Senju's Heir
Naruto opened his eyes, and rubbed them to rid the drowsiness in them.
Feeling silk against the upper portion of his arms, he dug them deeper under the cold offered by the nether parts of his unusually plump pillows.
...
Feeling suspiciously comfortable, he sat up and inspected the room he found himself in.
The sheets around him were a strong magenta, made from a material he knew was expensive just by the coloring.
The room was large and sturdy, but still kept those hints of luxury with the solid wood that made the flooring.
Most imposing of all, however, were the crimson curtains shielding the windows, and the drapes of silk covering the canopy bed he was in.
Of all this, only one thing helped Naruto make sure he wasn't in his cramped apartment. "It smells like cinnamon..."
He started hiking the treacherous terrains of his unnecessarily large bed, and fell face first against the wood when he unknowingly reached the horizon. "Wood..." He muttered half asleep. "Ah, wood...! Awesome, perfect wood...! I missed you so much in that stupid prison...!"
Naruto rubbed his face against the floor, a look of ecstasy on his whiskered face.
"What are you doing?"
Naruto -reluctantly- stopped harassing the fine wood to open his eyes. At the door, right next to the entrance to his room stood Tsunade, a cup of what appeared to be tea in her hand.
"I..." He tried to fish out an excuse, but his brain betrayed him when Tsunade sneered, forcing his cheeks into a warm flush. "I-I was just... It's that prison ya see...! S-shut up!"
Pouting, and with his pride wounded, Naruto stood back up and grumpily crossed his arms. "Where the hell-" she glared, and he fearfully cleared his throat. "O-oh-ah, I mean... where are we?"
Tsunade smiled so widely it began to hurt a little.
She was finally with Naruto!
The warmth she felt at the sight, at the simple knowledge that he and she were sharing a home, was completely overwhelming.
"Well, my little Senju heir to be..." She made her way inside and sipped at her tea. "We are in the Daimyō's humongous castle. You fell asleep in Sarutobi's couch back in Konoha, and the Lord, I have no idea why, insisted we return to his home that very night.
We got here just a few minutes ago and you slept through the entire trip, so it's around noon. Apparently, all he went to Konoha was to get you to begin with. I don't know what his deal is, but he seems to have taken a liking to you..." She smiled slyly. "Not too shabby, Naruto. You're only nine and you already have two of the most powerful men on the planet tied around your little finger..."
Naruto rummaged through his left ear, apparently not caring about that. "Really...? They're just a couple of old folk to me..."
"I still think it was a terrible idea," Jiraiya came sporting the rear with his own tea in hand, his expression like that of a chicken holding a bloody vendetta against the sun. "Who the hell moves cross-country at nine at night with only two Guardian Ninja? I mean, sure we were with him, too. But come on? I'm supposed to be on vacation..."
"WOH!" Naruto's index pointed at Jiraiya, outrage enhancing the lines over his face. "The God of Hentai is also here!"
"SHOW SOME RESPECT YOU LITTLE BRAT!" Jiraiya exploded. "I'M ALSO YOUR GRANDPARENT!"
Naruto stuck his tongue out, "DOESEN'T EXCUSE YOU OF YOUR CRIMES, GOD OF HENTAI!"
"I HAVEN'T EVEN DONE ANYTHING! AND STOP CALLING ME THAT! IT IS SO UNCREATIVE!"
When Tsunade blurted out laughing, their little childish squabble came to a halt. She swiped the emotional tears pooling in her eyes, some of happiness, others of raw disbelief that such precious moments would finally be consistent.
"Alright, that's enough..." She sighed as she dropped all playfulness. "Naruto... I think you're entitled to some answers so, ask away..."
Naruto steadied himself and stared at them both, as if he were searching for something. "Why did you leave me alone for nine years?"
Naruto's eyes hinted at how straightforward he would be in his questions. He didn't even seem his age for a moment. The Toad Sannin was the one to wonder if that had anything to do with the Senju blood in his veins.
Jiraiya used one of the canopy's posts for support and pressed himself against it, sipping at his tea. "There will be no lies between us, Tsunade."
"I know..." Tsunade nearly snarled. Her heels clicked against the floor as she neared a polished, ebony colored table and placed her cup over it. "I... held you and Minato responsible for the destruction of the one happiness I had. It was only for a short period of time, but I did so nonetheless. You were already four by the time I snapped out of my own foolishness. I couldn't bear to see you hate me, so I cowardly refused to return."
