The Akatsuki

Chapter: 2 The Base

This chapter is credited to @Niruji.
Now back to the story

Kisame grumbled as he woke up with the little sucker fish attached to the side of him. He pulled the little Minnow off him, 'Clingy little shit,' he thought as he popped his back and walked away to relieve himself. Coming back he nearly burst out laughing spotting the kid now hugging Itachi's head like he was trying to strangle the poor guy.

After a few more minutes Itachi had woken up and begun packing, and hiding the fact that they were there. 'Such a Housewife,' Soon the group of three where on the road trying to get to the Base in timely fashion.

Naruto was taking it all in having never been outside the village. He watched the clouds take shape and float away and admired the tall trees and pretty plants, pointing them out to Itachi and Kisame. Naruto ran to Itachi's side trying to keep up with his long strides only to fall behind stumbling. Itachi took notice and casually pick up the 4 year old placing him on his shoulders. Naruto flinched also getting Kisame's attention but was quickly replaced with a large smile.

"W-where are we going Itachi-kun," asks Naruto as he played with Itachi's hair. 

Itachi let out a sigh and replied with, "We're going to meet some people that are really eager to meet you." Naruto shrunk back a bit making himself smaller.

"I d-don't like meeting people. Will they be nice like you and Kisame-fishy." Naruto asks gripping tighter onto Itachi's shirt. Somehow getting from Itachi's shoulders to inside his cloak being held in Itachi's arms.

Itachi sighed harder his lips wobbly, "y-yah... they'll be nice." Kisame couldn't look up he just kept his head down as they approached the base.

In front of them stood the massive boulder gateway with seals placed on all sides. With a bit of chakra and a unique hand sign the boulder rattled and slid open. Itachi could feel Naruto begin to shake as they slowly walked into the dark tunnel. Itachi instinctively begun stroking Naruto's hair soothing the small child. They entered the dark tunnel following its winding turns until it slowly widened out revealing a dark cavern with a large wooden statue chained to the floor.

Naruto could feel tears slide down his cheeks as his body burned and the feeling of sadness spread through his veins. Naruto looked at the statue and feeling like the creepy thing was staring at him, stealing away the oxygen from his lungs. The small blonde cried out for Itachi clinging to him like his life depended on it.

"i-tachi..... it hurts." Itachi stared wide eyed at Naruto then at the demonic Gedo statue. Itachi and Kisame quickly understood and instantly got out of the chamber. Naruto was shaking again his breathing uneven as tears slid from his face.

Itachi was in near tears his face hidden by his hair as he talked to Kisame, "I can't do it! He reminds me so much of Sasuke, I can't do it."

Kisame nodded, "The little shrimp wiggled his way into my heart too, but we can't just hide him."

"I'm NOT taking him back to that disgusting village." Itachi snapped trying to get his emotions on track. "I doubt the others would kill a child."

"Much less they gotta wait till they have the other Jinchuriki before they can even do anything." Kisame replies while now holding Naruto rocking him back and forth.

"Then I'll talk to Pain first," suggests Itachi. Kisame nodded while watching Naruto calm down and begin to play with his cloak. The two continued through the base walking through the lounge room and straight to the leaders office. Itachi knocked on the door hearing a faint 'come in.' Itachi let out a shaky breath, standing taller and walks in. Pain looks up from the stack of papers he was holding and spots Itachi and Kisame walk in.