Prologue:
October tenth, on a dark and stormy night; the wind howled, thunder rolled in the distance and flashes of lightning could be seen from afar. It was going to be a bad one and the village of Konohagakure had its citizens preparing for the worst. However, there still seemed to be the usual mob that lusted for vengeance against a beast that had nearly destroyed their entire village not but five years ago. The angry mob mostly consisted of drunken commoner men and drunken chunin's. They were a small group but they were just enough for their target.
Meanwhile, he knew they'd be coming and he knew they'd try and hurt him and if that wasn't bad enough, he was terrified of thunder and lightning. However, he had no choice but to leave the comfort of his home as he knew that they knew where he lived. So he ran, without any sign of a rain parka or anything, to hide somewhere safe until the end of his birthday was over. As he ran, he caught sight of the gathered mob and ducked quickly into an alleyway to avoid being spotted. He heard thunder in the distance and winced some in fright, shivering in the cold wind that blew.
"Tonight's the night," he heard one of the drunkards saying. "Tonight, we'll finish what the fourth started once and for all and be known as heroes of the village." Cheers rose from the man's drunken friends. Some were almost completely wasted while others hadn't even gotten started drinking towards that point but the bars had begun closing early because of the impending storm. The men began to move out, drawing ever closer to Naruto Uzumaki's hiding place. The five year old jinchuuriki was their target and they wouldn't let up until they'd found and pummeled him to death or finally sobered up enough to realize how pointless it all was to chase a five year old kid around when they knew where he would return to.
Closer now, one of the men noticed Naruto's sandal sticking out from the alley and pointed towards it.
"Hey, whose foot is that?" he questioned. Knowing that they would come over to check it out, Naruto burst out of the alleyway and ran at the full speed that five year old could muster down the street.
"That's him, the demon!"
"There he goes," they shouted. Then a battle cry rose up and they charged forth. The only advantage they gave Naruto was the fact that they were drunk and couldn't all run or walk straight. However, the disadvantage lay with their blood lust, drunken stupors and longer legs. They chased him up and down, emptying streets as the storm got closer and as they ran, the rain started to fall. A few kunai and shuriken were loosed but because of their terrible aim, none hit the first round.
As this was going on, a young woman with long black hair and dark eyes was walking home with her own five year old son holding her hand. He had on a dark blue rain coat and was humming a happy tune to himself. The woman gazed down at her son with warm eyes. As the rain started she reached down and pulled up the boy's hood then tapped his nose teasingly with her index finger, a smile on her face.
"There now," she said. "You won't get all wet. We have just one more place to go before it closes to quickly grab some things and then we'll go home, alright Sasuke?" the boy nodded with a big goofy smile on his face.
"Mm hm!" he replied. "And I'll even help you carry it because I'm stronger now." His mother giggled.
"Are you now," she questioned ruffing the front of his hair some. "Well then, let's get to it so we don't keep you brother and father waiting alright?" Sasuke nodded happily and they continued walking until they came to a specific store front that was closing down. The shop keeper quickly flagged them in.
"Mikoto," the keeper called. "Hurry, hurry; I want to close up before the storm gets really bad." Mikoto Uchiha nodded as she pulled Sasuke along into the front of the store. She quickly placed her order for the things she needed. While she did this, Sasuke swayed back and forth on his little feet, waiting for her to finish. That was when he heard the shouting coming from outside.
Curious, he crept to the front of the store and looked out into the worsening wind and rain and just barely made out a little blonde haired boy running very fast down the street without so much as a rain coat on. The shouts came from behind him and Sasuke turned to see a huge group of grown up men running down the street after him. As the blonde haired boy got closer to the front of the store, Sasuke watched as he slipped in the mud and tripped forward onto his front side.
Sasuke then watched as the boy started trying to get up as fast as he could, continually slipping in the mud as the rain grew harder. As he kept trying, Sasuke caught something troubling about the boy on his face. It was…fear…terror. The boy's eyes were wide and Sasuke could tell that he was scared and as he finally got a grip on the road and started running again, barely able to breathe, the mob of men had caught up and Sasuke could see in their hands, kunai and shuriken and they were yelling words of hatred and anger at the blonde who was running away.
"Get back here you demon scum!" shouted one of the men.
