My light in the dark

Chapter 17

I woke up with the sudden feeling of being cold and sat up looking at the bed beside me, Sasuke wasn't there. I shivered in the chilly air and got out of bed putting a pair of tracksuit pants on and rolling the sleeves of Sasuke's shirt up which I wore as nightclothes at his request. I pulled on some shoes and walked out of our room. We had a room on the middle floor right next to multiple exits just in case there was an attack. I looked around and shivered again. The nights were freezing. There wasn't anyone around so I headed for the stairs and went down, hoping to find someone in the kitchen. Luck was on my side as I saw a light from under the door and made my way towards it but stopped when I heard my name.

"It looks like they have shifted their attacks to target Naruto now, not us."

I recognized the cold emotionless voice of Itachi and wondered why on earth he would be here.

"Why the change? He is simply Sasuke's lover, what is with the interest?"

That was Kakashi. I peeked around the door and saw that all the captains, Sasuke, Itachi and what must be some of his men standing and sitting around the table. They were all dressed as if like me, they had woken in the middle of the night. So this was an impromptu meeting then. I ducked behind the frame and stood still to listen. Itachi's next words chilled me to the core.

"The man called Sai has joined up with Madara, bringing with him new trafficking routes and a few local gangs under his banner."

"That bastard!"

I heard a loud thump and figured that Sasuke had hit something.

"So what, Naruto is the price Sai asked for in joining forces with Madara?"

"But really why would he agree to that? It isn't as if Sai brought much to the table, yes it's a few gangs but up against you two brothers, it still isn't enough."

"What about Naruto's past? Does he have high connections? Hidden money? Who is his family?"

I bit my lip and glanced around the corner at the words from Itachi's mouth. Everyone was frowning and deep in thought and they all turned to Karin, their information broker and my breath hitched in my throat. She straightened her glasses and shrugged her shoulders.

"There is nothing like that. Found on the streets as a teenager by Shikamaru's family and taken under their wing. He has no assets and the money he has is from his hard work over the years. No family to speak of either. He was never in the system so there is no information other than what Shikamaru knows."

"And there is nothing to know."

I bit my lip to stop myself from squeaking in surprise as I heard Shikamaru's voice. How was he here as well?

"His parents died and he was left on the street. An only child, no aunts or uncles and no grandparents either. They were just a normal poor family in the slums. There is nothing there that could merit Madara's interest."

"Are you sure though? There has to be something more."

"Why don't we just ask the person in question instead?"

I jerked as I heard footsteps and Kakashi poked his head around the door, smiling at me.

"Could you come in rather than standing out here in the dark and cold?'

I felt my cheeks burn as I moved into the room and all eyes turned to me. Shikamaru was shaking his head and Sasuke had a wry smile on his face as he looked at me. Itachi's eyes travelled over my body and he smiled.

"Hello little one, looking good."

I frowned at him and Sasuke tapped the table between them.

"Don't Itachi."