Time of transition

A young guy, looking about eighteen, was heading towards the neighboring country. The gusty wind whipped his hair with sharp cold streams, drying his tear-soaked eyes, making his skin tighten. There was much pain, tears, and a person who supported him all this time on his life path… He is no longer here. And no one will bring him back. Death takes everyone: the innocent, the guilty, children, the elderly, and it does not matter whether they are relatives or strangers. Konoha has long regarded death simply. Whether a shinobi or an ordinary child has died, it does not matter. "Everything for the good of the village!" But what exactly is for the good? The replenishment of the Hokage's collection in the crypts and cemeteries? The pain and suffering of the people who arrange funerals? As if the souls of the fallen protect our village. "You need to treat everyone kinder, Naruto. It doesn't matter what these people did for you, what matters is what you did for them," said a man who looked about fifty with long gray hair. "But they have hated me my whole life! They accuse me! Sometimes they even hit me! Even Sasuke doesn't want to be friends with me." The little boy puffed out his cheeks and crossed his arms over his chest, turning away. The man barely smiled and continued down the road. "Now he is gone… No… Jiraiya… He was the only one who replaced the father I lost in the war my whole life. He supported me all my life, kept my inner balance afloat only with words. He could do it! He managed! And now… Since the moment of his death, I have no desire to live. I have no place in Konoha. For six months, I was humiliated, had everything thrown at me that came to hand, being told that I am worthless without him," thought Naruto, stopping by the first tree he came across. A second later, his hand clenched into a fist and struck the bark with force, leaving dents on the skin in the form of an intricate pattern. The boy felt no pain. Nothing seemed painful to him anymore, except for death. After Jiraiya's death, Naruto completely closed himself off. He was almost always at home, repulsed by the white light and the company of Konoha, but when the young omega went out for groceries, various rotten vegetables and fruits, sometimes stones, cobblestones, and sticks flew at him almost from the doorstep. The residents shouted all sorts of dirty and offensive words that hurt the young omega. The sellers always inflated the prices, and Naruto agreed. He needed to get home as quickly as possible, close himself in there, and forget about this incident. This continued for six months. With each trip to the market, Naruto paid less and less attention to people, diving deeper into his thoughts and memories of the time spent with his sensei. At home, he often just sat, either by the window or on a chair, while tears rolled down his cheeks on their own. Naruto no longer noticed them. He constantly thought that it was something warm, ticklish, and therefore - good. The last straw for Naruto was when the Hokage, in the person of Tsunade Senju, called him in for a conversation. However, it did not go well from the very beginning. As soon as Naruto found himself in her office, insults flew at him immediately, accusations that he had been sitting at home for too long. Shinobi are not allowed to do that. Kakashi-sensei defended the young omega, but unfortunately, the woman was so stubborn and strict that even he felt his hands drop at that very moment. Sakura Haruno, Naruto's friend and Tsunade's successor, was also standing in the corner.And it seemed as if she was listening together with her friend to all these screams. She could not protect him. -Shinobi… You are not a shinobi if you sit at home for the entire job! People are leaving for other countries instead of you… Dying… All your friends are counting on you! You are letting me down! You are letting Konoha down! Yes, Jiraiya is dead. He was dear to me too, but we need to move on, and you have locked yourself in your house, afraid to go outside! - the woman shouted, scattering unknown papers. -Yes… I sit at home for missions. You say he was dear to you… Hm. Did you have friends since childhood? Were you ever kicked out into the street in the rain from a store just for stopping by to wait out the rain? Did they throw stones at you? Cobblestones? Did they try to kill you in some alley? Did you live like that every day? Jiraiya-sama was the most important person to me. It hurts that the Hokage says such things. It hurts to hear and hurts to see this. If I am no longer a shinobi in your eyes, then I can leave the Village of my own accord! I have nothing left to lose. - said Naruto, looking at the floor. Yes, anger was boiling inside him, but he could control it. He was tired. -Either you immediately return to missions and fulfill your duty to the village, or you leave Konoha and will be recognized as a renegade. There will be no other options! - the Hokage shouted, frowning. -I am not ready to return to missions. - Naruto lowered his head, closing his eyes. Well, the question has resolved itself. - The woman said