The Kyuubi's Gift: Second Coming
Well, it's been a while, has it not? Nothing much I can say, besides I hope you guys like this chapter. I worked kind of hard on this one, and I had to re-write it like five different times, but I think this one was the best. Although it's a little strange, I hope it's still good! Enjoy!
Chapter II
Progress…
Grunting as I lean back on my hands, I use my strength to left my legs up quickly and bring my foot to Super Bushy Brow-sensei's face, sending him into the air, before I land in a crouch. Spinning, I trip Itachi-nii as he charges me, catching himself before my fist finds his chest, throwing him off balance before bringing my foot to his face, sending him spinning. I activate my Zekkougan (Perfect Eye) and lean forward as Hiashi-sensei almost lands a blow to my back, before forcing him to back off by bringing my foot up, giving me breathing room.
Getting into the Juuken (Gentle Fist), I charge him, trusting my palm forward and watching him lean. After getting into a little of a stalemate, he lands a solid blow on my chest, sending me back. Grunting as I slide back, I deactivate the Zekkougan and duck as Kakashi-sensei's foot goes flying over my head, before I bring my foot up, trying to connect with his chin before he leans back and grabs the foot, flinging me over his shoulder. Landing on my feet on a tree, I look up to see Kakashi-sensei following his throw with another attack. Smirking a little, I release the chakra in my feet, falling right before Kakashi-sensei's follow up lands. Jumping away from the tree, I turn and land, before jumping again at Kakashi-sensei. Knowing that he would be able to dodge this next punch, I decide to surprise them as I focus the max amount of chakra into fist as possible, and let my fist fly. Doing just as I predicted, I let the chakra explode out as my fist connects with the tree, smashing the part I hit to pieces, and making it fall over.
Looking over my shoulder, I could see the surprise written all over their faces.
"H-how…" Super Busy Brow-sensei stutters as the tree falls and causes a small shock along the ground.
Relaxing and loosening up my shoulder, I can only grin at their faces.
"Like? I've been working on it for the last three years, trying to mimic Tsunade's legendary technique, and I decided to show it to you guys."
The surprise quickly fades from Itachi-nii's face as he smiles as well, "Nice work Otouto, I didn't know you had that kind of control," Itachi-nii compliments, a small bit of pride in his eyes.
"Nice, Naruto," Kakashi-sensei says as he shakes the surprise, giving me an eye smile, "Your chakra control has greatly improved since we started training you."
"Yes, very impressive Naruto-kun! You're fiery spirit shines through the training taken to master such a difficult technique!" Super Bushy Brow-sensei yells with his usual vigor.
"Hmm, with your control now, you could easily learn Hakkeshou Kaiten (Eight Trigrams Palms Heavenly Spin)," Hiashi-sensei comments, with a small smile on his face.
All of a sudden, all of our attention is diverted to the clapping coming from nearby, only to see Ojii-sama.
"That was very impressive Naruto. You're training with these four has been very fruitful," He says with his usual, kind, smile.
"Thanks, Jii-sama!" I yell out with my usual vigor.
"Not to mention, you've gotten a lot better, I remember when we started training; you couldn't even make it to a minute. Now look at you! That spar was at least thirty minutes," Kakashi-sensei says happily.
"Yeah, but if you guys were to go all out, and I did too, I'd still get my ass handed to me," I say, my grin not faltering, knowing that that would change eventually.
"Oh, well, I should get going home, I promised Sasuke that I would teach him something," Itachi-nii says, before disappearing in a poof of smoke.
"Okay, I guess that's all for today, thanks again for the training, and see you tomorrow!" I yell as the others bow before leaving, only me and Ojii-sama in the clearing now.
"You're training is going great, but it never seems to show during school, why is that, Naruto?" He asks as he takes out his pipe and lights it.
Walking over and leaning against a tree, I sigh, "Because, if I continue like this, it's guaranteed that I'll be on Sasuke, and Sakura's team, and also because I don't anybody to know that I'm this good. It'd only attract attention."
"True, true," He says as he walks over and joins me against the tree, "But I know it's hard for you to sit by and watch you're self get shown up by Sasuke. Again," He says, and I chuckle.
"That's obvious, but if I want things to be as they were last time, I have to keep this charade up. If I stopped now, someone would get suspicious, and Sakura's mother might pull her from the academy. It might be safer for her, but she lives near the gates, and that section of the village was destroyed during the Sand/Sound invasion." I explain, and the old man nods his understanding.
"I think this training is really helping. By the time the Akatsuki come, you should be at least able to hold them off, until somebody shows up." Ojii-sama comments, changing the subject, causing me to chuckle.
(Three years earlier)
"So, Jii-sama, what did you…" I trail off as I enter the office, seeing Itachi, Kakashi-sensei, Hiashi-sama, and Super Bushy Brow-sensei standing there.
"Ah, just on time Naruto. I would like you to meet you're new sensei," he says with a smile, while Hiashi-sama turns back to Ojii-sama.
