Chapter Two:
Need
"I can't feel anything!" the ten-year-old pouted, pulling his hand away from his care-taker's rounded stomach.
"Well, you need to be more patient." Rin grinned, exchanging an amused glance with her husband, who was reclined against their sofa, reading a large scroll. "It's only been about a minute."
"Humph." Naruto complained, before placing his hand back against the brunette's swollen tummy. "Come on, little baby, just one small kick to let me know you're there... I've never had a little brother before."
...
"We're here Katsu, look!" Naruto exclaimed.
The boy on his shoulders perked up excitedly. "Are we really there, Papa?"
Kakashi grinned behind his mask and nodded. "Seems that we are, you can see the gates just ahead."
"Oh, at last." Rin smiled from where she sat in the wagon, placing a hand over her swollen stomach. Kakashi reached for his wife's hand, which she took into her own, intertwining their fingers together.
"Good to be home, huh?"
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.
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"I'm going with him." Rin told him softly as they both stared at the grave of their fallen mentor. Obito remained silent, her words hurting him more than she would ever know.
"He asked me to," she explained. "I couldn't say no... he'll need help with the baby and I know that I...that I..."
"That you can't be without him." Obito finished for her, his heart breaking. "...you still love him, don't you?"
The kunochi was quiet for a long while before nodding slowly. "Please don't hate me for leaving."
The Uchiha boy smiled, hiding all the turmoil he felt inside. "Heh, I could never hate you, Rin."
...
"Papa!" Aiko cried happily, bounding up to her father, her dark braids bouncing up and down like jump ropes. "Wait for me!"
Obito grinned. "Hurry along, Aiko, your mother is already at the gate waiting with Madara-sama and Miya-sama."
He scooped up his daughter, his brightest star, high up on his shoulders. The little one let out a burst of uncontrolled giggles. "Who are we greeting at the gate, Papa?"
"Some old friends of your papa." he told her. "They have a little boy around your age, you know."
"Aw, I don't like boys." she complained, slumping over his gravity defying hair. "Do they have any girls?"
"Nope, sorry, Aiko." he told her. "But, don't worry, you'll like Katsu fine."
The little girl merely humphed in reply as she and her father made their way down the dirt road toward the large red gates. Madara and his wife stood side by side, with the nobles from the Hyuuga clan. Umeko, dressed in her finest blue silk, spotted them and smiled cheerfully, waving them over to her.
"Ah, good morning, Obito." Madara greeted. "And little Aiko, you're growing into such a fine young lady."
Obito took his daughter from his shoulders and lowered her back to the ground so that she could curtsy to the Hokage. "Thank you, Madara-sama."
The massive man smiled at the child, before patting her head. "You've been keeping your father out of trouble, haven't you?"
"Yes, sir!" the child laughed.
The sound of horse and wagon rolling along the cobbled road caught the attention of the small greeting party. Hatake Kakashi led his band of travelers, his son riding atop the kyuubi vessel and his wife Rin, nearlyeight months pregnant, rode in the wagon behind.
Obito felt his heart leap at the sight of his old friends. Pain and joy stirred in his heart, and he found he did not know which feeling was more dominant.
He felt Aiko tug at his sleeve. "Oh, Papa, that lady is so pretty!" she whispered, her eyes shining as she spotted Rin.
"Yes, she is." Obito agreed quietly in almost solemn reverence, in a tone he was sure Umeko wouldn't hear.
"Is that the little boy's mama."
"Yes." Obito replied. "And that man, with the silver hair, that's his papa."
"Welcome, Hatake." Madara greeted, taking long strides to stand before the famous silver-haired ninja. "It's been too long."
"It has Madara-sama." Kakashi replied. "Thank you again for accepting us."
"Seventeen years away from home is certainly a long time, we are honored to have two fine shinobi as you and Rin back among us once more." Madara replied, side eyeing the blonde youth with the young boy on his shoulders, before turning to his bride. "May I present my wife of the last four years, Miya."
"A pleasure, my lady." Kakashi nodded, before assisting Rin out of the wagon.
"I'm sure." the stoic woman nodded, eyeing each of the four travelers carefully, before her eyes settled on Naruto. "So, this is the infamous kyuubi vessel then? Namikaze Naruto?"
