Old story- feel free to skip this and go straight to the re-written chapters and new story, this is shit trust me. The new story is quite different to this one.

———————— Chapter One: The Dream ——————————

"Naruto!" The blonde teen yelled, reaching for his younger brother. The young baby in the older mans arms cried and thrashed about in an attempt to get to the teen. Explosions around them created loud noises and bright lights.

"Give my baby brother back!" The teen yelled. One could hear the desperation in his voice as he struggled to get back up "what do you want with us!?"

The older man laughed and looked at the barely consciousness teen with an insane glint in his eyes. "This little Naruto is going to be MY son!" He yelled. The blonde and bloody teen felt tears fall down his cheeks as the older man and the baby disappeared in a yellow flash.

"NARUTO!"

Naruto scrambled out of bed gasping for air. 'What the hell was that dream?' He thought to himself 'I'm sure that that man was Minato and the baby was definitely my but who was that teen?'

"Naruto, it's time for you to get your lazy butt out of bed before I come up there and drag you down!" A loud voice yelled from down where the kitchen presumably was. Naruto paled at the thought of Kushina dragging him by the leg down the stairs.

After scrambling to get his clothes on he raced down the stairs and sat at the table.

"Morning kushina!" He smiled. Kushina frowned.

(He wears ANBU gear but without the armor and mask, he does not have clay pouches, yet).

"How many times must I tell you to call me mother?" She sat a bit annoyed. Naruto looked down at the table "sorry.....mother," he said, trying the word out. Kushina beamed and hugged him. He looked away. This didn't feel right, it never had. Kushina put the plate in front of Naruto and walked back into the kitchen. He looked at the plate in disgust. 'Is ramen all these people ever eat?' He thought to himself 'I mean it's good and all but I need to grow...'

Forming a hand sign he slowly and gradually turned the ramen to ashes using katon. 'What was that dream about though? Baby brother? Why did he have the same hands as me?' Naruto pondered over the dream. He brought his hand in front of his face and it smiled at him, tongue sticking out. He sweat dropped but found himself slowly beginning to smile back.

"Naruto you better get to school quickly, or did you forget that you have academy today?" Kushina said. He sighed quietly and made it to the front door slipping into his shinobi sandals. Not even uttering goodbye he walked out the door and towards the academy.

———————- Chapter 2: Graduation Day And Teams —————

Naruto POV

Walking into the class room I sat by the window like usual, my mind still wondering about the dream. "Hold up," I mumbled "could he be my brother?"

"What are you talking about dobe?"

I froze. 'Shit I was talking out Loud!? When did he even get here?' "Why do you care?" I snapped sassily.

"Don't speak to me like that idiot," he said standing up.

"And why not!?" I yelled getting up as well. I was still tired and all I wanted to work out was who the teen in my dream was.

"YOU TWO SIT DOWN NOW!" Iruka yelled at both of us "I'll talk to you after class about it." Huffing I sat down and glared at the tree outside of the window. 'Who is he.....'

"I swear I'll be the best brother ever!" spoke the boy holding what seemed to be his younger brother. The baby giggled and held out his chubby hands. The tall blond laughed and held his finger, waiting for the baby to grab it. He sweat dropped when the baby stuffed it in its mouth.

"I'll never let anyone take you my little naruto," he smiled down at the bundle of joy in his arms "and if they do I'll kill them so hard that they'll die to death!" He then laughed at his own joke as the baby looked at him weird.

"Dei," the baby contorted his face in effort. The older blonde froze in shock. "Deidei!" The baby somewhat yelled. "Deidei! Deidei! Deidei!" He yelled over and over again. The older blonde beamed at the little one and swung him round and round.

"That a boy!" The boy praised earning the happy giggling of the younger one in his arms.

"NARUTO PAY ATTENTION AND STOP SLEEPING IN CLASS!"

"GAHHHH" I jumped up from my seat in shock and fell over. The entire class, save from a few, burst out laughing. I didn't care however. I only mumbled "Deidei?" Sitting back up on my chair I continued to pay no mind to the class and iruka started teaching the class once the laughter had quieted down.

The lunch bell came soon after and I was held back by iruka. "Naruto is there something wrong?" He asked, his voice laced with concern. I sighed and looked him straight in the eye.

"Iruka can I trust you?"

He looked at me in surprise before turning serious. "Of course Naruto," I assured me.

"I've been having these dreams."

"Mhm?"

"And in all of these dreams there's this one person."

"And?"

"I don't know who he is,"

"And you want to know who he is," Iruka finished for me.

I nodded and he furrowed his brow in though. His face suddenly brightened up. "Henge," he said. I looked at him strangely. "Henge into this person and I might know who it is," he said, answering my unasked question. I nodded and did the jutsu trying to mimic the image of him when he battled with minato.

As I turned back to my original self I saw Iruka's face pale and worry bloomed on his face.

"Naruto, that's......

——————— Chapter 2: My Brother ————-

Iruka struggled to make words after seeing the s-class rogue ninja from Iwa, hand-mouths and all.

"Deidara," he said catching Naruto's attention "he is deidara. A rogue ninja from Iwa. He's now in the akatsuki,an s-class criminal organisation."

Naruto stood there gaping for a moment before regaining his composure. "Thank Iruka," he said walking out the door before stopping.

"Wait, how did you know that?" Naruto questioned. Iruka blushed and coughed awkwardly.

"Uhh I just saw the page in the bingo book," Iruka answered vaguely. Naruto raised an eyebrow.

"You have a bingo book?" Naruto questioned. Iruka sputtered nonsense and his face resembled a ripe tomato. He giggled pervertedly before composing himself lightly.

"Let's just say that book was not used for its purpose when a....certain silver haired jounin came over," Iruka said smiling. Naruto looked at him with horrid thoughts.

"Iruka that is not something I need to know!" Naruto yelled, the tips of his ears turning red at the thought of two of his 'brother figures' doing things less than innocent.

—-

Running to the library, Naruto gave little to no notice to the librarian and went straight to the shinobi section. Rummaging through multiple scrolls He jotted down notes in his own scroll. "He especially is known for his kekkei genkai. The mouths on his hands are used to infuse chakra into a special type of clay which he then detonated creating explosions," Naruto read out loud. He looked down at his own hand-mouths in shock.

"That's....so...COOL!" He yelled "I wonder where he gets clay from."

Sneaking out of the library with about seven to eight scrolls he smiled to himself.

"So...the s-class ninja deidara is my brother," he said to himself while looking up at the sky, only to be met with the pale moon. Then he himself paled. 'Crap, kushina is going to kill me.'

"AND WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN YOUNG MAN!?" Yelled kushina "IS LATE AND YOU HAVE YOUR GRADUATION DAY TOMORROW!"

Naruto cringed at the loudness of her voice. "I was at the library studying," he lied smoothly, giving her an innocent look. She instantly calmed down at the answer. "Oh, that's great! You're just like your father," she smiled "always wanting to be prepared." Naruto looked at the ground awkwardly and just nodded.

"Alright, well anyway it's way past your bedtime and you need to be strong so you can pass the exams," she said smiling as she ushered him up the stairs. He complied and went into his bedroom, laying on his bed. Kushina smiled at him and turned off the light before walking out and shutting the door.

'Tap' 'Tap'

His head shot to the window. "Open the window Naru-chan~" a voice cooed.

