Hey everyone! I hope you are enjoying my first ItaNaru so far! If you like ships, check out my page for more! Also! I apologise for the inconsistent spacing between chapters. These are longer chapters than what I'm used to writing by about 1500, so they land around the 6,600 range. Also, it's finals week, so that's why it's spaced out. I've been studying! For anyone else taking finals, I wish you luck!

On another note, what do you guys think of the swapping perspective each chapter? I'd love to hear some feedback. If you enjoy it let me know! If you don't let me know what I should do.

Enjoy!

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He was growing tense, but I couldn't for the life of me place why he was. His shoulders were bunched up, and he was twitching. He kept zoning out...even when we began traveling, even when we stopped to rest. No matter the situation or mood of our group, Shi was oddly tense. I had to help him avoid a couple of tree branches as a result of it, and he was beginning to worry me.

He was just fine yesterday, so I'm a bit confused about his sudden change in behavior.

Perhaps it's nervousness. We are planning on confronting another village's Kage after all. Kage are insanely strong ninja who protect their villages with their lives. Just from brief descriptions, he sounds intimidating, but Shi seemed more on edge around Danzo than around the idea of the Rikage.

We had been traveling for well over a couple days by this point, and we were traveling at a walking pace from branch to branch in order to keep a considerable distance between us and the cloud ninja. Kakashi stated he could follow their scent after a conversation we had about our method of tracking them came about. I had asked if he needed to summon pakun, but according to Kakashi, he had a nose as strong as a ninja hound and didn't need to bother him with the task.

Currently, we were moving along at a steady pace. Most of us had kept quiet as we traveled, but conversations did kick up every now and then. Now, though, I was walking across the ground with Shi at my side, Kakashi and Yamato in the front, stating it was okay to start traveling by foot. The ground was getting colder and firmer, leaving no footprints as we walked. It's weird how the temperature drops more and more the longer we travel.

I looked over to Shi for what felt like the hundredth time this last hour to see him with his head tilted towards me as usual, walking silently but with a tense set to his shoulders. His body language was hidden mostly by the cloak, but I could tell he was stiff despite the silent steps.

"Hn." Shi finally gave a hum, bobbing his straw hatted head. "You like to stare at everyone, or is it just me?"

"Wha-" My eyes widened as a wave of pure embarassment struck me. "N-no! I mean, I don't stare at everyone constantly! Uh, I was just slightly concerned. You seem on edge." I whispered frantically as my spine shot shivers everywhere.

"Yes...on edge would be a good phrase to use. We are on a very illegal mission. If we get caught, we are all dead aside from you. Knowing Danzo, he'd lock you in a cage underground forever." Shi spoke in a deeper tone than usual, making my brain feel oddly fuzzy.

"Are you sure it's just that?" I asked cautiously, trying to detect if he was lying. "Is your headache worse?"

"Actually, yes, it is. It's fine though, I've got medicine in my weapon pouch." Shi waved a dismissive hand my way. "If it storms, though, I may willingly die again so I can go punch who ever's in charge of storms in the afterlife."

I grinned as a bubble of laughter welled in my gut and tried to come up. I fought it back, however, and shook my head free from the need. I instead gave him a firm nod and shrugged.

"Well, I hope it doesn't storm either, for your sake."

"Hn." He bobbed his head and actually relaxed some.

Despite having his face completely covered, I could somehow tell he was smiling at me. It was a weird sensation to feel. I steered Shi away from a pile of sticks and kept up with the jonin ahead of us, who slowed a little to better match our pace.

"It's getting late." Yamato commented.

"Yes, but if we push, we can make it there at the same time they do. It's only about another 12 hours away. We've been making good times while avoiding major villages, like the Hidden Stone, not far behind us. We can also catch up to them as they intercept the Rikage, I'm sure." Kakashi looked to Yamato before back at me and Shi. "Does it sound doable?"

"Yes, it does. I don't mind not sleeping. This is a very important trip, after all." Shi nodded. "If we rested we would have to run top speed the rest of the way, and we may end up running into other Kage as a result of a delay, and if a fight ends up happening we would be out of energy for it. It's the smarter option."