"She's not the only one at fault here, Naruto," Jiraiya finished his tea and laid the cup next to Tsunade's. "I may have spent most of my time trying to keep you both out of harm's way, but it makes me feel no less ashamed that I wasn't there to try and make you two get acquainted with each other. It's one of my many regrets..."
Hearing this gave Naruto a mixture of emotions - anger, grudge, understanding and sympathy. Sure they had left him alone, but now they were back and they wanted to be with him.
When was the last time anyone had ever said that to him?
Still, the feelings of reproach and resentment were there, present among everything else. The fact was that Tsunade had still abandoned him, but his unselfish nature kept him from demanding an apology because she had lost a son. Something he knew nothing about, but was not insensitive enough to ignore. He better than anyone understood how fragile a person can be.
"I don't think I can forgive you," Naruto's eyes wandered to ignore the looks of pain the two Sannin turned to give. He was only human, and he could only pray this feeling of resentment would be washed away with time, though he wouldn't count on it. "Well, at least not immediately..."
Another, probably as important question entered his mind.
Naruto's eyes sparkling, he continued. "What's with with me? Why do I feel this... weird chakra streaming through me...? It's like every living thing around me is an extension of myself and I can use it to absorb my surroundings... In fact, right now I can feel people walking inside this very building... I don't even know how!"
"It's Wood Release!" Tsunade grinned and patted the confused little blond's head. "You're a Senju, Naruto! What you have is called a bloodline, and that bloodline allows you to activate Jutsus that would otherwise be impossible for other people to use because of differing genetic traits. From what I know these cells procreate as late-bloomers, hence the rare system that imitates somewhat of a progenitor circle in which-"
"Stop! Stop!" Jiraiya shook his head at the look of innocence Tsunade gave him. "This kid's nine, Tsunade. Stop giving him the medical theory and just tell him outright what it is he has!" He too patted Naruto's yellow head. "Congratulations, kid, you can make wood." He scowled. "Why does that sound dirty...? Oh, ooooh... I can use that, oi..."
Jiraiya started scribbling like mad as Tsunade flicked his forehead.
The perverted Sannin was sent crashing out the opposing window.
"And that's as simplistic as it is perverted, God of Hentai." She turned to Naruto shaking her head in distaste. She walked her way to the bed and patted the spot next to her, Naruto quickly sitting. She couldn't resist ruffling his hair having him so close. "Basically, Naruto, you have my grandfather's ability to summon and use wood at your will. It's a really powerful technique. It may become your greatest weapon some day... You have heard of the Shodaime Hokage, haven't you...?"
Naruto noticed how hopeful she sounded, so he feigned a chuckle and scratched the back of his head. "O-of course! He was well versed for his policies involving clans and whatnot...! In fact, I remember-"
"You've never heard of him have you?"
"I have not," Naruto laughed nervously as Tsunade's eyes narrowed. "C-come on! Iruka-sensei's lectures are so boring~! That stuff never sticks...!" He made a face seeing his grandmother a bit saddened. "W-well, I at least know he used to be incredibly powerful... The kids in my school used to say he may have been one of the strongest Hokages..."
Tsunade smirked semi-smugly, "I know for a fact he was THE strongest Hokage."
Naruto's eyes bulged into two white saucers. "OH! The strongest?!" He pouted as he hummed in bemusement. "But... ya see, I've also heard Jiji was the strongest when he wasn't so shriveled up... And some have said dad was the strongest..."
Tsunade smiled hearing Naruto call Minato 'dad'. It filled her with a warmth she couldn't very well explain. "Sensei was definitely strong when he was younger... But he would never admit to be stronger than Ji-chan. Minato on the other hand..." She sighed remembering his age when he perished. "It's hard to tell when he died so young... But yes, he was labeled as the fastest Shinobi and he was barely scratching his twenties. We'll never know..."
Tsunade watched the little blond suddenly stare at his hands, as if he wasn't expecting to have so much in his body alone. "You're a born genius, Naruto. You're a bit of a late bloomer is all. Jiraiya and I are going to make sure you grow as you should. We're going to be taking care of you from now on."