"No offense, Hokage-sama, but this is the child you were talking about? I do not wish to be rude, and I don't take offense to his condition, but what would I have to teach Naruto? My only specialty is the Juuken." At this, I was raising my brow as well at Ojii-sama.
"And that's exactly what I want from you," he replies with a smile. "You see, Naruto has somewhat of a new Kekkei Genkai (Blood Inheritance Limit), and it is my wish that you four will train him to use it to its full potential."
At this point, Super Bushy Brow-sensei had turned to Ojii-sama, and was now giving him the 'Nice Guy' pose. "If his youthful spirit is strong enough, then I will gladly train this boy to my best ability!"
At this, Ojii-sama smiles, before looking at Itachi, "Do you have any problem, Itachi?"
"No, none at all, I'd quite enjoy training Naruto, actually," He says, a small smile flashing over his face, before Hiashi-sama sighs, catching Ojii-sama's attention.
"Well, if this boy can learn the Juuken with his own Kekkei Genkai, then I accept. This boy looks like he needs some discipline anyway," He says, eyeing me, making me grin.
"You have any objections, Kakashi?" Itachi asks, raising a brow at the ex-ANBU.
"No, not in particular; and it seems to me that it'll be more fun then dealing with the Gennin."
"Then its official, Uzumaki Naruto is now apprentice to all of you until further notice!"
(Now)
"Oh well, what do you plan on doing about the invasion? You should be preparing now, as the early bird gets the worm." I ask, hearing the Hokage chuckle.
"I have the seats in the Chuunin stadium being built so that they can fall out and the villagers lead to a safe place. I plan to have ANBU at the sites where the summoning of the three-headed snake is to take place, to keep it from happening. I'm planning a new evacuation plan to help the villagers, and students, escorted to safety quicker the before, and am insuring most of the houses within the danger area are insured." He explains, causing me to nod.
"Although I still haven't a clue about what to do about the fight with Orochimaru," He says with a sigh, and it's my turn to chuckle.
"Leave that to me, I'm sure I'll have an idea by then, and a few techniques to help you with the undead Hokage," I explain while standing up and stretching. "Well, I better get going, I need sleep if I'm to stay awake during class, and have enough energy to train with Super Bushy Brow-sensei!" I say, grinning before running off towards my apartment.
I couldn't help but sigh to prepare for the long day ahead of me. The villagers had been waiting for me to get home, because I received the worst beating yet. Of course, Itachi-nii interrupted them about half-way through, apologizing for being late on his shift. I forgave him; it wasn't his fault after all.
Sliding the door, I shuffle into the room with a yawn, heading for my seat in the back next to the window, and Shikamaru. Ignoring the usual taunts and yelling, I sit at my desk before setting my head down and resting my eyes.
Hearing the click of the door to the class room closing, the instant silence in the room, I deduce that Iruka-sensei has walked into the room. A moment later, I hear the whizzing of something flying through the air, and on instinct, because I'm so tired, I catch the chalkboard eraser without lifting my head, before hearing the gasp and realizing that that was bad.
Lifting my head, and deciding to play it cool, I tell Iruka-sensei, "Please don't throw stuff, I had a rough not and wasn't able to get that much sleep."
I could see the shock quickly before Iruka-sensei shook it off and glared at me, "I'm sorry Naruto, but you need to stay awake."
Sighing, I lean back in my chair before Iruka-sensei starts the class, and I dose slightly.
"Wake up Naruto, were supposed to go outside," I hear voice call out to me, and open my eyes to see Shikamaru standing there in his usual hunch. Standing up and yawning, I grin.
"Thanks Shikamaru, I just didn't get a lot of sleep last night," I explain, and he nods before I start to follow him out of the class.
Deciding to start a conversation, I speak up. "Hey, you like shougi, right?"
I see Shikamaru look over his shoulder at me, before responding with an obvious yes.
"Then, during the weekend, meet me up at the top of the Hokage monument, and we'll play a game. All you have to do is come; I'll bring the refreshments and the board!" I say, giving him a grin, and watching him throw another glance over his shoulder.
"I'm sorry Naruto, but you don't seem to the type that would be good at shougi, and not to brag, but I'm really good," He says in his usual bored tone, and I chuckle.
"Only one way to find out," I reply, before walking ahead of him and out into the field, where the rest of the class was waiting for us.
"Okay, good, we have the entire class here." Iruka-sensei announces, getting the class' attention. "Today is a special training at the request of the Hokage," He says, and I perk up a little; "We will be sparring with other students from the class today. The Hokage asked that everyone please don't hold back, but not to use deadly force either."
I couldn't help but sigh at the underlying message to me. 'Try, but don't hurt anybody.'
"We will be drawing to see who's first, and who your sparring partner is," He says as he walks by holding a box, each student picking a number. Unfurling my piece, I smirk as I have a piece that has one written on it.
"Would the students with one step up, please," He says, and I take a step forward, Sakura-chan following the same action.
