Hello again I hope everyone has enjoyed my little story so far. Here is the newest chapter!
Ps. I do not own Naruto or make money off of him.
Warmth
Chapter 7
When he heard his name cried out Kakashi did not think about what to do he just reacted. His battle hardened body tearing through the hallway as he ran towards the inner garden. He could feel panic trying claw its way into his mind a various scenarios danced across his mind each one worse than the last.
As he burst through the doors into the garden he took note of Iruka and Itachi's panicked faces before he leaped over Itachi and snatched Naruto out of Iruka's arms. He landed a few meters away from the two boys.
Not sensing anyone else near Kakashi glared with his single uncovered eye at the two boys. He realized that the Uchiha boy had his Sharingan activated and quickly used his hand that was not holding Naruto to form seals for binding. He bound both boys just to be sure.
He silently stalked towards both boys his body radiating anger and barely suppressed violence.
Kakashi and Iruka could hardly breathe as the killing content crashed over them from the approaching Jonin. The feeling of utter helplessness and despair they both felt and would fuel in the pair's nightmares for months to come.
"What happened?" Kakashi growled out.
Iruka having been in charge of Naruto shook in fear. He recalled another name that people had called Kakashi, a name no one was stupid enough to say to his face. Kakashi Friend-Killer.
"I-I-I don't know," He told the fearsome Jonin truthfully. "He just started screaming your name."
Kakashi turned his eye towards Itachi. For his Itachi managed to keep his face blank and calm but on the inside he was trembling in fear.
"When he saw my Sharingan he started screaming." Itachi explained. It took all of his will not to scream himself. One of the deadliest ninja that Konoha had ever produced had him bound and was leaking killing content so strong it made him sick. He may be a genius and had already on the fast track to Jonin but he still only a child. Lucky for him Sasuke had fallen asleep out of boredom and was managing to stat asleep through the commotion
"Why was your Sharingan activated in the first place?" The Copy Nina probed.
The Uchiha heir's facial features did not change but Kakashi could see the tip of his ears turn pink.
"I startled Iruka when I came into the garden. When he grabbed a kunai to protect the kid from what thought of as a threat I reacted and I activated my Sharingan." Itachi replied in a detached voice he used for giving mission reports. It was embarrassing for an Uchiha to activate his Sharingan on accident.
"Release your Sharingan. You have no reason to have it activated here." Kakashi ordered his voice harsh and grating to the Uchiha's ears.
It took a moment for Itachi to make his Sharingan deactivate. His fear causing it to be difficult to force his eyes to do what he wanted them to do.
Kakashi scrutinized both boys looking for any signs that either one had lied. He could see embarrassment and overwhelming fear but not a hint of either boy lying. He silently released the two boys from his Ninjutsu and turned his attention to Naruto.
The small boy desperately clung to Kakashi his head buried into his shoulder his small body wracked him heart breaking sobs. The ninja could feel the boy's body shaking in fear. The day before when he rescued the small boy he had not reacted so harshly from the mob that had attacked him.
"Naruto," he said his voice softening as he tried to calm the small boy. "Naruto it is going to be alright. Why don't you look at me?"
Naruto's sobs subsided slightly as he carefully peered up at Kakashi. His eyes were wide in fear and blood shot from his tears.
"Bad eyes all gone?" The small boy asked his voice distraught and full of fear.
"What are the bad eyes?" Kakashi asked hoping that he would be able to understand what had spooked the child so badly.
"Sharingan," The small boy said no sign of his usual childish lisp a word that unless he was a Uchiha she should not know at his age. "Bad man has Sharingan and he hurts everything."
Naruto gave a small whimper after his declaration.
"Where did you see this person?" Kakashi asked trying to control his panic had one of the Uchiha attacked the small boy inspiring more fear then a mob of people trying to hurt him.
Naruto squinted his small eyes in and seemed to be talking to himself trying to figure out how to reply.
"When I sleep," He told Kakashi. "Bad man hurts Kurama and makes him do things. I see bad man hurting everything when I sleep."
Kakashi's mind was racing at what the small boy had told him. He started adding things up, Naruto called his fox plushy Kurama and in the song he had song for the Hokage that morning Kurama was number nine. He also had dreams about this Kurama and someone with a Sharingan.
