We had set out about an hour ago, around one in the morning. Tsunade saw us off, and currently, we were at a running pace, getting as far from the village as possible until sunrise when we could resume a walking pace. Guy's idea, and one we decided to just go along with to keep ourselves occupied since conversation did not come easily.

With Sasuke's sour presence and bruised face half healed by Sakura before we left, it was hard to talk for some odd reason. He had a weird bubble of unfriendly vibes floating around him that made it difficult to say virtually anything. He didn't mind the quiet and seemed to enjoy it more than if we were to start talking about random things to keep ourselves entertained. 

Itachi was basking in the wind that rushed past us, silently enjoying it with a soft smile, keeping his eyes shut and using his original way of seeing when he was blind to keep himself from falling into trees or slipping off of mud. He was getting more and more relaxed, slowing down when we would slow for a fraction of an hour. He disliked wearing all of the layers he wore during the day.

It was a better sight to see than the one I witnessed earlier. That scary look in his eye of predatory hunger. I wonder if he has a weird version of stress eating. That would be a scary thought, but if that's something he can't control, then I can't judge at all, not that I was in the first place. It was just surprising to see him just snap like that. It was completely out of the left field. I wonder if he feels similarly whenever I have my episodes.

I sighed and kept my inner conversation to myself as we carried on through the forests, heading North-ish, North East. I kept a little closer to Itachi then, silently showing support but not bothering his state of peace.

I felt my face heat up as I reached up and poked at the bite scars. I was wondering about feeding him during the trip. Our moments when he bit me were much more intimate than they needed to be, but something I didn't deny enjoying. It would be embarrassing to have people watch or even walk away just for that purpose and come back with knowing looks plastered on everyone's face. I shivered at the thought of being pinned against a tree.

"You're beginning to smell tantalizing~" Itachi whispered directly in my ear, making me gasp and stumble a little.

"S-Sorry!" I stammered out, feeling my face heat up a lot.

"Hn~." He smirked and grew closer to me. "Can't help yourself?"

I shuddered at the tone he used, feeling my insides squirm around with unease and arousal. I couldn't help the way I reacted either. It was just ingrained into me.

"I-I guess not. You're a lovely subject to think about." I giggled nervously as he only kept his eyes on me.

"As are you. My little toy, sweet and loving and kind. I can't wait until we have some privacy!" He whispered, chuckling nearby before moving farther, this time with his eyes open.

I had to think about nasty stuff to keep my body from reacting the way it wanted to. I looked forward to finding Sasuke staring at me over his shoulder with an odd glare I couldn't place. I couldn't begin to imagine how he felt about me now. Someone he forced himself to hate suddenly has a part to play in his personal life because I am in love with his older brother. Awkward was putting it lightly.

I simply chose to look down and pay attention to where my feet were going rather than suffer under the mercy of his stare.

I felt my brain immediately go fuzzy, and my body stopped listening to me. I ran straight into a thick trunk and fell to the ground, grunting with a curse hidden under my breath.

"OI!" I heard Sasuke shout to Guy and Yamato ahead, seeing Itachi immediately rush to my side.

"Hey... are you okay? That looked like it hurt." Itachi asked me, his voice half buried under a weird static sound in my ears.

I blinked rapidly, shaking my head, pressing my fingers together on the bridge of my nose to try and fight the weird pressure mounting in my brain. I tried not to focus on it, I tried to focus on hearing the forest around me, but it was slowly starting to vanish, something that made me begin to freak out.

"Breathe deeply, focus on me, okay? Stay with me." Itachi whispered, rubbing my back, already knowing what was going on.

"Is he having one now?" Yamato asked in a serious tone, watching me skeptically from behind the trunk I ran into.

"Look at me when I speak to you." Danzo's harsh whisper spoke beside me, but I forced my head down, not acknowledging his presence. "Filthy animal."

"Animal..." I found myself unconsciously mumbling, opening my eyes to find myself sitting still on the forest bed, but the people around me were unidentifiable, I could only hear their voices half masked with Static.

