Chapter 3: Intentions

"God damn it," Jiraiya wanted to roar as he read the doctor's report on what had happened to his godson. He wanted to call hell upon the people who did it to the innocent young child. He touched the boy's forehead. Naruto was warm, alive, but asleep. Next time, he'll be here. He'll be taking care of this boy. He won't let them touch even a single strand of the boy's hair.

"That's enough, Jiraiya," Hiruzen sighed as the man sat beside the boy's bedside.

"Who knows, someone might think of finishing him off while he's weak like this," the man replied stubbornly, fists clutched tightly. "Promise me, Hokage-sama, promise me that this won't happen again."

"I promise," the old man spoke, sighing. 'If Kushina was here,' he thought, bringing up another sigh.

A scream woke up the Second Division Captain, and with the speed that earned her her rank, she grabbed her zanpaktou and navigated the space of her home in less than a step. She found her little ward in the grips of a nightmare, sweating and curled tightly on his side.

Sui was at a loss. It's been centuries that she needed to be comforted, and the woman she was now had no idea what to do. She sighed, rubbing the boy's back soothingly, or what she remembers to be soothing. Memories of Yoruichi flashed her mind, the woman soothing her when she failed. And as much as she'd like to push away the memory, it was the clearest one in her mind. She hummed gently remembering a tune that was older than her.

Suddenly the boy's eyes snapped open. He registered the hand on his back, and quickly tuned to face her. Naruto however miscalculated his distance from the edge of the bed. Eyes closed and bracing for impact, he realized that he was being held in mid-air by his shirt. "Sui Feng-taicho?" he asked, voice soft and a bit hoarse.

"Hm," Sui acknowledged as she placed the boy back in his bed. "Sleep," she murmured, covering him with the blankets he kicked off in his fright.

"Don't leave," he whimpered, holding her right hand when the woman stood up. She could see the fear in the boy's eyes and it was disconcerting to her just how similar their reaction was to waking in the middle of a nightmare. She nodded, as he snuggled the hand he caught. She continued to hum.

The early hints of dawn found Sui on Naruto's bed, deciding that she'll sleep there in case the boy had another nightmare. Still she woke up before him. Extracting her hand, she left the boy for her morning exercises.

Naruto, on the other hand, woke up on a later hour, when the sky was gaining the colors of his eyes. Yawning, he looked around and realized that he was not in his apartment. It wasn't a dream after all. He stood and looked around. The room was mostly bare, and the closet was full of the things they bought the day before. Then his stomach growled, so he stepped out of the room.

He smelt food. Ramen like last night's dinner. He let his nose lead him to the kitchen where the scary taicho was cooking a meal, just like last night. She was already in her uniform. He blinked, feeling the tears well on his lids, remembering only instant meals and sandwiches. "Go sit on the chair." Her voice, quiet though harsh, snapped him out of his self-pity.

"Hai," he answered happily, even if his voice shook. With that he climbed up the chair. Grey eyes turned to him, probably hearing the hitch in his voice.

Deftly, the Second Division Captain placed a plate, a mound of rice, some meat and some greens. And of course, a bowl of ramen. Naruto stared at the feast before him. He never had such a meal prepared for him. His eyes found the woman who was also preparing the same fare for herself. "Thank you," he said, grinning, glazed over again with unshed tears. "Ittadakimasu!"

"You're welcome," Sui replied, watching the boy carefully. "Ittadakimasu."

As a sign of gratitude, Naruto ate the greens even if he didn't like them.

"Do you know how to bathe yourself?" Sui asked as soon as they were done eating. Naruto nodded, passing his plate to the woman who was starting on the dishes. "Go take a bath. I'm bringing you to the Second Division." Blue eyes widened, surprised. And with that the blonde dashed back to his room, took a towel, ran to the bathroom, and started to take a bath.

As soon as he was done, he dashed to the closet and looked at the various clothing choices. He chose the black underpants and an orange yukata, just in time for the knock on his door. Naruto glanced at himself in the mirror before running and opening the door. "I'm done!" he declared to the silver-eyed woman.

Sui knelt before the boy and fixed the creases on his yukata. She smirked at the blush on his face. She also pulled out a comb and combed his hair. Sui lifted the boy on her arms. They stepped out of the house. "Hold on." Naruto nodded, clutching at her tighter. And they disappeared in a burst of Shunpo.

The Second Division has one of the most technologically advanced offices in Gotei 13. This was due to the fact that Marechiyo Omaeda loved to show off his wealth in renovating their office. Sui wasn't complaining, even if he couldn't stand the guy. Stupid, lazy and arrogant, she would have fired him if it weren't for his sharp managerial and administrative skills, which were impressive. But why did he have to be so damned annoying?

