and after a few months Shisui was even able to have the boy sleepover.

Though, this was a well kept secret between the four of them and Mikoto Uchiha, who was overjoyed to see Sasuke and Naruto develop such a beautiful friendship. She knew that it was what Kushina would have wanted, and she would never stand in the way of their happiness; especially now that they’ve grown so close.

Over time Naruto had begun to trust Itachi, though it only extended so far. The best answer that Shisui could get from him was that Itachi’s chakra was anxious and secretive; Naruto could feel it a mile away, and it made him nauseous and uncomfortable. Despite this though, the redhead had come to see Itachi as a sort of brother figure, and it felt like the four of them were their own little family.

It had now been two years since Naruto had moved in with Shisui, and the progress he had made was astounding; though the same could be said for Sasuke. They had grown beyond belief after meeting each other, and fueled each other's raging flames of determination. They also complemented one another very well, and were able to help one, where the other struggled to succeed. It was amazing to watch, and Shisui and Itachi tried to soak up every moment that they could.

Sasuke and Naruto were now laying in a forgotten training ground, panting heavily from the intense sparring they had just finished, when Sasuke voiced his thoughts.

“I think something is going on with Itachi, he’s been acting strange for a while.” Naruto hummed in agreement, his lips pressing into a thin line.

“Shisui too, he won’t talk to me about it though. Says it’s nothing. He’s such a terrible liar.” Sasuke’s gaze settled on concerned, violet eyes and he frowned, feeling a sense of unease about the whole situation.

“I think we should be worried. Let’s try to get some answers tonight, I’ll talk to Itachi and let you know if he says anything.” Naruto nodded and grabbed Sasuke’s hand, needing physical reassurance at the moment, and Sasuke squeezed it back.

“It’s going to be okay Naruto, try to talk to Shisui. He’s more likely to open up than Itachi.” Naruto took a deep breath and tried to relax, reminding himself that nothing had happened yet, and looked back to Sasuke with a resolute expression.

“Okay, we’ll meet up tomorrow. I’m going to find him.” Naruto stood up and helped Sasuke to his feet, and they both admired the timeless beauty of the night sky one last time, before parting ways.

Naruto quickly made his way home, too anxious about his discussion with Shisui to be patient, but deflated when he arrived at an empty house. He almost decided to call it quits for the night and wait for the older boy to come home, but something pulled him outside the house once more.

Naruto began walking around aimlessly, spreading his senses out further and further as he searched for Shisui; and felt his blood run cold when he finally found him. He wasn’t alone, and his chakra seemed erratic and panicked; something was definitely wrong.

Naruto pulled out a few kunai and sprinted towards Shisui’s location, hoping that nothing bad was, or would be happening, and that it was all a misunderstanding. A sinking feeling began to grow inside him the closer he got though, as the distant sound of a clash reached his ears, and Shisui’s chakra spiked in fear. Naruto pushed his legs to their limits and arrived at a horrifying scene: Shisui and an older, partially bandaged man were engaged in combat, trading blows that were meant to kill, and both heavily injured.

Naruto fought the scream that threatened to escape him, doing his best to maintain a level head as the Uchiha had taught him, and waited for an opening. Shisui quickly gained the upper hand and managed to subdue the man, but Naruto’s eyes widened as the man’s chakra told him something different. He leapt into action as the man somehow broke free, and began to reach out for Shisui’s eyes.

Shisui had been caught off guard, and realized too late that he had lost. He watched, as if in slow motion, as Danzo’s fingers neared his eye, and he cursed himself for not being more cautious. Suddenly, a kunai barreled into Shisui’s vision and cut Danzo’s fingers clean off, the man letting out an agonized shriek seconds later, and recoiling backwards.

Shisui looked down in surprise as Naruto stood protectively in front of him, his teeth bared and a deep growl coming from his throat. Danzo stood and prepared to fight, but stopped abruptly and took a step back, as a group of masked shinobi arrived on the scene. Shisui gasped and grabbed Naruto, ignoring the blinding pain in his gut, and shunshinned them away to safety.

They reached the riverside and Shisui dropped to his knees; grateful at least that Naruto was safe. Blood began to seep through his shirt, and Naruto looked down in horror at Shisui’s destroyed abdomen. The Uchiha groaned from the intense pain and laid back on the ground, his face twisted into a grimace and his eyes screwed shut.

At that moment, Naruto’s rational mind began to war with his emotional mind, and he struggled between breaking down in tears, and trying to provide first aid care. He forced his emotional mind to quiet, and let his rational side take over as he began applying direct pressure to the wound. Naruto’s composure began to slip though, when Shisui’s features started to relax, as if his body was already accepting death.

“Come on Shisui, don’t go yet! Please…please don’t leave me!” Hot tears slipped down Naruto’s face as Shisui reached up to cup his cheek, his hand cold and trembling.

“I’m sorry I never told you, but I love you. You’re my entire world, and I wish I could be here to watch you grow. You’re going to be amazing, Naruto.” Shisui’s voice was weak, and raspy; he sounded exhausted, yet Naruto didn’t want to let him go.

A soft gasp came from Naruto’s left side, and the boy immediately pulled out another kunai; not willing to let anyone harm Shisui further.

Itachi Uchiha stared at them in shock and put his hands up in surrender, taking slow steps towards them so he could examine Shisui. He quickly realized that his friends’ wounds were too great, and that his death was certain; the thought brought tears to his eyes, and he tried hard to fight them. Shisui turned his gaze on Itachi and smiled sadly, wishing they had all had more time together.

“I need to ask you a favor.” Itachi held one of Shisui’s hands between his own and nodded; at this moment, he would do anything that the boy asked. Shisui’s expression became grim, and he gave Itachi a knowing look.

“Give them to him.” Itachi’s eyes widened and he shook his head, while Naruto watched them in confusion.

“Please don’t make me do that, he’s too young.” Shisui smiled bitterly, his chest wheezing as he tried to take in a deep breath.

“So was I, he’ll need it more than I will anyway. So please, just do this for me.” Shisui’s eyes were beginning to dim, and he stared at the younger boy with a pleading expression.

Naruto noticed Shisui’s life fading and began to panic; he started hyperventilating while heartbroken tears flowed freely down his cheeks, his mind unwilling to accept what was happening. Itachi sighed, and looked at Shisui with a resigned expression while he nodded, deciding to grant his friends’ last wish. Shisui smiled, small but grateful, and took one last stuttering breath before closing his eyes, and falling into an eternal sleep.

Naruto screamed and began shaking the boy, but Itachi stopped him with a chop to the back of the neck, instantly knocking him out. He caught the redhead's body and laid him on the ground, praying for forgiveness for what he was about to do, and reached a hand out towards Shisui’s closed eyes.

Sasuke had no idea what was happening and was beyond frustrated.

Naruto and Shisui had been missing for over a week now, and Itachi refused to tell him what had happened. He tried going to Shisui’s house, but no one ever answered the door; or no one was there. Tensions were reaching new heights in the Uchiha district, and all the adults had become incredibly reserved and quiet. Itachi was slipping further and further away from him, Naruto and Shisui had vanished, and Sasuke was left alone to lose his mind wondering why.

He had begun training in Shisui’s backyard, hoping to catch one of them as they were coming in or out; but his efforts were futile, for no one ever showed up. Eventually, he decided that if there was anywhere the pair would be inside the village, then they were at the hospital for whatever reason. So, he made his way through town and arrived at the hospital; wasting no time in bombarding the secretary with questions.

“Are Naruto Uzumaki and Shisui Uchiha here? Have they been here at all recently?” The secretary frowned at the mention of Naruto’s name, but nodded in affirmation as she looked through a stack of papers on her desk.

“Naruto is, but you aren’t allowed to see him. As for Shisui Uchiha, we have no record of him being here.” Sasuke’s face flitted through multiple emotions, and before he realized it he was shouting at the nurse.

“Why can’t I see him?! He’s my best friend, I just want to know he’s okay!” The secretary held out a hand to silence the boy, giving him a sharp look that had Sasuke’s face reddening in shame.

“Take it up with the Hokage, I’m not allowed to provide access to Naruto without explicit consent from him.” Sasuke huffed and reluctantly thanked her for her help, before sprinting towards the Hokage tower.

The Hokage proved to be just as tight-lipped as everyone else though, and refused to give any information to the boy. The old man seemed ancient at this moment, as the stress must have been getting to him, and Sasuke’s curiosity only grew as he wondered what the hell was going on with all the adults in this village.

Why would no one open up to him? Why did they all seem constantly on edge and almost..scared? It was maddening to have to sit on the sidelines and pretend like this wasn’t tearing him apart. He just wanted to see Naruto, and have things go back to the way they were. Why was it so hard for everyone to just be happy?

Sasuke decided to go back to Shisui’s and train until it felt like his bones would crack; it was the only thing that could give him a brief respite from his tortuous thoughts. The moon was high in the sky when he decided to head home, and his limbs protested the entire walk there; but Sasuke didn’t mind it. He enjoyed feeling the effects of his hard work. As he neared the Uchiha district though, a cold feeling began to wash over him when he noticed how silent it was.

He crept towards his home, thinking that maybe everyone had gone to sleep early, but cried out in terror when he discovered that he was wrong. The bodies of his parents laid on the floor, blood pooling around them and glistening under the moonlight that streamed through the windows. Sasuke gagged and dropped to his knees, his eyes beginning to burn from what he assumed was fresh tears.

Near silent footsteps sounded from across the room and Sasuke looked up into his brother's cold eyes, his mind unable to comprehend what was happening. Itachi was covered in blood and looked like he had been crying, but Sasuke could focus only on the captivating scarlet eyes that seemed to pierce his soul. The last thing he heard before being thrown into an endless nightmare, was Itachi’s soft voice, sounding so broken and full of sorrow.

“I’m sorry, Sasuke.”

From that point on, Sasuke and Naruto no longer sought each other out; in fact, they rarely even left the house.

For the first few months they didn’t train, too lost in their grief and misery to summon the energy or motivation. But, somewhere around the fifth month inspiration struck Sasuke; he needed to become stronger, if he was going to bring justice to the Uchiha clan. Sitting and stewing in his own emotions wouldn’t do him any good, he needed to train and grow so that he could figure out why everything happened.

Despite all the pain and suffering that Itachi had put Sasuke through, he couldn’t forget the last words his brother had left him with.

‘I’m sorry, Sasuke’

Why would he say that? How dare he say that, while sounding so devastated and hurt? Something about it all didn’t sit right with Sasuke; and as hard as he tried to hate Itachi, he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

There had to be another explanation for it all. Itachi wasn’t like that, had never been like that, and there had to be another reason that he did it. Sasuke couldn’t believe any different, because no matter how distant Itachi was, Sasuke knew him; he knew how kind and pacifistic his brother was. So, he decided to dedicate his life to finding out what happened; and one day he would bring justice to the Uchiha, no matter what he had to do to get there.

After that he began training again, and once he felt ready to, he immediately sought out Naruto; this did not go as he had hoped.

Naruto refused to open the door, shouting at Sasuke to leave as soon as he knocked; but Sasuke didn’t give up. He came everyday, knocked on Naruto’s door, and told him that he would be back the next day after Naruto screamed at him to leave. One day, he came and told Naruto that he would be joining the academy, and that Naruto should join too so they could grow stronger together; Naruto didn’t respond, and Sasuke left.

Unbeknownst to Sasuke, Naruto had been studying and training hard as well; but he had no intentions of joining the academy. He knew that the man who had attacked Shisui was affiliated with the Hokage; he didn’t know how, but he had seen the man in passing the few times he’d gone to the tower. He didn’t trust the Hokage now, and he certainly didn’t trust the village; no way would he protect and serve the place that killed his family. He tried to maintain this mindset, but his self restraint broke when Sasuke finally confronted him.

The Uchiha had had enough and decided to break down Naruto’s door, but stopped in his tracks when he looked into Naruto’s eyes.

A pair of fully matured sharingan stared at him in shock, Naruto not expecting the boy's sudden presence, and Sasuke gasped. Naruto’s brow furrowed and he grimaced, knowing exactly why Sasuke was looking at him like that. This was also why he stayed away from the Uchiha, why he stayed away from everyone. Sasuke’s lips trembled, and he took a step back as multiple emotions assaulted him at once.

“How did you get those?” His voice was quiet, and he sounded scared. Naruto seemed angry and annoyed at the boy's question, and he glared at Sasuke.

“I don’t know, why don’t you go find Itachi and ask him. Because I don’t want to talk about it.” Sasuke’s eyes widened in horror and he shook his head in confusion.

“What? What happened?” Naruto sighed and looked away, unwilling to entertain the boy any further.

“I’m not going to talk about it, leave me alone Sasuke.” The Uchiha scoffed and crossed his arms.

“You know I can’t do that, you’re all I have left.” Naruto shook his head, his expression growing irritated once more.

He didn’t want to talk to Sasuke, he didn’t want to fight, he just wanted to be left alone. But, Sasuke wouldn’t let him. The Uchiha raised his voice and moved further into the room, forcing Naruto to move back towards the wall.

“Stop shutting me out. I just want to help you, let me help you!” He tried to reach out to Naruto, but the redhead pushed him away.

“I don’t want your help! I want Shisui back, I want our life back! I don’t want to go to ninja school with you and pretend like everything is okay, it’s not. So leave. Me. Alone!” Sasuke stepped back and put a hand to his heart, his eyes watching in despair as Naruto opened the window behind him and disappeared into the woods.

That had hurt more than Sasuke could describe, and he crouched to the floor as tears began to slip down his cheeks. Sasuke knew how Naruto felt, and he had been feeling exactly the same, so all he wanted to do was help him. He wanted the boy to know that he wasn’t alone, and that Sasuke cared. Hadn’t they lost enough, why did they have to lose each other too? Sasuke wiped his tears and hopped out the window, not willing to back down from this.

It didn’t take him long to find Naruto, he knew all the places that the redhead was likely to be; but he thought that maybe the boy had decided to stop running. Naruto was very good at sensing people, this had become apparent to Sasuke the longer that they trained together; and he surely would have run for the hills if he didn’t want to be found.

Naruto let Sasuke sit next to him, and began to cry when the Uchiha pulled him into a hug. Sasuke cried too, feeling the weight of their shared grief crash into him all at once. Eventually Naruto returned Sasuke’s hug, and they held onto each other as if their lives depended on it. As time passed they began to talk, getting out all of their pent up thoughts and feelings; it was relieving.

Naruto hadn’t realized how much he needed this, he had thought that he was better off trying to solve his problems alone. Sasuke on the other hand knew how much they both needed it, and was so grateful that Naruto had finally let him in. He felt an odd sense of peace at this moment; because while they had a long road ahead of them as far as healing went, all he could focus on was that he had Naruto by his side.

If the world was dark, and Naruto was lost, then Sasuke would be his light and guide him towards a better future. He would catch him if he fell, over and over again, no matter what; that’s what family did.

After their heart to heart, Naruto and Sasuke began brewing up a plan for their future. To gain more information about Shisui, Itachi and the Massacre, they needed to become shinobi. Specifically ANBU, so that they would have higher security clearance and access to classified files. Their plan was for Naruto to enter the academy with Sasuke’s class, and they would both try to graduate early. They would train hard and study everything that was available to them, so that they would have the best possible chance to move through the ranks together.

Once they gained information about who was involved, and what had actually happened, then they would decide whether to stay in the village, or leave to seek revenge. They were both in agreement that if the village was responsible for their loss, then they wouldn’t hesitate to leave it behind. And one day, they would return to give retribution to the place that ruined their lives.

Within his first week at the academy, Naruto knew that they were wasting their time.

Everything that was being taught, were things that he and Sasuke had been studying for over a year now. The history of their village and their interactions with other villages, basic shinobi terminology, chakra theory, the various shinobi arts, the basic academy jutsu, etc; Naruto and Sasuke were nearly going mad from boredom. Not to mention, their entire class seemed to have a hard time keeping their eyes forward; the pair couldn’t go anywhere without eyes following their every move. Naruto hated how they seemed scared of him, even more so than before, and it made existing at the academy that much harder.

They had tried to approach the teacher about taking the graduation exam, but the teacher had laughed in their face and forced them to demonstrate the academy basics to their class. The man couldn’t believe that they had been so far ahead of their peers at such a young age, and was surprisingly impressed with the ease that they completed their tasks. When questioned, the boys stated that they had been trained well by their family and left it at that; and no one was able to get any more information from them.

The matter was then brought to the Hokage, who denied their request and stated that they would have to finish out their year together before they could graduate. Sasuke and Naruto had been understandably upset, and used the rest of their year to master the basics and begin to learn elemental jutsu.

Sasuke had demonstrated his great fireball technique to Naruto, and had felt immense pride when the boy had cheered him on and praised him for his talent. Naruto was upset though, when he had a much harder time trying to learn the jutsu; and it had taken them longer than they would’ve liked, to figure out why. Naruto didn’t have a fire affinity; and this prompted them to go on a hunt for a way to find out what his affinity was.

They were pleasantly surprised though, when one of the teachers provided them with little sheets of paper, and stated what they were for and how to use them. The pair had thanked the scarred man and left the building with smiles on their faces; they hadn’t expected help from a teacher, as they all seemed dead set on seeing the pair fail.

After this, they discovered that Sasuke had a fire and lightning affinity, while Naruto had a wind, and water affinity.

From that point on they scoured the Uchiha archives, and snuck into the shinobi library to find new jutsu to learn. By the time their year was up, Naruto and Sasuke had both learned, and mastered five jutsu for each of their affinities. They were feeling incredibly confident about their future career as shinobi, and ended up passing their exams with flying colors. That night they had celebrated the completion of the first step of their plan, and arrived at the academy the next day for their team placements.