"I agree." Yamato nodded his head. "Naruto?"

I looked to them all and gave a firm nod.

I'm starting to grow nervous about this confrontation. The Rikage is very mad with Sasuke... not that I blame him. He took their Jinchuriki, he was with the Akatsuki...

It's my fault he fell so far, if only I could have saved him when we met in Orochimaru's hide out a few months back.

I visibly winced as a weird weight settled somewhere in my chest. It made breathing more difficult the more it stayed. Danzo...what would he think it the Rikage agreed, and they talked at the summit. What would happen then if Danzo found out I spoke with the Rikage against his wishes?

He'll probably lock me away... and beat me again.

My eyes traveled around the wooded area, studying how every tree turned to pine, the only tree able to survive the cold that kept getting colder and colder. The ground was dying despite it being late summer, and the ground here was nearly frozen, and the cold nipped at my toes. Despite trying to focus on the real world, my mind kept pulling me back to everything happening recently.

This has to work! I can talk to him... make him understand my way of seeing things...

"If you don't share someone's pain, you can never understand them."

Pain, i made a promise...to Sakura and to myself...and most of all to Sasuke. I'll save him! I have too! I won't lose! I can't... I can't! I didn't fail! There's still time to help him! I will find a way!

"Can you continue believing in yourself forever? Can you guarantee it? Can you have such faith in yourself?"

I have to try...I have to-

"-forget about that man. I want you to acknowledge that the moment we see him, he's as good as dead, and I want you to understand he did this to himself. Your failures can not ever be undone. Do I make myself clear?"

The figures in front of me seemed to sway a bit as we walked on. The heavy feeling in my chest only weighed on me more and more as stress flooded through my body, taking me over in a wave I couldn't contain.

Dizzy... I feel dizzy... and sick to my stomach. I want to throw up. I want to get rid of this terrible pain in my chest, this growing sensation that dug its way there and latched on.

I grabbed my cloak, the cloth hovering over my chest as an odd sheet of ice filled my system. I wanted to rip it out of me...I could almost physically feel it lingering just beneath my skin in a maddening way. If I pull hard enough, I wonder if

"Naruto. Oi, did you hear anything I just said?" Kakashi's hand was suddenly waving in front of my face, making me pause and blink a few times in surprise.

"S-Sorry Kakashi Sensei! Zoned out! What did you say?" I jolted and straightened my posture immediately in shock.

"I said their pace quickened, as are going to return to running through the trees." Kakashi informed me. "Focus."

"Right! Sorry." I winced before following the two jonin up with Shi traveling just behind me.

We traveled well into the night, from the late afternoon, straight through until morning and onward. The air grew colder and colder, and snow began to cover the trees around us. We were close now, very close by mid-day to the point we were following their footprints. I was getting giddy, but I had to focus on masking my chakra like everyone else in order to prevent us from being found too early.

I wonder if we will see samurai soldiers while we travel. I wonder how far it is until we meet up with the Rikage.

"Alright... we're almost there." Yamato confirmed.

"Swe-ah...AH Chew!" I sneezed randomly, shuddering as the cold peirced my skin a little.

"Naruto shhhh!" Yamato hissed.

"Ah! Sorry!" I yelped.

"SHHHHHHHH! This is a stealth mission!" Yamato hissed again, growing pale, making me smile nervously in embarrassment and slight fear.

Shi snickered quietly beside me, nudging my arm before continuing on with us, growing closer and closer to a very large presence. It was a heavy one, but nothing like mine when Kurama affected my chakra. This was a different presence, one of immense authority.

We drew close to a clearing, and from a distance, we could easily spot team Samui and three others. Two were about their height, but someone else much larger and buffer was towering over them all, his presence almost shadowing over everyone else's. I knew right then that this person must have been the Rikage.

"Damnit, Samui! You were followed by hidden leaf scum!" I could hear a voice snarl, making all of us stop on a nearby tree just out of sight, hiding.

