Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Duty ❯ Chapter 6 ( Chapter 6 )

Chapter 6

 

AN: Okay so Sasuke is in Earth Country now. Here's the route he's taken and we'll just pretend the time will all work out the way I want it too. He was traveling west to Wind Country (where Gaara lives) but they got attacked somewhere in Grass or Rain Country. He was then hidden and subsequently dragged up through Waterfall Country. The ship then took him around to the far northwestern tip of Earth Country (one of the bigger countries). So now he has to travel back through the whole country and a little of Grass Country to get home. I'm not going to go into great detail with it, because it gets confusing, but there's a good map at http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/8461/map9sz.jpg .

 

 

Ito growled and threw a vase against the wall, watching as the expensive piece shattered and tinkled to the floor. “Damn it!” he swore, threading his fingers furiously into his hair. He paced for a moment, cursing a few more times. It had been a full day since his encounter with the dangerous Uchiha and he was still furious with the bastard and even more with himself. What had possessed him to look into the eyes of a full blooded Sharingan user was beyond him. Shear assed stupidity was the only thing he could come up with at this point.

 

“Ichiro, Jiro, get in here!” he finally yelled, his voice echoing down the long hallway. A few moments later he heard the footsteps of his twin sons outside the door. “Now!” he snarled as they dawdled too long.

 

“Father?” Ichiro murmured smoothly.

 

“What is it?” Jiro asked with a bored sigh.

 

He turned and looked at the identical men, frowning. Both were beautiful, blond men, tall and willowy, just like their long dead mother. He hated them, just a bit, for that. Despite their identical features, they couldn't be more different in personality. Ichiro was fiercely intelligent and cruel, but also intensely quiet and calm. Jiro tended to be the more outspoken of the two, but was more laid back and less inclined to kill people than his elder birth mate, or at least most of the time. He certainly had his moments too.

 

Together they kept Ito incredibly busy, keeping them out of trouble and away from the executioner's block. Despite the trouble they caused, he also knew they had the potential for greatness, thus the desire for the Uchiha's eyes, and his continuing mission to keep the two of them alive or at least out of prison. They would be a deadly duo in this part of the world with the ability to cripple their enemies with a glance. He knew first hand what the Sharingan was capable of, and knew, in the hands of his sons, it would be a terrible weapon to unleash on the world.

 

“I have a job for you,” he grunted, leaning against his desk.

 

“Kill the Uchiha?” Ichiro murmured, studying his fingernails apathetically. “Should be easy enough I suppose.”

 

“Capture him and bring him here,” Ito said with a long-suffering sigh. “His eyes need to be healthy and alive Ichiro, not half rotted in his dismembered head.”

 

“But the head would put up less of a fight on the way home,” Jiro murmured with a small smile at his brother. Ichiro grinned in return and nodded.

 

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Ito sighed and looked back up at his two sons. “Be that as it may…the ship I was on was headed to the mainland. Take our fastest boat and get the Uchiha heir. He's the last and only chance to get two Sharingan. If he dies there are no second chances, no backup targets.”

 

“Consider it done, Father,” Ichiro murmured with a small wicked smile. Jiro grinned at his twin and as one they turned and left their father's office.

 

“Uchiha,” Ito growled. “Your death will be painful. I promise you that.”

 

***

Sasuke sighed and stepped onto the dock of Porttown, a large shipping village in, what he discovered was Earth Country. He didn't really know much about it, except that it wasn't particularly hospitable further inland and that he had a long walk home. He'd have a quick trip back through Grass Country, if he figured it all correctly, as well. The coming winter weather would make sailing impossible with high winds and even higher waves, so the seas weren't a possibility. No, he'd rather walk it than swim it. Not to mention no one would carry him in that kind of weather, not even his very grateful new friends.

 

Still, at least he was back on solid land and alive. Best of all he was free again. The sailors had also been particularly appreciative of his help and had provided him with a great deal of supplies, and even a little money, contributed by each of them. Apparently Kane had kept the men more or less captive by threatening to have their families killed, so his demise wasn't causing any grief amongst his former men.

 

Juro, the new leader of the men, clapped his hand on Sasuke's shoulder and grinned. He handed Sasuke a map of the country and pointed. “Go that direction and eventually you'll hit familiar territory. Careful of those winter storms though. Here in a month or so, they'll start in the mountains. You might need to bundle up somewhere and wait until spring at that point.”

 

“I hope that won't be the case. It's been over two months since I saw my wife. I want to be home as soon as possible,” Sasuke murmured.

 

Juro smiled and nodded. “Sure, I understand. Hey if you're ever this way again, I live here in the fishing district.”

