Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Tutor et Ultor ❯ Interlude Part 1 ( Chapter 7 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and its characters…except for my own created OCs.

AN: I forgot…. In the anime, Itachi and Iruka are only supposed to be 17 and 25 respectively. Just a note: Since I don't want Iruka to seem too old for Itachi, I changed both their ages to 20 yrs old to fit my story better. So sorry for the mistake…

PS: Ignore the text inside the () for they are merely my comments.

PPS: The italicized words are flashbacks.

To foxylittlechibi: I would also like to update more but I'm afraid that I'm having a hard time with my studies at the moment and I'd have to focus more on my physics, math and computer studies right now. I'm not really sure about your computer acting weird. I'll try to email you sometime soon. Hope you read on even though I'm not much of a faithful updater. Thanks for reading.

To SasuNaru-kun: Thanks for the enthusiastic review. Hope you read on.

To Night-Owl123: I'll try!!! Thanks for your time, not only in reading but also for the many reviews.

To RuByMoOn17: <Blink Blink> I'm still alive!!!!

To animelvr4evr: I'm sorry for the confusion. Naruto is Haruko's son. He was adopted by Sho Akagi and Kiara. I believe that I stated that little fact in the second chapter. I really am sorry. Please continue reading on.

To Ulitheal: Well, thanks for reading. Hope you won't be disappointed in how this story would continue.

To Firehedgehog: Thanks!!!

To Lady Geuna: <Grin> Kakashi and Itachi? I suppose it's fine… And KakashiIruka? <Chuckle> I just hope you won't be disappointed in my final pairings. Thanks for reading & for the review.

To quaebah24: Thanks!!! Hope you'll like this chapter!

To insanechildfanfic: Hi! Thanks for the review!

Tutor et Ultor

Formerly known as 'Shards of My Secret Unkempt'

By Paranoia-shoujo & lain-trigger01

            Silence cloaked the forest. It seemed as if it was waiting… anticipating. But anticipating what? No one knew…

The stillness broke however when a whisper of soft footfalls on the damp forest floor echoed through the place. Sighing, Ran pushed himself away from the tree trunk he was previously leaning on. Turning to face the newcomer, he let out a soft 'Hn.' in recognition.

            His companion briefly smirked at his greeting, before letting his face melt into an impenetrable mask of neutrality. "Hello Ran." He whispered, his voice like silk… inviting… seducing… a caressing melody of stringed words. The very opposite of his cold and hardened expression…

            "Akito." Ran replied, slightly glaring at the young Akatsuki member.

            Silence. No one spoke, not even the natural habitants of the forest vicinity… afraid they were to shatter the hostile air about them.

            "What have you gotten from them?" Ran asked, impatient.

            Akito frowned, his eyes darting from side to side to ensure that no spies were around to betray him and his taciturn companion. Feeling relatively safe, he whispered. "He has chosen his side, the child of the desert."

            "And?" he prompted.

            "He stands against the blood moon."

            It was minutes before Ran spoke again, his eyes gazing at the moonlit surroundings. "Do any of them suspect you?"

            Smirk. "No."

            "Not even the famed Uchiha?" Ran asked semi-curiously.I wonder if Itachi has caught on the fact that we sent another ninja to join him…

            A quirk of the eyebrows. "He has been acting strangely… and apparently, far too busy to notice."

            Raised eyebrow.

            Smirk.

            "Are you not afraid of the consequences of your betrayal?" Ran inquired.

            "I've betrayed no one…"

            "…"

            "My loyalty lies not in Akatsuki but in myself, therefore it is not betrayal as I never pledged loyalty to them." The silver-haired teen replied, his tone faltering at the sight shown before him. Beams of silver light danced on the golden brown hair of his aloof companion, illuminating his slender physique, utterly stealing Akito's breath from him.

            At his pause, Ran raised an eyebrow, silently asking him what the problem was… and at the same time, was scrutinizing the older teen before him. Quietly, he compared his silver-haired companion to his bestfriend, Itachi. Being merely sixteen years of age, Ran was denied the opportunity of having a mission outside the hold of the Uzumaki's, and a long term espionage assignment such as the one Akito had, was given to Itachi. Not that the silver haired lad knew it but they were in the same line of work in the group…

            After five minutes of mere staring, Ran voiced his question. "Akito-san? Is there a problem?"

            Blinking owlishly, he shrugged. His eyes softening at the younger boy's confused gaze. 'So powerful and yet so naïve…' he thought as he briefly closed his eyes.

            "You are too trusting, Akito-san." Ran murmured as his kunai landed a few centimeters from where Akito was formerly standing.

            A smirk answered him as Akito reappeared before him, leaning a bit to close to his face. "And you are far too naïve, young wolf…. Until next time…" Akito replied as he brushed his lips to Ran's tanned cheek, successfully throwing him off guard.

            A growl. "Sometimes I wish Itachi would kill you…" Ran remarked into the night, closing his eyes wearily.

AN(Paranoia-shoujo): To be clear, Akito doesn't know anything about Itachi being a spy or anything, okay? And Itachi doesn't know that either.

            "I wonder how Naruto is…?" Ran mused as he moved away from forest to the direction of their house.

*******************************

FLASHBACK

"…That boy is family…"

"…do you mean…?"

"Yes, Haruko's son… Uzumaki Naruto."