He sweatdropped and slid it open. "Really orochimaru," he said in a hushed tone. "Whattt?" Orochimaru said smiling "I just wanted to wish you good luck." Naruto sighed and moved aside. Orochimaru slipped into the room and they sat on Naruto's bed facing each other.

"Hey, Orochimaru?" Naruto said suddenly. Orochimaru cocked his head to the side in a questioning motion. "You were in an organisation called the akatsuki right?" He asked?

"Yesss but I was welcomed back to the leaf two years after I left the akatsuki," he answered. "Did you know someone called deidara?" He asked. Orochimaru nodded and smiled. "Your brother would not stop asking how you were after he found I was from the leaf," Orochimaru said. Naruto sat shocked "really!?" Orochimaru nodded "he still loves you dearly."

Naruto smiled and hugged Orochimaru "I'm so glad." Orochimaru returned the embrace.

"Ne, Orochimaru?"

"Yes."

"Why did Minato take me?"

Orochimaru sighed. "After they found out that Kushina couldn't conceive children they looked to adopt but Minato wasn't satisfied with any of them so he decided to go and look for the 'perfect' child. Apparently that was you. You had the same hair and eye colour that he has and you were still at the age that you wouldn't remember being taken," he answered, taking a breath before continuing "or course, he lied to kushina about taking you away from deidara as he instead told her that you came from an orphanage in a different village. Of course at the time you were brought here I killed the old council members for trying to enforce CRA on you four years later and joined the akatsuki, meeting your brother. After I returned I kept an eye on you and I started to give you your baby memories back."

"That was you?" Naruto said. Orochimaru nodded, being out of breath. Naruto smiled sadly "why did it have to be me?" He flopped down onto the bed and closed his eyes, his mind hurting from all the information.

"I'm sure you'll meet deidara again before too long," Orochimaru said, running his fingers through Naruto's blonde locks, calming the young boy. Naruto gave a weak nod as he slipped into his dreams.

———————Chapter 3: Busted —————

"What do you think you're doing with MY son?"

Orochimaru turned to the blonde hokage. "You don't have the right to call yourself a father," he seethed.

Naruto lay asleep curled up to orochimaru's thigh, his breathing was steady as his chest rose and dropped slowly.

"He is my son,"

"We both know he's not," the snake sannin testified "even he knows that."

"Get out of my house," minato glared at Orochimaru.

"Stop denying the truth Minato," Orochimaru removed himself from Naruto and walked until he was directly in front of him "he. Is. Not. Your. Son!"

Minato let out a low growl "it's not like you'd be a better father, plus he had a better chance surviving if he lived with me than he ever did with that stupid 'brother' if his."

"Deidara can look after Naruto perfectly! He has the rest of the akatsuki to look after him as well!"

"If you love them so much then why did you come back huh!? Oh, and don't speak to me like that! You're the sick bastard who kidnaped people and used them for your twisted experiments!"

"I came back to look after Naruto! And I'll stay until he can protect himself against you! Just like I promised deidara!"

"Fuck off and go back to the akatsuki before I banish you!"

"You wouldn't dare!"

"And you may as well take that damn brat with you!"

"How dare you! You rip him away from his only family left, try to raise him as your own and now your about to abandon him because he's 'more trouble than he's worth!?'"

"I've had nothing but trouble since he's come here and Kushina is loving me less and less!"

"And How is that his fault!?"

"It's not! It's your fault for giving him his memory back!"

"He deserved to know!"

"He's a child! He doesn't know any better!"

"Enough..."

Both men froze at the small voice. Turning towards the small, sobbing boy their hearts sank. "Naruto look I didn't mean any of that!" Minato pleaded.

"Oh really!?" Naruto yelled. Kushina took this moment to burst into the room.

"What the fuck Is with this racket at what do you mean 'his stupid brother'!?" She yelled, directing the questions at minato.

Minato was trying to stay calm "look kushina honey, what I did was for the best of all of us."

Kushina narrowed her eyes and walked up to Naruto and held him tight.

"I want you to tell me exactly what's going on right now Minato!"

Minato narrowed his eyes. "I took him from iwagakure."

Kushina froze as her arms around Naruto stiffened. "What do you mean?" He whispered out.

"I took him from his older brother Deidara when he was an infant," Minato confessed.

Kushina was in rage. "Orochimaru, I want you to take Naruto to your place, I'll meet you there after I....'sort' some things out" she said slowly.

"Kushina please, I did this so we could be a family," Minato said as he cocked his head to the side, his eyes gave a cold shine.

Naruto shook in Kushina's grip and he stared fearfully at the blonde.

Kushina grew angrier by the second but her anger was starting to turn to fear.

Minato stepped towards the pair, only to be stopped by Orochimaru who stepped in front of him. Cutting off his view of the pair.

"What happened to you Minato..." Kushina let out a low whisper.

Minato started to laugh. It started with a low chuckle before it soon turned to hysterical laughter. "You!" He yelled, throwing a pointed look at Naruto. "you ruined it! You ruined everything!"

Naruto was in confusion. He didn't know what to think. He was sad. He was angry. He was confused. He was scared.

"YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE EVEN BEEN BORN!" Minato shouted "THEN I WOULDN'T HAVE EVEN TAKEN YOU!"

Naruto cried out in shock at the hurtful words his so-called 'father' was saying.

Kushina scooped him up into her arms and moved to the open window. Minato launched himself at the pair with a kunai.

Orochimaru reacted swiftly and intercepted him with a kunai of his own. Kushina's chakra chains shot out of her back, securing Minato in place.

Minato smiled as realisation hit the two other adults. The only scene was a yellow flash as Minato shot the kunai forward aiming at Naruto's chest.

——————— Chapter 4: The Red Death —————

Time seemed to freeze as crimson blood stained the wooden walls of the child's cold room.

Everyone's eyes were wide and kushina smiled sadly and placed her hand cold on minato's cheek. "Even after all this I still love you."

Minato felt something wet run down his cheeks. Naruto had tears rushing down his face and Orochimaru stood motionless, his back to the couple. Kushina's hand fell. Minato was slowly starting to grasp reality as his hand slipped from its grasp on the kunai, still lodged in Kushina's gaping abdomen.

"Wha-" Minato was cut short. He fell to his knees and stared at the blood of his wife, still warm running down his hands. The two still shinobi froze as a dark aura filled the room, malicious, angry.

"You killed her and now I'm free!" A deep voice bellowed out.

Naruto's eyes fluttered open and he started to choke on the killer's intent.

"Kyuubi," Orochimaru managed to make out. ANBU filled the room and sirens rang. Panicked cries filled the air of the once quiet village. Orochimaru made his move, grabbing Naruto and jumping out the window.

"Orochimaru!" Hiruzen yelled at his student "where do you think you're taking that boy!?"

Orochimaru paid no mind and poured more chakra into his feet, forcing himself to go faster. He needed to get Naruto out of there.

"Kabuto," He acknowledged the young boy as he reached the small house he had owned. The 16 year old looked at the snake sannin in curiosity. Noting the grim look on his masters face and the barely conscious child he became serious.

"We leave at once and head for the Akatsuki base," Orochimaru said, taking off in the nearest exit with kabuto right behind him, at a slower pace to let the young shinobi keep up.

Both stopped at the old war hawk who stood before them.

"You will not take that weapon anywhere," he spoke.

Orochimaru didn't show any emotion but let the trembling Naruto into Kabuto's open arms. "Orochimaru-sama?" He questioned.

