~X~ .P. ~X~

POSSESSIVE

Chapter 11

Naruto grumbled as he rolled over in his bed, instinctively turning away from the light. Itachi stirred and blinked his eyes open, lifting a hand to rub at them, flinching at the dull throbbing in his head. God, how many glasses of wine had he consumed? How many glasses of champagne? He grimaced. Whatever amount it was, it was a stupid number. He grumbled a low string of curses, lip twisting in a scowl.

Naruto shot up, eyes bleary, and looked over at him in such a startled panic that Itachi could've laughed were it not for the word that almost slipped from Naruto's slack jawed lips. "Sasu-?" He caught himself, shutting his mouth sharply before he could even finish as realization dawned in his eyes. He looked away.

Itachi stared, wide eyed and, now, wide awake. "I'm sorry?"

"Nothing." Naruto pushed himself up all the way. He'd been lying chest down and had shoved himself up when he'd mistaken his sleeping partner. He rolled into a seating position and threw his legs from the bed, wincing at the chill. "Nothing," he repeated without being prompted, shaking his head.

Itachi was now sitting up, watching the blonde stumble to his feet and nearly trip on the trailing leg of his pants and swear violently. Itachi winced. "Wait – Naruto, wait!" The blonde had been moving for the bathroom, but he paused as Itachi insisted.

Itachi paused as Naruto did, thinking rapidly. Naruto mistaking Itachi for Sasuke in bed implies to some extent that he'd been in the same position with Sasuke at some point, meaning he'd slept with Sasuke. Itachi had been right; they had had a sexual relationship. He winced, watching Naruto's stiff form, poised several feet away from him. "It's… its fine, alright?"

Naruto glanced behind him for a moment, puzzled, and looked at Itachi carefully. Finally, "Aa," he affirmed. His blonde head tipped once in acknowledgement. "Gomen," he apologized before disappeared into the bathroom.

Itachi sank back into the pillows. "Hunh…" He made a sound, confusing himself, even. Naruto- And… Sasuke-

Memories rose, unbidden, of the baby he'd played paddycake with. A dark haired child stumbling into a cartwheel in their luxurious backyard. That same child wrapped in an adorable Yukata for the New Year's festival. Screaming laughter as Shisui hoisted him onto his shoulders and spun in tight circles even as Mokoto shrieked in panic.

"Hunh." Naruto and Sasuke.

He rolled over again. He would stop judging, because the only dots he could connect labeled Naruto a cradle robber because he could only recall images of Sasuke from ten years ago – Naruto was by no means a cradle robber, he was only a year older than Sasuke-

Promptly, he decided he'd think about it when he wasn't mildly hung over.

~X~ .P. ~X~

Sakura hummed loudly as she slipped out of the kitchens, Ino on her heels as she carried a tray arrayed with various meats, cheeses, crackers, and dip. They arrived in a quaint little private sitting room and Ino placed the tray on the table in the centre. Sakura flopped lightly onto a couch before meticulously arranging her skirts around her. Ino busied herself by fixing up the tea as she perched on the ground beside Sakura's knee.

Sakura fondled her iPhone for a few moments before relenting and shooting through an array of Facebook updates, leaning forward every now and then to show her slave something interesting. Occasionally, the pair even laughed lightly about the updates.

They waited patiently, but it was only for a few minutes. Akane clip clopped through the door on sophisticated, expensive little heels and sat politely on the couch – though she didn't attempt to withhold the pleased sigh as she did so. Iruka followed Sakura's mother silently, almost mirroring Ino as he poured out two more cups of tea, though he did all this perched on the couch, and handed Akane her drink.

Sakura grinned as her mother finally sat down, glad the woman could relax. Ino brushed her hands quickly down her garment before gathering them in her lap, facing steadfastly away from the woman. Sakura could not withhold herself, though, as she was bursting with gossip. "Mum, did you hear? Sierra has lost half her wealth to that slave she freed and married."

Akane nodded. "Yes, I did. Her mother had a fit - nearly disowned her. He did seem like a nice young man at the time, though. He was a Namikaze Starlight, right?"

"Mhmm…" Sakura affirmed, reaching for a cracker, as well as some seasoned meat and cheese. "I thought he was rather charming, but I wouldn't have married him…" She crinkled her nose in distaste.

Akane laughed. "Yes, well, you've been raised better, Sakura. You know full well that some people will genuinely care for you, but others will only associate with you because of your money and status." Sakura grimaced, but her mother continued. "You know how to pick them, though. You know who wants to know you for you. Like Naruto, for instance…" she trailed off purposefully, watching her daughter.

Every Tuesday, before Sakura's business/management class at the best University in the city, Akane and Sakura would sit down and talk about this and that and play games ranging from simple word games, to card games, to full-blown board games. This was their afternoon mother-daughter time; Sakura was busy most nights and Akane often had business associates who hosted small parties she simply must attend. Both were comfortable with the arrangement. Why, just last week they'd delved into the kitchen and had the chef instruct them on preparing a wonderful three-tiered cake.

Today, though, what started out as pleasant immediately, immediately, fell apart.

"Actually, mum…"

"Yes?"

"I've been meaning to talk to you about that… Naruto brought it up the other night…" Inwardly, Sakura winced. Outwardly, she took a deep breath. "I… don't want… to marry Naruto."

Akane blinked, before nodding slowly. "That's… good. Because Naruto is gay- I… I think. But… but aren't you always going over to his place – staying overnight, even. I thought you two had something."

Sakura grimaced. "I rarely go to Naruto's and I've only ever stayed the night once. If you know I'm not at a friends', you just assume I'm at Naruto's."

Now, this shocked Akane; her daughter wasn't like this. All this time when she thought she knew where her daughter was, she could've been anywhere. "If you're not at Naruto's, then where are you?"