"Naruto, listen to me. You're in a forest north of the hidden leaf. You are with Itachi, Guy, Yamato, and Sasuke." Itachi spoke right beside my ear. "You aren't with him. He's dead."

"He's dead," I repeated, nodding in acknowledgment.

Yes, Danzo was dead. He was dead, and I saw his corpse. This false Danzo was nothing but a vivid nightmare forced to last longer than it needed. I saw his corpse. I saw his corpse. I saw his corpse.

"I saw his corpse," I whispered, eyes glancing up to see Itachi's headless corpse, bleeding everywhere, Sasuke's right beside him.

"Look at his corpse, Uzumaki scum. The next time you betray your village, I shall lay ten more at your feet, so you may bathe in their blood." Danzo hissed into my ear, a hand wrapped around my throat, smearing blood on my skin.

I leaned away from Danzo into the colder body beside me, shakily staring forward, tears of horror coming to my eyes as the image blinked rapidly before me. The shadow beside me gave me familiar comfort as the other shadows closed in. There was no voice to be heard, only static, as even Danzo's words faded beneath it. I was left numb, fighting with every ounce of willpower I possessed to not let it overtake my mind and make me forget reality. That this cold figure beside me was Itachi holding me. These figures were my friends.

"Naruto..." Itachi's gentle voice finally whispered through the static, making me flinch at the loudness since it was somehow deafening. "I'm here... it's okay. You're going to be okay."

Soft hands soothed my arms, and the shadow surrounding him vanished, revealing his pale fingers on my arms, his body side hugging me. I leaned into his body as much as I could, shaken, but somehow aware of what happened.

Somehow able to forcefully make it go away.

I exhaled heavily and slowly drug my tired arms around him. He hummed in response, feeling his lips rest on the top of my head. My eyes lingered on where the image of their dead bodies had been, but only for a brief moment. I let my eyes slide closed as I focused on his slow breathing, his touch, and the feeling of his lips against my head.

"Is he okay?" Guy's worried voice spoke from beside Yamato's direction.

"I think it's over," Sasuke spoke quietly. "Itachi.. is he-"

"He is," Itachi quietly responded, planting a kiss on my head.

I snuggled into his hold, feeling all too tempted to take a nap like this, somehow feeling insanely tired even though I was wide awake just a few minutes ago. I slid my eyes open, though, and found everyone staring at me with a mix of worry, confusion, stress, and other things. I slowly peered up to see Itachi looking down at me with a worried face, like I was somehow back from being lost or from the dead.

A mix of panic, stress, adoration, and worry. I leaned upwards and poked his chin with my nose, watching his eyebrows raise in question.

"I'm okay," I answered his unasked question, watching his eyes immediately relax. "It wasn't a bad one."

"It didn't last as long, either," Itachi replied, nodding weakly.

"Thankfully!" I grinned honestly, planning a kiss on his throat.

Guy coughed in surprise at my display of affection towards Itachi, beating his chest a few times.

"I didn't know that you swung that way! N-Not that I'm judging! I'm just surprised!" Guy spoke loudly, his face filled with discomfort and embarrassment.

It was funny enough to make me chuckle. "Haha, well, sorry you had to see it," I shrugged helplessly.

He walked off with Yamato in conversation with the other male, leaving me in the company of the brothers. I was content with just staying silent, but Sasuke crouched and stared me square in the face, making me slightly uneasy and push against Itachi.

"Are you sure you're okay? What triggered it this time?" Sasuke asked me, narrowing his eyes and making my brain start to feel fuzzy again.

"You're staring." I breathily replied, shuddering as a weird wave of coolness swamped my head.

Sasuke grunted and immediately looked away with an extremely apologetic and shocked expression. He winced and shuffled back a bit.

"S-Sorry." He mumbled.

"So anyway, uhm. Why were you staring at me? If you want to ask me something or figure something out, you can talk to me. We are on the same side, Sasuke." I asked him, tilting my head.

"I know." He gave a nod, glancing at me but lowering his gaze soon after. "I was just curious and in a lot of thought."

"Spill," I instructed, getting tired of him dancing around the subject.

