(I don't plan to stick around for their entire childhood years, just long enough for a certain event. Then we can get back to the normal [pre?]teen years as genin. Hope you enjoy the chapter!)
Six months passed and Naruto was shaping up quite nicely. He had great reflexes, he just needed proper technique. He had a tremendous supply of chakra and latent ability, he just needed proper guidance on how to use it. The academy was great, but they just couldn't focus on any one child individually, and there was no question as to why tutoring my ward was low on their list of priorities. He was a quick learner, but written work was not his strong-suit. Teaching by example worked so much better, but in the end, he did have to learn how to focus on written assignments.
There was one issue around the fifth month of him staying with me. I was running out of sick leave and had to start going on missions again. By this time, he'd learned the transformation technique, so I didn't have to worry about him in public as much, but I still worried nonetheless. He had his own house key, but he was still so young. As a precaution, I would have one of my summons watch over him. They adored the boy once they got to know him, and Naruto was ecstatic to have more company. He thought that my "talking doggies" were cool.
When they couldn't watch him, I hired a babysitter of sorts. Itachi Uchiha. He was a capable lad worthy of teaching Naruto in my stead. He happily agreed to watch Naruto whenever possible, and as long as Naruto kept the transformation up, Fugaku wouldn't have to know a thing. Becoming Kaoru was second nature to Naruto now, and he used it so often that most of the village almost forgot there ever was a Naruto. Things became more peaceful around Konoha.
Naruto's cherry blossom was growing splendidly. We even had to transplant it to a bigger pot. We were planning on moving it to the main field right by the graveyard around Naruto's sixth birthday. Naruto began to excel in the academy, but he could never surpass two students. Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno I remember him telling me. He wasn't jealous, and there was even a tone of fondness when he said their names.
Naruto had to be himself at the academy for obvious reasons, but whenever he was with Itachi, and Sasuke by extension, he was Kaoru. I don't even think Sasuke noticed yet. The two boys got along splendidly whenever I was able to pick Naruto up from the Uchiha residence, but at school, they wouldn't even acknowledge each other's presences. When I asked, Naruto explained to me that Itachi had told him to keep his identity a secret. Sasuke wouldn't be able to keep the secret around their father for long, and that would mean he couldn't come over anymore. Sasuke, like the other children, tended not to hang around Naruto due to what their parents told them. I bristled a bit at that, but I really wasn't surprised.
It came as a shock to me when Itachi requested that Sasuke spend the night at my place one day, but though I was suspicious, I agreed. That night was the massacre. Neither of the boys could accept that Itachi was the one who did it. No matter what I said, they ignored me and vowed to find whoever framed him. I supposed it was for the best. I took in Sasuke at Naruto's request, with Hiruzen's blessing of course, but Naruto refused to take off his transformation. I told him that he wouldn't have to worry, but he didn't listen. He was able to keep up the charade for three days before I woke up to a crash and Sasuke's shriek of horror.
"What are you doing here, Dobe?"
I rushed to the room they were sharing and saw Naruto on the bed staring in mute horror at Sasuke's feet. I looked to see Sasuke in front of the window, staring at Naruto. The cherry blossom had gotten too big to be on any shelf or desk, so it was in a pot on the floor. Sasuke had knocked it down in his confusion and was standing on it. There was dirt everywhere, the sapling's delicate roots were exposed, and Sasuke was standing right on the trunk, which had snapped and was connected only by a thin strip of remaining material.
I reacted quickly, scooping Sasuke into my arms and placing him on the bed while explaining, "Naruto's Kaoru, Sasuke. He was afraid to tell you. You two talk while I fix this, ok?" I didn't wait for a reply as I gathered the plant and rushed to the one place I knew of that could possibly salvage all of Naruto's hard work. Inoichi's wife was currently manning the front register at the Yamanaka flower shop, but I hurriedly blurted, "Please, can you help fix this plant?"
She blinked a few times, walking around the counter and taking the load out of my arms before questioning, "Is this a cherry blossom tree? Wow, what a rare breed. I didn't know you took up gardening, this is a hard plant to grow, lots of specifications, but it's so healthy!"
I interrupted, "Yes, yes, can you fix it?"
Mrs. Yamanaka smiled and replied, "Of course. We just need to put a bit of formula in it's soil to help the roots recover and use a bit of grafting tape to fix the stem."
I nodded and stated, "Good, good, just do whatever needs to be done, that plant is very precious."
She laughed again, pulling out different boxes from her shelf stating, "I would hope so, there are many people who would kill to get a sapling this healthy. You really know your stuff." Probably hearing the commotion from upstairs, Inoichi walked down and into the shop area. He stopped, seeing me in the shop for once. His wife smiled as she greeted him, "Oh hi, Honey. Kakashi had a bit of a plant emergency."
Inoichi walked over and seemed to do a double take after looking at the sapling. "Is that what I think it is?"
His wife smiled and nodded, "Yup, it's a shidarezakura cherry blossom sapling. Not very common around here. We usually have the Somei Yoshino variety."
Inoichi shook his head and pointed, "No, that!"
He was pointing straight at the break and Mrs. Yamanaka gasped. "That's impossible!"
I panicked. "What? Is it bad?"
Both of them stared at me and Inoichi questioned, "Were you the one that planted this tree, Kakashi?"
I sighed and relented, "No, but someone precious to me did. From a seed I believe. He has many plants, but this one is special to him."