"You won't escape!" cried another.
"We're going to kill you!" Sasuke froze as he watched them go by the shop.
They're going to…kill him? Sasuke repeated in his head. Suddenly a sense of dread rose up in the pit of his stomach. At this point, his mother was paying for her things and as she turned around, she caught a glimpse of her son's blue rain coat disappearing into the rain.
"Sasuke!" she called slightly worried. "Wait, where are you going? Sasuke!" She grabbed her bags and followed him out into the rain, running after her youngest son. Meanwhile, Sasuke ran as fast as he could, following the sloppy footprints of the men. Finally he heard a high pitched scream coming from down another street. He turned and saw the backs of the men sticking out of an alleyway and they'd stopped. As Sasuke drew near, he found a pathway in between their legs and he crawled through unnoticed to the front of the crowd. Once there he beheld a horrible sight.
The blonde haired kid, who'd been running from the men, was bent over in pain, holding onto his face with his forehead in the dirt as two of the drunkards were kicking his little body nonstop. They guffawed like fools.
"Hah, that serves you right you demon! We're going to kill you but first we'll torture you some, how about that?" Sasuke stood there still in horror as he heard the cries and yelps from the blonde boy.
"Stop it, stop it, stop it, stop it!" the blonde cried. He was bawling like a baby now, unable to control himself and Sasuke shook at the cruelty of the men surrounding him, his eyes wide with horror. A few men loosed some kunai and shuriken and they struck the blonde in his side and back and he screamed out in agony.
What…what's going on?Sasuke wondered in terror. Why are they doing this to him? What's going on…what…what do I do!? As Sasuke had these thoughts he also noticed another drunk coming forth. He wielded a kunai and was grinning maliciously. Then he ran forth with an evil glint in his eye and kunai raised.
"Die!" With that one word it was decided. Sasuke's little body snapped into action as he balled his hands into fists and rushed forth, cutting the man off by head butting him in the stomach. The man had the wind knocked out of him and the others just stared in shock. Their yells died down and all that could be heard was the heavy panting from Sasuke and the whimpers from Naruto as he kept his head down in the mud and shivered in the cold. Finally one of the men broke from their stupor.
"Hey, why'd you do that brat?" he sneered at Sasuke. "Don't you know what that thing is? He's a demon so step away so we can kill it!" Sasuke wouldn't hear of it. Despite being scared out of his wits, he held his arms open wide and defensively and glared at the men.
"No!" he shouted defiantly. "You're nothing but a bunch of bullies picking on a little kid. Leave him alone!" He dug his feet more into the ground, his sandals squelching in the mud. Some of the men still drunk began to chuckle at his antics. One of them squatted down to his level, a smirk on his face.
"Listen kid, we're trying to do this village a favor. That kid behind you ain't no kid like you; he's an ugly monster underneath that exterior. Don't go throwing your life away to save him from what's been coming to him since the beginning." The other men chuckled again darkly. One threw a kunai at the one squatting and he caught it then held it out to Sasuke.
"Here, we'll let you share in the glory if you keep your mouth shut. All you have to do is stab him right between the…" the man didn't get the time to finish as Sasuke who'd been offended and angered by the man's attempt to add him to their murderous plan, spat in his face with a largely defiant look on his face. Some men laughed at their friend and others just whistled knowing the kid was in for it.
"Grr, you brat!" growled the man as he picked up Sasuke by the collar of his rain coat, his hood falling back at the same time. "Don't you understand, we're hunting this demon to…"
"If you're so interested in hunting demons then maybe you should go to hell," Sasuke spat out angrily, catching the mob by surprise. "I hear there are plenty down there!" The man's friends started snickering and the man holding Sasuke, refusing to be humiliated by a five year old in front of his friends, drew back his fist and punched Sasuke down into the ground next to Naruto who remained in his ball of pain, hiccupping and sobbing.
"Fine then!" he shouted. "If you're going to defend him then you can join him!" His drunken friends seemed to mutually agree with him as they drew in closer with their snickers. However, Sasuke staggered back to his feet, ignoring the pain and focusing his newly developed rage upon the men. He glared at them stubbornly refusing to back down as the men took up their weapons again and started to advance slowly. He heard a weak voice from behind.