"Sasuke's, mostly." Sakura shrugged. She twirled her iPhone inbetween her fingers, nervous.

"The Uchiha? I thought you'd gotten over him."

"Sasuke? Never. I don't know how you found out about Naruto, but Sasuke is the same. We're… we're just really good friends. Sasuke and I hang out all the time…" Tentatively, she revealed this information. It would be very easy now for her mother to make inquiries and find out about the nights she spends at Pandemonium, safely tucked in with her gang, as she immersed herself in the foreign dangers of the lower city – it being so fascinating, she was always drawn back.

A silence reigned. Finally, Akane broke it with a sigh. "That's a shame. Minato's been pressuring me to talk to you, too. Seems like he won't get his way." She chuckled. "Despite how good a marriage between the next two leaders of the Haruno and Namikaze corporations would have been, I suppose we shall do without."

Sakura choked on her tea.

Akane raised an eyebrow at her daughter, incorrectly perceiving her daughters reaction. "Really, Sakura, I am not that fussed. If you and Naruto aren't in a relationship, then you aren't in a relationship. I won't force the matter. I don't like that you've been going off without any form of address, though…"

Sakura laughed quickly, her high pitched voice nervous. "No, mum, don't talk like that! I'm not going to take over your corporation for decades yet! You're young and strong, you wouldn't leave before you were really old or really sick – heaven forbid!"

"I don't know, Sakura. I've been thinking of handing the company over to you after you graduate from University…" Akane watched carefully as her daughter paled. "Is something wrong? Sakura?"

"No, no I just-"

Sakura paused, biting her lip and looking to the side, out the window where the weak sun shone on some carefully trimmed, winter roses. Akane frowned, worried. "If you don't want to talk about it-"

Naruto's calm voice cut through Sakura's mind 'You have to tell her eventually.'

Sakura breathed deeply, steadying herself. "No, no… I do. Want to talk about it. Or, I mean, I should… Mum, I don't… I don't want to take over the company."

Akane laughed, "What do you mean, 'I don't want to take over the company'? Of course you do, Sakura!"

"No, I really don't," Sakura replied, her voice soft and low, eyes cast down as she nervously flicked a lock of hair behind her ear, thankful as Ino rested her shoulder against her knee in silent support. "I… I want to travel the world and play the violin in Kushina's orchestra and meet people and-"

"Sakura!" Akane cut in sharply, and Sakura flinched. Seeing this, Akane softened. "Where did all this come from? Now you know I only let you learn violin so you would focus more on your school work – especially your business classes!"

"I know, mum, but I-" Sakura gulped. "I don't want to run a company," she whispered.

"Well, you will," Akane spoke, calm. "You will, and you'll do a lovely job, and I won't take no for an answer."

Sakura gaped at her. "Aren't you listening? I don't want-"

"I don't care that you don't want to, Sakura, because you have to!"

It was about here that Sakura noticed that tears had welled up in her eyes and began streaming down her face. She lifted her arm, blotting at them with her sleeve as sobs welled within her. But she was angry, and she stood, glaring at her mother.

"You never listen to what I say, or what I want. I don't want your stupid company – I want nothing to do with it! So you can keep it, and leave me alone!" She turned, running from the room. Ino was quick to scramble after her.

Akane sat, stunned. There was no way that her daughter had just yelled at her. No way that her daughter had denied running the company. And no way that Sakura had ever spoken such words to her,

'Leave me alone!'

Iruka shifted, making himself known as he placed his tea down, before carefully removing Akane's mug from her slack, shocked grip. She turned to him, blinking back sudden tears. "Oh, Iruka, what am I going to do with her?"

The gentle, young man sighed. "I don't know, Akane. But you haven't ever asked her if she wanted the company."

"She's been born and raised to want the company! Why should I have to ask?" Akane frowned, linking her hands tightly.

"I don't know, Akane. If I may say, though, I think you need to relax." Iruka stood, walking towards the door. "I'll send for that new slave, Asuma."

"No, don't," she called. "No, I've already sent him back – he wasn't what I was looking for." She made a beckoning gesture and Iruka shut the door, flicking the lock. He walked back towards her, kneeling before her and resting a hand over one of her own. He closed his eyes as she gently ran a knuckle along his scar, before his gentle hands rose to twine in her fine pink locks.

~X~ .P. ~X~

Sakura furiously threw her books into her bag, wondering if it would be worth a further argument to skip her class today. She threw the bag onto her bed as she finished shoving things into it before spinning to the bathroom and throwing on her makeup, having difficulty as she found she couldn't keep her hands from shaking.

She returned to her bedroom and paused. Ino sat beside her bag on the bed, and from the look of it, she knew the girl had arranged things much more neatly for her. Ino looked up as Sakura left her bathroom and smiled hesitantly, weary of an angry Sakura.

But she'd calmed down, seeing this. Seeing Ino, like fricking always, taking care of her and helping her in little ways. She came forward and gripped Ino's hand, swinging it lightly with a smile. "Thanks." Ino grinned.

"No problem, Sakura." Seeing the lack of anger, she pulled the slighter form against her for a friendly hug. "Now, get to class. Sasuke's gunna sit there and look out the window if you don't remind him to pay attention."

Sakura giggled before nodding. She picked up her bag and – feeling much better – willed herself to ignore her anger at her mother until later. She skipped from the building to her waiting limo, which sped off for the University.

~X~ .P. ~X~

Naruto's knife flashed quickly as he slid it across the cutting board, dropping the chopped potatoes in the pot. Itachi watched on in amusement, smirking. And he kept chuckling. "Manual labour. In the kitchen. Noblesse oblige, I suppose."

Naruto scowled as Kakashi, pealing carrots, barked out a laugh. "Shut it. Just because you haven't been stupid enough-" The blonde emphasised the word with a solid chop. "- to make a bet against Ichiraku yet."