"Anko is just over there, you two take Naruto to the akatsuki base I told you about. Once there you'll see a ring, grab that and tell them you have Naruto. Then you'll be safe," Orochimaru instructed "I'll see you there."

"Orochimaru-sama-""now."

Kabuto adjusted his grip on the boy before taking off in the direction of the purple haired kunoichi.

Orochimaru smirked at the danzo drawing a kunai out "try and keep up old man."

——————— Chapter 5: The Reunion —————

"Naruto! Are you okay!?"

Naruto shook in the purple haired kunoichi's arms. Shaking his head he let out a strangled sob.

"We're going to the base like Orochimaru-sama instructed. Anko held Naruto close and followed after Kabuto. They exited the chaotic village and made a break for the tree line. Calming slightly as they pushed through the thick foliage or the trees.

Kabuto gasped and cried out. A sharp stinging pain biting at his right calf. The three feeling figures turned to face the two masked ninja.

Preparing their weapons they readied themselves, waiting to attack. "Shit! Anko take Naruto and run! Get him to the base and use the ring! I'll hold them off!" Kabuto yelled. His face was contorted in pain.

"I'm no-"" Anko listen to me! Naruto is your top priority!"

Anko bit her lip. She didn't want to leave Kabuto but he was right, Naruto was top-priority. She yelled in frustration and put Naruto down. "What are you doing!?" Kabuto yelled at her.

"I can't leave you behind!" She shouted in return. Her hands shaped into a handset shape at a quick pace, "great wind breakthrough!"

A thunderous wind filled the area pushing the two ANBU back towards konoha. Not wasting any time Kabuto pulled the kunai out and used medical ninjutsu to reduce his injury to a scratch. He scrambled up to grab anko's arm and the two rushed to Naruto, who was starting to come back to reality.

The ANBU made their way back as the three fugitives started to sprint away. The base was close, only a bit longer.

With the ANBU close on their trail the three ran as fast as they could, pouring chakra into their aching legs. They could see the base now. Pushing Naruto forward, the older shinobi turned to face the ANBU.

"Go use the ring Naruto! Just say your name!" Kabuto yelled at him. Sweat coated his and Anko's face as they prepared themselves. Running forward the young blonde scrambled to find the ring, glancing at the battle between the four shinobi.

A gleam caught his eye and he ran over to it. His eyes filled with hope. It was the ring Orochimaru had once showed him. Shaking he spoke "I-i need help! I'm Naruto!"

Nothing happened.

Naruto growled in frustration. I light bulb flickered from within the back of his conscience. Filling the ring with chakra, it grew warm.

"Who are you," Naruto heard a voice. He sighed in relief.

"My name is Naruto! I need help! My friends are battling two konoha ANBU and they're in trouble! Please help us! Orochimaru said you would help! Please mister!"

He heard cackling and gasps of surprise. It was silent for a moment before a loud bang erupted from the direction of the fight.

Running towards the location Naruto dropped the his knees, tears filling his eyes. A warm feeling replaced the once heavy feeling.

Two akatsuki coats stood in front of the bloodied and bruised Anko and kabuto. But that's not what stopped his heart from beating.

"D-Deidei..." he let out quietly. The long haired blonde turned his head and started into Naruto's sea blue eyes. Smiling softly he opened his arms. Naruto didn't wait another second to run into his arms.

"Deidara!"

The young boy laughed and cried at the same time, the arms around him grew tighter and sobs filled his ears and he heard deidara talk.

"Oh, my little Naru, I've missed you so much."

Naruto melted into his arms. Their reunion was interrupted at the sight of the kyuubi forming before blasting into waves of malicious chakra. Two platoons of ANBU filled the small clearing.

Deidara didn't let Naruto go. "Deidara, take Naruto and get Orochimaru. Bring the two wounded students with you. After that return to base," the purple eyed shinobi spoke "sasori and I shall take care of these konoha puppets."

"Hai!" Deidara let out a cheerful yell at the orders "you wanna see something cool Naruto?"

Naruto let out a curious nod. Deidara stuffed his mouth-hand into a pouch. Naruto grabbed his other hand and stared at the mouth. "Hm, I'll show you what these hands are for!" Deidara said happily.

"Brat," a gruff voice spoke.

"What un?" Deidara replied.

"That sounds dirty."

———————Chapter 6:  Within The Leaves —————

Deidara left Naruto, much to his disappointment, with Kabuto and anko on one of his clay birds flying back to the

Base as he went on a seperate one to go fetch Orochimaru. Silently cursing the sannin he observed the fight below him. Danzo was heavily injured with blood pouring from all the wounds on his body. He was not in his prime condition, with the peace as long as it had been and no immediate threats on sight he had neglected his training.

(P.s. He doesn't have all the sharingan cause the uchiha massacre never happened/hasn't happened yet).

Orochimaru had a few mild wounds here and there but nowhere as bad as danzo. He was still young and the title of sannin was not for show. He jumped off of his bird just as the snake summoner dealt the finishing blow, effectively killing the old war hawk.

"How ya goin mah man," Deidara spoke up offering a smile at Orochimaru. The man nodded at him and opened his mouth to speak only to be stopped by the sudden appearance of his sensei. Hiruzen glared at the two.

"What are you doing Orochimaru! I thought you wanted to come back and look after Kabuto, anko and Naruto!" He shouted. Orochimaru smirked.

"I did. And now that it is no longer safe for them I'm going somewhere that can provide them with a proper home and protection. After all. Who can protect an outcast better than other outcasts themselves? Haven't you heard? Birds of a feather flock together," he said.''Naruto is safest with his brother, anko and Kabuto are safest with me. I go where Naruto goes. I did promise kushina after all."

"Come on Orochimaru, I wanna go see my dear Naru," Deidara said with a bored tone, jumping onto his clay bird and preparing a large amount of bombs. Orochimaru nodded and got on behind him.

"Wait!" Hiruzen shouted. The bird flew higher as deidara threw the bombs everywhere, detonating them as they hit. A loud boom shook the ground. They took off, the kyuubi disappearing as they got out of sight.

——-

"ANBU, report."

The cat masked nin stood to attention "yes sir." Minato stood in the middle of the group of council members. Danzo is missing.

"Many casualties, kyuubi was successfully sealed inside of that...boy," he reported. Minato frowned.

"What about Naruto?" He questioned. The ANBU hesitated.

"He escaped with the help of deidara, pein and sasori of the akatsuki as well as Orochimaru and his two students, anko and Kabuto," cat answered. A large bang was heard as Minato slammed his hand onto the wooden desk. The council member glanced at him worriedly before homura found the courage to speak.

"Look mina-"" WHERE IS DANZO AT A TIME LIKE THIS!" Minato yelled, interrupting him.

"He's dead," hiruzen answered swiftly. The council members and Minato looked at him in surprise. "Killed by Orochimaru and Deidara," he added. Minato took a deep breath and rubbed his temples. He needed to get the village back to its former strength before the other villages took the opportunity to strike and get rid of them.

"Start rebuilding and get the Jinchuuriki to a safe location," he ordered "all available shinobi and civilians are to begin wreckage clearing, any medical ninja and doctors tend to the injured."

"Sir," a ninja spoke up. Minato looked at him annoyed. He was not in the mood, three quarters had been destroyed during the kyuubi attack and the surprise bombing. Half the shinobi force and civilians were dead.