Great, just great, I have to spar seriously, and it's Sakura-chan that I have to spar with.
Just don't go too hard on her, it's not like you have to hurt her.
True, true, and I might be able to find out how everyone else has progressed.
Popping my neck as we get to the center of the clearing, I'm a bit taken back when Sakura-chan enters a vaguely familiar stance.
That stance…
Grinning, and surprising Iruka-sensei and most of the class, I charge her, deciding to test out the Taijutsu (Body Technique), and find out if it was the one I thought it was. Throwing a deliberately easy to read punch, Sakura-chan side steps it before using one hand to lower my arm, and the other to deliver a quick palm to my face. I could've blocked it, but most would've been caught by it, so I decided against it.
Smirking, I see the surprise on Sakura-chan's face.
"Not bad, Sakura-chan," I declare, before I leap at her quickly, throwing a quick and brutal kick, and watch as Sakura-chan ducks. Smirking, I complete Konoha Daisenpu (Leaf Great Whirlwind) by quickly following with another kick, aim lower then the first, watching as Sakura-chan guards and is only sent skidding back.
Because of her stance, she was able to guard the second blow. This is definitely the stance I remember. It's the Taigaken (River Fist), named so because of its incredible flexibility, and beauty.
"Taigaken…" I whisper as she looks taken back again. "Where in the world did you learn such an advanced Taijutsu?"
Standing up again, she regains her stance and glares at me.
"Defeat me and I might tell you," She says, and I grin. Charging at her again, I throw a punch, which she easily deflects, before bringing my palm towards her face, to which she merely leans back before bringing her own leg up. Using the arm that was deflected, I block the kick and grab her leg, before throwing my own kick which she grabs as well.
"This is weird," I mumble, a sweat drop appearing on my forehead before I let go of her leg and spin, causing her to release my foot. Grinning, and still on my hands, I bring my heel down on her exposed stomach, causing her to flinch as I stand up before jumping with excessive force, causing her to land on the ground. Hard.
"I see you still haven't mastered it yet, but it's still pretty good," I comment as I turn around and see her getting up. Raising my eyebrow, I can only smile at her determination. As she gets up, I can see her getting into an altered version of the stance, sparking my interest. Deciding to see what this one could do, and throwing caution to the wind, I charge her, throwing a normal right hand punch. Big mistake on my part.
I can only watch in amazement at this next display of unexpected skill. Using the hand that is closer to me, which is her left, she deflects the blow by pushing my forearm, before spinning her palm and grabbing my forearm. After doing so, she uses her other hand to press against my elbow, keeping my arm straight, and using her right leg to trip me. After planting her right foot firmly to the ground, she raises her left leg over my head before bringing it down and catching my head between her thighs. Of course, my line of vision was focused towards the ground; thank god for that or I would've been called a pervert.
In the background, I can hear Iruka-sensei started the countdown.
"One…"
"Escape this hold, Naruto," Sakura-chan demands all of a sudden, catching my attention.
"Two…"
"What makes you think I can?" I reply.
"Three…"
"From the way you were fight back there," She replies, and edge to her voice that I was very familiar with from my earlier days.'
"Four…"
"Very funny Sakura-chan, the only thing I did back there that had any skill in it at all was that Konoha Daisenpu," I respond, hearing her growl.
"Five…"
"You KNEW about the Taigaken, meaning that you would most likely know other Taijutsu," She says, a growl to her voice, making me chuckle.
"Six…"
"That maybe so, but what makes you think I have the skill to escape this hold?"
"Seven…"
"You could probably just brute you're way out," She says.
"Eight…"
"Maybe…" I respond, hearing her growl again.
"Nine…"
"Naruto…" She growls lightly, and I can tell that she's almost at her peak.
"TEN! Haruno Sakura is the winner!" Iruka-sensei calls and I chuckle.
"Too late," I say with a grin.
"Butthead," She curses as she squeezes my head and presses on my elbow before letting go, causing me to flinch.
"That hurt Sakura-chan," I pout as I sit cross-legged, before grinning as she glares back at me.
"You were holding back, weren't you!?" She exclaims, and, looking around, I realize this isn't the best place. Standing up, I walk over to her, before whispering.
"Yes, I was. And, as an apology, how about I treat you to something to eat? If you want that is. Meet me after school at the swing if you do," I whisper, before walking over to the group and watching the rest of the fights.
Yawning as the bell for after school detention rings, I get up before grabbing my backpack and heading out the door.
"See you tomorrow, Iruka-sensei!" I call over my shoulder, grinning.
"See you Naruto, and try to stay out of trouble," He says, giving a small smile in return.
"You're late," I hear a familiar voice call, and look over to see Sakura-chan sitting on the swing.
"Well, I actually didn't expect you to accept. I thought you'd blow me off, everyone else does," I say as I shrug and start to walk, and she's on my heels immediately.
"So, you were holding back during that fight, weren't you?" She asks, seemingly calmer then before.