nothing more, and Naruto turned and silently left her office. Kakashi-sensei came to Naruto that day, talked, and found out that the guy was indeed not mentally ready for missions, unless the Hokage had thoughts of killing him, covering it up as an accident. That day, the blonde gathered all the necessary things to leave Konoha forever. Stepping back from the damaged tree a few steps, Naruto stopped and fell weakly onto the damp ground. His mind was filled with many memories of everything that connected him to his homeland, but now… Now he is alone. Now he can show himself as a lone shinobi who can fight back. Now no one will hold back Kurama, the nine-tailed monster, who had been in his body all his life; now he is who he saw himself as before the death of a loved one. The only one who could stop him, who could truly influence Naruto, was Sasuke Uchiha, who is currently on a mission. The heir of the Uchiha clan, the son of Fugaku Uchiha, the head of the clan. Naruto considered him a friend, truly loyal to his interests and rules. They communicated well, but still, Sasuke had changed after the exile of his brother Itachi. This happened a long time ago, and the whole story changed many times, each year covered with a thick layer of dust. Itachi Uchiha was Sasuke's older brother, the son of Fugaku and Mikoto, his wife, but after the older brother learned that one of the advisors of the Third Hokage, Danzo Shimura, was killing his clansmen, extracting their eyes, he decided to put an end to him. He killed him as cruelly as he had killed all his acquaintances and friends. After Danzo's death, Itachi was recognized as a traitor who attempted on the life of the Hokage himself and was exiled from Konoha. He found refuge in the Akatsuki organization, where he remains to this day. "Renegade shinobi, just like him." - Naruto thought with malice, filling his flask with water. The day was coming to an end. The young omega had been on the road the whole time. It was time to rest. All night Naruto did not sleep, thinking about his plan of action. What will he do and where will he go now? He did not give up his headband; he left it as a reminder. About Past Times and the Pain He Had to Endure. Thoughts quickly spun in his head, causing adrenaline to surge stronger, but something rustled in the bushes, momentarily drowning out the crackle of the fire. Naruto quickly grabbed a kunai in his hand and knelt down, listening to the strange sounds. It was quiet. He assumed it was animals, as he was in the territory of the Naru clan. Deer were not uncommon here. Another crack, this time in the tree. With a sharp movement, Naruto threw the kunai upward, through the leaves, but it likely missed its target. “We are incredibly lucky, Itachi-san. To find a bijuu, and a nine-tailed one at that, alone in the forest,” said a slightly soft but unpleasant voice behind him. “Itachi...,” thought Naruto, but immediately pushed those thoughts aside. They were looking for the two-tailed beast, but found the nine-tailed one instead. Itachi stood next to the speaker. A straw conical hat, a black cloak with red clouds, and that annoying sound of a small bell... He remained silent, staring into Naruto's eyes. Half of his face was covered by the collar of his cloak, his hands hanging down. By his appearance, one would not say he wanted to attack. -Our last meeting did not go as it is now, Naruto. Where is your headband?- Itachi said quietly and monotonously, standing still. His friend was already planning his course of action. -I am no longer a shinobi of the Hidden Leaf. And the headband is lying somewhere in my backpack,- Naruto replied without regret. He tightened his grip on the kunai, preparing to defend himself. -Your Hokage does not value his people at all, Itachi-san.- The man with blue-gray skin looked at his companion, then with a loud sound dropped his sword to the ground, leaving a deep small groove. Itachi said nothing in response. -Interesting,- Uchiha remarked, looking at Naruto. He began to slowly approach him without showing aggression, but the omega still tensed and prepared himself. -You will still remain a shinobi, no matter how much you deny it, but alone you can do nothing.-Itachi stopped in front of the boy, removed his straw hat, leaving it in his hand, staring into the eyes of his opponent. -You still have a choice now: you can go with us of your own free will, or we will kill you,” Itachi said. His emotionless face was frightening, but he steadfastly and stubbornly looked him in the eyes. Of course, Naruto lost in this “battle.- Itachi was a genius of his clan; he could easily assess the moral endurance of his opponent, which he did now, and Naruto... Now he was sufficiently weakened and mentally exhausted. To such an extent that he was sure he had no strength to resist. -If I go with you, what will happen to me?- The blonde lowered the kunai. -Pain will decide what to do with you.