I do not own Naruto (much to my dismay)
Sorry it took so long... without further adew, here comes chapter 3.
Bonding
Nartuo was dreaming, or so it seemed to the outside world. In reality, while his body rested he was learning some things from his father, as well as asking questions no one else could answer.
"Why do we have to train in Kyuubi's chamber?"
"We don't, your mind is responsible. If you want to train with a different setting then you will just have to concentrate until you can train in a different setting. You have absolutely no mental discipline at all. How you got this far is a question I have wonder on." At this the laughter of the Kyuubi could be heard in the background as Jun berated his son. "You stay out of this, stupid fox."
"You want me to stay out of this go somewhere else. Thanks to you I'm stuck here." Although this is fun, watching my mortal enemy having so much difficulty. "As for the brat..."
"Brat, I dare you to say that again you stupid overgrown kitten" interjects Naruto.
"As for the brat, you seem to be having such a difficult time. I'm having way to much fun watching you two. I could train him better than you, not that I ever would that is. At this rate he'll get us all killed."
"I'm his father, I'm training him. You will stay out of this. Although you deserve it, I will never let my son just up and get himself killed. He has done nothing to deserve it."
"No, but he has done several pranks that have gotten the villagers quite peeved, while you slept. Here I'll show you one of my favorites." The Kyuubi showed the image of a younger Naruto defacing the Hokage Mountain.
"Hey, I cleaned it up. Besides were we not supposed to be training here? So far all the three of us have done is argue. This is pointless, if we are not going to train then at least let's do something else." Nartuo says as he conjures up a table with two chairs. On the table are two glasses of milk, and two bowls of ramen. "It's not real, but at least it's something." As he conjures up a plate of meat inside the Kyuubi's cage. "You don't have to thank me, stupid fox. It's just rude if we ate in front of you."
"It's not real so why should I care you stupid kit." But the Kyuubi accepted the gift anyway.
"I guess your right. The sun will rise soon and you'll have to wake up. Is that ramen? I guess you're more like me after all. Your mother would go crazy when all I ate was ramen. When she got to the breaking point she would hide all the ramen, and then make some kind of meal she wanted to share with me. One time she forced me away from ramen for a whole month, man was that a harsh month." Jun stopped when he saw the expression on Naruto's face. "Naruto, are you okay?"
"Dad, what was mom like? All I really know is that both of you died when the Kyuubi attacked."
Jun, who had not yet realized that Naruto had been alone for all this time was taken aback. He wanted to believe his wife had survived and was with Naruto. "She was kind and gentle. There were times though that she could be quite vocal and ruthless when she needed to be. She had such beautiful long silver hair, and deep blue eyes. She would be fascinated by the simplest things. Like I said before, she did get tired of a ramen diet. We were so happy when we heard that you were going to be born. You should have seen her face. She was the happiest woman on earth. An angel." Jun and Naruto just sat there for a while. Naruto pondered on what his father had said, regretting bringing up such a sad topic. After a while Jun stated that the sun would be up any time now and it was time for Naruto to return. As Naruto faded out of his mind realm, he noticed that tears had begun to fall on Jun's face.
"She's not dead." Kyuubi said after Naruto completely faded out. What had prompted the Kyuubi to speak up, no one knows. But if she wasn't dead, why was she not with Naruto.
Meanwhile
Hana watched as Naruto slept. However, her thoughts kept going back to the meeting with the Hokage earlier. Why did Tsunade keep on her case? In her opinion, it was better for Naruto not to know who she was. After all she had been in a coma for twelve years. Twelve years Naruto had to live on his own believing that both his parents were dead.
Twelve years of being bullied by the adults of the village. It wasn't fair if she just suddenly came into his life, as if nothing had happened. It took months for her to get the courage to watch him from a distance. Her fears were always running rampant through her mind. Would he hate her if she revealed herself? What if he found out on his own? What would he do? Would he be angry, or would he be forgiving? In the end she decided that it was better that he believed that she was dead. After all he seemed so happy, despite the way most of the villagers treated him. But now she had a new fear, what if the memory seal of Jun revealed what she looked like to Naruto. It would not take him long to put two and two together. Which is why the Hokage's decision, threw her for a loop. Weren't they friends? She thought Tsuande understood her feelings on the matter.
Earilier at Tsunade's Office
Hana entered the Hokage's office. She was surprised to find her awake. Usually, Tsunade was fast asleep, her head on piles of paper work. She was also surprised to see Konoha's #1 pervert and one of the legendary senin, Jiraiya there as well. She had the pleasure of meeting him before, and as far as she was concerned, he was a pervert.
"Good to see you, Hana. I wanted to tell you that instead of a team of Anbu guarding Naruto from now on, you and Jiraiya will be handling that. Before you get upset, just listen. It is my belief that the Akatsuki is still after Nartuo, despite intelligence that they are backing down on their activities for a while. Naruto needs to get stronger. For my own reasons I am sending Hyuuga Hinata with him. I need you to help protect Naruto, but also I would like you to keep an eye out for Hinata. With this pervert around, who knows the trouble that will be caused?"
"Hey." interjects Jiraiya.