"Yes, I was, but let's talk about that in a more private place. Does ramen sound good to you?" I ask, changing the subject and seeing her roll her eyes.
"I guess…"
"Don't worry, it's on me, and if anybody asks, I'll just tell them that I lost something and you returned, so I was treating you to some food. We'll talk about it when we get there, okay?" I ask, and she looks at me strangely, before sighing and nodding.
Seeing as Ichiraku ramen is a decent walk away, we weren't half-way there before Sakura-chan starts to notice the whispering and the glaring in our direction. I sigh as I quickly think of a way to distract her from them.
"So, who taught you that Taijutsu?" I ask out of the blue, and she looks surprised, before putting on a prideful smile.
"My dad made it!" She declares, and I'm already thinking.
"You're father is Takaharu Makoto?" I ask, and she smiles and nods.
"Yep! Except, he only goes by Takaharu on missions! He adopted my mom's last name…" She says, cheerful at the beginning of the sentence, before dying off.
"What's wrong, Sakura-chan?" I ask, worried, before she looks up at me and stops, seemingly examining me.
"My…" She trails off, "Mom left me and my dad two years ago, over a fight about a demon or something." She says, her head hanging, and I can't help the pang of guilt the flashes across my heart.
"My, mom kept calling the kid a demon, and my dad kept calling him a hero, until eventually they just left each other. I stayed with my dad, but they haven't divorced yet, and I'm hoping that they might get back together," She explains, her eyes still downcast, and I can't help what I do next.
Walking up to her, I place my finger under her chin before lifting her eyes level with mine.
"I'm sorry Sakura-chan," I say, and she gives me a surprised look.
"It's not your fault, so don't apologize," She says, putting on a fake smile.
"It is my fault," I say clearly, nothing on my face saying otherwise. "I'm the kid they were talking about," I explain, and I see her eyes grow wide, and the hurt in them is obvious.
"If you hate me now, I don't mind," I proclaim, plastering on a giant fake grin. "I'm used to it."
At this, her eyes grow even wider, and tears brim as she stares at me for what seems like forever.
"Y-you're… used to being… hated?" She asks all kinds of emotions flashing through her eyes, before she gives a sudden cry and tackles me with a hug, surprising me enough to lose my footing, causing us to crash to the ground.
"I'm so sorry Naruto!" She says into my chest as she cries there, surprising me even more. Realizing this isn't the best place, or time for this, I get up quickly, using Shunshin (Body Flicker) to move us instantly to a more private place.
Still surprised at these turn of events, I realize that Sakura-chan is still crying into my chest, and I decide to wrap my arms around her in a hug.
"Why are you sorry?" I ask, seeing her look up at me with red-puffy eyes from crying.
"Because, you said you're used to being hated, and I was always one of the cruelest to you!" She says, hiccupping here and there, and I can't help but give her a small, genuine smile.
"I've never blamed you for that, Sakura-chan," I say, and she looks up at me with surprise, before burying her head in my jacket again.
"Mom was wrong about you…" She says into my chest and I almost don't catch it.
"You're too nice to be a monster…" She whispers, and once again, I'm surprised. Smiling, I tighten my hug a little, before hearing something and pushing Sakura-chan behind me to defend her, catching her off guard.
"What are you doing with this demon, kid?" A Chuunin asks, coming from the bushes.
"Naruto is not a demon!" She responds angrily, glaring at him and stepping out from behind me.
"Huh, what did you do to her, demon? Brainwash her? Trick her?" He asks, and looking to my side, I see Sakura-chan getting angrier.
"He did not!" She yells.
"Heh, you wouldn't know if you were brainwashed anyways. You're just a stupid little kid, and his a bastard demon," He says, and now my anger has just been riled at the comment about Sakura-chan.
"Please! Naruto's a thousand times nicer then you are!" She claims, and my anger spikes when I see him raise his hand.
"Don't you DARE, harm Sakura-chan," I growl, my hand around his wrist, before I throw him at a nearby tree.
"Stand back, Sakura-chan," I say calmly, watching the Chuunin get up and glare at me.
"You're going to pay for that, demon!" He yells charging me.
Activating the Zekkougan, I glare right back. "Just try it," I threaten as he throws a punch, in his rage forgetting basic Taijutsu. Just rolling my eyes, I side step the punch, before knee him in the stomach and causing him to back off. Jumping in the air, I bring up my right leg, before bringing it down on his school as he regains balance, causing him to bend as if bowing. Landing, I bring my opposite leg up, punting him and sending him flying back. As he barely lands with any balance, I'm already at his face, fist charged with Chakra. I could tell he could sense it as he closes his eyes, and I stop my fist right at his forehead. Smirking as he opens an eye, I flick him the same way Tsunade-baa-chan flicked me and send him flying.
Just as he's trying to get up again, seeing as he landed against a tree, I step on his chest.
"You and your friends can beat on my all you want, but when you raise your hand against my friends, that's where I draw the line," I growl, watching as he starts to crawl away, before getting up and running.