-Itachi instantly turned his back to Naruto and headed towards his companion. “Nothing to lose,” thought Naruto, gathering his things. He concluded that sooner or later he would be caught, but they would not give him a chance to survive. Moreover, Itachi was right. He could do nothing alone against professional killers.Weighing all the “pros” and “cons,” Naruto concluded that it was better for him to go voluntarily with them now. There was still a chance that he would remain alive. The rest of the night, the shinobi headed in an unknown direction for Naruto. Dark, nothing was visible, without stopping, in silence. “This is driving me crazy...” the blonde thought discontentedly. Itachi still kept an eye on where their valuable cargo was. He glanced back, sometimes running behind him, not uttering a word. The dark forest began to transform slightly with the appearance of the first rays of light sun. "Akatsuki... Dawn..." - a thought flew through Naruto's mind, which he caught and savored. He liked it. This early morning was like a hint, like a chance to survive the meeting with Pain, like an option that Naruto still had to figure out, to solve this riddle, but he quickly dismissed all thoughts. Itachi changed the trajectory of his run, sharply turning in another direction. The unfamiliar places frightened the blonde, but he was stronger than the feeling of fear. After a few minutes, they descended from the branches of the trees to the ground and headed straight for an unknown rock. Of course, Naruto knew who the Akatsuki were, what they did and lived for. He approximately knew what goals they pursued. After leaving Konoha, the blonde still thought about coming to them. They provided housing, food, and all that was needed was to carry out assignments. He could learn more from them than Jiraiya had managed to teach him. But fear overshadowed that desire. He knew that they were looking for him, that they wanted to extract the nine-tailed demon, but at the same time, he would face inevitable death. But Naruto often asked himself the question: where was he going? Perhaps, on a subconscious level, he was looking for members of the Akatsuki, perhaps he wanted to be recruited to gain protection from the strongest opponents of all countries, to become stronger.While Naruto was immersed in his thoughts, Itachi and his partner led him through the corridors of the basement. Cold, damp, cramped. It was morally difficult to be here, but Naruto endured and remained silent, following his escorts. A knock on the door. Without warning. And a stern voice allowed them to enter. The door opened, and Naruto was pushed forward. Inside, everything inside him tightened at the sight of a short guy with red hair, who had piercings on his face. The Rinnegan stared intently at him, and Naruto didn't know how to behave. He was scared; he regretted coming here three times, but now there was nowhere to go. -Pain-sama, we are incredibly lucky today,-the stranger began, but Pain did not want to listen to anything. He raised his hand. -Kisame, leave the office,- Pain said, looking at Naruto. The man sighed heavily but still obeyed his order. Itachi stood still. He felt who the true alpha was in the place where they were. Pain approached Naruto closer, then looked at Itachi, and he began to speak. -Naruto Uzumaki. Former shinobi of the Hidden Leaf village. Found on the bank of the river not far from here. Came with us of his own will. -Why former shinobi of Konoha?- Pain shifted his gaze to Naruto, but he did not answer immediately. He tried to discern something dangerous in the Rinnegan, future actions. -Uh... Um... I was expelled.- Naruto was nervous and didn't know whether to tell the whole story to the head of the Akatsuki or not. He decided to stick to this fact at first. -I understand your position, Itachi. You may be free.-Uchiha headed towards the exit, while Naruto still burned and shrank under the gaze of the head of the organization. He was still scared. He did not hide it. "Death or life? Death... Life..." - Naruto thought to himself, tightening his fists harder. -Why were you expelled?- Pain sat down at his desk, offering him to sit opposite. Naruto still forced himself to move one leg, then the other, to reach the place. -I did not carry out the assignments of the Hokage. She got very angry.- Naruto stuttered involuntarily. He did not want to die. -After my sensei's death, I was not ready to go on missions.- Naruto lowered his gaze, breaking contact with the head. This made it significantly easier for him to talk. Pain sighed heavily and discreetly averted his gaze from Naruto. -Our organization needs your bijuu. This is reality.