"It's weird seeing you and my brother together. And it's even weirder to be back... after everything. After killing him, I was regretful, but not that he was back... I don't know... it still feels a bit unreal." He explained briefly. "And I'm angry... about what Danzo did to you. I don't know why I'm angry about it, I was planning on killing you the next time we met up. To relieve me from the bond we share. But here we stand, on the same side. Don't get me wrong, you are a complete loser, and I hate you... but seeing you get like this makes me mad. It makes me want to kill him again."

I listened, feeling my heart flutter at his worry. I smiled and patted his shoulder, watching him tense and cringe at my friendly affection.

"Thanks for sharing. I care about you too." I grinned happily at him.

"We all do," Itachi spoke up, patting his free shoulder, making Sasuke's face pinker.

He shoved our hands away and stood, dusting his shoulders off with a huff before leaning against the tree I ran into.

"We should get moving." He grumbled, still averting his eyes from me.

"Yes, we should." Itachi hummed in agreement.

Before I got the chance to stand, I was hoisted up and off of the ground, much to my surprise. I gasped as I was then slung behind him like I was as light as a pebble, his arms holding my legs and mine coming around his neck gently.

Carrying me.

"Y-Your carrying me?" I asked face flushed. "You know I can walk, right?"

"Hn, you like it, though." Itachi smiled as he began after the others, Sasuke moving at our side, listening in with a calm face.

"I do, only because I don't get to experience it often. I was only ever carried twice after becoming a Genin." I chimed and laid my head on his shoulder, smiling contently.

"After...? You had no one before?" Itachi frowned heavily, looking at me and making eye contact.

I gave him a long look, waiting for him to connect the dots. He visibly acknowledged my look and winced before looking forward.

"Sorry, that was insensitive. I had a lapse of common sense." Itachi mumbled.

"It's alright." I patted his chest softly. "No one wanted to carry a demon child on their back. It makes sense looking back, but I was never told about what I was as a kid, so... It was what it was."

Sasuke frowned at me before looking forward, deep in thought about something I couldn't see. I didn't pay him much attention to save him the burden of my staring at him.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that," Itachi spoke honestly. "I couldn't imagine it..."

"Meh." I dismissed the memories with a wave of my hand. "I get tired, experience it now... so it's okay. It wasn't all that bad. I had a hell of a lot of free time on my hands when I was younger. I got into all sorts of trouble." I snickered. "I'd consider myself even with the village."

"I wouldn't," Sasuke huffed, looking at me. "I'd be pissed."

"Of course, you would be. You have the tolerance of a toddler." I rolled my eyes at him. "One thing goes wrong, and you're sour."

"I do not get sour over one thing." Sasuke's eyes grew half-lidded with unamusement.

"You just did," I smirked at him.

He rolled his eyes and looked forward, but I could have sworn I saw a smile just then. I shrugged it off and hugged Itachi as they resumed a running pace to keep up with Guy, Itachi had no problems carrying the added weight.

The night turned to day, and I dozed off after Itachi paused to get his outfit situated. He didn't wake me up but chose to carry me instead. They were walking now and kept a steady pace up until I had woken up. When I did come too, it was around five in the afternoon. I woke to the sound of Guy telling a story of one of his missions with Kakashi, laughing and triumphantly speaking of the many victories and ties they two had.

I groggily snuggled into the fabric of Itachi's turtle neck, inhaling his familiar smell. It didn't smell like a normal human smell, something sweeter. Something cozier and alluring than a sweaty human. He smelled like a baked good, or maybe even a sugary candy, but not overpowering sweet. It was something subtle I hadn't noticed until now. I nosed him more, inhaling his smell, basking in his presence, feeling safe in his arms, the sway of his body lulling me closer to falling back asleep.

"Good afternoon, sleepy head." Itachi greeted me, tilting his masked face my way, nudging me with the edge of it, his hat shading my eyes from the sun. "Did you sleep okay?"

"Yeah, sorry about dozing off, I was just extremely tired," I spoke louder than I intended, yawning halfway through my sentence.

"Hn, well, I'm glad you slept it off." His tone held a smile, which made me smile in response.

