Dusk Till Dawn

4

It wasn't raining but the sky still took on the look of clouds that were about to dump their load, Naruto mused. The sky was grey - not even a hint of white amongst the ceaseless clouds - and there was a chill to the air that whispered a promise of rain.

Itachi pulled the hood up as soon as they crossed back into the fire country's border (the town had been situated just over the border line) and neither had talked since. The very few passersby gave them an odd look before carrying on; it was almost nightfall and with the Akatsuki on the move, not to mention other Missing Nin who had taken the time to group together, life became just that bit more deadly.

"We'll arrive in Konoha before the rain hits. It shouldn't take too long and I would suggest running though that would highlight our entrance. The Advisors would want us to enter like that; as any normal Shinobi, but we need to remember that we cannot simply be normal Shinobi. We have to be a step ahead if we want to secure Konohagakure as a safe hold."

Naruto nodded and the thoughts brought on by Itachi's words stored themselves in his brain.

"You're saying that we need to act like the heads of our clans then?"

Itachi's eyes glowed slightly as he activated the Sharingan and set the tomoes whirling. A thrill of excitement coursed through Naruto's body as he met those eyes, resisting the call of slumber they held deep within.

"I am very glad that you shrugged off your idiotic tendencies. Does anyone aside from Jiraiya-sama and Hokage-sama know of this?"

Naruto shrugged, "They never asked so I never told. I play the part I was assigned when I met them and live up to the name of my thirteen year old self. They need no reason to suspect me so I will give them none... though when they find my clone is gone from Konoha that could raise a few questions as how I managed to slip past them all..."

Naruto gave a low chuckle before swinging his hands behind his head and locking them. It was amazing what a little time and nurturing a relationship such as this could do.

"Say Itachi... we don't really know each other do we?"

Itachi grunted in answer.

"I thought, seeing as we'll be spending a lot of time together and stuff, that it would be nice to find a bit more about each other." Naruto bit his lip, "Though you probably know a lot about me, being part of the Akatsuki and all."

Itachi rolled his eyes in the depths of his hood but replied,

"I'm twenty years old, twenty one in June. I graduated from the Academy at the age of seven, mastering the Sharingan one year later, before becoming a Chuunin at ten. I carried on ascending through ranks before reaching the position of ANBU Captain only two years after my Chuunin, at twelve years. After that, I obtained the Mangekyou Sharingan and the rest you know. In all truth, Naruto, there is little to know about my life.

Naruto looked over at Itachi; in all honesty he didn't think the man would have told him anything about his personal life but he was grateful. And although he wanted to disagree with what Itachi said in regards to little bring known - for Itachi was the mystery of all mysteries, a person who was shrouded in such puzzlement - yet could not bring himself to say it, opting instead to reply,

"I'm sixteen years old, graduated at the age of twelve after three consecutive failures. Managed to master the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu in one night, Rasengan over an approximate period of one month, excluding the time it took to singlehandedly use it, and my variation of the Hiraishin no Jutsu is currently still a work in progress." Quirking an eyebrow, Naruto smirked, "From there, I'm sure you know the rest."

Itachi nodded at the repetition of his words and allowed the smile to catch daylight, exposing it for Naruto.

"Thanks Itachi. I mean, it's not important but I just..."