Juugo Uzumaki - Chapter 42

Juugo hopped up onto the tree branch, being careful not to budge his painting supplies as he settled his things.

The moon was bright tonight, hung like a light in the midnight sky. "Here we go."

Juugo setup his stand, sticking it into the bark before grabbing his canvas. He'd been meaning to draw this moon for some time, seeing it often on his nightly jaunts out the village.

The best place to see it was here, just outside the Uchiha compound as Juugo felt them sleep, letting his mind roam with paint brush in hand.

Kakuzu.

He was a legend. A shinobi from the past that had long left his village. "Taki. Beautiful waterfalls."

Juugo had searched for the village in the months that had followed his meeting with Kakuzu, and had finally found the place just two weeks ago.

It was idyllic. And would be perfect if not for the girl he'd seen.

Juugo shook his head, her treatment alone something to be appalled. It brought new feelings to the word Jinchuriki, which Juugo was now very familiar with.

Creak.

His eyes flicked to the trees below him, frowning in confusion as a man appeared on a branch hidden from view.

Jump.

The man was moving, heading in with powerful leaps as Juugo sat, paintbrush in hand from the trees above.

What happened next, as the man was joined by another, would stay in Juugo's memory forever.

Break.

Itachi knelt before the Hokage, the room touched by shadow and moonlight

"Sasuke will be safe," said the Hokage, sitting in his chair. "This I can promise you."

Itachi rose, meeting the Hokage's eyes. "I will leave tonight," he said solemnly. "The Akatsuki will be waiting for me."

A deal had been struck. Madara would not allow him to stay, even if the Hokage had asked just that.

"Good luck, Itachi."

Itachi nodded, taking his leave. "Hai."

And then he was gone, and with it the end of the Uchiha Clan.

Hiruzen slumped. "Forgive me."

Break.

Itachi entered the trees after checking on Sasuke, who still slept on the Uchiha streets. It wouldn't be long before the Anbu came for him, on direct orders from the Hokage.

It was down to them now, as Itachi's Sharingan gleamed through the trees. He thought of Sasuke still, his family and the people he'd killed as he came to a grassy cliff, which overlooked the Naka River.

He stopped.

There was someone there, a figure perched on the edge with a brush in his hand. He soon looked back, meeting Itachi's eyes without fear. "You left Sasuke alive," he commented, his yellow eyes turning back to the river. "Why?"

Itachi, who Juugo had heard Sasuke speak of, had just killed his parents. Yet he couldn't do the same to Sasuke, his brother?

"Who are you?" said Itachi instead, frowning at the boy's empty chakra network. "You shouldn't be out here."

If he even was here, given his complete lack of chakra. He had never seen this before, as the air grew tense between them.

Itachi moved, reaching for a kunai in his pouch as Juugo whipped through seals. Itachi was soon forced to dodge, landing sideways on a tree as a jet of fire collided with the trees behind him.

He glanced at it.

The trees had been incinerated, now lighting up the cliff with brilliant orange as Juugo appeared across from him. "Who was the other man," he stated, ready to fight as Itachi hopped to the floor. "You knew who he was."

"How do you…" Itachi tilted his head. "I see."

The boy was a sensor then, as Juugo engaged him with furious Taijutsu, showing no regard for his own wellbeing.

Itachi cut him. Blocked him, hit him hard. Yet still he came, the wounds healing as the boy's fist brushed Itachi's face.

Juugo flew through the air, the kick to his chest doing nothing but buy time as Itachi finished his own hand signs.

Fire Style: Burning Field.

It erupted from the grass, like jets as it burned with abandon. Juugo was still airborne, about to land in the burning field as he gathered the surrounding moisture, sending it down in an explosive wave with a thrust of his arms.

He was blown from the cliff, feeling as Itachi turned away, fleeing towards the river.

Touch.

Juugo landed on the stone, his clothing singed and smoking. He scowled, spotting as Itachi disappeared through the trees on the other side of the river, gaining ground. "Damn," cursed Juugo, staying put. He should go after him, but that would be foolish.

Juugo couldn't take him, not yet as he raced back up the cliff, spraying the field with another water jutsu. The fires went out, the light drifting back into moonlight.