I was let down off of his back and began walking beside him, gazing around the unfamiliar surroundings. It was still a dense forest, but the greenery was slightly less intense, leaving the ground more open to free-roaming instead of weaving through thickets and tall grass. We walked until it got dark and made camp near a larger creek, Yamato building a large house to let us sleep in.

I stayed outside to enjoy the weather, though, fishing in the creek rather than eating our rations. I was never a fan, and I wasn't in the mood to have a depressing meal. So I sat alone while everyone else did whatever they needed to do inside. I was okay with being out here in the dark by myself. It felt relieving to have some alone time.

I stared at the line I baited, waiting for a bite on the line to pull the fish out. I enjoyed the sound of the running water. It was calming, and it was clearing my head off a lot. It let me momentarily forget the horrors looming inside my brain.

"Jiraiya would have liked this spot." I found myself mumbling.

I was always good about finding fishing spots. I grew up fishing for meals, or I'd go hungry otherwise. I got good about making camps, feeding myself, and exploring wooded areas. I grew out of it after becoming a Ninja, however, so being able to go back to those times was nice.

Jiraiya enjoyed the hot springs more than fishing, but he also didn't mind it. He would always catch the smaller fish since the bigger ones always favored me more. He'd drink his sake, talk about women half-drunk, get super serious about our training, and then grow soft, and start writing in silence. I would listen to his tales and get bored watching him write, but I'd always find myself at ease. I would lay with my bag as my pillow, staring up at a canopy of trees or an open sky stargazing as I watched embers flicker into nothing.

I felt a tug and immediately yanked on the string, pulling a large fish from the creek. I grinned widely and watched as it flopped down beside me. I grabbed the Kunai I had set aside and finished the job with a poke. I moved over to a small fire I had built and placed a flat rock beside it. I cleaned the fish with the weapon I killed it with and stuck it on a stick. I then let it rest in its place to cook over the fire, held up by two other sticks out of the reach of the flames.

I sat back in victory as I watched it begin to cook, feeling accomplished, yet more alone than ever. I stared longingly at the space he'd usually choose to sit in before moving to it. I set out a cup and filled it with boiled water and left it there, surrounded by grass that I patted down. I then settled back where I was and filled another cup with water.

"Here's to a good day." I toasted, extending my arm and clinking the glasses together. "I know it's not sake, but it's better than nothing, right? It's healthier for you." I explained as I sipped on my water, reaching over to turn the fish.

The fire crackled, the fish sizzled, and the creek rushed behind me. I would let my eyes flutter closed at every soft gust of gentle wind, letting its coolness relax any tension that dared to form. I found my eyes looking higher and higher until they reached the open sky. I saw every twinkling star, every shudder of nearby leaves of the trees that surrounded the opening we settled down in, and the shuffle of birds and owls.

"You'd love it here," I whispered, as tiredness and weakness took over, making me wish for nothing more than sleep. "I hope you can see this with me. We've been to spots like this before... but they all have their beauty... don't they?"

My ears were met with the wind shaking the leaves around me. I gave a heavy sigh, running a hand through my hair, picking the tangles out. I waited patiently, and once my fish was done, I ate it in complete silence, staring down at the secluded cup, hoping for his hands to grab and bring it to his mouth.

"Heh, I'd chase Tsunade down everywhere, bringing her presents to win her over. Each time I complimented her or tried to put the moves on her, she'd sent me flying into buildings, over them, or face-first into the dirt. Hehehe, I was a stubborn shit." Jiraiya laughed, sipping his sake. "She'd beat me like a drum if I took it too far, being perverted and such, suggesting lewd things for my entertainment. It was always worth it... every bruise was a win for me because I held her attention. She has a chest of the gods... but, she has those beautiful eyes. Her eyes lay everything bare; her thoughts, emotions, struggles, and passions. True perfection." Jirayah shrugged, finishing his cup.

"Why don't you tell her?" I asked aloud as if he were there talking to me.

"I don't know... "Jiraiya shrugged. "I blow it each time I get. That, or she thinks I'm drunk. Either way, it ends with physical assault. But you know what, kid? I don't mind it at all."

