The Pantheon of Nine
By: Finn Mertenz
A/N: Point out my mistakes.
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO. I DO NOT CLAIM TO OWN NARUTO.
Chapter 10: A Hero's Return! Lost In thought.
Friday 7:52am, May 27th 58SSP
"Hurry up! Hurry up already guys I can see the walls!" Sakura ordered as she ran down the road ahead of her team.
Thin statement caused Sasuke to dramatically sigh while walking in front of Kakashi. At the same time, Naruto was smiling from ear-to-ear, happy that he actually had friends.
Sakura was over 10 feet ahead of her teammates, with Kakashi and Sasuke walking roughly beside one another and Naruto strolling 3 feet behind them.
"I can't wait to nap in a real bed again!" Sakura bellowed before she rounded the curve in the road and came into direct view of the the western gate, one of 3 gates that lead into the village hidden in the leaves.
The Hokage monument rested atop the cliff face overlooking the northern part of the village, the sourthern gate hummed with sea trade brought in by cart while the Eastern and Western we mainly used for visiting or returning Shinobi.
"Hurry up already!" Sakura barked out.
"How come the two of you can weave Hand Seals so quickly but walk so slow?" While speaking, Sakura spun around before stomping her right foot atop the ground.
"A Shinobi must know how to conserve their energy." Kakashi replied.
"You never know when danger mig-" Kakashi found himself cut-off mid sentence by his pink haired apprentice.
"You're no better Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura retorted.
"Naruto is only walking behind you cause he likes staring at the country-side." Sakura snapped out, causing Kakashi to drop his head slightly in depression.
"Come on im starving!" Sakura complained as she once again stomped her left foot atop the ground.
"I could even go for some of that ramen you love Naruto, anything except fish." Sakura stated confidently at first, before quickly becoming sick and depressed at the sheer thought of eating another fish, she had eaten enough fish for a life time.
At the mention of ramen both Sasuke and Naruto's stomach rumbled vigorously, it was just past noon and they had been traveling since 7 am, it was definitely time for lunch.
"Food does sound lovely..." Kakashi mumbled out.
"But I already promised Sasuke we would visit my Genin teammates when we got back to the village." Kakashi stated nonchalantly, attempting to play off the interest that all three of his students instantly began to display.
"Oh thats right! I nearly forgot about that." Sasuke replied before lowering his fists infront of his face and clenching them in embarassment as he continued to walk.
"You mean we finally get to meet you're teammates?!" Sakura questioned, before earning a brief eye wink from her Sensei, his version of yes.
However Naruto felt something odd about this, not from his teammates but from his Sensei nothing he could place his finger on but something that just felt wrong.
"Why don't they come eat with us?" Sakura asked with a smirk on her face.
"I don't think they'll be able too." Kakashi stated in a dry tone, once more causing Naruto to feel like something was wrong with his Sensei but he slightly shook his head and forgot about it after noticing his 2 teammates didn't seem concerned.
"I just hope they aren't as lazy as you Sensei." Sasuke snorted with a half-ass smirk on his face causing Kakashi to once again drop his head low in a depressed manner.
"Kids today are so ungrateful..." Kakashi mumbled as his head remained shrunk downward.
"I don't think you're lazy Sensei." Naruto stated with a smile, causing the entirety of his team to stop walking and turn around to face him.
At this Kakashi hastily dashed beside Naruto in a flicker of leaves and placed his right arm around his shoulders while preforming his iconic eye wink towards his other 2 students.
"See - Naruto gets it, I work hard and managing three students at once is quite the handfull." Kakashi mumbled as he raised his open left handed palm towards the sky and closed his eyes, his right arm still wrapped around Naruto.
Sakura's teeth grinded together as she clenched her left fist close to her waist and extended her right arm outward, her index finger pointing towards her Sensei as the rest of her fingers remained closed.
"WHATEVER KAKASHI-SENSEI! YOU DIDN'T EVEN TRAIN WITH NARUTO AT ALL THIS WEEK!" Sakura shrieked, her teeth showing as she bit and grinded them together.
Hearing this Sasuke squinted his eyes and narrowed them towards Naruto, he had talked to the blond about the private training he received from the two ex-rogue Shinobi but Naruto insisted to until they got back to the village before explaining anything.