"As I was saying, I need both of you to report back with Naruto and Hinata at noon. The rest will be explained then. Now Jiraiya, I need to talk with Hana alone please."
"Yeah, yeah, see you at noon." Jiraiya leaves.
"Hokage-sama, why send me, why not another female Anbu?"
"Hana, how many times do I have to tell you, when we are alone its Tsunade. We are friends are we not? And you know why. Are you going to tell me you are content on watching Naruto grow from afar? Its time you stopped being so scared that he is going to reject you. He's not like that. I am watching one of by best friends torture herself. If you don't want to tell him who you are that is fine, but get to know him. Spend time with him, become friends. Instead of watching him grow from afar, become part of his life. This mission will help you do just that."
"But what if he recognizes me from that memory seal that Jun did? I can't bear it if he begins to hate me."
"If that happens, that happens. Though I don't think he'll hate you, be angry for a while yes, hate no. Besides that new hair color helps. If you are so scared of him finding out then just buy some contacts. It's almost dawn, time for you to relieve your fellow Anbu member. Oh, and at the meeting and for the mission, you won't need your Anbu attire. You're not being demoted, but an Anbu outfit will be far too noticeable on the mission. Think of it a disguise to keep you and Naruto from being discovered by the Akatsuki. After all if they knew you were alive, they would try to go after you to get to Naruto. See you later."
"Yeah, I know that, why else would I have changed my name. See you later Hok...Tsunade"
Back at Naruto's
"He has grown so big." Hana thought as she watched over Naruto. As the sun began to rise Naruto began to stir. "I wonder how the next couple of years will turn out." She could smell the ramen all the way from his apartment. Apparently, he loved ramen as much as his father did. Hana felt a tug at her heart as she thought of Jun, how she missed him. "Naruto I'm your mother. I'm sorry I've been gone all this time." She said softly, knowing that Naruto would not hear her. Although when he beckoned her down, her greatest fear was she had spoken too loud, and he did in fact hear her.
"Want some ramen?" he asked as she reached his window sill.
"Ramen is not a healthy breakfast young man." She stated. "How did you know where I was?"
"Easy, that's the only place you could be and still watch over the apartment. Now do you want some ramen or not?" He answered.
Deciding to take Tsunade's advice to become his friend she began, "No. Ramen is an unhealthy breakfast. Instead I'll make you something else, something healthier."
Naruto, who was not used to this kind of treatment from someone he just met, reluctantly agreed. "Okay, but I'm treating you to ramen for lunch, and I won't take no for an answer."
"Fine, but it will have to be a late lunch; Hokage-sama wants to meet with you at noon."
"What does that old hag want now?" he said. Hana's only response was a slap to his head. "Ow, what was that for?"
"She is the Hokage, not an old hag." she replied as she began rummaging through the cupboards. "Don't you have anything but ramen, and your milk is out of date. I swear you're just like your father." she slipped out.
"You knew my father?" Naruto asked.
Realizing her mistake and hoping to keep Naruto from guessing who she was she quickly came up with the excuse, "Yeah, we were friends growing up." Which was partially true, they had been friends before their friendship turned into something more intimate.
"Is that why you passed out in the hospital room, yesterday?"
Hana, taken aback, asked "What do you mean? Why were you in the hospital?"
"If you're going to change your hair, you should change your voice too?" Naruto stated. "Though I don't know why you are trying to hide yourself."
"Well I did know your father, and your mother. When you told me about the seal I thought it would be best to change my appearance, for fear of being recognized."
"Why? It's not like you had anything to do with what happened. Though I am curious, if you cared about my parents, where have you been all this time? Or do you blame me as well, for what happened thirteen years ago?"
"No, of course not." Hana blurted out. "That was not your fault! What Jun did was the hardest thing a father has ever had to do. He made you a hero of the village. You are not the Kyuubi. Do you understand me? It was not your fault. Do not ever, and I mean ever think that it was your fault. You helped save the village. You save the village every day because of what happened. You are not a monster. Don't listen to what those foolish morons say. As for me...It's just... well..."
"Well what?" Naruto asked.
"It's just, I was really injured during the fight and well, I was in the hospital, okay. I just got out a year ago. But don't you dare blame yourself. It was the Kyuubi, understand. You are Uzumaki Naruto, The son of my best friend. Not the Kyuubi." Hana finished in a huff.
After that long speech, both of them just sat there. After a while Naruto asked, "Weren't we going to have breakfast." To which, Hana began to laugh, "Yeah, but it looks like we're going out, my treat."
"By the way, you know my name, but I don't know yours."
"My name is Hana." She answered. Which in truth, it is. Hana was her nickname growing up. She was sure that even if Jun's memories told Naruto her first name, she was still safe. She had begun using her childhood nickname to protect herself and Naruto. Tsunade was right; if those who wanted Naruto found out she was still alive they would try to go after her to get to him. She would not let that happen. That was why when she left the hospital the first time, she changed her name. "Imaki Hana."
A/N: Sorry it took so long for this chapter. I had a small writers block. But don't worry, I got past it and the next chapter will be up soon. Thanks for all the reviews. As always your opinions are appreciated. See you next time.