Itachi shook his head. "He wins a bet against his master, but he doesn't ask for freedom or niceties; he asks his master to peel and cut potatoes."

"It builds character," Kakashi and Naruto chimed blandly.

Kakashi chuckled, glancing up from his carrot detail to look at Itachi. "Ichiraku is of the opinion that manual labour is good for one's character. Lose a bet - which you will lose, make no mistake – and you are on veggie detail. Not that he needs help, mind you. Ichiraku always has meals ready on time, ten staff or no staff."

"Maybe I should get him some more staff…" Naruto muttered, focusing on the spuds.

A few minutes pass in comfortable silence, sans the clatter of sharp knives on cutting boards and the solid sounds of food being manoeuvred. Itachi shuffled on the counter, grimacing and letting out a small grunt at his discomfort, causing Naruto to look up. He raised a brow. "That counter looks uncomfortable for your boney ass." He smirked as Kakashi snickered, this time to the scowling Uchiha's expense. "Why don't you go read a book or something – you didn't sleep much last night, go have a rest."

As if summoned by Naruto's words, Itachi smothered a yawn. "Mm… that might be a good idea. Wake me in a couple of hours if I'm not up."

"Mhmm," Naruto affirmed as Itachi hopped off the counter and left.

It didn't take very long for Naruto to give up with a sigh and a clatter as he put the knife down. "What is it, Kakashi?" he asked in exasperation, bracing his arms on the counter.

"Nothing." Kakashi replied, turning his nose away and trying to appear innocent.

"What is it?" Naruto growled.

Kakashi was silent for a few moments, gazing at his carrots seriously. "You haven't slept with him yet."

Naruto stiffened minutely, before slowly releasing his breath. "No, I haven't."

Kakashi looked at him sideways now, waiting for an explanation. When such a thing wasn't forthcoming, he prompted: "Even you know that that is very unlike you. And while I don't mean to shove his slavery rank in his face, it's also very unlike him."

"Mm…" Naruto hmmed, not looking back. They stayed like that for a while until Kakashi almost gave up, when Naruto spoke. "There's something about him… I don't have the urge to shove him into bed with me. Don't get me wrong, I do want to fuck him, but… I can't bring myself to rush. It is strange."

Kakashi paused, before very tentatively asking. "Do you think it's because you like him…?"

"Well, of course I li-" Naruto froze. He turned to look at Kakashi, frowning. After a few moments, his eyes hardened and he straightened. "No," he said simply. He pushed the cutting board away and stalked out of the room.

Kakashi stared after him, before slouching to lean his elbow on the counter and his chin on his palm, sole eye wide. "Well shit…"

Naruto rubbed his hand across his mouth as he fle – left the kitchen. He paced quickly up the stairs, fluttered for a moment with confusing, seemingly out-of-the-blue indecision, before opening the door. Itachi looked up from the couch and his book. Naruto only reached for his keys and left once more, without a word.

~X~ .P. ~X~

Sakura exited the limo smoothly, idly waving goodbye to the pleasant driver as the sleek vehicle drove off. With gentle claps of her heels, she walked down the cement pathway, ignoring those that gazed after her. It wasn't long before she reached the student car park where he was already waiting, storing the ticket in his wallet as he exited the three story garage.

"Sasuke!" she called in greeting, smiling and waving. He looked up, smirking, and turned his steps towards her. As he approached, she lifted her arms and he had no choice but to walk into the hug with a chuckle. Finally she placed a sweet kiss on his cheek and they turned towards the University main hall.

"Morning, Sakura," he said as she let him go. "Did you finish reading the chapter on Mergers?"

Sakura huffed, slipping her arm around his cutely as they walked down the halls – they weren't a couple, but this simple move did two things: one, pleased Sakura to be so close to the old time friend and two, kept the worst of their admirers from advancing on them.

"Yes, but only just. I left it until the last minute and almost fell asleep three times! Thank god I had Ino, she kept pinching me to keep me awake!"

Sasuke chuckled again, and Sakura scowled, for she knew he would have done all the work in a timely fashion. She glared at the wise ass as he smirked back knowingly. They continued on, and after a few minutes, she spoke, considerably more morose, "I told mum I didn't want to marry Naruto this morning."

Sasuke shrugged. "It was only a matter of time."

"Yeah… she took it well." She paused for a long moment, almost as if the conversation had ended. Then, suddenly, "I also told her I didn't want to inherit her company."

That made Sasuke pause, stopping midway down the hall, her grip on his arm bringing her to a stop as well – face carefully tilted to hide amongst her bangs. Sasuke was frowning. "Oh god… what happened?"

Sakura sniffed, brushing a hand along her cheek. "She insists. I have to take over. I have to take over, almost as if… almost as if it were my raison d'être, Sasuke!" Her mouth twisted unhappily around the foreign words. She looked up at him, eyes glittering. "That's not what I want, you know that! I want to travel, and explore, and play my music… most especially play my music. Music makes everything better, even the morose crooning of a violin can cheer a person. Kushina says I can join her orchestra whenever I choose. I'm just so afraid because mum will hate me!"

She turned and grasped his shirt, burying her face in it as she tried to contain herself. Her friend's arms rose, their comforting weight helping to still her shaking shoulders. He huffed an annoyed sigh, not at her but at Akane, as he rested his cheek on the top of her head. "You should play your music, to hell with your mother. She can't force you to do anything. If she threatens to leave you on a street corner, you know how many people you can turn to: myself, and even Naruto." His mouth twisted at the final words, but he kept his feelings from his voice, despite how much she knew of their relationship.