One of the Seven swordsmen of the Mist... Sasuke thought.
And someone barely older than us that fought on the level of Kakashi... Sasuke Reminded himself.
Naruto...what did they show you... Sasuke ponded to himself as he continued to squint towards Naruto.
Kakashi began strolling forward, notioning for Naruto to follow as he still had his right arm placed around the young blonds shoulders.
"Well I was just so busy with the two of you." Kakashi stated as he shrugged his shoulders and walked along side his student, the very same child that the 4th Hokage ordered him to watch over before he was even born.
"Beside's now that we're back I can always just devout all my time into training Naruto." Kakashi stated as he eye winked both Sakura and Sasuke while Naruto turned his head to the left and stared up towards Kakashi.
"THATS NOT WHAT I MENT!" Sakura screamed as she clenched her left fist even tigher, garnishing the attention of several Shinobi guarding the wall and gate.
"Sakura - he's joking." Sasuke stated as he crossed his arms and stared towards the pink haired girl.
As Sakura stared back her train of thought broke as she stared into Sasuke's black eyes, and soon her face began to match her hair in color as she crumbled under the gaze of her crush and she blushed deeply.
"U-uh yea sure Sasuke" Sakura studdered out as she closed both her eyes and tilt her head slightly with a smile upon her face.
"Infact - since Naruto is so kind - I'll buy lunch." Kakashi stated as both he and Naruto walked past Sasuke who soon followed suit.
"Where are we meeting your teammates at Sensei?" Sakura questioned as the rest of her team finally caught up with him.
"A special place, you've been there before." Kakashi stated as he pulled his arm off of Naruto and approached the entrance to the gate, leaving all his students to solve the riddle.
Special? Sakura thought to herself as she raised her clenched right fist to just below her face and rested her chin upon it, deep in thought.
-Flashback-
"A special technique?" Sakura asked, sitting on her knees and covered in several cuts and scratchs across her body, none fatal but enough were small splats and dots of blood to leak out.
This was the most intense training Sakura had ever preformed, Haku had taken all her kunai and shuriken away from her leaving her defenseless something Sakura regretted more and more.
It had been two whole days since her training with Haku started, and though she saw Sasuke and Kakashi at Tazuna's house during the night Naruto and Zabuza were always absent, something she felt was odd.
Even though she had spent two days training with Haku she hadn't even gripped a Senbon needle or the hilt of a kunai since her training starte, all she had done was danced, dodged and weaved from Haku's attack.
When she appeared to be doing well Haku would personally jump into the fray directing punches and kicks towards the young kunoichi, several landing their mark while only a few missed.
Sakura was terrible at Taijutsu, infact in Haku's opinion it was her worst talent giving him a reason to include Taijutsu sparring with his Senbon training.
Haku stressed the importance of always focusing chakra into the heels of her feet allowing her to turn, pivot and leap in any direction with better easy due to the chakra network reinforcing her nerves.
Haku even stated that a true Shinobi pours Chakra into their feet as a mere instinct in battle right as they enter it, something a master does as a routine, as simply as a chief washing their hands.
Haku allowed no breaks or rest, doing to her exactly what Zabuza had done to him as he attempted to do what Kakashi hadn't, forge Sakura into a true Shinobi.
The small splats of blood that escaped from her fresh cuts slid down her pale skin, having cuts ranging from her forearms and neck to even her thighs and ankles, evidence that Haku had spared no area.
Lucky for Sakura her red tunic wasn't easily stained with blood, sadly the white circle in the frontal flap aswell as the white trimmed lacing that lined the bottom of her tunic was.
"Yes, something that has allowed me to save Zabuza many times." Haku spoke gently as he stood above and smiled down upon the still sitting pink haired kunoichi.
"Give me a break I'll never get over that weird bromance you have with that creep." Sakura panted out as she raised her right hand to her face and began to brush her fingers through her hair in an attempt to straighten it.
Haku's smile didn't break or waver as he continued to grin kindly at the young Shinobi under his training.
"I simply respect and value him - for giving me my purpose - have you ever lost that Sakura? Have you lost your purpose?" Haku asked in his ever so gentle tone.
At this Sakura titled her head as her eyes shot towards the skies above, and the faint sound of seagulls in the distance.