"A genius...?" Naruto reiterated, never expecting to ever hear that word directed at him of all people. "Me, a genius...?! But...! But that would mean I'm meant to become a seriously awesome ninja y'know...?!"
"That's right," Tsunade confidently claimed. She giggled internally hearing the small lisp that reminded her of Kushina. "You shouldn't sound so surprised. You'd be surprised how many people would consider you a prodigy with your Mokuton alone."
Naruto was seriously starting to consider his ability as something more than just some special quirk.
"Mokuton, huh...?" Naruto lifted his hand and beckoned his chakra to focus at the center. As the simple thought of Mokuton came to mind, a thin branch started making its way upwards, until he ceased the flow of chakra. Unaware of the female Sannin's stupor, he grinned and showed Tsunade what he made. "Look! I really did make wood!"
Ugh... It was Jiraiya's fault she was hearing it too.
As Naruto walked through the lonely, but luxurious hallways of the Daimyō's castle, he came to the conclusion that this palace was way too big. He ended up having to depend on his recently discovered abilities for guidance. Thankfully, he could do so in a relatively easy way; just by concentrating and clearing his mind.
He still felt annoyed at the sheer size of it, though.
Another thing he couldn't get used to was the way the workers of the palace seemed to enjoy calling him by.
"Naruto-sama" this, "Master Naruto" that - he had never been titled with so much respect before, and to be honest... it felt weird. Maybe it had to do with the fact that he was -more often than not- addressed as an object by the majority of Konoha's populace, not a person.
...
After pointless droning, Naruto found himself doing things a kid would do.
Finally growing bored of running away from the castle's servants, who had been trying to make him eat with everybody else, he found the outside, where a plethora of trees awaited his antsy hands.
He wouldn't be the only child missing, though...
If the hysteric cries he heard from the maids were true, the Daimyō's young heir had also been missing for an hour or so. Unsurprising, considering the area in which they lived was like a small village for powerful people from around the nation.
"This is so cool!" He swung from one branch, and then to the other, using the flexibility gained from his early years in the Academy back in Konoha. Another great privilege the wild offered was no Tsunade to scold him. "Shit, shit! SHIT!"
Though that did little when it came to noticing horribly misplaced trees.
Naruto crashed face first against a massive, seriously sturdy tree.
Slowly, he began to slide down, slow due to its curvature. It was then when he wondered how someone so connected with nature could not see a freaking tree the size of a small corn silo.
"Ow, ow... Damn, that thing came out of nowhere...!" He started with a quick pounce and dusted himself clean of filth.
Feeling his surroundings, Naruto realized the treehouse -what he had dubbed the Daimyō's palace- was starting to scrape the borders of his senses. "Yikes, guess I should head back before I go too far..."
His head jerked to the side.
A spark/flicker in his personal radar told him there was another complex, living organism around the vicinity. He sprinted through the green forest, an invisible aura blooming around him. As this aura came in contact with nearby leaves, its raw existence attracting them, the leaves scurried after him like his little followers.
Finally locating the presence in his sense of nature, Naruto saw what seemed to be a boy wearing a similar version of the creepy old man's -or Daimyō as Tsunade had cheekily informed- clothes. He was under the comfy shade of a tree, crying into his knees. He started nearing him and wondered why his ability to find crying children was so legendary.
"Hey," he called, his eyes blinking out of sheer childish innocence. After a few instances, the boy raised his head and revealed his face, though that's when Naruto found himself questioning whether this kid was really a fellow member of his gender or not. He was far too... pretty. "Why are you crying?"
He couldn't avoid feeling a sense of déjà vu. Naruto fleetingly wondered about that girl in Konoha. Hopefully her show-and-tell presentation went well.
The boy's eyes were a rare shade of ruby, and his hair was long and very dark, which only helped enhance the color of the former. His skin was fair, nearly as fair as milk, if not a few shades lower. What stood out above all, however, were the refined lines that hinted at a royal lineage.
"Who are you...?" He asked.
If Naruto wasn't confused about this person's gender before, he totally was now. While his voice wasn't exactly feminine, it was soft and regulated. "I'm Uzumaki Naruto! What's your name?"
Hm, he wondered if he should still be going by Uzumaki.
The boy frowned and seemed fierce, nearly stuck-up. He huffed to the side, his lips pulling into a dignified pout. "I don't talk to strangers. Shoo, shoo!"
