Sunlight in a Dark Room - Chapter 15
Title: Sunlight in a Dark Room
Author: Chapter
Chapter: 15/? - Possession
Pairing: Itachi/Naruto
Wordcount: 4607
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: I don’t own Naruto.
Author’s Note: A sweet and wonderful thank you goes to my beta, a_scattered_me for her hard work at helping me get this chapter out. OMG! It's been so long. I'm very sorry for the lateness. A mad writer's block and a shitty job suck. They really do. D:
Anyways, I hope you all enjoy this chapter. ^^
Chapter 15 - Possession
The village was quiet and rather bleak. The mist only intensified the feeling. It was cold and the moist air felt unpleasant against the skin. The people were not very welcoming either. Well, those who were still up and wandering the deathly silent streets, drunk on spirits and itching for some trouble weren’t. Yes, the Village Hidden in the Mist was not your everyday vacation spot. It never had been and he was quite certain it never would be.
Or it could just be the lack of pretty women.
“Are you both able to handle this? I mean, the Brat’s playing a dangerous game..." Then Jiraiya muttered the last part more to himself than to the two men standing before him. "...and I'm just not so sure what to think about this situation."
Sai put on a simulated smile and nodded, “We are more than capable to handle everything, Jiraiya-san. Well, more so than Uchiha. He’s been unstable since the mission started.”
Jiraiya studied the dark haired nin a little more closely. Gaara, he trusted. It was as simple as that. Naruto regarded the Kazekage with everything he had. And because the Brat trusted him, so did Jiraiya. Sai was a different matter altogether. He was emotionally detached, similar and yet so different from Sasuke. He was more of a threat to this mission that Sasuke was. Well, he could be. Naruto was also fond of this one and Jiraiya was not one to judge others without knowing them first.
Gaara seemed to be at ease with Sai as well. For all he knew, he was just overlooking things. Perhaps it was Sai’s relation to ROOT and that fool Danzo that had him on edge.
He glanced at Sai once more. Danzo had done a damn good job with this one. As twisted as he was, Sai was a formidable ninja.
“We will be fine,” Gaara spoke quietly, “Sai left a tracking tag on Naruto when we met with him yesterday. Uchiha Itachi is also injured. They will not be travelling fast.”
Jiraiya nodded, “You two are not to engage either of them. From your description of Naruto’s ‘change’ I would suggest giving yourselves enough distance to stay out of the Brat’s senses. I’m sure you both know how he works.”
“Yes. Naruto is quite,” Sai paused to think of the right word, “unique.”
“If unique is translated from ‘Supreme Idiot of the Century’ then I suppose you’re right,” Jiraiya chuckled to himself. No matter how much the Brat changed during the last few years since Sasuke had returned, he was still the same stubborn fool he trained so long ago.
Too bad the other two did not share his amusement. A look of indifference was shared between Sai and Gaara before Jiraiya spoke again.
“Well, enough of that. Use a clone to report back to me when you catch up to them. I’ll keep the other two busy here until then.”
“This may take days,” Gaara began, “Are you certain?”
“Of course. We will decide what our next move will be when I receive word from you. Now get going,” Jiraiya made a shooing gesture with his hands.
Sai and Gaara disappeared from sight almost instantaneously. The two worked well together, Jiraiya idly thought. As long as they were able to keep an eye on the Brat. As long as Naruto didn’t do anything stupid.
He hoped that everything would be alright.
---
“You’re fairly calm about this,” Gaara commented as they slipped over the Village wall.
“I can say the same thing about you, Gaara-san.” Was Sai’s response.
“Your ink tag?” The redhead inquired.
“It will remain intact as long as I am alive or until Naruto discovers it. The latter is impossible, however. I am sure that someone like you or Uchiha are likely to discover it but Naruto is not very observant in regards to his own body and chakra. As soon as the tag is placed on a chakra opening, it begins to release a particular signature that I can detect using the host’s chakra as fuel. By utilizing the host’s chakra, it is less likely the host would find such a tracking device upon their person.”
“That is quite a complex tag,” Gaara replied, his tone neither denoting impression or disinterest.
“It took a few years to create. I only recently completed it.”
“Where is it hidden? On Naruto?” Gaara asked.
“On the chakra point near his heart.”
There was a moment of silence.
“How?”
“Ingestion. His tea.”
A look of understanding crossed Gaara’s face momentarily before the younger man slowed his pace through the trees. Sai followed suit. They needed to do this properly or Naruto would more than likely sense their pursuit and flee. He was always resolute in his path like that. As long as Sai’s tag remained intact, they would be able to find him.
“Naruto has,” Sai paused for a moment, “changed somehow.”
Gaara was not really one for conversation but he too was somewhat irked with Naruto’s behaviour. It was anomalous to say the least. He’d had time to think about it and the only solution could be...
“Itachi.”
“Ah, yes. He is the only variable,” Sai acknowledged a little too cheerfully, “It’s about time that guy got laid though. Don’t you think?”
Gaara did not respond. Humouring the dark haired nin would only encourage more crude remarks. He was loathed to admit that Sai had a point but it was true that Naruto had not been with anyone for quite some time. He supposed the younger Uchiha was cause for this yet as far as he knew the two men had not engaged each other in an intimate relationship.
The Uchiha family seemed to be cause for far too many troubles.
“That would be none of our business.” Was all Gaara said.
“I suppose you’re right but it’s just too good to resist when your comrade is sleeping with the enemy. Naruto’s rather bold.”
“He is Naruto.”
---
It was hot. Naruto groaned as he rolled over in an attempt to avoid what he assumed was the morning sun. Of all the places to lie in under the canopy of trees, he had to pick a spot where the sunlight could shine through. There was a crackling to his left and the smell of breakfast permeated his senses.
It wasn’t fish?
Naruto turned his head up to get a better whiff of the different smell.
Pheasant.