"Run away," it whimpered and he glanced over his shoulder at the boy, shaking from pain, fear and the cold. "Run away!" he said a little louder. Sasuke turned around again to face the mob still angry.
"Like hell I'm running away!" he stated. "I'm not just gonna leave you behind. My name's Sasuke Uchiha and I'll defend you with my life!" he yelled. Suddenly, he felt a tingling sensation in his eyes and the mob slowed some as they observed through the heavy rain that the five year old's eyes had turned red and in each one sat one tomoe that spun rapidly.
"Hey, isn't that the sharingan?" one man questioned uneasily.
"Yeah so what?" another asked. "He's just a kid. We can take him." The man who'd been spat on by Sasuke stepped forth a kunai in his hand.
"If you don't want to die, out of the way. Otherwise, you'll die too," he growled. Sasuke was scared but despite the tears in his eyes, despite the crashing thunder overhead and the lightning that flashed, he stood his ground. The man scoffed.
"Fine!" He shouted as he raised his kunai, turning to his friends then back. "For the village!" The drunk men hooted and hollered as the kunai wielding man brought his kunai down and Sasuke Closed his eyes and turned away, waiting for the end. However, a loud thunk sounded and when Sasuke opened his eyes again he saw everyone turning towards the outermost part of the alleyway and the man in front of him was staggering a bit. There stood his mother, breathing heavily and dead serious after having thrown her sandal fairly hard at the kunai wielder's head. The man stood up again groaning then turned his drunken rage on the woman.
"And what the hell do you think you're doing bitch!" he hollered.
"Yeah, do have a death wish?" asked another man with a sneer. However, Mikoto Uchiha's glare hardened and she looked like the one who would commit murder.
"I swear by god that if you lay one finger on my son or his friend I won't hesitate in ripping off what makes you a man and shoving it down your screaming throats!" Sasuke flinched, having never heard his mother become so ruthless. The men burst out laughing though still somewhat nervous.
"Oh…and what makes you think you can stop us all when there are more of us than there are of you?" a man near the back sneered. The kunai wielder turned around grinning.
"I mean it!" Mikoto hollered. "I won't hesitate whatsoever now go back to the slimy hole you crawled out of!" The kunai wielder let out a boisterous laugh with his company.
"And who's going to make us?" he chortled.
"Why that would be me," spoke a chilling voice from behind. The man turned just in time to see an ANBU black ops mask covering the face of a man standing in front of the boys. Sasuke looked up amazed. Meanwhile, the drunks were beginning to shake as two more ANBU appeared on the scene. The first one approached the man wielding the kunai and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Sorry but I'm afraid you're all under arrest," the ANBU stated. The man shrugged him off his shoulder and stepped back.
"No, no way!" he exclaimed. "You ANBU are crazy if you think we're just going to let that demon run around anymore. If we don't get him this year, he'll terrorize the village again and…" the ANBU appeared in a flash behind the man again and knocked him out with one hand chop to the back of the neck. The man crumpled to the ground instantly and the others of the mob knew the jig was up. They threw down their weapons and put their hands up in surrender.
"That's better," spoke an ANBU with a cat mask. The two other ANBU began to escort the drunken citizens and the few chunin out of the alleyway and down the street towards the police station. The first ANBU who'd arrived remained; picking up the sandal Mikoto had thrown and handed it to her as she ran into the alleyway to hold her son in her arms.
"Here mother," the ANBU said softly. "Your feet will get cold." Mikoto smiled as she pulled her son into a hug and glanced up at her eldest behind the mask. He removed the mask for a moment and Sasuke's face though contorting in some pain seemed surprised.
"Itachi!" he exclaimed. "You saved us." Itachi nodded.
"Yes but I believe it was you who saved that boy there," Itachi stated as he pointed to the still shaking form of Naruto, now sitting up slightly, still covering his face. A roll of thunder and a lightning flash made everyone but Itachi flinch. He looked up towards the sky then back at his mother.
"If I were you, I'd hurry home mother. This storm is supposed to get really bad tonight." Mikoto nodded.
"Yes of course, I know." Sasuke glanced at the blonde who was trying to stand up. He yelped as Sasuke flinched at the next lightning flash and thunder roll. Sasuke turned to his mother.