"Hnng, this trip has been nothing but a chore. COME OUT! You're not as stealthy as you think, foolish ninja!" The Rikage bellowed angrily, making my palms sweat immediately.

With a single bound, all four of us appeared into the clearing, in front of the six cloud Ninja, the three we followed tensing in alarm at the sight of me and Shi's familiar faces. We all stood straight, eyes on different people, mine gluing to the Rikage's, as he snarled in what felt like disgust.

"Wow...they Tailed Samui...impressive." the dark skinned blonde by the Rikage hummed.

"Damn, you idiots! Do you have a death wish!? This is severely inappropriate!" Kauri shouted directly at me, her eyes burning with rage.

"Sir...that masked man with the silver hair. He's Kakashi Hatake of the Sharingan, a well-respected and formidable Shinobi." The blonde male whispered again to the Rikage.

"I know who he is, I'm no fool. You! Hatake, speak up now. Are you the Hokage's errand boy or something?" The Rikage glared at Kakashi, who only inclined his head out of the corner of my eye.

I didn't waver and glared him down intensely, feeling my body somehow relax as his gaze finally met mine.

"No sir, we've come here today to ask you a favor. Naruto Uzumaki of the Hidden Leaf would like to petition you." Kakashi spoke, his eye landing on me.

"Naruto Uzumaki, huh?" The Rikage quipped without budging or even blinking as he stared me down from where he was.

"Yes, sir, i was hoping you could hear his supplication." Kakashi kept to where he was, Shi stayed completely quiet, and Yamato watched closely as well.

"Don't you guys think that this is a bit rude? You come here without any former notice as we head to the summit." The paler man standing opposite to the dark blond lazily eyed Kakashi with a quirk to his eyebrow.

"Yes, we are very aware of the situation." Kakashi nodded.

"Enough, all of you." The Rikage grunted and took a step forward, folding his arms as he stared me down. "You there boy, you better start talking."

I felt my blood rush everywhere with anticipation and adrenaline. I had to close my eyes and take a deep breath to prevent me from shouting my words out like a scared little kid. When I opened them, everyone else was watching me intently.

Well...here goes nothing...

"It's Sasuke. I want you to cancel the elimination of Sasuke Uchiha." I spoke with a clear tone, making all of the cloud ninja aside from the Rikage tense or lean forwards with complete appaulnent.

Omoi and Samui turned their noses up sourly, and not to my surprise, it was Kauri who ended up speaking first.

"How DARE you! You came all the way here to beg Lord Rikage about scum like him! I get you were comrades, Naruto, but THIS is insane! You said it yourself, you haven't seen him in over two years! Get over it!" Kaori swiped her hand through the air.

"Naruto, this isn't the best time for this..." Omoi mumbled at me, frowning.

"So Naruto... how would you confront this hatred in order to create peace?" Pain's voice whispered into my head.

"I don't know how else to go about this! Sasuke is my FRIEND! And I don't know what else to do to keep him from getting KILLED!" I shouted loudly, staring at them all desperately before bowing my head, desperate for approval. "And besides, I don't want us hating each other! I don't want the cloud and the leaf killing each other to sate a need for revenge over one man's actions!"

My eyes widened at the sound of someone e stepping, and I shot my head up, only to see everyone watching the Rikage walk straight towards me. I straightened my posture, awaiting an answer, but only felt a rigid pain strike my heavy chest as he moved straight past me and kept on walking. I grit my teeth and ran after him, and stood in his way only for him to do the same...

I bit my teeth together and did the same as well, running until I was directly in front of him. We both locked eyes, and my weight crumpled under his stare. I collapsed to my knees and hands, squeezing my eyes as my brain reeled everywhere.

"Please, sir, I'm begging you! I don't want us fighting for vengeance anymore!" I cried out, shaking as I could feel the hope I previously had slipped through my fingers as my own crippling words... my own response...echoed through my brain.

"I... don't know..."

