i do not own Naruto!
It took a good while before Aki got over her crying.
"She's alive? Kohaku is alive. How?! When did you find her?!"
"Yes, she is very much alive, she was found earlier today on a scouting mission. When she was brought to the village she was taken care of and treated for wounds. We also took a blood sample to confirm her identity and she is indeed Kohaku Haruno.
The Hokage glanced up to see Aki and to his surprise tears where streaming down her face.
"I-I feel s-so guilty, all this time she was alive and I had been sulking for 5 years over her supposed death, but the worst part is that I took it out on that poor boy. I denied him a family he could have had. I denied him the love he could have known. I denied him of so much just because I failed my brother in keeping Kohaku safe. I don't deserve this guilt to be taken from me.
To say the Hokage was shocked was shocked was an understatement. Aki was a strong woman and never blamed herself for anything. This must have been the sadness that lay deep within her heart.
"Sir, you called me here to take her in, didn't you?" Aki muttered.
"Yes I did, you are her family now." He responded.
"I have a request. I know it might be too late, well 5 years too late, but Naruto, I'll take him in. I won't adopt him because I don't deserve to after the way I abandoned him like that, but I will bring him into my home and give him the family he deserves. If he will allow it."
A small smile crept on to the old man's face.
"Well then, shall we call him in and ask?" and with a wave of his hand on Anbu was sent to fetch the 5 year old blond.
Naruto was a young free-spirited boy who loved to get in to trouble, pull pranks and just laugh at other people, but the truth was, he did it only for the attention it gave him. Without the chaos and laughter his pranks brought all he got were sneers and rude comments. He was not a monster, he was human. He was Naruto Uzumaki.
So when the Anbu came to tell him he was needed by the Hokage, Naruto couldn't pass up the opportunity to prank. The young boy reached into his pockets and pulled out some smoke bombs that he found lying around one day. He quickly threw them towards the Anbu and when the explosion set off the boy turned around and headed to a rooftop to watch as the Anbu attempted to find him. When they left in the opposite direction the blond let out a cackle and headed to the Hokage Tower. The young boy hadn't seen the old man in a whole week. A huge smile lite up his face at the thought of seeing him again.
When Naruto got to the door leading into the office he didn't necessarily knock, he just barged right in what a big foxy grin on his face.
"Old man! You called for me?" The little boy exclaimed. Naruto opened his eyes and glanced around to see that someone else was in the old man's office. He knew this lady, he saw her a couple of times at the park picking up Sakura.
"Uh, I didn't do anything to Sakura, I swear!" Naruto yelled while waving his hands in the air like he was warding off danger.
A small chuckle caused the young boy to turn towards the Hokage.
"No Naruto that is not why you are here. A certain event just led someone to finally see the error of her ways. Naruto you know Sakura's mother, Aki Haruno correct?" the elderly man questioned.
Sensing no danger in the question the little boy lowered his arms and raised a brow.
"Yes? I know her."
"Tell me, what do you think of her?"
The boy opened his mouth but stopped short. This was the weirdest and strangest question he had ever been asked.
"Um… well, she's not bad. Doesn't call me names or give me ugly looks like all the other villagers. Most of the time she just looks at me with this blank empty look in her eyes, but its not cold like the others, just…sad looking?"
The grownups in the room where flabbergasted. Neither knew that this 5 year old boy would be so perceptive.
"Hmm. That's good then. Naruto we have something very important to tell you. We don't want you to be mad or jump in right away. We want you to think about every possibility okay?"
"Uh, okay?" the little boy was very confused.
"Naruto, this woman right here is your Aunt. She wants to ask you a very important question, one that can change your life forever and I hope you choose the answer that will make you happy." The Hokage gave the young boy a stern look willing him to agree.
The little boy was stunned, shocked beyond his wildest dreams, and those dreams were pretty amazing for a 5 year old. His whole body was frozen in anticipation but somehow he was able to nod at the Hokage's insistence.
Aki was nervous, extremely nervous. She didn't have experience in asking for forgiveness. Aki inhaled to try and dispel the anxiety in her system. She finally turned to the boy and braced herself.
"Naruto, I am terribly sorry for my behavior towards you. I am a horrible Aunt and I don't deserve any kindness from you, but I want to make it up to you. I want to make it right."
Naruto was so shocked he couldn't even breath, no one had ever been this kind to him. Never in his 5-year-old life had he thought he would find someone who treated him with kindness like this.
"When your parents died, I should have adopted you right away. I should have but I didn't because I was stricken by quilt, quilt from long ago and guilt from a promise broken, but I want to make it right. Not by adopting you, cause I don't deserve that right anymore, but I want you to come live with Sakura and me. Live with your family, like you were meant to. If you'll have us." Aki finished her statement with her head bowed in the little boys direction.
When no answer was heard Aki thought the worst. 'He doesn't want to be with us.' Why would he when she had ignored him all this time? So of course he wouldn't agree. Aki looked up with a defeated look in her eyes to see the younger boy. What she met wasn't the one she was expecting; instead of rejection was… something else entirely.
The look on the young boys face was one of pure delight, this lady wanted to let him live with her and give him a home? No, his AUNT wanted him with her, this was a dream come true. He was finally going to have a real family, a real home. Naruto wasn't able to stop the tears streaming down his face; he wasn't so sure that he wanted them to stop either.