"Mother," he started, brow furrowed. "Why were those mean men chasing that boy over there? Did he do something wrong? I don't get it. They said they wanted to kill him." Mikoto looked to where her son had indicated, her heart stopping in her chest as she saw the child, shaking in the cold.
"That's…" she started but she didn't quite finish. Sasuke became even more confused. Some tears formed in his mother's eyes and he became worried. She brought a hand to her mouth. She watched the boy jump and yelp again then whimper, scared of the crashing thunder. She let Sasuke go from her grip and approached the young boy who was still covering his face, this time with his right arm.
"Naruto," she spoke softly, getting the blonde's attention. However, upon hearing his name and feeling an approaching figure nearby he leapt back against the wall, the kunai that stuck out of him sinking deeper within his flesh.
"Leave me alone!" he cried out in terror. Mikoto was taken aback by the sudden fear rising in his voice. However, she recovered and tried to calm him down.
"Naruto listen…" she tried. Naruto started batting away at the air screaming his head off.
"No, get away, get away, get away from me! Leave me alone!"
"Naruto I'm not going to…" Mikoto tried again but this time Naruto stood and ran right past her still mortally terrified. Sasuke watched wondering what was going on with the blonde and why he was so scared.
"I said stay away!" he screamed "Just leave me alone! I'm not a demon…I…I didn't do anything!" he howled louder, his crying becoming frantic. It scared Sasuke the way he was yelling at his mother in fear but even more so, it made Sasuke want to cry as well for the boy's sake. Naruto kept running, going crooked and hitting the wall, face first. He fell again, crying louder. He tried to get up and run again but Mikoto wouldn't let him.
"Oh no you don't!" she said as she caught Naruto by the wrist. This terrified Naruto even more and he thrashed and twisted against her firm grip.
"No, no, no don't kill me!" he wailed. "I don't wanna die!" Mikoto then proceeded to tug him towards her all the while he kept thrashing and thrashing. He cried in fright louder than he'd ever cried before trying to break free.
"Stop it!" Mikoto barked. "I'm not going to…" she was interrupted as the five year old delivered a hard punch to her jaw. Sasuke stared in surprised then got angry. He got up and walked over to the two, his tiny fist coming down hard on Naruto's head only causing him to wail more.
"Sasuke!" Mikoto exclaimed incredulous but Sasuke proceeded to yell above the boy's wailing.
"You idiot, don't hurt my mom. She's trying to help you but you're not even letting her. We're not going to hurt you!" Naruto just kept blubbering, his arm still covering his face. Sasuke huffed and sat down beside them and started pulling kunai and shuriken from Naruto's body. Mikoto helped and they threw the horrible weapons away. Then Mikoto proceeded to pull the boy into a warm motherly hug, surprising him enough for a lapse in his crying. Mikoto took this as her chance.
"Naruto sweetie, listen to me okay," she coaxed. She began to rub his wet back. "My name is Mikoto Uchiha and my two sons Itachi and Sasuke just helped save you from those mean old men. We don't want to hurt you do you understand?" Regardless of her words, Naruto still shuddered. Sasuke then caught sight of something.
"Hey, what happened to your face?" he questioned. Mikoto picking up on her son's words held Naruto back some and saw that his arm still covered his face…no more like his eyes. She stroked the boy's hair.
"Naruto…" she spoke cautiously. "Sweetie…what did those men do to you?" She moved to take his arm down and he flinched. Sasuke found himself putting a hand on the kid's shoulder making him flinch again.
"It's okay. Just take it easy. Mom just wants to see what happened and if those meanies did anything to hurt you, my dad's in charge of the police so he'll be able to make them pay. Oh yeah," at this Sasuke lowered his voice to a whisper. "And if you're good I'll let you have some of my secret stash of candies." Mikoto raised an inquiring eyebrow.
"What's this I hear about secret candy?" Sasuke froze turning to her with an obviously guilty grin.
"Oh nothing really," Sasuke spoke with innocence then turned back to Naruto. "C'mon, you can trust us," he reassured. Sasuke then reached up and gently coaxed Naruto's arm away from his eyes. When they could see, Mikoto gasped in horrid shock, causing Naruto to bring his arm again and cringe. Tears filled Mikoto's eyes.
