:::{A World Only We Know}:::
"Kids who have never seen peace and kids who have never seen war have different values..." - One Piece
9 ~ Borrowed Peace
(Konoha) ...one year later
Naruto winced as the pain woke him up. He knew the bruises were going to form soon. Eyes squeezing shut at the pain, Naruto slowly sat up.
"You should rest," a voice whispered.
Eyes snapping open, Naruto flinched, falling off the bed.
Wait. Bed?
Taking a look around, Naruto noticed that he was back in his apartment and his messy room was not so messy anymore. His eyes scanned the room and sure enough, landed on the owner of the voice.
It was a boy, Naruto knew that much. But he was wearing a strange fox mask and a dark cape covering his body and the hood covering his head. The boy was a bit taller than Naruto, his voice kind.
"Are you hungry?"
Naruto, eyes widening, saw that the boy had a tray of steaming food. But his excitement fell when there was no sign of ramen. Naruto opened his mouth, but the boy spoke first.
"I'll get you ramen next time. You should eat something better today though. All that sodium can't be good for you."
Naruto closed his mouth, eyes watching the boy. "Who are you and how did I get back here?"
The boy shrugged as he walked in and set the tray next to Naruto's bed. "I saw what you did. It was brave and kind of you to stand up for Hinata-chan."
"You mean, the girl with the strange eyes," Naruto questioned.
The fox mask simply nodded.
Naruto stared at the food before turning wary eyes to the boy.
"But who are you…and why are you helping me? No one," Naruto looked away, "helps me."
The boy set the tray next to him and turned away.
"You looked like you needed help."
"I don't need help," Naruto snapped, eyes narrowing, "I'm going to be hokage one day and everyone will acknowledge me! I don't need anyone's help! Believe it!"
The boy turned back to him, hands at his side. "Why do you care if they acknowledge you?"
Naruto paused at his words as he stared at the boy. No one has ever asked him that before. He usually got annoyed sighs or irritated whispers of put downs and glares.
Naruto frowned.
"They'll treat me better when I become hokage, ya know."
"Will they though," the boy seemed to muse as he came to stand next to Naruto. "Those who matter don't care and those who care don't matter."
"Huhh," Naruto exclaimed, eyes blinking in confusion.
The boy seem to sigh, but Naruto couldn't be sure.
"If you want to be hokage, you'll need help once and a while." There was a pause before he beckoned towards the still warm food. "And to eat better."
Naruto frowned at him. "The hokage doesn't need help. He's the strongest shinobi ever you know!"
"Everyone needs help," the boy responded sadly, head shaking. "Including you. Take care, Naruto-kun."
But before Naruto could further question him, the boy was gone, disappearing out the window. Naruto got out of his bed, running to the window, but the boy was nowhere in sight.
After eating the meal, Naruto left his room and to his shock, his little apartment building was cleaned and to his confusion, his cupboards were stocked with food. He was happy to see that his ramen was left alone (but stacked neatly away) and he found a note on his newly stocked fridge:
You shouldn't drink curdle milk and eat only ramen. I'll be back. Have fun at the Academy Entrance Ceremony tomorrow.
Naruto's eyes scrunched in confusion.
Who the hell is this kid?
:::
(Ryuu) ...later that day
"Nii-san is so far away from me," Sasuke muttered as he missed his target once more.
I blinked over at him, lowering my own shuriken. I quickly tried to recount what could have happened and remembered about the day before the Academy Entrance Ceremony.
I watched him closely, waiting for Sasuke to continue, but when he didn't, I threw my two shuriken, one hitting its target before quickly throwing a third one to knock the second one into its target at an angle in the air.
At my skills, Sasuke's eyes only narrowed, brows coming together. I saw the jealousy in his eyes, the hopelessness. I went over to him, quickly knocking my shoulders with his. Sasuke blinked out of his thoughts at me. He frowned, turning away.
"Itachi-kun loves you," I whispered softly, "you know that right, Sasuke-kun?"
Sasuke's shoulders shrugged even as his head gave a curt nod. I sighed at this and quickly stopped him when he grabbed for more shuriken. He blinked at me in confusion.