Naruto nodded in reply, lowering Katsu from his shoulders. It was still hard for him to voice the secret he had to keep since childhood.
"You've grown, boy." Madara stated. "You won't remember me, you were just a few months old when we last saw eachother... I must say, you look quite a lot like you're father."
"So I've been told, Madara-sama." Naruto replied.
"I hope you come to feel safe, back in your place of birth." Madara told him. "I leave you in the more than capable hands of Obito, an old friend of your adopted family as well as your parents, Kami rest their souls."
Obito took the liberty of stepping forward, reaching out a hand to place on Naruto's shoulder. "I will do all in my power to protect you, Naruto."
"Thank you." Naruto nodded in reply. But, he wasn't the one who needed protecting. It was others that needed protection from him.
"Oh, Obito!" Rin cried, moving forward to embrace her former team-mate. "It's so good to see you!"
"Rin..." Obito replied, returning her embrace, before moving to look her over. He couldn't help but reach out to touch her large rounded stomach. "Wow, you're... you're huge!"
"Yeah, I guess I am!" she laughed.
"Still as smoote as ever, I see." Kakashi mused moving to stand behind his wife.
"Hey, Kakashi." Obito grinned, shaking his former team-mates and rivals hand. "Not quite as nice to see you."
"Hn, likewise." Kakashi replied.
"It feels like forever since we've all been together like this." Obito sighed... all they were missing was Minato-sensei. "I want you all to meet my wife and daughter, Umeko and Aiko."
Rin beamed happily, stepping forward to take the Uchiha woman's hands in her own cheerfully. "I've heard so much about you!"
"And I you." Umeko replied, bowing respectfully. "I look forward to getting to know eachother during your time here."
"You are really round, when's you're baby coming?" Aiko asked Rin pointedly.
"Aiko!" Umeko hissed under her breath.
Rin smiled. "Soon, just a few months or so now. You must be Aiko-san, you're papa has told me all about you in his letters."
"That's right!" the little girl replied, before eyeing Katsu. "Is that your son?"
Rin glanced behind her and had to hold back a laugh at Katsu's embarrassed pout. "Yes, that's Katsu. I hope you two will be great friends... come say hello Katsu."
Katsu took a few steps forward till he was an arm's length away from the much shorter girl. "Hello."
"Hi." Aiko replied, not that impressed with having a boy as a new friend. She looked up at Naruto then curiously. "Who are you?"
"I'm Naruto." the blonde told her, giving her a toothy grin.
Aiko turned back to Rin. "Is he your son too?"
The small party all laughed at that, making the little girl blush.
"He might as well be." Kakashi chuckled.
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"Why does Father keep you in here?" Hanabi asked her.
"I suppose he is ashamed of me."
"Why?"
"Because I'm not strong."
...
The world had stopped spinning for her when her eyes fell upon the golden-haired boy that passed through the gate carrying the small child on his shoulders. Did he not feel it too? Could he not see that everything had changed?
The whole world had changed.
This boy, this new ward to Uchiha Obito... she could not explain it, but it was like the sun had risen at last over the dark horizon for the first time in seventeen years and cast its golden rays upon her to warm her cold pale skin. She suddenly felt alive in his presence, when she was sure she had been dead and dormant before.
Though, he didn't see her, he didn't even glance in her direction as he was greeted by Lord Madara and Lord Obito.
Well, really, what was there to look at anyway. She was not standing beside her father, she was not the heiress any longer. Hanabi was. She was just a dressed up ornament, a porcelain doll, nothing more. She had nothing more to offer their clan than that. She sighed a little too loudly, earning a warning sideways glance from her mother.
She chastised herself, turning her attention back to the young man with the golden locks and the whisker like scars.
"So, we welcome the demon fox with hugs and giggles. The Uchiha are as arrogant as ever if they think they can obtain him... he has had two incidents in the last year."
She glanced over at her cousin Neji, who stood on her other side, for it was he who had spoken. He was stoic as ever, his lip turned down in disapproval. "You'll do well to stay away from that monster, Hinata. You and Hanabi."
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.
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"Father... this clan... our family... our corruption is rotting this village from the inside out." Itachi spoke softly, as if his heart was breaking. at the mere concept.
"We can do nothing, we are but slaves to the system. Slaves to Madara..." Fugaku replied. "We can do nothing but survive."
"But..."