Naruto and Sasuke didn’t question who their teammate was, as they hadn’t known any of the older kids they were graduating with; but they had figured that it would be one of them. The boys found themselves confused though, when every other team had been picked up, and the only remaining genin were them.

They waited patiently, which turned to irritation as hours passed yet still their sensei hadn’t shown up. Naruto was ready to leave when the door to the classroom slid open, and a tuft of silver hair popped into the room.

A single gray eye looked at them impassively, and a body followed the head into the room soon after. Naruto and Sasuke appraised the man, coming to the conclusion that he wasn’t very impressive, and feeling annoyed that they had been assigned to such a boring, lazy teacher. The man waved at them awkwardly, and gave them a very unconvincing eye smile.

“Yo, I’m Kakashi Hatake and I’ll be your sensei from now on. We’ll be saving your introductions for tomorrow when we meet your third teammate, so for now I’ll bid you farewell. We’ll be meeting at training ground seven, 6am sharp so don’t be late.” Kakashi made sure they had heard and understood him, before vanishing from their sights.

Sasuke and Naruto shared a look of irritation and stood to make their way home, feeling like this man was going to set back their plans.

They entered Shisui’s house together and headed towards their room; after they had reunited, Sasuke decided to move in with Naruto, and the redhead had been overjoyed to have someone back in the house. They separated the room in half, Sasuke’s stuff on one side, Naruto’s on the other, and a shared space in the middle where they moved the couch and table. There was an adjustment period, where they had to establish some ground rules regarding boundaries and personal space; but they quickly adapted.

That wasn’t to say living together was paradise, they often argued over silly things like what to have for dinner, or who got the shower first; but they always made up, and came out better for it in the end.

“Kakashi seems like a dick.” Sasuke laughed at Naruto’s blunt statement, but couldn’t find it in himself to disagree. The man seemed as though he couldn’t care less about them, and was less than thrilled at the idea of being their sensei. Sasuke didn’t really care how the man felt though, as long as he didn’t hinder their progress.

He plated their food and brought Naruto’s over to him, smiling in satisfaction when the redhead greedily inhaled it. He was glad for both of their sakes, that Itachi and his mother had taught him how to cook; two orphan boys living together, who were both unable to prepare a meal would be a disaster. He also just liked to see Naruto smile when he tried his cooking, it made him feel all warm and fuzzy and he wished that it could last longer.

While Naruto had gotten better mentally, and his adoration for Sasuke was obvious, the redhead had become much more temperamental after Shisui's death. His smiles weren’t as bright, his laugh wasn’t as loud, and he wasn’t as physically affectionate as he used to be; but Sasuke loved him all the same, and he still strived everyday to make the boy smile at least once.

Naruto appreciated his effort and presence, even if he didn’t always say it; and he sometimes wondered what Sasuke would have been like if they hadn’t met before the Massacre. Surely they wouldn’t have become friends, and that thought made Naruto sad. He also wondered what he would be like if Shisui had never saved him; would he have tried as hard with his studies? Would either of them have graduated early?

All the possibilities made his head spin, and he found himself becoming very grateful indeed for Sasuke’s presence in his world. No matter how hard life had been, he was sure that he was better off having the Uchiha in it, and he knew that Sasuke felt the same.

“What do you think our teammate is gonna be like?” Sasuke thought for a minute while he emptied his plate, feeling a little curious as well.

“It’s difficult to say. Unless they were sick and couldn’t make it to the team placements, then it’s someone who trained outside the academy and pulled strings to get placed on our team. We should be wary.” Naruto nodded in agreement, feeling a deep sense of unease at the thought of meeting their teammate.

“Let’s not get too close until we know that they’re trustworthy. I have a bad feeling about them.” Sasuke frowned at the boy's words, knowing that Naruto’s gut was usually right about these things.

He sighed and stood to clear the table, Naruto following him soon after, and they cleaned up the kitchen in silence while getting lost in their thoughts.

Naruto and Sasuke quickly deduced that something was off about their teammate.

They had been waiting for Kakashi when a black haired boy, with paper white skin, came up and sat right next to them without saying a single word. Naruto raised a brow at the boy and scooted closer to Sasuke, not liking how close their new teammate had been to him. The boy tilted his head to the side, wondering why Naruto had done that, and decided to voice his thoughts.

“Did I do something wrong?” Naruto took a moment to respond, deciding whether he should be honest or diplomatic, and stared at the boy blankly.

“I like my personal space, so I would appreciate it if you didn’t get too close to me.” Sasuke nodded in agreement and gave the boy a pointed look, trying to signal that this was important to remember.

Their teammate absorbed the information and gave them a thumbs up.

“Okay, I can do that. My name is Sai by the way.” He waved at them and tried to force a smile, but let it fall once seeing their disbelieving expressions.

Naruto and Sasuke wondered why he did that, but figured that he may have just been sheltered growing up, or socially awkward. Sasuke decided to introduce them, as Naruto was still analyzing the boy with a suspicious expression.

“I’m Sasuke, and that’s Naruto.” Sai nodded in understanding and settled his gaze on Naruto, or to be more specific: his eyes.

“Why do you possess the sharingan?” Naruto's face twisted up in anger, and he glared at the boy.

“None of your fucking business.” Sai’s eyes widened as he realized that he had pried too much, and he put his hands up in a placating gesture.

“My apologies, I hadn’t realized that this was such a sensitive subject for you.” Naruto couldn’t tell if the boy was mocking him or being sincere, but he wasn’t going to stick around and find out.

He jumped to his feet and began walking away, intent on putting as much distance between him and Sai as possible, but stopped in his tracks as he felt someone appear next to him. A hand reached out to him, but he slapped it away and kicked his foot out instinctually. A small grunt was heard, and Naruto turned his head to look into the shocked eye of his supposed Sensei.

Kakashi had to admit that he hadn’t been expecting that reaction from Naruto, he had merely been trying to keep the redhead from leaving. He chuckled, feeling a little excited at the idea of training the kid now, and waved to Naruto in greeting.

“Lovely to see you too. Now if you don’t mind, we’ll be moving on to introductions.” He gestured towards the rest of Naruto’s team, and watched as the boy stomped back over and sat next to Sasuke, glaring daggers at Kakashi the entire time.

Kakashi rolled his eyes and sighed in response, taking his seat in front of the group moments later. He clapped his hands together and began speaking in a playful tone.

“Alright, let’s get started. My name is Kakashi Hatake, there are some things that I like. And some that I don’t. I would say my dreams for the future are…-“ He looked up to the sky as if it held the answer, and rubbed at his chin in thought.

“-oh! None of your business.” He ignored their exasperated expressions and pointed at Sai.

“Proceed.” Sai looked at Kakashi with curious eyes, but began his introduction.

“I’m Sai. I suppose I enjoy drawing, and I don’t think I have any dislikes. Dreams for the future…” The boy trailed off, seeming a little confused at the question, and shrugged a moment later.

“I guess I don’t have any of those either.” Naruto and Sasuke traded wary looks, while Kakashi frowned, wondering where the Hokage had pulled this kid from.

He then turned his attention to Sasuke and pointed at him.

“Alright little Prince, on with the show.” Sasuke tsk’d upon hearing the man’s weird nickname, but briefly introduced himself.

“Sasuke Uchiha. Likes are Naruto, cooking, and training. Dislikes are too many to list. And our dreams are also none of your business.” Naruto nodded in agreement, knowing full well that no one besides them would ever hear about their goals.

Kakashi raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue, instead he pointed at Naruto and eye smiled.

“Saved the best for last, go ahead Princess.” Naruto scoffed indignantly, and glared at Sasuke when the boy giggled. Kakashi smiled beneath his mask, enjoying seeing the redhead get riled up, and gestured for him to continue.

Naruto bared his teeth at the man but spoke shortly after.

“Naruto Uzumaki. I like Sasuke, Sasuke’s food, and training. Plants too, I guess. And I also dislike many things.” Kakashi clapped enthusiastically when Naruto finished, and he praised them all in a cheery, yet sarcastic tone.

“Wow guys, that was a very entertaining and educational experience. I feel like we’re really getting to know each other. Now, let’s move on with your genin exam.” Kakashi was disappointed by Sai’s lack of reaction, but Sasuke and Naruto’s disbelief made up for it.

“Get real old man, we’re already genin.” Kakashi chuckled darkly at Naruto’s words and wagged a finger at him.

“Or so you think! The fact of the matter is that you aren’t genin until I say you are. So sad, I know.” Naruto and Sasuke looked at each other, clearly having a telepathic conversation that Kakashi couldn’t be a part of, and quickly began to calm down.

“So, what do we have to do to pass?” Sasuke’s tone was cold, and Kakashi could tell that he was greatly annoyed by all of this.

This made the jounin extremely happy. The more they disliked him, the more likely they were to pass; and despite his teasing, Kakashi did indeed want them to pass. He pulled out two bells and held them up, a soft tinkling sound reaching their ears as he shook them lightly.

“All you need to do is get a bell. The only problem is that only two people can get one, and whoever doesn’t get a bell will have to go back to the academy.” Naruto and Sasuke’s faces screwed up in confusion as they turned the man’s words over in their minds.

Sasuke shook his head and voiced his thoughts.

“No, that doesn’t make sense.” Naruto nodded in agreement, and chimed in.

“And you’re lying.” Kakashi now had more than a few questions running through his mind, and he began to address them one by one.

“Alright, let’s start with Sasuke first. Why doesn’t this make sense?” Naruto and Sasuke looked at the man like he was stupid, and Sasuke answered coolly.

“Genin teams are always three man cells. Even if for some reason we were a special case, then Sai wouldn’t be here. It’s in the genin preparation packet.” Kakashi’s eye widened in surprise, as he hadn’t expected them to even recall such a tiny piece of information; especially under the threat of losing their chance as genin.

Instead of voicing this thought though, he turned his attention to Naruto.

“How did you know I was lying?” The redhead frowned at him, but answered anyway.

“I can feel your emotions through your chakra.” Kakashi took a moment to process that, not quite believing what he was hearing, as he had never heard of a sensor with abilities that strong.

“Do you have to put conscious effort into it, or is it an innate ability?” Naruto went silent for a moment while he thought of how to explain it.

“A little bit of both. I can always feel peoples’ chakra, as well as the emotions they’re feeling; but the intensity and range depends on how focused I am.” This interested Kakashi greatly, and he decided at that moment that he didn’t need to test his team.

Sasuke and Naruto were clearly ready to try their hand at becoming chunin, and Sai had been placed there by the Hokage himself; so it was clear to Kakashi that he didn’t really have a choice in the matter anyway.

“I’ve decided to forgo the test, seeing as you kids are so smart and clever. But, before I let you go for the day I want you to follow me.” The trio shared suspicious looks, but followed the man as he led them towards a large stone near the graveyard.

Kakashi looked at it for a minute as he paid his respects, and then he turned to his students.

“Do any of you know what this is?” They all shook their heads, having seen it before but never knowing what it was, or what it represented.

Kakashi reached out and placed his hand on the stone, while he began to speak in a gentle tone.

“This is the memorial stone. Every name that is carved here belongs to a shinobi that died while protecting the village. There’s something that I want you all to remember-“ He turned around and gave them a firm look, trying to impress upon them how important this was.

“-when on a mission you’re all each other has; and while the mission is important, your comrades are much more valuable. In our world, those who break the rules are scum, that’s true, but those who abandon their comrades are worse than scum. I would pick your safety over the completion of a mission any day, so I hope that you will all keep this mindset as well.” Pensive faces stared back at him while the trio considered Kakashi’s words, and the man’s eye widened in surprise when Naruto spoke.

“We wouldn’t abandon someone who needed us, despite our dislike for others. That’s not who we are, and no mission will ever take precedence over the safety of each other.” Sasuke, and even Sai, looked into Kakashi’s eyes with determination, both clearly in agreement with the redhead.

Though Sai seemed incredibly conflicted about the situation, and Kakashi wondered why that would be.

“Is there something on your mind, Sai?” The boy thought of how to answer, and spoke in a hesitant tone.

“I was not taught to put my comrades before the mission, and I don’t understand the feelings required to place affection above responsibility. But, I think the sentiment is admirable.” Kakashi, Sasuke and Naruto all felt a mix of unease and pity towards the boy, and they wondered what he had been through to become so reserved and apathetic.

“Have you always been like that, or did somebody fuck you up?” Sasuke shot Naruto a warning look, signaling that he was being too crass, and Naruto rolled his eyes.

Sai didn’t seem to take offense though, he just tilted his head to the side while he thought about the question.

“I’m not sure, both I suppose.” Sai knew he was speaking too much, but for some reason he didn’t care.

He felt more warmth from the people in front of him, than he had for most of his life; at least as far as he could remember. They didn’t seem to care for him, at all, but he felt at ease in their presence; like he knew that he was safe with them. They reminded him of Shin in some ways, and Sai then wondered what the boy was doing at this moment, and if he was thinking about him too.

Seeing Sasuke and Naruto’s relationship, had Sai thinking that maybe he and Shin could have a life like that too. Or they could have, if Danzo wasn’t in the picture. He bit his lip as guilt and fear began to course through him; If Danzo could hear his thoughts right now, he would be taken right back to level one. Sai shuddered at the thought, and turned his worried gaze on Sasuke as he began to talk.

“Do you want to understand those feelings? And, maybe even feel them yourself?” Sai’s eyes went wide and he frowned, not wanting to answer that question at all.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want those things, he just wasn’t allowed to have them; and as long as Danzo was around he never would. Sai shook his head and averted his eyes, not wanting them to see the vulnerability that was surely lurking in their depths.

“No, I think I’m better off the way I am. Feelings will just make things more complicated than they already are.” This was true, no matter how much Sai wished it wasn’t.

So, he packed away his emotions and let his blank mask slip back into place; not noticing the concerned looks he received, as he was too lost in his own thoughts. Seeing as the mood had turned rather glum, Kakashi decided to let them roam free after promising to meet the next morning. He watched as Sasuke wrapped his hand around Naruto’s, and lightly dragged him towards their home; while Sai began to wander off into the village alone.

Kakashi tilted his head to the side in curiosity, wondering if he should try and trail the boy, but decided against it and headed towards the Hokage tower instead.

“Sir, where did Sai come from?” Hiruzen sighed, and frowned down at the paperwork he was reading.

Kakashi waited patiently for the man to fill and light his pipe, while eyeing his facial expressions with suspicion. Hiruzen’s gaze was guarded when their eyes met, and Kakashi could tell that the details of this topic weren’t something that the Hokage would reveal so easily.

“For now, all you need to know is that he is well trained and heavily recommended. He is skilled, smart and great at following orders; which I think will be useful with little Naruto and Sasuke on your team.” Kakashi could swear he detected a hint of humor in the man’s voice, but his attention was focused solely on the lack of information that he was being given.

“I’m worried for his mental health. He seems afraid to express emotion, and Naruto and Sasuke have already picked up on this. What kind of training has he been put through?” Hiruzen hummed thoughtfully, feeling a bit ashamed that he didn’t know the answer to that himself.

At this point, the older man trusted that Danzo had Konoha’s best interests at heart; and he didn’t quite have the energy to try and disprove it. Though it was times like these, that made Hiruzen question his faith in his old friend. There had been more than a few times where Danzo had proven to be sneaky and distrustful, yet the old Warhawk had a knack for getting back in Hiruzen’s good graces. The truth was, that the old Kage wanted to believe that Danzo was on their side; that regardless of the benefits for him, he would always prioritize the village's safety and prosperity. Part of him didn’t believe it though, and he tried very hard to push those thoughts away; if Danzo could help them, then Hiruzen would allow it for now.

Should things go awry though, Hiruzen liked to believe that he would take matters into his own hands and subdue his old friend; whether that was true or not, remained to be seen.

Smoke filled the room as the Hokage took a long draw from his pipe, while his eyes seemed glazed over in thought. Kakashi waited for the man to speak, not wanting the tension in the room to rise higher than they already had.

“I can assure you that his training is adequate; the specifics of it are irrelevant now. If he poses any problems for you, then come to me; but for now, I would like you to focus on your team. You are dismissed.” Kakashi swallowed the annoyance that stirred inside him, and bowed to his Kage before vanishing from the room.

Hiruzen sank back in his chair and heaved a heavy sigh, feeling the weight of his exhaustion slam into him all at once. This position was becoming too stressful for him, he could feel the strain on his heart day after day, and it was all becoming very overwhelming. He had served his village for countless years now, always doing his best to ensure that everyone was well taken care of and safe.

Countless years of battles, paperwork, meetings, deaths and more; and despite his best efforts, Hiruzen was becoming too tired to care. His body and mind both begged for a moment's rest, a brief respite from the burden that came with being the Hokage. The only thing that kept him going at this moment, was the knowledge that without him Konoha would surely crumble. Without a successor, the village would fall to Danzo and Hiruzen knew that the man was not capable of running it.

Assisting, and ruling a village were two different things, and Danzo was not fit to rule; he was far too cruel and apathetic. His methods may be effective for elite shinobi, but they weren’t conducive to helping a village flourish. Danzo was meant to work in the shadows, and Hiruzen would not allow him to step into the light; not while he was still alive.

His withered eyes looked out the window, and landed on the moon, a sense of calm washing over him as he admired its mysterious, yet simplistic beauty. Hiruzen took a deep breath and sent out a prayer into the universe, hoping that it would send him enough strength to overcome the future battles that were surely lurking on the horizon.

Footsteps echoed through the dark halls, as two men made their way through a maze-like structure.

One had long black hair and wore a black cloak, with red cloud prints on it; while the other had mid length silver hair, that was pulled into a low ponytail, and wore a black traveling cloak. The black haired man began to speak in a cool tone, but there was a hint of excitement that began to peek through as he continued.