 

Sasuke nodded and gave the man a small smile. It wasn't likely that he'd even come this far again, but he appreciated the offer none the less. “Thank you for what you've done to help me.”

 

“Ah go on with ya. I was just returning the favor,” Juro said giving Sasuke a light push in his intended direction. “It was good running into you, Uchiha. I won't forget what you've done for all of us.”

 

Sasuke nodded again and turned with a wave, starting down the first street in his long journey home to Konoha and hopefully his wife.

 

***

Hinata bit her lip and watched Kakashi reading across the clearing. She didn't really know the strange, silver-haired ninja very well, but Naruto assured her that he was a decent enough man (despite questionable reading material). Plus he was one of the top shinobi in their village.

 

“Uchiha,” Kakashi said just loud enough for her to hear from her perch in the trees. “Shouldn't you be more careful?”

 

She smiled and blushed lightly, sliding smoothly to the ground. “I'm pregnant Kakashi, but not that fragile. I'm still a ninja. Thank you for your concern though,” she said softly, approaching him shyly.

 

He smiled slightly at her through his mask and slipped his book into his pocket. “The twins might be the last two Uchiha. The last of the Uchiha are very important to our village, but I didn't intend to lecture. I apologize.”

 

She nodded and smiled back, sinking into the grass in front of the tall ninja. “Yes they are important.” Her smile faded and she rubbed a hand over the tiny swell that had just begun low in her belly. “That is why I came looking for you, Kakashi. When they are old enough to train…Sasuke would have done it…but now…” she trailed off and swallowed. “They need to know how to use their abilities and I really can't help them much with it. Sharingan works a bit like Byakugan, but not entirely….”

 

“I will train them,” he said gently interrupting her. “If Sasuke doesn't return,” he amended.

 

She nodded, smiling shakily. “Thank you Kakashi.” She was doing all she could to ensure that her children, the last of the Uchiha would be prepared to protect themselves in the future. The clan depended on it. Hinata still hoped that her husband would return but as the months ticked by, she felt less sure he would. Winter was coming and any sign of his location would soon be covered, no matter how hard Naruto and the ANBU searched.

 

She'd barely seen Naruto in the weeks since Sasuke's disappearance. He'd spent countless hours scouring the countryside where the mission had gone wrong. Each time he returned he looked more drawn and worried than the time before.

 

Sasuke had told her much of his relationship with the funny, loud blond. They were closer than brothers; they were friends, rivals, partners, everything…. It was really no wonder that some also thought they had become lovers. Naruto was taking Sasuke's disappearance as hard as herself, if not more so. “I'm worried about him,” she said suddenly.

 

“Sasuke?” Kakashi asked curiously. He shook his head and waved off her concern. “He's a good ninja. If he's alive, he'll make it back to us. Sometimes it just takes a little time. If he was injured he probably had to hole up somewhere to heal enough to travel.”

 

“Yes, I'm worried about Sasuke, but I meant Naruto,” Hinata said softly, hoping that Kakashi was right and Sasuke was just healing and biding his time until he could make it home to her again.

 

“Ah,” Kakashi said with a nod and a sigh. “I haven't seen him in two weeks. Is he out again?”

 

She nodded. “It's been two months since Sasuke's disappearance and Naruto's only been home a couple of times to get supplies and check in. I'm worried that he'll burn himself out trying to find Sasuke. He looks so tired when he does come home.”

 

“There's a lot of love and loyalty in that boy,” Kakashi said closing his eyes and sighing. “When it comes to Sasuke he can be rather single-minded I'm afraid. He's always been that way, ever since we became Team 7, maybe even before that, in the academy. He'll be alright. Just let him do what he does best.”

 

“What is that?” she asked curiously.

 

“No matter what happens, he always gets back up and tries a little harder,” Kakashi murmured, throwing her a sidelong glance.

 

She bit her lip and nodded, her eyes flicking to the ground. “That is excellent advice, thank you Kakashi.” Hinata stood and smiled to herself. She'd forgotten Naruto's `ninja way'…no regrets and never give up. She nodded and sighed, looking up at the clear sky. There should always be hope. Without that, what was the point? “Yes, thank you.”

 

He blinked at her and then smiled softly, nodding in understanding. “You're welcome Uchiha. See you in six months then?”

 

She smiled and shook her head in amusement, rubbing her hand again over the tiny swell of her belly. She doubted they'd need training right out of the womb, but was happy that he was trying to tease her and cheer her up anyway. “Yes Sensei,” she murmured, turning and wandering from the clearing. At least her babies would have a good teacher to guide them through the intricacies of the Sharingan. Now they just needed a father…their father, and she needed her husband.