"We should talk," I said.
We were only seven. So young, yet not. Sasuke saw his clan murdered before him at this age. Itachi saw war even before this age.
I led us away from the eyes of Shisui and Itachi, the two sparring in the field not far away. I sensed as Shisui's and Itachi's chakra flicker, both eyes on us as we disappeared in the tree lines, but then they were both back to focusing on each other soon after.
I jumped into the trees, Sasuke struggling to follow. He was getting better at it though. I stopped short as I found the tallest tree that was a good distance away, but near enough where the two older Uchihas won't worry.
Throwing a grin back at Sasuke, I winked at him.
"Beat you to the top!"
Sasuke was not one to let a challenge down and I knew that even though he struggled still with chakra control and running between trees, Sasuke was a good climber. I was not surprised when he won.
Sasuke smirk at me. "You always were bad at climbing."
I shook my head at his arrogance. If I didn't hold back on chakra, I would have won, but no use pointing that out. Sighing, the two of us held onto the tree branches, steadying ourselves as he stared over the tree tops at where the Hokage Monument was.
Sasuke's smirk has fallen, eyes becoming sad once more. Jaws flexing, I glanced at him. I knew he would have a similar conversation with Itachi soon, but there was no harm in having one with him between the two of us.
"You must hate Itachi-kun and me, huh?"
Like before, he seemed taken aback by it. He quickly began to object, but I shook my head, eyes catching his.
"It's okay if you do," I whispered, looking away from him and back at the monument. My eyes focused on the First Hokage. "That's what it means to have a sibling…to be so close to someone that you are compared to them at every turn. It will create spite, no matter how harmless the intention of the judgers are."
Sasuke bit his lips, following my eyes.
"Everyone talks about Ryuu-nii and nii-san. Father only thinks about nii-san and everyone else only cares about Ryuu-nii."
My eyes closed then, anger erupting from me with a sudden vengeance that even I was surprised by it. But I couldn't help it.
I hated Fugaku. I hated the clan. I hated…people.
I sighed, controlling my anger. I felt as Sasuke gingerly touched my shoulder, having sensed my change in behavior.
"Ryuu-nii," he said softly with worry.
I smiled at him reassuringly, before looking away as my smile fell.
"Do you hate your father then?"
Taken aback again, Sasuke was left speechless as he stared in me with horror. I turned back to him, eyes as serious as I could make them without scaring him.
"You are your own person, Sasuke-kun," I whispered. I looked down, fingers clenching on the branch. "You should never feel that you have to become like Itachi or me. Don't take your father's words and actions to heart. Don't listen to those who do not care about you."
Sasuke's eyes had widened in surprise and shock at my words.
"But," Sasuke began, lips trembling with a scowl, "I want to be like Itachi. I want to be strong. I want…"
Sasuke couldn't even finish his sentence, but I did it for him because after all these years and having watched his world in my old life, I knew. I knew Uchiha Sasuke more than he would ever understand himself.
Fingers digging into the branch, I said the words softly.
"You want to be your father's son? For him to say that to you, right?"
Sasuke, at my words, stared at me with pierced lips and teary eyes. He did not nod or show any sign of acknowledgement at my voicing of his greatest desire. He looked away.
I breathed out softly.
Children, shinobis or human or in whatever universe, only wanted one thing and one thing only: parental acknowledgement. A sign of love, any sign of affection, and just something that would claim them as belonging to the people they love and cherish the most. Parents mean the world to a child.
It's why seeing parents like Fugaku…like the Kazekage and my own step father as Xen, sickened and saddened me. They love, but...
"Sasuke," I said softly, "look at me."
Sasuke at first ignored me before a minute later finally turning to me. Eyes of a confused neglected child, he watched me.
But at his eyes, what could I say to him.
That Fugaku was wrong? That his father was a bad father? He would only get defensive. He wouldn't understand. At that age, your parents' were the world. They could do no wrong even if what they do seem confusing. Children, like adults, were blinded by love.
It is human nature.
I sighed.
"I could train you," I began, "I can help you show your father that you are as much his son as Itachi-san is."
