Its been a while. Been busy. Not much else to say. be warned i havent really proofread any of this. Hope its still satisfactory.
The sun was weary from a long days work and slowly began its fall into an endless oblivion only to return to its monotonous task the next day. It had to watch over a frightening scene as a battle of untold proportions took place just below, yet the civilized world would never know of it.
A river of blood flowed from the bodies of all the fallen ninjas and sank towards the foliage away from the village. The blood would have no choice but to be sucked up by the very trees that symbolized Konoha and thus tainting it for life. Such was the result of war.
Mangled forms were strewn about carelessly with little left to identify them. Eyes were left unshut and mouths were frozen open do to the quick onset of death, but then again that was hardly a new sight for the Hidden Village of the Leaf.
What was different however, was the manner in which the freshest layer of meatbags were killed. Those bodies were seared with chakra burns streaming right through them as if their matter was nothing more than paper. Too many had died too quickly. What could this deadly and secret weapon of Konoha's actually be? None were able to spot it save a quick yellow flash.
Yet it was that same weapon that lay mangled and beaten just near the wall that defended Konoha. It was evident by the trail left behind that the demon-child struggled to drag itself back towards its home despite his injuries, as if being closer to his village would bring a soothing feeling to his aching bodies. When it had expelled every last bit of energy stored within its deceptively small muscles, it collapsed under its own weight.
It was from just on top of that wall that Sakura found this 'person' passed out with only shallow breathes escaping his form. This was the person who had stolen a kiss from her.
There was something demonically calming about the way the boy lay down there asleep and exhausted from the endless hours of fighting he had endured earlier this day. He looked so peaceful, so happy to be out there in the battlefield.
Well regardless of his 'aura', it was Sakura's job to rejuvenate and heal all battered Konoha ninja, and the shinobi down there definitely qualified as one. She stood up and prepared to jump down below to provide whatever assistance she could, for purely medical reasons of course. It wasn't like she was planning to interrogate whoever that was and ask why he acted in such a…bold manner to her. That wasn't it at all.
Wait, he did say his name. That's right. It was Naruto.
Yes, Naruto would pay. Err, scratch that, she was supposed to heal him after.
Just as she was going to jump down and finally provide her calming touch, she found a hand grab her wrist and prevent her for moving and further down. Shocked she turned around and found the familiar half-covered face of her former-sensei Kakashi.
"Yo" Despite all the fighting that occurred, Kakashi's attitude never faltered. It had become one of the things Sakura had learned to count on.
"Kakashi-sensei! What are you doing? I have work to do." She was getting a little annoyed with the game her sensei seemed to be playing but then again holding back a medical ninja was hardly child's play.
"Sorry but this job isn't for you." He released her wrist and pointed downward to reveal a squad of ANBU who had gathered around the hibernating blond ninja. They were careful to pick him up and transport him away faster than her eyes could follow. Sakura quickly turned around and faced her former teacher demanding the answers to the events she witnessed.
"Kakashi-sensei! What's going on here!? Where did he come from and where are they taking him? How come I have never seen him before?" Being an apprentice to the Hokage put her on familiar terms with all the notable ninja in the village. This one was certainly remarkable but one that had slipped under her radar. She had questions that needed answering.
However with a half salute Kakashi had disappeared in a puff of smoke that would leave his ex-pupil in further confusion as to why she would need to be left out of the loop. Her village was hiding something from the general populace, especially if ANBU was involved. It would be her job in order to find out just what was going on.
In the Hokage's tower Danzou had already started making himself feel at home in the prestigious office. He rested his body in a chair just across the Hokage's desk and had a sly smirk about his face. He had an advantage over Tsunade right now and he knew it. Unfortunately for him, so did she and no Hokage went unprepared.
Her assistant Shizune was also present though she decided to stand to the side of the room, safe from any flying objects that may accidentally get hurled Danzou's way. Things could get violent and bloody if she had guessed right.
"I see. You have provided a valuable service to the village of Konoha Danzou" Tsunade's hands were clasped right in front of her, just hiding her mouth as she spoke. Had the 'ally' sitting across from her seen the wickedly evil grin the Hokage had he would have run from the office some time ago.
