Brink of reality.
Disclaimer :I don't own Naruto.
Chapter 2: first steps.
light, he felt the light caress his face gently, slowly dancing on his face.
Haru felt confusion stirring within him, his mind was unfocused, his thoughts scattered. For the life of him he couldn't fathom where he was or what is the comfortable feeling which he felt surrounding his body, for a moment he thought it felt like the softness from the high end and expensive beddings of his masters bad but that was impossible, his master would never allow him or any other slave for this matter to lie on a bed with such high quality bedding.
Slowly he opened his eyes, blinking rapidly to adjust to the light of the room.
Looking around his confusion grew, he was indeed on a bed, coated with a warm blanket and his head was supported by several soft pillows. The room itself was large and painted in a soft blue color, the furniture was obviously expensive made of heavy but beautiful wood in the colors of red and brown, as his eyes traveled to the window which was surrounded with a gentle curtains, which were blowing softly by the wind from the window.
A panic started to arise in his heart, slowly he recognized the room, in the entire manor this was the only place which gave any feeling of a child, this was the room of the young misstres the masters only daughter. What was he doing here? Should anyone enter now he will surely be punished. The silver heard boy felt how a cold sweat started to generate on his brow, slowly he got up from the bed, hoping beyond hope he won't be noticed when the door opened.
In the portal a woman was standing, a woman with raven black hair falling to her back and two deep black eyes which looked at his softly, a small smile was dancing across her beautiful face.
That was all it took, as if seeing this womantriggerd something within him, his memories rushed back to the forefront of his mind. The betrayal, the whip, the pain and finally the same woman, only with blood red eyes with three black tomoe each. His breath caught in his lungs his body shuddering at the memory as he instinctively took a step back, his leg impacted something hard and he fell.
"who is this woman" he thought to himself, "where is the master? How am I even alive" the thoughts ran in his mind, his eyes darting around looking for the horrible man who should've been there.
From the door Mikoto looked concerned, the boy was obviously confused but his darting eyes and rapid breath indicated a great panic. Slowly she approached the terrified boy, her mind reeling with the implications that this boy was the same age as her Ita-chan that in another world, under different circumstances it could have been her Ita-chan leing there on the floor terrified.
Suddenly the boy's eyes focused again, this time on her, in his eyes she could see the primal fear, a fear like a hunted would regard the hunter. Before she had the chance to come close the boy opened his mouth and spoke in a terrified voice "please mistress... Please don't hurt me".
Her eyes widened, and without thinking as her mother- instincts kicked in, she rapidly closed the distance between them, as her had closed around the tiny boy in a hug, tears streaming through her eyes.
Xxxxxxxxxxx
Haru was confused, this woman who he thought will hurt him, instead hugged him, tightly. But why would she? , after all he was just a slave and as his master told him that filthy slaves like him don't deserve the warmth of hug. And here this woman hugged him.. Him! The usles slave boy Yume Tatsu.
He felt lost, even more so when he felt something wet touching his cheeks, and even more so when he heard her voice, it was warm and gentle and it made him feel fussy within his stomach. "poor little kid" her oddly shuthing voice said "you poor poor little thing".
Awkwardly he hugged her back, not knowing what he should do or say, but he felt content with her warmth, with her he felt safe.
Before he was able to ponder any more on this subject, the door opened again,
And a young looking woman entered. The woman was mildly built, her long hair was blonde and styled in a ponytail, but the future that caught his eyes were her two lively eyes which shown with sympathy toward him, her mouth was set in smile "I see you are awake boyo" she said casually as she entered the room "that's good, did Mikoto here tried to suffocate you with her grisly bear hug? " she asked, her voice cheerful "you really are lucky, if you would've arrived two hours later there would be no way to help you, poison and all that".
Haru blinked rapidly, his mind still confused, looking at the black haired woman again a word came to his mind "Mikoto" he said slowly "your name is Mikoto".
The black haired woman frized for a moment, but before Tatsu understood what happening her hug suddenly intensified.
"Mikoto Chan let the boy breath, I am sure he has questions for us" Tsunade said, a smile on her face.
Embarrassed, Mikoto with red cheeks droped the hug. The silver haired boy just stared at the two of them, silently.
Finally after several moments of silence, he finally opened his mouth "umm... Mistress" he said slowly, his gaze fixated on Tsunade "where... Where is master?" he asked, his body language stiff.
Blinking twice the blonde burst into a laughter fit, which itesnsifed at the boys lost look, after several moments of laughing she finally returned control to herself "oh sorry about that" she said sheepishly "I forgot you don't know what was going on lately" she took a deep breath " well let's start with the beginning,but first and foremost... None of this mistress business.. I am Tsunade.. Senju Tsunade... Now back to business what is the last thing you remember before you lost consciousness?" she asked him, simultaneously she bent her knees to stare him in the eyes.
The boy gulped silently "w-well" he started feeling reassured by the blondes gaze "the last thing I remember is being whipped, and... And then this woman" he pointed on Mikoto "burst through the window... And her eyes were... They were red" he finished finally.
Tsunade nodded "indeed, your so called master nearly killed you, has it not been for Mikoto here... You wouldn't have survived" by this point her voice went low as if she tried to hide the horror meaning behind it.
Haru looked perplexed "so... So master let me be treated?" he asked his voice full of scepticism, he was not stupid... There was no way that his cruel master would ever care enough to let him be treated.
Tsunade shook her head "no... You have it wrong... But tell me kido.. Do you know what does that mean?" she pointed at the hitai ate on her forehead.
The boy slowly shook his head.
"does the word shinobi means anything to you?" she asked again.
This time the boy nodded slightly,he knew what shinobi were, he heard his master talking about them, although it was always with contempt and fear.