At my words, Sasuke's face blinked in surprise before smiling brightly at me.
"I'm joining the Academy tomorrow though," Sasuke said, eyes down casted, "I won't have time anymore to train with Ryuu-nii and nii-san."
I shrugged. "I'll train you when Itachi-chan is busy."
Sasuke smiled at me. "Okay! I want to go tell nii-san!"
Before I could stop him, he jumped down. Sighing, I followed him.
:::
As the boys disappeared, Itachi stopped, Shisui's fist stopping inches from Itachi's face as he sensed the sudden drop of Itachi's defense. Glancing to where Itachi's eyes had wondered, Shisui sighed.
"They'll be fine."
Itachi turned to him. "I know."
"But that's not why you stopped," Shisui inquired as he dropped his fist, flexing his fingers.
Itachi looked down, eyes closing, before reopening and turning back to the older boy.
"The mission is tomorrow."
Shisui frowned. "But you will miss Sasuke-kun's Academy Entrance Ceremony. Even Ryuu is going to be there and you know how much Ryuu hates being around children his age."
Itachi nodded as he turned back to where the boys disappeared. "Chichiue wishes for me to go on this mission."
"Does Sasuke-kun understand?"
Itachi had no response. Sighing, Shisui went over to the boy, placing a palm on his shoulder.
"You remember what I told you last time?"
Itachi blinked at him, snapping back to Shisui. Frowning, he nodded. How could he forget? Shisui basically told him that he was being a bad brother to Sasuke and for him to talk to Ryuu.
"I do not think there is anything wrong with how I treat Sasuke," Itachi muttered as his eyes furrowed together.
Shisui crossed his arms, watching the younger boy closely. "You treat him like a child."
"He is a child," Itachi said briskly, frown deepening.
"But he is also a shinobi in training," Shisui tried to reason. "You wish to keep him innocent. I understand this, but in doing so, you are also keeping him ignorant to the world of shinobis."
Itachi's eyes watched Shisui closely. He wished to disregard Shisui's words, but his cousin did not say things lightly. Sighing, Itachi nodded slowly.
"If it is what you wish, then I will speak with Ryuu-kun."
"Itachi," Shisui said as he uncrossed his arms, "you shouldn't do it just because it is what I wish. Do it because you know that Sasuke deserves to know what is happening around him. He deserves to know why you cannot be there for him or why his father seems to favor you."
Itachi's eyes closed, lips pierced tightly. He knew that Shisui had a point.
"I will speak to Ryuu-kun first."
Shisui opened and closed his mouth, before letting the subject drop. He knew that Itachi would talk no more. The two quickly resumed their training, Itachi's attack stronger and fiercer than before, but Shisui simply let it drop and returned the attack with the same fervor.
When the two boys returned, Itachi and Shisui were close to chakra depletion.
But only Ryuu caught on, wisely saying nothing, as Sasuke exclaimed over the news of Ryuu training with him from then on.
::: ::: ::: ::: ::: :::
(Kinnara)
I winced slightly, pain shooting through my arm. Yashamaru looked apologetically at me even as he gently kneaded my broken hand.
"It's broken," Yashamaru informed everyone, stating the obvious.
I rolled my eyes. I've been telling that to everyone, but it was only at his words that I saw that everyone believed.
The Kazekage frowned at me even as Gaara stood next to him, concern in his eyes. He looked hesitantly between the Kazekage and me before coming to my side. His shoulder touches mine as he sits next to me, staring at the arm in Yashamaru's hand.
"I'm sorry Ki," Gaara whispered as he looked dejectedly down at the ground.
I nudge him with my shoulder playfully.
"It's okay, you didn't mean it," I assured him even as the Kazekage frowned.
"Gaara," he began and I winced at his sterner than usual tone, "You are not responsible for what happens to Kinnara."
Gaara frowned slightly as he turned his head towards our father. "But I was the one who hurt her."
"She should have protected herself better," the Kazekage said sternly. "The sand protect the both of you, but if Kinnara cannot even land on her hands without breaking her arm, it is her responsibility. You must never let your fear of hurting Kinnara stop your training."