"We shall never speak of this again."
...
Uchiha Obito's home was a grand sight to behold, a tall white mansion, it's curved roof lined with black tiles and trimmed with gold filigry. The only house greater in Konoha was Lord Madara's himself. Itachi was led through the beautiful interior of the house by one of the maids toward the guest chambers. Then he found Lord Obito, entertaining his guests... The kyuubi vessel and his care-givers.
"Ah, come in, Itachi." Obito motioned when he spotted the ANBU captain. "Right on time, as always."
"Obito-sama." Itachi replied.
The Uchiha Lord then led him to stand before the Nine Tails Jinchuriki. "Naruto, this is Uchiha Itachi, he will serve as your body guard during your stay here."
"Er... uh... hi." the blonde boy greeted, slightly intimidated by the tall and stoic shinobi.
"Good evening, Naruto-san, I'll need you to come with me so you may know the perimeters of the grounds of the Uchiha Compound you are allowed to travel. Know that you'll be shadowed by one of my agents whenever you are to leave Obito-sama's home."
The teen did not look to pleased with that notion of being contained or shadowed, but only nodded in reply. "Alright. Can Katsu come along too?"
Itachi glanced down at the silver-haired boy, who was undoubtedly the offspring of Hatake Kakashi. "If his parents permit it."
"Please!" Katsu begged, turning to his parents who were still in the midst of unpacking their belongings.
"Very well," Kakashi consented, trusting Obito's judgement enough with the ANBU captain. "Look after him Naruto."
Itachi led the teen and the boy out to the gardens first, then the courtyard, then Madara's public grounds, these were places he could go at anytime and be protected by the ANBU and Madara's elite guards. Itachi then led them into the market, being very specific where and where not Naruto could venture. The streets were mildly busy with the content and unaware civilians, who lived their lives in ignorant bliss. Any against the Madara had long been weeded out. No one ever opposed Uchiha Madara. One only served him.
"You are permitted to travel into market whenever you wish, Naruto-san." he told the younger man. "I have sentinels placed in several look out points for just the occasion, however you must never go down allies or back roads, is that understood."
Naruto nodded in understanding. "Fair enough."
"Something smells really good!" Katsu gushed, lifting his nose to sniff the savory smells of the market.
"It's from the ramen stand, their serving lunch right now." Itachi informed the boy, trying to withhold a smile. The endearing little kid reminded him of Sasuke when he was young.
"Naruto!" Katsu whined. "Can we get some, please! I'll pay you back! I promise!"
"Alright, alright." Naruto agreed. "I am starving, I haven't had ramen in forever... do you mind if we take a little detour, Itachi?"
Itachi shook his head no. "No, that will be more than fine."
He watched over the two boys as they ordered their food and began to eat, keeping his keen senses alert. This new task, appointed by Lord Obito, was no small matter. If one thing were to go wrong, one misstep was taken, it would be the end of the Hidden Leaf. The fate of them all rested upon the protection and will of this boy that was barely a man.
Naruto glanced over at his new bodyguard. "Aren't you hungry?"
Itachi shook his head. "I'll eat with my squad later at the barracks, but thank you."
"Hey, Itachi-san,"
"Yes?" Itachi asked, turning his attention toward Katsu, who had just slurped up a noodle.
"That guy over there looks just like you"
Itachi glanced over his shoulder to see Sasuke making his way through the streets, the same bitter scowl he had been wearing over the last several months still ever present, his shoulders hunched up in disdain. It seemed he was moving home bound from the barracks.
"That's my brother." Itachi replied. "Sasuke."
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.
.
There were numerous healers within the medical facilities of the Uchiha Compound, for there were never any lack of injured ninja for them to care for, with both the ANBU Black Ops and the Shinobi Police Force being operated by the Uchiha. They were all dressed in a uniform of a gray kimono and white sash, their hair hidden by white linen, tied at the back of their heads. This was to show their humility and loyalty to Uchiha Madara and all the wounded that came into their care.
Though, gray never suited her.
Looking back, Sasuke could honestly say that he only took a seat at her station because it happened to be the first available to him.
Fate was funny thing.
The healer who came before him was different from everything he ever known. She was so youthful compared to the others, so vibrant, especially those eyes. They were green, ridiculously green. A unique bolt of color in a room of gray and white.
