Hard to Forgive
Summary: Banished from Konoha after an accident with Kyuubi, Naruto swears to come back too powerful to be brought down. Years pass with no sign. Until they hear a Hidden Village has risen, and its' residents are demons and outcasts. Will they find Naruto there?
Pairing/s: None.
Warnings: Strong!Naruto, Demon!Naruto, some people-bashing, blood, violence… maybe some more, I don't know.
Disclaimers: Does it look like I own Naruto? I didn't think so either…
So, I had this long rant about yaoi-fics and people had commented on this one despite it being a non-pairing fic. Since I'm updating and changing the chapters, I thought it was time to let go of that rant, and just let you reread the story in peace -happy grin-
UPDATED 2011-07-15
-o-
Chapter Seven
"Are you going to Konoha again?"
Sora nodded to Kageenja's question without looking up from the paper he was reading.
"Sora-san, I would appreciate if you looked at me." The Onikage looked up curiously at Kageenja who continued, "Konoha is not safe."
"Yes, I know. But I have you protectors, don't I?"
"Don't twist around my words like that."
"But it's true." It was hard for Kageenja to not hear the pout in the man's voice.
"Onikage-sama." Wow. It was not often the man spoke to Sora in that tone. "Please, I have a bad feeling about this."
"Are they betraying us?"
"Not Tsunade and the people she trust but… the village… it reeked of hatred."
"I know."
"And yet you're going?" Kageenja demanded to know.
"We are to have a meeting what we are to do with Orochimaru," Sora said. "We decided to have that one in Konoha. Future meetings we will jump between Konoha, Suna and Blood."
"Please, you can't go there! They will attack you!"
"Then I'll kill them," Sora said with a smile that made shivers go up Kageenja's spine, and against his will he took a step back. The chakra the man emitted from his chair reeked of death. "Don't worry Kageenja; I will be fine. And if I am attacked, I always have you, right?"
Kageenja looked at his leader and walked forward. He sat down heavily on the arm of the chair and put his head down on Sora's shoulder.
"Hmm, you are usually not like this," Sora noted. "Is it only because of the people in Konoha or something else?"
"I'm just being paranoid," Kageenja replied.
"Then you can stop being paranoid," Onikage said. "You know I'm quite impossible to take down."
"Still…"
"Hush now, stop fretting," Sora said, placing a hand on Kageenja's head. "You are there with me, so I have nothing to fear."
"As I stated before, stop twisting around my words like that you fucker."
Sora only smiled.
-o-
Tsunade greeted on Gaara with a smile and said:
"How are you this wonderful day?"
"Better if your council didn't try to glare a hole into your head."
"Oh, don't worry about them. They are just acting like idiots."
"Is it because Sora is going to arrive in a few minutes?" Gaara asked.
"Yes," she said. "I don't care that much about it though. They can glare and nag all they want, he's still coming."
A moment later a great wind started and once it ended, Sora had arrived with the same group as before. The council tensed while Tsunade and Gaara smiled.
"Good morning to you all," the woman said. "Welcome back to Konoha."
"Thank you, Tsunade-hime," Onikage said and stepped forward. For today's honour he was dressed in white; white combat-pants, a white long-sleeved shirt and over that a white vest. There was a belt of scrolls around his hips, the scrolls blood red and sealed. "It seems like your council is not as happy to see me."
"Ignore them," Tsunade said. "God knows I do."
The council now glared at them all but shrunk back as Kotou began to unsheathe his katana. All ANBUs grew alert, their chakra tensing in the air.
"Kotou, don't," Sora said and looked at the white-haired man. "Whatever you are thinking, it's not worth your head to be gone."
Kotou considered this and let the katana slide back. He crossed his arms and glared back at the council. Yokaze shook his head helplessly.
"Shall we go then?" Onikage said as if it had never happened.
-o-
As they seated themselves in Tsunade's office, the council members sat as far away from Sora as possible. Gaara sighed as he saw this before seating himself next to the Onikage, his council members seating themselves near him. The demon-like man's companions did not sit down.
"You are allowed to sit," Tsunade said to them.
"We prefer standing, Tsunade-hime," Yokaze said politely.
"More like not allowed sitting," one of the Konoha shinobis muttered.
"What was that?" the Hokage asked sharply.
"More like not allowed sitting," Inuzuka Tsume repeated, looking at the Onikage as if daring him to reply.
"We prefer to stand," Kotou said with a deep chilling voice, "in case of an attack."
"Why?" she challenged.
"Use your brain if you have one," Kotou snapped.
"Stop it," Onikage said and the white-haired man immediately cut off any further words with a snap. He glanced at his leader and then turned to stare out the window. "I would appreciate to not egg my people on, as they have a tendency to answer with rather harsh words."