"She means the world to me, but she just doesn't understand. Did you hear about how much Naruto has been fighting with Minato?" She pulled back, smiling gently at first, but then letting worry take over. "It's almost a screaming match between them, and he's even slapped Naruto-" Sasuke's fist clenched in anger. Quickly, he flexed it until it relaxed, refocusing on her words and ignoring his slip. "- plus he found out Naruto's in a gang! He hasn't done anything about, well, anything yet, but Naruto admits that it keeps him awake sometimes, the idea of just how Minato will crack down on him when the time comes."

She shook her head. "I know you don't like me talking about him, but there are some things that you do need to hear, and-" she paused.

Now Sasuke almost always wore his collars up, not because he was a dickhead, and maybe to look cool (which he certainly did) but mostly to hide the ever increasing array of scars accumulating on his neck – no thanks to Naruto, of course. Now, though, Sakura could see a shiny new scar – red and puffy and not fully healed.

"When did you get that, Sasuke?" He blinked at her as she suddenly changed the subject, lifting a hand to follow her gaze and frowning.

"A while ago." He turned away from her. "It's an old one that started bothering me the other night."

She grabbed his arm. "Don't lie to me, Sasuke," she warned. "I've never seen that scar before."

"I'm not," he said smoothly as they slipped into the classroom, sliding into his usual seat in the front. Sakura harrumphed, purposefully ignoring him and stalking up the stairs to talk to Gaara. The red head was idly perched on the desk, looking through his bag, but he looked up curiously as Sakura approached. He straightened as he saw the thundercloud hanging over her head.

She wasted no time, "When was the last time Bijuu fought Taka?" She glared, coming to rest with her hands on her hips challengingly.

Garra raised an eyebrow before his lips twitched. "That's right – you weren't there, were you? It was a few weeks ago."

Sakura fumed, glaring at the back of Sasuke's head for a moment before she harrumphed and took Gaara's seat – where he had been intending to sit as soon as he'd finished with his bag. "Bastard."

Gaara shrugged, leaving the bag alone before turning around to rest fully against the desk, crossing his arms. "It was a bit of a split second grudge match – I'm not surprised he didn't invite you. He has a tendency to only let you come when there is, I dunno," he rolled his wrist in a gesture of annoyance as he grappled for the word. "A certain level of expected civility. As in, provided there isn't any particularly hostile reason for us to be fighting."

"Grudge match?" she had been twirling a lock of her in her irritation, but paused to look back at Gaara. "Why? Between who?"

Gaara snorted. "Naruto and Sasuke, of course. I suppose you were there when Naruto bought the slave from Orochimaru, Itachi?" Sakura nodded. "He's Sasuke's older brother, apparently. Sasuke didn't like that Naruto now owns his brother, or something." Gaara shrugged, noncommittal, but watched her reaction carefully.

"They're brothers? I only thought they were related, you know how big the Uchiha family used to be. But wait, Sasuke told me his brother was dead – that he died quite a while ago, in fact."

Gaara nodded. "That was what he knew for a long time." He looked at her strangely before speaking once more, glancing slyly at the back of Sasuke's head several rows ahead of them. "He was told a truth shortly after he and Naruto broke up."

"A truth?" Sakura caught it.

"Well… Sasuke's uncle-" Garra began. Already, Sakura straightened in anger. While Sasuke still might love the bastard, she could never see past the revealed history he had with Naruto and Gaara. "Yeah, Madara told Sasuke that Itachi was behind his families massacre and that he was now in slavery, courtesy of the leaders of Akatsuki – obviously at the specific request by his uncle. So, while not wanting to kill Itachi, Madara and Nagato felt he'd simply done something too wrong, and sentenced him to that.

Now, it's true enough that Itachi is in slavery, but Naruto told me the other night that he was dubious about whether or not he'd killed his family, and about whether or not both leaders of Akatsuki were involved in the decision making about him." The lecturer had entered the room as he spoke and had been just about to speak, organized and ready at the head of the podium, when Sasuke's hand slammed down on his desk.

He turned, glaring fiercely at Gaara. Sakura stiffened in her seat, surprised – she never saw Sasuke that angry. "Gaara…" he spoke, his tone low and harsh. The warning was clear – Sasuke had heard every word and was now telling them to shut up.

Gaara raised a brow. "Sit down, Uchiha, you're making a scene." Sasuke took a step to walk around his desk, threatening. Gaara stood from leaning against his desk, bracing his arms wide across the empty desk in front of him. "Your childish school truce with Naruto doesn't apply to me, nor does it apply here."

Sakura gasped at Gaara's words. "Sasuke, sit down!" she snapped quickly.

Sasuke bristled for a moment before grudgingly returning to his seat. Gaara stared at Sakura expectantly as the lecture began. She watched the professor, idly scribbling in her notebook, but her other hand clamped tight on one of her skirt edges. After many minutes, she spoke, softly. "He still hasn't told you? About the truce?"

~X~ .P. ~X~

Naruto breathed a sigh as he switched gears, his sleek black vehicle crooning as it accelerated to quite a lovely speed. He relaxed in his ergonomic seat and reveled in the smooth maneuvers he executed as he zipped around the outside of the city, avoiding day traffic but purposefully reaching high speed areas.

But… despite his natural intent on high speed streets and low traffic areas, he paid absolutely no mind to where exactly he was going. He just drove, as he was prone to do. It must've been half an hour, at least, before he started to register street names – he slowed, recognizing the suburbs. He quickly turned city bound, coming at it from the lower city's suburbs. Easily, he found the small alleyway and turned into it, crammed one-way between two massive, grayscale apartment buildings.

He emerged beside a park loaded with trees and large enough to be called a reserve by some. He crawled along until he turned a corner. Half-way down this street he slowed to a stop in the middle of it, but without fear. No one was around, no lights were on, and no noise was loud enough to pierce the barrier of his vehicle. The sun, at least right here, was blocked by the peak of one of the abandoned buildings.

