JGOG132: Hey readers, as you may or may not know, Deux Ex Machina could not continue this story. However, I am grateful that she held out as long as she did and should be commended for her efforts. Thankfully, those of you who have seen the story in her name that still want to see it, the story will be continued under my supervision and authoring. Deux Ex Machina was a real sweetheart for creating this story for me, that's why I dedicate it to her. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd chapters were written by her only, not me, so what you're about to see originally came from her efforts of story writing; therefore, she deserves the credit. Now, for what you've all been waiting for, here's the beginning chapter of "Blood Brothers".

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of its characters, nor does Deux Ex Machina. Enjoy!

Chapter One

Naruto huffed impatiently, blowing his shaggy blond hair out of his eyes for a moment. He had spotted a slow cart of food heading towards the village a little over an hour before and Kiba was taking his sweet time getting ready for the raid. They would miss it if they didn't set off to stalk it soon. While it was still far from the village, there was only a small patch of road where they could safely take from the cart.

"Come on Kiba! We're gonna miss the cart if you don't hurry up!" He glared angrily at his brother who was still putting on his disguise. Naruto already had his painted on, the likeness of a fox adorning his features. The brilliant orange fox pelt covering his head only added to the image. In the back of the small cavern, Kiba sneered at his brother.

"Aw, shut up Naruto! We're not gonna miss it. If ya're so worried about it, ya go on ahead and start stalking it. I'll catch up with ya before we can steal from it." Naruto rolled his eyes. Both of them knew they would never leave the other behind, even if they were going to catch up later. The bond of brotherhood they had formed was too strong for them to even consider it. Naruto waited for as long as he could before his impatience caught up with him.

"Oh, hurry up, for-"

"Shut up, I'm coming!" Kiba grouched away from his spot and joined Naruto at the front of the cavern. "Ya stay on the north side of the road, I'll cover the south. Meet up with me ahead of it at the great tree after ya've gotten a good look at it. We'll decide what to take then." Naruto grunted his affirmation before leaping out of the cave and passing through the waterfall that hid it. Kiba rolled his eyes at his eagerness, but followed. Naruto was already at the edge of the clearing, waiting for him.

"Come on, I can smell it getting closer. We're not gonna have enough time to check it out if we don't hurry." Kiba sniffed the air and found his brother was right. The cart was close to the area they took from and they didn't have much time before it passed through it.

"Yeah, let's go." Both took off running as fast as they could, weaving in and out of the trees effortlessly, serious looks on their faces. Even though both boys were normally very rambunctious, if they didn't make this raid, they would have to hunt. Hunting and trapping always took more effort and was never a sure thing. Often, their traps were disabled or unintentionally activated by nearby shinobi, leaving them without food.

When they reached the road, Naruto crossed over and disappeared into the brush on the other side. Kiba quickly scrambled into a tree and began swinging and leaping from branch to branch. After a few minutes, he reached his destination: the small, bushy tree he used as a hiding spot. He quickly settled into it and began to wait. He could smell Naruto on the other side of the road, a few hundred feet down the road in his own hiding spot amongst the bushes.

Both predators lay in wait, watching the road carefully for their prey. Sure enough, a large cart came into view, lumbering along the road being pulled by a donkey. The elderly man in the driver's seat would pose no problem as they raided the cart. As it slowly passed, each teen surveyed the contents carefully, picking and choosing what things they would take. Naruto was the first to head towards the great tree, Kiba following soon after.

Kiba arrived to find Naruto waiting on one of the gnarled roots that jutted out from the ground. His fox pelt was pulled off his head and rested against his back. Kiba took a seat beside him and pulled off his own wolf pelt.

"What're we taking'?" Naruto asked, looking expectantly at his brother. He had things he wanted, but Kiba was more survival oriented than he. He would know what things they needed to take and Naruto could take what he wanted after.

"The food, definitely. Leave a bit for the old man and his donkey to make it to Konoha, but take the rest." Naruto grunted, his stomach growling its agreement in Kiba's decision. Kiba smirked, but continued. "I barely saw them, but there are some blankets hidden under the stacks of books in the back. Take those and maybe a book or two if it looks useful. There were some spices in bags, but only take a bit of those. They don't do us much good. After that, take what you want." Naruto grinned, rubbing his hands together excitedly. The rush of raiding always made him giddy and he had seen something he really wanted.