I jumped when I heard a light thump. I looked down at the cup, noticing it had spilled over backward into the grass I had flattened. I stared longingly at the now-wet grass, and at the cup.

"Yeah... I don't mind her either." I smiled sadly. "She's pretty great I guess."

I finished my dinner and put the fire out, leaving me standing alone in the dark, staring at the house Yamato had made for us. I looked back down at the cup and collected it off the ground. I held it to my chest, no motivation in me to walk inside. I put the cup in my bag and slung it over my shoulder after another ten minutes, and when I looked up again, Sasuke was standing just outside the door. I paused, watching him for a while before he finally moved over to me.

"You've been out here for a little bit. You okay?" Sasuke asked, arms folded and posture leaning into one leg when he stopped walking.

"I guess so." I shrugged a shoulder. "Just missing people."

"Jiraiya?" Sasuke asked knowingly.

I gave a weak nod.

"Hn, well he wouldn't want you moping out here like a loser," Sasuke grunted and moved to the side. "Come inside, we're playing cards."

I looked at him, searching his face for ant bullshit, but found none. I walked over to his side and paused. I stared down at his shoulder, where his curse mark used to be, and found nothing there. I curiously reached, impulsively touching the skin where it used to be.

The mark that took him away... finalizing his decision to go.

"How did it vanish?" I whispered absent-mindedly.

"When Itachi and I fought," Sasuke answered, not moving away from me, or smacking my hand away. "I was at my limit, and the curse mark took over and tried to resurrect Orochimaru from the dead. Itachi killed every last ounce of him with his Susanoo. Right before he died."

"Hm." I hummed in response, having no words to reply with.

"You know he killed my entire clan, right?" Sasuke asked weakly. "He's killed hundreds of people."

"I do." I nodded tiredly. "Your point?"

"I don't forgive him for what he did. Even if it was forced on his shoulders. It's hard to get over something like that." Sasuke answered. "It's hard to forgive the leaf for making it so."

"It's hard to get over many things, Sasuke." I agreed with him, looking up and into his eyes. "It's hard to show mercy to people you grew up hating. It's hard to look at things from their point of view. It's hard to even begin to understand their point of view, but to have peace, we must, even if we don't enjoy it at present. No one is rushing you to forgive and forget. Never forget... it's what shaped you. It's a giant part of who you are, Sasuke. But forgiveness takes time. It always takes time. I still haven't forgiven many things."

"You haven't? You?" Sasuke glared skeptically.

"Sasuke, you were the smartest one in our class, but you're dumb for thinking that I can forgive everything. I'm still working through a bunch." I scoffed and went to head inside.

His hand caught my shoulder quickly, making me pause, and turn my head so I could side-eye him.

"Just... make sure you don't end up as I did. You still have that look in your eye, the look that's been bugging me. You're mad, very mad, but you aren't giving yourself time to"

"I'll find the time when we get to that island. I'd suggest you do the same thing. It seems we both need a place to wind down after everything, a luxury we are too blessed to have." I interrupted him, shrugging off his hand.

Sasuke gave a nod and looked forward as we headed for the doors. He then paused and placed his hand in my way.

"You know he'd kill anyone who looks at you sideways." He winced.

"Sasuke. My god!" I shouted and punched his arm down angrily. "Yes! I know! I'm still fucking him, and there isn't a thing you can do to stop me! He's the hottest, nicest, most charming man on this planet! If it bothers you that much then stop watching us! I know it's weird, and it's kinda weird for me too, but I'm not gonna ditch him because you feel too awkward about trusting him!" I finished, panting in annoyance.

Sasuke took a step back with wide eyes, staring at me like I had grown another head. I only scoffed and shoved my way inside, only to be met with all three men staring me down with various levels of intensity.

I didn't need a mirror to tell that my whole body went cherry red.

Yamato's eyebrows were raised in surprise and discomfort, staring at me questioningly. Guy was red-faced with second-hand embarrassment and shock, quickly looking away from me with wide eyes, also uncomfortable. But then there was Itachi's face. His eyes were wide with shock, but his face was red for a different reason. His face held so much lust in just that single expression that it drove me up the wall in a metaphorical sense.