Aki started to freak out when she saw his tears and started to assume that he didn't want to come. "Naruto, its okay, if you don't want to come with me, you don't have to." An even greater shock overcame her when the young boy jumped out of his seat and hugged her, his small arms barely able to reach behind her waist and his head buried into her stomach.
The Hokage took in the scene with a gentle smile and nodded approvingly.
"Ne ne, where are we going Auntie?" Naruto asked already getting used to the idea of having an Aunt. They were currently walking down the hallways of the hospital.
The nickname caused Aki to smile and looked down at the little boy whose hand she had been holding since leaving the Hokage Tower.
"Were going to go check up on your cousins, she's here at the hospital."
"Sakura is in the hospital? What happened?" Naruto exclaimed.
Aki chuckled at the conclusion the boy had come up with, making Naruto frown. "No, it's not Sakura. You have another cousin, her name is Kohaku. When she was really young she was kidnapped, but early this morning they found her and she was hurt so they brought her here to the hospital."
When Aki looked to the boy she was surprised at the smile on his face. "Cousin? I have 2?"
The elder Haruno nodded.
"Wow. Family just keeps popping up out of nowhere!"
She couldn't help it, Aki burst out in laughter causing the boy to give her really weird looks.
"You know Naruto, you don't have to be bound by blood to be family, when you find yourself really good friends they will slowly make their way into your heart and become your family also."
Naruto looked down to the ground. "I don't think that will ever happen." His dejected voice rang in Aki's ears causing her to stop walking. The elder woman kneeled down in front of the boy and put both hands onto his shoulders.
"Naruto never think like that. It might not happen overnight. It might take a couple of weeks but you will make friends, really good friends, and when you show them the kind of person you are they will want to be your friend in an instant. It takes awhile for the friendship to form, but the wait is worth it. You'll see."
A big foxy grin appeared in the young boys face as he hugged her once again. No one had ever given him encouragement like that, except for the old man, but it sure was different when it was a family member who did it.
"Now then, let's go see Kohaku."
'Little one, it's time for you to wake up. Do you feel the warmth? The sleeping agents have been fully cleansed from you blood, it's time for you to open your eyes.'
'But I don't want to leave you!'
'Don't worry, you can always come see me when you are asleep or when you are meditating. Just imaging my presence and I will come to you.'
'Okay then I will go, but I will see you again.'
'Of course little one, farewell for now.'
The lights were bright and stung her eyes and the walls were so white. Was she really awake? The surrounding were the same as when she was in her mind. White and bright, they were the same, but the feeling in the air was different.
"…she can't talk, her vocal cords were ripped out and the scar is very old. Three years if I'm right. Other than that she is perfectly fine. No other scars or lacerations, the doctor said she can be checked out when she awakens."
Her head turned to the voice to see two figures conversing. About her most likely, she hadn't been able to talk for as long as she could remember. Where was this place?
Slowly the young girl moved a hand to her forehead, she was starting to get one of those… headaches? Was that what they were called?
"Auntie! Old man, she's awake!"
The loud voice caused the girl to jump slightly and see a small boy. He was younger than her with bright blue eyes and striking blond hair. The shirt he was wearing was white with an orange swirl in the center, and green cargo shorts.
"Ah Kohaku your awake, a lot earlier than we anticipated." The sound of her name made her turn to the two figures again, and old man with gray hair and white robe and a young woman with short blond hair and white dress. What was with all the white?
The elder man gave a low chuckle, "You seem a little lost Kohaku. Let me explain, I am Hiruzen Sarutobi the Hokage of this village."
Hokage? Village? There was a huge questioning look on the young girls face.
"Ah, the Hokage is a leader of a village. This village is Konoha or the Village Hidden in the Leaves. One of my Anbu found you while on a mission to scout Orochimaru's base, and brought you back here."
Kohaku nodded in understanding before her gaze drifted to woman standing beside him. Something about her looked strangely familiar, like she had seen her before but couldn't remember where.
The Hokage noticed the questioning look and gesture to Aki, "This is your aunt Aki Haruno, you probably don't remember her much since you haven't seen her in a couple years. We weren't sure about your parents where about and we still aren't. So until then your aunt is going to take care of you. Is that all right with you?"
The adults could see the recognization in the young girl's eyes now but it caused Aki to become confused.
"You recognize me? Kohaku you have never seen me before, the only reason I knew what you looked like was because your parents sent me a picture of you weeks before you were supposed to be sent here."
Kohaku started pointing wildly at Aki when the word 'picture' escaped her lips.
"You got a photo as well?" Kohaku nodded, then using her fingers made a scissoring motion and pretended to cut the air.
"It got destroyed?" The girl nodded again.
"Well then I am glad you get to unite with your aunt finally. Aki I'll go sign off on her release forms so you guys can go on home, I'm sure Sakura is wondering where you are."
"All right, thank you Sir." Aki bowed and the Hokage walked out the door.
The elder blond turned to the girl to find her staring hard at Naruto and the little boy staring just as hard.
"Kohaku meet your cousin, Naruto why don't you introduce yourself?"
The little oby gave a huge grin, "I'M NARUTO UZUMAKI!"
Naruto Uzumaki? Uzumaki, why did that name sound so familiar? Uzumaki…wait, wasn't that mother's name before she married father? Kohaku's face suddenly had a very sad look to it.
Aki could see that she had figured it out Naruto's secret, the very one that was meant to be her own. They were going to have to talk about this later on.
"Yupp, this is Naruto, your cousin but we can talk more later on. We have to get home before Sakura freaks out.