No one lived in any of the complexes that surrounded the large reserve. He had made sure of it. He pulled over slowly, gliding to a stop. Absently, he exited the vehicle and meandered towards the reserve. He walked slowly up a sloping hill, fingers grazing a worn sign –

Gaara slowed as they reached the bottom suddenly, realising that he was dead meat since he couldn't catch Fuu, and contemplated turning around to run away from them. Naruto, who had been right behind him, swore loudly as he dodged to the side, managing to not only knock Gaara off his feet, but also clip his shoulder on a large sign that read 'Osbourne Park'. Fuu dwindled to a stop by the entrance, turning around only to burst into panted laughter as she watched the sprawled Gaara begin to crawl to his feet in a daze and Naruto apologising profusely while trying to stifle his own laughter –

He flinched, withdrawing the hand. Still his gaze roved along the buildings, alighting on one not unique in any way, on one window no different than any of the others, empty and lifeless. He paused by the sign and stood there for several long moments, lost in memories of the teal haired woman with bright orange eyes… of all of them, in their various ages, with their various moods, and their cacophony of voices, high and low, of reason and nonsense…

He came back to himself, blinking. He glanced behind him, at the car, then ahead of him, and climbed on up the hill. He perched on the root of an ancient tree on the peak of the hill, feet lost in the tall grass. He rested his forehead against the harsh bark of the comforting tree, and let himself remember…

A party, not someone immediately tied to them, Naruto couldn't even remember who. But most of them had been there. Wait… no, Hinata hadn't been there. He remembered because, as they'd sat down together at that point in time, those had been the first words he'd said…

"Her father wanted her to be present at a business dinner." Gaara had snorted, replying to Naruto's question. Events such of these, lively and with a splattering of alcohol, always saw the pair a few moments to converse with each other.

Naruto shook his head. "Poor girl. Dinner meetings already. Dad won't be involving me for at least another five years, or so I hope." Gaara rolled his eyes at the blonde, who chucked. Unspoken, Gaara had commented on the fact that his father would never be inviting him to any business dinners.

A chiming, pleasant laugh, across the room, caught both their attention and they looked up to see Sasuke, cutely biting lightly on a crooked pointing finger, trying vainly to stifle his laughter at Kiba, who was grinning ear to ear, undoubtedly revelling in the retelling of some joke or piece of news.

Naruto, as he was now, caught and held Gaara's attention. The blonde hardly noticed how relaxed the scene made him, how the image gently curled the corners of his mouth, how his eyes took on a soft light Gaara had been hard pressed to locate the past few years. And maybe it was the bright drink in his hand that he drank from that spurred him on, but Gaara spoke.

"You like him."

Naruto blinked. He'd also been nursing a brightly colored drink. He looked at Gaara with a raised eyebrow. "Of course I like him, Gaara."

"No." Gaara shook his head firmly. "You like him."

Naruto frowned, though Gaara's meaning was received. He looked to Sasuke again, studiously this time, and noted the way his hand flickered about as he explained something, how the right side of his lips seemed to pick up slightly higher when he smiled, how the dark hairs at the nape of his neck curled slightly. And then he looked to Gaara.

Then he leant back, and sighed. "Might be the case Gaara. Certainly possible."

"Not possible." Gaara pressed. "You like him. I can see it. You look at him like you did Sensei -" Naruto flinched. "Except softer, and with more care… Kind of like you treated Haku, sans the brotherly in 'brotherly love'."

Gaara usually didn't bring up the past – it hurt them both bitterly and they'd learnt to ignore it. So, Naruto had to wonder just how potent Gaara's drinks had been. But… "I suppose so. I wonder if he's gay."

"Bitch, please," Gaara purred. Naruto couldn't help it. He broke down, trying at first to hide it, but quickly giving way as the strong, bubbling laughter continued to flow. Gaara shook his head sadly, blushing, as his friend doubled over suddenly with a hiss of pain, cheeks wet, but still continued to laugh.

Gaara wasn't gay. But if that wasn't the gayest thing he'd ever said! And the way he'd said it!

Across the room, Sasuke smiled softly to see his closest friend so joyous. Idly, he rubbed his finger around the rim of his glass, thinking… Then he shook his head and refocused on Temari, who had just walked up to him and Kiba.

A smile fluttered across Naruto's face briefly as he remembered that night. Yes, he'd fallen hard for Sasuke – a reincarnation of Haku, a gentle soul. And look where it had gotten him. His smile fell as his lips twisted into a scowl. Sasuke was no longer innocent, but tainted, and their relationship was so damaged they pointed guns at each other – and pulled the trigger.

No. he wasn't about to let himself fall again. Not to Itachi, who bears the same name as the other two men that now make his life a living hell. Itachi would break him. If Naruto let Itachi in, the man would break him. That's all there was to it. And Naruto couldn't afford to be broken again, as the next time would surely be the last.

He smoothed a hand across his mouth, smothering the scowl and hiding his thoughts. No. Itachi would be kept at arms length, he would be treated like the other slaves. He would stay for a year and then be shipped out once more. No ifs, ands or buts.

There was a foul taste in his mouth as he walked back down the hill towards his car, but he ignored it.

~X~ .P. ~X~

Gaara stared at Sakura expectantly as the lecture began. She watched the professor, idly scribbling in her notebook, but her other hand clamped tight on one of her skirt edges. After many minutes, she spoke, softly. "He still hasn't told you? About the truce?"

"No, he hasn't," Gaara said bluntly.

She winced. "It's still not my place, Gaara. Ask him yourself."

Gaara shook his head. "He won't tell me a thing and you know it." Sakura's lips stayed taught and he sighed, looking away.

It had happened one day, shortly after Taka was formed. School had become dangerous, Sasuke's "new" friends not even waiting for a reason before smashing into them, brawls breaking out every other period – Sasuke trying to prove himself to the otherwise leader of Taka, Suigetsu, as well as Naruto and Gaara; trying to prove that he was strong.