"I was just doing what was in the best interest of Konoha, Hokage-sama" He felt too smug for his own good, this would undoubtedly lead to his downfall. "Though no doubt once the people hear that I released the weapon that put an end to the war they will rally around me." He leaned forward from his chair to look the Hokage straight into the eyes as he spoke, wanting to savor the moment. "I'm afraid your time is almost up."
"No I'm afraid your time is almost up Danzou" Tsunade stood up from her desk and did nothing more as if she was expecting something to happen. After a quick moment passed the inaction was starting to get on her nerves and thus caused her fingers to rap against her desk with increasing ferocity. "I said…No I'm afraid your time is almost up Danzou!"
With that remark two figures crashed through the door. Though one had white hair and the other silver, they were alive in their perverted giggles emanating from them. Tsunade should have known better than to have that particular secretary working today. It always caused problems.
"Sorry, I was doing…um…research, it's for my new book." A lamp quickly collided with the side of Jiraiya's face leaving a weary Kakashi on the alert for further office décor to come flying in their direction. "And I got lost on the-" A quick look from the Hokage told him it was futile and stupid to go any farther with that particular line. One of these days Kakashi would learn to be truthful about where he really was, one of these days.
"Ahem, as I was saying…" Tsunade quickly reverted her attention back to a confused Danzou who could only wonder if this would be a good time to continue his gloating spree. It was only then he realized what task the ninja who had just entered had been entrusted with. They were responsible for Naruto's care. What had the blonde come up with…
"It seems that you have been holding a Konoha ninja in a private prison under false pretences." It was Tsunade's turn to be smug. Revenge could be oh so sweet. "Isn't that right Shizune?"
With a stern look upon her face, the apprentice responded, "That's right Hokage-sama"
"And it seems that the ninja released yesterday is definitely a Konoha ninja, judging by the headband he wore, isn't that right Shizune?"
"That's right Hokage-sama."
"There are a lot of witnesses who will confirm this, won't they Shizune?"
"That's right Hokage-sama."
"Including two Konoha ninjas who were acting under the last wishes of the former Hokage, isn't that right Shizune?
"That's right Hokage-sama" This time Shizune made a special effort to glance in the direction of Jiraiya and Kakashi.
More angered glimpses fell upon Danzou as the heated eyes of both the great toad hermit and the famous copy ninja burnt a hole into the now sniveling man. It was clear to him now what was happening. He had been duped.
"So what do we do with ninja who break the law Shizune?" Tsunade had coyly walked around the room and made it back to her desk though she remained standing by her chair. She didn't want to miss a moment of this to come.
"We let ANBU determine the punishment. Eye for an eye I would think." After creating a sideline organization to ANBU, Danzou was not a popular shinobi in their eyes either. He was almost convinced he would be better off receiving his punishment right from the Hokage herself.
Before he even had time to put up a reasonable defense on his behalf, various puffs of smoke appeared around him and silenced the words that sought to come out of him. Though the faces were covered by masks, he could tell each one looked upon him as a helpless rabbit in a foxhunt. No that wasn't a simile, the ANBU really had hunted the last lawbreaking shinobi like that.
A few knuckles had cracked and echoed throughout the room as the anticipation built in the seconds that past. There was no foe to worry about anymore, leaving these men time enough to seek revenge on one who had falsely imprisoned one of their own. No one mistreats a ninja of Konoha like that, no one.
Several more puffs of smoke were left as all the ANBU had disappeared and had taken one extra 'guest' with them. The report on this should make for an interesting read later.
It was only now that Tsunade fell back into her chair and allowed her face to fall flat against the desk while tears streamed down her face. No, they weren't of joy because of the war that had been stalemated or for the inner turmoil that had just been quelled. Jiraiya didn't have to tell her who the child was, she could already guess who his father was.
The son of a former Hokage should not have been made to live a life like this. But what was done was done. It was time to move forward with the situation.
"Kakashi, is Naruto in the medical facility, are they looking after him?" She couldn't bear to bring her head up and look upon her subordinates with tears in her eyes. That would have been too shameful.
"Yes, she is." The 'she' in question seemed to be well understood by all parties involved. "They both are actually."