"Kyuubi," The word slips out of the Jonin's mouth in a whisper.
"But the seal!" A soft feminine voice whispered from the doorway.
Kakashi whipped around and glared at Mikoto, if she continued she would accidently break the Hokage's Law.
"Enough," he told her.
Understanding his warning she gave a brief nod of her head.
Kakashi pulled out a scroll and a pin from his flack vest and began to write on it. He quickly performed a standard seal to protect the contents and signaled for Iruka to come close.
"You are to take this to the Hokage right now." He ordered the Genin. "When you get to his office tell them that it from me and that the Hokage sees it immediately. You are only to deliver it to the Hokage if anyone attempts to intervene inform them that you are on a S-Class mission assigned to you by me and only the Hokage can read the contents. Under no circumstances are you to mention Naruto to anyone or anything about the conversation you just heard."
Kakashi glanced over at Itachi.
"Everything you have both just heard is an S-Class secret and carries the death penalty to even speak about it. You are not to tell anyone about it or even discuss it with each other, family members or instructors. If questioned by anyone but myself or the Hokage you are to deny ever hearing anything on the penalty of death." When Kakashi finished informing the two boys of the secret they now carried bath of their mouths hung slightly open.
"Iruka wait for the Hokage's reply before returning," Kakashi told the Genin before signaling for him to move out.
After Iruka left on his first S-Class mission he turned his attention to the three Uchiha's who remained. Mikoto now stood beside her two sons, Itachi now stood rigid as if convey his understanding of how serious things had become and little Sasuke remained sleeping in his brother's arms.
"Why don't you go and help Tenzo out. Tell him everything will is fine here and I will talk to him later about what happened." Kakashi said though he was looking at the boy's mother silently asking for her agreement.
Mikoto made a shooing motion with her hand signaling for Itachi to go.
As soon as the pair were out of sight Kakashi walked towards Naruto's room. It would be a bit more private for the discussion he was about to have with Naruto.
When he opened the door Kakashi noticed that the room had drastically changed since that morning. There was a child sized bed facing the window with a matching dresser and table and chairs, the bare floor was now covered with a fluffy white area rug. Someone had added some shelves that were covered in children's books. On one of the shelves was a picture of Kushina wearing a green dress and smiling happily at the camera.
Kakashi gave Mikoto a sharp look when he noticed the picture. It was dangerously close to revealing Naruto's parentage.
It did not go unnoticed by Mikoto what had upset Kakashi and she boldly returned his with a defiant one of her own. She had already backed out of Naruto's life once and she would be damned if she did not make up for lost time.
"He carries the Uzumaki name. It would not take a prodigy like yourself to figure out that he was the child of the last known Uzumaki." Minato informed him haughtily.
Showing wisdom far beyond his young age Kakashi decided that this battle was not one he wanted to fight. After all what could one little picture hurt?
Kakashi pried the small boy off of his body before gently placed Naruto on the bed and sat in one of the child sized chairs that were at the small round table.
"Naruto who is Kurama?" He asked. There was no point in beating around the bush it was vital that he confirmed if the Kyuubi was in contact with the toddler and how far his influence went.
Even though Naruto had just been bawling his eye out in hysterics just a few moments before at the mention of Kurama by Kakashi the small boy broke into a wide and happy smile.
"He is my partner," Naruto said proudly. "He is fox like little Kurama but bigger and he has more tails. He is the Kyuubi the most powerful smart and handsome Biju of them all. Everyone should fear him because he can go ROAR!"
Naruto giggled thinking about Kurama.
"He talks to you?"
"Kurama talks to me ALL the time," The toddler informed the two adults much to their horror. "He says I need c-c-communication or I would be stupid and he does not want to be stuck with an idiot."
"When did he start talking to you?" Kakashi asked almost afraid to find out.
Naruto tilted his head in puzzlement.
"When?" He replied sounding confused. "Kurama is always with me and he talks all of the time. Sometimes I can see him too though he is in the yuck water."
Kakashi was alarmed to find out that the small boy had been hearing the voice of the Kyuubi and it was even more terrifying that the small boy had seen the fox.
"Does he tell you to do things?" Kakashi was terrified to found out what kind of horrible things the Kyuubi tried to do through the boy.