Itachi probably got up freakishly early to go hunt. Not that Naruto minded either. Anything but fish right now was heaven. For a while there, he thought that Itachi was only able to fish. Such a funny thought.
“What is so amusing?” Itachi’s voice broke through his thoughts.
“Hmm,” Naruto stretched as he rolled back over to face the other man, “It’s not fish.”
“And fish is a problem for you?” Itachi inquired.
Naruto chuckled, “It is when that’s all you fed us the first week of this little venture.”
“You did not complain then.”
“Yeah, well, I was a captive then too. There’s not much else you can do but accept the situation, you know?” Naruto spoke as he sat up.
Itachi was studying him again. His last statement must have hit a few soft spots. Things were still sensitive in regards to their relationship or whatever it was. Naruto knew what he felt. He understood that now. Itachi, being so closed off for the majority of his life, was not so easy to discern.
They would have to save this conversation for another day.
---
Itachi dodged the three shuriken that were thrown in his direction with ease. He and Naruto were sparring for the better part of two hours in an attempt to gauge the blond’s abilities. Abilities that were rather impressive, he deduced. His muscles were still a little stiff from his prior injuries and he couldn’t fight at full capacity yet. Not that it would prevent him from keeping his own against Naruto. Despite his heightened levels, Naruto had yet to get used to such power increases. He had been limited while Kyuubi still resided in him but now, such restraints no longer existed.
Naruto must relearn what little self control he had prior to the merger. Among other things.
His hearing was phenomenal. However, Itachi was not discouraged by this fact. After several rounds of trial and error tactics he was able to overcome Naruto’s ability. Much to the blond’s chagrin, of course. He noticed too that Naruto had little to no control of his sensitive ears and it affected his fighting. It would have to be mastered along with a few other things he planned on teaching Naruto within the next three days.
That was all the time Itachi could allow before someone was sent to retrieve them.
Three days.
He looked over at Naruto and found the younger man watching him. It was not the first time he caught his companion - his lover - eyeing him curiously. Several times actually, Naruto would cease his incessant chatter and just look at him. Though what he was thinking, Itachi did not know. Naruto’s emotions were often written all over his face but he seemed to have discovered a way to hide them from Itachi. However, it did not bother the elder Uchiha as much as he thought it would. After a careful breakdown of the situation he had deemed it an inevitable result of their ‘understanding’. He would not use ‘relationship’. That word felt wrong given their circumstances.
Itachi felt a light touch to his cheek bringing him out of his thoughts. Naruto was standing before him bearing that same unreadable look. Naruto’s fingers grazed the side of his face, threading through his loose bangs. He rested his hand on the Itachi’s shoulder for a moment before letting his arm fall to his side. Itachi let his Sharingan fade to black as he took in Naruto’s appearance.
He was filthy in the sense that they had just spent two hours trying to kill each other. Dirt smeared here and there, ripped clothing and battle worn features. And yet those bright blue eyes seemed to shine with what Itachi could only identify as Naruto.
He leant down of his own accord and licked a cut on Naruto’s neck he had inflicted not even ten minutes ago. The bleeding had ebbed but the wound was still fresh. He felt and heard the younger man sigh as he nipped Naruto’s chin. He allowed his tongue to brush the blond’s lips before capturing them with his own.
Itachi’s voice broke the silence, “So this is what you were waiting for.”
Naruto nodded and pulled his lover against him into another heated kiss.
That’s right. They haven’t touched each other since they left the inn.
Now Itachi was not one to simply give in to one’s emotions so easily. He learned to keep them bottled up and stored away; forgotten and safe. But somehow, in some way, the young man before him seemed to slip through that dark empty void and managed to pull the pieces he had kept hidden for so long back together. It was not all of him but it was something.
Releasing Naruto’s tongue, Itachi spoke, “We are not clean.”
Naruto grinned up at the older man, “You’re telling me you’ve never had a ‘hot, passionate sex’, post training session?”
Itachi raised his eyebrow at that. “You’re telling me you have?”
Naruto’s eyes were gleaming with mischief in the sense of, ‘Maybe, maybe not. I’ll never tell.’
The blond sighed and leaned against the eldest Uchiha, “You know? You smell like home.”
A couple of sniffs were made to accentuate his statement.
Naruto didn’t see the small smirk cross Itachi’s lips.
“Konoha?”
“Mmhmm. You’ve been gone so long yet you still retain that scent or is it just a feeling?” he laughed, “I don’t even know anymore.”
It was not difficult to see that Naruto missed his village. It was blatantly obvious, in fact. And Itachi was still coming to terms with ‘why’ but he found himself feeling empty should Naruto ever leave. It was an odd emotion much like what he had felt when he left Konoha all those years ago.
His grip on Naruto tightened.
It was with that same almost desperate grip he held onto Naruto’s hips as he pushed into him from behind. Into that welcoming heat that Itachi couldn’t seem to get enough of.
Naruto groaned and gripped the blanket they had haphazardly laid on the ground before getting to this point. Or rather, it was thrown there and just happened to cover enough of the ground for them to practically tear into each other. Explorative lips and hands touched, teased and rubbed in the most delightful ways. Naruto’s body felt like a liquefied mess by the time Itachi was draped over his body and rubbing his thumb back and forth over his opening.
Naruto’s whole body shuddered in anticipation before remembered something.
“Mmm. Pants pocket.” Was all he managed to say.
Itachi pulled away from the blond glanced around their vicinity for his lover’s pants. He almost growled out his annoyance when he spotted the black piece of clothing just out of arms reach from where they were positioned. Naruto had found the situation amusing despite the minor frustration of acquiring the lubricant he bought in the Mist Village.
As he felt Itachi’s cock brush over his prostate in a tempo that he could barely keep up with, Naruto was more than happy to have purchased the small vial.