- after a few seconds, Pain said. Naruto was very surprised, but only for a few seconds. He had anticipated such an outcome, but he was frightened by the words: "Until your time comes...". Naruto sank back into his thoughts. He remembered again that he had nowhere else to go, that no one was waiting for him, and that he had no home. His only option was to agree to such terms. To postpone his death and possibly gain the trust of the leader. -I agree. - the blonde quickly took out his headband and, taking a kunai, drew a rough deep line across the symbol of the Leaf, crossing it out. It hurt. It hurt him to do this, as he had always been devoted to his homeland, to his village, but it had expelled him, stripped him of the title of "Shinobi of the Hidden Leaf Village," severed all ties with the past, with friends, with his former life. Now a new life. It would be short, but he clearly decided that he would live it for his own benefit. From this moment on, despite the fact that Naruto Uzumaki was officially a renegade of the Hidden Leaf Village and a temporary member of the banned organization "Akatsuki," he would live only for himself, become an egoist, do everything for his own good, live to live, and he didn't care that in the remaining time he would kill many shinobi from different countries and villages. He would live the rest of his life as he wanted. Pain invited Itachi to his office and asked him to show their base. To show the room. Common areas. To issue him a uniform and bring him back to his office late in the evening. The older Uchiha listened to the order, nodded almost imperceptibly, and led Naruto down a long corridor. "Aren't you going to ask about Sasuke?" - Naruto exclaimed, looking at Itachi's profile. He noted to himself that his current companion was very similar to his friend Sasuke. A sharp chin, a neat nose, thin lips, and a gaze. Just as thoughtful and intimidating. The same gait. Only Itachi had two deep wrinkles that ran from the inner corner of his eye to the middle of his cheek. Naruto also noticed that Uchiha still wore the headband of their shared village. "So many years have passed..." - he thought. Itachi brought Naruto to his room. It turned out to be small, but it had everything necessary. A bed, a dresser, a small wardrobe, a desk, and a chair. Candle holders were hung in only four places - on each of the walls. "Well, not bad already. At least I won't be sleeping on the floor," - noted Naruto, entering the room and immediately throwing his backpack on the bed. The walls and floor were made of stone, so they emanated a strong chill and dampness. Itachi left the young partner and headed in an unknown direction. After a couple of hours that the blonde spent now in his room, there was a knock at the door, and it immediately opened without hearing permission. A girl stood in the doorway. According to some information, her name was Konan, but Naruto did not know for sure. The girl with purple hair quickly headed towards the dresser and placed the things she had brought. Naruto managed to throw out only the phrase: "Who are you?", to which he received the name - Konan. After a few hours, Naruto wanted to eat. Yes, he missed ramen terribly, but now he definitely wouldn't eat it anymore, which infuriated the guy. He carefully peeked into the corridor to make sure of his solitude, then stepped one foot out the door. The second foot followed, but before the young omega could close the door to his room, he was met by unexpected guests. -Stupid, little idiot. Every one of your missions ends horribly. You either cut your hand or tear it off completely... - said the red-haired guy calmly. Naruto had heard about him but did not know his name. Rumor had it that he was a puppeteer, which scared the blonde quite a bit. -If it weren't for this idiot, I would be standing aside! - shouted the guy. Was externally very similar to Naruto himself, only slightly older. He pointed at his colleague "in the trade," slightly crouching on his knees, widely spreading his legs. -What?! You're going to drive me crazy, I swear! I'll kill you, you little bug! - shouted the stranger. Naruto stood very quietly, hardly breathing. For a moment, it seemed to him that he pressed himself harder against the door. -What?! Shut your mouth! Or we'll see who will lose their immortality! Ha! -I'll gut you like a pig at night, tie your guts in a knot, and shove them down your throat! But then the strangers abruptly stopped cursing, and all three turned their heads to Naruto. He immediately got scared that death would catch up with him inevitably, but then he struggled to suppress that feeling. The three members of "Akatsuki" headed straight for him, while Naruto straightened up and thought chaotically about how to establish relations with his comrades. -Hey, wait... I saw you. Yeah, for sure. It's you, that guy, the friend of that guy I killed. - said the gray-haired man. Naruto slightly rolled his eyes. Fear practically left him. -What the hell are you doing here? -Well... Actually, I was planning to find something to eat, but if you could tell me, I would be immensely grateful. - Naruto said slightly embarrassed, closing his eyes. -There will be a general meeting tonight. They will explain everything to us. - monotonously said the red-haired one, turning and walking away down the corridor. -Damn. Another blonde. And also annoying. Well, damn it, Jashin, is this a joke! - the gray-haired man looked at the ceiling and sighed heavily. - I'll leave you alone for now, beauty. Take care of your ass. The lair of snakes can make you know pain. -he shouted, leaving down the corridor, leaving drops of blood on the floor that dripped from his three-pronged scythe. Naruto felt uneasy. He still decided to go in search of food. His stomach was already completely stuck to his spine. Walking through the corridors, the blonde peeked into open rooms, trying to find the kitchen or at least a dining room. The growling of his stomach noticeably distracted him from his thoughts, and because of that, Naruto lost concentration and attentiveness. One room... Second... Third… -Oh... Where is it?