I stayed on the ground, and for a moment, nothing seemed to happen. However, I heard him as he began to walk away, and I felt my heart beginning to break as dread, sadness, and hopelessness began to fill that void I've been feeling.

"Sasuke... has always been about vengeance! It changed him. Vengeance consumes you and drives you mad to the point you become someone you can't recognize! Pain, the Akatsuki I took down with my bare hands, was the victim of vengeance we had towards each other during war and became driven to seek his own answers by killing and spreading pain and hate to go about creating peace! Please! I'm BEGGING YOU! Don't kill Sasuke! Let me save him! He's in pain...and his pain, his hate, is being spread to others...it's breeding more hate, and it only ends with everyone killing each other." I begged as tears formed in my eyes as I placed my head on my arms.

"He has a point. No one can fully commit to peace if issues are solved through violence." Shi spoke from somewhere close by.

Kakashi moved to my side and knelt down to me, placing a comforting hand on my back as I shook, barely containing the pain I've been suffering from for a while now.

"You should hole your tongue, boy." The Rikage's voice growled out and cut through the air, and through me. "The cloud will dispose of Sasuke. It's not up to some snot nosed brat like you to change. It's my final decision."

"No..."

"Such a fool." Kaori shook her head before walking away.

"Please... not like this!"

"We're in a rush so...we'll be going." The paler blonde huffed inna rude way, making me flinch, and go limp against the snow as I cried silently into my arms, sniffing and holding in pathetic a whimper

"Please, sir. Do you not remember what your people did to us in an attempt to obtain the Beakugan? We hidden leaf people had to swallow our tears of blood in order to prevent war with you cloud ninja despite having lost important lives. If it weren't for that, your village wouldn't exist. We prevented a war you laid the foundations for. Do not forget that." Yamato's voice spoke boldly, not in anger but with seriousness, and Kakashi beside me sighed.

"Here before you is a young shinobi bowing his head in respect and affection to both the cloud and the Hidden Leaf, the villages and nations. Tell me, as a kage of one of the five great village's, what do you think of this?" Kakashi asked, rubbing my back with his thumb soon joined by Shi.

I felt a pair of eyes suddenly dig into the back of my head, and for a moment, I felt a weird anxiousness creep up to my throat. I remained still, waiting for whatever words he had to say.

"It's pathetic." His words rung through me deeper than any blade I've been peirced by, making my eyes squeeze closed in pain. "Shinobi should NEVER lower their head to another so easily! Consessions are a forbidden agreement... and useless. The only thing that truly matters in the world of Shinobi is POWER and strength! Village's rise and fall because of strength and then because of weakness! War occurs because someone sees it fit to happen! It's a power struggle! Lands are ravaged because their weak and ripe for the taking." The Rikage ground out angrily, stomping forwards. "Be grateful you did this in the land of Iron...if it were anywhere else I'd crush you like the ants you are to knock the sense back into you, and send you back home yapping with your tails between your legs!

"We are, in fact, in a rush to get to the summit, so if you wouldn't mind and kindly fuck off before I bring hellfire down on you lot! Never...ever...bow to me again, scum!"

His footsteps began again and they grew further and further away as the others followed. I didn't lift my head, I couldn't after hearing this. I traveled for days...DAYS for Sasuke's sake and I'm met with FAILURE! Now...now my friend...someone who shares my pain...is sentenced to death! I cant...I cant-!

"Damnit!" I cried and punched the ground beneath me once I knew they were far enough.

The snow under my eyes burned a blazing red as I bit my teeth together as pain began to overwhelm my train of thought.

Failed.

Failed.

Failed.

Failed.

"I want you to acknowledge that the moment we see him he's as good as dead, and I want you to understand he did this to himself. Your failures cannot ever be undone. Do I make myself clear?"

Shut up Danzo!

"Easy there..." Shi's voice soothed next to me. "Let's find a place to stay the night yeah? I'm sure you and everyone here is exhausted.

"Good idea. I'm going to go find an inn close by." Yamato hummed and his footsteps began to walk away from us.