"Oh those horrible, horrible men!" she exclaimed. She gently pulled Naruto closer to her and held him tight. Then Itachi came up.
"Mother," he said insistently but with calm in his voice. "Please, I ask that you take shelter as fast as possible. I sense this storm is going to get worse. I'll take Naruto to the hospital." Mikoto tightened her grip on Naruto.
"No Itachi, it's fine," she stated strongly as she stood up. She lifted Naruto with her. "The compound's nearby so we'll run there. I won't hand him over to strangers now. I'm an ex medic remember?" Itachi froze, not sure what to do. He too had seen the ugly gash across Naruto's face that now made him blind. He was considering telling his mother that he really needed a hospital but Sasuke smiled up at him.
"It's okay big brother…we'll look after him." He beamed at Itachi, chasing away the elder brother's doubts.
"Very well," he said, making a hand sign and creating a shadow clone beside him. "Then I will at least aide you in finding your way and carrying your bags. Let's go." Mikoto nodded. She shifted Naruto from hip to hip, shirking off her rain coat and wrapping him inside. She placed him on her right shoulder and the still surprised boy could only cling on as she grabbed Sasuke's hand and they started running through the downpour with the shadow clone.
They ran all the way to the nearby Uchiha compound and eventually burst through the door upon the scene of a worried Aunt and Uncle as well as Fugaku, Sasuke's father. They were out of breath and soaking wet.
"Mikoto where have you been this whole time?" questioned the woman who made it to the door first. "And what on earth are you doing with your raincoat like that?" Mikoto slowly calmed her panting.
"I was trying to keep him dry," she said plainly getting a raised eyebrow from her husband as he approached her.
"Who?" he pondered. His wife stood up straighter and the rain coat fell backwards from the boy's head revealing ridiculously blonde hair and cheeks that had whisker markings, three on either one. A gasp escaped the Aunt's throat.
"But that's…he's…" Fugaku quickly shot her a glare accompanied by her husband. Their actions caused Sasuke to frown. Fugaku stared down at the boy, showing no emotion whatsoever.
"What could've possessed you…to bring him here?" Fugaku wondered in a whisper. His wife only turned an icy glare upon him.
"He was being chased by an angry mob of drunks," she stated firmly. "Sasuke saved his life and Itachi and I helped out too. Now I know what all of the villagers say and think and honestly I couldn't care less or give a damn. This boy is hurt Fugaku and he needs comfort and attention!"
"But here of all places, why not take him to the hospital," the Uncle protested. Itachi's shadow clone cleared its voice.
"Excuse me Uncle but I do believe the storm outside has gotten worse. There would've been no way of getting him there in time before the gale forces started and we ANBU are on orders to make sure every civilian is safe inside the closest residence they can find. Naruto might only be a boy but he is still a civilian so I believe that does fall within my jurisdiction." The Uncle huffed annoyed and crossing his arms over his chest.
"Alright, alright ya don't have to get all authoritative on me. It's bad enough that your father pushes me around." Itachi gave something similar to an almost apologetic smile.
"Sorry Uncle but it is my duty after all," he replied.
"Yeah, yeah," he said waving it off. Mikoto by this time had taken off her sandals and was hurrying into the house.
"Uruchi," Mikoto barked. "I need your help tending to this boy's injuries. Could you please get me my old medical supplies from my room? They should be stored underneath a floor tile in a big box." Uruchi, Sasuke's Aunt was caught off guard by the demand as she knew what lay inside the child. However, seeing him in Mikoto's arms and breathing heavily, indicating the rise of a fever, she couldn't help but wonder what if it had been Sasuke. She sighed and nodded.
"Very well, I'll retrieve them," she replied as she slunk away to Mikoto and Fugaku's room. Fugaku followed his wife with the boy and Sasuke into the living room while Itachi's shadow clone entered the kitchen and began to unpack the somewhat soaked groceries. Mikoto laid Naruto out on the couch and readied herself. Then calling up the old times of being a medical ninja she started to analyze Naruto's damaged eyes to see what she could do. Fugaku leaned over, his arms crossed over his chest.
"He looks pretty banged up," was all he could manage to say after a while. Mikoto gave a weak smile.