“I hear that Konoha’s jinchuriki has become a possessor of the Sharingan. Him and the young Uchiha boy have become rather close as well, and I’m beginning to think that they could be of great use to me.” The silver haired man hummed in agreement.

“Yes, I’ve heard about them as well. If we play our cards right, we could reign in a matching set.” The black haired man chuckled darkly, and ran his tongue across his lips.

“Something tells me that they’re both waiting for a reason to leave, we just need to give them one. Be a dear and monitor them for me, Kabuto?” Slim fingers pushed his glasses up, and Kabuto bowed his head in affirmation.

“Yes, Lord Orochimaru. I will leave at once and be in touch with a progress report.” Orochimaru smiled and patted the man’s head, beginning to walk in the opposite direction as they exited the building.

“Good boy.”

Sai was finding it difficult to acclimate to his teammates’ presence; but not for the reason he would have imagined.

They were making him feel things, too many things, and after a few months together they had started pulling him closer to them. There had been a few times where he had almost let information slip about ROOT, and could feel the seal on his tongue burn in activation. Thankfully he had always managed to catch himself before it fully activated, but that didn’t keep his anxiety about it at bay. He was becoming too close to the targets, and it was too difficult for him to pretend like he didn’t care.

The problem was that he wanted to care, but that would only make it harder to let go in the future. Danzo was his master, he could not disobey the orders he was given; and he couldn’t protect his friends from the inevitable pain that was sure to befall them. He couldn’t save them, and he also couldn’t quit his mission, so for the first time in his life Sai decided to be selfish. He decided to enjoy his time with them, and try to be the best friend that he could before they had to part ways. This was much easier than he was expecting, because once Naruto had let him in, his entire world changed.

The boy inspired emotions in him that Sai didn’t know were possible, and it baffled him at times. At first, Sai had thought that Naruto was far too grumpy and defensive for his own good; but he had been wrong. That was just a mask that Naruto donned for those he didn’t trust. In reality, the redhead was bursting with kindness and craving affection. He was clearly still healing from some deep wounds, but it was clear, even to Sai, that Naruto just wanted to love and be loved. He wanted a happy, peaceful life with his precious people, and to not have to worry about loss, or fear.

Naruto had been the first person to give him a hug, and Sai had never felt so close to crying in his life. Sasuke had been jealous at first, especially when Sai and Naruto became more publicly affectionate, but Naruto always made sure that Sasuke knew he was number one. And eventually, Sasuke and Sai became close as well; though Sasuke was much more reserved with him than Naruto was.

Sai just figured that’s how their personalities were, and he appreciated them much more for their differences.

At present, they were practicing combat exercises on water to help improve their chakra control and physical stamina. There were only two rules that Kakashi had given them, before proceeding to ignore them and go read under a tree: No fatal blows, and no leaving the water. It was basically a free for all, every man for himself situation, and all three boys were enjoying it immensely. Kakashi noticed this, and watched their battle in fascination from over his book.

They were all highly skilled for their age, yet had completely unique fighting styles. Sasuke was very precise and structured, able to strategize and execute plans during the heat of battle. Sai was swift and elegant, able to move with the flow of the battle and remain calm headed. Naruto though, was very wild and unpredictable; he was incredibly creative when he needed to be, but hot headed at times, and able to turn vicious without a moment's notice.

They were all careful not to agitate the boy, even Kakashi, because a happy Naruto was a delight to be around; but an angry one, was like trying to handle a demon. It was tough to get used to, but they all managed to become in tune with, and support each other when they necessary. Naruto worked hard to control his temper, because he didn’t like hurting his friends, and eventually their team became like a well-oiled machine. Every single mission they had went on was a success, even their treks outside of the village; and when the chunin exams came around, Naruto and Sasuke bombarded Kakashi with pleas for him to enroll them.

Kakashi of course believed wholeheartedly that they were ready to rise in the ranks, but Hiruzen didn’t agree. The man was more than hesitant to allow them the freedom to leave the village whenever they pleased; especially at their young age.

He knew they were physically capable, but mentally he also knew that Sasuke and Naruto weren’t exactly playing for their team. The boys only truly confided in each other, and had made it clear that no one would be allowed in their inner circle. They were too much of a flight risk, and Hiruzen couldn’t allow them even the slightest chance to escape. Danzo agreed with him, for once, which put the old Kage on edge, but he remained firm in his decision.

Naruto and Sasuke had been, understandably, upset about the man’s stance on the issue; and were currently sparring on a waterfall, while Sai painted on the sidelines. Sai didn’t personally care about a promotion, he was ROOT and would never take the title of chunin anyway. He also didn’t understand why it was such a big deal to them, they would always have next year; and it wasn’t like they were unable to learn and train until that time either. So, Sai voiced these thoughts and frowned when two pairs of angry Sharingan glared at him.

He would never get used to that.

Sai felt incredibly exposed under those eyes, and had frozen on sight the first time they both had activated them during a training exercise. He hadn’t known that Sasuke had his as well, but thought it made sense when Sasuke told him that it had, most likely, activated during the Massacre. Sai raised his hands in surrender, and tried to speak in a reassuring tone.

“I just don’t see the logic in being this upset about it. Can you help me understand?” Naruto and Sasuke shared an annoyed look, but came down to speak to Sai anyway.

They knew he wasn’t trying to be rude, or make them angry, he was just trying to understand their feelings. Naruto laid down in Sasuke’s lap while the Uchiha began to speak, sighing in contentment when slim fingers began to card through his hair.

“We have goals, and to reach those goals we need to move up in the ranks. We can’t do anything as genin, and it’s annoying that we’re being held back for yet another year.” Naruto hummed in agreement, and looked up into Sasuke’s soft, dark eyes.

“I’m tired of being stuck in the same place, I want to move forward already. There’s so much we’re missing right now.” Sai cocked his head to the side, feeling curious about what they meant.

“What is it that you want to accomplish so desperately?” Two pairs of eyes turned to stare at him intensely, and Sai turned his gaze back on his painting to avoid them.

Naruto spoke, quiet and hesitant, but became a little bolder after seeing Sasuke’s reassuring smile. They could trust Sai with this, the three of them had all been around each other long enough for them to trust him.

“We want to find out more about what happened to our families, both the Uchiha and my birth parents.” Sai’s eyes widened in surprise, and his lips parted in a silent ‘oh’.

“What about it all needs investigating?” Naruto and Sasuke looked at each other knowingly, and Sasuke spoke this time.

“As for the Uchiha, all I’m going to say is that it’s suspicious. It’s far too much to get into right now. As for Naruto’s parents, he thinks that there’s significance to him being the jinchuriki. I can also agree that there might be some truth in that.” Sai nodded in understanding, beginning to see why their passion to progress burned so bright.

Naruto looked at Sai with an uncharacteristically stern expression, and spoke in a low tone.

“Don’t tell anyone about this, ever. You know they’ll only limit us more if they find out. I trust you, but only so far; so please don’t make me regret it.” Sai nodded, knowing that he would keep this with him no matter what.

This was the only way he could protect them, and he wouldn’t fail.

“I won’t, and I wish there was more that I could do to help.” Naruto and Sasuke seemed taken aback after he said that, and Sai thought that perhaps they weren’t aware of how deep his affections actually ran for them.

Naruto smiled softly and reached out to grasp Sai’s hand, and Sai held it tight as the redhead spoke.

“We’ll let you know if there’s anything you can ever do to help. Thank you for everything, I’m glad you’re on our team.” And then Sai smiled, probably the most genuine smile that had ever graced his features; and Naruto blushed at how gentle it made the boy look.

Sasuke noted as well that Sai looked quite adorable when he smiled, and so he couldn’t blame Naruto for the blush that spread across his cheeks. Though it did stir up a feeling in him that he couldn’t quite place, but he let it pass and returned to the moment.

“I’m glad to be on your team, this has truly been the best time of my life.” Naruto and Sasuke felt their hearts clench at the boys’ admission, and they began to wonder once more what Sai’s life had been like before this.

For these to be the happiest months in his entire existence, was almost ludicrous to the pair. While their time together had been great, Naruto and Sasuke would take their earlier years back any day. But now their chests ached with guilt, and they felt ashamed that they had taken for granted, what had become Sai’s entire world. Before they knew it, tears began to fall down their cheeks and the pair gathered Sai into a hug, holding him as close as they could.

Sai enjoyed their embrace, but he couldn’t understand their tears; couldn’t fathom why they would be crying on his behalf, especially Sasuke. Had he said something wrong? He didn’t voice these thoughts though, instead he waited for them to pull away so that they could, hopefully, explain themselves.

The pair laughed lightly at his confused expression and wiped their tears, having forgotten about Sai’s disconnect from his emotions for a moment. Naruto petted Sai’s hair comfortingly while Sasuke spoke for them.

“We’re hurt that these are the best moments of your life, because you deserve better. We all deserve better, and it sucks that we can’t change anything right now.” Naruto hummed in agreement, and pulled away from Sai to lay back down in Sasuke’s lap; while Sasuke’s hands returned to play with his hair.

“We will one day though, and it’s gonna be beautiful.” Sasuke smiled and nodded, feeling confident about that as well.

“Yes, we will.” Sai watched the way they looked at each other and thought that they had a very interesting relationship.

In his spare time, Sai had been reading books about emotions and relationships of all kinds; in an attempt to better understand his teammates. What he found interesting was that Naruto and Sasuke’s relationship often shared traits of both a close friend, and a lover; though Sai noted that they were rather young for that. But, in all of his books about friendship, he had never heard of a boy kissing another boy on the cheek as an act of platonic affection; or even a girl for that matter. And, of all the poems and stories of love that Sai had read, he had yet to find anything that could compare to the deep adoration and endless devotion that Naruto and Sasuke seemed to feel for each other.

Not that they realized it, but Sai did; and it was a continuing source of entertainment for him. Personally, even if he did understand the concept of sexual orientation, he didn’t care about which end of the spectrum his teammates were on. He was just fascinated by the complexity of human emotions. He would watch them bicker and fight, and then they would cuddle up in the grass and get lost in their own little world, as if nothing else existed. They would pick on each other, and hurl insults that hurt worse than punches; and then they would hug, and cry, and move on.

They were maddeningly predictable in their unpredictability; and were the very definition of the word unstable. But, Sai supposed that for two, traumatized orphan boys living alone, that they were doing pretty great; and he was just happy to be with them.

After that, they all laid in the grass and talked, while watching the soft blue sky melt into a gorgeous sunset. The stars began to twinkle brightly above them, and they soaked in the calm energy of the night; feeling content in each other's presences. When a chill wind swept through the area, they all decided to part ways til the next day; and Sasuke and Naruto watched Sai wander off alone, wanting to call him back and take him with them.

They looked at each other and nodded, coming to a silent agreement that they would be adopting Sai as their brother. The pair ran after him, calling out for him to wait, and they smiled when Sai turned around with a surprised expression. Naruto held the boy's hands between his own, and looked into his eyes hopefully.

“Come stay with us.” Sai’s eyes widened and he looked to Sasuke, who smiled and nodded reassuringly.

“There’s no reason for you to be alone anymore, you have us now.” For a moment, Sai felt as if he was flying, like he was lost in the clouds and would never have to come down.

But then, he crashed landed into reality and took a step back, his expression growing guarded and eyes losing their light.

“I can’t, I’m not allowed to.” Naruto’s brow furrowed and he frowned in confusion.

“Says who?” Sai took another step back and averted his eyes, knowing that he couldn’t answer that question.

“I can’t tell you, I’m sorry.” Naruto tried to stop him, but Sai slipped out of his hold and vanished into the streets without another word.

Naruto whipped his head around and shared a concerned look with Sasuke, neither of them knowing what they could do to help the boy now. But, if they weren’t able to help him, then they would at least try to understand him; so, Naruto spread out his senses and tracked down their sensei, in the hopes that he could enlighten them.

They found him at a dingy looking bar in the dodgy part of town, slumped over a table and surrounded by fellow jounin who were all heavily inebriated. A man with a bowl cut and large eyebrows wrapped an arm around Kakashi when he noticed the boys approaching, and called out to them in a booming voice.

“Ah, these must be my dear Kakashi’s youthful students! Arise my friend and greet your children!” Kakashi lifted his head and glared at the man, not enjoying his ear-splitting tone, but seemed to perk up a bit when his gaze landed on Naruto and Sasuke.

He rested his chin on his hand, and blinked his eye at them slowly.

“How goes it kiddies?” Naruto and Sasuke crossed their arms, not in the mood to beat around the bush, and glowered at the man.

“Where did Sai come from?” Kakashi frowned and let out a quiet groan at the mention of the boy; this was a topic that he still stressed over, almost six months later, and had yet to receive any answers about.

“I don’t know anything about him, not for lack of trying though. What happened?” Naruto’s expression turned sad and Sasuke entwined their fingers comfortingly, his tone becoming gentle when he spoke.

“We asked him to come live with us, and he said he’s not allowed to. So we want to know why.” Kakashi raised an eyebrow thoughtfully and answered in a low voice.

“What did he say when you asked him?” Both boys’ expressions darkened, and they looked at the man with concerned eyes.

“He said he couldn’t tell us. We think he might be getting abused, but he lives alone.” Naruto nodded in agreement at Sasuke’s words.

“And we’ve never seen him around anyone else.” Kakashi and the rest of the jounin shared a knowing look, all of them having an idea of who might be behind this.

It was an unspoken rule that no one talked about Danzo; of everyone in the village, he was the most unpredictable and twisted individual. No one knew what went on in his head, and being in his presence felt like being caught in the sights of an ancient beast. It was clear to them that behind his blank mask, Danzo was judging them, calculating their worth to himself and the village. That man was drenched in the darkness, and everyone was in agreement that they should steer clear of him; remain in the light where he couldn’t touch them. They all had enough to worry about, and it was easier to pretend like the man didn’t exist than to worry about all the devious things that he might be up to.

Kakashi took in the boys’ nervous expressions and sighed, trying to put on his sensei guise for a moment.

“I’m going to try and get more information for you both, but I can’t promise anything. For now, take care of Sai and try to convince him to come with you. If it’s something that he’s willing to fight for, then I think we might get some answers soon. Now get on home, my little Prince and Princess, I’ll see you tomorrow.” Sasuke and Naruto rolled their eyes when they heard their nicknames, but didn’t protest as they knew it would do them no good.

The pair began to walk towards the door, but Naruto turned around and shouted at Kakashi one last time before they left.

“Don’t be late, or we’ll kick your ass Kakashi!” The other jounin laughed at the boy's informal language, and looked at Kakashi for an explanation.

“You let them get away with talking to you like that?” Kakashi looked at the woman that spoke and shrugged, while she laughed at his defeated expression.

“They’re a bunch of brats, but I love them anyway.” He knocked back his shot, and ignored the shocked looks of everyone present.

A man with an unlit cigarette in his mouth snorted in disbelief, and spoke in a playful tone.

“Love? That’s a pretty strong word for you Kakashi.” A smile tugged at Kakashi’s lips beneath his mask, and he shrugged again.

“They’re actually really great kids. Sometimes it doesn’t feel like I’m talking to children, it’s like talking to one of you. They’ve been through so much, yet they’re still so kind and determined. It’s hard not to love them.” Awed faces stared back at him, as none of them had ever heard Kakashi speak about anyone with so much affection; and to them, this was a miracle.

The man with bushy eyebrows wrapped his arm around Kakashi, a boisterous laugh escaping him once more, and lifted his glass in a toast.

“To Kakashi and his newfound youthfulness!” The other jounin laughed and lifted their glasses as well, while Kakashi blushed heavily and sank into his seat.

“To Kakashi’s youthfulness!”

The sun was high in the sky, and Sasuke melted in its comforting warmth.

A soft hand squeezed his own lightly, and the Uchiha turned his head to meet a pair of mesmerizing crimson eyes. Naruto spoke to him, but Sasuke couldn’t hear a word; he was too lost in the gorgeous face that stared back at him, as well as the beauty of the moment. He smiled and rolled over, wrapping his arms tightly around the redhead, and sighed in contentment when Naruto reciprocated.

Deft fingers played with his hair and Naruto placed soft kisses on his forehead, and in that moment the Uchiha felt nothing but pure bliss. He closed his eyes, and breathed in the fresh air as a warm breeze swept through the area; but his heart stopped when he felt the body beneath him vanish, and the atmosphere turned cold.

He opened his eyes and screamed when he saw Naruto standing in front of him, a sword protruding from his gut and blood spewing from his mouth as he bid Sasuke farewell. It was dark now, and he noticed that they were both in his childhood home; the bodies of his parents only a few feet away. The sword was pulled out, and Sasuke caught the redhead's body as it fell forward, tears streaming down his cheeks and his throat aching from the cries that tried to claw their way out. He hugged Naruto’s body close and began shaking as the sound of footsteps made their way closer to him.

A chill crept down his spine, and a hand reached out to grab Sasuke’s jaw; it pulled upwards and forced Sasuke’s eyes to meet the glowing red of Itachi’s mangekyo. Itachi spoke to him, his voice empty and firm, and Sasuke began shaking his head; not wanting to believe what he was hearing.

“Give up on me, Sasuke. I will take every last morsel of happiness that you might scrounge together, and I will break you until you’re nothing but a rotten husk of a person. Hate me, or I will destroy you and anyone who gets in my way.” Sasuke covered his ears and began screaming, trying desperately to block out the poisonous words as they grated against his eardrums.

“No. No. No! You’re lying, stop lying to me!” A strong hand pulled his hair and forced his head to tilt back, while a blade was pressed against his neck.

Sasuke was breathing heavily as he stared into his brother's terrifying eyes, and Itachi’s voice was barely audible as he dragged the blade across Sasuke’s throat.

“Try me. Your suffering would bring me nothing but pure joy.” Everything went black, and Sasuke bolted up in bed while tears began burning his eyes; a horrified shriek tearing out of him as he completely broke down.