"Then make sure they know how to be quiet," Tsume said.
"I believe I don't like your tone," Sora said. "Maybe you should learn when to bark and when to stay foot."
Tsume was half-way up her chair when Shikaku grabbed her arm and wrenched her back down.
"Don't play around with death," he muttered in her ear before releasing her. He may not like her attitude but she was important for the village's survival.
"Everyone settle down," Tsunade said and looked around. "How are we supposed to be allies when all we can do is arguing like children?"
"We never agreed to become allies with the Blood village!" Hiashi said, venom in his voice.
"Told you so," Kageenja murmured in the leader's ear.
"Hush," Sora whispered. "Let's see where this leads."
"We are allies with Suna who are allies with Blood. Only natural Blood and Konoha became allies," Tsunade said.
"You just want to find that Uzumaki brat!" Hiashi spat.
At once, the room became silent. Sora raised an eyebrow. Kageenja gave out a near-snort before Hijutsu discreetly elbowed him. The Onikage leaned back in his chair and watched the outcome while Gaara looked at him strangely.
Before Sora had wanted to tell Tsunade who he was after the meeting with her, Gaara knew that. But now… it suddenly seemed like something had changed. But what had changed? Was the man backing off from telling the Hokage? He was not scared of that, Gaara knew that. He had been in the beginning, scared to tell Tsunade who he was however now… it seemed like he was not even scared to kill her if he had to.
What had changed?
Tsunade, unaware of the redhead's thoughts, looked at Hiashi long and hard.
"I am not out to find Naruto," she said. "He has not allowed himself to be found in fifteen years, so he clearly doesn't want us close."
Yokaze glanced down at Onikage but he did not betray anything. In fact, he did not look interested in the conversation. Yokaze bit his lip and wondered what could be the cause for the sudden change of heart:
"Sora-san?"
Sora looked up to see Yokaze enter the room. He put down the scroll he had been preparing and patted the floor next to him. The younger one sat down and said:
"Why… why have you not prepared to tell Tsunade-hime who you are?"
Onikage glanced up at him for a moment before returning to his task. Yokaze knew it was a sign to wait for a few minutes until Sora was done. Indeed a few minutes later the older replied:
"I frankly don't know."
"Why not?"
"At first I was scared as a small child about telling," Sora said with a curl of disgust. "Then I regained myself and wondered why I should. I've turned this around a lot and still haven't found a fucking answer."
Crude language was not known to come from Sora's mouth so Yokaze was surprised.
"One part of me wants to tell," Sora said, adding a few strokes on the scroll. "Another wants me to wish them to hell. The part that was wounded deeply by their looks when I was weak."
"Sora-san, this is not you," Yokaze said and stared at the man.
"I know," Sora said and looked at Yokaze. "I'm afraid I'm turning into something I was before."
"And what was that?"
"… A true monster."
"What are you fretting about?" Sora suddenly whispered to him as the argument continued between the Konoha council.
"About what you said earlier," the younger man replied quietly.
"Aah… don't worry about it. I will figure it out sooner or later," Sora said and smiled a bit at him. "It has just been a few tough weeks."
Yokaze nodded, not knowing what else to do. He just wanted to get that empty absent stare that Sora had had for several days.
Gaara had interfered into the argument while they had talked and now said:
"We are not here to argue why we allied, we are here to discuss what should be done against Orochimaru's recent attacks!"
"They are probably allied with Orochimaru!" one of the council members shouted, pointing at Onikage.
The next moment Kotou was by him, katana against his neck, Yokaze aiming his palm against the man's heart and Kageenja stood on the table with shadows twisting around him.
"Never say to my people, or to me, that we in any way are connected to Orochimaru," Sora said dangerously low, his eyes flaring intense blue for a moment. Chakra was seeping out from him, anger mixed with it. "We tend to react… a bit violently."
While Konchuu and Hijutsu had not moved they were reeking of chakra too, both of them tense and Konchuu glaring at the one who had spoken. The rest sat silent in shock and perhaps fear.
"Yokaze, Kageenja, Kotou come back here," Sora said. "I think they know now what we think of Orochimaru."
"Fucking snake, he's getting it one day," Kageenja muttered and walked across the table to jump down next to Sora again. Twin whirls and then Kotou and Yokaze had joined the Onikage. Sora whispered something in Yokaze's ear and the younger man nodded before sliding his face into a blank mask.
"Shall we talk or not?" Onikage asked with a cold look. "If you are content with arguing like little brats, I fear I have more useful things to do than listen to your petty arguments."