Inoichi didn't skip a beat, he said, "Bring him here." I blinked, but nodded, rushing home. Naruto was sobbing on the bed, Sasuke comforting him. When I walked in, he kept apologizing, saying that he didn't know and asking of the tree was ok.
I cut him off and said, "Naruto, turn into Kaoru, some friends of mine are helping your plant, but they need your help." He nodded and quickly complied, still hiccuping. I scooped him up into my arms before rushing back to the flower shop. I set him down once we were inside and he rushed to his broken sapling.
His sobbing was renewed as he yelled, "Ah, my cherry blossom!"
Inoichi grabbed his attention. "Um-"
"Kaoru," I supplied.
"Kaoru, we can save your tree, but we need your help." Naruto nodded, unable to say much in his state, looking to Inoichi for instruction. "Put your hands over the break." They had realigned it while I was getting Naruto, and he quickly complied. Then, they told him to pour his chakra into the wound. I was confused, but when a faint dome of light surrounded the break, I could only stare. After about a minute, Naruto stopped, and the break looked better than ever.
Both Naruto and I turned to Inoichi for an explanation, and he said, "That proves it. Kaoru, this tree has absorbed your essence." We were both confused at this, but Inoichi continued, "This is a phenomenon that only occurs a handful of times over the millennium!" He was getting excited now, talking more to himself than to us, but we listened as he went on. "Your strong emotions for this tree have given it life!" Life? He paused then, stating, "Kaoru. This tree is linked to you. If you die, then so does it, do you understand? You must stay happy and healthy for its benefit."
Naruto nodded, but I questioned, "How do you know this? How could you tell that Kaoru's Tree was one of these special plants? Why do you seem to care so much?"
Inoichi looked at me and sighed, calming himself before explaining, "I saw the sign within the stem. The core was red, as if it had blood running through its system. And the fact that it reacted to Kaoru's chakra is further proof. Those plants that are loved and grown by those pure of heart are regarded as sacred. If steadily cared for, they will grow to have many extreme properties, such as warding off hostile demons and other enemies."
My one visible eye widened and I asked, "How?"
He smiled and replied, "Sacred plants create barriers. I've heard that the main barrier extends over the grower's home, whether it be a simple cabin or an entire village. Weapons made from their branches also have mysterious properties."
Naruto abruptly screamed, "No! I refuse to harm it!"
Inoichi chuckled and elaborated, "Don't worry. When the tree has fully matured, it will shed branches every year to renew its energy. The fallen branches will be old, yet ripe with energy. They're the only craftable pieces anyways."
Naruto didn't budge. "I still refuse to accept that. People will try to hurt it for its branches."
Inoichi sighed and stated, "That'll be impossible. The tree will have its own personal barrier that'll keep anyone but you, and anyone you allow, out of its range. Not even things like Kunai will be able to get through."
Naruto held out his pinkie and demanded, "Pinkie promise?"
Inoichi looked to me for help and I just motioned for him to accept. He sighed and interlocked his pinkie with Naruto's stating, "Pinkie Promise. If you pour your chakra into the tree every day, it'll grow strong and mature more quickly." Naruto nodded, but Inoichi asked, "Would you like to work here, Kaoru? We'd be happy to hire someone so dedicated to plants You'd be getting paid of course. You could learn how to better care for your plants while working, and our daughter, Ino needs a companion around her age to motivate her."
Naruto deliberated before nodding and responding, "Sure, but I'll have to work part time. I'm training to become the Hokage someday."
I stepped in at this point and chuckled, "Kaoru here has some big dreams. He's attending the academy to become a ninja. He can work on weekends, does that sound alright?" Inoichi nodded, but there was a subdued look of panic on his face. I read the look and said, "Kaoru. I'll bring the sapling home when we're done here, ok? You remember the way home, right?" Naruto nodded and I waved him off. He didn't complain, exiting the store, but Inoichi signaled for me to follow him.
Once we were in his room, He began to talk. "Kakashi. Sacred plants only exist when saints, those pure of heart, pour their love into a seed. If young Kaoru's heart becomes tainted beyond repair, the tree will become demonic, it's only goal to destroy that which it's caretaker feels any contempt towards. What I said about the tree dying if he does? That's a lie. Depending on how he dies, the tree will adapt accordingly."
I was growing fearful now. "What do you mean by adapt?"
Inoichi's brows furrowed as he explained, "If he is murdered, the tree will become evil, its power seeking Kaoru's murderer out for revenge. If he expires from old age, the tree will wither, its power lost forever. That's not what I'm concerned for however. The tree will use its power to further the goal of its caretaker, no matter what it is, and that includes eliminating obstacles."
My eyes widened in realization, "Lord Hokage!"
Inoichi nodded and stated, "Train him well. I'll teach him the dangers as he and the tree grow. You need to make sure he stays on the right path. Make sure he teaches the tree to control its power so it doesn't do anything reckless on its own." I nodded and Mrs. Yamanaka called from downstairs. The sapling was practically glowing from its new pot. I picked it up and Inoichi gave me a stern look before I left. I nodded, being extra careful as I walked home.
(Ugh, it's so bad! Haha, that's what I get for posting a story from high school... Anyways, I wrote this thinking it was original, but then Kishimoto had to put in his own stupid plant, you know, the one that pretty much invented chakra or whatever? Oh well. The chapters will get better when we get into territory that I didn't write like half a decade ago, so stay tuned. Till next time!)