He slapped away the hands that reached out to comfort him, and curled in on himself in fear.

“Hey, it’s just me. You’re safe, I promise.” Sasuke began to sob loudly, but melted into Naruto’s touch as the boy sat behind him and wrapped his entire body around him.

Naruto’s hands reached around and entwined their fingers, and Sasuke squeezed them as if his life depended on it. They sat like this for a while, Naruto gently rocking them from side to side, while Sasuke tried to ground himself. This was a rather common occurrence, and both boys had learned how to comfort the other when their nightmares attacked. Sasuke needed physical comfort, it pulled him back to reality and reminded him that he was safe and with someone that cared. Naruto was a little more difficult; if you tried to hug him then he was bound to turn violent, as he had many times in the past. So, Sasuke had learned to coach Naruto through the first few minutes as he adjusted to reality, and would give the boy his fox plushie so that he had something to touch and feel.

Naruto nuzzled Sasuke’s neck and placed soft kisses on it, while he whispered to the boy in a soothing voice.

“Follow my breathing, it’s going to be okay.” They both closed their eyes, and Sasuke matched Naruto’s pace as he breathed in deeply, then exhaled slowly.

Eventually he stopped shaking, his tears dried up and he was able to relax completely in Naruto’s embrace. The redhead smiled and leaned back, pulling Sasuke with him so that they could lay back down. Once the blankets were back in place, Naruto adjusted his hold on Sasuke and listened intently as the boy spoke in a scratchy tone.

“Itachi killed you.” Naruto tightened his grip and kissed the back of Sasuke’s neck again, while the Uchiha continued.

“He told me he’s going to take you away if I don’t learn to hate him.” Naruto laughed bitterly, knowing that that wasn’t true.

“Him and Shisui were always such terrible liars. Don’t listen to him, he wouldn’t dare defy Shisui’s final wish.” Sasuke frowned, feeling beyond confused and agitated with everything regarding Itachi.

“Why would he say that though? I don’t understand why he wants me to hate him so much.” Naruto shrugged and murmured into Sasuke’s hair.

“Maybe he feels guilty and wants you to punish him.” Sasuke groaned in frustration.

“Why would he do it in the first place then? I don’t understand…” Naruto squeezed the boy reassuringly and spoke softly into his ear.

“We’re going to find out what really happened, I promise. I’ll do whatever it takes, even if I have to hunt him down or tear the village apart.” Sasuke smiled, feeling comforted by the boys words, and responded in a playful, yet pleading tone.

“Just don’t leave me behind.” If it was even possible, Naruto snuggled closer and whispered to him lovingly.

“I would never leave you, I promise.” Sasuke smiled, reveling in the safety and comfort of the moment, and felt his eyes droop as sleep began to claim him once more.

As he started to drift off, only one thought remained in his mind: he hoped that what Naruto said was true, because a life without him just wasn’t worth living to Sasuke.

The night air was frigid, and the moon was obscured by the angry clouds that were quickly rolling in.

Two figures met in the middle of a clearing, surrounded by the dense trees that shielded Konoha. One had silver hair and wore a black traveling cloak, while the other was much older and partially bandaged. Danzo put both hands on his cane and leaned on it slightly, his tone completely emotionless when he spoke.

“You may begin.” Kabuto raised a brow at him and chuckled, but continued nonetheless.

“Lord Orochimaru has a proposition for you.” Danzo’s face remained blank, but Kabuto knew he saw a flicker of interest spark in the man’s eyes.

“What could I possibly have to gain from him?” Kabuto smirked and pushed his glasses further up on his nose.

“He knows about your plans for the village, and would like to offer his services.” Danzo frowned and raised a brow in suspicion.

“What kind of payment does he expect for these services?” Kabuto’s smirk faded into a playful smile, and he pointed at one of his eyes.

“He wants one of the bearers of the sharingan, and will leave the other in your care.” Danzo’s visible eye narrowed and his tone was guarded when he spoke.

“Why would he require my help with this? He’s perfectly capable of acquiring them on his own.” A dark glint passed through Kabuto’s eyes, and he sounded almost excited when he answered.

“Their bond is too strong, one will not come willingly without the other; so we need to separate them at the same time. We also need to ensure that they believe each other to be dead, or else they will fight us every step of the way. This will make it much easier for all parties, don’t you agree?” Danzo considered the boy's words, and found that he did agree with this plan; in fact, he had been brewing something similar up in his mind already.

His eye filled with determination, and he looked at Kabuto with a stern expression.

“The jinchuriki stays in Konoha.” Kabuto’s smirk returned and he stuck his hand out to the man, grinning arrogantly when the elder shook it firmly.

“Deal.”

A plant-like figure watched from within the shadows of the trees as the two shinobi went their separate ways, while a smile pulled at both sides of its split face. It melted into the ground with a cheerful laugh, thinking that things were finally starting to get interesting.

Life has been great for Naruto and Sasuke lately.

While Kakashi had been unable to gather information about Sai, it seemed that their problem with the boy was beginning to resolve itself. He no longer distanced himself from them, his mood was much lighter and carefree, and he had finally agreed to move in with them. None of them understood the sudden change, but they all silently agreed not to question it; this was a good thing, and they wouldn’t spoil it.

The next chunin exams were coming up, and the Hokage had finally decided that they were ready after seeing their dedication to their team and missions. It seemed to the old Kage, that their roots were planted deep enough that they could be allowed to travel away from the tree; granted, they wouldn’t be allowed to leave the village for more than a week, outside of missions.

Naruto and Sasuke had been training hard and were looking forward to proving themselves during the trials, while Sai seemed to grow sadder the closer it got. Both boys had eventually confronted him, and felt their hearts ache when he answered their questions.

“Once we’re chunin, we won’t be a team anymore and you guys are going to move on without me.” The pair looked at him with sad eyes, and pulled him into a hug.

Sasuke’s voice was gentle and full of kindness when he spoke.

“It doesn’t have to be that way, we can still request each other for missions. And, you can rise ranks with us and become ANBU too; maybe we’ll even be on the same team.” Naruto hummed in agreement and added his own comment as well.

“Also, you live with us now. So even if we wanted to, we couldn’t drift apart. It’s all gonna be okay ya know?.” Sai nodded, but he didn’t feel any better; for some reason he had a feeling that things were about to change.

At first, he had been happy that Danzo had lengthened his leash and allowed him to get closer to Naruto and Sasuke. But, as time went on he realized that Danzo had to have ulterior motives behind this decision; and he began to fear for his friends’ safety. He didn’t know how, what, or when it was going to happen, but he decided that he would do his best to protect them, in any way that he could.

Currently they were all practicing kenjutsu, and Naruto was becoming increasingly more frustrated as they continued. The sword came easy to Sasuke, and the boy had been practicing day and night so that he could reveal his new skills at the chunin exams. Naruto on the other hand, thought that it threw off his balance and slowed down his movements; and he resented Kakashi for forcing him to waste his time with it.

“Naruto, a good shinobi, is well rounded in all of the various ninja arts. How do you expect to fight against someone with a sword, if you yourself don’t even know how to use one?” Twin Sharingan glared at him and Naruto threw his training sword at a tree, crossing his arms childishly.

“I’m not doing this dumb shit anymore. Give me something else to do, Kakashi.” Sasuke tsk’d and stared at Naruto in annoyance, while Sai watched from the sidelines with wide eyes.

“Stop being such a baby, you’re just mad that I’m better than you at something.” Naruto growled at Sasuke and stalked over, getting right in his face and glaring angrily at him.

“Shut up Sasuke. You know that’s not true.” Sasuke smirked and leaned in closer, his eyes dancing with amusement.

“Do I? All I know is that my best friend wouldn’t give up just because things got tough. So, if you’re going to be a whiny little Princess about it, then you might as well just leave.” Kakashi put a hand to his mouth and giggled at the insult, knowing full well how much Naruto hated that nickname.

Sai’s jaw dropped, and he waited with bated breath to see how Naruto would react. Sasuke sighed in disappointment when Naruto pushed past him, but his smile returned when he felt the boys’ presence rushing him from behind. Naruto had picked up his training sword, and thrown all caution to the wind as he attacked the Uchiha. Kakashi mentally praised Sasuke for his clever thinking, and watched as Naruto began to progress right before their eyes. If nothing else motivated Naruto, then they could always count on Sasuke to goad him into doing something; it had never failed them thus far.

The pair fought viciously, Naruto showing no restraint as he mercilessly tore at the Uchiha; while Sasuke easily parried his attacks, and pushed him to think smarter. Eventually Naruto got the hint and began strategize, while Sasuke started to press him. Naruto stumbled at first, not expecting Sasuke’s ferocity, but he quickly adjusted and soon they were engaged in a high intensity battle; while Kakashi and Sai watched in interest from behind them.

“They’re kind of amazing.” Sai remarked in admiration, and Kakashi hummed in agreement.

“Every once in a while people like them are born, destined for greatness. What’s amazing about them is that they’ve found each other, and use each other to grow faster than they could have alone. I’ve never seen a bond quite like theirs.” Kakashi seemed almost sad when he spoke, and Sai decided to try and find out why.

“Did you ever have someone that you loved?” Kakashi looked over at the boy, his eye soft and teeming with sorrow.

“I did, and I miss them every day.” Sai laid a hand over his heart as pain began to spread through his chest, and he looked at the man in sympathy.

“I’m sorry for your loss, it must feel unbearable.” Kakashi closed his eye and nodded, trying to shove down the emotions he had spent years burying as they threatened to escape him.

Eventually though, a smile spread across Kakashi’s face and he spoke in a fond tone.

“It is, but you guys make living with it a lot easier.” Sai’s lips parted in shock, as he wasn’t aware of how much Kakashi cared for them.

Sure the man spoke to them affectionately, and was very playful and goofy, but it was clear to them from the beginning that Kakashi was very emotionally stunted, and detached. They had all assumed that he was just weird, not that he actually cared about them.

“Why did you never tell us that? We thought that you hated us.” Kakashi wagged a finger at him and eye smiled.

“A shinobi has to keep his secrets close to his chest after all; and I hope you’ll keep this one between us.” Sai raised a brow in confusion, but seemed to understand moments later and huffed a laugh.

“Why do you enjoy bothering them so much?” Kakashi laughed mischievously and leaned back in the grass, his eye beginning to roam over the clouds.

“Chaos and tension builds character; and if they know I like them, then they won’t try so hard to impress me. Gotta keep ‘em on their toes.” Sai rolled his eyes in exasperation, but couldn’t help the smile that tugged at his lips; in some ways, it felt like they were all part of some dysfunctional little family.

Sai liked that, and he never wanted it to end; because it was very likely that he’d never have anything like this again.

Sasuke and Naruto tired themselves out after a while, and came over to join the rest of their team in cloud watching. No one said anything, nor did they feel the need to, and they all watched as the sky shifted through most of the colors in the rainbow, until it reached a rich black. They looked up to the moon, and all the billions of stars that danced around it, and felt completely in tune with the universe and each other. There was something about these brief moments that lifted their spirits beyond belief; and for just a short while they were content. Content with themselves, their lives, and their futures; happy just to exist in each other's company. It was a healing experience, and was something that each of them cherished deeply.

Eventually though, the boys grew tired and decided to part ways from their sensei; while Kakashi watched them lean on each other, as they left the training ground. Sai stood in between Naruto and Sasuke, and had a hand on both of their waists so that he could hold them up, seeing as they were incredibly sore from their sparring. Naruto was bickering with Sasuke, and Sasuke argued right back, yet they still had bright smiles on their faces.

Kakashi chuckled and made his way home, feeling an amusing sense of irony at the fact that he had been paired with students that seemed to be just as odd as himself; if not more. He knew that they would do great things, and while his Hokage had made many questionable decisions, one thing he had done right was creating their team. This, Kakashi was immensely grateful for; and he would be proud, yet sad to see his students move on in just a couple months.

For now though, he would try to enjoy their time together; the future could wait a little longer.

The next week, Kakashi’s team was called in to the Hokage’s office to be briefed for a B ranked mission, that they would be sharing with another team.

Naruto and Sasuke’s eyes widened when they saw the other jounin sensei, as they remembered him from the bar that one night. A chill crept up their spine when they saw that he had a clone, and they shuffled closer to Kakashi in the hopes that he would protect them.

“Ah! Kakashi and his youthful students have arrived!” Sai’s lip curled up in distaste at his volume, while Naruto and Sasuke glared at the man.

Kakashi chuckled awkwardly, while Hiruzen watched the interaction with a fond expression.

“Well, seeing as everyone has arrived, let's begin the briefing. Your mission is to guard the Daimyo’s niece, Princess Naho, and return her home to the Water Daimyo’s palace. After this, you will be delivering the list of genin contestants that will be participating in the Suna chunin exams, to the Kazekage. This mission is expected to take about a month, so account for that when you’re packing. Her guard has to leave immediately to attend to business at the Fire Daimyo’s palace, so pack quickly and meet at the gate in thirty minutes. You’re all dismissed.” Kakashi and Gai split away from their groups to pack and pick up the Princess, while their students eyed each other suspiciously.

The girl from Gai’s team stepped up and introduced them, smiling in a friendly way and hoping that they could all get along. She was used to being in a team with all men, but to be surrounded by them nonstop, for a month, sounded exhausting. Not to mention, that the boys in front of her appeared to be at least a year younger than them, which was bound to be trouble.

“Nice to meet you guys. I’m TenTen, this is Neji, and Lee.” She gestured to each of the boys as she spoke, one of them having long brown hair, and soft lavender eyes; while the other seemed to be a miniature version of Gai, green spandex and all.

Lee was quick to reintroduce himself, as well as point out the obvious.

“You all seem rather young! You must be truly youthful indeed, to have become genin so early! When did you graduate?” The trio cringed at his loudness, while his teammates shook their heads in defeat.

“Lee, could you possibly try to muster some subtlety?” Neji seemed incredibly agitated, and didn’t address the other team at all.

TenTen face palmed and shrugged at the trio apologetically, before beginning to push her teammates in the opposite direction; she figured that they had time to finish introductions at the gate. Neji shrugged her off and split away towards his own house, Lee said goodbye to the group and sprinted off into the distance, which left TenTen to enjoy her walk home in peace.

Naruto, Sasuke and Sai traded disbelieving looks, not wanting to accept that they had to be around those three for another month. Their walk home was quiet as they processed this abrupt change, and they only spoke at home when they discussed what to pack. Sasuke eyed Naruto as he hugged his fox plushie with one arm, while he used the other to pack.

“You’re not bringing Kyu are you?” Naruto clutched the fox tighter in defense, and frowned at the Uchiha.

“I always bring him with me.” Sasuke looked at him with a firm expression and shook his head.

“You don’t know how long the mission is going to be, don’t risk losing him. Bring Gama-chan instead.” Naruto glared at him and said nothing, just continued packing his belongings into a storage scroll.

Once he was done, he put Kyu down on his bed, and picked up the stuffed frog. He looked at it for a moment, then hugged it close to him and turned to Sasuke with a sneaky smile on his lips.

“Fine, but you have to carry the travel scroll.” Sasuke groaned in annoyance and looked towards the large scroll that sat near the closet, while Sai watched in amusement from the door.

Sai had a bed in their room, but kept his possessions in the hall closet as their room was cramped enough already

Sasuke begrudgingly accepted his burden, and handed Naruto his personal storage scroll; while the redhead smirked and placed it in his travel bag. Sasuke strapped the large scroll to his back, and cursed them all for creating it in the first place. It contained a five person tent, pots and pans, dry food, cooking utensils, medical supplies, and anything else they might need while they were out. It was longer than Sasuke’s torso, and a decent amount heavier, and bulkier than a travel pack; and Sasuke hated carrying it.

Naruto snickered when Sasuke glowered at him, and Sai followed as they began making their way towards the gate.

TenTen, Neji, and Lee were already waiting for them; but Kakashi, Gai, and the Princess had yet to arrive. Neji’s nose crinkled in distaste when he saw Naruto’s plushie, and he wasted no time in voicing his opinion.

“Why did you bring that with you? We’re shinobi, not sniveling children.” Sai sucked in a sharp breath, knowing that this was an awful way to start their trip, and nervously shifted his gaze towards Naruto.

“Why didn’t anyone teach you to keep your useless mouth shut? You’re like a fish, lips flapping about but saying nothing; I’m embarrassed for you.” Sasuke and Sai covered their mouths, trying to hide the wide smiles that tugged at their lips, while Neji scoffed in offense.

TenTen looked between the two nervously, while Lee stepped up in Neji’s defense.

“I would appreciate it if you didn’t insult Neji like that, we do have to work together after all. I’d like us all to be friends!” Naruto looked into Lee’s bright eyes and sighed in defeat, feeling his anger fade at the boys’ hopeful tone.

“Whatever, just keep him away from me. Muzzle him, if possible.” Neji snarled at the boy but Naruto only laughed in his face, feeling satisfied that he had gotten the final word in.

Thankfully, Kakashi and Gai arrived with the Princess in tow, and everyone introduced themselves to the girl. She seemed drawn to Sasuke and Naruto immediately, and spent the first day of their journey planted firmly between them both, chattering their ears off and asking countless questions. The boys were annoyed, but they had dealt with worse and handled her energy easily.

The trouble came when they set up camp for the night, and no one had brought camping supplies except them. They knew Kakashi wouldn’t, but they hadn’t assumed that they were the only ones. The Princess demanded to sleep in the tent with them, and had a meltdown when Naruto denied her request. The trio just wanted to sleep in peace; but unfortunately, their decision was overridden by Kakashi and Gai.

“Your job is to protect the client, and the tent is the safest place for her to be. Your personal feelings don’t matter more than hers while on this mission.” So Sasuke, Naruto, and Sai all had to endure the violent thrashing of a sleeping Princess throughout the entire night, and every night after.