"Lift your head Naruto." Kakashi spoke beside me. "Come on."

My arms slowly pushed me off the ground, and there I sat staring at the snow for a solid few minutes of empty headed staring as I processed everything emotionally. Warm hands rubbed my shaking back as I stared down at the white snow with a quivering lower lip. I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from screaming in anger, blood filling my mouth slowly as a hand on my back began to shake and remove itself.

"Naruto... you're bleeding." Shi's voice shakily whispered next to my ear.

I swallowed the irony taste and tilted my head to the side, energy leaving me as I slumped against him, my shaking ceasing as exhaustion possessed me entirely.

I came all this way to plead for Sasuke's life, and it means nothing to them. What am I going to do now that this has failed? I don't think... I don't think there's anything left for me to try. I'm just a stupid genin.

"Yamato's coming back. I think he found us a place to stay and recuperate." Kakashi spoke up at my side before standing.

"Let's get someplace warm." Shi hummed as he hefted both me and himself up to stand.

My feet found their grounding, and I lazily made to follow after everyone, and unlike before, it was Shi who was guiding my way instead of the other way around. I walked along as we made it to a cozy looking inn. It was a small one with an older couple waiting to greet us.

I blindly made my way inside and up to my room where Shi set me down. I removed my bag and unpacked the sleeping blankets and pillow tucked away inside. I made an effort to kick off my sandals and remove my cloak before laying down to stare at the ceiling, all while Shi watched me get comfortable.

"It will be okay." Shi spoke up.

"You don't know that. They'll kill him. There's no way he could stand up to someone as strong as the Rikage." I hissed in retaliation. "And I doubt Sasuke's going to knock this stupid stuff off now that he's gone and done something as stupid as joining the Akatsuki. And for WHAT!? What else is there to possibly do!? He got his revenge! Orochimaru is dead! Itachi's dead!  I don't understand why he doesn't just come HOME!" I grabbed onto my face. "It's the same as me killing the man who ruined my life, and then joining the enemy just for fun! It makes no sense!"

"Yeah, it doesn't add up. Something must have happened that we don't yet know." Shi spoke in a thoughtful tone.

"That's gotta be the answer. There isn't anything else to defend his case with other than that, ya know?" I whimpered and stared at the ceiling. "Sorry... I know I sound kinda odd... being so close to Sasuke. He's like a brother to me."

"I believe you. If I found someone who understands my pain, I'd want to be around them more, too. It would definitely lessen the loneliness." Shi mumbled.

I looked to him to see his hand rubbing his mask shakily, making me wonder for the thousandth time if it was headache related. I chewed on the now healed cheek I had bitten into earlier as I watched him.

"I'm going to go downstairs and get some food cooking. We have rations to heat up." Shi gave a heavy sigh as he pushed himself onto his feet. "You want to join, Naruto?"

"I'm not hungry. Maybe later I'll eat something." I gave him a weak smile as warmth, despite everything that's happened, found its way onto my face at the sweetness he displayed.

He paused at the door and turned to face me with a tilted head. I then watched as Shi pulled his mask up to reveal his marred face. He made his way over to me and got down on his knees before connecting his ice-cold lips to mine. Heat bloomed in my belly as his freezing hands gliding up my middle section, caressing every tense muscle to relax. My arms moved up and around his neck, humming as he kissed me over and over.

I flinched in surprise when two hands slammed my arms down against the wooden floor, making my face go beat red as he trailed his kisses away from my lips, along my jawline and to my throat. He began to lick and suck on my neck, making me shiver and I grew a bit more heated.

"Mnn." I couldn't keep the moan in as small sparks of lust traveled about my body, making me feel weird and tingly all down to my toes, which curled a little as I began to crave more of his attention.

"I love the heat of your skin. The softness paired with your warmth is irresistible. I love being able to taste it...suck on it...hear what it does to your heart and to the rest of your body." Shi's voice spoke in a deeper and husky tone that made my arms break out into goosebumps. "I wonder if your insides are this warm~." He moaned against my earlobe, making my back arch a little.