- Naruto whined, holding onto his clothes, clenching his fist. -Looking for someone? - Itachi suddenly appeared. No, he was not afraid of him; he was gradually getting used to this place, but the appearance of the older Uchiha caught him off guard, causing him to scream loudly. -Don't sneak up like that! Phew... - the blonde exhaled loudly, pausing for a few seconds. -I'm looking for the dining room or kitchen." But Itachi did not answer anything, just turned and continued down the corridor. "Why are all Uchiha like this? Why do they always surround me?" - Naruto thought, watching his colleague's back. - Itachi, wait! Where are you going? - Uzumaki quickly ran after Uchiha. He abruptly turned from the corridor into a small room where there was a table, chairs, and various kitchen utensils. There was also a stove, which Naruto immediately noticed. -When you're done, clean up after yourself. - Itachi quietly said. -A... What can I take? - but Naruto did not have time to get an answer. The older Uchiha disappeared just as he had appeared - unnoticed, quietly, and quickly. "Well then, I'll take what I need," - the guy thought, grabbing various ingredients from the shelves. Naruto spent about an hour preparing breakfast... or lunch... "What time is it now?" - he immediately thought. The blonde cooked almost a full pot of noodles with various spices and additives. Of course, with ramen this dish... cannot be compared, but when you want to eat, you will be glad for any food. Having placed a full plate of noodles, Naruto took the chopsticks and went to the table. "Should I say 'Itadakimasu'? I need to get rid of this habit," he thought, winding the noodles around the chopsticks. A quiet scraping sound was heard, which the blonde did not pay much attention to as he ate the prepared food. Another sound. It became louder. Then again. Like a small stone falling on iron. Uzumaki put down the chopsticks and looked around the room. It was completely empty, but the sound was heard again and this time... "Feathers..." he thought. A black crow was turning its head from side to side and flew from the shelf to the table. The bird began to scrutinize Naruto's face, slightly opening its beak. The guy shivered, but then took the chopsticks and continued his meal. For the rest of the time, the blonde sat opposite the crow, eating noodles and carefully watching the bird. It pecked at his hand, jumped on his head, and tapped its beak on the wooden table, which was incredibly annoying. Finally, when the meal was over and Naruto cleaned up in the shared kitchen, he went to his room. The crow seemed to have made friends with him: the bird jumped onto the blonde's shoulder and cawed loudly in his ear. Naruto squinted, pressing his palm to the injured part of his body, but still went back. They entered the room together as well. The crow immediately flew off his shoulder and settled on the desk, examining the room with its black eye, while Uzumaki lay down on the bed, hugged the pillow more comfortably, and fell asleep. Surprisingly, the crow did not disturb him while he slept, observing his actions. It sat quietly on the edge of the table, sometimes flying to the bed and back. Naruto was awakened by a knock on the door. An indistinct "come in," and on the threshold stood a nearly identical black crow, like the bird of Itachi Uchiha. He was dressed similarly in a cloak, but he looked slightly sickly. A barely noticeable scent of lilies hit the blonde's nose, but it disappeared as quickly as it appeared. -Get yourself together. In 5 minutes you must go out. We have a general meeting,-Itachi said quietly. -A meeting? How long have I slept?- Naruto thought, changing into fresh clothes. In just 2 minutes, Naruto ran out of the room, putting on that malicious but almost familiar-looking cloak with red clouds as he went. As soon as the blonde opened the door, he immediately encountered Itachi, who was leaning against the wall with one shoulder. -Quickly.- Itachi seemed to praise the blonde with his gaze and, quickly straightening up, headed down the corridor towards the large hall. He knew that the newcomer would follow him. All the way, Naruto watched the older brother from behind. He was both frightened and intrigued by his detachment, his stateliness, his behavior. But... he kept asking himself: what is that smell following him? Estrus? "By the way, who is he? Alpha? Omega, like me?" The large hall was a round room with high ceilings and stone stands for each member of the organization. The walls and ceiling were stone, unrefined. Many were already standing in their places, on those very stands, and those who saw Naruto immediately began to examine him. After the blonde walked to his place under the scrutinizing gazes, he stood on the stone and lowered his eyes. No, he was neither ashamed nor scared. He was not afraid to look his old opponents in the eye and confirm his presence in the organization; he just thought again. He remembered Konoha. At that moment, his former homeland, where the entire Team 7 would line up in front of Kakashi-sensei and listen to orders for missions. At that moment, he drew parallels, only now it was not his team, and Kakashi was not in charge.Naruto smiled at the corners of his lips, raising his eyes upwards. -... blondes are gathered..."