It became worse when they had to travel through a thunderstorm and the Princess was completely hysterical, and inconsolable.

In a moment of weakness, Naruto had let her cuddle with Gama-Chan, and ended up regretting it as soon as the storm was over. She refused to give it back, and Naruto had seen red and nearly attacked the girl; thankfully, he was held back by Sasuke and Sai. Kakashi tried to explain the significance of it to Naho, in the hopes that she would return it, but she still denied his request. From that point on Naruto, Sasuke and Sai all stayed on the outside of their travel formation, refusing to be around the girl more than they needed to.

Sasuke and Sai didn’t feel one way or another about her, but they didn’t want Naruto to feel left out by them. Team Gai on the other hand, were steadily growing to dislike Team Kakashi; they thought that all three boys were absolutely insane. Their sensei wasn’t much better, the man seemed much like a child himself and at times it felt like they were traveling with either a team of jounin, or academy students.

TenTen thought Lee and Neji were weird, but as of late she had decided that they weren’t nearly as unhinged as these boys. Sai was quiet and seemingly kind, but when he opened his mouth it was always some strange comment about the scenery, or an inappropriate reply to something one of his teammates said; he was incapable of being tactful, or so he appeared. Sasuke acted very haughty and pretentious but, at night when they could all relax, he was gentle and kind; usually this only applied to Naruto and Sai though.

Team Gai had all been surprised to see how affectionate Naruto and Sasuke were, as the only people they had been close with in that way were their parents; and that was when they were very young. Their bond was something deeper than anything any of them had experienced; and while it was a bit odd to them, it was also kind of…beautiful. To have someone you trusted to such an extent, someone you loved so much that you just couldn’t stay away from each other, it was inspiring.

TenTen found herself feeling envious, and began to wish that she had a friend like that; while Neji seemed almost repulsed at the idea of being that intimate with someone. Lee and Gai were obsessed with them, and often shouted claims of their youthfulness; meanwhile, Team Kakashi was completely lost in their own world, not even noticing the scrutiny they were under. They carried on their own conversations, only talking to the other team when necessary, yet were intensely focused on the mission; despite seeming like they hadn’t a care in the world.

Team Gai discovered this when they encountered a band of rogue Iwa nin. They were partway through water country, the weather was nice and nothing seemed out of place, when Naruto spoke in a loud, clipped tone.

“Ten shinobi, 7 o’clock and 200 meters.” Kakashi nodded and began barking orders.

“My team, move forward. Gai and Lee protect the Princess. Neji and TenTen will follow me.” Naruto, Sasuke and Sai were out of view before Kakashi had finished speaking, and Neji and TenTen seemed impressed at their lack of hesitation.

Once they caught up, they watched in interest as the trio flawlessly worked around each other, and began making a dent in the Iwa shinobi. Two bodies laid on the ground already, and Neji and TenTen hovered at the edge of the battle, wondering if it would be easier to just let them work instead of risking getting in the way.

“Just watch, if they need help they’ll ask for it. They’ve had some close calls, so they don’t overestimate their abilities anymore.” Neji and TenTen nodded, and Neji activated his Byakugan.

He watched the way Naruto and Sasuke’s chakra systems flowed, and noticed something that he only saw in those with potent chakra. Instead of the light blue that most had, these shinobi had unique colored chakra. Sasuke’s was a deep indigo, and it moved smoothly, with barely any fluctuation. Naruto’s was strange though; it was a rich gold that had flickers of crimson swirling at his core. His chakra was wild, but not untamed; it seemed like Naruto was a beast that locked itself in a cage. Why he would feel the need to show restraint, against any enemy shinobi was beyond Neji though. Sai’s chakra was your average blue, but his fighting style was what caught the brunettes eye; his movements were graceful yet calculated, and his eyes were intensely focused, never a sign of fear or hesitation.

The last shinobi aimed a kick towards Sai’s head, but the boy ducked and Sasuke used that as an opportunity to swing his blade towards the man’s torso. The rogue nin smirked and leaned back, twisting around and redirecting his kick towards Sasuke’s hand, and kicked the blade out of it. Sasuke was caught off guard and took a fist straight to the gut, but Naruto came in from behind, having caught Sasuke’s sword, and shoved the blade through the man’s back. Sasuke coughed up trace amounts of blood, but quickly gained his bearings, and stood after taking a deep breath. Naruto swiftly removed the blade from the man’s body and cleaned it, before handing it back to Sasuke who sheathed it.

The rogue nin choked on his own blood for a moment, sickening gurgles and raspy breaths reaching their ears; but the trio didn’t react. Naruto soon decided to put the man out of his misery, and after his last breath was taken, the trio sighed in relief. Sasuke rubbed his stomach where there was surely a small amount of internal damage, and Naruto walked over to comfort him. He gingerly wiped the blood from Sasuke’s cheeks and placed a gentle kiss on each one.

“I’ll be faster next time, so this doesn’t happen again.” Sasuke smiled and knocked their heads together affectionately.

“No need. You can’t always protect me, and I’m bound to get injured eventually. You did great and we’re all safe, that’s what matters.” Someone clucked their tongue in the background and the pair turned to meet Sai’s amused, yet exasperated eyes.

“Thank you, Sai! You were a great help, Sai! Those are examples of things I would like to hear as well, in case you were wondering.” The pair laughed at Sai’s dry tone, and Naruto walked over to the boy and squished his cheeks.

“Aww Sai is feeling left out. You did great Sai, amazing and helpful as always.” Sai rolled his eyes but smiled at the praise, knowing that Naruto meant it even if it sounded like he was joking.

Kakashi cleared his throat from the sidelines, and gestured to the corpses that littered the ground.

“So sorry to interrupt this tender moment, but we do need to secure the bodies.” The trio looked down at the carnage and nodded in understanding, beginning to help Kakashi seal each one into storage scrolls.

TenTen and Neji sat back in awe, realizing in that moment that they had completely underestimated Team Kakashi, and were now beginning to have a change of heart.

All of them arrived back to Gai, Lee and the Princess with minimal injury, and they continued on their journey as if nothing had happened. They decided to set up camp early that day, and head out early the next morning, so that they could conclude their mission with the Princess by nightfall. The genin all went down by the river to wash up and gather water, while Gai and Kakashi set up the fire and secured the perimeter of their campsite.

Sasuke, Naruto and Sai all removed their shirts and began cleaning the blood off themselves; while Neji, TenTen, and Lee’s eyes all trailed towards Naruto’s torso. The word ‘demon’ was spelled in thick, jagged scars up to his chest, and they blanched at how angry and sore they still looked. Neji wondered if the boy had an unconscious habit of scratching them, and the thought made him feel an unfamiliar sense of sorrow. They looked a few years old at least, but it seemed that they still bothered the boy greatly; this was confirmed when Naruto saw them looking, and quickly covered himself with his jacket, a frown tugging at his lips.

Sasuke and Sai glared at them, and they looked away feeling confused, yet ashamed; they wondered what had happened to the boy, and who could have possibly done that to a child. The stuffed animal began to make sense to Neji now, it must have been given to him by someone important; and he must have lost that person. His chest began to ache at the thought, and Neji wondered why he cared so much, why he wanted to reach out to the boy and apologize.

He didn’t do anything wrong, did he?

Naruto was in a funk that night, and he spent most of his time staring at the fire while plastered to Sasuke’s side.

The Princess seemed to notice this, and decided to give Naruto his plushie back; this made the redheads mood switch completely and from that point on, the Princess was allowed back by his side. She seemed to have learned from this journey, and appeared to have a deeper sense of how her actions impacted others. She was more thoughtful when she spoke, and she learned how to listen to others, as well as empathize with them.

The rest of the trip went smoothly, and without a single hitch; and when it was time for them to part ways, Naruto left Gama-chan with Naho.

“Take care of him, and let him provide you with courage. You can do more than you believe.” Princess Naho cried and hugged the redhead close, not wanting him to leave.

But, Naruto reminded her to be brave, and to keep her head up and look towards the future. She wiped her tears and grinned at him, hugging Gama-chan close, and waved them all goodbye as they took off towards their next destination.

Without a civilian slowing them down, their journey to Suna took only a day and a half.

They settled into an inn as soon as they arrived, while Gai and Kakashi went to deliver the message to the Kazekage. Sasuke, Naruto, and Sai immediately changed into civilian clothes and left to explore the village; while TenTen, Neji, and Lee unpacked in their room, unaware of the trios disappearance.

The sun was beginning to set now, and all the lights in the city turned on. People bustled about, going to bars, restaurants, clubs, and more; all living their own lives, following their desires and enjoying the moment. The boys were drawn in by the cheery atmosphere, and the delicious smells that drifted by as they passed different stalls. Naruto especially, enjoyed being in a place where people didn’t avoid and shame him just for existing, and took advantage of this freedom by buying anything that appealed to him.

They were now sitting on a bench, eating some street food and feeling content in the warm atmosphere, when Naruto felt an odd presence make its way through the crowd. His head snapped in its direction when the crowd started yelling, and the sounds of a fight reached his ears. Sasuke and Sai followed Naruto as he pushed through the crowd, looking at him with concerned expressions.

The redhead stopped at the edge of the crowd when he saw what was happening; a young boy, about their age, was staring impassively as a man tried to attack him. The man could only get so far though, as tendrils of sand moved to block his every move and protect the boy. Naruto tilted his head to the side in curiosity, feeling a strange pull towards the other redhead, and walked towards him, disregarding the man that urged him to stay away.

He stopped a couple feet away and analyzed the boy; they were about the same height, and Naruto noticed that their hair was also similar shades. He had striking, teal eyes that seemed to be lined with some kind of kohl, and the kanji for ‘love’ tattooed on his forehead. His chakra seemed…familiar, and Naruto needed to find out why; so, he stuck out his hand and smiled at the boy warmly.

“My name is Naruto Uzumaki, what’s yours?” The crowd all went silent and looked at Naruto like he was crazy, while Sasuke and Sai watched their interaction in interest.

The other boy appraised Naruto, feeling that familiar pull as well, and hesitantly reached out to clasp their hands. When they did though, they were both thrown into their minds, and slumped lifelessly to the ground.

Naruto fell for a while, and eventually he landed in a dim, sewer-like room, and slammed into the flooded floor. Cold water bit at his skin and soaked his clothes, but all he could focus on was the unfathomable amount of energy around him. After further inspection, Naruto remembered this place; this was where Kyuubi lived. His eyes looked hopefully towards the bars and he grinned when two, large red eyes appeared from within the darkness.

Forgetting everything else, Naruto ran towards the bars, intent on meeting the fox as soon as possible. One of the foxes' large hands came through the bars, his fingers already beginning to curl around the boy, but stopped when Naruto slipped through them and began to run up his arm. He stopped right in front of the bars and waved at the fox with both arms, while angry red eyes began to soften in confusion.

“Hi Kyuubi, I’m so glad to meet you! I have so many questions.” The fox began to pull his arm back in and Naruto flipped off of it, landing softly on the ground below.

The foxes' eyes narrowed and he spoke in a deep, rough voice.

“What do you want with me, ningen?” Naruto pouted and crossed his arms.

“You can hear what I’m thinking can’t you? Don’t you know?” The fox growled lowly but answered nonetheless.

“Your thoughts come and go, I cannot control when it happens.” Naruto frowned and rubbed his chin in thought.

“I’ll try and fix that, if I can. Can I ask you a question though?” The fox moved closer to the bars, and rested his head on his hands, staring at the boy intently.

He wouldn’t admit it, but the fox was indeed very curious about his host; and he was incredibly bored, after all. Naruto smiled and sat down in the water, noticing that it didn’t feel wet anymore.

“Did you attack Konoha on purpose?” Red eyes flashed in anger, but the fox answered anyway.

“No, but I don’t feel any remorse for the destruction of that wretched village.” Naruto shrugged, not able to blame the fox for his hatred, and continued his questioning.

“Do you know who made you do it?” The fox looked surprised at Naruto’s lack of support for his home, but responded easily as he pointed a claw at Naruto’s eyes.

“A user of those disgusting eyes, though I know nothing more.” Naruto nodded, glad to have the confirmation that it was an Uchiha.

His next question didn’t come out easily, he had to wrestle with his anxiety and force it out because he was terrified, yet excited to hear the answer.

“Did you…do you know who my parents are?” Amusement flickered in the foxes eyes, and he hummed in affirmation.

“I do.” Naruto’s eyes turned glassy, and he put a hand to his chest as his heartbeat began to quicken.

He nodded, silently urging the fox to continue, but gasped as his body began to fade from the room, and he woke up in Sasuke’s arms. He sat up, nearly head butting the Uchiha in the process, and looked around at the crowd that stared at them with wide eyes. He then remembered the Suna boy and moved towards his side, glaring at the civilians that were moving to attack him.

“Don’t touch him, you’ll regret it.” The crowd seemed outraged by his declaration to protect the boy.

“He’s a demon! He’s killed many of us and he’ll do it it again, stay away from him!” Naruto growled at them, pulling out a kunai and getting in a lowered battle stance.

“He’s as much a demon as I am. Don’t touch him.” Sasuke and Sai stepped up behind him, showing their silent support, and the crowd began to disperse; the good mood having disappeared long ago.

Sasuke crouched down and laid a hand on Naruto’s shoulder, trying to get his attention, but Naruto’s eyes stayed focused on the boy. Pale features twisted up in what looked like pain, and the boy's eyes snapped open as he took a deep breath. His sand immediately moved to protect him, and it threw Sasuke and Naruto back where they crashed into Sai. The Suna boy stood, his sand whipping around him violently, and began to walk slowly towards Naruto.

One negative thing about having an ever active Sharingan, was that Naruto would never forget moments like these; never able to forget that absolutely broken, terrified, and defeated look of someone who had only ever experienced pain.

“You need to leave, or I’m going to hurt you.” Sasuke and Sai picked Naruto up and tried to pull him away, but Naruto refused to leave.

He shook his head and stared at the boy in determination, his voice firm when he spoke.

“I’m not leaving, you’re like me. And like us-“ He gestured towards Sasuke and Sai.

“-I can’t leave you like this. Let me help you.” Once he said that, Sasuke and Sai understood why Naruto cared so much; the Suna boy must be a jinchuriki as well.

Teal eyes watered with tears and Naruto moved closer, ignoring the sand that whipped at him, leaving tiny cuts all over, and wrapped his arms around the boy.

“I understand.” The Suna boy froze under Naruto’s touch, and his sand fell to the ground.

“It’s going to be okay, you don’t have to be alone anymore.” Hot tears streamed down the boy's face as he let out a heartbroken sob, while Naruto rubbed soothing circles in his back.

Kakashi and Team Gai arrived on the scene shortly after, and tried to pry some answers out of Sasuke and Sai; but they shook their heads, signaling that this wasn’t their business to speak about. Kakashi moved closer and stopped a few feet away from the boys, his tone gentle when he spoke.

“Naruto, what’s going on here?” Naruto pulled away from the Suna boy and turned to look at Kakashi, his expression firm yet pleading.

“We’re taking him home with us.” Kakashi blinked in shock, but turned his attention to the Suna shinobi that appeared behind the two boys.

“I’m afraid we can’t allow that.” He tried to reach out and grab the redhead, but the boy's sand lifted and pushed him back.

Cold, teal eyes turned to glare at the shinobi that stared at him in disdain; while Naruto stepped in front of the boy and shielded him with his arm, his eyes blazing with fury.

“How can you all treat him like this? He’s a person, not an object.” The Suna shinobi sneered at the boy, laughing at the absurdity of his statement.

“A person? He’s a murderous beast. And he belongs to Suna, so he won’t be going anywhere.” The man looked towards Kakashi and Gai, staring at them with dark eyes.

“Keep your genin in check. We wouldn’t want to sever our, already thinning ties with Konoha.” Kakashi and Gai nodded, their expressions serious.

“We will, and offer our sincerest apologies for the disruption.” Naruto turned to Kakashi, his face screwed up in disbelief, and started to protest; but Kakashi stared at him in a way he never had before.

His eye was dark and empty, and he looked as though he would kill Naruto if he said one more word. This was the first time Naruto had ever felt scared in his presence, and he went completely still and silent, not daring to risk incurring the man’s wrath. All the Konoha shinobi watched quietly from the sidelines, hoping that this issue wouldn’t escalate further; and their prayers were answered shortly after.

Two young shinobi arrived at the Suna boys side, and stood a few feet away as they took in the situation. The boy in black with purple face paint spoke in an even, guarded tone.

“Gaara, father requests your presence.” Sharp teal eyes looked into Naruto’s sharingan, and softened briefly as the boy finally spoke.

His voice was rough, but held so much sorrow in it.

“I hope to meet you again, Naruto Uzumaki.” Naruto’s eyes widened and he pulled Gaara into a hug once more.

“I’ll come back for you, I promise. We’ll be here for the chunin exams next month.” Gaara hugged him back and fought the sadness that slowly crept into his mind.

Afterwards, he pulled away and waved to the other redhead, a small smile tugging at his lips.

“See you soon.” Naruto wiped a stray tear and smiled back, raising his hands and flashing peace signs at the boy.

“I can’t wait.” Gaara turned around and walked away, while his siblings looked back at the Konoha shinobi in suspicion.

“Kankuro, Temari, let’s go.” The pair frowned and spared Naruto one last glance, before turning around and running to catch up to their brother.

Naruto watched them until they disappeared from view, and then he turned around to greet the curious faces that stared back at him. Kakashi crossed his arms, his expression visibly irritated as he spoke to the boy in a stern tone.

“Naruto, do you understand the significance of what just happened? What you just tried to do?” Naruto’s eyes went wide and he shrugged, an ashamed flush burning his cheeks.

“Kind of, but I was just trying to help him..” Kakashi sighed and crouched down to Naruto’s level, his gaze softening as he spoke.