"There has been a large number of orphans," the shinobi explained. "what are we supposed to do with them?" Minato thought for a second. An eerie smile took over his face for a split second before reverting back to the blank look. The shinobi around him looked at him suspiciously.

"Begin their shinobi training at once."

"But sir! They're just children who have just lost their parents!"

"I said. Begin their training now. We need to replenish our shinobi strength at once!"

"....yes lord hokage." The ninja looked at him in disgust.

"Now now kakashi. Don't look at your sensei like that~"

Kakashi had one thought run through his mind.

'You're no sensei of mine,'

——————— Chapter 7: The Jinchuuriki —————

Kakashi sighs tiredly. The black haired Junchuuriki lay asleep in his lap. He looked down at the pale boy with pity. The boy was already twelve and after having the kyuubi sealed inside of him at that age had completely destroyed his chakra coils. His gaze hardened as he thought of the insane hokage. How had his sensei changed this much? He felt sorry for the child. He really did. His train of thought broke as the child in his lap began to stir.

"How are you feeling?" He asked softly. The child let out a soft sob before scrambling away.

"I can't trust you! I can't trust anyone! It burns! The voice won't leave me alone!" The child yelled out. Kakashi felt his heart squeeze tightly in his chest. He held a hand out gently and shushed the child. The seal used for this child was not strong.

"It's alright. I'm never going to hurt you. Ever," kakashi called out softly "I'll protect you from everyone." The boy paused and his sobs quietened down.

"Really?" He questioned silently "how do I know your not lying?" Kakashi paused for a second before pulling out a kunai. The child froze and his eyes narrowed. The silver haired jounin then turned the blade around and stabbed himself in the hand before pulling the kunai in front of the child, blade still towards himself. The black haired children started at him in shock. His mouth was left gaping and eyes as wide as saucers.

"Wh-why?" He mumbled out. Kakashi merely smiled at him. The child gulped and picked the kunai off the ground.

"I...I guess I can trust you for now," he said in a hushed tone before pocketing the kunai "b-but if you try anything funny I'll kill you!" Kakashi continued to smile as he held his healthy hand out towards the child.

"Well then," he started "let's go home then......

......shall we say?"

——————Chapter 8: The Deal——————

Third POV

Kakashi picked the sleeping child up, cradling him close to his chest and began to run for the main gates. His eyes fell on Sai. The boy looked peaceful now but he knew the peace wouldn't last, not in konoha, not with the way the village was not and definitely not with the deranged Minato as its leader. Accepting the offer was the best for himself and Sai.

*flashback*

Kakashi sat on the cold park bench, watching as Sai drew small portraits in his worn sketchbook, the two weren't meant to be out but with all the focus on replenishing the village he was almost completely unsupervised. The soft sound of footsteps crunching on the fallen, burnt leaves that scattered the ground broke his concentration. His head snapped to the figure.

"S-rank missing-nin, Deidara," Kakashi growled out slowly, grabbing the confused body of Sai and pulling him onto his lap "what do you want with us?" They stared at each other, the tension thick before Deidara broke the silence.

"I just want to help," the blonde answered calmly, glancing at Sai "he is going to be even more traumatised if he stays. I don't want what happened to my dear little brother to happen to him or you. Plus, the Akatsuki could use some new members. You're strong enough and Sai has the potential." Kakashi paused, his gaze not wandering from the nuke-nin's eyes.

"What do you mean 'like your dear little brother'?" He questioned.

"You know Naruto right? He's my little brother. It's unfortunate but he still has nightmares and flashbacks to when Kushina was murdered, protecting him," Deidara answered. He looked like he was about to chop a blonde hokage's head off and shove it up the man's arse. Kakashi's eyes widened as soon as the blonde mentioned Naruto. Since Kyuubi was released he had not seen the young blonde but had heard that he had escaped with Orochimaru.

"Naruto!? Is he okay?" Kakashi asked hurriedly, the worry evident on his face. Deidara smiled slightly.

"He's safe and happier," he answered watching as the man before him sighed in relief, stiff shoulders relaxing ever so slightly. Deidara grinned at that. It was nice to know his Naruto had made some trustworthy and strong friends. "Now then, I have an offer. You and Sai come join the Akatsuki. They're not that bad," he started before his voice dropped into a lower tone and he muttered "except Sasori-danna, he's an ass but that's probably just to me." Kakashi almost let out a quiet chuckle at the remark but hid it under his mask. "Anyways, Sai can train and grow with others around his age and learn to protect himself. The mental scars can't be removed but they can be replaced by better memories, just like with my Naruto," Deidara continued. Kakashi thought about it, still hesitating. He and Sai we're definable not safe in the village but it was debatable over whether or not the Akatsuki was safe either. The blonde Akatsuki then said something that made all of Kakashi's hesitation disappear in an instant

"If you stay you'll both only be treated as weapons. Join us and become an Akatsuki. Become our family. Together we can achieve peace,"

Kakashi stared at him straight in the eyes, dark coal eyes clashing against dull blue ones "I accept." He spoke with determination and resolve. He would do what he believed was better for Sai. Becoming the

Akatsuki's weapon sounded far better than Konoha's weapon. Or it did to him at least.

"Good choice, Kakashi, I'll be waiting at the gate for you two," Deidara said before dispersing into smoke.

*flashback end* Kakashi POV

I ran out the smashed wooden gates of konoha, passing the guards I assume Deidara knocked out or killed. Yellow hair caught my attention and Deidara waved me over. I jumped into his clay bird, Sai sleeping securely in my arms. Turning to the city I said one last thing as we took off.

"Goodbye. This is the best for Sai."

Third POV

The two veteran shinobi sat on deidara's clay bird, an awkward silence between them as Sai stirred awake. The black haired boy jerked up as soon as his mind registered the cold night's breeze rushing past him.

"Calm down, Sai, I'm right here," Kakashi held the surprised boy in his arms to stop him from falling off the bird. Sai's head turned to face Kakashi and the jounin felt the child relax slightly.

"Hey little man, you must be Sai, yeah?" Deidara spoke up after watching the two interact. Sai's attention snapped to him and he buried himself into kakashi's shirt instinctively, startled by the blonde's presence. Deidara laughed at his reaction before speaking once more "no need to be so afraid kid, we're gonna be living together from now on anyways."

"Together?" Sai muttered, unraveling himself from kakashi's hold. Sai's coal coloured eyes bore into Deidara's blue orbs and the two stared at each other for a moment.

"Yea un, with the others. You're going to be living with the Akatsuki, as well as Kakashi here," Deidara explained. The Junchuuriki turned back to Kakashi, waiting for some form of confirmation. He gave a satisfied expression as Kakashi nodded his head.

"Kyuu says 'it's finally fucking time that my host gets out that shithole of a place,'" Sai quoted directly from the beast speaking inside his mind. The two others froze at the use of language before Deidara bursted out laughing and Kakashi panicked.

"S-Sai, don't say those bad words anymore, o-okay?" He stuttered out, never having to scold a child before. Deidara only laughed harder, now doubling over and clutching his stomach. "Deidara! Stop laughing and give me advice!" Kakashi yelled at the hysterical blonde. Deidara whipped the tears from his eyes and replied

"Why are you yelling at me, he's your kid. What am I, your husband?" Kakashi grumbled at the teen.

"You have a younger sibling, and for your information I already have someone I plan to marry," he snapped back before sighing.