Naruto bounced excitedly not realizing that the two adults sitting before him were scared out of their wits over the Kyuubi escaping.
"Oh he tells me to do all kinds of stuff!" Naruto happily chirped. "Brush my teeth, take naps, talk slowly, eat all my food, wash behind my ears, don't eat stuff strangers give 'case it will hurt my tummy. He is always telling what to do."
The two adults looked at each other feeling dazed. The Kyuubi was telling the child how to take care of himself.
"Where is the Kyuubi?" Kakashi asked wondering how much the boy knew.
Naruto's placed his small hand on his stomach where Minato had placed the seal binding the Kyuubi the day Naruto was born.
"I can feel him here but sometimes I see him in the water place and he talks to me." The small boy told Kakashi.
"Does he try to get you to let him out?" Kakashi asked after a few moments. The Kyuubi had to tricking the small boy in order to escape.
"Mmmm out?" The boy asked puzzled.
"Does he want out of his prison?" Kakashi tried to clarify for the toddler.
"Prison for bad people?" Naruto asked his small face showing his puzzlement.
"Yes, it is a place for bad people who do bad things. The Kyuubi is in a prison inside of you." Kakashi informed the small boy.
Naruto's eyes went wide in horror.
"Kurama good foxy!" The blonde toddler declared. "He is nice! He talks to me and sings to me and teaches me colors and numbers. He always calls me good boy when people are meany to me. He is my friend!"
By the end of his declaration Naruto was in tears. He remembered one of the caregivers from the orphanage telling him they should put him in prison and let him rot in there until he died, she had elaborated to the small boy how scary the place was. Someone as nice to Kurama should not be in prison.
Kakashi felt awkward not knowing how to tell the boy that the Kyuubi was an evil creature hell bent on destroying everything. He had a feeling that if he tried to turn the boy against the fox that he would lose all of the trust the boy had given him. He would have to be careful with what he told the small boy who had already been abused by humans, it would not be hard to imagine Naruto siding with the only person who continuously showed him kindness.
"Let Kurama out of prison. He good good foxy." The small boy pleaded to Kakashi.
Kakashi did not know how to reply to the boy. If he told the boy no he would resent him and cling even more to the Kyuubi and it's influence. On the other hand he could not promise to let the Kyuubi lose not only would it destroy Konoha but more importantly Naruto as it's Jinchuriki would die.
"Naruto," Said the Mikoto who until now had remained a silent spectator. "Kurama is not really in prison. When you were a baby he was placed in you so that you would both learn to be friends. He cannot leave you or bad people will try to hunt him down and hurt him. You are protecting him from everyone else."
Naruto's eyes lit up in excitement his tears all forgotten. He was protecting Kurama.
Kakashi stared at Mikoto amazed. She had not lied to Naruto if the Kyuubi escaped people would hunt it down so in a way Naruto was protecting the Biju and knowing hoe Minato-Sensei thought he would have liked for his son to make friends with the Kyuubi. Heck he would not put it past his sensei to of had visions of the pair frolicking in flowery fields and sharing bowls of ramen together when he sealed the fox into his son.
"By the way Naruto I am your Aunt Miko." Mikoto informed the toddler giving him a warm smile. "I am so glad to meet you. I have been waiting a long time."
Naruto looked at the woman his mouth slightly open. He knew the meaning aunt, it was like the words uncle, brother, cousin, mom and father, they are all word meaning family. Kurama had told him about it before.
"Weally?" The small boy lisped in excitement. He had never had family before just Kurama.
"Really," Mikoto replied with a smile.
The pair were content to stare at one another reaffirming that the other was real in their minds. The third person in the room knew they had other things that needed to be taken care of.
"Excuse me," Kakashi said pulling them both out of their thoughts. "We have one last thing to discuss."
Mikoto stared at Kakashi worried, it was well known that many people in the village suspected that the Uchiha had been responsible for the Kyuubi escaping. What would she do if one of her clansmen had been responsible for the Kyuubi escaping and killing so many of the villagers and ninjas in Konoha? Even worse if they were trying to let the Kyuubi escape again. Konoha would not survive it, they had still not recovered from the last attack.
"Naruto," Kakashi said his voice gentile as he could make it. "What do you know about the Sharingan?"