“Naruto, he’s this village's jinchuriki. Jinchuriki are a village's strongest weapon, and threatening to take that from them is something that could put Suna and Konoha at war with each other. You can’t ever say that again, let alone try to follow through on it.” Naruto bit his lip as grief, anger, and shame washed over him, and he nodded in understanding.

“This isn’t fair. If we’re so important, then why does everyone treat us like this?” Neji, TenTen, and Lee all gasped in shock as they finally realized who was responsible for Naruto’s suffering.

The very village that they had sworn to protect, grew up in and grown to love; the place that held so many beautiful memories for them, had been Naruto’s personal Hell. The very villagers that smiled at them in the streets, tortured and abused the poor boy that did nothing but exist. It was disgusting, and Neji began to feel sick as he realized how terribly he had treated the redhead.

Kakashi pulled Naruto into a hug, and took a deep breath when the boy's chest stuttered from the sobs that tried to escape him.

“They fear what they don’t understand, and are blinded by their grief and anger. It’s not fair to you, and I’m sorry that we can’t change their minds.” Sasuke and Sai moved closer and wrapped their arms around the boy as well.

“There’s really nothing we can do to help him?” Kakashi shook his head and looked at them sympathetically.

“No, the most you can do is visit when you become chunin.” That seemed to perk Naruto up, if only a little and he pulled away, beginning to wipe his tears.

“As long as I can visit him, I’ll be happy.” Kakashi smiled and ruffled the boy's hair.

“I’m sure he’ll like that too.” After that, everyone returned to the inn and made their way towards their rooms.

Naruto was about to enter their room, when a hand reached out and tugged at his sleeve, and he turned around to meet Neji’s surprisingly gentle gaze.

“Do you have a minute to spare?” Naruto raised an eyebrow at him, but nodded anyway and waved Sasuke and Sai forward.

They shot suspicious looks in Neji’s direction, but left the two boys alone. Neji seemed uncharacteristically nervous, and Naruto put a hand on his shoulder comfortingly.

“You okay? You don’t have to hold back, just say what you have to say.” Neji nodded and met Naruto’s inquisitive stare, his voice sounding hesitant when he spoke.

“I’m sorry…for how I’ve treated you so far. It was childish, and I misjudged you. I would like to make amends, if that’s something you would agree to.” Naruto knew that Neji was being honest, his chakra was teeming with sincerity and hope, and he smiled widely at the older boy.

“I appreciate that, really, it means a lot to me. We’re cool, so don’t stress about it anymore.” He held out his fist, and Neji bumped it with a small smile.

Naruto’s eyes widened when he saw Neji’s lips tilt up, and without thinking, he reached out and traced the boy's lips with his thumb.

“You have a beautiful smile.” Neji’s face flushed a deep crimson and Naruto flinched back, hearing Shisui’s commanding voice in the back of his mind.

‘Naruto, boundaries!’ He laughed nervously and scratched the back of his head, taking a step back towards his room.

“Sorry, I have a bad habit of invading peoples’ space. Good night.” He spun on his heel and left Neji standing in the hallway alone, his face still a bright pink.

The brunette blinked back his shock and returned to his room as well, ignoring TenTen and Lee’s curious eyes.

“What happened?” He shook his head and laid down, facing the wall so that they couldn’t see his face.

“Nothing bad, don’t worry about it.” Lee looked at TenTen, but she shrugged and put her hands up in defeat.

Lee struggled between pushing the boy for answers, and letting it be; Neji groaned when he decided to push.

“Did something happen with Naruto?” Neji glared at the boy, not wanting to speak on the topic, and looked back towards the wall.

“Can you mind your own business for once?” Lee frowned, but didn’t let this deter him; instead he left the room and went to confront Naruto.

Sasuke answered the door and stared at the boy expectantly, while Lee waved and spoke in a cheerful tone.

“Hello! May I speak with Naruto?” Naruto popped up behind Sasuke, wrapped his arms around the boy's torso, leaned on his shoulder, and raised an eyebrow at Lee.

“Can I help you?” Lee grinned at the pair and nodded enthusiastically.

“Yes, did something happen with Neji? He is acting strange.” Naruto hummed in thought and replied in a curious tone.

“Why don’t you ask him?” Lee shook his head and frowned.

“He wont tell us.” Naruto smiled and nuzzled further into Sasuke’s neck, maintaining eye contact with Lee.

“Then I suppose you should respect his wishes, no? It’s disrespectful to break your teammates’ trust like this.” Lee’s eyes widened and he hung his head in shame.

“I hadn’t thought of it that way, my apologies.” He bowed and made his way back to his room, while Sasuke and Naruto shared an amused look.

“Did something happen with Neji?” Naruto pulled away and shrugged, moving back to his sleeping area.

“Kind of? He apologized to me and I accepted. Though I might have made him uncomfortable, I touched him without thinking when I saw him smile.” Sasuke frowned, that same odd feeling creeping up on him again at the thought of Naruto touching someone else.

Sai he understood, Sai was family, but Neji?

Sasuke followed Naruto over to his spot and immediately cuddled up to his side, needing his physical reassurance at the moment. Naruto giggled and slung an arm around the boy, lifting his chin with his other hand so their eyes could meet. He placed a gentle kiss on Sasuke’s forehead, and rubbed his thumb soothingly across the boy's cheek.

“You’re my one and only, never forget that.” Sasuke blushed and nodded, feeling much better when Naruto cuddled him closer.

Sai watched them from across the room where he was drawing, and shook his head in exasperation. He didn’t understand them, and part of him might even be envious that he didn’t have someone like that. Sai knew that Naruto and Sasuke loved him, but he would never be to them, what they were to each other; and that kind of hurt. Maybe he could find that with someone else in the future though, he was young and the possibilities were endless; maybe he could be hopeful.

The rest of the night went smoothly for everyone, as they all were able to sleep soundly for the first time in nearly a month. They woke up the next morning, feeling refreshed and ready for their trip home, and headed out shortly after having breakfast.

Naruto spread his senses out to see if Gaara was around, but was disappointed when he couldn’t feel the boy anywhere. He departed Suna feeling like a piece of him was left behind, and spent their entire journey home lost in his thoughts.

The night was silent, apart from the slight rustling of grass as quick footsteps dashed through the forest.

Orochimaru raised a brow in apprehension, and jumped back to safety as a masked figure appeared in front of him. The scarlet glow of a sharingan flashed beneath the single eyehole of the mans’ orange, spiral mask, and Orochimaru hummed in interest. He took in the familiar black cloak, and its striking red clouds, and chuckled darkly.

“And so, the plot thickens. What can I do for you stranger?” The masked nin tilted his head to the side, and began to vanish into the air.

Orochimaru gasped as a finger ran up his spine, and the masked figure appeared from behind him, caressing his hair and jaw while he moved. Orochimaru’s lip curled up in a mix of confusion and irritation, and he stepped away from the man defensively. The masked man laughed and seemed to float away, landing a comfortable distance from the Sannin.

“I have a proposition for you.” Orochimaru raised an eyebrow in suspicion, but smiled playfully moments later as he decided to hear the man out.

“You have my full attention.”

Compared to all the lively, colorful places they had seen over the past month, the familiar streets of Konoha looked like the bowels of Hell to team Kakashi. Naruto, Sasuke and Sai all seemed to deflate upon their re-entry into the village; while Team Gai was ecstatic to finally be back within the safety of their home.

Hiruzen took in Team Kakashi’s weary faces and pressed them for answers; his expression darkening when Kakashi explained what had happened in Suna, as well as the attack from the rogue Iwa nin. He looked at Naruto with a stern expression, and rested his head on his entwined fingers.

“Do you know where you went wrong, Naruto?” The redhead nodded, his face devoid of emotion, and the Hokage continued.

“Good, remember that in the future. As for the rest of you, the details of this mission are now confidential. Everything you saw and heard in Suna did not happen; if anyone asks, then you delivered the message, stayed the night, and came home the next day. Do you all understand?” Both teams nodded in affirmation and the Hokage hummed in approval.

“You are all dismissed.” Once he was alone again, Hiruzen sagged in his chair and rubbed at his face in distress, trying to find a positive in all of this.

He wondered if Konoha would be able to strengthen their bond with Suna through their respective jinchuriki. Rather than it turning into a power struggle, they could use it as a reason to unite, and achieve balance together; it was certainly an intriguing idea. Hiruzen snorted in amusement, knowing that it would be much more difficult to achieve than it sounded, and began to fill his pipe. Even so, it was worth a shot; and they had an opportunity to explore that idea in just a month's time. It seems that Naruto had created the perfect opportunity for them; and Hiruzen would be sure to take advantage of it, if possible.

He lit his pipe and took a long draw from it, his eyes glancing warily towards the door as a figure entered without permission. He chuckled and took another pull from his pipe, but his eyes narrowed and turned serious as he exhaled.

“Danzo my old friend, what can I do for you?”

Pink streaks painted the sky as the sun began to set, while three boys walked aimlessly through the training grounds at the outskirts of Konoha.

Sai and Sasuke watched Naruto with concerned eyes as he fidgeted with the sleeves of his jacket, his bangs hanging in his face while he looked to the ground. Sasuke hesitantly looped his arm around Naruto’s and knocked their heads together, his voice soft when the redhead met his gaze.

“What happened in Suna?” Naruto’s expression turned pensive and he was silent for a minute while he gathered his thoughts.

Sai and Sasuke’s eyes widened in surprise when the redhead began speaking in a serious tone.

“I met Kyuubi. He told me that an Uchiha forced him to attack the village, and that he knows who my parents are.” Sasuke blanched when he heard the first part, but something seemed to mentally click and his face lit up in understanding moments later.

His voice was louder than intended when he spoke, but he couldn’t contain the emotions that began to bubble up inside him.

“Do you think that this could be connected to the Massacre?” Naruto nodded, already having come to that conclusion hours ago, and spoke in a solemn tone.

“It has to be. If everyone blamed the Uchiha’s for the attack, then they were bound to grow resentful. But I don’t know how that could have led to the Massacre, unless the Uchiha did something else in the time between the attack and that night.” Sasuke pursed his lips as his expression turned thoughtful, while Sai hummed in understanding and voiced his thoughts.

“Perhaps they were planning something. Sasuke, you said that the adults in your clan had become secretive, as well as your brother before that night right?” Sasuke’s eyes turned fearful and he nodded, his face becoming paler than usual, while Sai’s expression turned sympathetic.

“It may be possible that they were planning to harm the village, and so the Hokage took preventative measures.” Sasuke clenched his fists as anger rushed through him, Sai’s words having made far too much sense for him to ignore, and he bit his lip in frustration.

Naruto hugged him from behind and rested his head on his shoulder, his voice calm and steady as he spoke.

“Don’t lose your head Sasuke, remember the plan. We’ll figure out a way to confirm this, you can’t give in to your anger until then okay?” Sasuke took a deep breath and nodded, his pulse beginning to slow as he mimicked Naruto’s breathing.

“Oh my, this is quite a touching moment.” The trio flinched as a foreign voice reached their ears, and leapt back as they prepared for combat.

A masked stranger dropped from one of the trees nearby and landed softly at its base, his posture casual yet confident. Naruto stepped in front of Sasuke and held out an arm to shield him, while he eyed the newcomer with suspicion. Sai moved closer to them and shielded Sasuke as well, knowing that Naruto would lose control if anything happened to the Uchiha. The stranger tilted his head to the side, a single red eye glowing from behind his orange spiral mask as he continued speaking.

Naruto and Sasuke tensed as they recognized the sharingan, but they stayed still and silent as the man spoke.

“There’s no need for violence, I’ve come to offer my help to you.” Naruto shook his head and glared at the man, while he answered in a low, warning tone.

“We don’t need your help, leave us alone.” Sasuke laid a hand on Naruto’s shoulder and spoke quietly into his ear, while the man smiled slyly beneath his mask.

“We should at least hear him out. Clearly he’s not aligned with the village, neither are we, so we should see what he has to offer before rejecting him.” Naruto clucked his tongue, but nodded in understanding and gestured for the man to speak.

A quiet chuckle echoed throughout the forest as the man met their expectant gazes, and he spoke in a slightly playful tone this time.

“I have some information that you might be interested in. Important information that nobody else knows, or will tell you.” The trio shared a dubious look and Sasuke answered in a guarded tone.

“Why would you help us?” The man shrugged nonchalantly, and leaned back against the tree he had descended earlier.

“Because you need my help, and I’m willing to offer it free of charge.” Somehow the trio didn’t believe that, but they weren’t about to turn down an opportunity to finally receive some answers.

If they were in danger and this man knew why, then they didn’t have much choice but to trust him. Naruto’s brows furrowed and he pointed a kunai at the man, his voice firm and demanding as he spoke.

“What do you know?” The man chuckled once more, the sound deep and almost chilling, and answered with a question of his own.

“What do you want to know?” Sasuke answered easily, the temptation of the offer being too much to resist.

“Why were the Uchiha killed? Why by my own brother?” The man hummed in thought while he considered how to word his reply, and the trio waited with bated breath for his answer.

The last of the sunlight vanished as the night sky took over, and the moon appeared from behind the clouds to greet them. A chill wind swept through the area and Naruto growled as multiple presences appeared on either side of them, their weapons drawn and bodies tensed as they readied for battle. The masked man stepped away from the tree and waved at the boys, his tone light and dismissive as he began walking away.

“I see you have company, I’ll return at a later date so we can finish this conversation.” Naruto glared angrily at the man and pulled Sai behind him, his attention now moving towards their enemies.

There seemed to be two separate groups that he could see: one that was led by a man with long, black hair, while the other appeared to be some kind of Konoha ANBU. The boys could tell that whoever these people were, they didn’t have pure intentions and would surely not hesitate to kill them if necessary.

Sai watched the masked shinobi with fearful eyes and Naruto looked back when he felt the boy's panic rise, his brow knitting together in confusion. He noticed then, that the masked ninja were all dressed similar to Sai and his suspicion only grew from there, but he didn’t have time to mull it over. One of the shinobi moved and Naruto pushed Sasuke and Sai back, his body twisting around to parry the attack that was aimed at Sasuke. At that moment, chaos ensued as every enemy ninja descended upon them, and the trio grit their teeth as they struggled to fight back.

The black haired man watched from the sidelines with a calculating expression, as the boys slowly but surely began to cut through their opponents. A long tongue peeked out and he licked his lips, his golden eyes roaming appreciatively over the boys’ forms as they ducked and weaved around the multiple blades that slashed at them. He noted that they were all indeed highly skilled for their age, and he was looking forward to seeing how far he could push them.

Sasuke ran through hand signs and began forming a fireball, but grunted and flew backwards as a body crashed into him. He skidded across the ground and groaned as pain spread throughout his limbs, but opened his eyes and turned his attention towards the fast approaching enemy. Sasuke’s eyes widened and he rolled away from the blade that nearly decapitated him, yet was thrown once more as another masked shinobi buried their foot in his gut. His body flew through the air and he prepared himself for a rough landing, but gasped in shock as strong arms caught and cradled him close.

Sasuke immediately recognized Naruto’s presence and relaxed a bit, their sharingan darting around looking for enemies as they landed.

Two of the five masked shinobi remained, as well as the black haired man and three of his shinobi, and the trio realized then that they would most likely lose this battle. They were outnumbered, lacking in skill and experience, and clearly were destined for failure from the start. Despite this though, they pushed forward, receiving deep wounds and heavy blows as they fought for their lives.

Sasuke clucked his tongue in frustration as another one of his jutsu was interrupted by a masked ninja, but he moved quickly and drew his sword in time to slash another that came at him from behind. A choked gasp came from beneath the mask, and the ninja slumped over as Sasuke removed their head from their shoulders. The Uchiha turned away and moved to jump back into the fight, but froze when he saw Sai’s horrified expression. He followed the boys gaze and saw the unmasked head of the shinobi he had just killed, its face pale and frozen in a pained grimace.

Shoulder length blue hair shone brightly under the moonlight, its color muddied by the blood that soaked its ends, and glassy eyes stared unseeing up into the trees above it. Sai ran over to the body and dropped to his knees, a hand covering his mouth as he tried not to gag at the sight before him. Sasuke felt the cold stab of betrayal in his chest, and his expression turned enraged as he realized that Sai had been their enemy the entire time. His focus then turned to Naruto, and he leapt into action as he saw the black haired man run towards the redhead, his heart racing while he prayed that he would make it in time.

Sasuke grit his teeth and hissed in irritation though as a body slid into view, a familiar pair of eyes glowing from underneath the man’s straw hat. Sasuke’s eyes roamed over the black cloak and its familiar red cloud pattern, then settled on a face that was not too dissimilar from his own. A mix of fear and heartache began to creep through him and he clenched his sword, desperately trying to maintain his courage. Neither of them moved, nor did they say anything, and Sasuke looked at Naruto's fight in the background, his eyes darting around as he watched the redhead battle the older shinobi.

Naruto cursed under his breath as the man rushed forward, and he blocked the fist that swung towards his gut. He was swept off his feet though as a foot buried itself into his side, but he righted himself midair and did a back handspring to avoid the flurry of attacks that chased him. Piercing golden eyes widened in interest as Naruto countered the man’s every move, and he laughed darkly as he began to speed up. Naruto gasped in pain as a hand slammed into his neck, and he stumbled around until the man crashed into his back, throwing him straight into a tree.

Naruto opened his eyes, but struggled to focus as the world appeared to be spinning around without an end in sight. He laid a hand on the tree to steady himself, and took a deep breath before shooting towards the man that waited eagerly for him. Pale lips parted in an almost feral grin as the man played with Naruto, his heart filled with glee as he watched the boy push past his limits in a futile attempt to save himself, and his friends.