"Huh!" I gasped at the words, my face growing unbearably hot as my gut began to tighten a bit, lustful thoughts beginning to grow and form in my head.

Just as I was about to speak on these thoughts, a firm but gentle knock reached our ears, making the both of us freeze in place.

"Yamato's got dinner started if you guys are hungry." Kakashi's voice spoke from the other side of the door.

"I'll be down soon. Naruto's not hungry and is about to rest." Shi sat up, leaving me panting lightly and wishing for more.

"See you downstairs soon, then." Kakashi chimed before his footsteps walked off.

"He's light on his feet. I didn't notice him..." Shi chuckled as he pulled his mask back down and cleared his throat. "Uzumaki...im so very tempted to ravish you. We have a bit more privacy here~." Shi's evil chuckles had me covering my face in embarasment. "Awe~, did I make you uncomfortable?"

"N-n-no not at all! Just... I need to calm down, is all!" I squeaked as he stood and moved to the door.

"You do that. We can continue later." Shi purred ad he exited the room, leaving me alone.

HOLY SHIT THAT WAS SO HOT! I mentally screamed as I grabbed my face and kicked my legs.

My mind took time to calm down, and as it did, my thoughts centered around my failures as a friend and as a ninja. I tried not to let my disappointment overtake me, but it was digging its claws deep into my sense of well-being. It made me feel sick to my stomach, knowing I couldn't do anything about Sasuke now that he was involved with the Akatsuki and sentenced to death.

"Damnit." I hissed as I rolled over, squeezing my fist tightly to ground myself rather than get lost in the pain.

All I can do now is sleep an-

...

...

...

Someone... was directly behind me, sitting down, completely quiet. In a moment I missed, someone just magically appeared, throwing my brain into a panic as my eyes widened completely in shock. I quickly whipped around in time to make eye contact with a sick looking Sharingan eye that appeared to be overjoyed or excited.

His face was blocked by a mask with a singular eye hole.

"Hello, Naruto Uzumaki. Let's talk." His deep voice hummed quietly. "If you move, I can't guarantee the safety of both your life and the lives of your friends downstairs." He chuckled as he held a finger up to his mask where his mouth should have been.

My entire body was struck with a pang of panic and pain. I stared up at him, just casually sitting directly beside me with the entirety of his attention on me. I slowly moved over, now laying flat on my back in order to stare at him better.

"Who are you?" I seethed quietly, my wide eyes staring up into his in a leashed frenzy.

"Madara Uchiha." He answered immediately.

"Where is Sasuke?" I asked again, rage boiling under my skin.

"Sasuke is very busy entertaining some important guests at the moment, hnhnhn." Madara chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Setting things in motion for when I finish up here and leave. We have plenty of time, however."

"Why did he join you!?" I whisper yelled. "Itachi's dead! You said so yourself in the forest not long ago! What do you want from him!?"

I went to bolt, but I felt a very sharp blade press into my abdomen when I tried, and looked down to find a kunai hovering just above my stomach, making me shudder and lay back down.

"He joined me after learning the truth about everything. Sasuke... as you very well know, is one of the last few remaining of his clan. His brother, along with myself, eradicated the Uchiha people in the span of a single night. You were told he did this out of malice and hate, but it's misinformation. If you want to know about Sasuke, you first need to know the truth behind Itachi Uchiha." Madara explained with an odd joy to his tone.

"Im listening." I whispered, sweating heavily as I stared up at him in nervousness.

"Itachi was ordered by the Third Hokage and Danzo to kill his clan." Madara purred, making my gasp in shock, and before I could respond, he continued. "The Uchiha people were being isolated from the rest of the village and marginalized thanks to Danzo, and because of this, they had begun a plan to overthrow the leadership and government. Since Itachi was an anbu and trained killer at the time, he was strictly under direct orders from the village leaders... and was forced to do this in order to keep the Hidden Leaf from war and destroy itself. He took on the role of a rogue criminal to protect his home...and his brother from getting involved.