-Naruto missed the beginning of the shout from the already familiar gray-haired guy. -Shut up already!- a blond yelled at him. -Solve your problems later,-a loud and monotonous voice was heard. Pain.Naruto's eyes immediately widened, and a knot of fear tied itself in his stomach, which he tried to quickly untie. -We have a new addition to our organization. Naruto Uzumaki has agreed to work for us under certain conditions in favor of 'Akatsuki.' Later, I will assign him a partner. Itachi, what can you say about the newcomer? -He shows no aggression, doesn't communicate with anyone,- Uchiha replied. "Well. I will temporarily give him a ring. Naruto. We are familiar with your physical strength, especially in bijuu mode. Any movement that is unclear to me and you will die faster than you should. As for missions. According to some data, you and Itachi have found common ground, but I will not put two former Konoha shinobi together. Therefore, I am temporarily removing Itachi from missions, and Kisame will work with you. Zetsu will tell you the details of the missions. That's all."Pain quickly turned around and left into the darkness, while all the remaining members stared at Naruto. The guy felt the intense gazes from all sides, but what embarrassed and made him nervous the most was Uchiha. He looked at him with eyes as if ready to kill, but then, slowly blinking, his gaze changed. Itachi looked at him with kinder, understanding eyes. Uchiha remembered himself a few years ago when he came to the organization. They also wanted to kill him, wanted to take his Sharingan, and it was hard for him to hold back those emotions and resentment. Now many years had passed. He decided to help the guy settle in here, get to know him better, so he suddenly grabbed Naruto by the hand and dragged him into another room under the intense and disgusting gazes of all the remaining members of the organization.Naruto did not resist. He allowed Uchiha to behave this way for only one reason - he was Sasuke's brother. Itachi led him into a room that looked very much like a conference room. Opening the door to the room, Zetsu stood in the doorway. Black-and-white skin, almost aloe. Yellow eyes, unusual and frightening. Itachi quickly entered the room, pulling Naruto by the hand behind him. -Itachi, you need to rest at this time to avoid any mishaps,-Zetsu sneered, closing the door behind him.Naruto felt slightly uneasy. What if he was the alpha? What if right now... No. He wouldn't allow it!Itachi pushed Naruto onto the couch that stood near a small table and sat down opposite. The blond noted that the older Uchiha was nervous but was trying to hide it. -You are not familiar with everyone. Well, let me give you a brief introductory theory. A blond just like you - Deidara Tsukuri. He loves explosions. His partner is Sasori no Akasuna, who is considered a puppeteer. The chakra threads from his fingers cut flesh very painfully. Kisame Hoshigaki with his sword - Samehada. He is a shark and almost always looks out for himself. His sword feeds on chakra, so you shouldn't let the nine-tailed beast out of control. That gray-haired one is Hidan. He worships his god - Jashin, is immortal, as I have confirmed myself, and his partner is Kakuzu. He loves money and deadlines,- Itachi quickly said, breathing heavily and often.-What deadline have they set for you? -Until they catch all the remaining jinchuriki- Naruto lowered his eyes to the coffee table. -At the current pace, that will happen quickly,-Uchiha pondered. -Go to Pain. He ordered you to come.-Naruto was at a loss as to what had just happened. Why did Itachi tell him this? The guy got up from the couch and headed towards the door. Now he was thinking about everything that had happened in the evening. -I don't know why you are not interested in your brother, but I will say that he has been trying with all his might to bring you back to the village. He is still trying,-he said and left the office, leaving Itachi in his thoughts. Despite the fact that the older Uchiha did not show his feelings, he often remembered his brother. He remembered his image completely, constantly kept it in his mind, and sometimes tried to survive thanks to him, since the younger brother was not to blame for being born in such a place. He still remembered that boy who cried hard when he left. The little one fell to his knees, begging his parents to stop his nii-san, but they only picked him up from the ground and hugged him. Until the last moment, Itachi hoped that his ototo had forgiven everyone