"Both?" Tsunade snapped her head up though she quickly dried her eyes of the waterfalls streaming down from them. There wasn't supposed to be a both.
"It seems Rin was convinced to bring Sakura along." Threatened within an inch of her life was more like it actually but now wasn't the time to be picky with wording.
This time it was Shizune who stepped in with confusion apparent upon her face. Sure Sakura was a leading medical specialist who would one day rival herself, Rin, and Tsunade but a case like Naruto might just be too much for her. "We must rush to the hospital. Rin might need our help then." The help was in reference to keeping Sakura in check, not to the procedure.
Finally it was the ever present though silent Jiraiya that spoke up. "She isn't operating on him. Sakura just wanted to see the boy again. It seems like he had made quite an impression upon her the first time."
Once again the Hokage found herself lost in the conversation taking place and quickly slammed her fist against her desk and effectively sending shrapnel flying to all corners of her office. "Alright, you two have some explaining to do!"
Hospitals everywhere sucked. No matter which one you went to, each one always had those annoying bright lights, those sickeningly sterile and blank white walls, that smell of chemicals that seemed to linger about, and people walking around in masks like they were trying to hide their identity.
Except for Naruto this was all new and rather exciting. He had never been to a hospital before. Frankly he had never been hurt enough to end up in such a place. But these new experiences that were tickling his sensations and exploding his minds with new thoughts that never crossed his mind before.
Like the sky! It was blue! It really was blue just like in all those books he had read. Every inch of the sky that he checked while his head was sticking out of the window was absolutely and brilliantly blue!
"Oh dear…Rin-san! Rin-san! He got out of his bed again! Rin-san!!" A nurse that was passing by to check on the noted mystery boy wasn't too surprised to find their patient bouncing around with an unusual amount of energy. He had made quite a commotion since he had awoken from his near coma-like state.
Within seconds Naruto felt his body entrapped within the soft and comfortably welcoming feel of a woman's body wrapping around him to soothe the radiant energy flowing out of him. Naruto quickly calmed at the touch though his breathing was still heavy. This was something new to him altogether, something he liked much better than the sky or the sun or the many clouds that danced around it. A woman's hug.
"Is my little boy misbehaving?" Rin spoke quietly while holding him, like a loving mother would her newborn child.
"Sorry…." He did indeed sound like a little boy who had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
"Well if you behave maybe I can see if Sakura can come back and play again a little later." Little did Naruto know that she was actually standing just outside the door, trying to stifle a giggle at how silly the scene inside looked. How could a grown man act so childish?
Though her laughter quickly died down at that thought. Everyone refused to tell her why she had never seen him before in Konoha. Naruto himself avoided the topic of where he had been before the day. Instead he was just fascinated by…well her.
Sakura peered her emerald green eyes back so towards the adorable scene between her. It really did look like a scene between a mother and a child but Sakura already knew how impossible that was. Still, there was a connection there, something she couldn't quite put her finger on.
Still she could overhear bits and pieces of the conversation taking place within.
"Rin-san…you…you remind me of someone I don't really remember." What a silly thing to say...
Rin looked down upon Naruto with a big smile upon her face as she immediately knew who Naruto was talking about, even if he didn't. "That's because Naruto, I knew your mother. Very well in fact."
"Really? How come?" Funny. No questions about his abandonment, his treatment, or what his mother was like.
"Well, for now lets just leave that topic alone."
"Oh…ok" A dejected and hurt look sprinted across his face at that comment. When one has been confined for so long, they are often eager to learn anything about everything. They just needed something to make them feel more connected to the world.
"Though I'll tell you what. I'll be your Aunty Rin! How does that sound?"
"Really!? YIPPEE!!" Naruto broke out of her hold and started bouncing around the room with glee at the thought of simply having an aunt.
Though again he was quickly restrained and pacified when he was once again embraced by Rin, but this time it was accompanied by a kiss to his forehead. His mannerisms where quelled and his energy sapped out with that simple connection. "Now be a good boy, get into bed and rest. I'll see if Sakura can drop by later."
Without so much as a word, Naruto quietly did just that.
Typical stuff here to. now that you have read, take the time to leave a review.