"What's a bad word?" Sai piped up from beside him, now more comfortable with the akatsuki's presence. Deidara grinned and replied before Kakashi could stop him,

"Words like f-Eep!" Deidara shrieked as Kakashi lunged for him and slapped his mouth, hard. "That hurt un," the blonde sneered at him before adding "now get off me, this is gay."

"I'm gay."

"Me too."

"What's gay?"

——— break ———

The akatsuki watched from their seats around the tv as Deidara practically flung himself into the living room yelling,

"Pickles are gay!" He sprinted over to Sasori, jumping into his lap as Kakashi burst into the room, holding Sai under his arm.

"Bananas are gayer!" He yelled before his mind registered where he was and who he was with. The akatsuki stared at him, their gaze straighter than most of the people present.

"Damn straight they are," hidan spoke up, breaking the awkward silence. Pein coughed into his sleeve,

"Glad you could make it, Hatake-san. I take it that you accepted our offer?" He said, addressing Kakashi and turning the atmosphere into a more serious one. Kakashi swallowed the spit that was gathering and stood his ground.

"Yes sir," he spoke with clear determination and resolve "please look after Sai and I, and I will happily fight for you." Pein nodded his head in agreement and nudged Konan who sat beside him.

"Uh, feel free to join us? We're playing trivia games now I guess?" She said. Kakashi took a good look around, playing cards and board games were strung all over the room.

"Hey Kashi-nii!" A small childish voice called him from near a pile of fallen domino pieces. The jounin looked over to see Naruto happily sitting there, at ease between sasori and hidan. "Come sit over here," he said standing up and offering his seat to Kakashi. He awkwardly took the offer, sitting between sasori and hidan. Naruto looked at Sai who was still in kakashi's arms.

"What's a gay?" Sai broke the silence.

"Pickles!" Deidara blurted out. Hidan laughed, breaking the tension.

"It's when two people with dicks like each other," Naruto said bluntly. Everyone froze and slowly turned to the duo. "Like Sasori and Deidei," the younger blonde elaborated. Sai nodded and wriggled his way from Kakashi's grip. "Hey, let's play dominos," Naruto suggested, grabbing sai's hand and pulling him over to the fallen pile. The rest of the akatsuki stared at each other for a while, the awkward tension that once filled the room returned.

"Anyone up for another round of blackjack?" Kisame suggested.

"Yea, sure," Hidan agreed and Sasori picked up the deck, shuffling and dealing the cards out.

Third POV

An ANBU burst through the door of the hokage's office at the crack of dawn, urgently speaking,

"Sir! The Jinchuuriki is gone!" He reported. Minato slammed his hands on the desk in fury. "The ANBU watching him has also been reported missing," he added. Minato threw himself back down onto the chair and rubbed his temple in anger. At a time like this. The village was weak, and now their Junchuuriki was missing.

"God damn it," Minato mumbled, "God Damnit!" The ANBU flinched but held his place, standing awkwardly in front of Minato. The office was drowned in an eerie silence.

—

Kakashi woke as soon as his mind registered the intense giggling coming from down the hall. He groggily got up, tired from the lack of sleep and walked out the room he 'shared with sai'. He didn't really share it with Sai as the younger opted to instead bunk with Naruto, in his room that he shared with Orochimaru. Kakashi was a little wearily of the pedo-like snake and extremely reluctant to leave the two kids with him. Okay, no. A little wearily was a bit of an understatement. The jounin had outright refused to allow the children to be in the same room as him alone but his worry for them turned to worry for himself as Orochimaru had offered to let him stay as well, with a warm, yet creepy, VERY CREEPY, smile. He vaguely remembered Hidan laughing at their exchange as he fled to his room.

A small scream startled him back to reality and he darted out his room and into the 'kitchen'. It was an absolute mess. Eggs, milk, flour, and some things that Kakashi could name decorated the once cold and bare kitchen. Kakashi couldn't hold in his laughter as he gazed at the sight before him. Deidara's head snapped towards him as he doubled over in laughter. The blonde glared sharply at him, the effect however was lost as he lay on the floor in a pink apron covered in flour and milk, an egg shell slipping from his head.

"Shut it, Hatake," The blonde snapped at him. Sasori sat at the kitchen bench, next to Sai and Naruto who were laughing like crazy, smiling slightly at the sight. They stopped laughing and turned to hidan as he entered the doorway. The moment his eyes set on Deidara he spoke,

"Whoa, Barbie tryin na play house wife or something?" He remarked. Deidara rose back to his feet and angrily smoothed out the dirty apron.

"Shut up," he huffed as he stormed off to his room, dragging sasori with him, "you make breakfast then!" The four that were still in the kitchen could hear the door slam and deidara's muffled yelling.

"Kashi-Nii!" Naruto exclaimed, "morning!" He smiled brightly at him, the happiest smile the jounin had seen Naruto ever wear.

"Morning," he replied, "anything to eat?" Naruto shook his head and Hidan moved over to the fridge.

"I'll cook," he said, tying the spare apron that hung beside the fridge around his waist. The three turned to him in mild surprise.

"You can cook?" Kakashi questioned the immortal, outright doubting him. Hidan scoffed at the scarecrow,

"Of course I can! Ladies love a man who can cook." Kakashi shook his head at the man's reasoning before taking a seat at the bench. The three watched in silence as hidan cracked eggs and fried them perfectly, sizzling the bacon to the right crispness. He laid four plated onto the bench in a proud manner. "See!" He exclaimed. Kakashi couldn't find any words. The simple breakfast of bacon and eggs was better looking than what he had been served in restaurants before. He could cook fine himself, having lived alone for so long but this was a whole new level of bacon and eggs.

"You really can cook!" Naruto said, surprised, stuffing himself with the food. Sai nodded in agreement and added a comment of his own.

"It's good, considering you don't even need to eat," he said. Hidan rolled his eyes and untied the apron, setting it back on the hook before eating.

"As I said before, the ladies love a man who can cook," he spoke between mouthfuls of bacon, "besides, I've had years to practice. Being a Shinobi gets stressful, cooking is a good distraction. Makes me feel normal, you know?" Kakashi found himself relating to that. The immortal was someone a lot more approachable and responsible then he first though. "So.....got anyone you guys like?" Hidan asked somewhat awkwardly. The three stared at him blankly.

"Didn't peg you as the type to talk about feelings," Kakashi said, having already inhaled the food and put his mask back in place within the timespan of a millisecond. Hidan shrugged his shoulders and just kept eating,

"You got a problem with that?" He spoke accusingly. Kakashi shook his head and answered

"Yes I do." Hidan turned to him in surprise.

"Wait, really?" He said.

"Yea,"

"Who?"

"His name's iruka," the jounin answered, "a chunin from the hidden leaves. We're pretty close." Hidan whistled.

"I'm guessing you're the top?" Hidan said, wiggling his eyebrows. Kakashi deadpanned at him, eyebrow twitching.

"Top?" Sai said in a questioning tone. Hidan and Kakashi froze, completely forgetting that the two kids were there.

"Uh, why don't you two go play or something?" Kakashi blurted out, not wanting to give the two 'the talk'. Naruto rolled his eyes.

"We know what sex is kashi," he said bluntly. Hidan laughed as Kakashi sighed. Sai grew more confused.

"Sex?" He said.

"Just go play or something," Kakashi muttered to the two. Naruto huffed and jumped down from the stool.

