An Intuition || 𝗜𝘁𝗮𝗡𝗮𝗿𝘂

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒆𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 // An Intuition

The sky was flushed a dark orange as the sun woke from its slumber. An eerie silence fell upon the busy village of Konohagakure.

Naruto sighed as he stuffed clothes into his backpack. Team 7 had been called on rather early for a mission. Escorting a bridge builder, Tazuna, back to his homeland. 'I wish I had a chance to say goodbye to Itachi...'

He zipped up his backpack, took one last look around his bedroom, and headed down the stairs after having locked his apartment door and scribbling a note to his 'boyfriend.' They had agreed on what to call their relationship a couple days ago. The streets were quiet as it was early morning, and most people were asleep. A strange feeling had invaded his stomach, and he squirmed uncomfortably in attempt to get rid of it. 'What is this ? Is it excitement ? Apprehension ? Guilt... Sadness.'

"Dobe ?" He heard someone say beside him.

"Teme. Good morning." Naruto said. He frowned when the feeling suddenly worsened.

"Are you feeling alright ? You look kind of... I'm not sure. Un-Naruto like." The Uchiha said, cocking his head and inspecting his friend. Naruto grinned at him, and he seemed to buy it.

"I'm excited about this mission. Though it doesn't sound as cool now since he's a Bridge builder..."

"Hn. I don't think it makes a difference. It's going to be a simple mission. I won't even get a scratch."

"I doubt I'll even have to make a shadow clone."

"Hn."

Naruto spotted a mop of pink hair at the front gates, and he waved. The pinkette ignored his greeting like always, and chose to bother Sasuke instead.

Naruto turned to look at the large building bearing the Uchiha Crest in the distance. A string of thoughts entered his mind, but he chose the least revealing sentence to say out loud.

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"Hey, teme. I've got an escort mission. Be back in a week or so, it's in the Land of Waves. You should have noticed the absence of your brother. If not, you're a bastard. But weren't you always ? -Naruto" met Itachi at the door of Naruto's bedroom. He'd gone ahead and opened the front door himself, not wanting to rouse the blond from his sleep.

"Oh, I'm a bastard ?'' He retorted quietly. He almost wanted to push open the door and lay a kiss on the sleeping Kitsune's forehead, but the Kitsune was awake and on his way to the Land of Waves.

''Do you know how much I'll miss you, Naruto ?'' Itachi whispered. He traced the messy writing with a trembling hand. He'd been trembling a lot lately; almost in anticipation.

''Guess I won't be seeing you for a while...'' The Uchiha said as he left the apartment. Little did he know, Uzumaki Naruto had uttered the same words at exactly the same moment.

Itachi left that night with his Anbu team by his request. He didn't want to stick around the village when his object of affection was away.

''Weasel, what's your situation?'' A feminine voice asked through his ear piece.

''Two guards. One is dead; the other is on the brink. It appears both their windpipes have been damaged with a... Katana. Strange symbols are covering their faces and arms, multiple wounds around their wrists. It looks like they put up a struggle; dirt and blood are dried on their fingernails. What's your situation ? And remember, Cobra. I'm your captain, I'll ask the questions.'' Itachi replied. He was crouched behind a group of rocks, facing an abandoned fort and watching one of the mounds outside a rusted door shake.