The Pain of Growing Up: Part 3
育っの痛み:パート3
~x~
If my fears come true, then I will give my life to protect her and our child. I hope you do not think of me as abandoning you…
"Nee-chan?"
I looked up from my book and into the eyes of my almost five year-old nephew.
"Yes, Naruto-chan?"
"Can I go play with them in the woods?" He excitedly exclaimed while pointing a finger in the direction of three boys. My gaze moved from Naruto to the group of boys standing on the other side of the playground. They were a couple of years older than Naruto, maybe six or seven, standing round each other and laughing at some kind of joke. I did not like the look in their eyes.
"Are you sure you want to play with them, my Taiyo?" I asked with the false hope that he would say no. I knew he wouldn't though; it wasn't very often that the other kids approached him to play and I knew he would jump at the chance if he was asked.
"Yeah, yeah! They said they wanted to play a game of ninja with me!" His smile was so bright and genuine that I almost believed that they really were just going to play a game. But there was sinking feeling in my gut that told me otherwise.
Sighing, I leaned over from my position on the bench and planted a kiss on his forehead, "Be back before dark."
He nodded eagerly before rubbing off the kiss that I had left and running off to join the other boys. Ignoring my book completely, I kept a close eye on the boys as they left the playground and headed towards the opening of the small forest on the opposite side. As soon as they were out of sight I packed my reading material in my small bag before heading in the direction they had just disappeared in, stopping only to give a polite bow to the old woman that I was sharing the bench with.
It wasn't hard to find them. They had only strayed a few meters from the main path that ran through the trees. I heard them before I saw them, heard them call him a monster and a burden. Pushing through another line of bushes I finally saw them. The three boys had Naruto backed up against a tree and were throwing rocks at him.
My heart dropped to my stomach as I watched Naruto try to shield himself from his attackers. At a speed much slower than what it used to be, I jumped in front of Naruto, effectively shielding him from any more rocks.
Their arms froze mid throw when they realized that u was in front of their target, their eyes wide with confusion and shock. Anger coursed through my veins as I looked at them and the objects that they were about to throw at my Taiyo.
"Go." I spat through clenched teeth. They took a second too long to react and in that second I had stolen their weapons from their out stretched hands.
Three pairs of wide eyes watched as I threw the rocks at a nearby tree with such force that they became embedded within the tree bark. Their bodies seemed to had finally realized what was happening when they all took off, scrambling as fast as they could back to their mothers.
Releasing a breath I was not even aware I had been holding, I turned my head to look at my nephew. He was still standing against the tree, his wide blue eyes focused solely on me. My anger subsided and my guilt kicked in. I should have told him that he could not play with those brats. I should have gotten to him sooner. I should have protected him.
Kneeling down to his level, I gently stroked a bruise that was forming on his cheek. My eyes wondered over the rest of his body, searching for any other injuries. Both of his arms had multiple bruises on them and other than a small scratch on his knee, he was fine.
"Taiyo-chan, are you okay?" I asked as gently as I could, one of my hands resting in his bright hair and the other holding onto one of his arms, careful not to hurt him anymore. He continued to stare at me and I was about to repeat myself when he finally turned his face away from mine and uttered a barely audible 'I'm fine'.
Pinching his chin between my finger and thumb, I moved his face to look at me, but he still refused to look me in the eyes. His refusal to look weak reminded me instantly of Kushina. He definitely had her personality.
I chuckled quietly before placing a kiss on his forehead and picking him up, setting him on my hip, much like I had done when he was younger.
He stayed silent through the whole walk home, opting to lay his head against my shoulder and playing with stray strands of my hair that had escaped their pony tail.
"Nee-chan?"
I hummed in response and stole a sideways glance at him.
"I wanna be a powerful ninja so I can protect you, instead of you always having to protect me…" He trailed off at the end.
"Naruto," I began, "you can be the strongest ninja in all the nations and I will always protect you."