"Fine, we'll just go play with deidei then!" With that the blonde ran off, tugging sai with him. It wasn't even a minute when the two came running back, Naruto's face beet red and said looking even more confused than before.

"Deidei and sasori are banging," he said bluntly. Kakashi choked air. Hidan shook his head.

"Those rabbits, I swear it's like five in the morning, it's probably to make up for deidara's humiliation," he spoke.

"So that's what a dick is used for," you can guess who said that.

I can't sleep so I wrote a bit. This is pretty depressing, do I need trigger warnings. There's no self harm or anything just Minato heavily grieving.

Minato POV

I feel sick. I feel really sick. I want to throw up my insides until I become the bottomless pit I feel like. What does anything feel like anymore? I wouldn't know. I'm numb. The last time I ate? I have no idea. Where have the days gone? I'm not Gucci. My perception of time is not what it once was. I don't know what's going on anymore. Everything's blurry, the world is spinning and I can't seem to tell up from down. Is that the ground? No it's probably the ceiling. What happened for me to end up like this? I was never like this before was I? Before? Before what? My hands, I can't get the red stains off my hands, what the hell. I, what the hell is this!? I keep scrubbing but it's not coming off, what is this? Blood! It's blood? Oh god, it's blood. Who, why won't it come off! Leave me alone! I- before? Oh god, oh god. No, No. no. No. No. No. no. I didn't, did I?

There's no way this is happening. Kushina can't be dead! She can't be dead! She cant....I don't want her to die. I didn't mean it. Naruto ! He's not gone! I'll go home and he'll be there, sitting in the kitchen doing his academy homework as Kushina cooks dinner. Her long, beautiful red bear flowing, cascading down her back like a raging river of beauty and passion, swaying as she sways her hips to a melody that she probably made up on the spot. The vibrant red hair that's just like her. Energetic, loving, passionate, hard working, mischievous. As I enter our home, she'll turn around and welcome me with that ever-cheery grin of hers. She'll welcome me home and tell me dinner's almost ready and that I should clean up. Then, she'll turn to Naruto, our sweet baby boy, and pinch his cheek. He'll turn red from embarrassment before she scolds him about doing too much homework. By the time I would have gone back to the kitchen the table would have been set and kushina and Naruto would be waiting for me at the table. We'll discuss our day, tease each other and laugh, we'll love each other like a proper family and it'll stay that way. No snake, slithering into our lives, no ninja trying to interruption us, no worriers. We'll be the perfect family.

I messed up. I messed up real bad. I don't know what happened. These past few nights has just been a blur. Kushina torments me in my dreams yet I feel that I deserve it. I killed her. I killed her. God damn it, I fucking killed her! I just wanted us to be happy and I just wanted a perfect life. I was going to be the best father and husband. I just wanted everything to be perfect, the way I had dreamed of how my family would be when I was a child. It was coming true too, if he hadn't butted it. That stupid traitorous fucking slug. No, no it's not his fault. Yes it it. If it wasn't for him everything would be perfect. Naruto would have graduated tomorrow, we could help him train. The ideal shinobi family. I would have been his idol and we would train together as he dreamed of surpassing me. Kushina would be alive, God. She would be alive, that's all I want  now. It's all his fault...?

No, no! It's my fault. No it's his fault. It's my fault. It's his fault. It's his fault, it's his fault. It's my fault.

I think I'm going insane. I, I-I just don't know! I want it all to stop! I just want time to go back. Go back to the academy days. Back to when sensei was here and the tea:was together. Before the war, before our innocence was robbed from us. What is this feeling? Almost emptiness there's this feeling, a weight on my heart that won't go away. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. How could anyone love me after this? I'm so so so sorry. I did it. I'm so sorry.

If he didn't come back! This would have never happened! I may have done things wrong! But it was working. I-Why can't I just be happy!? What's my fucking problem, huh!? Why, why am I so fucking stupid. I'm stupid, I'm an idiot. I, why does the world want me to suffer!? It's not my fault everything hates me! If my luck was better than I would have been happy! Kushina would be happy! Naruto would be happy! Everyone would be happy! If, if I didn't ruin everything! We were perfect! We were just What wanted! I, I. I'm an idiot. I'm stupid. I'm a horrible father, I'm. A failure of a husband. I couldn't protect anyone. I hate seeing others happy. What makes them better than me huh!? Why am I not happy! Why are they better than me!

I want to scream and cry into someone's shoulder. But there's no one. There's nothing and no one for me anymore. My mothers dead.  My fathers dead. I don't have family. Obitos dead. Rins dead. Kakashis gone, narutos gone. Kushina's dead.  Senseis gone, I, I-I've lost everything... there's nothing but nothing for me. The only thing left is to just keep living, even if it's an empty life.

Third POV

Kakashi sat on the chair across from his new 'boss', Pein. Slight intimidation flooded him as the purple ringed eyes stared into his coal ones. Pein coughed slightly into his sleeve before addressing the jounin.

"So, hatake-san, explain the situation with the Kyuubi Junchuuriki," he questioned the man before him. Kakashi took a moment to compose his response. As he opened his mouth to reply a small, squeaky voice yelled out, his voice breaking through the thick rock walls,

"KYUU SAYS, 'I HAVE A FUCKING NAME AND SO DOES THE KIT, CUMSACK!" The two adults sighed, these outbursts had become the norm over the past few weeks. Despite the numerous scoldings from the silver-haired man, Sai had been adamant in conveying the words of his prisoner. The sharp cackling of Hidan's laughter followed the outburst.

"Sai will be unable to use chakra, the kyuubi's- "ITS KURAMA, DIPSHIT,"- chakra burned out his chakra coils," Kakashi began to explain, ignoring the interruption. Pein nodded at the explanation, having expected as much. "Only about forty percent of the Kyuu-Kurama'a chakra resides in Sai, most if it had dispersed when kushina's seal broke, the fourth was only able to seal up a certain amount," Kakashi's voice quivered slightly at the mention of Kushina's passing but composed himself, holding back the emotions like the true shinobi he was.

"I understand, do you believe that the kyu-Kurama's chakra will form in some other place?" Pein asked for the silver haired akatsuki's opinion, who responded with a quick nod. With no warning, Sai opened the door to the office and entered. Only, it wasn't Sai.

"I can sense when and where my chakra will reform and as it progresses, so will Sai," the deep voice of the nine tailed beast came from the small body. Pein hummed in response,

"The current plan requires the kyuubi's chakra but i believe that the dispersed sixty percent should be sufficient for the purpose if we collect the other biju," Sai's, or rather, Kurama's deep scarlet eyes met Pein's purple ringed orbs. Pein added, "unless that's a problem?" The room was silent before Kurama burst out in laughter.

"You think I, the mighty nine tailed, care for the other chakra beasts?" He cackled out. "I am a being of hate. You might have forgotten but I am the Nine Tailed Fox, the only things I do are for my own agenda," Kurama turned his gaze to the man beside him, "that means looking after my host." The blood lust-filled eyes faded back to black and Sai's features turned back to the gentle features of a child.

"Since all has been cleared, both Naruto and Sai's training shall begin soon," Pein voiced his commands as Sai returned to consciousness. He called out to his blue haired companion, "Konan."

"Yes?" Konan's map of blue hair peeked through the doorway.

"Call everyone to the living room," he ordered.

"Aye Aye." The three of them made their way to the intended meeting area as Konan called for the rest of the Akatsuki. As everyone gathered, Naruto ran over to Sai.