Naruto’s cheeks burned in aggravation as his every attempt to use jutsu was thwarted, and after a while his lungs began to burn from overexertion. Still he pressed on, his eyes bloodshot and focused solely on his opponent, while his limbs moved faster than his mind could keep up since his body was moving on pure instinct alone. Just when he thought that he had a chance to win, the man would speed up and his attacks would double in strength, and Naruto was becoming tired.

He tried to sense out Sasuke and Sai but was barely able to find a moment to breathe as it was, and as the silence around them grew, so did Naruto’s fear for their survival. Scarlet eyes widened, and Naruto doubled over in pain as a flurry of kicks and punches landed all over his body. He silently cursed himself for losing focus and grabbed the leg that shot towards him, his body swinging upwards as he slammed his feet into the man’s face. The man stumbled backwards and Naruto body flickered behind him, his fingers flying through hand signs as he blasted a wind jutsu into the man’s back. A giant wind blade shot forward and buried itself into the stranger's body, cutting him clean in two and allowing Naruto a chance to seek out his team.

He spotted Sai, bent over and chest heaving as he held the body of one of the masked shinobi in his arms, and his jaw dropped in disbelief. Naruto clenched his fist, hoping that what he was seeing was a misunderstanding, but had a sinking feeling that he was right. His attention was drawn elsewhere though as he felt an unfamiliar presence, its refined chakra fluctuating with excitement while it battled Sasuke. Naruto immediately pushed away any thoughts of Sai, not wanting to unpack what he had just witnessed, and raced towards Sasuke’s side before anything could happen to the boy.

Sasuke gasped as Itachi kicked him backwards, then appeared above him seconds later and slammed him roughly into the ground with his fist. Sasuke coughed and choked on the blood that flooded his mouth, while his body ached from the impact of this fight. Itachi moved to finish him off, but looked over coolly as a blade swung into his view, a pair of sharingan following it and glowing in fury as Naruto pressed forward.

When Naruto met the enemy nin's gaze though, he didn’t see Itachi; instead he saw dark eyes that were framed by a pair of glasses, and a head full of hair that was a similar shade to Kakashi’s. A cocky smirk pulled at the man’s lips as he traded blows with the redhead. He was thoroughly enjoying the boy's tenacity and blind rage, and he decided to push him harder.

He parried Naruto’s attacks with relative ease, but his eyes widened in interest as the boy's pupils turned into slits and his whisker marks began to darken. A feral growl tore out of Naruto’s throat as his teeth began to elongate and turn into fangs, and his speed and strength increased tenfold. The enemy nin grit his teeth as he struggled to keep up with the boy, and the minutes passed slowly before a grin crept onto his face and he leapt away from the redhead.

Glowing crimson eyes followed the man, and Naruto inhaled sharply when he saw him land next to the black haired man from earlier. He shot forward as the pair stood over Sasuke, evil grins plastered on their faces as one of them lifted the Uchiha up by his hair and put a kunai to his throat. Naruto pushed past all his pain and fear, and used every last ounce of his energy to reach Sasuke, but cried out in despair and frustration as a masked nin appeared and wrestled him to the ground. He fought with all his strength, but hot tears gathered in his eyes as strong fingers tangled in his hair and jerked his head in Sasuke’s direction.

Naruto’s face twisted in horror, while his eyes began to burn as the kunai was dragged across the Uchiha’s throat, and he thrashed in the masked shinobi’s hold as they dropped Sasuke’s body in the dirt. Naruto went still and his eyes glazed over immediately, his mind shutting down as he struggled to process what he had just seen. He felt the enemy nin put handcuffs on him and lift him up, but he didn’t even try to move; if Sasuke was dead then Naruto didn’t care what happened to him anymore.

He did listen to his surroundings though, as the shinobi approached the ones that had killed Sasuke and began speaking in an emotionless tone.

“Danzo-sama thanks you for your help tonight, and asks that you hold up your end of the bargain in return. He expects you in one hour, do not be late.” Naruto cursed himself for allowing the shinobi to capture him, but stayed still and continued to listen while he waited for a chance to escape.

Sasuke wheezed as he sat up and looked around for Naruto, his vision blurry and unfocused as he struggled to stand. He caught sight of them fighting in the background and moved to join them, but cried out in pain as something latched onto his neck from behind.

A deep burning sensation began to flood his senses and Sasuke gasped as his body began to tremble, unable to hold up his weight any further. He wavered slightly before collapsing onto the ground, his vision beginning to darken as he reached out towards Naruto’s form in the distance. Right before he lost consciousness, the orange masked man from earlier appeared in front of him and waved animatedly, his voice friendly and oddly excited as he spoke to the Uchiha.

“Don’t worry Sasuke, we’ll take good care of your friend. Sleep well!” Sasuke’s eyes widened and he tried to summon the energy to move, but screamed helplessly as his limbs refused to obey him.

Tears of frustration and grief gathered in his eyes as he watched Itachi appear behind Naruto, and he cried out in agony as the man used his own sword to impale the redhead straight through his heart. He saw blood spew from Naruto’s mouth, and the way his body shook from shock and slumped lifelessly to the ground, and felt all his determination to survive vanish within seconds.

The pain in his shoulder suddenly grew exponentially and Sasuke’s eyes rolled back into his head as he passed out, though fresh tears continued to stream down his face.

A sinister laugh echoed throughout the forest as pale hands sealed the Uchiha into a large basket, and the man turned to greet a masked shinobi that was carrying the jinchuriki.

Naruto took slow, shallow breaths to hide his consciousness, and began to prepare himself for his escape. The nin that held him was waiting on backup and Naruto knew that he needed to run before they arrived, or else he would end up locked away by the same man that killed Shisui. Apparently that man, Danzo, and the one that killed Sasuke, Orochimaru, had teamed up to separate them and kidnap Naruto. They were also planning to assassinate the third Hokage. Why, he didn’t know. Nor did he understand what Orochimaru had to gain from killing Sasuke. All he knew was that he needed to escape, and fast.

So, he slowly gathered chakra in his hands and listened carefully as the shinobi discussed their plans. His patience never wavered as he focused on his survival, and he managed to catch them by surprise when he shattered the handcuffs with his chakra.

He didn’t look back even once, and he fought the vomit that threatened to escape him when he passed Sasuke’s corpse. Still he ran, his muscles protesting with every step but his stubbornness unwilling to let them take him away. If he was going to die then so be it, but they wouldn’t have the satisfaction of completing their mission. He wouldn’t allow any of their blood stained fingers to come near him again, not until he avenged Sasuke.

He grit his teeth as he felt more shinobi race towards him, and called out to the Kyuubi for help as a last ditch effort. Nothing happened for a minute while Naruto scaled the walls of the village and landed roughly on the ground below, but energy began to flow steadily through him as he sprinted into the surrounding forest. His senses became heightened to nearly overwhelming levels and he bolted through the trees, feeling relieved when the distance between him and the enemies began to grow once more.

He remained vigilant though, even when their presences vanished into the background Naruto refused to stop or look back. He pushed his body to the limit, part of him grateful for the strain as it distracted him from the memory of Sasuke’s death and Sai’s betrayal. It still didn’t feel real, hours later and Naruto felt as though he was in a dream, reality being only a whisper of a thought in the back of his mind. He couldn’t feel his limbs anymore, could barely stay awake, yet his body continued to run through various different landscapes until he finally collapsed in the warm sand dunes of Suna.

Right before his head hit the ground though, strong arms wrapped around him and a familiar voice reached his ears, telling him that he was safe to sleep. So he listened, unable to fight his exhaustion any longer, and went limp in the person's hold within seconds.

Raindrops.

That was the first thing that Naruto heard when he woke up. The room he was in was cold, but the sound of raindrops pattering softly against the exterior of the building sounded oddly comforting, and the bed he was in was cozy and warm.

For just a moment, he allowed himself to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and comforting environment. Once that moment was over though, he was assaulted by his memories from the night before, and he sat up quickly as grief and despair began to wash over him. Sasuke’s blood, flowing freely from his slashed neck and soaking his clothes. The malicious grins that mocked him as the Uchiha’s body was tossed carelessly into the dirt. The shinobi that hunted him for hours while he barely stayed conscious. And Sai. Sai who Naruto had grown to love, Sai whose allegiance had been revealed, and Sai who would become a mutilated pile of flesh the next time Naruto laid eyes on him.

Rage began to consume him, bubbling up painfully inside of him and Naruto felt his mind become cloudy as the Kyuubi’s influence started to take control. At that moment, a low chuckle echoed around the room, followed by the sound of slow clapping as a masked man appeared from the shadows.

“I like that look in your eyes, the anger and hatred. So much like myself.” Naruto’s fury increased when he saw the man, that familiar orange mask reminding him of the night before and how he had left them there to die.

Without hesitation, Naruto flew forward and began to viciously attack the stranger, but growled in annoyance as every single one went through as if the man didn’t exist. The shinobi began to twist around Naruto’s limbs as they aimed for him, and eventually he reached out and clasped their hands together.

He laughed when the redhead tried to kick him, and began to dance around in a circular pattern while he hummed a slow tune.

“Isn’t this much nicer than fighting Naruto? Dancing is a fun and healthy way to express our feelings, try it.” The man's voice was calm yet playful, and Naruto felt all of his anger turn into confusion as he let himself be spun around by the weird shinobi.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” A joyful laugh reached Naruto’s ears as the man lifted him up and twirled him around.

“Do you really want to know?” Naruto rolled his eyes and scowled at the man, assuming that his curiosity was obvious, and the man hummed thoughtfully before speaking.

“Much like you, I lost everything that I loved and was betrayed by those who I was supposed to trust. I suppose that kind of thing can change a person.” Naruto looked away and said nothing, feeling utterly confused about his feelings in regards to this man.

He didn’t understand what happened last night, what part the man played in it, nor how he was supposed to move forward from here, so he remained silent and thought about it some more.

They continued like this for a while, the man humming his song while Naruto relaxed in his hold and even began to step in time with him. The boy thought it was strange, perhaps the strangest encounter he’d ever had with a person, yet nothing about the man’s chakra indicated that he was harboring any malicious intent. In fact, his chakra was warm and inviting, yet held an underlying sadness to it that only fueled Naruto’s curiosity. He looked up into the man’s mask, searching for the Sharingan that he knew was under there, and voiced the question that had been floating around in his mind.

“Who are you?” The stranger tilted his head to the side as if he didn’t understand the question, but hummed and answered moments later in a light tone.

“You could say I’m a friend that wants to help.” Naruto scoffed and freed his hands from the man’s grasp, already growing tired of his cryptic answers, and replied in a cold tone.

“No friend of mine would have let Sasuke die. Why did you leave us there if you wanted to help us?” The man shrugged dismissively and answered in an even tone.

“I don’t meddle in the affairs of others unless I’m certain of my victory. You were my main priority, Sasuke was collateral damage.” Naruto clenched his fists and fought the anger that burned inside him, the man’s words bouncing around his head and making his blood boil.

How dare this stranger speak about Sasuke like that? As if he was nothing but a tool, a minor loss in a major game. He might even be right, but to Naruto that statement was simply unforgivable.

“You should have left me there to die with him. I don’t want to be here and I don’t need anything from you!” The masked shinobi tsk’d and crossed his arms childishly.

“Don’t be so narrow minded, think of all the opportunities this second chance can offer you.” Naruto shook his head in disgust and turned away, searching for an exit so he could put as much distance between himself and this man as possible.

But, the stranger had no intention of letting him leave just yet, and he appeared in front of the boy right as he reached the door.

“Ah ah ah, I wouldn’t be too hasty if I were you.” Naruto groaned in frustration and threw his fist forward, smirking when the man went intangible and he could close his hand around the knob.

The man chuckled and stepped to the side, following Naruto out the door as he began to traverse through the rain filled city. The boy obviously didn’t know where he was going, so the masked man trailed along silently until Naruto stopped in the middle of the street and sat down, tears mixing in with the rain that streamed down his face.

He punched the ground weakly, his body shaking and heaving as he began to accept the reality of Sasuke’s death, and his permanent departure from the Konoha. Naruto was a rogue ninja now, no family, no sensei, no village; and he thought that maybe it was better that way. Sasuke was killed because of him, there was no doubt in his mind about that, so he figured it would be wise for him to stay away from others as well. Who’s to say that Kakashi wouldn’t be next? He was the only person left that Naruto cared for, and the boy couldn’t even handle the death he was grieving right now, let alone seeing his last living bond be forcefully severed by someone else’s hand.

Even if he wanted to go back there was no life left for him there anymore, and from this point on there really wasn’t a life for him to live anywhere. There would be no Sasuke to greet him in the morning with breakfast, no Sai to decorate their home with beautiful paintings, and no Kakashi or Shisui to be the older brother that he so desperately needed. Naruto’s life was empty now, returned to the way it was six years ago yet somehow a million times worse.

He thought then, if there was even a point to him continuing on at all; all he had known was misery, every beautiful thing he’d ever seen was ripped away from him, and tragedy seemed to follow him everywhere. Why even bother fighting for a life that wasn’t worth living?

Naruto laughed bitterly and slumped backwards, feeling exhaustion claiming his body once more while the masked man watched in interest from the sidelines. His eye followed the redhead as he laid down in the mud, and the man tentatively walked closer to join him. Naruto didn’t acknowledge his presence, only stared up into the stormy sky as it mercilessly pelted him with rain.

He wondered what the man’s plans were though, and why he would even bother trying to comfort him if he had cruel intentions anyway. Surely he didn’t truly want to help the boy? No, Naruto was sure that the man wanted something, everyone did, he just had to find out what it was. Maybe the man could help him avenge Sasuke, that would be something I look forward to. Something to drive him forward and work towards.

Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad…

Naruto sighed in defeat and turned to look at the masked shinobi, his expression blank and voice rough as he spoke.

“If I stay with you, will you train me?” The man didn’t move or speak for a while, his mask facing the sky as his mind raced with thoughts and memories.

Eventually though, he turned to face the boy and answered in a gentle tone.

“Yes, but I have someone who can train you better. He’s the one that brought you here from Suna.” Naruto’s brow furrowed in confusion, as he wondered who could have possibly rescued him and thought to bring him here.

His questions remained unanswered when he voiced them though, and Naruto groaned in irritation when the man told him why.

“Learn to find beauty in the mysteries of life, Naruto. That’s my first lesson to you. There’s little joy to be found in discovery when all has been told beforehand, enjoy the journey to truth rather than the destination.” Naruto scoffed and looked at the man like he was insane, his lip curling up in annoyance as he felt the amusement fluctuating in the man’s chakra.

“Okay Kakashi 2.0, thanks for the tip. I’ll keep that in mind or whatever." The man's chakra wavered nervously after hearing Kakashi’s name and Naruto cast a suspicious glance his way, his mind wondering if there was meaning behind it or if it was just a coincidence.

Instead of pushing the issue though, he turned his attention back to the sky and let the rain envelope him completely. Trying to unravel the man’s past and thoughts was far too great a task for his tired mind at the moment, and Naruto would rather rest than try to dig for answers. There was too much that he didn’t know right now, and he hoped only that the man would tell him the truth at some point in the future.

They laid this way for quite some time, the soothing sounds of the storm echoing around them as they began to relax, and eventually Naruto felt ready to move again. He stood on shaky legs, ignoring the mud that caked his body, and stared down at the masked stranger with curious eyes.

“What’s your name?” The man’s eye slid open, revealing the sharingan that Naruto had been looking for, and answered in a quiet voice.

“You can call me Tobi.” Naruto nodded in understanding and held a hand out to the shinobi, a half smile pulling at his lips when the man seemed surprised at his gesture.

He accepted the hand though and Naruto helped him up, the pair taking one last look around the village before vanishing from sight.

Sasuke bolted up in bed, a scream spilling from his lips as he whipped his head around furiously while trying to recognize his surroundings.

The room he was in was dark and cold though, and the only light to be seen came from underneath the door. Memories from the night prior flashed before his eyes, and he clutched his heart in agony as the vision of Naruto being impaled repeated over and over again. The way he gasped for air and choked on his own blood, the way his body crumpled lifelessly to the ground, and that look. The brief glimpse of his face that Sasuke had gotten before the masked man showed up. The fear in his eyes was unmistakable, but it wasn’t fear for his own survival, it was for Sasuke’s.

The Uchiha felt his heart shatter as he realized that even in death, Naruto only worried for him, and he cried. He cried for the love he had lost, the only family he had left that Itachi managed to rip away from him once more, and then he screamed. He screamed until his throat was raw and no sound could come out, until his mouth tasted like iron and his lungs burned from over exertion, and then he became angry. Rage unlike he’d ever felt sparked inside Sasuke and began to consume him entirely, an unfamiliar power beginning to course through his body as he stood and left the room.

The halls were empty and maze-like, but Sasuke sprinted through them anyway as he desperately searched for an exit. In his haste, he failed to notice the elder shinobi that trailed quietly after him, and he tensed when the man appeared abruptly in front of him. Golden eyes appraised his form and the man nodded in appreciation, his voice low and raspy when he spoke.

“You wear the curse mark well, I look forward to seeing you progress with it.” Sasuke scowled and pushed past the man, running straight for the door that led to his freedom.

An amused chuckle echoed throughout the corridor and the man called out to him, his tone playful and joking.

“Oh, going so soon? Pray tell, where will your travels take you little Sasuke?” The Uchiha grit his teeth and ignored the man, he didn’t care where he went because anywhere was better than the home of his kidnapper.

The door slammed open and Sasuke ran through it, only to find a spacious laboratory that had only a single operating table, and a tray to the side that was filled with multiple kinds of tools and vials of liquids. Sasuke took a step back in horror as his eyes darted around the room, the smell of rot reaching his nostrils and the sight of endless blood splatters soaking the floor and walls, making his stomach churn in disgust.