Gaara hadn't been there that day, but apparently what had happened was Suigetsu, walking with Sasuke, had thrown a punch at the passing Naruto, who had viciously shoved him back, right in to the Uchiha. Then the pair had flown at each other, Sakura slipping from Naruto's side to restrain Sasuke as the sounds of a genuine, true blue brawl brought cheering students running. It was the fiercest fight so far, all the others had only been quick shoves and a short retaliation – usually Naruto and Gaara, even if they were the main participants, were quick to pull themselves or other Bijuu back. Suigetsu, always an instigator, wasn't slow to pull his boys or Karin back either, especially Sasuke. Sakura, too, was quick to step bravely between the warring parties, the gangsters weary of her hidden strength.

So while Sakura held onto Sasuke, Suigetsu and Naruto flew at each other in a rage – Naruto still simmering over the gruesome ending to his and Sasuke's relationship, Suigetsu fed up with Sasuke still loving Naruto and wanting the attention himself. Needless to say, they tore into each other.

The fight lasted several long minutes and had swiftly carried itself outside – down a set of stairs! – Before the teachers had finally arrived. The pair were rather battered, Suigetsu only slightly more so – Gaara knew Naruto would never fight someone his own age properly, even if it was the man that had then been trying to covet Sasuke's attention.

They were hauled (marched, actually, as you wouldn't haul students of this caliber around) off to the principal's office, and Sasuke and Sakura set about wiping away blood as they waited. Soon the pair was called into the office where a long discussion was held.

Gaara knew, though Sasuke and Sakura didn't, that Suigetsu, being realized as the fight starter and also of a much lesser social standing then Naruto himself, was about to be expelled, when Naruto jumped in for him. Just like that. The principal was talked around with Naruto's authority and Naruto soon bade a few minutes alone with Suigetsu before they returned to the classes that had started. The principal left. Sasuke and Sakura had dived at the door to hear what was going on, but still couldn't.

Naruto had then told Suigetsu that his helping him was not to be mentioned to Sasuke (mutually agreed) and that Suigetsu was to take care of Sasuke – from this was born a grudging respect between the two. Naruto had obviously had no hopes of ever reviving their relationship. He had then asked Suigetsu to leave and send in Sasuke.

From that point on, Gaara knew little about. Suigetsu and Sakura were somehow roped back into the conversation, a conversation that ended all fighting between Bijuu and Taka at school. None let slip of the agreement – it had almost been forgotten since they'd left school, but even Gaara knew there was some clause that would soon come to light – a ticking time bomb that he wanted fiercely to know of. When the four had left the office, Gaara had just appeared. Naruto and Sasuke wore a smirk and a grin each, Suigetsu frowning worriedly with Sakura looking pale and drawn. They held in their hands a small slip of paper each and that was it – he'd never gotten a hold of the piece of paper to find out what it said.

This agreement was referred to as the Doomsday Agreement.

~X~ .P. ~X~

Kushina was just finishing up her conversation with the new pianist, when her phone began to ring. She frowned, wondering who it was – almost everyone knew not to call her during orchestra practice times. Flipping it open, she glanced at the caller Id and blinked. She swung round in the direction of her office as she flagged her concertmistress down for an added five minutes to the break is she ran overtime, lifting the phone to her ear. "Minato?" she asked.

"Kushina," was the blunt reply.

Shaking her head as she shut the door to her small office behind her, she frowned down the phone line. "What can I do for you?"

"You are sleeping with that slave of Naruto's, correct?" Kushina straightened at the snappish tone and formal language, eyebrows furrowing.

"Not that it's any of your business, but yes, I am. And his name is Kakashi," she snapped back, irritated.

"Is it his fault, then? That Naruto thinks he's…" Kushina smirked quickly to realise he still had trouble even saying the word, but he got there. "…Thinks he's gay? That slave has been with us for at least two years… I swear, if he has done anything untoward against our son…"

"What? You mean like sleep with him?" Kushina bit her lip, wondering if she was digging Kakashi's grave if she replied that they had, in fact, slept with each other. She mentally shrugged, dodging the bullet. "He wouldn't have been the first guy Naruto's slept with."

The silence that followed was very, very strong and had Kushina slowly straightening in her chair. "… Excuse me?" Minato asked softly. Kushina flinched.

"You mean to say that he has… in the past, he's…" it sounded as if he turned from the phone for a moment, but when he returned, he snapped at her. "And you've known about it all this time?"

"Of course! I'm his mother, he tells me everything!" Kushina's hand ran worriedly across the desk, snatching up a note pad it ran into as she pulled it onto her lap, fingers twisting erratically around the top sheet of coloured paper.

"And you didn't do anything about it…? God… tch, Dammit Kushina! What kind of mother are you supposed to be?" Minato's voice growled.

"Excuse me? I'm the kind of mother that lets her son be who he is!" she exclaimed, laughing quickly.

"He is not like that!"

"Open your goddamn eyes, Minato! You always were blind, but never towards your own son! He's known he was gay for years, and he's known just as long that he could never tell you because this is how you would react!" she shouted through the phone, rising quickly to her feet, curved edges of the notepad sending it rolling along the floor away from her.

Silence met her.

"Minato," she breathed a sigh, rubbing her hand along her brow. "I can't tell you to get over this… but if you push this matter, if you don't come to terms with it and soon, you WILL create a rift between the two of you that will not be fixed! I don't care what you think about gays, I don't care that you have trouble understanding your son now, but understand that anything, no, everything you do, now that he has told you, will be seen as your reaction. Whether it's completely ignoring him or bumping up his allowance, everything will be analysed – he needs you to acknowledge him – not understand, but acknowledge that he isn't what you thought he was, but only in the smallest but oh so crucial of ways.