Carefully hidden on the underside of the cart were swords. From the wrapping on the hilts and the inlay on the sheaths, he knew they had to be expensive and well-crafted. There were also some kunai and he planned to take those as well. Maybe the man was some sort of smith, but Naruto didn't care. Ever since Kiba and he had found a book on the art of being a shinobi, he had been hopelessly obsessed with anything concerning the profession. Both had learned the basics, but rarely used them unless given trouble by those they were raiding.

"Come on, I can't wait for this raid Kiba." Naruto hopped to his feet, pulling his pelt back over his head with a wide smile, "I'm gonna go wait for it. I'll yell when it's show time." Kiba stood and stretched a little, not having done so before they left.

"Nah, I'll come with ya." He grinned wolfishly at his brother. "Besides, ya might get into trouble without me there to save ya." Naruto yelled indignantly at the statement, but Kiba could see the smile threatening to overtake his face. They always had each other's back where ever they went.

Both set off down the road, sprinting through the underbrush. Their seriousness had disappeared for the moment, both boys sensing a challenge from the other. They both pushed themselves faster and faster, racing to get to their raiding points. As it always was, they both tied in their race. Grinning like fools and breathing hard, they situated themselves to wait, still burning off the adrenaline the race gave them.

Their boyishness quickly disappeared when the cart came into view, both teens slipping into seriousness once more. There was silence save for the noises of the forest and the creak of the wooden vessel. The cart and donkey lumbered ever closer and the two boys tensed in preparation. Naruto slowly pulled the rope hidden within his pelt into the open and unraveled it. The old man pulled right in front of the boys and a swift nod from Kiba sent them both down on the unsuspecting traveler.

Naruto tossed the rope to Kiba who quickly tied up the man, gagging him with the strip of cloth around his forehead. He struggled uselessly and Kiba just placed him back upon his seat, judging him harmless. Naruto meanwhile was snatching up the things they needed, finding all the things Kiba had mentioned easily. He stuffed them into his pelt, taking it off and using it as a makeshift looting bag. Kiba soon joined in the hunt and both boys had what they needed.

"Let's free the guy and go. We have enough food for now." Naruto nodded.

"I just want to get a few more things and then we can leave." Kiba grunted and headed back to the terrified old man. Naruto shimmied his way under the wagon and eyed the swords happily. He quickly put them in his pelt and snatched the kunai up as well, pocketing them. He got out from under the cart just as Kiba finished freeing the old man. He had him by the collar, sneering threateningly.

"Ya won't mention us, will ya old man?" Naruto resisted rolling his eyes. Kiba always had to go out with a dramatic flare from their raids. The old man stuttered out a no. "That's right. We know how to find ya if ya even so much as whisper this to the breeze. So don't be stupid." With that, he pushed the man back into the driver's seat and slapped the donkey's hind as hard as he could. The beast grunted before straining to run, taking the cart and their victim with it.

The boys didn't even stay to watch the cart leave, merely sprinted back into the forest and their home. Their pelts were bulging with food and their loot and both were satisfied with the haul. They wouldn't have to go hunting or trapping unless the food spoiled quickly. When they arrived back in the clearing, Naruto dropped his bag and dove into the clear water of the river. When he surfaced, his paint was running in rivulets down his face, mixed in with the water.

"Come on in Kiba! The water is great!" He grinned and splashed his brother, laughing as Kiba followed him in, making a huge splash. The boys wrestled in a water for a while before settling themselves on the bank to dry out. Both were breathing hard and had huge smiles on their faces.

"This is great, isn't it Naruto?" Said boy glanced at his best friend; his only support system. He was staring contentedly into the sky, grinning widely.

"Yeah. No rules, no curfews, no hatred." Naruto paused at that, frowning at the memory it brought up. Still, he pushed onward, shaking his head. "Just us two out in the wilderness. I love it like this. It's the best." Silence blanketed them and allowed them to reminisce on their lives, both the good and the bad moments. Neither had had perfect lives in the village, but they were content with their lot. Life had pushed them together and built a bond strong enough to outlast anything. They were sworn brothers and would be there for each other no matter what tried to tear them apart.

Despite this bond, nothing could have quite prepared the boys for what lay in the future. Their bond would be tested to its very limits and a choice would have to be made. For love or family?