These bonds we keep
Written for The General Electric's The Last Guardian challenge.
Why do I have to write a disclaimer? If I owned Naruto, would I squeal every time I read Kishimoto Sama's name? No. I didn't think so…
Chapter 1: A promise made
"Naruto...finish it." The old man was on his knees, doubled over with pain and effort, but his eyes, boring into the eight year old's deep blue, were as sharp as ever. The boy could sense his father's chakra growing stronger as the stirring Hokage came to, his head in his mother's lap. Outside the ANBU's muttering had ceased, and though he could not see them, he knew that Itachi ni and Kakashi ni were also there, witnesses to this event. And above him, suddenly quiet and observant, was the Kyubi . not for the first time, he wished someone could take this burden from him. Why, why, why did it have to be him?
"Naruto, choose now. Choose! It has to be you're choice, your's alone. Hurry! I am running out of time!"
Ashamed, the boy closed his eyes. He could not take this burden, he was too young, too full of doubt, too weak...
He opened his mouth to say no...and then his eyes snapped open as a tiny hand gripped his own. As he looked down, he felt everyone's eyes go to the tiny bundle, and he heard his mother gasp, as the infant opened it's eyes for the first time.
Blue clashed with startled blue as Namikaze Naruto met his sister's gaze. She was too young to know him, to even begin to recognize him, but he could've sworn he saw something in her sleepy, remarkably focused gaze before her eyes shifted to the red mass above them. Swallowing, he looked up at the silent demon, then back to her.
My that demon above him. The strongest of the nine. The most deadly of the bijus. Her. Against that thing. And suddenly his doubt, his hesitation faded. The sense of responsibility, the sense of purpose...
So this was what Itachi ni had meant...
"Naruto, I-"
"Yes."
"..Naruto?"
He looked up, stronger now.
"Yes Oji san."
The old man blinked.
"And you've chosen-"
"Me" His mother was the only one who didn't gasp at his choice. He could practically feel her pride in him, hers, Kakashi's, Itachi's... but his eyes were focused on those of the silent demon above as he spoke. Was that...respect he saw? A glimpse, right after shock.
"She's mine, My sister, MY responsibility. Mine and mine alone."
He looked back at the old man, then at the bundle on the ground, and smiled when he saw she was already asleep.
"Little one, I will protect you."
For one moment the Sandaime wavered, then he smiled as he brought his hands together for the final seal. And when the Shinigami howled and the Kyubi began to twist and writhe, it was Sarutobi's voice that Naruto heard.
"Well done my boy." and fainter still: "You'll be a greater hero than that father of your's."
...
Uzumaki Naruto blinked as the memory cleared away, and his lips twisted into a grim smile. "A hero eh, Saru-jiji?" Tonight, he was to join the man who had sought for control of Konoha since it's birth. Not for the first time, the man asked himself, why me?
And as he knew it would, an eight year old voice replied:
because... and his eyes clashed again with unwavering blue. A laughed "Aniki!" rang in his ears. Because... persisted the voice...just because...
His lips twisted into a smile as the young man stretched…
"Imuto… I will protect you."
His eyes grew harder as he thought of the task ahead.
Come what may, my little Katana. I will protect you… I swear it.