Naruto deadpanned at the tone, his left eyebrow twitching in annoyance. Sasuke 2.0, ladies and gentlemen. "Hey! It's rude to have someone tell you his name then shoo him away like that! Even I know THAT!"
The boy shrieked at his sudden outburst, but only because he had never heard anyone talk to him like that before. He hugged his knees closer and held the need to let out more tears with sheer willpower. "I'm sorry... I um, my name is Hazuki..."
"Hazuki huh...? Girly name..." Naruto dropped on his crossed legs, and only just noticed the leaves hovering an inch from the floor. His eyes brimming in amazement, he observed how they orbited him, like debris kept within a stellar object's gravitational power. "Holy peanuts...! I hadn't even noticed them..."
The raven-haired child observed this intriguing -but mostly odd- creature as his fingers played with the leaves orbiting him like the rings of a planet. As this Naruto grinned and chuckled, picking at the leaves orbiting him, he asked the first question that came to mind.
"Are you real," he swallowed. "Or have I finally gone mad with sadness...?"
What a strange question, Naruto thought.
"Of course I'm real!" He snickered hearing him ask that. His eyes flickering back and forth, he stabbed his finger into the river of floating leaves, and watched at how easily they diverted from their path to go around it. "This is so cool! They even avoid touching me! Wanna try?"
"I don't know if I should..." He forwarded his hand, only to retract it when his fingers came too close to the phenomenon around the blond. "How is this even possible...?"
"Beats me..." He laughed at his own deduction, and the boy shared in his joy by forming a sheepish smile. "Ah, you smiled! See, it's better to smile than to cry about things," his expression faltered a little remembering his past, and his family. "I know that best..." He returned to his cheerful persona seeing the smile drop from the boy's face. "So um, what were you crying about, Hazuki?"
Hazuki's shoulders drooped and his overall aura seemed bleak. He peeked at Naruto, and felt something warm bloom deep within him. He couldn't very well pinpoint what it was, but perhaps it was a small amount of trust. "My father forgot that today is my birthday..."
"Oh," something he knows absolutely nothing about, perfect. "What makes you think he forgot? Maybe he was busy or something, you know how busy dads are..." He tried a snicker, but came out sounding more like a sniff.
Hazuki's eyes glared like the sun in midday, though the drops of sadness were still there nonetheless. "I've told him my birthday was today everyday for the past three months! Instead, he goes off to retrieve some very important package that he can't ignore!"
Startled, Naruto's perfect disk of leaves quivered and dropped a few of the tree critters from its influence. His eyes became thin lines as he crossed his arms, a pout of confusion holding the front. "Well... I dunno what to tell ya... But can I be honest with you?" At his nod, Naruto smiled and seemed to drop all playfulness. "At least you have a dad..."
Saying he was only shaken was an insult to the reaction he received from Hazuki. "I mean, I never met my dad, and even if he were too busy to ever play with me or at the very least talk to me... I... I would still be thankful that I have one at all..." He grinned, his eyes moist, and the rate at which the leaves under him orbited decreasing. "Though to be honest, I would still get some revenge by painting his face or something!"
Hazuki sat thinking for a while, his hands finally getting the courage to play with the leaves floating around Naruto. "I lost my mother a few years ago, too... There isn't a day I don't think about her, and everyday I pray hoping she can hear me..."
That caught Naruto's undivided attention.
He stared at her, his eyes returning to their usual shine and the speed at which his leaves looped doubling. "Your mom, huh...? What's it like to have a mom? Did she pick you up from school? Did she make you meals?"
Hazuki sat there smiling at his sudden enthuthiasm. "Yes. I felt I was her sole focus everyday, like she existed for the only purpose of loving and caring for me. She hugged me a lot and fed me instead of the servants when she had time. We were a happy family of three. I couldn't ask for more. But when she died, my father became more involved in his work and I could do nothing but cry..."
For the thousandth time in his short years, Naruto wondered about his own mother. This time it was different, however, since he had a source that could tell him about her. Tsunade hadn't said anything about her, only that the Yondaime, his father, was dead. Perhaps his mother was alive? His heart fluttered at the possibility.