He was silent for a while, absent mindedly twirling a strand of my golden hair.
"But I want to protect you."
I smiled a genuine smile and gave his leg a small pinch. "You can protect me all you want, Taiyo. We'll protect each other, how's that sound?"
He nodded his head against my shoulder in silent agreement. It was quiet a bit longer, the poor child obviously still down about the whole incident, before I broke the silence.
"You know," I started, trying my best to pep him back up. "If you're going to be a ninja, I suppose you're going to need some kind of training."
His head abruptly left my shoulder and his blue eyes zeroed in on my green ones. "Really, Nee-chan?! You'll sign me up for the academy?"
I put the now fidgeting boy down to unlock the front door to our house.
"Hai, I spoke with Hokage-sama yesterday about your enrollment."
Naruto bounded into the house with renewed energy.
":Just watch Nee-chan! I'm gonna be the best ninja that Konoha has ever seen! Believe it!"
I laughed at the boys antics and marveled at how most of his bruises seemed to had faded already.
~x~
Months flew by and before I knew it, I was being dragged down the streets of Konoha by a bouncing blonde.
"Nee-chan! Hurry up! I don't want to be late for the entrance ceremony, believe it!" he all but shouted and tried his damnedest to pull my arm out of its socket.
"If we keep going at this pace, we'll be there before they even have the place set up, Tai~yo~chan." I teased him as the academy came within our sights.
My sun either ignored me or just did not hear what I had said, his eyes moving rapidly around the academy courtyard, trying to take in every detail.
There was a small stage to the very back of the courtyard where I knew the Hokage would make his usual speech. A few of the first year sensei's where lined in front of the stage, mingling with their new students parents. Contrary to what I had thought, there were quite a few families there already. Of course they paid little to mind to Naruto and I as we entered the grounds. Perhaps today would go without a problem after all.
My nerves calmed a little when only a few of the parents turned up their noses at our presence. The children for the most part seemed too nervous or excited to pay us any mind. I stayed in the throng of parents as Naruto went to go stand in his designated spot with his other classmates.
Not even five minutes later it seemed as though everyone was accounted for and the Sandaime Hokage took the stage. The crowd quieted down and everyone, including the rambunctious children, politely listened as the old man spoke. It was much the same speech that he gave every year. How the children would learn and grow at the academy and eventually inherit his will of fire. It was a positive and peaceful speech, far different than the one I had received at my own entrance exam. Though the Fire nation was in a state of war when I had joined and the training was more accelerated as the demand for ninja was high. I sighed deeply at the old memory.
Throughout the speech, I had gradually became aware of much space the other parents were putting between themselves and I. It was so much so that I noticeably stood out from the crowd, being as I was not in it. Even the Hokage had noticed and had sent me a few looks while he addressed the new students. None the less, I stood tall with my head held up. I had taken Jiraiya's advice to heart the previous year and had shed myself of my pitting nature. I was who I was and would not have it any other way. I had to set an example for Naruto who would now be subject to more hate now that he was to be out in the public more often. And I knew that I couldn't shelter him forever, as much as I wanted to.
So I stood tall and unwavering through the whole speech. I did not let a single stare or stray comment break my façade. Today was Naruto's day and I would be damned if I let these people ruin it for him.
I was so distracted by my internal struggle that I did not even notice that the Hokage had finished his speech. I saw the old man eye me in a certain way and I knew that meant that I could expect a visit from him later tonight after Naruto was long asleep.
Everyone in the crowd arched their backs in a bow as the Hokage left the stage. Straightening my back I was met with the positively beaming face of my nephew. Laughing at his excitement, I tousled his hair.
"How about I treat you to some Ramen?"
Authors note: Holy shit! I must really love you guys if I just updated this story twice in a few days. I'm pretty sure that has never happened before! Please leave comments/subscribe. You guys are amazing.
Just wanted to address the whole Taiyo/sun pet name that Sora calls Naruto. It's just her pet name for him and will be very important as the story goes on.