 

***

 

Naruto walked around the small building, frowning lightly. Kyuubi was swearing up and down that he could smell the Uchiha here, even if it was an old scent. “He was here Brat,” Kyuubi growled stubbornly. “The place reeks of him, despite being a bit stale. He had to have been here for a few weeks to spread around that much of his scent. It's strongest near the ground.”

 

“But it's just an old shed,” Naruto muttered, shoving open the door of shed and stepping inside. “This thing wouldn't have held Sasuke for a second. I doubt he'd even need to use the chidori. I'm honestly surprised a strong wind hasn't taken it out yet.”

 

“Maybe he wasn't trying to escape,” Kyuubi rumbled viciously. “He left before. Why wouldn't he do it again?”

 

“Because no honorable male kills those he's protecting and then leaves his mate like that,” Naruto grunted in terms the Kyubbi would understand. “He didn't kill anyone the first time…though he certainly came close with me.” He shook his head, “No, I can't imagine him leaving his mate behind like that, can you?”

 

“Good point Brat,” Kyuubi conceded. To Kyuubi, like most `animals', a mate and offspring were the most important of goals to achieve and had to be protected at all costs. Kyuubi had never permanently mated with another demon, fortunately, but he certainly understood the concept well enough. Naruto knew, as well, that Sasuke wouldn't leave Hinata like that, especially after the way they'd been together all those months. He had to admit that he wasn't always the most observant of shinobi, but even he could see how their gestures, looks and whispered teasing screamed at least affection, if not outright love.

 

Naruto sighed and looked around the room in confusion. Why would Sasuke's scent be here? It was just a crappy old shed that was located about twenty miles from the attack sight. Of course it was just inside Waterfall Country and Leaf nin had to be cautious when hopping between countries to quickly. It's a wonder they hadn't found it before though. Kyuubi shouldn't have had a single problem scenting Sasuke so close by, even with all of the other scents confusing his senses. Maybe it was masked. That's all he could figure out.

 

He stepped forward and yelped as a jolt went up his leg. “What in the hell?” he yelled, looking down at an old rug on the floor. “What was that?”

 

“Felt like a nasty seal,” Kyuubi growled, shrinking away from the unpleasant sensations coursing through his host. “It's still pretty strong, so I'd rather you didn't touch it again,” Kyuubi muttered.

 

“If there's a seal here, maybe there's something under the floor,” Naruto mused softly. He wasn't going to deal with the seal, he agreed with Kyuubi on that wholeheartedly. It didn't feel at all right, and he didn't know what kind of effects dispelling it would have. Nothing like having a seal blow you into tiny smithereens to ruin your day. He trotted back outside and circled the building more carefully this time.

 

On his third trip around he spotted a tiny opening in the foundation. A window perhaps, or maybe an air vent for a cellar? He tore the grass up quickly and peered into the opening. Sure enough a cell lay below the old building. He decided the seal must be over the door and that Sasuke's had been kept here for a while. Naruto noted a small pit in the corner. Must be the source of Sasuke's scent that Kyuubi's getting.

 

“The bastard's droppings are old, two or three weeks,” Kyuubi murmured, pressing up against his cage as if to peer into the room as well.

 

Naruto sighed and sat back in the grass. He gnawed on his lip thoughtfully. Where did they go from here? Three weeks was a lot of time and they could be far out of reach by now. “They could have taken him anywhere. Unless he's already dead,” Naruto finished mournfully.

 

“They didn't kill him here,” Kyuubi grunted. “I don't smell fresh blood. There seems to be some in the cell, but there isn't much and it's old. Besides why keep him here for a month and then just off him. Stupid brat.”

 

Naruto grunted, knowing the damn fox had a point. “So can you follow his scent from here?” he asked his tenet.

 

“Possibly,” Kyuubi hummed slyly. “Don't know why I should though. I don't care about him.”

 

“Because if you don't, I'll jam you so far down into my subconscious you won't see a damned thing for a long, long time. You can just stare at the bars of your cage until I die, for all I care,” Naruto snapped. Ah the joys of arguing with your inner demon. Kyuubi always wanted something in return for his help. It was freaking annoying at times.

 

“Fine. Damn Brat,” Kyuubi growled. He was quiet for a moment and then grunted softly. “The ocean is close. I can smell it. They could have taken him somewhere on the water. If that's the case, I won't be able to follow his scent anyway. The wind, salt and fish interfere too much.”

 

“Damn it!” Naruto growled, slamming his fist into the wall of the shed, ignoring the alarming shuddering that shivered through its rickety frame. “I thought for sure this would be it finally!”

 

“You're giving up then?” Kyuubi growled softly, peering curiously through his bars.