Naruto, on the other hand, was marveling at the place. It was much more grand than even the Hokage's Tower in Konoha. But the place seemed empty. No one walked along the corridors or greeted them. The walk towards the captain's office was a silent one.

"Can you read?" she asked, as she placed him on one of the couches that Omaeda insisted they place in her office.

"Not good," Naruto admitted with a pout.

Sui merely nodded. "Write? Not very well either?" Naruto nodded, noting the word she used. Sui nodded, and produced piece of pen and paper. "You can practice if you like." Naruto nodded. "Tell me if you want more paper." He gave another nod. Sui Feng glanced at the stack of paper on her desk. She can do that later. "Don't go out of the room." Naruto nodded again. So far she hadn't hurt him, nor berated him for having difficulty in reading and writing, so he's going to trust her for now. With that Sui left him to his devices.

Sui found herself in the Fourth Division. Fortunately there was no training accident from the Eleventh nor some insane experiment from the Twelfth so the halls were relatively quiet. She knocked at the Fourth Division Captain's door.

"Come in." The pleasant voice of the Fourth Division Captain though muffled was understandable enough. "Sui Feng-taicho," the woman smiled in greeting.

"I might have bitten off more than I can chew with the boy," Sui Feng said. That was something the Fourth Division Captain could appreciate from her junior. Even if the younger was steeped in clan politics of noble houses, she was often blunt and a cut straight to the matter at hand.

"Hm, what seems to be the matter?" She gestured the younger to one of the chairs.

"I do not know how to teach him how to read, or write," Sui elaborated, as she accepted the offer.

"Well he is a young boy," Unohana mused.

"Do you have any ideas how I can test his reading skills without being too intrusive?"

"Well, you can ask him to read with you some stories," Unohana suggested. Her junior mulled the suggestion over. "Maybe Ise-fukotaicho can help you with the books," she added.

The silver-eyed Captain nodded, bowed to her and left. A small smile quirked the Fourth Division Captain's lips as she wondered. What is Sui Feng thinking?

It was rare for the Second Division Captain not to oversee the morning exercises. Naturally, Omaeda was curious. Slowly opening the woman's office, he found the blonde boy on one of the couches. "You!" he yelled. The boy flinched, and looked up at him. "Where's the taicho?"

"Went out," Naruto replied, continuing with his art.

"Huh," Omaeda muttered as he stared at the boy. "So what are you doing?"

"Practice." Omaeda stared at the mangled pieces of paper in front of the blonde, and winced. Sure there were strokes but, if he weren't trained in reading code, he wouldn't even consider any of them letters. "Heaven's sake," he muttered, looking at the boy's handwriting.

Curt and to the point, Sui asked Ise Nanao for children's books. Of course the Eighth Division's Vice-Captain was curious as to why the Second Division Captain even wanted those books, but she knew better than ask. "I'll pick them up later," Sui murmured, as she Shunpoed away.

"Was that Sui Feng-taicho, Nanao-chan?" Kyoraku asked as he peeked into his vice-captain's office.

"Hai," she answered. "She wanted children's books." Disbelief colored her voice.

"Hm?" The man rubbed her chin. Maybe it had something to do with the boy that she brought to the Fourth Division.

Sui stared at the boy who draw restlessly on the couch. He was doing his best to behave, but she could see him already twisting on the couch. "Naruto."

"Hai!" the boy answered quickly.

"Let's get lunch," she said, as she offered him her hand. The boy jumped off the couch and held the woman's hand, eager to be away.

"Sui-taicho?" Sui raised her brow at the shortening of her name. "Can you teach me how to be strong?"

"Why?"

"I want people to see me," he said.

"That reason can only take you so far," Sui replied. The boy pouted at her. "Nevertheless I will teach you what I can."

Blue-eyes widened at her. "Really?"

"You must swear that you will not complain with whatever I teach you." The blond nodded eagerly. "Writing, reading, mathematics, sciences, and even the arts," Sui smirked, seeing the horror-stricken look on his face. "Are you backing out already?"

"No!"

"Good," Sui chuckled. "Just remember you swore this."

As they walked to the Second Division mess hall, she realized she had to be thankful that the nobility of Seireitei do not watch her as carefully as they watched the previous Shihouin heiress. She'd have never gotten away with practically adopting a still living boy, much less adopt someone who would not be a Shinigami of any importance. Rage burned deep within her. Had her brothers not died, nor Yoruichi, as much as she resented the woman, noticed her and left her, she wouldn't be where she is today.

Her free hand clenched in unacknowledged fury. She will give that boy a fighting chance in his world.

"Tsunade-hime."

The solemness of the pervy idiot snapped Senju Tsunade's into attentiveness. "Jiraiya," she greeted. "The old man calling me back?"

"Minato's son needs medical care."