Sighing, I turn around and see Sakura-chan standing there, mouth ajar in amazement.
"That was amazing Naruto!" She whispers, looking at me with astonishment.
"Not really, he forgot his most basic Taijutsu, so it wasn't that hard to beat him," I counter, watching her glare at me slightly.
"Geez, can't you even take a compliment?" She asks, and I laugh.
"Okay, I guess it was pretty cool," I say, and she smiles.
"That's better!" She proclaims, and I chuckle.
"Well, I still owe you that ramen, if you still want it," I say, and she smiles and nods.
"Better then just sitting around the house and waiting for dad to get home."
Nodding I go up to her and pick her up bridal style, and use Shunshin to appear in front of Ichiraku, before placing her on the ground, not missing the blush on her face.
"You're late, Otouto," Itachi-nii says as I enter, Sakura-chan right behind me.
"Sorry Itachi-nii, I kind of got held up," I say as I hop on a stool, Sakura hopping on the one next to me.
"Don't tell me-," Starts saying, and grave look on his face before I grin and interrupt him.
"No, actually this time it was the other way around, he raised his hand against Sakura-chan," I say, and he looks a little surprised, before looking past me at Sakura-chan.
"Hm, Sasuke mentioned a Haruno Sakura once," He says, and Sakura-chan perks up.
"You know Sasuke-kun?" She asks, and I grin.
"Actually, Itachi-nii is his older brother!" I proclaim, and she gets a confused look on her face.
"Then, why do you call Naruto otouto?" She asks, and I look at Itachi-nii before looking back at her.
"Don't ask me," I mumble as Itachi-nii scratches the back of his head.
"I call him Otouto, because he doesn't have a family, and we're close," He explains, and Sakura-chan all of a sudden has a crestfallen look on her face.
"Oh," She says, "I forgot you didn't have a family Naruto…" She says, and I just laugh, causing her to look up at me.
"Well, with friends like Itachi-nii, I'm pretty sure I know what a family feels like," I say, and she smiles a little.
"Are you going to introduce us to you're new friend, Naruto?" Kakashi-sensei asks as he enters as well, followed by Hiashi-sensei and Super Bushy Brow-sensei.
"Oh, that's right; I haven't formally introduced you guys yet!" I exclaim, Sakura-chan examining the new comers.
"Guys, this is my classmate, Haruno Sakura! Sakura-chan, this is Uchiha Itachi, the strongest Uchiha," I say as I point at Itachi-nii, bowing his head a little.
"Nice to meet you, Itachi-san," She says, giving a small, shy smile.
"This is Hatake Kakashi, also know as the Copy Ninja," I introduce, while Kakashi looks up from his book and gives an eye smile.
"Hello, Hatake-san," She says timidly.
"Kakashi's fine," He says, before look back at his book.
"This is Maito Gai, but I just call him Super Bushy Brow-sensei," I say, grinning as she snickers at the nickname.
"Hello Maito-san," She says, still snickering, but, like always, Super Bushy Brow-sensei doesn't seem to mind, or notice.
"Yosh! Such youthfulness is inspiring! It is nice to meet you Sakura-chan!" He says excitedly, causing me to chuckle.
"And last, but not least, is Hyuuga Hiashi, head of the Hyuuga clan and Hinata-chan's father," I say with a grin, and Sakura-chan bows.
"Nice to meet you, Hiashi-sama," She says, and Hiashi-sensei bows as well, giving a small smile.
"Nice to meet you too, Haruno-san," He replies, and I grin.
"Okay! Time for ramen!" I yell almost, hearing the others sigh.
"That was really fun! Kakashi-kun is actually kinda funny!" She says a grin on her face as she walks backwards as I'm walking her home.
"Yeah, he can be sometimes, but truth me told, Kakashi-sensei is kind of lazy," I say, and she giggles.
"I can see that."
Scrunching up my face, I realize something. "You know, no more then, what, five hours ago? You were kind of being cold to me, and now, you're acting like we've been friends for a while," I point out, and her smile kind of falters before she turns around.
"It's just; I don't have any real friends, not since I kind of messed up my friendship with Ino over Sasuke-kun," She explains, and I nod my head even though she can't see it. "I'm normally shy when meeting new people, or mean, because of that, but, I, feel like I can trust you, Naruto," She says as she looks over and gives me a small smile, causing me to give her one too.
"I'm glad to hear that," I respond, and she turns around and gives me hug.
"Thanks, Naruto. I haven't had this much fun in a long time…" She says, and I chuckle.
"Well, anytime you want to hang out, just meet me at the swing after school," I say and she smiles as she pulls away.
"That sounds great!" She says, and she turns around and sighs.
"Well, here we are, my house," She says, turning around and smiling.
"See you tomorrow, Naruto." She says, before heading towards her door, before her dad opens it, and I'm frozen.
H-he's, Sakura-chan's father... Was my last thought before I black out…
(7 Years after Naruto's birth)
Why? Why me? What did I do to them? I cry in my head as I run from the pursuing Jounin, three of them, I think.