for this, including himself, but no. At that very time when Team No. 7 met Kisame and Itachi, Uchiha was surprised by his brother's coldness, but it was not only this that made him reflect on his brother's life. Itachi saw the Sharingan with three tomoe. That battle grew into something more than just a meeting of shinobi and a renegade. There were family disputes, mental rises and falls, brother against brother. That day, Itachi was severely injured. Sasuke's Chidori cut into his side, but he did not show his ototo that it hurt. That blood was flowing. That consciousness was gradually leaving Itachi's mind due to severe blood loss. Since then, Itachi had not seen either his brother or the entire Kakashi team. He could only find information about Sasuke, hear rumors and stories from the residents of small villages. Once, Itachi learned from devoted friends in Konoha about Sasuke's life. He was raised as the only son of Fugaku and Mikoto Uchiha, in strictness and control. Constant training, honing techniques, meditation, and… loneliness. Itachi's heart then ached with pain and sorrow, but at the same time, he knew that Sasuke would grow into a strong shinobi and mature for conversation. And that’s what happened. In the last meeting, Itachi was convinced of this when his ototo dealt him a nearly fatal blow, but still spurred him on by saying that he was too weak to increase his desire to become stronger. Sasuke had no friends, except for Naruto. Yes. He hated him, but at the same time loved him just as much, as if he had found a brother he named himself. Love breeds hatred. Sasuke always thought so, as one step and a once-loved person hates you for any flaw, and Itachi confirmed his brother's judgment. Sitting in his room, Itachi felt that he was getting worse. No, he was not sick. It was just a natural phenomenon without which one cannot survive. Nature's reproduction had not been canceled, so Itachi asked Pain for a week so that he would not give him any assignments. In the organization, it was accepted that if the alpha had started his heat and the omega his period, then for a week he would sit in his room, not provoke others, and try to get back in shape as quickly as possible. If someone brought a partner to him and killed him after the natural period. Yes, they got used to each other, but with this gesture, they restored heartlessness in their souls, destroying close relationships and bonds. Itachi lay on the bed, covering his eyes with the back of his elbow, remembering the old times. Times when there were no such circumstances, when there was happiness and children's laughter. -Nii-san! Nii-san!-cried a little boy with short jet-black hair, spreading his arms to the sides and immediately flying into the desired body for hugs. His love for his brother had always been boundless, and it was always mutual. -Finally, you came back, I thought you had already forgotten me.-The boy puffed out his cheeks, slightly pulling away from his brother's neck, then again burying his little nose into it, inhaling the familiar and beloved scent. In response, Itachi only hugged the little one tighter and gently stroked his back, closing his eyes, allowing himself to feel a little weakness and accept his brother's peculiar love, his warmth, and tenderness. Itachi thought, turning to the other side. His body was already completely exhausted. The moment X was approaching when the body would begin its struggle. The next morning, Naruto woke up early, looked at himself, and began to tidy up his appearance. The blond, standing in front of the bathroom mirror, carefully examined his appearance and with each passing minute realized that he was getting more and more annoyed with himself. This blond head, the kind blue eyes that speak of the soul's kindness of their owner, these pseudo-cat whiskers that the fox, which sits inside him, had bestowed upon him. Everything seemed idiotic, naive, and childish to him. An absolutely different person emerged from the bathroom an hour later. Naruto still slightly changed his style: he cut his hair to the nape of his neck at the back, leaving elongated strands in front to hide his gaze, entered Sage Mode, and began to absorb energy through meditation, as Jiraiya had once taught him. He wanted to achieve maximum concentration to remain in this mode throughout the entire battle and journey, but this required a lot of training. After a few hours, someone knocked on Naruto's door, but he was in no hurry to open it and give permission for the guest to enter. The blond informed that he was busy, but the visitor persistently tried to break into the novice's room. Again, a knock of knuckles on the wood... And again, and again. Naruto could have continued to tolerate this impudence if it weren't for one huge "BUT": the uninvited guest burst into the room without warning with a furious face, with blood on his weapon, which dripped in large drops, with anger and hatred in his heart. -Hey, blondie! Stop masturbating here, let's go to the battlefield. Today I’m in a good mood to kick your ass,-shouted Hidan, pointing at Naruto with his scythe, but Naruto seemed to hear nothing. He seemed to have abstracted himself from everyone. -I said I'm busy,-Naruto informed him kindly for now, but Hidan did not calm down. -Hey! While you're rolling your eggs on the floor, the other guys are either on a mission or training. So come on, get your beloved pretty ass up and let’s go.