"Well don't cry!" Naruto hollered flailing his arms wildly, a new patch of excitement entering his system. "Instead of crying, get revenge on your old man for ignoring you! That's what I'd do! Besides, which do you think your mom would prefer, that you cried, or that you played a little prank on your dad every now and again?"
A tinge of red blessed each of Hazuki's cheeks at the notion, though if it was embarrassment or happiness, Naruto couldn't tell.
"Actually, she would probably scold me for doing either..." He smiled despite that. "Still, I think she would prefer I do a little mischief now and again... She did always say I was a little too serious for my age..."
"There you go!" Naruto's grin could warm up the coldest of hearts, and Hazuki's was no exception.
"Hazuki-sama!" Asuma landed next to the two children, his eyes in awe at the sight of leaves seemingly dancing around Naruto like dozens of small moons. 'This is...' Shaking these thoughts away, he tapped his earpiece. "I've found her, everyone. Tsunade-sama, please advise, your little Senju is with her, should I... I see... No, I just... Are you sure, ma'am...? Understood..."
When Asuma bopped his head, Naruto's influence on the leaves collapsed and restored itself in an instant. "Ow! What was that OI!"
Asuma shrugged, "Tsunade-sama's orders..."
"Wait," as his hand rubbed the bump on his head, Naruto's pearls for eyes turned to Hazuki. "Her...?!"
Hazuki was just as -if not more- boggled as he. "You're a Senju...?! Then, you're the special package father went to retrieve...!" And what a package he was. Before her sat probably the most valuable living mineral -she hated classifying him that, but it was the simplest way- in the Land of Fire.
She gasped. 'Oh my God. I just shooed away one of the last living Senjus on the planet...' She nestled her face into her knees and squealed, literally squealed. "I'm so sorry! I didn't know you were a Senju!"
By the tone of her muffled voice, Naruto could tell she was both embarrassed and flustered. He chortled, lowly and with a bit of embarrassment of his own. "And I didn't know you were a girl, so I guess we're even!"
"Completely oblivious to the workings of a woman's heart!" Tsunade also landed next to Asuma, the latter shinobi stepping aside. "You're just like your father..."
Hazuki gasped as her mind processed who this female was. "S-Senju Tsunade-sama, you too...! What is going on...?!"
Tsunade's eyes followed Asuma's line of sight, and her cocoa-colored eyes dilated to demonstrate surprise. "What is this...? Naruto, why are those leaves acting like that around you...?"
The grin over Naruto's lips was jovial and full of life. "Dunno. This is the first time I've ever seen it since I gained my Mokuton! I guess they're starting to like me!"
Such a simple explanation was completely ludicrous, so were the thoughts of the only two adults present.
Asuma interrupted again by addressing Hazuki. "Princess, you mustn't wander alone like this. The heir to the Land of Fire must always be under constant supervision and within the castle walls; how did you even lose your guards...?" He sighed and shook his head; the young girl did always have a knack for that. "Anyway, your father requests your presence. He returned from Konoha last night because he wished to spend your birthday with you, but instead he finds you missing."
Whatever sadness everybody present could see Hazuki had, melted away the moment she heard this. "Asuma-sama...! You're saying the truth, right?!"
Asuma reassured her with a nod of his head, his eyes kind and welcoming. He had known Hazuki since she was born, and her happiness was like a treat to his own. "Yeah, it's true."
Naruto's smile was grand as he stared at Hazuki. He stood back up and offered her his hand. "Aren't you glad, Hazuki?"
"Yeah!" She took his hand to stand back up and dusted her robes clean. This time, her smile could match Naruto in terms of happiness. "You were right, Naruto-sama! Thank you so much!"
...
After much walking and much scolding, they made their way back to the palace with the children smiling, and the leaf anomaly around Naruto still following him. The latter concluded that this peculiar response of nature made him feel safe, and in no way did it compromise his mobility.
He was more than happy to have them tag along, though he had no idea how it is that they were doing it.
A massive golden gate, bearing the symbol of the Land of Fire, opened to grant the small group access to the crimson palace. Around the exterior, several gardens filled with flowers and green pasture surrounded it. Even a small lake took a good chunk of the area behind the palace, a home to several species of rare koi, with a beautiful canopy sitting in the middle of it.
In their route to the palace, dozens of servants and maids left and right, all dressed in fancy black suits and maid outfits, bowed as they caught sight of them. Over each of their heads was the same insignia that was on the front gate, embroidered in golden letters to stand out as much as possible.