Taking a left and not paying attention, I can only whimper as I run into a dead end, and curl up into a ball as I prepare for the beating that ensues.
"Leave this boy alone," I hear all of a sudden, and I look up to find a black-haired man with his back to me. He was fairly tall, and he was wearing a Jounin flack jacket, causing me to look at him in confusion. No one besides Jii-chan had defended me before.
I was too much in a daze to really listen to the conversation, all I know is that he's defending me, and before long, it's three on one. I could only stare on in disbelief as this person FOUGHT for me!
That's when I noticed one of the other Jounin standing back, preparing a whole bunch of weapons, and he throws them, at me. And I'm too afraid to move, before my very eyes, the same man that defended me takes them all, before falling on his knees.
"Are you okay!?" I yell as I run up to him, completely forgetting about the three Jounin, who, realizing that they've just attack one of their own ninja, run for it. He was covered with a huge amount of weapons, but, he was smiling at me, and I notice he has very deep, rare green eyes.
"You okay, Naruto-kun?" He asks, and I can barely give him a nod before his eyes close and he falls backwards. Panicking, I start to shake him, not understanding what's happening, and why he wasn't waking up.
"Wake up! Why won't you wake up?" I cry, tears streaming from my eyes as he doesn't even move, and he starts to turn pale and cold.
"No, don't leave me, what if they come back, I don't want to get hurt again," I say, not realizing that there was someone behind me, before he speaks.
"He's dead, Naruto," Jii-chan says as I look over my shoulder and give him a confused look.
"Dead?"
"He's not going to wake up, ever; he sacrificed his life, to save you, Naruto…" He explains, and tears start to well in my eyes even more as it dawns on me.
"H-he died for me…" I whisper, and I burst out crying, not caring if anyone saw.
"WHY!? WHAT DID I DO FOR HIM!?" I yell, and I feel Jii-chan's hand on my shoulder.
"He did it, because he believed that you were a hero, Naruto, just like I do," He says, and I look at me, tears still streaming.
"Hero?" I ask, and I feel a sudden anger boil inside of me at the thought of ME, being a hero.
"I'M NO HERO! ALL I DO IS HURT PEOPLE! EVERYBODY AROUND ME HATES ME, OR SAYS I'VE TAKEN THEIR FAMILY! HOW CAN A DEMON LIKE ME BE A HERO!?" I yell, and I see the look of sorrow on his face at my words. Turning back to the man on the ground, I start to scream at him.
"WHY DID YOU DEFEND ME? I'M A DEMON; I DON'T DESERVE TO BE SAVED!" I continue to yell, the anger at the villagers, the anger at myself, and the anger at everything bad just coming out now as self-loathing.
"WWWWWHHYYYYYYYYYYYYY!?" I let out in a long, sorrowful scream.
"WWWWWHHHHHYYYYYY!?" I scream as I sit up abruptly, sweat covering my body.
"Calm down Naruto! It was just a dream!" I hear Sakura-chan exclaim, grabbing my shoulders and shaking me a little, causing me to realize I'm not in my apartment.
Lying back down, I grab my head as a slight headache starts to bother me.
"Is this you're house, Sakura-chan?" I ask, looking at her and watching her nod, before she looks over her shoulder.
"Dad, could you bring something warm to drink for Naruto?" She ask, and I hear a yeah from the kitchen. A moment later, the man from my dreams, apparently Makoto walks into the room with a mug in his hand, and a smile on his face.
"Here, drink this Naruto-kun, it'll make you feel better," He says as I sit up straight and accept the mug with a bow of my head before taking a long swallow.
"Were you having a nightmare Naruto? You kept rolling and mumbling in your sleep…" Sakura-chan asks a look of concern on her face.
"Yeah, something like that…" I mumble, staring at Makoto, causing him to chuckle nervously.
"Thanks…" I say, and his smile grows a little bigger.
"No problem Naruto-kun, when you just suddenly fainted, Sakura kind of freaked out," He explains, and I look at Sakura-chan to see her looking away and blushing a little.
Sighing, I look down and into the hot chocolate, the memories flashing through my mind.
This man, he saved me all that time ago, and because of me, Sakura-chan was left fatherless…
Don't think like that kit, he did it because he thought it was the right thing, doubting one's will is very disrespectful Naruto.
I know Kyu-kun, I know, it's just, I'm surprised that he's Sakura-chan's father is all…
"So, this nightmare, mind telling us what it was about?" Makoto all of a sudden asks, catching me off guard and causing me to chuckle nervously myself.
"Just, a normal bad dream is all, I have them all the time," I explain, and I could see that he wasn't pleased by that answer.
"It couldn't have just been a normal nightmare, Naruto, you woke up screaming with a look of, what I could only call, pure sorrow on you're face," Sakura-chan reasons, giving me that look that tells me she knows I'm lying.