Naruto’s elbows buckled, falling forward, his hands gripped the blanket in a meagre attempt to ground himself against the onslaught of Itachi’s passion. The heavy breathing behind the blond was amalgamating with the almost horrifically embarrassing sounds he was making.
Itachi leaned forward, atop Naruto to reach around and grip his cock. The shuddering body underneath - around him was pure addiction. He watched beads of sweat slip from Naruto’s blond hair onto that long tanned neck and some intrinsic need had him licking up Naruto’s spine to his right shoulder. The muscle there was firm and flexed with their current position. It was right at the junction where Naruto’s shoulder met his neck that Itachi placed one of his more gentle kisses despite their raging fervour.
“Naruto.” A whisper.
Another kiss, lower along the shoulder this time.
“Mine.” Was growled out before he bit down hard and sucked on the abused muscle. Itachi was surprised to hear his own voice say such a thing to the blond. It felt good. And it felt right to him. He finished off his marking with a lick and another kiss.
Naruto cried out and was about to inwardly curse the bastard for biting him so damn hard when Itachi’s easy pace was abandoned. The other man began to drive into him with a recklessness Naruto had not known he had. And it felt so fucking good.
The lascivious sounds of their flesh slapping against each other was only served to fuel his need for completion. A sudden desire to take - claim - Naruto someplace other than on a blanket in the middle of nowhere awakened within Itachi. He wanted to do this again and he meant it.
He wanted Naruto.
Itachi groaned next to Naruto's ear, feeling his cock pulse as he came inside the hot body beneath him. Naruto’s own orgasm followed the barest of seconds later staining the chaotically strewn blankets below them. Itachi’s weight dropped above him and the pair collapsed into a hot, sweaty pile of intertwined limbs.
Naruto was the first to move, allowing Itachi to slide out of him, and turn around to face the other man. Itachi was watching him with a look Naruto could not quite define. He would say ‘soft’ but that just wasn’t right. Rather than think about something so complicating after such phenomenal sex, Naruto reached up and cupped his lover’s face in his hand.
“You look funny,” he grinned. Now that was a great mood killer.
Something akin to mirth flitted through red eyes and Naruto caught another slight upturn of Itachi’s lips. Naruto moved his thumb to brush over Itachi’s mouth. A thoughtful look crossed over his features.
“You know?” He started.
“Hn?” Itachi pressed his face into Naruto’s palm.
“I’d really like to see you smile.”
“Perhaps,” Itachi murmured before pulling Naruto’s hand from his face and leaning over to capture Naruto’s lips with his own.
“You’re avoiding the subject,” Naruto accused breathlessly breaking their slow kissing, “Show me some teeth, Baby.” He started to tug on Itachi’s cheek in a meagre attempt to rouse some sort of reaction from his companion.
“Amusing.” Was all that Itachi said after removing Naruto’s hand from his face once more.
Naruto sighed audibly and shook his head, “Well, that’s an ‘Old Man’ for you, I guess.”
He guffawed at the look of disbelief on Itachi’s face after the comment.
---
“I’m surprised you recovered so well,” Naruto grinned at the older man.
Naruto and six of his clones were seated across from Itachi. All seven of them were leering at the mark he had left on Itachi’s neck earlier that morning. If the bastard hadn’t bit him so damn hard the previous night, he would have left his neck alone and hickey-free. Well, maybe not.
“You need to concentrate, Naruto,” Itachi’s deep voice interrupted his thoughts, “This technique must be mastered before we leave.”
“That’s why I’m using the clones. I’ll learn a hell of a lot faster, you know.”
“Hn. However, staring at me in that manner is not teaching you anything.” That was a fact and Naruto knew it.
Naruto grumbled a few unintelligible things and went back to concentrating his chakra. For this jutsu to work, Itachi explained that he would need a large amount of chakra centralized at each of his major chakra points.
That is all Itachi told him to do despite Naruto’s complaints of wanting to know more. According to the elder Uchiha, Naruto was impatient and would attempt to bypass parts of the process to get to the final stage.
Skipping a step would cost them hours of time they did not have.
“Can you give some sort of reason for this technique?” Naruto almost whined, “What exactly is the plan anyways?”
“It is not something I can divulge while you are training. When you’ve learned enough, I will explain everything.”
“That doesn’t help me here, Itachi.”
“That is fine.”
“Bastard.”
Itachi chose to ignore whatever else the blond had to say. For the moment, it was exasperating and Itachi had no inclinations to encourage such behaviour at their present situation. It would only slow them down and their training would be pointless.
There was a spike in Naruto’s chakra and Itachi felt the sudden burst dissipate into a calm-like state.
“I think I’m good to go, Old Man. What next?” Naruto beamed over at him.
Itachi nodded, “Next, you’re going to start releasing your chakra in equal increments before you.”
“Okay. Do you mind telling me what’s after that?” Naruto chanced.
“Next, Naruto,” Itachi responded, “You are going to take your own life.”
---
“Jiraiya. What the fuck is going on?” Sasuke spoke with a deadly tone.
He was currently seated across the Toad Sage, alongside Sakura. It was a silent affair and Sasuke saw that Sakura was getting rather irate with Jiraiya’s lack of response. Neither of them were very patient.
Jiraiya merely grinned jovially at the two, “It’s nothing to worry about. I sent them on a little reconnaissance ahead of us. They’re meeting another contact of mine.”
“Why aren’t we going, Jiraiya-san?” Sakura asked, “We’re a team, are we not?”
“Well, I figured we ought to wait it out here. I’m actually waiting for someone. He should be passing through within the next few days but if my hunch is correct, he’ll be here just after midnight.”
“Why Sai and Gaara?” Sasuke had taken in what little information Jiraiya provided and was more than vexed at the fact that he was not even notified prior to their departure. His pride, and Jiraiya knew this, would not allow him to vocalize his displeasure.