"Yes he is," she replied. "You should've seen it though, it was awful what those men did to him. I didn't see all of it but I did get there in time to distract them from hurting Sasuke." Fugaku raised an eyebrow and looked down at his youngest son as he sat eagerly waiting by the boy's side. He sighed and sat down on a nearby futon cushion.
"Sasuke," he started, calling the boy's attention. "Tell me, what all did they do to Naruto?" he questioned. Sasuke seemed baffled as to why his father was asking him a question but eventually supplied an answer.
"Well first I saw him running away from them and I got curious so I followed. Then I heard him scream from an alleyway and managed to get in and they were there kicking him and throwing kunai and shuriken and even yelling at him, calling him names like demon and they said they would kill him. One almost did but I stopped him but then he told me I could help them kill him. I got angry so I spat in his face and told him that if he wanted to hunt demons so bad then he could go to hell because that's where they live!" Teyaki, the uncle who was standing in the doorway snorted at this and started laughing some.
"Well now that's telling em isn't it Sasuke?" he guffawed. Mikoto didn't look pleased as she didn't approve of her son using such behavior no matter how much the men probably deserved it. She however didn't say anything as she was currently focusing on Naruto.
"Anyway then they tried to kill me too but mom threw her shoe at his head and then Itachi and the ANBU appeared to help. He knocked out one man and arrested the others." Fugaku took his son's story into thought then finally nodded and sighed.
"Well this should prove interesting to say the least when it comes time to give lord third the report now won't it?"
"Please father," Itachi stated, coming into the room. "Allow me to make the report. You're still getting over a bad case of the flu remember. I'll take care of it." Fugaku smiled, sighing and letting his true age ring out in his voice.
"Thank you Itachi," he finally responded. He then looked up at his wife. "So what injuries did he sustain?"
"Just some cuts and bruises from being beaten and hit by sharp weapons. Oh and one of the assholes destroyed his eyes with a kunai no doubt. He's already lost so much blood; I'm surprised he's even still conscious."
"Language Mikoto, language," scolded Uruchi as she reentered the living room with the medical kit. "Don't be swearing in front of the kids." Mikoto laughed apologetically.
"Sorry, it's just they made me so made ya know," Teyaki chuckled.
"Ya know huh? You sound just like Kushina when you talk like that," he laughed. Mikoto only nodded solemnly remembering her dear old friend who'd died the same day she'd given birth to the very child now in her care. When she'd seen his hair and whisker marks she'd known right away.
"Who's Kushina?" wondered Sasuke curiously. Mikoto beamed down at him.
"A very old friend of mine who died a long time ago," she replied.
"Oh," Sasuke nodded then turned back to Naruto's form lying on the sofa. After a while more of Mikoto's scanning a frown developed on her face. Fugaku noticed.
"What's wrong Mikoto?" Mikoto huffed, blowing a strand of her black hair out of her eyes.
"I'm not sure," she admitted. "The other injuries seem to be healing fine and think I know why but his eyes…whatever's healing his other wounds isn't healing his eyes and even though I'm trying I can't seem to figure out what's going on here." Fugaku came over to examine him more thoroughly himself. He knelt down beside his wife and gently pried open an eyelid but it still made the boy whimper. Deciding to play her part, Uruchi despite her better judgement, bent down grasping the boy's hand and began rubbing it.
"Shhh," she shushed soothingly. "None of that now. We need to see how bad it is so we can help. Just try to relax; it'll all be over soon."
"That's right Naruto," Sasuke piped in using Naruto's name after having picked it up from everyone else. "Soon you're gonna be all better, just wait and see!" he beamed. Naruto sniffled.
"But…but I can't see," he stammered pathetically. Itachi now stood over him with his mother and father, activating his sharingan to see if he could find any starting points. He sighed heavily.
"I doubt we'll be able to do him any good right now," he implied regretfully. "I don't think we'll be able to figure this out without a fully trained medic although mother's skills are somewhat useful. He needs to see a doctor but it seems the storm is picking…" there was an incredibly loud sound of thunder that interrupted him causing some in the room to jump some more than others. Naruto yelped and then started crying again but not as loud as before. Meanwhile Sasuke had all but leapt into his Aunt's embrace, scared out of his wits.
"Up," Itachi finished with a mutter. There was silence as the rain picked up outside along with the howling wind. A shaking Sasuke peeked back out of his Aunt's stomach to see Naruto shaking uncontrollably.