"I… I don't know what else I can do to… to tell help you through this. There is no problem here, just you and your stubborn, set ways. And… I can't tell you how to get past this. I can only tell you that you need to." She sighed once more. "This is the twenty first century, Minato. Nobody even blinks if a naked slave is rushing around a rich man's mansion with bunny ears on, or if you sit down to a meal with colleagues while the scantily clad slaves serve delicacies… sex is so ignored in this day and age and, really, homosexual relations are as common now as snow is on your average winter night."

"They are not that common, and they are not that well regarded in our society. It. Is. Wrong."

"Yeah – the same way slavery is wrong." Kushina snorted, hanging up.

She glared at the phone angrily for a few moments, before gently placing it down on her desk, letting her shoulders slump.

~X~ .P. ~X~

Naruto drove home, turning on the radio to have something to listen to and rolling down the window a crack to enjoy the crisp breeze. He let go of his thoughts, shoving them to the side to be ignored. He really didn't want to be tied down by them at the moment. Or at all, really.

He parked his car out front, thinking he'd maybe eat dinner out that evening… despite how much time he'd spent on those thrice cursed potatoes. He opened the door to his room, dropping his keys in place before… pausing.

Slowly, he crept forward. Itachi lay sprawled along the couch, one arm drooping over the edge and his book dropped on the floor. Naruto came forward and knelt, gently picking up the book.

Knowing he was making a mistake, but unable to help himself, he looked towards the man's face. Pale and soft with sleep, his dark bangs hanging over his eyes and gentle breath shifting the strands back and forth.

Naruto didn't know how long he perched there, just looking.

Out of the blue, he lifted a hand, reaching forward.

After a moment, he retracted the hand, stood, and left the room. Black strands continued to rest across Itachi's face, and Naruto's eyes were hard as he left his side. He would not let this man-

Do what…?

Regardless… he wouldn't allow it.

~X~ .P. ~X~

Sakura slid into the limo, grinning at Ino who sat opposite, shiny pink violin case lying across her lap. "Awesome." Sakura grinned at her slave as she slid into place. As the door was closed behind her and, soon after, the limo took off with unique directions.

"Awesome," Sakura affirmed without being prompted, and Ino narrowed her gaze slightly, weary of her master. "Oh don't look at me like that, Ino. I've wanted to do this for a long time."

Ino shifted, crouching to come to sit by her master, leaving the violin case behind. Her eyes shined with worry. "She'll kill you, Sakura."

Sakura's grin flickered, failing. A silence stretched over the vehicle. Tentatively, Sakura's hand moved, reaching and grasping the one on Ino's lap before holding it between them. She rested her head against the blonde's shoulder, and let out a sigh.

"Yes, but I have to."

It was only a short ride from the university to Kushina's studio.

~X~ .P. ~X~

There was a knock on the door. Kushina's head shot up from the hands and she blinked, wondering if she'd fallen asleep. She looked at her watch as she blearily stood – she'd killed half an hour, but there was still five minutes before rehearsing began again.

She rounded the desk and opened the door, somewhat surprised to see the pink haired girl and her slave standing before her. "Sakura… what can I do for you?"

"I've decided; I want to join."

Kushina blinked. "Seriously? What about your mother?"

Sakura's head tilted slightly as her grin stayed in place. "Fuck her."

Kushina choked.

Sakura laughed, reaching forward to pat the woman on her back. "I supposed I don't mean that. But, really, this decision has nothing to do with her. It's something I want and it's something I'm going to have to take for myself, whether she likes it or not.

Kushina looked at the girl, brushing a tear from her eye as she straightened. "That's –ahem!- that's good, I suppose. I just hope this decision doesn't come around and bite you in the ass." She looked to Ino, or to the pink violin case she held. "Would you like to join in on rehearsals now, then? I gave you our repertoire book, didn't I…?"

"I know them all." Sakura beamed.

"Wonderful!" Kushina clapped her hands, closing her office door behind her and leading the girl to their practice room. Sakura beamed as she was introduced to the concert mistress, or the Violin's first chair. She grinned even larger as Kushina didn't even bother placing her in second row, but moved her in directly behind the first chair, even if it might've only been for this session. As the instruments were lifted and notes crooned through the air, Kushina smiled to see the girl so immersed in her element, as her eyes flickered beneath half mast, from Kushina to the first chair, for direction and timing. Perfect, as she always knew the pinkette would be.

As the first piece slowed to a finish, Sakura had to duck her head and wipe away some tears before she looked to Ino. The blonde held her hands to her mouth, her own eyes tearing in the wake of beautiful music, and at the image of Sakura sitting in one of those chairs. Tasted, now, Kushina knew the girl would never leave her music behind, and knew that Ino would keep her strong against her mother.

She lifted her hand for another piece, tapping her conductor's baton lightly to attract attention.

~X~ .P. ~X~

Later that afternoon, Itachi found himself lying on the blonde's carpet staring at the ceiling. Naruto was typing away on his laptop, doing god knows what. They hadn't spoken about the night before, or even that morning, though there'd been a little bit of tension earlier when Naruto had returned from wherever the hell he'd gone, but both seemed at peace with whatever had occurred. Maybe he'd ignored the whole experience, or maybe he was silently puzzling over it. Itachi didn't know. He did know, however, one thing…

"I'm bored." He sighed. Yes, it was childish, but they had done absolutely nothing that day, and it was starting to get on the elder's nerves. Naruto glanced over his laptop, a lopsided smirk on his face coupled with a raised eyebrow.

"Well, then, what would you like to do?" He asked.

"Haven't a clue." Itachi moaned. He pulled himself up, walking over to the bed to throw himself on it with a huff. Hopefully an incentive to have the blonde follow him over. Naruto smirked at him again, shaking his head mockingly. Itachi growled, shifting, frowning when an uncomfortable lump beneath him made itself known.