"Sai! Come sit with me!" The young blonde left no room for disagreement as he pulled the other forwards to the couch where Sasori and Deidara sat.

"There isn't enough room," Sai voiced out, he was right. The two person couch which already held the art duo could only fit one of them. Sai glanced around the room, looking to find another seat when Naruto pushed him onto the chair and sat...on him.

"There's plenty of room, un," Naruto said innocently. Pein continued with the briefing.

"It is too much of a risk to all the Akatsuki in one area, due to the recent events. We will be splitting into small groups," the room listened intently as their leader spoke, "Orochimaru, you and you students along with Kisame will be headed to a base near Kumogakure. Hidan and kakuzu, you two will be stationed near Iwa. Sasori, Deidara along with Naruto and Sai, you four are to be stationed near the hidden mist-"" excuse me," kakashi interrupted. Everyone turned to him in mild surprise.

"Yes, Hatake?" Pein asked, annoyance laced in his voice as he half-heartedly glared at the young jounin.

"Am I not stationed with Sai and Naruto," Kakashi questioned. Pain brought a hand to his head and rubbed his temple.

"I knew this would happen," he muttered quietly under his voice, "you, Hatake. Are the most wanted konoha ninja straight after Madara and then Orochimaru." Silence filled the room.

"Kurama says holy shit."

"Under the offence of kidnapping the village's Jinchuuriki, Hatake Kakashi has been declared an S-rank criminal with the third largest bounty Konohagakure has even issued," kakuzu read from memory. Hidan let out an impressed whistle,

"Welcome to the club."

"Instead you will be doing solo mission, constantly moving. If Sai and Naruto were to go with you it would only hinder their training," Pein explained, "do you understand, Hatake?" Kakashi begrudgingly nodded

"Yes, sir. Are you fine without me Sai?" He agreed and asked the boy. Not receiving a response he turned to face the boy. "Sai?" He called out. Sai tore his eyes away from his own hands which stayed glued to Naruto's hips.

"Huh? Uh, y-yea," he spoke almost trance like. Deidara burst into laughter as Sai's face stained red.

——

"Sasori, Deidara," Pein addressed the duo, "the organisation funds have taken a hit due to the influx of new members." The uno playing pair's eyes snapped to him as the orange hair shinobi walked through the hallway and into the living room.

"UNO," Deidara whispered to his partner, setting down a card. Pein's eyebrow twitched but he ignored the two, opting to instead keep explaining the mission.

"There is a shinbi worth quite a hefty bounty in the sand village," he continued, glaring holes into the two.

"Shit," Sasori mumbled, picking up another card. The two jumped as their leader slammed his palm against the wall, cracks forming in the stone. Naruto let out a small yelp at the sudden noise, nudging Sai awake.

"I expect you to leave, now," The Akatsuki's leader hissed out, all but snarling at the shinobi in the room.

"Y-yes! Of course, un!" Deidara squeaked out, stuffing the unfinished game into its box, much to the relief of a losing puppeteer. "Sai, Naru," he called out, "go get the packs and meet us at the entrance." The two scurried down the hall, childishly making the order a race. Sasori sighed at their antics but didn't attempt to scold the pair, having gotten used to their behaviour over the past four years.

"Come on, lets go," he spoke boredly to the blonde by his side, offering his hand to his lover still sitting beside the table. Deidara happily grabbed it and Sasori pulled him up, but not letting go of his hand as the two made their way to the entrance of the underground base.

"You guys sure took your time, hm?" Naruto stuck his tongue out at the two, throwing their pre-packed bags at them. The older of the brothers rolled his eyes and softly slapped the back of Naruto's head.

"Since when did you become so sassy, huh?" He feigned shock and opened up the entrance, leading them into the outside world.

"Don't treat me like a kid, un!" Naruto pouted, "I'm all grown!" Sasori chuckled from his place beside Sai, behind the blonde brothers. "Hey, don't laugh!" He yelled in fake anger. Naruto had grown over the years, his hair now longer, but not as long as his brothers, came just above his shoulder blades, and was pinned back with a clip. The intense training both he and Sai had gone through had more than just burnt the baby fat from him. They were both well toned and the matching crop tops they wore only served as proof.

"You're still a minor," Sai stated. Both of them were indeed only seventeen, almost legal but not quite, just passed the age of consent. Naruto's blue eyes narrowed as he looked back at the black haired teen.

"Shut up, don't take their side!" He protested before adding, "you still banged me anyway." Sai shrugged, not finding anything to say back to the blonde's words. Deidara shook his head and 'jutsu' out one of his pale clay birds.

"Let's get this mission done already," he sighed and jumped onto the bird, Sasori following close behind him. Naruto mimicked him, forming a bird of his own that he and Sai boarded.

"Sure, un," the team took to the air, heading to the Hidden Sand Village. It wasn't long until the group reached their destination, their current base only being across the border.

"Split up, we'll be less suspicious," Sasori gave out the order as the sand village came into view, they were quick to oblige and spread out on their own, scattering to find their A-rank target.

———

Three hours passed and Sai found himself beside Sasori, the two opting to look for the shinobi together.

"Others okay?" Sai questioned but it was more of a short statement. Sasori gave a small nod of acknowledgement and kept walking. The two never really said much, their blonde partners doing enough of that for them.

"The target is ahead," Sasori muttered, unsealing Hiroko and entering the puppet, "I'll take care of it." Sai shrugged and stood behind the puppeteer as the redhead prepared himself. It was a quick 'battle', the wanted shinobi mostly spewing nonsensical trash talk at the Akatsuki, who really didn't care.

"I'll go find Naruto, he's bound to be in trouble," Sai called out to him.

"Go, I'll get Deidara and we'll meet at the point we dispersed at," Sasori ordered, earning a mock salute from the retreating teen.

———-

Naruto whistled a random tune out as he all but skipped through the sand village, combing through the streets in search of his target. He was beginning to get bored, no one familiar in sight. It had been a total of three hours since he had split from the group and there was no sign of the bounty. A lock of blonde hair in a high ponytail caught his attention.

"De-" he stopped himself from yelling out, remembering where they were. His playful side got the best of him and he quietly crept up behind the figure. A second passed and he made his move- He moved quickly, jumping up and looping his arms around the figure's neck and throwing them both to the ground.

"Aah!" Naruto's boisterous laughter stopped as a feminine voice screamed. His brother was definitely girly but not, THIS, girly. He slowly looked down at the face of the woman below him. Yep, definitely not his brother. He mentally slapped himself and scrambled to get off of the Deidara look-alike.

"I-I'm so sorry miss!" He called out, pulling the lady up to her feet and holding her shoulders as she steadied herself. "I swear, I thought you were my brother!" He tried reasoning with her. She turned to him angrily, rage buried in the eyes. Naruto froze. It was Ino, the same Ino from konoha all those years ago.

"Are you trying to tell me I look like a man!?" She yelled at him. The effect was lost though as her rage turned to shock. 'Shit,' the thought ran through Naruto's mind, 'did she recognise me?" "Uh, I mean, just be careful next time," she seemed to collect herself and bat her eyelashes, "as repayment, maybe you could get me a bite to eat?" Naruto blinked once, then twice.

"What?" He breathed out. So she didn't recognise him? Or mayb- oh. The realisation came to him, she was hitting on him. "Uh, y-yea. okay," he agreed slowly, clearly hesitating but accepted her compromise nonetheless. He knew he was good looking, don't worry but for the girl he knew to be rowdy to turn so, mushy? This definitely added to his ego, something Kabuto would kill Ino for later.