"That was a big one huh?" he asked no one in particular.
"Sure was," his Aunt agreed. "It near scared the buhjeebers outta me." Sasuke laughed lightly at this, pulling himself from within her embrace and scooting closer to Naruto's head.
"Don't you think it was a really loud one Naruto?" Sasuke asked trying to make conversation with the frightened blonde. Naruto slowly nodded.
"Yeah," he agreed in a tiny voice. "I don't like it." Sasuke beamed with a goofy grin that Naruto couldn't see.
"Yeah, me either," he replied. Naruto gave a faint smile. Meanwhile Fugaku turned to his eldest.
"Itachi, were you going to say anything else about Naruto's eyes?" he queried. Itachi was pulled from his reverie and nodded.
"Yes, I was going to say that mother was right that Naruto got cut but I personally don't believe that it was by an ordinary kunai. No…I believe it was done by someone wielding a chakra blade which indicates that there were definitely some chunin among them, maybe even a jonin. Perhaps that's what' messing up the healing process. There could be miniscule residual amounts of chakra and metal from the blade. Of course, I'm no expert at looking into things like that but maybe one of the Hyuga could use their byakugan and take a look after the storm. For now the best we can do is bandage him up."
Fugaku nodded, looking to his wife. She too nodded then proceeded to stand and lift Naruto from the couch.
"Alright…we're going to bandage your eyes for the time being Naruto but first we're going to give you a bath and get you all cleaned up." Naruto could only nod as he was lifted and once again his cheek was resting on the woman's shoulder. Is this what it's like? He wondered to himself. To be held by a mother? It's so warm.He rested his head as she carried him and he heard her voice as she called back to her youngest son.
"You too Sasuke. You're absolutely filthy," she stated. Sasuke then proceeded to sniff himself and look back at his mother embarrassed.
"It's not that bad," he complained. However, his mother's piercing glare was all he needed to know that he should probably listen. He got up and ran after her and Naruto.
Not too soon afterwards, both Sasuke and Naruto found themselves in the warm waters of the bath tub. Sasuke was having fun playing with some of his bath toys while Naruto just sat in the water quietly as Mikoto hummed and washed his hair. His eyelids remained closed over his dead eyes and all he could hear next to him was Sasuke having a ball and splashing around with his toy fish. Eventually though it was his turn to have his hair washed and he grumbled through the entire process.
Naruto just sat smiling faintly as he thought to himself. Is this what it's like…to have a brother? He wondered. Finally Mikoto finished washing their hair and then began scrubbing their bodies with soap and a wet cloth until they were clean to her liking. Then it was time for towels and drying off. As soon as they were dried, Mikoto went about placing Naruto on the counter and using her medic kit, which had been brought in by Uruchi again; to the best of her abilities to ease any pain and eventually wrapped some bandages around his head. Then she led him and Sasuke into Sasuke's room where Sasuke found him a pair of clean pajamas.
"Here, these are mine but you can wear them," Sasuke said as he held out the folded clothes to his mother since Naruto couldn't see them. Mikoto smiled at her son's kindness.
"Thank you Sasuke, now you go get dressed too," she said warmly. Sasuke nodded smiling and went to pull out another pair of pajamas and underwear for himself. Mikoto meanwhile aided Naruto in putting on the pajamas he'd been given and soon both were dressed for bed. Naruto felt awkward.
"Are you sure you want me to stay. I don't live here…I…"
"Don't be so foolish," Mikoto teased, tugging playfully on his nose. "Of course you're staying. After everything that's happened I'm not about to throw you out in the rain. In fact, I don't think you should be living all by yourself at your age. Honestly I don't know what the third hokage was thinking." Naruto became surprised as he was once again scooped up into Mikoto's arms.
"Sasuke, if you're done why don't we all get a nice bedtime snack?"
"Okay!" replied the five year old enthusiastically. Their bedtime snack consisted of some cookies made by Mikoto the other day and some milk to wash it all down with. Mikoto had to help Naruto find his way to the cookie plate but once the boy had figured it out, he only needed to repeat the motion of reaching, grabbing and then munching as he brought the cookie up to his mouth. Eventually, both boys had their fill and Mikoto led them both back to Sasuke's room.