The medic smiled "well you see we are shinobi" she said "those metal plates are a hitai ate, the symbol of the shinobi proclaiming his alliance to whatever village he belongs to".
Haru nodded in understanding, but he still felt confused... What did it have to do with his treatment.. With his master agreeing to let him be treated.
The black haired shinobi.. No Mikoto saw the confusion on his face "this town is strategically important" she started "as such we were commanded to capture it" she paused for a moment "and eradicate all the inhabitants.. Including your so called master" she spat the last bit so forcefully it sounded more like an insult.
Realization struck the silver haired boy like lightning "so.. You are stronger than master" he said carefully, his master always preached that the strong has the right to rule the weak, and for him.. And so also to the other slaves the master was the strongest being there is. But now.. Those people killed the master... They were stronger as such he has to listen to them... And here what they command him.
"we certainly are stronger than this fat babbon" said Mikoto, her hand moving a strand of hair from her face.
"so" Haru asked hesitantly "if you are stronger... Why do you help me? Isn't it your right to control me?" he asked looking at the two women with bewilderment.
Tsunades eyes grew suddenly serious "whoever told you that had a very limited and twisted view if the world" she said her voice had a harsh undertone to it "being strong is not only a privilege... It is a burden.. A burden to defend those you care about...for us shinobi it's the burden to defend our village...our friends and family" her voice was full of conviction so much that Haru felt he believed in what she said, and after all if he to believe his master aren't those stronger have the power to control the weaker? So by his master own logic he should agree with the blonde shinobi.
Smiling a real smile for the first time he let his body relax and nodded.
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Tsunade was not a trusting person in nature, not at all and she knew very well that Mikoto even less so, but even she couldn't stop feeling warmth toward the boy in front of her who was happily eating as if he didn't have a proper meal for a long time - which she figured he probably didn't - silently she was amused by the way the silver haired child was devouring field rations as if it was a good meal.
But as much as she wanted to forget everything else and just focus on the boy in front of her like Mikoto did, she knew she couldn't. There was so much to consider, they were in a middle of a war after all and she knew there was no way that the current situation would prolong for much longer. Being a slave she assumed he didn't have where to return, as such she pondered what exactly will they do with him. Sending him to the village was currently not an option, they had no shinobi to spare, definitely not for such a task, so that left only two more options, one :the boy would be sent to some close village, which wasn't really an option not only because the boy was too young but mostly because there was too much of a risk if he will blab something about their occupation of the town. So really she was left with only one choice... The boy will have to stay with them, and see the true horrors of the war with his own eyes. Sighing deeply she decided to ask the boy for his plans.. Not that it will matter too much but it will be good to give him the feeling of consideration.
But before she had a chance to ask him the boy, who she now knew was called Haru turned to her "umm... Lady Tsunade" he started hesitantly, his body language projecting his uncertainty "I understand that you are the one who saved my life, you are a medic" he said his body slowly loosing its tension as she didn't stop him.
The woman nodded, wandering what exactly is it that the boy wanted.
"well" he started again trying to hide his nervousness "but you said you are a shinobi right?" pause "doesn't that mean you should be strong enough to kill people? And sneaky enough assassinate them?" he asked, his body tension rising.
Tsunade blinked for a moment, perplexed at his question when she suddenly burst out in laughter, and Mikoto was not long behind her.
Haru felt how heat raising to his cheaks, coloring them crimson, he did not understand what was the reason for their laughing fit but he did understand that he asked something rediculas.
It took them some moments to get control over themselves, when Mikoto turned to the embarrassed boy "sorry for that Haru" she said apologetically "it's just that you asked if Tsunade Sama is strong enough to kill... Well you see Tsunade sama is one of the three sanin the legendary shinobi of konoha, she is basically one of the strongest of us all" she said smiling.
The boy looked at her weirdly "I am sorry Mikoto sama... But your answer did not answer my question" he said quietly, afraid to offend her.
Blinking at him the black haired woman asked him "and how exactly didn't it answer your question?"
"well.. I did understand that she is strong, that is a simple deduction from her being a shinobi. My question was how come she is strong? Isn't a medic should be focused on healing? No offense Tsunade sama" he turned to the blonde again "but if you are a medic shouldn't you focuse only on medication?"
The woman smiled "unlike regular doctors Haru, shinobi medics are first and foremost soldiers, we learn to fight and doing whatever we can to become stronger. We can't be a burden on our team members, in my case I use my knowledge of medicine for combat.." she finished with a smike, her body still relaxed.
" oh "the boy said" I see "he muttered" if so Tsunade sama... Can I?... Can I become shinobi too? I am interested in medical ninjutsu.. But I want to be strong too " he asked her with pleading eyes...
Without realizing it the silver haired boy applied the most dangerous technique in existence.." popy eyes technique "
Not that it bothered the medic in front of him who just furrowed her brow as her face changed into a grimace, her body tansed "I am not sure you understand what being a shinobi is all about.. Even if you would you are too young for training" she said seeing as his face fell and his shoulders slumped " but" she continued quickly "I am not apposed of the idea, you can move between the shinobi and talk to them, if you want I can start teaching you a bit medical lessons.. You can ask others too" she said but before he was able to say anything she lifted her finger in warning "but... Do not disturb any one on duty, do you understand?" she asked her eyes shining darkly and her body language projected her seriousness.
The boy nodded quickly.
"good" she said "find me this evening, we can start than" she said as she got up and went to the door. As she approached it she turned to Mikoto "finish up and come.. There are a lot of things we should be doing" she finished and walked out.
Mikoto got up and saluted "sir yes sir".
Only when she heard a soft giggle did she blush slightly, turning to see the young boy laughing, as a smile graced her face.
End of chapter 2