"Don't worry, it was nothing, it's over now, and done with, so lets forget about it," I say, trying to avoid talking about the subject, and I could see from the look on Sakura-chan's face that she wanted to keep prying, but Makoto stopped her.
"Well, if you don't want to talk about it, that's your business, but I'm sure Sakura and I are ready and willing to listen to what you have to say at anytime, Naruto-kun," He says, giving me a fatherly smile, and I can't help but grin back. Finishing my hot chocolate, I stand up and stretch.
"Well, I better get going, it's going to be dark soon, and I need to get going," I say, and Sakura-chan stands up too, glaring at me.
"NO way, Naruto," She says, her dad and I giving her a strange look. "You live alone, right? And you probably don't eat healthily, right?" She asks, and I nod, dumbfounded at her attitude.
"Then you're staying here." She says, and her father and I once again, just gap at her.
"We have an extra room, my dad always cooks a nutritious dinner and breakfast, and it's just not right for a nine year old to be living by himself," She says with conviction, leaving me with very little too say.
"But don't you need you're father's permission?" I ask, too surprised by this turn of events to do anything else.
"I wouldn't mind at all, actually," He says all of a sudden, giving me a smile.
I could only stand their, dumbfounded.
"Then it's been decided! You'll be living with us from here on!" Sakura-chan proclaims with an air of victory about her.
Sighing, I resign to just letting it happen, realizing that Sakura-chan was too stubborn to argue with.
"Well, I still need to get my stuff…" I say, and Sakura-chan is already at the door, smiling.
"Then let's go get your stuff!" She says, causing me to laugh before walking to the door myself.
"I guess we'll be back in an hour, and sorry for any inconvenience," I apologize, kind of, before he gives me a smile and waves us off.
As we're walking to my place, it was kind of hard to miss the awkward silence. Neither of us wanted to talk, and I couldn't understand that on Sakura-chan's part.
"Just to let you know, this doesn't mean I like you!" She blurts out all of a sudden, and I dawns on me, making me chuckle.
"I know, I know, you like Sasuke," I amend for her, and she smiles before giving me a nod, walking backwards again.
"You know, one of these times you're going to bump into something," I say offhandedly and she giggles.
"That's why you're not walking backwards, to keep me from bumping something," She explains, and I just shake my head.
"Hm, this is taking too long," I mumble to myself, and stop, Sakura-chan noticing and stopping too.
"What was that, Naruto?" She asks, not mad or anything, just curious.
"I said this was taking too long, a few of the more rowdy, and drunk, villagers come out about now, so we need to get there quickly," I explain, and she gets a worried look on her face at the prospect.
"So, to get there quickly, you need to hold on to me," I explain, and she looks a little surprised at that, before blushing and walking over and wrapping her arms around my mid section, see as I'm taller then her this time around, thank god.
Considering how far my place was, I concentrate quite a bit of chakra before using the Shunshin, reaching my house in a matter of seconds.
"You can let go now, Sakura-chan," I say, and she's already scrambling away, most likely in embarrassment.
"So, what do I need to bring?" I ask, and she shakes her head before saying I just need the necessities, clothes, bed sheets, pjs, and maybe anything else I had of value.
"Simple enough…" I mutter, before making, most likely, my most used seal, "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu (Shadow Clone Technique)!" I call, and I see Sakura-chan's jaw drop to the floor.
"K-kage Bunshin!?" She asks, dumbfounded, and I chuckle.
"Yeah, it's actually not that hard for me, the real challenge is still the Bunshin no Jutsu (Clone Technique), I have WAY TOO much chakra to do it correctly, even with my really good chakra control," I explain as she can just gap at the Kage Bunshin running around the house gathering my stuff and sealing them in scrolls.
"B-but this is a B-rank technique, this shouldn't even be possible for an academy student!" She exclaims, and I chuckle.
"Well, I'm no ordinary academy student, am I?" I ask, and she gaps at me, before the clones come to me, each giving me a scroll, before dispersing themselves.
"But you have to keep this a secret, you can't let anybody know that I know this, otherwise I'd just be in more trouble from the villagers," I say, and that knocks her out of her revere.
"Why," She starts, and I turn around to look at her, "Do the villagers hate you?" She asks, and I flinch, expecting this question.
"Lets just say, that their blind to the truth," I respond, and she kind of glares at me.
"And I plan to save them from it, and from anything else" I add, and she looks like she's just been slapped.
"Save them? Even though they hate you, you want to save them?" She asks, and I chuckle.
"Everybody needs a savior now and then, even if they don't realize it," I hand out this sage advice, giving her my old grin. Watching her reaction, I can only grin a little wider when she returns my grin with a smile.
"Well, we should get going back," I say, before I notice a shadow in the corner, and I'm in between the shadow and Sakura-chan in a defensive stance in an instant.
"Don't worry, Naruto," It says as Itachi-nii steps out of the shadow with his crow ANBU mask on.
"Don't scare me like that Itachi-nii, I thought you were a threat," I say, loosening my guard, and hearing Sakura-chan let out a breath behind me.