“Sai and Gaara seem to work well together despite their differences. If you were paying attention to your teammates like you should have been, you’d have noticed them too. Besides, I’d much rather have you both with me while we wait. They don’t make the best of company, those two.”
“The latter is hardly a valid reason, Jiraiya-san,” Sakura commented. She ran her hand through her hair before speaking again, “It’s just, all of us are so worried about Naruto. Sasuke and I especially. We don’t have any leads and the three of you are being far too secretive for my liking. It’s very disconcerting.”
“I understand, Sakura, my dear. But,” the white haired man paused, “you must know that everything I do or plan is well thought out and done in the best interests for us as a team and for Naruto. This mission would be a complete failure otherwise. You’re both aware that Tsunade-hime will be sending our dismissal message very soon? This had to be done in case there was a chance Naruto is still alive. Sai and Gaara will be sending back reports on their progress. There is no need to worry for the moment.”
Sasuke and Sakura both nodded their compliance. It would not do well to start disagreements within their team at this stage of the mission.
Jiraiya was pleased to find that Sakura and Sasuke had bought his excuses for now. It would not bode well if either of them found out he knew Naruto was alive and had spoken with both Sai and Gaara while within the village walls. Not everything had been a lie though. He just hoped Sasuke would be able to control his emotions come time to meet up with him.
---
“He wants us to wait.” Sasuke fumed. They had split up with Jiraiya for the time being and the dark haired nin was pacing back and forth in front of Sakura.
“It’s all we can do for the moment, Sasuke,” Sakura pitched in. She knew that Sasuke was in no condition to be reasonable. She had to be calm and collected; what Sasuke was not at the moment, “Jiraiya is Naruto’s sensei. We can trust him.”
Sasuke glared at her, “He’s lying to us. He’s lied to us before. I can’t trust someone who’s lied to me, Sakura.”
The pink haired girl sighed, “I know. I’m not quite sure what to make of his excuse but the three of them know something we don’t and it’s got something to do with Naruto. No matter how old he gets, that idiot keeps getting himself into precarious positions.”
When Sasuke did not respond, she looked over at the Uchiha. The almost remorseful look that crossed his features suddenly piqued her interest. That was so ‘un-Sasuke-like’.
“What is it?” She asked.
Sasuke remained silent but she was more than certain he had heard her.
“Sasuke.”
“It’s my fault,” he spoke out, “All of this is because of me.”
Sasuke sat down beside her, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his thighs. His fingers weaved through his hair as he shook his head.
“I was the reason he wasn’t on guard and I left him alone. I fucked up, Sakura.”
“I’m sure it was just an accident, Sasuke,” she said as she placed a comforting hand on her friend’s shoulder, “It’s not your fault.”
He shrugged off her hand from his shoulder, “I kissed him.”
Sakura was not so sure she’d ever been this surprised. Yes, she should have known something was going on but to hear right from Sasuke that one of them made the first move was almost of epic proportions. Finally. Finally they did something about all that tension between them.
“Sasuke,” she grinned at him, “It’s about damn time.”
“Excuse me?”
She laughed, “You and Naruto have an unparalleled bond that has grown into so much more. All of us see it, you know. When we get him back, I’m sure he would accept your feelings.”
If he could, Sasuke would have found her statement amusing. He didn’t like the way her face dropped with his next comment.
“He doesn’t feel the same way.”
---
The Water Country was lush in greenery. It was a temperate deciduous climate moist for the majority of the year. Fall brought on warm windy weather, the trees change from green to red and orange. With winter the waters froze and the land is blanketed in thick layer of snow. When spring came, the cycle started once more.
It was so fresh and so alive.
Deidara found it very captivating. The Rock Country was very unlike this as well as every damn base Pein built for their deteriorating group. Since the near failure in the Rock Country, they had lost three members. Four if one counted Itachi but that damned Uchiha managed to reply to his message sent to the Mist Village. He and the Nine-Tails had lived.
The blond picked up his discarded paint brush and dipped it in the red paint.
The sun was low and cast an eerily red glow over the lake at the base of the mountain. The waters rippled with the unseen wind, blending the deep blue of the darkening lake with the crimson of the setting sun.
He spread the colour down the canvas with varied strokes and pressure. The mouth on his right hand made an approving noise.
“You’re concentrating too hard for someone who likes to blow things up.” A gravelly voice spoke from behind him, “Didn’t even sense me comin’.”
“Shut the fuck up, Kisame,” Deidara snarled, “I’m busy.”
“Would if I could,” Kisame responded, “Pein-sama wants to know of any progress.”
That’s right. He hadn’t told any of the other Akatsuki of Itachi’s reply to his message. Ah well. The bastard wasn’t due to return for a few more days. Odd as it may seem, Deidara chose to ignore the fact that Itachi was taking longer than it should to reach this base. So long as the Uchiha arrived alive, he didn’t care. His score had yet to be settled and he would not allow any other to take that from him.
“He’s on his way,” Deidara said without looking away from the scenery before him.
“And the Jinchuuriki?” Kisame pressed.
“Alive and well apparently,” Deidara muttered, “Now get out of here.”
“Pein-sama is not going to like my report. Or lack thereof, Deidara. I need details, Boy.
There was that infuriating chuckle.
The blond snapped his head around and glared at the taller man, “Two days. Now get the fuck out!”
Kisame grinned triumphantly and left to inform Pein of Itachi’s whereabouts. Boy, was it fun to piss the younger man off.
“I thought I told you not to disturb him when he paints,” Sasori’s voice was cold and calm.
“Meh. The idiot’s entertaining when he’s mad. Don’t you think, Sasori-danna?”
Kisame was testing him. Sasori did not acknowledge Kisame. Useless confrontations were not something he was inclined to get involved with. How Itachi put up with this man, he did not know.
“Pein-sama is awaiting your findings.” Was all he said.
Kisame nodded before turning to leave. They had preparations to make for the arrival of Itachi and the Kyuubi container. Two days was more than enough time to ready the area for the final extraction.