-Hidan was starting to get angry, but he felt that his anger was almost instantly fading, which was unusual for him. -I'm meditating,- Naruto said sternly. His eyelids, which were painted a bright orange color, opened, and the raspberry iris met the yellow one. The pupil was positioned unusually—horizontally—and had a rectangular shape, which made Hidan feel slightly uneasy. -I don't give a fuck what you're doing. Get your legs moving and go,- Hidan ordered him, to which he received a fierce look. Naruto suddenly stood up and grabbed Hidan by the collar, slightly lifting him off the ground. Fortunately, his height allowed it. -Get out of my room. I don't want your disgusting spirit here anymore.-The blond only released him after he had dragged the "colleague" out of the room and immediately closed the door in front of his nose. -Bastard, show yourself to me and I'll give you an advanced beating!- he shouted, then turned and headed towards the exit to the training field. After the visit from the "guest," Naruto almost immediately began to feel unwell. His head was spinning, sometimes his vision darkened, and there was pain... Head and soul pain, as if all his organs, feelings, and familiar sensations were rotting under some unknown influence, but the blond did not pay attention to the malaise. He headed to bed, lay down in a way to reduce the headache, and tried to fall asleep quickly. -You wander in the maze... Seeking another exit... I know the future... You are now mine...- said a voice that had no specific location. It was as if it was everywhere. -Don't be naive, Naruto. I know all your thoughts, for you are me, and I am you. The blond thought seriously, trying to suppress fear with a concrete slab. -Who are you? What do you mean?-he shouted as if into nowhere. -Who am I? Ha-ha-ha," the interlocutor laughed quietly, -I am the one who always helps you. -Helps? I don't believe in God. He doesn't exist,-he shouted again, looking around the narrow passage, standing in the water. -God? Quite the opposite,- the unfamiliar interlocutor laughed quietly again. -And I don't believe in the Devil either,- Naruto said skeptically. -That's also incorrect. Try to think. I'll give you a hint: I know your whole life, from the moment of your birth. I have always been by your side, even if you didn't know about my existence. -Don't beat around the bush. Tell me, who are you?- the blond shouted again. -He-he, you're as impatient as always. We divide everything in two... A sharp and loud knock on the door pulled Naruto out of sleep. At first, he didn't realize that he was really awake, but when the knock sounded again, he immediately shouted hoarsely, "Come in." On the threshold stood a red-haired guy, Sasori. In his hand, he held a small suitcase with unknown contents. -Hello, Naruto. Without unnecessary questions. Pain visited you today, wanted to discuss something with you, but saw you in a fever. According to the Leader, your temperature exceeded the norm, so he sent me to examine you and get a complete picture of your health and well-being, so answer the questions honestly. Let's proceed to the examination,- Sasori quickly said, opening the suitcase that he placed on the table. He laid out some items, including a pen and a notebook, then took out a small microscope and several syringes, jars, and a bunch of other things that were incomprehensible to Naruto. The blond was already in just pajama pants, without a shirt, so he quickly removed the lower part of his clothing and stood up by the bed. The examination began. Height, weight, blood type, and measurements. Sasori recorded all the data in the notebook. When the blond tried to ask something, he immediately shushed him and continued with his work. Then he took blood for analysis and immediately placed a drop on a slide, diluting it with a special solution. Sitting down at the microscope, the man stared into the magnifying eyepiece for a long time, trying to observe all the processes occurring in the boy's blood, and when the analysis was completed, he stepped back from the equipment, took the pen, and began to write down the answers to his questions of interest. -Last heat? "What? Maybe he wants me to take off my underwear and turn around?!" -Naruto thought, raising his eyebrows. -"three months ago,- the blond replied. -Virgin?-"Well, he definitely just asked me to take off my underwear..." -Do you think I had time?- This time Naruto raised only one eyebrow in surprise. His lips were slightly touched by a smirk, and his lungs suddenly released all the air. -Then yes.- The red-haired man recorded the data in the notebook. -I will have to conduct a briefing for omegas. Did you try to hide your affiliation from the organization?- Sasori turned sharply to Naruto and looked closely at the blond.