I scowled at him. I opened my mouth to tell him to lay off Gaara, but at the sudden squeezing of my arm, I winced. I glared at Yashamaru, the man refusing to look at me as he watched the Kazekage.
Gaara bowed his head. "Hai, otousama."
I sighed and knocked shoulders with Gaara, but winced as the motion jarred my broken bone. Gaara, at my wince, frowned even more. The Kazekage shook his head at me as Yashamaru quickly began healing it, the warm chakra flowing into me.
I never can get over how weird chakra is. I've always noticed it, but at the same time, not. I needed to do some more reading, but books on chakra were confusing. I still needed to work on my Japanese reading skills. Speaking is simple because I grew up learning.
I sighed as Yashamaru finished.
"Kinnara-sama," Yashamaru began as I winced again, trying to move my hand, "you will need a cast."
"Yashamaru," the Kazekage suddenly commanded, all of our heads snapping to him, "return Kinnara home and look after her. Gaara will continue with his training. Alone."
I blinked, mouth opening to object, but winced when Yashamaru once again tapped my broken bone. I glared at him even as he nodded. Before I could say or do anything, he had me in his arms and was gone.
Damn it. I didn't even get to say goodbye to Gaara!
:::
Temari and Kankuro laughed as I continued glaring at Yashamaru. Our uncle was smiling gently at me as he finished with the cast on my arm.
"You did it on purpose," I muttered once more.
I saw the shaking of Temari's head as she came over to me and tapped on my cast. I threw my glare at her next to which she sighed.
"Kinnara, only you will be able to break a bone while having the best protection known to the shinobi world."
Kankuro scoffed softly, peering at me. "Yea. How on earth do you break a bone? The sand cushioned you too hard?"
"Actually," Yashamaru began, happy to retell the tale of my clumsiness, but I quickly jumped him.
Yashamaru simply grinned behind my fingers as I clamped his mouth shut, glaring at all of them and trying my best to be scary. Temari sighed at me, telling me to let our uncle go as Kankuro simply laughed.
"Shut up," I muttered as I clutched Yashamaru tighter, but my uncle simply lifted me into his lap and sat me down, moving my arm away while handling my cast carefully.
"Kinnara-sama," Yashamaru began with his you-need-to-behave-better tone, but I jumped off his lap and scrambled away.
Turning to them, I glowered.
"You know what, go away, all of you. I just want Gaara."
All three of them shared a look before Temari and Kankuro laughed, Yashamaru chuckling. Temari stopped and turned to me, taking my glower on with a smile.
"You mean, Gaara is the only one who is nice enough to ignore your bossy, sarcastic—"
"Grumpy," Kankuro interrupted with a smirk.
"And clumsy," Yashamaru also added quickly before Temari could finish.
"—attitude." Temari finished it all without a pause even as the other two added their opinions.
I crossed my arms, but at the cast preventing me from doing it, I simply put them on my hips. God damn it, I hate it when they ganged up on me. Especially without Gaara here to defend me.
"What is this," I asked them, "pick on Kinnara without Gaara day?"
"No. We are just honestly shocked that you got hurt," Temari said as she leisurely leaned against the kitchen counter. Then she seemed to stop, musing before shaking her head with a grin. "Actually, no. It's not surprising that between the two of you, you would be the one with a broken bone."
"Isn't your sand barrier supposed to be impenetrable?" Kankuro crossed his arms as he asked this.
"Well," Yashamaru began again and this time, I threw sand at him.
With my uncle falling backwards at the sand in his mouth, I shook my head and walked out as their laughter followed me. Already, I could hear Yashamaru recover from the sand and was already beginning the tale.
I take it back. I can't get used to this.
:::
That night, Gaara came home late. Yashamaru had called it quits, saying that I should too and that Gaara was fine, but I still wanted to wait up for him. When he finally came back, I jumped him.
"Gaa! You left me alone and they picked on me," I whined as I wrapped my arms around him.
Gaara, even after all these years, jerked back clumsily and patted my back awkwardly. One would think he was not used to me.
"I-I'm sorry?"
I sighed as I let him go. I tried my best pout on him.