"Mmm it is bad and it hurts," Naruto explained. "It is scary. I don't wanna talk 'bout it."
The small boy hung his head and avoided eye contact with the two adults, not wanting to talk about the Sharingan.
"Naruto we need you tell us about it so that we can help." Kakashi tried to appeal to the small boy.
Naruto in a sudden bout of stubbornness shook his blonde head refusing to speak.
Kakashi and Mikoto looked at one another silently trying to figure out what they should do. The small boy contained information that was vitally important for the safety of Konoha. If someone had released the Kyuubi over two years ago and was trying to do it they needed to know.
While the two adults were silently trying to figure out the best way to extract the information Naruto the small boy was having a silent conversation of his own.
Naruto was in the icky water place that Kurama lived in. The small boy looked at Kurama laying behind the bars the kept him confined. Naruto had a nagging feeling that this was a prison but recalled that Mikoto said that he was Mikoto informing him that he was here to protect Kurama from bad people.
"Kurama!" The boy exclaimed running towards the nine tailed fox. He easily slipped his small body between the bars and throwing himself onto Kurama's snout giving him a hug. It never occurred to the small boy to fear the wickedly sharp canine that peeked out of the fox's mouth.
"Naruto, I need you to sleep," The fox told the child his voice a deep rumble. "I will take care of the two idiots pestering you."
Naruto nodded happily before crawling into Kurama's outstretched hand. Kurama gingerly cupped his hand his sharp claws carefully placed away from the small body. The small child obediently curled up and went to sleep.
As Kakashi silently debated on the best way to get the small boy to talk he felt a sickening chill pass through his body. He glanced at the toddler sitting on the bed and felt himself take an involuntary step back. Naruto's sky blue eyes had been replaced with a pair of hateful red eyes the bore into Kakashi's hatefully.
"Why are you talking about that bastard to the brat?" The Kyuubi growled through Naruto's mouth.
Mikoto recovered faster than Kakashi did on seeing the Kyuubi possess the blonde toddler.
"We need to find out if someone is trying to hurt Naruto." Mikoto replied not mentioning the fact that they were concerned with the Kyuubi breaking free and the fact that it could take over Naruto's body was highly alarming.
"The brat only sees what I have seen, it is of no concern to you." The Kyuubi said his deep voice
Kakashi watched the Kyuubi possess Naruto's body in horror, if the Kyuubi could slide into the boy's body like a well fitted glove any time he wished the village was in grave danger. The Hokage and Jiraiya-Sannin had both closely looked over the small boy's seal the day he was born and both been confident that it would last long into adulthood as long as it was not tampered with. Had someone tampered with it?
"How have you escaped the seal?" Kakashi demanded.
The Kyuubi threw back Naruto's head and gave a deep gravely laugh that sent shivers up Kakashi and Mikoto's spines.
"He let me through." The Kyuubi replied twisting Naruto's face into mocking grin.
The Kyuubi watched the two adults in the room cautiously. It would not do to alienate the brat from his new care givers but the boy was going hysterical over the Sharingan and it likely had to do with the brat viewing his own memories during while he dreamed. The Kyuubi also recognized Kakashi from the time he was imprisoned in Kushina and knew he had a Sharingan. The Kyuubi eyed the Copy Ninja recalling the last one-eyed Sharingan user he had encountered but the Sharingan was in his left eye.
"My time is short," The Kyuubi informed them. "I have been watching over the devil woman's spawn since I was trapped in him. Humans do not seen to take care of their offspring and this one was left to rot by you filthy creatures. I have undertaken educating him so that he does not die and take me with him before I can escape."
The Kyuubi glared at the two humans in the room. It left no doubt he did not care for humans.
"The brat will sometimes see things I have seen in his dreams. The Sharingan is my enemy and he has seen it. He fears it greatly. I will teach him not fear it but for now keep it away from him." The Kyuubi told the pair. "I will show him not to fear things he can destroy."
Kakashi's mouth hung open in his shocked stupor. He must be misunderstanding something because it sounded like the Kyuubi was trying to be helpful.
"I will need to sleep for a time so you must protect the brat," The Kyuubi told Kakashi staring at him from Naruto's small face. "I will not be doing this again it takes up too much Chakra. Do not allow my vessel to be harmed or I will eat you. The brat will sleep for now."