"He had to make Sasuke hate him, so he wouldn't get involved, so he painted himself the villan in hopes that Sasuke would come and kill him when the time was right. He did just that, but as you know, Sasuke joined us Akatsuki recently. Hnhnhn, yes, Sasuke is someone you would call a true avenger, someone driven purely by hatred. He wants revenge on the leaf for ruining his life and the lives of his family. He regrets killing Itachi... no matter how badly he hates him. He wants to watch it be rebuild only to destroy everyone's hard work. He wants to instill the fear and rage they made him feel the night of the killings. His hate... that is his ninja way." Madara shivered as he pressed the blade against my gut, making me wince.

My wide eyes stared up at him in shock, my brain processessing this information. I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. I grit my teeth as I glared him down.

"Then I'll beat the sense back into him." I snarled.

"You can certainly try. However, I do believe you won't get the chance, too. Your Tailed beast is one of the final puzzle pieces I need in order to complete my goals, a world without pain, a world without hate, and a world without war. A war to end all wars." Madara shivered and held a hand directly over my face, making me flinch. "And all I have to do is touch you."

FUCK THIS!

I quickly shot my leg upwards at his face, ignoring the ripping sensation that erupted in my abdomen on favor of kicking him in the head right before it connected I phases straight through him. I leaped back as a clone formed beside me, making a rasengan in my palm.

"AAAAAH!" I yelled as I lunged forwards with my arm outstretched, connecting to the wall as I yet again phased through him.

The wood splintered beneath the rasengan, and before I knew It I blew a hole in the side of the building we were staying in. I blinked rapidly as the snow and dust created a cloud around me, making me cough and grip my screaming gut as each heave created intense pain. I fought through this burning and looked around, ready to fight him, but I couldn't find him anywhere, not even on the roof!

"NARUTO!" Shi burst in the room, running and nearly tripping over splintered wood to get to me. "Hhhh-!" He then flinched and stopped just before grabbing my shoulders. "Who-"

"The masked Akatsuki!" I suddenly cried out. "It was him!" I turned to Yamato and Kakashi as they came in as well.

Shi was quick to dart out through the huge hole I made and leaped up to the roof. Kakashi moved to my side and applied pressure to my impaled gut, which was bleeding all over the place now, through my hands and all over my clothes.

"Guh!" I gagged and coughed into my bloody hand, only to have more come out of my mouth. "Damn!"

"Okay! Sit down now." Kakashi instructed sternly and guided me with some struggle to sit down.

He applied a lot of pressure to the stab wound, making me growl. I kept the balled up cloth in place, as he rummaged through his weapon pouch to find very strong ointment that Sakura made in case of emergencies. I looked down at the cloth I held to see blood being soaked into it. I was careful to quickly yank my shirt up and put the cloth back on as Kakashi worked on grabbing bandages and a syringe of pain medicine. His eyes looked to me before down at the wound.

"Move your hand. It's going to burn." Kakashi informed. "You should be fine. It's deep, but you heal fast thanks to the Nine tails."

I moved my hand as I watched Kakashi go in with two fingers covered in the thick ointment. I bit my teeth together as he smeared it around the wound, it burning in contact with the injury.

"Anything?" I heard Shi's voice call out from outside. "I've got footprints, but they end!"

"Same here, nothing. I don't sense anyone nearby!" Yamato's voice echoed a ways.

"Yeah... they're gone!" Shi hollered. "Is Naruto okay?"

"He'll live!" Kakashi called out over his shoulder as he poked around the wound with the syringe before quickly covering it with cotton and bandages. "What the hell did he want!? Did he try anything?" Kakashi asked me in a serious tone.

I frowned heavily and looked to my wound that was being bandaged. "He just wanted to say hello? I don't know. He threatened to hurt me if I did anything and just talked. I was able to ask him about Sasuke." I informed.

"What did he say?" Kakashi narrowed his eyes as he worked.

"That Itachi was ordered to kill everyone to prevent a war... he was actually not a bad guy... and that Sasuke found out after killing him and wants to take revenge on the leaf and on Danzo since he gave the order." I explained.