"Where have you been?"
Gaara's eyes widened a little before flushing and looking away from me. Eyes narrowing, I poked him in the chest.
"What?"
There was a moment of silence before he spoke.
"I trained with otousama."
I frowned at him. "And?"
Gaara finally turned to me, eyes wary.
"He said that I was to train again with him tomorrow. Alone."
I frowned at this. Not surprised, but...
"Okay."
Gaara blinked at me, shocked. "W-what?"
"Okay," I repeated with a shrug. "You ready for bed?"
"B-but," Gaara began, but I laughed.
"Gaara," I said softly, latching onto his side as I walked him through the foyer. "I don't like training to begin with. I'm actually quite happy with this."
Gaara stared at me in confusion. "Don't you want to learn how to control Shukaku?"
I rolled my eyes. "Is that what he told you?"
Gaara shook his head. "I-I overheard the guards."
"Well, our sand control does not come from Shukaku so you can ignore those idiots," I muttered angrily.
"But," Gaara began again, but I shook my head.
"It's fine. I'm sure otousan has his reasons. Don't worry about it Gaara.
"H-hai," he muttered as I finally won him over.
As we laid together in bed, his back to me, I simply stared into the darkness.
I really saw this coming. I was...very inept at training. At this whole shinobi thing really. I know that some diehard fans of Naruto would die to be in my position, but...I honestly don't want to be a shinobi. I don't want to fight.
Actually, I'm glad he's taking me off of training. Maybe then Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro can be there trio like in the original timeline.
I sighed.
It may be more of my other upbringing though, more of the old memories in me. I had led a safe life. A well-protected life. War never touched American soil during my time. I heard about it all the time though. War, death, murder. Xen's life...was the closest to death I've been to death besides my own. Heck, I still don't even get chakra.
I lifted my hand into the air, staring at it even in the dark.
I could feel the chakra right now, flowing through me. I guess that chakra for others in the Narutoverse is like blood to people in my old world. You knew it was there. You were born with it, the chakra inside of you a possession that belonged inside of you and something that only shinobis specialized in. I was very sensitive to it at first, but because of the sand, I've gotten used to it. But I could still feel it.
It flowed around me and inside me. My own chakra within and nature chakra outside. Then there were the chakra signatures of people around me, even regular civilians. I lowered my hand and stared at the darkness beyond the small window of our room.
I was not a fighter. I've never killed anyone before. I'm conflicted by two upbringings: the one of shinobis and the one of an American born child.
I closed my eyes.
I was not going to start complaining about being dropped from training. I knew from the start that it was not for me and it's been a goal of mine. I couldn't break the sand sibling trio!
Plus I couldn't force myself to train in the arts of killing someone. That's what it is. That's what it means to be trained as a shinobi.
And...I was not a shinobi. I don't know if I can become one.
It reminded me too much of Xen.
This life, these values.
Xen was taught to kill by the government. To be a murderer for our country, in the name of protection.
In the end, it was still murder, wasn't it?
I sighed. I hated this.
What should I do, Xen?
We all search for the same happiness. In this world and the next. We all want peace, don't we?
I reflected about what I knew of this world...of the so call "bad guys."
Nagato wanted peace. Madara wanted a better world. Obito wanted pain and suffering to stop.
What—how can I kill another human being? Is the pursuit of happiness...a selfish desire then?
I turned on my side, hand resting on Gaara's back as he slept.
Gaara, without me, would be a murderer at this age. But even then, he was still a good person in the end.
But still. The people he murdered were not just nameless people. They were in the other world...but here, they were shinobis, civilians.
They did not die here at Gaara's hands, but because of a world like this, where murder is not considered wrong, but necessary if need be...where anything can be justified to save a village, a life, a home. What—
I stopped my thoughts, eyes closing.
The Narutoverse was not so different from my old world. It was just that...the bad things...death and despair, were deeply entrenched in the lives of everyone.
People who have never known peace, have different values from those who have never known war.
I have never known war.
And I am beginning to understand, that I have never known peace either.
:::{AWOWK}:::
A/N - What is peace in a chaotic world?