He rolled over, scrambling blindly and retrieving the object that he'd been lying on. He came back with Naruto's wallet, a wonderful thing of dark leather, with white stitching and a metal N on the front. He opened it in a bored manner, and was met with 200 dollars. He wasn't interested, and started looking through the cards: a Platinum Timezone card, Gametraders membership card, driver's license (car, motorbike and heavy vehicles), two debit cards, a flashy looking credit card, library card, and an organ donor identification card.

He attacked the loose pieces of paper next: a male stripper's business card, a worn photo of a long haired brunette, as well as a younger Naruto and Gaara, a few other trivial notes; dates, times, places, people and phone numbers. He found a piece of paper, surprised by its thickness, and unfolded it.

He ended up with a whole A4 piece of paper. It was a plain printout of the month of October, and the only editing was the thick red circle that surrounded a date. The 8th of October. "Oi… Naruto. What's this?"

He glanced over his shoulder at the boy, who looked up, catching sight of the sheet and frowning. "Just… an important reminder. Something between your brother and me…" He turned back to his laptop, slipping it closed, muttering to himself. "…it's this year, isn't it?"

He shook his head, looking back up. "Nothing special, really…" then he blinked. "What are you doing in my wallet anyway?"

Itachi smiled in reply, putting the piece of paper away. "Nothing special..," he replied cheekily. Naruto looked about to reply, when he blinked. Putting the closed laptop to the side, he pulled out his phone. Itachi fell back onto the bed with a huff, unimpressed.

"Moshi moshi, Gaara," Naruto spoke, lifting the phone to his ear. He stood, turning to look out the window, absorbing the bright colours that splayed across the sky at this late hour. "Oh? Really? Sounds like fun… I've been needing to let off some steam." He smirked, perching on the couch's arm. "Hmm? Oh yeah, definitely. I'll see you soon then."

He closed the phone, slipping it back into his pocket. Itachi looked up as the blonde walked over to the bed, leaning against one of its tall posts. "You said you were bored, right?" He asked, smirking. Itachi nodded, sitting up. "Well, Kyouka has just challenged Bijuu to a fight. You game?" he challenged the Uchiha, smirking.

Itachi looked at him for a long moment, before a smirk slowly curled his lips. "Definitely," he nodded.

~X~ .P. ~X~

Author's Note: Yay! God, this chapter alone took forever, didn't it? Let's see if I can write a short note this time… So! Sakura! Welcome to her life. Suffice to say, wether we like it or not, she is a main character in this story. Because this fic definitely is about Team 7's genin, grown up and tough as they are, and the relationships they're forming during this trying time.

So, a lot about her situation. Sakura is in fighting with her mother, but still studying dutifully, while Akane turns to Iruka for comfort, her trusted slave. Also in this chapter, Naruto ponders over his supposed budding relationship with Itachi – and how he refuses, absolutely, to let it go any further. Sakura and Gaara reveal the Doomsday Agreement, a truce from a few years ago that threatens them even now – did Naruto, too, bring it to light at the end of this chapter?

How Sasuke reacts to hearing about Naruto… Does he care for him yet? But… fighting so viciously against him chapters ago… What do you think is going on?

Here's my Beta's predictions for the future: "Well, I think Minato is going to get all pissy at Naruto and then later accidentally catch them making out then Itachi will get sent away and Orochimaru will get him again and rape him...Wait, this is a bad story line. Ummm okay, scratch that _ Minato will be all pissed off still. He's not gonna accept it. And Sakura's mom is gonna be pissed too, and then her mom and minato will have a 'why is my kid rebeling against their loving parent' sob fest. And then sleep with each other to make themselves feel better and then they will get married and Sakura and Naruto will be forced to live together and be half-brother and sister. I think I should stop before this gets even more crazy XXD."

Part of the reason I love her so. She's right, in so far that Minato will get worse yet before he gets better, but for now he's just going to stick it out, angsting in the background. Orochimaru is… umm… Well. Beka's ideas of the story lend to the idea that I might only be halfway or a third of the way through it. But I'm actually only an eighth, if that. Orochimaru will play up again soon, make no mistake, but he's definitely gunna be the first enemy to lose. Akane and Minato will not be getting lovey dovey, Akane has Iruka – and that is an important fact!

This is Beka's prediction, and my thoughts on it. What do you guts think will be coming up next? Granted its possible that, even now, you don't know enough about everything to make incredibly accurate guesses, vague ones have got to have some truth!

Now, some review replies: A grand welcome to Shi-Toyu, who berated me with lengthy praise after finding us after the release of the last chapter. I love her, and I hope she tolerates my ever persistent lateness and continues to love this story. AnjoRemix liked how Sasuke and Naruto first met, which I also have a particular soft spot for – the confusion and pain that runs rampant at this one day of school is really interesting. Welcome to lilanimefan247, who reviewed every chater as she caught up, even with only a few words :P Love to Ivy Raven who dealt out a lovely shot of praise that boasted her love of Sakura who she – like most! – usually dislike. I hope you tolerated this chapter *bows*. The same goes for 7thDwarf, who made me grin and blush with their polite and honest comments. I hope those with me from the beginning are still by my side, Narya-Vilya and Felnore alongside my beta, who have been with me since August 2010. I will keep writing this, no matter how long it takes!

~ Enna Scarlett Rose

Hey, everyone, sorry for the wait. It was partly my fault. I take forever to beta. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did, and check out my fanfiction stuff, I have some good stories too. There's a new Hogan's Heroes story I posted and a bunch of Portal ones. There are some Naruto ones, too, and one features Itachi! Okay, enough self-pimping. Remember to review! Buh-bye, all!

~ Lord Rebecca-Sama