Ran had heard everything.The youngboythat Ayako had insisted on saving was family, their younger cousin… the true heir of their clan. Smirking in a bittersweet manner, he thought about how he had always hoped to meet him but his dream was destroyed when the Hokage proclaimed him gone from their lives. It had hurt him, as he had promised on the grave of his favourite aunt that he would protect the little child. Alas, he had been cheated. The boy was alive, and he was the first to turn him away. Sighing, he heard his grandfather call him into the room.

"I suppose you have heard everything, Ran?" Kenji murmured in askance.

"Hokage-sama has informed us of his demise, ne?"

"He was lying, he merely didn't think it best for us to have Naruto."

"Doushite?"

"Hn. I assume you know why I called you?"

"Hai."

"Very well. Go!"

"Hai."

 *******************************

            "RAMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Onee-san, I want ramen!!!!" Naruto shouted out as he pulled the frowning female behind him.

            "But Naru-chan…. Too much ramen is bad for you." She intoned as they entered the busy marketplace.

            "Ramen tastes so good though…." Naruto pouted as Ayako stared down at him.

            "Fine."

            "Yay!!!!! Ramen, ramen!!! I want ramen!" Naruto dutifully chanted as he skipped towards Ichiraku. Looking back to his oneechan while walking backwards, he failed to notice the small timid girl behind him.

            "Naruto! Watch out!" Ayako gasped as her young charge bumped to the other child. Every action seemed to slow down at that point… until the two kids fell down into heap on the ground.

            Naruto confused at the sudden dizziness he felt, just blinked his largte blue eyes in a kawaii manner that the girl he bumped into flushed a deep crimson.

            "HINATA!" A booming voice was heard from the audience as a slightly muscular man with a shock of long dark purple hair moved away from the assembly of people to dully stare at his daughter. "Stand up!" He said, frowning. "A Hyuga must never appear weak…" Thus said, he turned his back to her and left.

            The young girl sniffled delicately, understanding without words that she has again shamed her clan. Standing up on wobbly legs, she mentally ordered them to start walking. Unfortunately, her weak legs rallied against her and she came stumbling down… possibly hurting herself more if not for the quick reflexes of the teen beside her.

            "Onee-chan..?" She heard from behind. Turning, she realized that it was the boy from before.

"Hai, Naru?"The female supporting her replied.

"Is she alright? I really really am sorry…" He whispered, his heart feeling like heavy lead inside him. Turning to Hinata, he bowed, murmuring. "Gomen nasai. I didn't mean to… uh…"

"bump" Ayako whispered to his ear before straightening when Naruto continued his apology.

"uh…bump… into you. Really sorry!!!"he continued, bowing even lower to show his sincerity.

Briefly, Hinata let a blush steal into her cheeks before letting her small hand fall into his golden locks. Smiling, she whispered that he needed not to apologize and that she was fine.

            A few blocks behind them, Neji silently watched. Confusion overruling his anger, he murmured a name. "Naruto."

END FLASHBACK

*******************************

            "How much you'v grown, Naruto."

            "Talking to yourself, Ran?" Ayako snickered from behind him.

            Truning to her, he was pleased to note of her recovery. "Hn. Will you be taking a mission?" He asked, briefly noticing that she was wearing her ANBU uniform with her fox mask tightly in her left hand.

            "Of course."

            "…"

            "So?" Ayako asked, knowing that Ran understood her question.

            "The desert child…"

            "…"

            "We no longer have to worry about him."

            Smiling, Ayako turned to him. "Thank the heavens."

            As she left, Ran whispered his words of farewell. "Be careful… imouto."

=======================

            "Sometimes I wonder about Konoha… Why is it that the children are always the one that need to fight… Why is it that they must always carry the burdens left by the older generation…"

            "You wonder about our allies, Gaara?" Temari asked, hearing the statement that Gaara unintentionally said.

            "I have heard… from them… of a boy like me… in Konoha."

            "A boy like you?" His sister frowned. Like him? Does that mean…

            "He has a monster in him, like me."

            "I see."

            Standing up, Gaara walked to the doorway. Turning back to Temari, he whispered. "I wish to meet him."

            Smiling, she replied. "We will, otouto. We will."

=======================

"I don't understand why this has to happen. Of all the times it could, why now?" His words however fell on deaf ears, as none of his other companions seem to have heard him. Kyle frowned, his new teammates were boring… extremely so. Now that he thought about it, the more he missed the old days. Shrugging, he scolded himself for his slip into the past… his memories. Looking forward to the desert, he posed a question to the kunoichi beside him.

"From what clan are you?"

"…"

Silence answered him, yet again. Turning to look at his other teammate, he asked. "Is she always like this?"

"…" Silence again. No wonder I thought life as boring… they're both boring… and deathly quiet…

"Is there no possible way of making the two of you answer me?" Frustrated, he inquired.

"…"

"…….I come from the Chi clan." Omi whispered, as if fearing that the slightest noise would disturb the utter calm that surrounded the place.

"Chi? As in blood?"

"Hai."

"How about you, Ayako?"

"…"

"Aren't you ever going to open your mouth to reply?"

"…"

"It doesn't kill, you know?"

"…"

"Ayako?"

"I highly doubt that it's any of your business."

"I'm just trying to friendly, you know."

"I don't need it."

"…but…"

"Silence."

"…but…"

"We are here."

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