He was quiet, rigid, as she looked him over and tried not to wince at the pain from his knife wound as she quietly asked him to remove the under armor of his ANBU uniform.
If she was affected by the depth of his wound, or the display of his naked chest, she did not show it. Though, he could only imagine how many gruesome wounds and fully exposed bodies she had seen over the course of service. The pretty-eyed healer silently evaluated his condition before setting right to work, sterilizing her instruments and filling a basin of water to clean the deep gash.
Sasuke had been injured and in need of medical care numerous times in his years as an ANBU and his years as a genin, but never before did he watch a healer work on him so intently. Her graceful movements had a hypnotic affect on him. She was so annoyingly peculiar in her craft.
She couldn't have been much older than him and was easily the youngest of the medics present She had a cheerful air about her as she worked, seeming to be unaware of the corrupt world they were living in. He couldn't help but be a little annoyed and envious of her for that. Her white child-like hands were without tremor as she cleaned the dried blood and dirt from his severed skin. Even her touch was warm and comforting, calming his normally tense nerves.
She hardly spoke aside from asking whispered questions about how he obtained the wound, what kind of blade cut him open, and how long it had gone untreated. She kept her eyes downcast as she worked and whenever she spoke, very careful not to meet his gaze.
Healers did have their place, after all.
"You'll need stitches to avoid infection." she told him quietly, already preparing the needle and thread. "If you want, I can give you a remedy to help dull the pain."
He blinked a few times as he was drawn out if his thoughts.
Her gaze lifted to his carefully when he did not answer, which made whatever response he had conjured up die instantly on his lips. Her eyes having twice the effect on him when they looked into his own.
"Uchiha-san?" she asked softly, carefully.
He silently searched her gaze for a while, before he felt a sinking feeling within himself. While she had captured his unreserved attention, he must have been just like any other Uchiha she had ever healed before. How was he any different from the rest of his clan who meandered past her every day within the walls of this bleak compound?
"Uchiha-san?" she asked again, concern in her voice.
"Yes?" he forced out.
Her brows furrowed, ducking a little to better evaluate him. "Are you alright? You didn't receive a head injury on your mission as well did you?"
He withheld a grin. "No."
"...Well, I said that I'll need to give you stitches... It's a deep wound so it will take a while, do you wish for a remedy to help with the pain?"
He nodded. Usually he would turn the offer of any medication down to get out of the hospital faster, but something inside nagged him to stay. Something wanted to watch her work some more, so he did. She made a tincture with a mortar and pastel in a matter of minutes without the slightest bit of hesitation or awkwardness. He could see why she was brought to the hospital, despite her age, she had gift for medicine.
"...What's your name?" he asked her quietly, his eyes watching her intently.
"M-my name?"
He nodded slowly in reply, and he could see uncertainty flickering in her eyes before she lowered her gaze to the floor once more.
"...Sakura."
...
"Sasuke." his mother called to him. "Sasuke please eat something."
He walked past her and pulled on his flak jacket, avoiding her gaze as he had been avoiding his father's and his brother's. "I'm not hungry."
Uchiha Mikoto sighed heavily. "I haven't seen you eat for days and I know you've had trouble sleeping... please, I'm worried about you."
"Well don't." he replied coldly. "I don't need or want you to."
His mother recoiled as if he had slapped her and he could see tears forming in her eyes. Deep inside he was ashamed, but he was too angry and hurt to act upon it. "I'll be gone till late, don't wait up for me."
He walked out into the streets, his hands shoved in his pockets, and his gaze on the cobbled stone beneath his feet. The sky was gray and promised rain, the winter months were coming, and the cold air chilled him, even beneath his under armor and jacket.
He'd been so close. So close to escaping, to having the chance to find her... if it wasn't for Itachi he could have learned the truth by now... where they sent her and why she had been sent away. He never even had the chance to say goodbye...
Kami, he couldn't get her out of his head, he could not stop seeing her pretty smile flash before his eyes, he could still feel her gentle touch. Her memory plagued him night and day.
Where are you? he thought, defeated. People don't just disappear... What did they do to you?
In his pocket was the one piece he still had left of her, the paper note he had crumpled and smoothed over numerous times as the months had passed. The note that she did not even grace with her signature, where only two inky words were written:
Thank you.
All the pieces are coming together. MUHAHAHAHA!