Another step back forced him to collide with the pale man and Sasuke jumped away, his sharingan lighting up in fear while he pulled out a kunai to defend himself. The man’s lips stretched into a terrifying smile and he laughed into his hand, the sound grating against Sasuke’s ear drums and making every hair on his body stand on end.

“We can play this the hard way if you want Sasuke-kun, but trust me when I say that it’s better to be with me than against me. I can offer you all the power you’ve dreamed of, enough to destroy Konoha single-handedly if that’s what you wish.” Sasuke’s eyes narrowed in suspicion, and he gripped the kunai tighter is his hand as he spat at the man’s feet.

“You attacked Naruto, you helped Itachi kill him. Then you kidnapped me and now won’t let me leave, why would I trust you?” The man chuckled again, causing Sasuke’s irritation to rise further, but held his hands up in a placating gesture when he saw the Uchiha’s reaction.

“I did attack Naruto, yes, but my intention wasn’t to kill him or aid in his killing. I was there to rescue both of you from Danzo.” Sasuke scoffed and rolled his eyes, not believing a single word.

“Am I supposed to believe that? Nothing that happened that night makes any sense, least of all some stranger allegedly being there to rescue us. Who are you, and what the hell do you want from me?” The man’s eyes never left Sasuke’s, but he did put a finger to his lip in thought as he considered his reply.

“I’m Orochimaru of the Sannin, and believe it or not I was there for both of you. Danzo was after Naruto and asked for my help in disposing of you, in exchange he will dispose of the Third Hokage for me. I feel that is a great waste of potential, you both are gifted shinobi that should be handled with great care, and I’m not one for letting premium meat spoil.” Sasuke grimaced at the man's choice of words, but remained focused as he continued his line of questioning.

“If Danzo is responsible for this, then why were my brother and the other cloaked man also after Naruto?” Orochimaru smiled mischievously and answered in an amused tone.

“He carries a tremendous amount of power, and is an invaluable asset to any village or organization. Do you think it would be easier to steal him away then, or wait until he’s chained up in the forgotten bowels of Konoha?” Sasuke clenched his fist as comprehension dawned on him, but still he pressed on as his mind begged for more answers.

“So Naruto’s alive then? They didn’t actually kill him?” That same sneaky smile returned and Orochimaru shrugged halfheartedly.

“It’s difficult to say, once he was in Itachi’s reach I decided to rescue you alone.” Anger burned inside him once more, but Sasuke winced and put a hand on his shoulder as pain began to radiate throughout the entire area.

He dropped to a knee and grit his teeth as he looked up at the older man in contempt.

“What did you do to me?” Orochimaru hummed in thought and leaned against the wall, his snakelike eyes glittering in the dim light.

“Like I said earlier, you wear the curse mark well. It’s a design of my own, it connects us and allows you to use my power when you need it. There are many benefits to it, the only catch is that once you complete your goals, your body becomes mine.” Sasuke’s lip curled in disgust and he shook his head, nearly laughing at the absurdity of that statement.

“Take it off then, there’s no world in which I dedicate my life to you. I want nothing and owe you nothing.” Orochimaru tilted his head to the side curiously and raised an eyebrow at the boy.

“And why not? Tell me boy, where will you go? Surely not back to Konoha where your attempted murderer lives, or the imprisonment that awaits you. You have no connections outside the village, no family or friends to take you in. What is your purpose, other than to grow stronger under my tutelage and seek revenge?” Sasuke’s mouth hung open as he tried to refute the man’s claim, but he found that there was nothing he could deny.

Without Naruto he had nothing, his life was dark and meaningless. There was no future for him other than to avenge the ones he’s lost, then he could finally lay down and join them in the afterlife. Sasuke sighed and hung his lead low, his limbs losing all their energy as he accepted his defeat, and the fate that awaited him. A few tears slipped down his cheeks, but Sasuke wiped them immediately and buried his feelings deep down inside, vowing that from this point on he would never cry again.

Not for anyone or anything.

A cold pair of sharingan looked up moments later and met Orochimaru’s expectant stare, and the older man’s grin returned as Sasuke spoke in a low tone.

“I accept your offer.”

Kakashi didn’t know how it happened, but things in Konoha seemed to change completely overnight.

The last he remembered, he had bid his students farewell and returned home so that he could rest. When he awoke, the sky was cloudy and gloomy, and there wasn’t a single soul walking the streets other than the ANBU that patrolled the area.

When questioned, the ANBU stated that Kakashi was to join all other active shinobi in the Hokage tower, where they would be briefed on the new developments in the village. Kakashi eyed the shinobi suspiciously, not recognizing their voice or chakra, and wondered what the hell was going on. Instead of ruminating over it though, he quickly made his way to the Hokage’s office where he was greeted not by Hiruzen Sarutobi, but by Danzo Shimura.

He tried to hide his surprise, but Danzo smirked when he saw Kakashi’s eye widen in disbelief, and he rested his head on his entwined fingers as he began speaking. All other shinobi in the room had pained expressions on their faces, and Kakashi felt a sense of dread creep up on him.

“I’m sure you have many questions.” Everyone nodded but said nothing, only listened to the man intently as he continued.

“Late last night, Orochimaru of the Sannin infiltrated Konoha and assassinated the Third. Not only that, but the last Uchiha and our jinchuriki were found missing as well.” Kakashi put a hand to his heart as a deep ache began to spread throughout it, and his eye widened further in horror as the reality of the situation crashed into him.

Danzo seemed incredibly distraught after sharing the news of Sasuke and Naruto’s disappearance, but Kakashi noted that he almost seemed relieved when revealing Hiruzen’s death. Anger, grief and suspicion bloomed inside of him, and Kakashi took a step back, unable to process all the information he’d taken in. He didn’t want to believe that so much could’ve happened overnight; that the Third had fallen so quietly, or that his students had vanished without a trace. It didn’t make sense, and Danzo could tell that Kakashi didn’t believe a word he was hearing.

So, he narrowed his eyes and summoned a squad of his ANBU, while Kakashi took another step back in apprehension. The other shinobi watched silently, not daring to speak up and risk incurring Danzo’s wrath; they knew that the man was capable of dangerous things, especially now that he was the stand-in Hokage.

“Since we have no leads on where Sasuke and Naruto are, nor do we know if they were even kidnapped, I have branded them as rogue ninja. All Konoha shinobi have been ordered to either capture or kill them on sight, and I expect no less from you all. Seeing as you’re their sensei, Kakashi, you will be taken to T&I and held there until proven innocent.” Kakashi’s jaw dropped in shock and he leapt away from the ANBU that moved to apprehend him, his heart beating wildly in his chest as he shunshinned from the room and raced towards the gates.

With the Third dead, and no one but Danzo to run the village, then Kakashi was sure that it was only a matter of time before Konoha fell into despair. Not to mention that his students were missing, and Kakashi knew that they hadn’t run away. There had to be another explanation for it all, and he was going to find out what it was.

Kakashi crossed the gate and leapt into the trees, putting all his strength into his legs as he tried to outrun the shinobi that were hot on his heels. Suddenly, a young ANBU appeared on the tree in front of him, and Kakashi leapt to another branch to avoid whatever attack they might throw his way. As his foot connected with the branch though, a small black snake slithered up leg and began to restrict his movements, causing him to fall to the ground. The snake stretched around his body and immobilized him completely, and Kakashi cursed as the ANBU began to surround him.

A young, familiar voice spoke to one of the other shinobi, and Kakashi’s eye widened in disbelief when he recognized it.

“Sai?” The ANBU turned away, saying nothing, but that was enough of an answer to confirm Kakashi’s fears.

He shook his head in disappointment and hung it low as the ANBU began carrying him back to the village, his heart breaking from the loss that he had experienced yet again.

Fear and anxiety began to course through him as Kakashi wondered what fate awaited him now, what punishment Danzo would give for trying to escape. He also wondered if the Hokage’s death had been quick or painful, whether Sasuke and Naruto were even alive, and if anyone else besides Orochimaru was involved. Surely the Sannin hadn’t killed the Third alone, so there had to be much more to this story than anyone would let on.

Kakashi looked over to Sai with a pleading expression and voiced his thoughts, hoping that the boy would do him one last favor before he was hidden away in T&I for an unknown period of time.

“Are they alive? That’s all I need to know, are Sasuke and Naruto alive?” Sai didn’t look at him, his head remained trained forward while his mask covered the myriad of emotions that flitted across his face.

Kakashi sighed in relief though when the boy nodded, even if it was barely noticeable, and he felt grateful at least that the pair had survived the horrors of that night. He hoped with everything he had that they were safe and being cared for, the idea of them suffering even more was too much for Kakashi to bear.

So, he accepted his fate as a traitor and said nothing when they carted him into a dark cell. They removed his headband and put a seal over his eye to prevent him from using the Sharingan, and they bound him with chakra suppression cuffs and shackles. He sat there, countless days passing while he stared at the floor, thinking of all the terrible things that were surely happening outside his four walls. Occasionally someone would come down and feed him, or allow him to drink water; but, most of the time he sat alone in the dark, contemplating every decision he had made that lead up to this moment.

He thought of all his losses and failures, but also of the good times; the early days with Obito, Rin and Minato-sensei. He missed them, more than he could explain, and it was those good memories alone that kept his flames of determination lit, and fueled his hope for the survival of his students. He couldn’t explain how, but he knew that Naruto and Sasuke were alive; and as long as they were, then Konoha had a chance at redemption.

Now that Danzo had revealed his true intentions, Kakashi’s perspective on many things began to change; and he had nothing but time to think about it all. The information leak about Naruto’s jinchuriki status, the reveal and subsequent disbandment of The Foundation, The Massacre, Shisui, Naruto, and Sasuke’s disappearance, and the Third Hokage’s death. Too many strings connected to one giant web, with Danzo at its center waiting for the next victim to come within his reach.

If Naruto and Sasuke were truly alive, then Kakashi knew that they would bide their time in the shadows and grow stronger, until they returned to bring justice to their loved ones. Kakashi himself needed to focus on his freedom, and find a way to work his way back into Danzo’s good graces. If he could successfully become an elite shinobi under Danzo’s rule, then he would gain the freedom to seek out what he had lost, as well as try to dismantle things from the inside. He had to have faith in Naruto and Sasuke, and do what he was capable of on his end.
This is something he repeated to himself many times, trying desperately to hold on to hope for the future and keep moving forward.

Kakashi’s lone eye slid towards the door as footsteps approached, and he kept his expression neutral when an ANBU appeared in front of it. Their voice was emotionless yet gentle when they spoke, opening the door to Kakashi’s cell as they did.

“It’s time for your trial. A Yamanaka will be infiltrating your mind, and searching for your memories to see whether you are innocent or guilty. My advice to you is not to struggle, or else things will become much more complicated.” Kakashi nodded and eye smiled at the shinobi, enjoying the way his cheerful disposition seemed to rattle them.

“No problem, I have nothing to hide.” The ANBU said nothing, only removed his shackles and guided him towards the interrogation room.

As they entered the door, Kakashi closed his eye, took a deep breath and cleared his mind. Moments later, his eye snapped open and he stared forward in determination as he faced his jury.

Sai walked through the nearly empty streets of Konoha, noting how much life and color had been depleted from it since Danzo’s induction as Hokage, and felt tears burn his eyes.

He was grateful at least for the mask that hid his grief and shame, as it was the only good thing that Danzo had ever given him. With the mask he didn’t have to be Sai, he was no one and felt nothing, as far as anyone could see anyway. But, the mask couldn’t hide the way his body trembled when he was around Danzo and the other ROOT members, nor could it conceal the slight tremor in his voice when he spoke. Danzo didn’t seem concerned though, in fact, Sai suspected that Danzo might even enjoy seeing others cower in fear around him.

Now that he was in a position of power, the true scope of his brutality and ruthlessness had been revealed, and the village had slowly begun to lose its cheerfulness and vibrancy. That wasn’t to say that Konoha wasn’t prospering, in fact their mission success rates had risen since the implementation of Danzo’s training camp; but the joy had been sucked dry from the shinobi, as well as the civilians. Konoha used to have a good balance of civilian joy, and shinobi protection; but now, it has become an entirely militaristic village.

It had been four years now since the Third Hokage’s death, as well as Naruto and Sasuke’s disappearance, and the only time of year that people celebrated anything was the Kyuubi festival. Even then the mood wasn’t as cheerful, and there weren’t as many vendors that came around since many people had started to migrate south. Civilians no longer felt comfortable and safe as Danzo had implemented curfews, put restrictions on substances like alcohol, and made the ninja academy much less accessible and comprehensible for civilians.

About a year after Danzo’s takeover, shinobi were called into private training one by one, returning a week later an entirely different person, if you could even call them that. No one knew what happened to the shinobi when they went to their mandatory training, but when they returned their spirit had been dimmed, and their only goal seemed to be completing missions.

Sai wished that he had tried harder to prevent this, fought for the people he was supposed to care about, even if it cost him his life. Anything was better than this, and more than anything Sai wished that he could speak to Sasuke and Naruto one more time. Tell them how sorry he was, and do anything in his power to make it up to them. One day he would, no matter how long it took; this was a vow he made to himself long ago and he knew that he would have his chance one day, he just had to be patient.

Sai calmly entered the Hokage tower and made his way to Danzo’s office, betraying no emotion as he took a knee and bowed his head.

“Hokage-sama.” Danzo nodded appreciatively at the boy, and began speaking in a commanding tone.

“An opportunity has come around, for you to redeem yourself for your failures four years ago.” Sai bit his lip in annoyance and nodded in affirmation at the man’s accusation, while Danzo’s lips tilted up in a small smirk as he continued.

“The Jinchuriki has been spotted with a group called the Akatsuki. They are all S Rank criminals, with more strength and skill than you can imagine. Your mission is to track the Jinchuriki with an assigned team, locate the whereabouts of the Akatsuki base, and capture the Jinchuriki alive. He belongs to us, and must be returned to us before he threatens Konoha.” Sai nodded once more, feeling an odd mix of excitement and apprehension at the idea of having to hunt Naruto down, while Danzo continued the briefing.

“You will be in a team of five altogether, and will be Co-captains with agent Dog. The three others on your team are some of our most promising young graduates, and I expect you to be firm and unyielding with them. They are not your friends, and if it comes down to their life or the Jinchuriki’s capture, then you are to leave them behind. Am I making myself clear?” Sai nodded one final time, his voice soft when he spoke, but his eyes were cold and filled with disgust as he stared at the floor.

“I understand, Hokage-sama, and I will not fail you this time.” Danzo’s face remained impassive, but inside he was anticipating the outcome of this mission.

He enjoyed seeing Sai slowly mold back into the shinobi he had trained him to be, and he was hoping that Naruto’s retrieval would be the missing piece to complete Konoha’s ultimate defense puzzle. With a strong weapon to guide his loyal soldiers in battle, along with his political and strategic skills, Konohagakure could become the single most powerful military force in existence.

The Jinchuriki’s return would also bode well for Konoha’s relationship with Suna. Not long after the Jinchuriki left, the Kazekage was assassinated and replaced by his son, Gaara, who reached out to Konoha in regards to Naruto and officially forming an alliance. Upon hearing news of the boy's departure though, Gaara rescinded his offer and cut ties with Konoha completely. This had been a hard blow for Danzo, but the blossoming relationship with Kiri and Kumo was a much needed pick me up.

More than once, shinobi from Kumo and Kiri had been rescued by Konoha, and after a positive interaction with the Hachibi jinchuriki both Kages had decided to sit down and come to a mutually beneficial agreement sometime soon. All in all everything seemed to be going right, things were falling into place nicely, and Danzo was feeling confident about the future to come.

Sai groaned almost inaudibly as he reached the gates and saw his team.

There was a brown haired, tiger-masked boy, a black haired, monkey-masked boy, and a blonde haired, rabbit-masked girl. They were all wearing zodiac masks and different versions of the ROOT uniform, seeming to be about his age and were undoubtedly very skilled, but Sai simply didn’t care about working with new recruits. The brown haired boy seemed familiar, but after all these years Sai couldn’t even conjure an image of his face, let alone his name.

He took a deep breath and stood by Kakashi’s side, nodding at the rest of the team before reading the mission scroll that was passed to him. He read it over twice, before handing it back and addressing the team in a monotone voice.

“Last sighting was in Iwa, to conserve time I will be transporting us most of the way. We will land 100 miles away and split off to scout out the area, proceed with caution and do not attack until you have the confirmation that backup is on the way. Are you prepared for what this mission entails?” The three recruits nodded in unison and bowed to Sai.

“Yes, Captain.” Sai nodded in reply and released the scroll that was strapped to his back.

He unrolled it and began painting a bird on it, before activating the jutsu and stepping away as it leapt out of the paper. Sai and Kakashi hopped onto the bird's back, followed by the rest of their team, and they quickly flew off into the setting Sun.

Kakashi could feel Sai’s eyes on him, but he didn’t spare the boy a single glance as he kept his attention forward. He wasn’t anywhere close to forgiving him , despite the years of missions that they had been on together, because that feeling of betrayal remained lodged in his chest. The hole that Sasuke and Naruto’s disappearance had left in his heart, was replaced by the icy dagger of Sai’s traitorous actions, and he couldn’t move on from that until they returned. Sai had a chance now to correct his mistakes, and Kakashi hoped for all of their sakes that he would make the right decision.

So, the team sat in silence as they flew over the trees, which turned into water, then sand, and they finally landed in the dark mountains of Tetsu. At that moment Kakashi finally looked at Sai and nodded, signaling that he was leaving this mission in his hands, and vanished into the night. Sai watched him leave, feeling determination flow through him as he silently accepted the man’s proposal, and briefed his team once more on the mission before disappearing into the mountains himself.

He would protect Naruto this time no matter what it cost him, of this he was certain.