With that Naruto's small body seemed to crumble onto the bed. Kakashi rushed to the toddler checking his vital signs to make sure he was ok. After a few moments he realized that the blonde toddler was only in a deep sleep.
"That was unexpected," Mikoto said staring at the sleeping child.
Kakashi gazed at Naruto's sleeping form. The monster that had murdered the child's parents seemed to be caring for the small child in its own way. The question is what did the Kyuubi get out of it? There was no way that the Biju would do anything out of the kindness of it nonexistent heart.
"Yes it was," Kakashi replied glancing at her. "I am sure that you understand that everything that you have heard today is not to get out, even to your spouse."
Mikoto glared at Kakashi offended by his assumption that he had to warn her like Iruka and Itachi.
"You may be too young to remember but I was a Jonin long before I was married with a highly distinguished career. I know how to keep my mouth shut and not spread village secrets like blathering idiot." Mikoto informed Kakashi snidely. It rankled her that she had been pressured to retire in her prime after she became pregnant with Itachi by the clan elders.
Kakashi raised his only visible eyebrow at her declaration. It was best not to anger the woman farther, nothing ever good came out of upsetting women.
Mikoto walked towards the bed containing the now sleeping Naruto and gently moved him under the covers and tucked the toddler in. She made sure to give Kakashi a glare and the Jonin heard her mutter something about stupid males.
"I have sent for Jiraiya," Kakashi told the woman. "When he arrives I shall have him look over the seal."
Mikoto pursed her lips together a frown forming on her forehead as she gently stroked the blonde's forehead. The child had lost his parents, been abused by the adults entrusted to care for him and now he had a demon in his head. It seemed life was setting the small waif up to be doomed with unfairness.
She glanced at the young Jonin hovering over her shoulder his eye glued to sleeping toddler. Maybe Naruto would have fighting chance with such a fearsome guardian watching his every step.
"That could take some time. Jiraiya has not been in Konoha in years." Mikoto said thoughtfully.
"The Hokage is well aware of his whereabouts and it will not take him long to locate him," Kakashi replied. It was not well known that the Hokage and Jiraiya were in constant communication with one another. Jiraiya kept the Hokage well informed of goings on of the countries outside of their own. The Toad Sage was doing more than just researching for his books. Kakashi was one of a handful including the Hokage who knew this.
Giving Naruto one last pat on his blonde head Mikoto stood up and straitened her clothing.
"Regardless when that old pervert gets here we still have things to do," Mikoto said briskly walking to the door. "After all this place still needs to be livable."
Kakashi watched as the Uchiha matriarch walked through his childhood home shooting off orders to the men who had come with her sending them running off to do her bidding.
When they reached the living room the two Uchiha brothers were waiting along with Iruka who had returned from his mission to the Hokage holding a sealed scroll in his hands. As soon as Iruka noticed the two adults enter the room he quickly walked to Kakashi handing him the scroll.
The Copy Ninja took the scroll from the Genin his eye flashing over the page before he lit it on fire. The Hokage had sent for Jiraiya and he was to wait for the Toad Sage.
For now he would wait and make his home habitable for Naruto.
"Itachi," Mikoto said, "Take Sasuke to Naruto's room and have lunch there. Wait quietly there until Naruto wakes up and make sure he eats. You are not to activate your Sharingan around him for any reason."
The Uchiha heir nodded his head in consent while his mother took out four bento from one the boxes and handed him three. She then turned to Iruka holding out the fourth bento.
"Go with them and keep them all out of trouble," She ordered. "After all you are the oldest one."
Iruka took the bento from Mikoto blushing slightly. It was not often the orphan received homemade meals.
After the children had headed to Naruto's room Mikoto became a demon slave driver pushing all of her slaves—workers into overdrive to finish cleaning and repairing the house.
When Naruto opened his eyes he saw the boy named Iruka leaning against the bed that he was sleeping in. He reached out and gently touched the brown hair sticking out of his pony tail causing the Genin to turn around.
"Morning sleepy head," The preteen said smiling at Naruto. "Are you hungry? Uchiha-sama left a bento for you to eat."
Naruto stretched his tiny arms over his head smiling at Iruka.