 

“No. Hinata needs Sasuke. I'll find him. I always do,” Naruto grunted standing and turning towards the direction where the fox smelled the ocean.

 

“You care about the bastard's breeding bitch that much?” Kyuubi murmured.

 

“His `pregnant wife', is the polite term,” Naruto sighed. The fox often mixed human language and his own words, usually in the most insulting way possible. “She's not a fox, and `bitch' really pisses a woman off. And, yes I care for her. We've been friends for a long time. She's a beautiful, sweet woman. How could I not care for her?”

 

“So give up the search and take her as your own mate, if you care about her so much,” Kyuubi suggested with a foxy shrug. Kyuubi had been pestering him for years to find a `mate'. “That would be much easier than all of this day and night shit.” Kyuubi ignored Naruto's warning growl and continued. “Sure you'd have to care for his young, but you could finally get some of your own by her too. Plus she's an adequate female. Mating with her wouldn't be that repulsive.”

 

“I'm not taking Hinata from my best friend,” Naruto growled and began walking. “She's not mine to have, ever, even if Sasuke is dead. It would be totally wrong and I won't do it.”

 

“Would she have been a bad choice as a mate?” Kyuubi asked, sitting on his haunches patiently. “You need a mate brat. You're strong and young. I don't know what you're holding out for.”

 

“She's a good choice, but not for me,” Naruto muttered with a shrug.

 

“Then who?” Kyuubi growled. “The celibacy thing is getting a little old brat. It's been weeks since you mated with anything beside your right hand,” he sneered at his host.

 

“Poor little Kyuubi,” Naruto grunted sarcastically. “I haven't met the right woman to settle down with yet. No rush really, since I'm young still. Besides, like you said, it's only been a few weeks. I've been busy, so sex is hardly at the top of my list of important things to get done at the moment.” Kyuubi's disgruntled silence said that he didn't think that was a good enough excuse. Naruto didn't really care either way. “Besides I'm not worrying about any of that until I get Sasuke home safely. There's a little extra incentive for you to help out Fox.”

 

“Brat,” Kyuubi growled. He was silent for a moment, likely pouting just a bit. It was funny to imagine an ancient, giant demon pouting, but he actually did it on occasion. It wasn't like he had much control over his existence anymore after all. Finally he spoke up. “I smell humans. A small town would be my guess. Maybe a port town.”

 

Naruto nodded. “Then that's where we're headed. It would be the closest place to get supplies and hopefully access to the ocean. Maybe someone saw something.”

 

***

 

Tsunade read the tiny scroll from Naruto, courtesy pigeon air, for the fifth time. “So you've found his trail?” she murmured. “I guess I shouldn't be surprised.”

 

“Hokage?” Shizune murmured in question. She'd delivered the scroll with Naruto's seal on it as soon as the poor, tired pigeon had landed. “Bad news from Naruto?”

 

Tsunade sighed and handed the scroll over to her long time apprentice. “Maybe not.”

 

“Dear Old Hag,” Naruto started, not surprisingly. “Kyuubi and I caught Sasuke's scent about twenty miles east of `the sight'. There's an old shed there with some funky seals on it and a cell below. Might want to have some seal specialists check it over. Anyway, I would guess Sasuke was there for a month or so, but he's gone now. I would also guess that this was a kidnapping, not his choice. There is also no indication of death, according to Kyuubi, so I'll travel to a nearby town and see what I can find out. They may have taken him by ship from there, so I don't know if I'll have his trail for long.”

 

Shizune handed the scroll back. “So close and we never found it? How is that possible?”

 

“A masking genjutsu I would imagine,” Tsunade sighed, rubbing her temples. “What have you found out about the Uchiha clan and their enemies?”

 

Shizune winced and frowned. “Not much. Aside from his brother, Sasuke didn't have much in the way of enemies. Apparently a lot of people think he's a jerk, but none of them actually want to harm him or the Uchiha line. As far as we can tell the potion given to Hinata was a standard one manufacture in one of the eastern countries. The plants used are slightly different, but have the same effect.”

“Anywhere best reached by the ocean?” Tsunade asked perking up a bit. Maybe there really would be a connection between the two events. She could only hope, then maybe it could all be solved at once.

 

“Several. The medic-nin are working hard to pinpoint the location. I'll tell them about the ocean aspect and maybe we can narrow the scope and help Naruto,” Shizune murmured.

 

“Good. Keep me informed. And keep this quiet. Only tell the medics the minimum. I don't want to upset Hinata with a false hope,” Tsunade murmured softly.

 

Shizune nodded. “I understand Hokage.”

 

She bowed out and left Tsunade to her musings. `Send us a sign Sasuke, wherever you are.'

 

***