"Sorry, but I was just wondering where you were going with all your stuff…" He trails off, and I can just feel the curious glance his giving me from behind that mask.
"Eh heh heh, Sakura-chan's forcing me to live her and her father…" I explain, and the confusion comes off him in waves.
"Forcing you?" He asks, and I chuckle.
"Not really much choice in the matter when Sakura-chan's made up her mind, she's kind of stubborn," I explain, and I feel the smack to the back of my head.
"Ah, well, if you're moving to different living conditions, I'm pretty sure we should inform the Hokage," Itachi-nii says, and I give him a grin.
"I know, but let me drop my stuff off at Sakura-chan's first," I explain, and he nods before disappearing in a flash of leaves. A moment later, I feel Sakura-chan wrap her arms around my torso again, and smile a little before using the Shunshin to appear in front of her house, before handing her the scrolls.
"Drop this off in my room, I need to go with Itachi-nii to tell Ojii-sama," I say, before disappearing and appearing in Ojii-sama's room, Itachi-nii already there.
"Itachi was just informing me off your new living conditions," Jii-sama says, that same smile on his face, and I chuckle.
"Yeah, Sakura-chan kind of forced me to," I explain, walking up to his desk, rubbing the back of my head.
"Well, I have no problem with it, as long as her father doesn't mind either," He says, and I give him a grin.
"He's already said yes," I say, and he nods, before waving Itachi-nii off.
"You know who he is, right?" He asks, and I flinch a little.
"Yeah, I remember," I respond, looking anywhere but at him.
"When that happened, I almost thought you had cracked, you were quiet for the entire academy year, but you started to become your old self again, so I was happy. How is this going to affect you? Living with the first person you saw die…" He asks, and I take a deep breath.
"I don't thin it'll affect me all that much, he's alive now, and now I can repay him…" I say, and Ojii-sama gives me a nod, before sighing.
"Okay then, but I'm sure he wouldn't want you to repay him, if he'd remembered," He says, and I nod before getting out of there, and back to Sakura-chan's house, and knocking on the door.
"You know, you don't have to knock, this is now also your house too," Makoto says as he answers the door, and I grin.
"Sorry, kind of an old habit, knocking at other people's houses," I say, walking in after him and closing the door.
"Well, I take it you got permission? Seeing as how a whole squad of ANBU just perched themselves outside," He says, and I chuckle.
"You noticed, eh? I used to get a lot of beatings, sometimes still do, but they slowed it from a daily thing to a monthly thing," I explain, sitting down on the couch and letting my head rest over the back of it, closing my eyes.
"Sakura's taking a shower, so I wouldn't suggest going in there unless you want to be beaten to death," He says, uncomfortable with the current subject, with a nervous chuckle, and I laugh too, knowing that's pretty much how it would turn out. A moment later, and I hear something flying through the air and I catch it, lifting my head and looking at the key in my hand.
"Just in case you're ever locked out of the house," He explains with a smile, and I smile in return.
"Hey, dad, Naruto back ye-," She says, walking out of the bathroom in nothing but a towel wrapped around her, causing her to blush before running back in the bathroom.
"She's not used to other guys being over," He explains, and I laugh, before stretching my neck and standing.
"I'm going upstairs to my room, Sakura-chan, so you can come out in a minute," I yell loud enough for her to hear, and I hear a small okay in response.
Heading up the stairs, I go the door that was slightly ajar, and peek in and see it's my new room, just a plain sky blue wall and a single window, making me smile as I enter and close the door behind me.
Taking my time to unseal and set up everything in the room, I can only grin as the once plain room was now transformed into my own little haven.
"Nice," I hear behind me, and turn around to see Sakura-chan leaning on the door frame and smiling at the set up.
"Thanks, just a bunch of stuff I like," I say, and she rolls her eyes at the obvious.
"Well, I'm heading off to bed, just to let you know, and I always take a shower in the morning, so enter at your own risk," She says with a small grin, and I chuckle nervously before she goes into the room across the hall.
"Night, Naruto," She says, before closing the door behind her.
Closing my own door, and lying on my shuriken printed bed sheets, I can only let out a sigh.
"This'll be interesting…"
Review, and whatnot...
Now, I hope this chapter was realistic (As realistic as it can get, seeing as it's Naruto AND fanfiction), and that it didn't disappoint. This chapter was more aimed at the emotional aspect of Sakura and Naruto, at least, I hope that's how it comes across. I just pray to god this chapter wasn't horrible, because I myself haven't had any experience when it comes to these kind of things, and I just had to go on what I THOUGHT, would happen in these kinds of situations, at the appropriate ages. If it comes across as stupid, or unrealistic, that's probably because I have a very twisted since of reality, or mentality. For those of you who enjoyed this, thank you! That's really all there is to say, I guess.
Thank you, those of you who decided to review. And thank you those of you who give me constructive criticism. And thank you those of you who just read!
