Chapter 4: A Third Secret: A Vow To Protect
"I… I want to keep the baby."
Kiba and Choji stared at Naruto in shock as what she said sunk in. Before any of them could say a word the doorbell went off. Naruto jumped up and quickly turned herself into Hina before turning on the TV and turning the volume up.
"Guys j-just stay in here. Okay I-I'll be right back," Naruto mumbled as she headed toward her office with Akane following after her.
"Naruto!" Choji called out.
Naruto stopped and looked over her shoulder and said, "Please… just give me a few minutes. I promise that we will talk, but I can't do this if people find out Hina isn't real. All I am going to say is that I'm doing this whether you help me or not."
With that Naruto closed the door leaving the three heirs and dog alone. After a tense moment of silence Kiba shot up off the couch and walked toward the door. Just before he reached the door he felt a hand grab tightly on his wrist. Turning around he saw Shikamaru standing behind him. Before he could even say a word Shikamaru began to pull him away from the door.
"Shikamaru what are you doing?" Kiba cried out in surprise he was pulled away from the door.
"Keeping you from doing something stupid." Shikamaru snapped as with a surprising amount of strength from the normally lazy boy pushed Kiba into the easy boy chair, "Know sit down and listen to me."
"Shikamaru…" Choji whispered in shock, "You knew about this didn't you?"
Shikamaru collapsed on to the couch and groaned, "She told me she wanted to keep the baby yesterday. She plans on passing the baby off as Hina's and I have already promised her that I would help her in anyway I could to hide the fact that its really hers."
"What!? Are you crazy!?" Kiba shouted as he stared at his friend in shock, "Its one thing for her hide the fact that she owns this apartment building its another for her to pretend that Hina is pregnant when its really Naruto who's pregnant!"
"Kiba's right Shikamaru. I want to help Naruto, but how can she possible hide the fact that she is pregnant. And how can you help her hide it?" Choji asked softly as he stared at his friend in worry.
"I don't know!" Shikamaru snapped the stress of everything coming out clearly getting to him, "I don't know okay."
"Shikamaru I know you better then that. What made you promise Naruto that you would help her with something like this?" Choji questioned knowing that something must have pushed his friend into make such commitment.
Shikamaru was silent for a moment before he said, "Because she had that look in her eyes again. That same dead heart-broken look that she had two years ago on her birthday."
Choji and Kiba looked at Shikamaru in confusion before their eyes widen in shock as memory from two years before resurfaced.
Flashback
It was an exciting day for the village as it was October tenth the day the Nine Tailed Fox was defeated by the Fourth Hokage. Every year they had a big festival to celebrate with food venders, games, and big firework show. Shikamara, Choji, Kiba and Akamaru were heading to the edge of town to pick up Naruto to celebrate her eighth birthday. The three of them had been able to convince their friend to come to the festival with them even though Naruto usually spent her birthday hiding in her apartment since it seemed the villagers' hatred for her was even worst on this day. The boys figured though that Naruto would be safe as long she was with them.
The boys arrived at a small apartment building that had definitely seen better days. The paint was peeling, shingles on the roof were missing and it looked like the stairs would fall out from under you if you stepped on them wrong. The boys quickly ran to the end of the building and knocked on the last door. Naruto stepped out of apartment with a smile on her face.
"Ready to go Naruto," Choji asked as he munched on his favorite chips.
"Yeah I'm so excited I never gone to the festival before," Naruto exclaimed as she locked her door, "The villagers seem extra nasty whenever they see me on my birthday so I usually just hide in my apartment. The most celebration I get is when Gramps bring me my present and ramen to eat. Then he takes out a cupcake with candle and tell me to make a wish."
"So you've never gone to festival?" Kiba asked as they left the apartment complex.
"I tried to once when I was five. A bunch of people formed a mob and chased me into the woods. I ended up spending the night in a tree with a very cuddle squirrel," Naruto explained.
"Man that's real drag. Don't worry Naruto. As long as you stick with us you don't need to worry about anyone bothering you. We are clan heirs and no one would dare hurt you at risk of injuring us in the process. Nothing is going to happen as long as we are around," Shikamaru stated with a lazy smirk.
"Even if something does it won't matter," Naruto said as they came to end of the red light district, "I got my birthday wish already so nothing could ruin to day."
"What was your wish?" Choji asked as he finished his chips and tossed the bag into a near by trash bin.
"Can't tell," Naruto stated as she looked around at the colorful decorations as they got closer to the festival.
"What? Why not?" Kiba questioned.
"Because its something I wished for every year since I was three and I don't want to jinxes it," Naruto explained.
"What a drag…" Shikamaru groaned, "Look lets just play some games and eat some food and just enjoy the festival.
"Okay Naruto exclaimed as they enter the main street where food stands and games were set up.
