154Chapter 53
DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Naruto or any of it's characters. Kishimoto Masashi does. I do not make any type of profit from writing this fanfiction. This is strictly for my and my readers' pleasure. The Japanese language used in this fanfiction is translated by Google.
CLAIMER: I OWN Yami Uchiha. Do NOT steal.
RATED: R and is subject to change.
WARNING: This is an YAOI/MALE+MALE story. The scenarios involved in this fanfiction are fictional. The main character may also strike readers as a Mary Sue/Gary Stue. If this fact bothers you, turn back now. Construction criticism is welcomed. No flames. I also have this story posted on my Mibba account titled Kumo no Su De.
BETA READER: None; so there will be errors that I miss.
"Speaking"
'Thinking'
Hand Signing
A/N: Okay, this chapter is shorter than the last few, but I wanted to go ahead and get this out. It mostly contains the flashback between the Rookie Nine. Also, there is finally going to be some progression. You'll see once you read. Enjoy :)
~oOo~STORY START~oOo~
-FLASHBACK START-
The Rookie Nine settled within Naruto's surprisingly clean, yet not so surprisingly cramped, apartment. Sasuke and Sakura sat on either side of Naruto who opted to sit with his back up against sparse bookcase that contains a maximum of five books and seven scrolls. All of which were tucked tightly together on the middle shelf for some odd reason. Ino, Shikamaru, Choji and Hinata squeezed onto the bottomed out couch while Kiba sat across from them with Akamaru resting on his lap. Shino stood on the opposite side of the room, waiting along with the other eight for the blonde to begin. The kikachu (ninja beetle) welding Aburame sent a glance around the room, noting that Team Seven looked especially tense if not a little worried and Hinata was still fighting off a wave of silent tears after learning about some of the extent of her crush's mistreatment. Biting the inside of his cheek, Naruto's fingers tightened on the material of his pants. He was nervous and scared of how his friends would take the metaphorical bomb he was about to drop on them.
A shoulder bumped up against his and his cerulean orbs met obsidian. Taking hold of the silent support from his teammates, Naruto began from the beginning in much of the same way he had with Sasuke and Sakura. He told them about the night of the Kyuubi attack and how the Yondaime did not actually kill the demonic being. Instead, he explained how the mass of chakra was sealed within a newborn infant, all the while showing the seal on his stomach. Then he told them about how some group was after people like him…Jinchuuriki. Two shoulders were digging into Naruto's while six pairs, plus Akamaru's, eyes were staring with mixed emotions at the blonde. All seemed to be shaken by the knowledge, as they could vaguely remember the massive, suffocating feeling of dread and death from the night long ago wished forgotten. Shikamaru was the first to speak.
"That's why you have those strange whisker-like markings on your cheeks?" The Nara heir questioned, already knowing the answer.
He was only confirmed when Naruto nodded.
"Wait a minute. Are you saying that—that thing—is inside you?" Kiba asked, wide-eyed with disbelief.
Naruto flinched, but nodded.
"It explained your insane amount of chakra. Why? Because when Neji-san blocked off your tenketsu during the Chunnin exams, you were able to open them back up with a second source," Shino spoke up from his standing spot against the far wall.
Another nod.
"Those people you were talking about…will they be back?" Ino asked, terrified about the overall situation.
"I'm…I don't know. Maybe? Yes. Yes, as long as I'm a Jinchuuriki," Naruto finally settled on his answer, averting his gaze to his hands.
"But that smell," Kiba voiced; confusion in his tone. "Akamaru and I noticed a new, strange smell clinging to you three and your senseis."
Three sets of eyes shot up to Kiba, staring at the boy and his pup. Sasuke stood up, unsure of what to do.
"You're brother is in Konoha, isn't he?" Shikamaru asked, shoulders slumping lazily before he shifted further against the couch to get comfortable.
Sasuke's narrowed gaze answered that question for everyone.
"B-but he's…he's a rogue," Ino exclaimed.
"Cool it, Ino. There are things happening that are S-rank secrets. You can't say anything," Sakura told the blonde, aiming her statement at everyone else in the room even if it was not true.
The pinkette was hoping the others would believe it and be too afraid of treason for speaking of an S-ranked secret.