"..." Kakashi's eyes narrowed a bit before shaking his head. "Damn. Anything else?"

"He called himself Madara Uchiha." I gave a confused shrug, watching Kakashi's hands immediately freeze up. I furrowed my eyebrows and looked up only to be met with wide eyes. "Whoa- what?"

"Are you sure he went by that name...?" Kakashi asked in a quiet tone.

"Yes, dead positive." I slowly nodded. "Uhm, question. Who's Madara?"

"An Uchiha from the first Hokage's time." Kakashi sighed heavily. "Hashirama Senju defeated him, but they never found the body. He was a force to be reckoned with, and one only Senju could stand up against. He was a war machine, they say."

I shivered and bit my lower lip in stress as I looked down to my gut, seeing steam rising from beneath the bandages. I then noted the fact that my outfit was ruined.

"I need a new shirt." I pouted and looked through my bag in hopes that I packed a spare.

Bingo! I pulled it out and made quick work of changing into it, letting my cloak and jacket be forgotten at the side since both had blood, one more than the other. I looked to the gap in the building in time for both Shi and Yamato to arrive.

"Damn... I'm going to fix this wall and then apologize to the owner." Yamato whined.

"I'll take care of that." Shi raised his hand before darting to the door, vanishing quickly without saying anything else.

I watched him leave with a disappointment before resting my head against the wall, watching as Yamato created wood to patch the side of the building I blew a hole in. I felt guilty that he had to do this, but the side of me that was rational told me not to be sorry for defending my own life.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cause this. If I wasn't what I was, I'd be less of a burden.

I'd be less of a failure.

...

"Hey, drop that depressing look. It's not the end of the world." Kakashi huffed and sat in front of me. "Want to talk about it?" He asked me, worry lacing his eyes as he covered his Sharingan with his headband.

"..." I remained quiet as I hugged my legs to my chest despite the pain it brought me. "Well, I don't really know what to speak on. The fact that the Akatsuki wants me dead and keeps killing my friends, Danzo wants me in a cage or Sasuke being doomed to die." I huffed angrily. "I just want to go back to when it was all of us, when things were simple."

"Hm... well, there certainly is a list of things to discuss. This entire situation isn't your fault. Sasuke chose this path himself. Even if you were unsuccessful in bringing him back, know that most jonin couldn't even succeed against the formidable forces of Orochimaru. Jiraiya was hunting him for years and wasn't successful. They're slippery." Kakashi bobbed his head. "You were twelve, Naruto."

"I was there, but my dumb ass passed out!" I grit my teeth.

"You did your best, that should -"

"My BEST is never enough!" I hissed before grunting and grabbing my gut. "My best wasn't enough to save him. My best wasn't enough to save Gaara. It wasn't enough to do anything...I didn't even defeat Pain! He saved everyone and died doing it." I waved my hand to the side. "And my best wasn't enough to keep me from being gutted!"

"Naruto, you are going to face times in your life when you can't always win and get everything you want. It just happens no matter how hard you try to prevent it. Trust me, Naruto, sometimes bad things just happen, and you have to learn from it so it doesn't happen again. If I could win everything, my friends and Sensei would still be here with us today. But I'm here right now, and I'm trying my best despite the shit hand I've been given. It's a bumpy road... it always is... but you can't let it defeat you. Just kick back and scream out your rebellion... tell fate to fuck off and shake your fist. It makes the enemy angrier and voids them the satisfaction of a victory." Kakashi winked at me.

I listened to him and gave a firm nod. "If you fail, try again, I suppose."I sniffled weakly.

His hand ruffled up my hair, and his U-shaped eye opened to gleam at me kindly.

"Exactly. Now, get some sleep. You look exhausted." Kakashi chuckled and stood up, walking to the other side of the room. "I'll keep watch, just in case."

"Thank you, Kakashi-Sensei." I gave a warm smile to him as I settled down.

"Your welcome, Naruto."