Author: Chapter
Chapter: 15/? - Possession
Pairing: Itachi/Naruto
Wordcount: 4607
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: I don’t own Naruto.
Author’s Note: A sweet and wonderful thank you goes to my beta, a_scattered_me for her hard work at helping me get this chapter out. OMG! It's been so long. I'm very sorry for the lateness. A mad writer's block and a shitty job suck. They really do. D:
Anyways, I hope you all enjoy this chapter. ^^
Chapter 15 - Possession
The village was quiet and rather bleak. The mist only intensified the feeling. It was cold and the moist air felt unpleasant against the skin. The people were not very welcoming either. Well, those who were still up and wandering the deathly silent streets, drunk on spirits and itching for some trouble weren’t. Yes, the Village Hidden in the Mist was not your everyday vacation spot. It never had been and he was quite certain it never would be.
Or it could just be the lack of pretty women.
“Are you both able to handle this? I mean, the Brat’s playing a dangerous game..." Then Jiraiya muttered the last part more to himself than to the two men standing before him. "...and I'm just not so sure what to think about this situation."
Sai put on a simulated smile and nodded, “We are more than capable to handle everything, Jiraiya-san. Well, more so than Uchiha. He’s been unstable since the mission started.”
Jiraiya studied the dark haired nin a little more closely. Gaara, he trusted. It was as simple as that. Naruto regarded the Kazekage with everything he had. And because the Brat trusted him, so did Jiraiya. Sai was a different matter altogether. He was emotionally detached, similar and yet so different from Sasuke. He was more of a threat to this mission that Sasuke was. Well, he could be. Naruto was also fond of this one and Jiraiya was not one to judge others without knowing them first.
Gaara seemed to be at ease with Sai as well. For all he knew, he was just overlooking things. Perhaps it was Sai’s relation to ROOT and that fool Danzo that had him on edge.
He glanced at Sai once more. Danzo had done a damn good job with this one. As twisted as he was, Sai was a formidable ninja.
“We will be fine,” Gaara spoke quietly, “Sai left a tracking tag on Naruto when we met with him yesterday. Uchiha Itachi is also injured. They will not be travelling fast.”
Jiraiya nodded, “You two are not to engage either of them. From your description of Naruto’s ‘change’ I would suggest giving yourselves enough distance to stay out of the Brat’s senses. I’m sure you both know how he works.”
“Yes. Naruto is quite,” Sai paused to think of the right word, “unique.”
“If unique is translated from ‘Supreme Idiot of the Century’ then I suppose you’re right,” Jiraiya chuckled to himself. No matter how much the Brat changed during the last few years since Sasuke had returned, he was still the same stubborn fool he trained so long ago.
Too bad the other two did not share his amusement. A look of indifference was shared between Sai and Gaara before Jiraiya spoke again.
“Well, enough of that. Use a clone to report back to me when you catch up to them. I’ll keep the other two busy here until then.”
“This may take days,” Gaara began, “Are you certain?”
“Of course. We will decide what our next move will be when I receive word from you. Now get going,” Jiraiya made a shooing gesture with his hands.
Sai and Gaara disappeared from sight almost instantaneously. The two worked well together, Jiraiya idly thought. As long as they were able to keep an eye on the Brat. As long as Naruto didn’t do anything stupid.
He hoped that everything would be alright.
---
“You’re fairly calm about this,” Gaara commented as they slipped over the Village wall.
“I can say the same thing about you, Gaara-san.” Was Sai’s response.
“Your ink tag?” The redhead inquired.
“It will remain intact as long as I am alive or until Naruto discovers it. The latter is impossible, however. I am sure that someone like you or Uchiha are likely to discover it but Naruto is not very observant in regards to his own body and chakra. As soon as the tag is placed on a chakra opening, it begins to release a particular signature that I can detect using the host’s chakra as fuel. By utilizing the host’s chakra, it is less likely the host would find such a tracking device upon their person.”
“That is quite a complex tag,” Gaara replied, his tone neither denoting impression or disinterest.
“It took a few years to create. I only recently completed it.”
“Where is it hidden? On Naruto?” Gaara asked.
“On the chakra point near his heart.”
There was a moment of silence.
“How?”
“Ingestion. His tea.”
A look of understanding crossed Gaara’s face momentarily before the younger man slowed his pace through the trees. Sai followed suit. They needed to do this properly or Naruto would more than likely sense their pursuit and flee. He was always resolute in his path like that. As long as Sai’s tag remained intact, they would be able to find him.
“Naruto has,” Sai paused for a moment, “changed somehow.”
Gaara was not really one for conversation but he too was somewhat irked with Naruto’s behaviour. It was anomalous to say the least. He’d had time to think about it and the only solution could be...
“Itachi.”
“Ah, yes. He is the only variable,” Sai acknowledged a little too cheerfully, “It’s about time that guy got laid though. Don’t you think?”
Gaara did not respond. Humouring the dark haired nin would only encourage more crude remarks. He was loathed to admit that Sai had a point but it was true that Naruto had not been with anyone for quite some time. He supposed the younger Uchiha was cause for this yet as far as he knew the two men had not engaged each other in an intimate relationship.
The Uchiha family seemed to be cause for far too many troubles.
“That would be none of our business.” Was all Gaara said.
“I suppose you’re right but it’s just too good to resist when your comrade is sleeping with the enemy. Naruto’s rather bold.”
“He is Naruto.”
---
It was hot. Naruto groaned as he rolled over in an attempt to avoid what he assumed was the morning sun. Of all the places to lie in under the canopy of trees, he had to pick a spot where the sunlight could shine through. There was a crackling to his left and the smell of breakfast permeated his senses.
It wasn’t fish?
Naruto turned his head up to get a better whiff of the different smell.
Pheasant.