For the rest of day the four friends and puppy ate, played games, and just had as much fun as they could. Shikamaru had been right. While some people did glare at them, but they never did anything to Naruto when they saw the three clan's heirs were with her. By the end of the night each boy had even won prize from a game and had given it Naruto as gift for her birthday. The boys didn't think that they had ever seen a bigger smile on Naruto's face as they sat on top of the Hokage Mountain and watched the fireworks.
As they walked home Shikamaru noticed Naruto looking up and waving at rooftop, but said nothing deciding that it wasn't important. Once they were a block away from Naruto's apartment the boys started head to Kiba's house for a sleep over. It was only when they were just a few blocks away when Shikamaru stuck his hands in his pockets and realized something.
"Crap!" Shikamaru exclaimed as he looked at what he had pulled from his pocket.
"What is it Shikamaru?" Choji asked worriedly.
"We completely forgot to give Naruto her actual birthday present," Shikamaru explained as he showed the two boys the wallet they all saved up for to buy for Naruto's birthday.
"Oh man," Kiba groaned, "We should run back and give it to her."
"Kiba's right. We aren't that far from her apartment and I doubt she's a sleep already," Choji stated.
"Man what drag. Lets go," Shikamaru replied as they headed back to Naruto's apartment building.
It was when they were about five blocks away when they notice a strange orange colored light coming from the building. It was at four blocks that Kiba and Akamaru smelled smoke and they began to run toward the apartment building. It was a two blocks that they began to hear the shouts and jeers of the crowd as well as the crackling of the fire as Naruto's apartment building burned. It wasn't until they stood before the burning building that they heard Naruto's cries for help.
In the middle of a crowd of twenty to thirty people the boys could barely see Naruto curled up into a ball crying and screaming for help as the villagers kicked and beat her with bats and clubs. The light from the fire was reflected in the tears that ran down her bruised bloody face as the crowd cursed and jeered at Naruto calling her a monster and demon. For the first few moments that they witnessed this the boys could only stare in shock as the villagers attacked their friend.
Then Naruto spotted them and cried out, "KIBA! CHOJI! SHIKA! HELP! PLEASE!"
Their friend's screams snapped the boys out their frozen state and they ran toward the mob of people that surrounded Naruto. Akamaru jumped from Kiba's head raced threw crowds legs and began to bite and scratch their legs trying to distract them from their assault on the girl. Meanwhile the boys tried desperately to get their friend beating on the backs of the attackers and kicking their legs. But the boys' actions barely phased the rage driven mob.
Having no weapons and only been taught the basics in the art of being a ninja the boys didn't stand a chances against the rage filled men and women attacking their friend. An idea hit Shikamaru as he saw Akamaru running around the people legs and he dove between the legs of one of the attackers and began to crawl toward Naruto. He was kicked and stepped, but continued make his way toward Naruto desperate to help his friend. When he was only a couple of feet from Naruto the terrified girl reached out toward him a tear filled look of joy flashing across her face at the sight of him. Shikamaru reached out in turn and just before their hands could touch a boot slammed down on Shikamaru's hand.
"Shikamaru!" Naruto cried as the man stepping on Shikamaru grabbed her by her hair.
"You little demon brat. Playing with our children. Daring to show your face at the festival. You think that we can't see through that mask you wear. No matter what we will always see the monster that YOU REALLY ARE!" Man roared as he pulled Naruto's hair making her scream in pain and fear.
"Leave Her Alone," Shikamaru cried out as desperately tried to pull his hand out from under the man's foot when suddenly Aka jumped up a bite the man's arm.
"YOU DAMN MUTT GET OUT OF THE WAY!" The man shouted as he grabbed Akamaru by the tail ripping him off his arm and a hurdle him out of the crowd.
"AKAMARU!" Kiba screamed as he barely caught his beloved companion before he could hit the ground.
He and Choji were then grabbed and slammed to the ground by couple of men in mob. Akamaru was pulled from Kiba arms and held up by his tail to keep him from biting anyone. Shikamaru continued to struggle to pull his hand from under the man's foot. The boys then could only watch in horror as the man was handed a lead pipe.
With cold smile the man said, "Let's end what was started eight years ago."
The crowd around them cheered as then man lifted the pipe above his head.
As it came down Choji screamed, "SOMEBODY PLEASE! SAVE NARTUTO!"
Just before the pipe hit Naruto a hand grabbed the man's wrist and voice said, "Well that was a little to close for comfort."
The men holding Kiba, Choji, and Akamaru suddenly were knocked to the ground along with several other members around them. The boys looked up and saw two Anbu Weasel and Crow standing before them. A third Anbu Dog was hold the wrist of man holding the pipe.
"You can say that again," Crow stated as he suddenly appeared in the middle of the mob next to Dog with several members of the group suddenly collapsing.
"You damn traitors. Why are you protecting this monster? It us who are in danger if we don't kill- Argh!" The man cried out as Dog tightened his grip making the bone in his wrist crack.