Gaara stared at him; this was definitely not Sora talking. Was he giving into his old hatred? Or was he just endlessly frustrated?
The Konoha council sat in shocked silence and Tsunade heaved a sigh of relief.
"Alright, we will act like adults now," she said sternly and looked around the table. The presence of Kakashi and Sasuke behind her gave her strength. With a small grin she said, "Those who wants to continue argue I will send to the corners like stupid little brats like Onikage-sama just said. I have other things to do as well if you don't behave."
Sora cracked a smile at that, and Tsunade was pleased when most of the council went beat red.
"Seems like you got your children under control," Sora murmured. "Should we be envious of Gaara-san, Tsunade-hime, who has such nice children compared to us?"
"Hey, we're not like them!" Kageenja protested and pointed at the Konoha council.
"I beg to differ," Sora sniffed and Gaara finally smiled. He was returning, the Sora Gaara knew. Good.
The meeting progressed without problems although most of the members of the council from Konoha glared at either Tsunade or Sora. Sora paid them no mind.
Within a few hours they had a vague plan laid out; spies from Suna would watch Orochimaru while Konoha and Blood built up their force. The council members save for Shikaku and Shibi glared at Sora at the comment 'built up their force', claiming 'the demons probably were ready to strike anytime' which made Onikage a bit annoyed.
"Sora-san, your eyebrow will soon have a permanent twitch," Yokaze informed when the council members from Konoha and Suna had exited the room after the meeting. Said man glared at Yokaze and slowly unclenched his fists.
"They were beginning to go on my nerve," the man admitted.
"Hey, at least you didn't kill them," Kageenja offered and Tsunade choked on her breath a bit.
"Small miracles," Kotou said. "If he had, they would have deserved it."
"Don't start arguing you two," Sora said as the two glared at each other. "I've heard enough brat-arguments for today."
"I'm not a brat!" Kageenja whined.
"You are whining," Kotou pointed out. "A classic sign."
"Kotou, don't start," Sora moaned. He rubbed his temples as Gaara got up, stretching after having sit for a long time.
"Need some fresh air?" Tsunade asked.
"No, I'm fine," Sora said.
Yokaze suddenly produced a glass of water to the man who took it with a grateful look.
"Are you a mind-reader?" Tsunade asked Yokaze with a faint smile.
"I merely know Sora-san's needs," Yokaze said. "Although he expresses them far too little."
"Don't look at me like that," Sora complained. "I do speak up with what I need."
"Yes, but far too seldom," Hijutsu said quietly. "You insist of our own comfort before your own."
"Don't start with that again," Onikage groaned. "I told you already, I'm your leader and supposed to at that way! Every leader does!"
"But who said we are the normal village?" Konchuu asked.
"Not you too!"
Tsunade laughed quietly as Sora groaned and let his head hit the table with a thud.
-o-
Sora had just exited the building along with Tsunade, Sasuke, Kakashi, Gaara and his people when a kunai came towards him. Yokaze caught it and swung it right back before Sora could say anything.
It barely missed Hanabi, who had thrown it from the start.
"Hanabi, what are you doing?" Tsunade shouted, pale of rage.
"What are you doing?" the Hyuuga replied. "Inviting monsters to our village like it's nothing! Making them allies to our village, when everyone knows demons stab you in the back!"
Kotou growled and had his katana out within an instant. Onikage held up a hand, and reluctantly the white-haired man lowered the blade. His purple eyes locked on the young woman, who now held another kunai ready. No one moved to stop her, some of the villagers silently cheered her on.
"Stabbing people in the back… that is what your village has done," Onikage said, his voice deadly. Hanabi's hand wavered a bit, her eyes full of confusion. "Don't try to hide it. You got rid of a so called demon-child fifteen years ago, stabbing him in the back when all he wanted to do was to help."
"What do you know about it?" Hiashi shouted, eyes blazing of anger.
"Because I know your demon-child," Onikage said and people gasped. Tsunade's eyes widened. Sora's next words made her heart break, "And he wasn't willing to forgive this disgrace to village."
Gaara stared. Sora was vibrating in anger long over-due, and he looked at Yokaze. The man was at his leader's side swiftly and the Blood villagers grabbed onto the youngest of them. Sora placed his hand on Yokaze's shoulder and then looked over at Tsunade.
"He knows those who regretted it," the demon-like man spoke to her, quietly. "Just so you know, Tsunade-hime."
And then they were gone.
Tbc…
Chapter eight: A bit about Orochimaru I think, Onikage and Gaara have a talk and some other stuff. Just so you are aware, this story is not that long, maybe just a few more chapters and then it's over. I never planned it to be long.
Until later,
Ja,
Tiro