"Yay! Let's go, I know the perfect place!" She exclaimed happily, hugging his arm and pulling him along the barely populated street. Naruto gulped, suddenly regretting his decision. Sai was definitely going to be mad at him.

"I'm Ino! What's your name, handsome?" She practically purred, pressing her body against him. Naruto felt bile rise up but swallowed it back down,

"N-" he paused, quickly catching himself, "Menma, my name's Menma." The blonde once more, internally slapped himself for the stupid name but went on the the act. He was in way too deep now. Ino caught on to the slip of tongue but pushed it aside, chalking it up to him being nervous. The two reached a small bar in a secluded part of town.

"This place is pretty good, I come here with my friends when we finish missions," she boasted, entering the establishment. She waved over a waiter and ordered alcohol for the both of them. Naruto raised an eyebrow at the choice but pushed it aside, deciding to focus on getting out of there. Their table was far too close to the entrance for him to 'go to the bathroom and slip away, so that option was crossed out. "Hey, are you listening?!" Ino somewhat yelled, drawing the blonde's attention back to her.

"O-of course!" Naruto stuttered out. Ino giggled, thinking he was flustered. But no, he was just gay. Their drinks came out and the blonde male gulped, remembering his past experiences with the substance. He watched as Ino gulped it down and ordered another. 'Aw shit,' he thought to himself. She was expecting him to pay. 'Sai, I swear to god. Now would be the perfect time to show up,' Naruto internally screamed his partner.

A sudden sound of the bar door swinging open caught the two blonde's attention. A male with smooth black hair, cold, dark eyes and pale skin, the midriff he wore showed off the intricate tattoos along his stomach that wrapped around to his back. Naruto let out a small gasp as the figure quickly walked towards them and wrapped his arms around the blonde's shoulders.

"Funny seeing you here-" Sai interrupted before he could blurt out Naruto's name.

"Ahh! I was wondering when you would get here! Bold of you to make me wait!" He Sai raised an eyebrow at his partner's peculiar behaviour. His eyes darted to who he thought was Deidara, only. It wasn't. He gave Naruto's shoulders a tight squeeze in thanks.

"Sorry, babe," he spoke, speaking loud enough for Ino to hear. The two couldn't help but sweat drop as they could hear her heart break.

"W-wait! Babe!? You're gay!?" She all but screamed at the blue eyed teen who had risen out of his seat by now. Sai placed a few ryo on the table, enough to cover the bill and waved at the girl, pulling Naruto towards the entrance. "Wait! I can't believe it!" She called out to them, grabbing Naruto's wrist and pulling him in her direction.

"H-hold up, gu-" Naruto tried to resolve the issue peacefully but was cut off as Sai held his chin and connected their lips. He faintly picked up the wolf whistle that echoed through the bar as Sai pulled away, but not before giving the blonde's lips a quick lick. The black haired teen snatched his partner's wrist from Ino's grip as she stared unblinkingly at them.

"Have a pleasant day, I bid you farewell," Sai spat sarcastically, pulling a flustered Naruto out of the bar. He walked quickly, almost running as he dragged the blonde to the meet up point.

"Uh...I'm sorry?" Naruto apologised, unsure about what he was apologising for, "It um, wasn't wha-"

"Don't worry, you'll compensate me when we get back to the base," Sai interrupted, the jealousy and threat lingering in his partner's mind. Goosebumps covered Naruto's skin as he swallowed hard.

———-

Deidara blew his fringe out of his face for what seemed to be the one thousandth time, at least to him it was. 'Should I cut it?' He thought to himself absentmindedly. He was missing Sasori terribly already, despite it only being five hours since the two had last seen each other. Deidara pouted at nothing, his mind wandering from one thought to another as his eyes scanned the various shinobi and civilians that made up the crowds.

He sometimes missed life in the village, being able to go outside and just be accepted. For what it was worth, it was peaceful. Would Naruto have grown up better in the village and not in the Akatsuki? The blonde shook his head in an attempt to clear his thoughts. Of course not, his younger brother would be happier with the family he has now, the Akatsuki.

Deidara's hand twitched, craving the touch of a certain redhead. He groaned in response and took a seat at the park bench he had ended up at. The rest didn't last long as a mop of red hair caught his attention merely ten meters from him. 'Speak of the devil' he thought to himself, quietly stalking towards the pale figure. In a single movement he glomped the red haired figure, planting a kiss on his cheek.

"I haven't seen you in so long~" he whined, dragging out the 'o'. The figure turned to face him and Deidara's eyes met seafoam green ones, his smile dropped and he quickly released the boy no older than his younger brother with the deep, dark eye bags.

"I'm super sorry man, I mistook you for my, uh, partner," Deidara apologised quickly, giving the red head a curt bow. He hurriedly turned to leave but stopped in his tracks as sand wrapped around his ankle, holding him tightly in place. "Can I help you?" Deidara asked slowly after a moment of complete silence, swallowing the saliva that had gathered.

"Do it again," the boy with the green eyes stated, or rather demanded. Deidara cocked his head to one side, something he had picked up from Maruto, in confusion.

"The kiss?" He asked. The red head's race turned a paler shade of his hair.

"N-no! The other one!" He answered, clearly embarrassed. Deidara was still somewhat confused before it clicked and realised what the boy was referring to.

"You mean the hug, un?" He said in hopes of getting out of there quickly. His captor gave a small nod, looking off to the side, the sand suddenly becoming extremely fascinating. "Yea, no problem," Deidara agreed to the request, the kid looked pretty lonely anyways. The blonde stepped closer, the sand around his ankle loosening before slipping away completely. He wrapped his arms a

round the redhead, pulling him into a warm hug. Deidara felt the boy practically melted in his arms, relaxing and leaning into it. He almost felt bad for the boy, who was definitely attention deprived.

"Name," the redhead demanded from Deidara, who was beginning to get used to his peculiar way of speech. He thought for a moment before answering,

"Dei." The redhead hummed quietly in acknowledgement. "What about you?" Deidara asked him gently, as he was talking to Naruto.

"Gaara," he answered simply, his heart almost leaping from its place in his chest as the blonde gave his shoulders a tight squeeze.

"Whatever is going on, it's fine, Gaara," Deidara decided to console the boy. Sasori would have probably felt with the target already and so he had a little time left before they needed to meet up. He pulled away from Gaara, much to the boy's disappointment. "I have to go," he said softly, stroking the deprived teen's red locks. Gaara's eyes snapped up and looked straight into Deidara's.

"No, don't go!" He yelled. Deidara flinched slightly but persisted.

"Gaara, I have to go but we will meet again in the future," the blonde teenager. 'On the same side of not, I'm not sure,' he thought to himself, but didn't voice out loud. Gaara looked devastated as Deidara slowly backed away. He gave the redhead a small wave before 'jutsu-ing' away. He appeared by another redhead's side.

"Have fun?" Sasori asked boredly. Chucking the scroll with the sealed head of their target. Deidara shrugged, tucking the scroll in his pouch and turning to face Sai and Naruto who had just arrived, the latter looking utterly mortified.

"Should I even ask?" Deidara looked at the two, attempting to piece together what happened. Sai looked him dead in the eye, his grip tightening on Naruto's wrist,

"Wear earplugs tonight."