"Welcome back!"
"Naruto," called Tsunade as they made their way through the rows of servants showing up to greet them. "Do you think you could make them stop following you? I don't think you should take leaves into the palace."
"Aw," a pout appeared, along with a look of absolute sadness. It was then that Tsunade considered letting him take a whole damn tree if he wanted. It seemed Naruto was starting to realize he had her wrapped around his little pinky as well. "I can try, but do I really have to...?"
Oh, this brat was good...
Her eyes rolling to the side, Tsunade sighed. "Fine. I'll talk with the Daimyō. Just make sure you don't leave leaves everywhere you go, ok?"
Naruto grinned, "Yesh ma'am!"
"Hazuki!" The cry of the Daimyō drew the eyes of the group walking their way through the masses. The man's eyes were practically drooling worry for his only daughter, and he instantly came to intercept them just to envelop her in his arms. "Just where have you been, child!"
"Forgive me, father..." Hazuki wiggled herself deeper into her father's embrace. "I was mad at you for working on my birthday... But I heard you came back from Konoha very late at night even though you were exhausted from going there to begin with; just so you could spend the day with me. I'm sorry for acting so selfish but, you promised you'd spend the whole day with me instead of a big party..."
"I know, I know..." With one hand he caressed his daughter's back, and with the other he patted her small noggin. "Forgive me, Hazuki. But know that I did it only because it was a very special case. I will spend this day with you just like you asked."
The man's eyes discreetly went for Naruto's glowing figure, a smile replacing the frown he once possessed. 'Because of her insecurity, Hazuki is a complete outcast and has no one to truly call a friend... yet... you managed to smooth out her imperfections and in the process became her friend... You truly are that man's descendant... You have the same heart of gold Hashirama-sama was known for, Naruto-kun. And from what can I see...' He glanced at the leaves 'dancing' around him. 'That's not the only thing...'
~~Naruto's Room~~
For Naruto, the day had involved Hazuki and her time with the Daimyō, though only in the late night. After enjoying a dinner crammed with happiness and joy, Naruto was scurried away to bed by Tsunade. He had no problems with this, since he had the intention of asking her some more questions.
"Where's the God of Hentai?" He asked. Once he saw his massive canopy bed, he ran his way to it and jumped on its surface with his little accompanies following suet. From there, he proceeded to roll around accumulating pillows and leaves like a snowball rolling downhill. "I haven't seen him all day!"
Naruto's childish reaction to the large bed warmed Tsunade's heart. He had seen so much, but that innocence had thankfully yet to be lost.
"He's on an assignment given to him by Sarutobi. Apparently, a ninja arrived a few hours ago with a message from the old man. A ninja who is also here to teach you a few things. At your pace, of course." Tsunade smiled seeing Naruto stick his head out of the covers, resembling a tuna roll made of blankets, pillows and leaves. "Do you want to enjoy yourself a little more, or do you want to train?"
"Train!" Naruto didn't even need to think about the offer, the answer came to him naturally. "I want to get stronger and take Jiji's hat! He is too old for that job, I noticed when I saw Ojii match Jiji's blow last night. The Hokage is supposed to be the strongest in the world, not have equals!"
'Ojii?' She knew Naruto addressed Sarutobi by calling him Jiji, but the other... "Ojii? Are you talking about Jiraiya, Naruto?" At his nod, she felt foolish for feeling a little jealous that he was already calling Jiraiya so familiarly. "So..." She leaned against one of the bed's posts. "What are you gonna call... me...?"
"Obaa!" He announced, pillows flying everywhere when his tuna roll suddenly exploded. He bunnyhopped his way to the edge and sat there, his little satellites orbiting him at a higher rate than usual. "I can call you guys that, right...? You are my grandma and grandpa, after all..."
Seeing him look so hesitant, Tsunade couldn't stop herself from wrapping her arms around him. She felt him tense for a moment, only to feel him relaxing a moment later. She smiled seeing his face so red and full of happiness. "Of course you can. Though I'd prefer you didn't..."
"Hm?" Naruto tilted his head in her embrace at her muttering. "Did you say something?"
"Nothing, nothing..." She felt old for the strangest reason, though that reaction was dwarfed by the happiness she felt. "Are you glad to be with me, Naruto?" She released him as she asked something that had been worrying her since they left Konoha. "Won't you miss Konoha...? Your friends...?"