I stiffly turned and marched away from them, up the stairs, and hurriedly into an empty room before slamming the door. I covered my face as I all but melted to the floor, embarrassed for having said that loudly in earshot of everyone! I smacked myself in the face lightly, scolding myself silently for just doing that.

"I can never show my face again." I shakily explained to the empty room, fanning my face, which did nothing of course.

I all but shrieked when Itachi just appeared in the room in a small puff of smoke. I shot up from the floor due to my surprise. I was able to open my mouth, but not a single word left it before he crashed his lips into mine roughly. I grunted at the force, legs turning into jelly, wobbling as he moved me towards a simple wooden bed, flopping me down on my back. I had wrapped my hands around his neck during the fall, letting my eyes close to enjoy the rough and eager kissing. We parted with a loud smack sound, panting heavily to catch our breath as we stared one another down.

"You are a wonder, Uzumaki," Itachi stated breathlessly, eyes holding so much hunger in them that I nearly got lost in them.

"As are you." I shakily replied, shuddering as his hand slid underneath my shirt. "Th-They'll hear," I spoke up as he kissed my throat, moving over to the scar.

"Don't worry love, I won't destroy your ass today. But sometime in the future, I'll be sure to." Itachi purred into my skin.

I shivered at his wicked promises, knowing full well that he meant it. I blinked rapidly as he kissed over my scars a couple of times before pulling away and laying beside me. I frowned weakly and looked over athim.

"Not hungry?" I asked.

"Biting you is a very intimate thing for me, I'd get carried away and pound you if I did." Itachi responded. "It makes you very aroused, so I can wait until we are either at sea or on the island. We will have plenty of time later."

"It won't hurt you?" I asked with worry, cupping his face as he looked me in the eye.

"No, it won't. I can hold off for a few days if I need to. I won't push myself past any limits since I don't need to. I promise." Itachi moved his head to kiss my hand, making me feel better after hearing his promise.

"You shall pinky swear it." I narrowed my eyes stubbornly, raising my free hand and holding my pinky out for him to grab.

He grinned and laughed lightly. "Pinky swear? So we are five now, are we?' He quipped, very amused with my comment, making me puff my cheeks.

"Just do it you horny beast!" I hissed at him, narrowing my eyes.

He shook his head with gentle laughter and took my pinky into his, squeezing our digits together in promise. I smiled after that and kissed his nose. He hummed and moved off of me, allowing me to sit up and kick my sandals off. We both undressed together into our boxers and settled underneath the sheets to rest for the next day to come.

...

...

...

..

.

I wasn't in my bed, not in chains either, but on a floor. A collar around my neck, a lope for a chain or a rope to be attached should one need to be. I was staring down at my bare feet, pale skin glowing against the dark surface of my cell. I tiredly watched a row of ants move across the floor into a hole in the wall, watching them move so freely in a place so good for keeping people locked away.

My eyes lazily traveled to the wall, matted with blood stains, scars from whips that missed the person who used to be hanging there. They killed him, leaving him to die... and die he did. I watched him die slowly over several months.

The blonde who used to hang there...

The doors to my cell opened, making me look over to them, not the least bit surprised when Danzo walked in. He carried a plate of food with him, and a box being carried in his bandaged arm. I perked up in curiosity, never having received a box before.

I never received anything other than food from him, so this box made me curious and sit up straight. He approached me silently and set the box down in front of me. I didn't go to open it, waiting patiently for his permission. He watched me for a long moment, I avoided directly staring into his eyes, unable to.

"You may open this box," Danzo spoke softly.

I reached for it finally, and calmly undid the latches of the wooden box, before opening it, only to feel my whole body freeze up.

A headband... clothes...

"Lord... what is-"

"You are to finally leave this place. Your training is complete, Jinchuriki. You shall take your place behind me, everywhere I go. You shall do as I command, and you shall do it without any hesitation or I shall throw you back here. Is this understood?" Danzo asked me, as I pulled the headband out.

I never felt happier.

"Yes, my lord."