"Hold up. Are you saying that—"
"Yes, Kiba, now will you be quiet. It's risky talking about my secret let alone someone else's. Dattebayo," Naruto huffed, fingers threading through blonde locks.
"Please," Sasuke whispered desperately, his plea shocking the two teams."Don't say anything. Besides, Kiba, you're mom and sister already knows."
"Indeed. My kikaichu (destruction insects) picked up the foreign chakra source during training," Shino admitted calmly.
Kiba gapped. He opened his mouth, but closed it. Now that he thought about it…his sister had the same smell clinging to her as the members of Team Seven did. For as long as he could remember, he could never recall his sister's scent having traces of something sweet mixed with a tinge of sandalwood.
"Your secret is safe with us. Both of them," Hinata said quietly, not a stutter involved as her lavender eyes locked onto Naruto's ceruleans. "Naruto-kun is Naruto-kun."
"Agreed, it'll be too troublesome to say otherwise," Shikamaru stated, eyes closed and getting ready to nod off. One by one, the others followed suit.
"Ooo, do you have any fox-like qualities besides the whiskers?" Ino asked, grinning at her fellow blonde.
"Eh?!" Naruto voiced his surprise while Sakura rushed over to give her friend a knock of the head.
"Naruto, hurry up and grab a bag so we can go. We can start training harder in the morning. Sakura," Sasuke spoke.
"Yeah, Sasuke-kun?" The pinkette asked, busy mussing up Ino's hair.
"Do you want to stay over tonight for morning training?"
Emerald orbs whipped around in surprise, but someone else answered for her.
"Sleepover!" Kiba shouted, earning a yip from Akamaru.
Sasuke's brow twitched, but his lack of response had the others leaving Naruto's small apartment in order to go home and pack for a night over at the Uchiha compound. Naruto turned to his two teammates as the last of Team Ten and Team Eight left.
"Thanks guys," Naruto mumbled, his cheeks taking on a light pink hue.
"Hn," Was the answered response that earned a smile from the blonde.
-oOo-
Deep within the underground of the northwest side of Otogakure, cries of mercy and wails of pain echoed throughout the maze-like corridors. It was music to a certain individual's ears, making the man's lips twist into a sinister smirk. His elongated pink tongue dipped out between his lips before streaking back inside. Long ebony locks as straight as rain and face pale enough that it seemed to glow in the dimly lit room. Bandaged arms did not prevent long bony fingers from tapping an incessant rhythm against the arm of the chair he was seated in.
Footsteps echoed, sounding along with the tortured screams. Seconds past before a long awaited male sporting a pair of round glasses and a gray ponytail entered the room. The man's smirk quickly fell and golden eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. The finger tapping stopped completely. Orochimaru's eyes took in the sight of his apprentice who looked as if he had been placed inside of a blender.
"Kabuto," Orochimaru hissed, low voice managing to resonate through the open room.
The dim light reflected off of the circular lens covering Kabuto's eyes. The apprentice pushed the frames further up the bridge of his nose.
"The informant in Tanzaku Gai was correct about the information he relayed us about the Konoha group's movements. I trailed behind Jiraiya-san, who was searching the rumors about a rare and believed to be non-existent plant with healing properties. It was indeed the one we have been seeking. He found it on the highest mountain in Rai no Kuni, but I was unable to retrieve the stasis scroll containing the plant," Kabuto explained bitterly.
"He had help?" Orochimaru asked, lips forming a thin sneer.
Kabuto nodded.
"The Raikage's adopted brother, Kirabi, the jinchuuriki of the Gyuki," Kabuto stated. "Orochimaru-sama, the plant is not for Yami Uchiha like we originally thought."
Orochimaru's brow rose.
"Itachi Uchiha was traveling with the Konoha group. Our informant in Tanzaku Gai said that the Uchiha collapsed and that his health was the reason Jiraiya-san went after a rumor. Itachi Uchiha's health is critical and I am unsure of his current status," Kabuto voiced seriously.
"Hm...," Orochimaru hummed, leaning back in his chair. "That plant was essential for my experiment. Kabuto, I am not in the condition to travel, so I trust you to visit Konohagakure's secret support system. After all, a tree can only maintain its leaves if it is supported in the depths by its roots."
At his order, Kabuto turned around and left the room.