"I didn't really have any kid friends," he grumbled dejectedly. He hiccuped almost like a bulb had turned on in his head. "Oh wait, I think I do have one, but I'm not sure if she thinks the same..." He shrugged. "Meh... I have you here so I won't feel alone again. Besides, I'm really happy that you took me out of that prison I was in... Being inside something so dead was starting to make me feel sick... almost like the energy was being sucked out of me..."
He shivered recalling that unpleasant feeling, the one that nearly broke him. "Oh," he muddled. "I know it's sudden, but I forgot to ask... Is my mom still alive? You said the Yondaime was my dad, and I already know he's dead... but what about my mom?"
Then was when a chill replaced joy with dread in Tsunade's heart.
She tried to keep her smile, she really did, but in the end, the thought of Kushina was too much for her to bear. She diverted her gaze and wandered it around the wooden flooring, a tear threatening to escape from the restraints she had placed upon them.
She was a pitiful sight for a kunoichi. "Naruto... your mother, Kushina..." She visibly grit her teeth. "She's..."
Naruto had been foolish and naïve to have hoped.
He had lived nine years -if you could even call it living-, but even he could see what Tsunade was trying to say. Just like many times before, he plastered a grin on his face and chuckled. However, this time, unlike many times before, it was proving to be so very, very difficult...
"Of course she isn't alive! She'd be here if she was, right...?" He suddenly found his nails to be very interesting. "That was... that was dumb of me..."
He hopped from the bed and stood in the center of the room, his face staring at the fixed window Jiraiya had broken just a few hours ago. The leaves around him, however small their existence, hovered slower than ever before, and threatened to drop all together.
"Obaa, I'm sleepy so..." He sniffed as he tried to contain himself. "Can I go to bed now... please?"
Tsunade forcefully sucked back her tears like the ninja she was. "Naruto... I should tell you-"
"Please," he stopped her, his voice dropping several notes. "I just want to be alone for once..."
The irony in his words wasn't lost to Naruto.
Tsunade sat there for a moment, thinking. After seeing the way his fists were clutched and trembling, she stood from her spot and headed for the door. She stopped and looked back, but was incapable of seeing his face. Berating herself for choking the moment he needed her the most, Tsunade closed the door behind her.
'Of course she's dead, dumbass...!' Naruto dropped to all fours, the influence his aura held around the leaves disappearing. Tears welled in his eyes, and he cried, cried like many times before. Those tears felt hot down his moist skin, each burning more than the last. "I'm such an idiot...! I'm such an idiot...!"
His limbs gave from under him, and he laid there, surrounded in leaves that withered as they soaked in his negative emotions. His nails scratched at the floor and did the same against his arms. His eyes glowed like crystals exposed to a blinding light, however this light was not of happiness, but sheer sadness.
"Genius...?!" Naruto mocked himself, unable to understand the concept. "What kind of genius can't even...?!" He slapped his hands on the floor, hard enough to turn them red. "Dammit...! Why is it always me..."
If he was no longer alone, why did he feel more miserable now than he ever did back in Konoha?
...
Tsunade knew she wasn't ready just yet.
Hearing him drop to the floor, she covered her mouth to hold back a sob. Hearing his words, she fell to her knees and scraped her shoulder against the wooden door keeping them apart. Her logical mind argued he needed to let this out on his own, but her maternal instincts screamed she should hold him in her arms.
Both lied there, a door apart for nearly three hours all throughout the night, crying and dealing with both known and unknown loss. It was not until Tsunade could hear the shallow breathing of a sleeping child that she reentered the room.
She felt exhausted and broken as she saw the scene before her.
Naruto was sprawled on the floor with his little friends, withered and dead beyond recognition. The sides of his eyes were swollen, and crystal clear drops still lingered at the corners. His arms had red markings on them, angry crimson scrapes that had already started healing no doubt because of the Kyūbi, the creature responsible for their suffering.
She moved in without making a syllable of sound, like every ninja knew how. She collected the boy's small body into her arms and nestled his head right below her left shoulder. It wasn't until they were both in bed that she had decided she would be sleeping next to her grandson tonight.
Beta: PrincessDystopia, July 30, 2016.