Itachi probably got up freakishly early to go hunt. Not that Naruto minded either. Anything but fish right now was heaven. For a while there, he thought that Itachi was only able to fish. Such a funny thought.
“What is so amusing?” Itachi’s voice broke through his thoughts.
“Hmm,” Naruto stretched as he rolled back over to face the other man, “It’s not fish.”
“And fish is a problem for you?” Itachi inquired.
Naruto chuckled, “It is when that’s all you fed us the first week of this little venture.”
“You did not complain then.”
“Yeah, well, I was a captive then too. There’s not much else you can do but accept the situation, you know?” Naruto spoke as he sat up.
Itachi was studying him again. His last statement must have hit a few soft spots. Things were still sensitive in regards to their relationship or whatever it was. Naruto knew what he felt. He understood that now. Itachi, being so closed off for the majority of his life, was not so easy to discern.
They would have to save this conversation for another day.
---
Itachi dodged the three shuriken that were thrown in his direction with ease. He and Naruto were sparring for the better part of two hours in an attempt to gauge the blond’s abilities. Abilities that were rather impressive, he deduced. His muscles were still a little stiff from his prior injuries and he couldn’t fight at full capacity yet. Not that it would prevent him from keeping his own against Naruto. Despite his heightened levels, Naruto had yet to get used to such power increases. He had been limited while Kyuubi still resided in him but now, such restraints no longer existed.
Naruto must relearn what little self control he had prior to the merger. Among other things.
His hearing was phenomenal. However, Itachi was not discouraged by this fact. After several rounds of trial and error tactics he was able to overcome Naruto’s ability. Much to the blond’s chagrin, of course. He noticed too that Naruto had little to no control of his sensitive ears and it affected his fighting. It would have to be mastered along with a few other things he planned on teaching Naruto within the next three days.
That was all the time Itachi could allow before someone was sent to retrieve them.
Three days.
He looked over at Naruto and found the younger man watching him. It was not the first time he caught his companion - his lover - eyeing him curiously. Several times actually, Naruto would cease his incessant chatter and just look at him. Though what he was thinking, Itachi did not know. Naruto’s emotions were often written all over his face but he seemed to have discovered a way to hide them from Itachi. However, it did not bother the elder Uchiha as much as he thought it would. After a careful breakdown of the situation he had deemed it an inevitable result of their ‘understanding’. He would not use ‘relationship’. That word felt wrong given their circumstances.
Itachi felt a light touch to his cheek bringing him out of his thoughts. Naruto was standing before him bearing that same unreadable look. Naruto’s fingers grazed the side of his face, threading through his loose bangs. He rested his hand on the Itachi’s shoulder for a moment before letting his arm fall to his side. Itachi let his Sharingan fade to black as he took in Naruto’s appearance.
He was filthy in the sense that they had just spent two hours trying to kill each other. Dirt smeared here and there, ripped clothing and battle worn features. And yet those bright blue eyes seemed to shine with what Itachi could only identify as Naruto.
He leant down of his own accord and licked a cut on Naruto’s neck he had inflicted not even ten minutes ago. The bleeding had ebbed but the wound was still fresh. He felt and heard the younger man sigh as he nipped Naruto’s chin. He allowed his tongue to brush the blond’s lips before capturing them with his own.
Itachi’s voice broke the silence, “So this is what you were waiting for.”
Naruto nodded and pulled his lover against him into another heated kiss.
That’s right. They haven’t touched each other since they left the inn.
Now Itachi was not one to simply give in to one’s emotions so easily. He learned to keep them bottled up and stored away; forgotten and safe. But somehow, in some way, the young man before him seemed to slip through that dark empty void and managed to pull the pieces he had kept hidden for so long back together. It was not all of him but it was something.
Releasing Naruto’s tongue, Itachi spoke, “We are not clean.”
Naruto grinned up at the older man, “You’re telling me you’ve never had a ‘hot, passionate sex’, post training session?”
Itachi raised his eyebrow at that. “You’re telling me you have?”
Naruto’s eyes were gleaming with mischief in the sense of, ‘Maybe, maybe not. I’ll never tell.’
The blond sighed and leaned against the eldest Uchiha, “You know? You smell like home.”
A couple of sniffs were made to accentuate his statement.
Naruto didn’t see the small smirk cross Itachi’s lips.
“Konoha?”
“Mmhmm. You’ve been gone so long yet you still retain that scent or is it just a feeling?” he laughed, “I don’t even know anymore.”
It was not difficult to see that Naruto missed his village. It was blatantly obvious, in fact. And Itachi was still coming to terms with ‘why’ but he found himself feeling empty should Naruto ever leave. It was an odd emotion much like what he had felt when he left Konoha all those years ago.
His grip on Naruto tightened.
It was with that same almost desperate grip he held onto Naruto’s hips as he pushed into him from behind. Into that welcoming heat that Itachi couldn’t seem to get enough of.
Naruto groaned and gripped the blanket they had haphazardly laid on the ground before getting to this point. Or rather, it was thrown there and just happened to cover enough of the ground for them to practically tear into each other. Explorative lips and hands touched, teased and rubbed in the most delightful ways. Naruto’s body felt like a liquefied mess by the time Itachi was draped over his body and rubbing his thumb back and forth over his opening.
Naruto’s whole body shuddered in anticipation before remembered something.
“Mmm. Pants pocket.” Was all he managed to say.
Itachi pulled away from the blond glanced around their vicinity for his lover’s pants. He almost growled out his annoyance when he spotted the black piece of clothing just out of arms reach from where they were positioned. Naruto had found the situation amusing despite the minor frustration of acquiring the lubricant he bought in the Mist Village.
As he felt Itachi’s cock brush over his prostate in a tempo that he could barely keep up with, Naruto was more than happy to have purchased the small vial.
Naruto’s elbows buckled, falling forward, his hands gripped the blanket in a meagre attempt to ground himself against the onslaught of Itachi’s passion. The heavy breathing behind the blond was amalgamating with the almost horrifically embarrassing sounds he was making.