He hadn't seen that one before, nor had he been able to accurately feel Itachi's chakra flow. "I need to improve," muttered Juugo, running back to the village across the soggy ground.

It didn't take long for him to arrive at the Uchiha compound, where bodies still slumped in the streets. Juugo moved swiftly around them, ducking and diving between the buildings as he approached the downed Sasuke.

He lay still, collapsed on the floor where no others had fallen. "Sasuke?"

Juugo landed at his side, checking their surrounding a final time before kneeling close. "Sasuke. Can you hear me?"

Sasuke mumbled, his head rolling just a little as Juugo scooped him up. He was surprisingly small, as they traversed the roof tops, with Juugo wracking his brain for where to take him.

The hospital would be the obvious choice, but then Juugo would have to explain why he was there too, which he was determined to avoid. Suzi would be called, then Iruka and before he knew it, there'd be an inquisition into his nightly activities.

"Yeah, that'll work."

They were best friends after all, as Juugo felt for Naruto's unique chakra, which he was well aware of now.

Naruto was the Kyuubi's Jinchuriki, a fate that Juugo had only recently realised as he arrived at the apartment block, the roof wobbling when he landed. The Demon Snake had written much more on the subject, among the many notes he'd left.

They were very thorough, as Juugo moved along to Naruto's room, which was by the balcony that smelt funny. "Ugh, gross."

There was a pile of soggy laundry on the floor, which looked to have been drenched not too long ago.

Juugo stepped over it, adjusting Sasuke within arms as he tapped the glass… he kept tapping, slowly increasing until he felt Naruto near.

He opened the balcony door. "Juugo?" he asked, bleary eyed. "Wha - Sasuke?"

"Can we come in?"

Juugo didn't want to be rude, as Naruto quickly ushered him in. "What happened!" he burst, coming round to Sasuke's side as he was plopped on the sofa. "Sasuke? SASUKE!"

"Quiet," snapped Juugo, it was the middle of the night. "He's fine."

Probably, as Naruto continued to fret over his closest friend. "Where's the first aid kit?" asked Juugo, heading to the kitchen in search.

"Um." Naruto wasn't sure. "In the cupboard?"

Sasuke mumbled, prompting the blonde's attention as Juugo checked, seeing nothing but junk as he opened drawers as well. "This place is a mess."

There were things stuffed everywhere, filled to the brim with clutter that had spilled onto the counter too, all it a complete mess.

Sticks. Balloons. Cards. Ramen Cups.

And letters, each addressed to Naruto. "What?"

Juugo picked the first up, reading the addressee with blinding speed. "No."

He grabbed another, reading the same again and again as he riffled through them.

"Uzumaki?"

It couldn't be, as Juugo peered into the sitting room, his yellow eyes watching as Naruto stuffed cushions under Sasuke's head.

Juugo pulled away, going through everything he knew about the blonde ball of sunshine.

He was an orphan. Just like Juugo. His chakra was strong, bright and familiar… but others had been too, right before Juugo cashed their bounties.

They were Kiri rogues, had probably been near when he was a boy. "He doesn't look like me."

Right.

Naruto didn't look like an Uzumaki, so he couldn't be one. Or perhaps only one of his parents had been, but then again-

"Juugo?" said Naruto, stepping into the kitchen. "Did you find – ah. Sorry about the mess."

Naruto was a little embarrassed, rubbing the back of his head as Juugo looked at him, really looked at him.

He had to know.

"Who were your parents?" he asked in a whisper, facing what could be his only family. "Do you remember?"

Naruto froze for a moment, before dashing Juugo's hopes with a shake of his head. "I don't know," he admitted sadly, looking down. "They never told me. Even the old man won't say."

It wasn't fair, as Naruto watched Juugo pickup one of his letters.

"What are you doing?"

Juugo re-read the name, knowing it was rude yet he didn't care. "Who gave you the name Uzumaki," he said, looking up from the page. "The Hokage?"

If that was so, then perhaps it was true. They would never make such a mistake as Naruto nodded, smiling just slightly. "It was my mother's name."

The only thing he had from them. "Why do you ask?"

It wasn't like Juugo to ask these things, in all the time they'd spent together, he'd never once asked about his family.