"You dare to call Naruto a monster," Weasel stated as he walked up the man as Crow took out the rest of the mob, "This only monsters I see are the ones attack four innocent children for enjoying their childhood!"
Weasel then chopped the man in the back of neck knocking him out. Dog let go of the man's wrist and let him drop to the ground as Crow knocked the last of group out. The boys got over their shock and quickly turned their attention to Naruto. The girl had curled herself into ball and was shaking like a leaf still seemingly waiting for the blow from the pipe to hit.
Crow walked up to Naruto a gently whispered, "Naru its okay now. Your save."
Naruto just flinched and whimpered as she curled into herself tighter. Shikamaru without really thinking slowly put his uninjured hand on his friend's shoulder causing her to jump back in fear. Clutched to her chest was bag that had held the presents from the festival. The look on the girl's face was heart breaking. Tears were running down her face and her eyes were wide and completely void of emotion making her eyes look like two empty pools of water. Yet she still held a terrified on her face as she looked around at the people surrounding her trying to find some kind of threat.
Weasel bent down and looked into Naruto's eyes. In a few seconds Naruto fell unconscious into Dog's arms and carefully picked her though she still winched in pain at the movement. Weasel picked up Shikamaru while Kiba and Choji walked with Kiba carrying Akamaru. The six then headed to hospital in dead silence leaving Crow to watch over the knocked out villagers until the police forces arrived to take them to jail.
Flashback
Shortly after getting to the hospital they learned that some of the fireworks had caused a fire break out and due to dry autumn they had been having that year was spreading fast. As result all the Anbu on duty had raced to stop the fire including the Crow, Weasel, and Dog who had been watching them during their time at the festival. The boys learned that Naruto had know that they were following them and that they had signaled to her that they had leave due to the fire, which is why Naruto had been waving at the roof. It was just poor luck that the mob had chosen to attack just minutes after they had left.
Naruto was in the hospital for weeks recovering from her injuries. The only ones to visit her were the four of them, Iruka Sensei and the third Hokage. The three Anbu, who they learned were kind of Naruto's unofficial bodyguards, would also visit at night leaving flowers and candies for Naruto. Hokage had gone so far as to buy Naruto new clothes and school supplies since everything she owned and been destroyed by the fire. The only things that had survived was the clothes she was wearing and the bag of prizes that the boys had won for her. Still it was the look that Naruto had on her face that night had haunted them and caused them becoming very protective of her. For months them insisted on walking her home and never letting her be by herself unless she was at home. It took Naruto finally snapping at them they couldn't keep doing this because it was like they were letting the people that had hurt her win. She needed to show people like them that she wasn't some scared little girl. That she was going become a great ninja and Hokage and ninja didn't let their fears control them and the Hokage never backed down when it came to a threat. They backed off after that though they still were protective of her just better at giving her space when she needed.
But Naruto did take precautions to avoid another attack like that especially since Crow, Weasel, and Dog had died within a few months of the attack. Naruto started moving from apartment to apartment every couple of months to avoid a repeat of the attack. Anything that was precious to Naruto was often never taken home, but hidden in secret place that the five of them knew about. It had work mostly. One apartment was still set on fire by another mob just a few weeks before her ninth birthday and from time to time people would break in and trash her apartments. She would also still be attacked once in a while by the villagers, which would make her avoid the guys so they didn't get hurt again like the first time. But other then that their lives were the same. They went to school, played together, and caused trouble for the teachers just like before.
But deep down they had known that it wouldn't be long until something bad happened. They just didn't think it would be Naruto being raped by an Anbu. The boys sat in silence as the memory of that night race through their minds and the promise they had made resurfaced. That night as Naruto as being treated they promised that they would do what ever they had to do to protect Naruto and keep her from ever showing that hopeless broken hearted look again.
"We made a promised to protect Naruto and keep her from ever feel that hopelessness again. If we don't help her hide the baby I don't think she could handle having it taken from her," Shikamaru explained as he stood before Kiba and Choji.
Kiba and Choji looked at each other then back and Shikamaru.
"This isn't going to be easy," Kiba stated softly with smile.
"But nothing ever is with Naruto," Choji added with grin.
Shikamaru smirked and said, "Yeah, but that's what makes being friends with her interesting even if it is a bit of a drag."
Suddenly the door open Hina walked in looking happy, but drained. As Naruto dispelled the henge she found herself pulled into a group hug.
"G-guys?" Naruto whispered in confusion.
"Naruto we are going to do whatever we have to do to help you hide the baby," Shikamaru stated softly with Kiba and Choji nodding in agreement.
Naruto felt tears begin to run down her face as she hugged her friends close and whispered, " Thank you."
Okay readers I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I made a few changes to the first the chapters so you might want to reread them. Nothing super big just a few added detail to help the story a long. It will probably be a while before another update because I have so much going on right know that I don't have a lot of time to write. When I have time I will write and update this story though.