Itachi leaned forward, atop Naruto to reach around and grip his cock. The shuddering body underneath - around him was pure addiction. He watched beads of sweat slip from Naruto’s blond hair onto that long tanned neck and some intrinsic need had him licking up Naruto’s spine to his right shoulder. The muscle there was firm and flexed with their current position. It was right at the junction where Naruto’s shoulder met his neck that Itachi placed one of his more gentle kisses despite their raging fervour.
“Naruto.” A whisper.
Another kiss, lower along the shoulder this time.
“Mine.” Was growled out before he bit down hard and sucked on the abused muscle. Itachi was surprised to hear his own voice say such a thing to the blond. It felt good. And it felt right to him. He finished off his marking with a lick and another kiss.
Naruto cried out and was about to inwardly curse the bastard for biting him so damn hard when Itachi’s easy pace was abandoned. The other man began to drive into him with a recklessness Naruto had not known he had. And it felt so fucking good.
The lascivious sounds of their flesh slapping against each other was only served to fuel his need for completion. A sudden desire to take - claim - Naruto someplace other than on a blanket in the middle of nowhere awakened within Itachi. He wanted to do this again and he meant it.
He wanted Naruto.
Itachi groaned next to Naruto's ear, feeling his cock pulse as he came inside the hot body beneath him. Naruto’s own orgasm followed the barest of seconds later staining the chaotically strewn blankets below them. Itachi’s weight dropped above him and the pair collapsed into a hot, sweaty pile of intertwined limbs.
Naruto was the first to move, allowing Itachi to slide out of him, and turn around to face the other man. Itachi was watching him with a look Naruto could not quite define. He would say ‘soft’ but that just wasn’t right. Rather than think about something so complicating after such phenomenal sex, Naruto reached up and cupped his lover’s face in his hand.
“You look funny,” he grinned. Now that was a great mood killer.
Something akin to mirth flitted through red eyes and Naruto caught another slight upturn of Itachi’s lips. Naruto moved his thumb to brush over Itachi’s mouth. A thoughtful look crossed over his features.
“You know?” He started.
“Hn?” Itachi pressed his face into Naruto’s palm.
“I’d really like to see you smile.”
“Perhaps,” Itachi murmured before pulling Naruto’s hand from his face and leaning over to capture Naruto’s lips with his own.
“You’re avoiding the subject,” Naruto accused breathlessly breaking their slow kissing, “Show me some teeth, Baby.” He started to tug on Itachi’s cheek in a meagre attempt to rouse some sort of reaction from his companion.
“Amusing.” Was all that Itachi said after removing Naruto’s hand from his face once more.
Naruto sighed audibly and shook his head, “Well, that’s an ‘Old Man’ for you, I guess.”
He guffawed at the look of disbelief on Itachi’s face after the comment.
---
“I’m surprised you recovered so well,” Naruto grinned at the older man.
Naruto and six of his clones were seated across from Itachi. All seven of them were leering at the mark he had left on Itachi’s neck earlier that morning. If the bastard hadn’t bit him so damn hard the previous night, he would have left his neck alone and hickey-free. Well, maybe not.
“You need to concentrate, Naruto,” Itachi’s deep voice interrupted his thoughts, “This technique must be mastered before we leave.”
“That’s why I’m using the clones. I’ll learn a hell of a lot faster, you know.”
“Hn. However, staring at me in that manner is not teaching you anything.” That was a fact and Naruto knew it.
Naruto grumbled a few unintelligible things and went back to concentrating his chakra. For this jutsu to work, Itachi explained that he would need a large amount of chakra centralized at each of his major chakra points.
That is all Itachi told him to do despite Naruto’s complaints of wanting to know more. According to the elder Uchiha, Naruto was impatient and would attempt to bypass parts of the process to get to the final stage.
Skipping a step would cost them hours of time they did not have.
“Can you give some sort of reason for this technique?” Naruto almost whined, “What exactly is the plan anyways?”
“It is not something I can divulge while you are training. When you’ve learned enough, I will explain everything.”
“That doesn’t help me here, Itachi.”
“That is fine.”
“Bastard.”
Itachi chose to ignore whatever else the blond had to say. For the moment, it was exasperating and Itachi had no inclinations to encourage such behaviour at their present situation. It would only slow them down and their training would be pointless.
There was a spike in Naruto’s chakra and Itachi felt the sudden burst dissipate into a calm-like state.
“I think I’m good to go, Old Man. What next?” Naruto beamed over at him.
Itachi nodded, “Next, you’re going to start releasing your chakra in equal increments before you.”
“Okay. Do you mind telling me what’s after that?” Naruto chanced.
“Next, Naruto,” Itachi responded, “You are going to take your own life.”
---
“Jiraiya. What the fuck is going on?” Sasuke spoke with a deadly tone.
He was currently seated across the Toad Sage, alongside Sakura. It was a silent affair and Sasuke saw that Sakura was getting rather irate with Jiraiya’s lack of response. Neither of them were very patient.
Jiraiya merely grinned jovially at the two, “It’s nothing to worry about. I sent them on a little reconnaissance ahead of us. They’re meeting another contact of mine.”
“Why aren’t we going, Jiraiya-san?” Sakura asked, “We’re a team, are we not?”
“Well, I figured we ought to wait it out here. I’m actually waiting for someone. He should be passing through within the next few days but if my hunch is correct, he’ll be here just after midnight.”
“Why Sai and Gaara?” Sasuke had taken in what little information Jiraiya provided and was more than vexed at the fact that he was not even notified prior to their departure. His pride, and Jiraiya knew this, would not allow him to vocalize his displeasure.
“Sai and Gaara seem to work well together despite their differences. If you were paying attention to your teammates like you should have been, you’d have noticed them too. Besides, I’d much rather have you both with me while we wait. They don’t make the best of company, those two.”