"I'm sorry but we don't have much room so you'll get to sleep in Sasuke's room with him tonight? Is that alright?" she asked. Naruto nodded still not knowing just who this Sasuke kid was who'd saved him earlier and unsure of how to express his gratitude.
Since both boys were small, they could both fit in the same bed where Mikoto placed a rolled up blanket in between the two so they wouldn't roll on top of each other. Then as the winds howled outside and the thunder continued to crash causing Naruto to start sniveling again, Mikoto sat at the edge of the bed and started reading them a bed time story, one of Sasuke's favourites about a ninja hero who travelled to a land of giants on a mission to bring back a golden swan. Naruto found that he liked it a lot.
Then Mikoto declared lights out and kissed them both on the forehead goodnight. By this time, the storm outside had begun to settle down but only slightly. The thunder still sounded though softer than before. The two lay there in silence for a while, the new sounds and smells confusing Naruto greatly. He was definitely not in his little apartment but in a way…he felt like he was at home. Before he could drift off though, a curious Sasuke poked him lightly in the arm.
"Hey, are you still awake?" he whispered. Naruto nodded slowly then decided to speak his answer.
"Yeah," he whispered back. He waited for a while until the boy asked him another question.
"So…why were they chasing you? Did you do something that made them mad?" Naruto clenched his fist.
"No!" he snapped, surprising Sasuke. "I never did anything to them but…but they always come especially today…it's my birthday!"
"Oh well…happy birthday. How old are you?"
"Five," came the reply.
"Cool, I'm five too," Sasuke declared. "So…why do they come anyway? Is it something your mommy or daddy did or do they just not like you for some stupid reason. If so then why wouldn't your mommy and daddy stop them?" Sasuke waited for an answer but only heard sniffling in the dark. "Hey are you crying again?" he wondered.
"I…I don't know why," Naruto spluttered thorough tears. "They just hate me; everybody in the village hates me. They look at me as if I'm some sort of monster that doesn't deserve to live and they kick me out of places because they don't want me around. Then they come on my birthday in groups trying to kill me or just beat me up. Not even do the other kids like me.
"I…I don't have any friends or…or parents. My mommy and daddy died a long time ago…at least…that's what the hokage said. They died defending the village from that demon fox that attacked a long time ago. I'm an orphan but they kicked me out of the orphanage two months ago so the hokage gave me an apartment. But they know where it is so they attack there too…" Naruto's voice caught in his throat as the thoughts kept coming to him and began he to sob quietly into the pillow.
"I'm…I'm all alone!" he cried as he shuddered. Sasuke took his story with shock. How could anybody be so hated for something they didn't do or didn't know about? How could an orphanage kick out a kid about his age and tell him to fend for himself? How could the village he lived in have people so heartless and cruel? He just couldn't understand.
I can't imagine being without mother, father and big brotherSasuke thought to himself. It must be scary having to live in fear of everyone around him, being thrown around like a rag doll because of something he doesn't know about. And what about nightmares? If no one was there…did he just cry himself back to sleep or not sleep at all? What all does he eat? No one's there to make his food or wash him or do anything. He probably has to do it all for himself. That kind of life…it sounds sad and…scary.
Naruto continued sniffling on his side of the divider. Thinking it over in his head, Sasuke lifted the divider blanket and put it behind him. Then doing the only thing he felt would stop Naruto's crying, he scooted over some and hugged him shocking the five year old blonde with the contact. Naruto was too stunned to react.
"Mom always says that hugs are the best cure for loneliness and pain but that they should only be given to family or friends. Naruto…I want to be your friend okay?" Naruto not knowing what else to do took a while to register those words before shuddering and weeping some more, however much it hurt his eyes. He turned towards where the warmth was coming from and shuddered with sobs again as he said,
"Tha-ank you…Sasuke," he blubbered. Sasuke beamed.
"It's okay, your welcome. Just try to get some sleep now okay?" Naruto shuddered again and nodded. The two boys remained in their hold for a long time with Sasuke hugging Naruto and Naruto snuggling down into the warmth of the hug and the covers. Eventually, they fell asleep side by side and that night, for the first time in a while, Naruto Uzumaki didn't have a single nightmare.