"Yummy?" The toddler questioned him.
Iruka smiled at the small boy handing him the bento Mikoto had sent for the toddler.
"Yes, it was very yummy. Uchiha-sama is a very good cook." Iruka said while he helped the small boy open the lid.
Naruto quickly started eating his meal making pleased noises as he ate.
Across the room a pair of black predatory eyes watched the blonde as he ate his food they were locked on the two red balls of heavenly goodness.
At some point Itachi had fallen asleep in a chair beside the bed after eating with his little brother snuggly wrapped in his arms. Sasuke like most children was never content to just sit still for long so when he noticed Naruto eating his lunch he slipped off of his sleeping brother's lap and tottered across the floor. When he reached the bed crawled inside and wiggled his way towards the other toddler.
"Eat!" Sasuke chirped at Naruto pointing towards one of the tomatoes.
Naruto looked at Sasuke noticing him for the first time. The blonde tilted his head to the side puzzled.
"Eat!" Sasuke said more insistent this time pointing at the tomato again. This time he opened his mouth wide waiting for a bite.
Understanding now what the other child wanted Naruto gingerly grabbed one of his tomatoes before placing it inside Sasuke's waiting mouth.
"Mmm yummy," The little Uchiha exclaimed delightedly before opening his mouth again.
Naruto giggled at Sasuke's reaction and happily placed the tomato into his waiting mouth. Sasuke happily ate the tomato savoring its heavenly goodness.
He opened up his mouth for another bite but there was not one, He looked at Naruto's bento and realized that it was out of tomatoes.
"All gone," Sasuke said with a pout and a yawn.
"All gone," Naruto agreed looking at his now empty bento before handing it to Iruka.
Sasuke gave a large yawn stretching his arms over his head before laying his head down on Naruto's pillow.
"Sleepy," Sasuke said before closing his eyes and drifting off.
Naruto who was still not recovered from the Kyuubi using his body gave a small yawn before laying down beside the other toddler. He closed his eyes and was quickly fast asleep.
Iruka covered both toddlers up happy that there was not another incident. He laid his head on the bed watching the two toddlers sleep and before long he had fallen asleep himself.
Sometime later Mikoto quietly opened the door to check how things were going. Much to her delight she found the four of them fast asleep. Naruto and Sasuke were curled up together on the bed while Iruka rested his head gently beside the toddlers and at some point in time Itachi had moved to the floor curled up like a cat in front of the bed.
Mikoto quietly removed the camera she carried with her and took a couple of dozen pictures of the sleeping boys. It would work wonders for blackmail on the four for years to come.
Before people roll their eyes at me allowing Naruto and Kurama to be able to communicate when Naruto is so young I promise I do have a logical (at least to me) reason.
First when children are born they need to make an attachment in like the first 12-18 months (It has been a while since I took my Psychology classes) in order to be able to form bonds with other people as they grow older, failure to do so causes them to develop Attachment Disorders and a bunch of other issues. Back in the 80's and early 90's when many American families had adopted children from Russia they quickly came to realize that there was something different about many of the children and later found out it was caused by them not having enough interaction with someone to form a bond during the first year of life. During that time newborns in Russian orphanages only had interaction during feeding and changing and were left on their own most of the time. Attachment disorders can lead to anything from a highly withdrawn child who lacks good communication to a kid slaughtering the family pets. I am only roughly summing it up but I am sure everyone can get the idea that in order for Naruto to be able to create bonds he needs one from a very early age.
So where am I going with this? Naruto needed someone to bond with and the most convenient person was the Kurama. Kurama for his part was a combination of bored and did not like the idea of being stuck with someone who could not talk so he started talking to Naruto and one thing led to another.
Secondly because Kurama talks to Naruto so much and does not want to listen to baby talk he makes sure he can talk clearly and corrects him often.
Now Naruto may still seemed advanced in his speech for a 2 ½ year old but it also depends on the child. One of my nephews talked freakishly clearly by age two and has great problem solving skills, he talks better than many 5 or 6 years old. My poor sister is constantly at wits end over the clever things he can come up with to do. He also growls in his sleep and I am convinced he may be the antichrist and will one day rule the world! He is so freaking cute people would follow him just for that!
Well I hope everyone enjoyed!