“The latter is hardly a valid reason, Jiraiya-san,” Sakura commented. She ran her hand through her hair before speaking again, “It’s just, all of us are so worried about Naruto. Sasuke and I especially. We don’t have any leads and the three of you are being far too secretive for my liking. It’s very disconcerting.”
“I understand, Sakura, my dear. But,” the white haired man paused, “you must know that everything I do or plan is well thought out and done in the best interests for us as a team and for Naruto. This mission would be a complete failure otherwise. You’re both aware that Tsunade-hime will be sending our dismissal message very soon? This had to be done in case there was a chance Naruto is still alive. Sai and Gaara will be sending back reports on their progress. There is no need to worry for the moment.”
Sasuke and Sakura both nodded their compliance. It would not do well to start disagreements within their team at this stage of the mission.
Jiraiya was pleased to find that Sakura and Sasuke had bought his excuses for now. It would not bode well if either of them found out he knew Naruto was alive and had spoken with both Sai and Gaara while within the village walls. Not everything had been a lie though. He just hoped Sasuke would be able to control his emotions come time to meet up with him.
---
“He wants us to wait.” Sasuke fumed. They had split up with Jiraiya for the time being and the dark haired nin was pacing back and forth in front of Sakura.
“It’s all we can do for the moment, Sasuke,” Sakura pitched in. She knew that Sasuke was in no condition to be reasonable. She had to be calm and collected; what Sasuke was not at the moment, “Jiraiya is Naruto’s sensei. We can trust him.”
Sasuke glared at her, “He’s lying to us. He’s lied to us before. I can’t trust someone who’s lied to me, Sakura.”
The pink haired girl sighed, “I know. I’m not quite sure what to make of his excuse but the three of them know something we don’t and it’s got something to do with Naruto. No matter how old he gets, that idiot keeps getting himself into precarious positions.”
When Sasuke did not respond, she looked over at the Uchiha. The almost remorseful look that crossed his features suddenly piqued her interest. That was so ‘un-Sasuke-like’.
“What is it?” She asked.
Sasuke remained silent but she was more than certain he had heard her.
“Sasuke.”
“It’s my fault,” he spoke out, “All of this is because of me.”
Sasuke sat down beside her, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his thighs. His fingers weaved through his hair as he shook his head.
“I was the reason he wasn’t on guard and I left him alone. I fucked up, Sakura.”
“I’m sure it was just an accident, Sasuke,” she said as she placed a comforting hand on her friend’s shoulder, “It’s not your fault.”
He shrugged off her hand from his shoulder, “I kissed him.”
Sakura was not so sure she’d ever been this surprised. Yes, she should have known something was going on but to hear right from Sasuke that one of them made the first move was almost of epic proportions. Finally. Finally they did something about all that tension between them.
“Sasuke,” she grinned at him, “It’s about damn time.”
“Excuse me?”
She laughed, “You and Naruto have an unparalleled bond that has grown into so much more. All of us see it, you know. When we get him back, I’m sure he would accept your feelings.”
If he could, Sasuke would have found her statement amusing. He didn’t like the way her face dropped with his next comment.
“He doesn’t feel the same way.”
---
The Water Country was lush in greenery. It was a temperate deciduous climate moist for the majority of the year. Fall brought on warm windy weather, the trees change from green to red and orange. With winter the waters froze and the land is blanketed in thick layer of snow. When spring came, the cycle started once more.
It was so fresh and so alive.
Deidara found it very captivating. The Rock Country was very unlike this as well as every damn base Pein built for their deteriorating group. Since the near failure in the Rock Country, they had lost three members. Four if one counted Itachi but that damned Uchiha managed to reply to his message sent to the Mist Village. He and the Nine-Tails had lived.
The blond picked up his discarded paint brush and dipped it in the red paint.
The sun was low and cast an eerily red glow over the lake at the base of the mountain. The waters rippled with the unseen wind, blending the deep blue of the darkening lake with the crimson of the setting sun.
He spread the colour down the canvas with varied strokes and pressure. The mouth on his right hand made an approving noise.
“You’re concentrating too hard for someone who likes to blow things up.” A gravelly voice spoke from behind him, “Didn’t even sense me comin’.”
“Shut the fuck up, Kisame,” Deidara snarled, “I’m busy.”
“Would if I could,” Kisame responded, “Pein-sama wants to know of any progress.”
That’s right. He hadn’t told any of the other Akatsuki of Itachi’s reply to his message. Ah well. The bastard wasn’t due to return for a few more days. Odd as it may seem, Deidara chose to ignore the fact that Itachi was taking longer than it should to reach this base. So long as the Uchiha arrived alive, he didn’t care. His score had yet to be settled and he would not allow any other to take that from him.
“He’s on his way,” Deidara said without looking away from the scenery before him.
“And the Jinchuuriki?” Kisame pressed.
“Alive and well apparently,” Deidara muttered, “Now get out of here.”
“Pein-sama is not going to like my report. Or lack thereof, Deidara. I need details, Boy.
There was that infuriating chuckle.
The blond snapped his head around and glared at the taller man, “Two days. Now get the fuck out!”
Kisame grinned triumphantly and left to inform Pein of Itachi’s whereabouts. Boy, was it fun to piss the younger man off.
“I thought I told you not to disturb him when he paints,” Sasori’s voice was cold and calm.
“Meh. The idiot’s entertaining when he’s mad. Don’t you think, Sasori-danna?”
Kisame was testing him. Sasori did not acknowledge Kisame. Useless confrontations were not something he was inclined to get involved with. How Itachi put up with this man, he did not know.
“Pein-sama is awaiting your findings.” Was all he said.
Kisame nodded before turning to leave. They had preparations to make for the arrival of Itachi and the Kyuubi container. Two days was more than enough time to ready the area for the final extraction.