Orphan's were like that, as Juugo's expression changed. He looked into Naruto's eyes, seeing him for the first time. "Because-"

"FREEEEEEZE! Nobody move! NOBODY MOOOOVE!"

"AAAAAH!"

Naruto jumped at Juugo in fright as the pair toppled down. The Anbu had burst into the apartment, smashing the front door and breaking windows as they swarmed the room.

"Target. He's here."

One of them was talking into an earpiece, directing his men as they collected Sasuke from the sofa. "Yes, he's safe."

The Anbu were already leaving, following in formation around the one that carried their friend.

Naruto perked his head up, bracing his hand on Juugo's face. "Hey! You can't just take him!" he hurried off the floor, making it a few paces before an Anbu came behind and chopped his neck.

Naruto hit the floor, left there while the last of the Anbu cleared the room. The captain stayed, looking down through his mask at Naruto.

"Stay there," said the Anbu, glancing at an angry Juugo. "It'll do no good. We're leaving now."

He turned, disappearing through the door while Juugo hurried over. "Naruto?"

Naruto mumbled, making silly faces on the floor.

"Oh good. He's fine."

Break

"Uhh."

Naruto woke from the sofa, sitting up with a groan. "Ah!" his shoulder hurt, grasping it as he looked around his sitting room. "…Juugo?"

He was asleep on the floor, curled on his side as the morning air flowed through the broken windows. Naruto blinked, it all come back to him.

"Sasuke!" he shouted, causing Juugo to bolt upright. "He's gone!"

They'd taken him. "We gotta go," murmured Naruto, helping Juugo to his feet. "Juugo!"

"Relax," sighed Juugo, brushing him off. "The Anbu took him. Sasuke's safe."

"Anbu?"

Naruto looked confused. "Why?"

Juugo didn't answer, instead looking around for a clock. "What time is it?" he asked, thinking of the Academy.

"10:30," said Naruto, glancing at the clock on his wall. "Oh."

They shared a look.

"It might be closed after what happened," offered Juugo, unbothered as he walked out to the balcony. "The Uchiha Clan are gone now."

Naruto followed.

"Gone?" he repeated. "What do you mean gone?"

He came up beside Juugo, who was looking out the village with serious look. "Gone," he affirmed, looking back for a moment. "Sasuke's brother killed them."

"What…" Naruto couldn't believe it, didn't understand. "Will Sasuke be alright?" he asked.

"Yeah."

Juugo was sure he would be, since that's what Itachi wanted. "Itachi must have let him go," he said, stepping back as he looked at Naruto. "He couldn't do it."

Is that what it felt like to have a brother? To kill your own parents, your entire clan. Yet be unable to do the same to an uppity 8-year-old.

"What do we do then?" asked Naruto. "Do we just stay here?"

He looked back into his apartment, eying the damage with pain filled eyes. "This is terrible."

"I'll help," said Juugo, walking in as he nudged Naruto's shoulder. "We can board the windows, I know a place that has plenty spare."

It could be fun, as Naruto nodded, reassuring himself that everything would be okay. "Thanks Juugo," he said, finding himself surprised when Juugo gave him a thumbs up.

"Let's get some food. Ramen?"

"YEAH!"

Naruto ran past him, heading out the door as Juugo laughed. "It could be worse," he said quietly, closing the door behind him. "We both like Ramen at least."

"Juugo, come on! Teuchi gives us a discount if we bring a friend!"

Juugo would have think about this, even more than he already last night, sitting for hours by Naruto's side. "Coming."

His choice hadn't been easy, as Juugo joined Naruto in the crowded streets. "What's your favourite Ramen Naruto?"

Naruto didn't even blink. "Pork!"

Juugo smiled. "Mine's fish."

"I like fish," said Naruto quickly. "Tuna too!"

But at least, as Juugo chuckled. "Tuna is a fish."

"Y-yeah!"

He'd always have a friend in Juugo.

AN

Yep. I just wrote that. Wish I was best friends with Naruto.

As ever if you're interested, please check out my read ahead options if you like my content and want to lend a helping hand, links are in my profile. It's always just /Bactum anyway.

Till next time

Oh, and P.S. I've started writing some new fics as well.

Stay tuned.