My...my purpose... Sakura pondered to herself, surprised and slightly shocked that she had never even asked herself that question.
If someone from the academy asked, hell even if Naruto asked she would tell them her goal, the goal to make Sasuke's her own.
And while yes Sasuke had gotten more accustomed to her outbursts and flirtations he was no closer to dating her than he was 6 weeks prior, when team 7 was first formed during the bell test.
"Say...Haku?" Sakura asked, answering Haku's question with one of her own as she attempted to probe Haku for the knowledge to conclude her purpose.
"Yes Sakura?" Haku questioned as he knelt down infront of the still panting kunoichi, positioning his face directly infront of hers causing her face to soon match her hair color as she blushed intensely.
Sakura promptly leaned backward in an attempt to avoid Haku's face, but soon she found herself falling backwards, her back unable to hold up her weight anymore due to the sheer training Haku had enforced upon her.
For several moments Sakura laid there staring awkward into the sky while a still kneeling Haku continued to smile down upon her.
"Not that close geeze Haku - just cause you look like a girl doesn't mean you can act like one." Sakura choked out in her best attempt at a hostile tone as she attempted to hide the fact that she was blushing.
Yea...he's a boy and super cute... Sakura pondered to herself as she continued to stare up into the sky, before a quick frown grew upon her face.
But Ino would just make fun of me or call me gay...yea he isn't a girl but he sure as fuck looks like one. Sakura concluded to herself, unaware that when Sasuke first met Haku he thought about how much more attractive Haku was than Sakura, something Sasuke mentioned to no one.
Finally Sakura shook her head with all the amount of force she could muster after exherting so much during training, and continued her conversation with Haku.
"Well...have you ever...like tried to impress someone? Or get them to notice you?" Sakura asked, still laying on her back and staring up at the clouds, the blush on her face finally disappearing.
"Yes - constantly - that is my purpose and my only goal, to serve master Zabuz-" Haku spoke before being cut-off by Sakura.
Sakura sprang upwards into a sitting position, the look of nausea and disgust on her face, clearly she and Haku would talking about two completely different ideas of 'serving'.
"NO! THATS GROSS EW HAKU HE'S LIKE TWICE YOUR AGE!" Sakura huffed out, clearly disturbed by the image that Haku's statement had placed into her mind.
At this statement Haku only tilted his head slightly and giggled, clearly being used to such an accusation.
"Not like that - I just value him above all else, he is my purpose, my goal." Haku stated in his gentle tone as he giggled died down and his ever so common smile appeared on his face once again.
"Well moving on from that nightmare..." Sakura said as her face quickly fell into a dark and gloomy expression before quickly returning to normal as she continued the conversation.
"I mean someone you like...in a...romantic way?" Sakura asked, even though Haku was a boy the sheer amount of feminine traits he displayed had a way of causing Sakura to lower all her standard defenses she kept up for boys.
Haku's smile halted at this statement before he straightened his head and stood up from his previously kneeling position.
"No - I have never experinced that feeling, it is not a feeling that is welcomed in the world of Shinobi." Haku stated in a surprisingly dark tone.
"Oh..." Sakura trailed off as she pulled her knees to her chest and buried her chin into her knees, clearly depressed.
Haku, being the elite rogue Shinobi he was, noticed her depressing aura and being the kind being he was he attempted to heal that aura.
"But that is not to say is isn't a good feeling, I have just never personally felt it." Haku stated with his smile, while avoiding his memories of when his father killed his mother than attempted to kill him.
"What would a good Shinobi do?" Sakura asked, eager to halt all the jokes and whispers of her uselessness.
Upon hearing her question Haku instinctively thought back to the lessons Zabuza had taught him, the tools, art and lifestyle of Shinobi, a lifestyle of isolation, of zero attachment and emotion.
But even while he thought about those lessons, he also questioned they're accuracy, they were the same lessons and knowledge both Haku and Zabuza had taken into their 2nd aduction attempt on Tazuna.
And the very same lesson and knowledge that one 12 year old boy was able to singlehandedly counter and defeat, albeit only due to his teammates and Sensei holding the 2 rogue Shinobi off until he arrived.
In the past week and 2 days that Haku had spent beside Naruto he began to harbour vast love and respect for the Shinobi prodigy, someone that was 2 years younger than Haku yet vastily superior.
The young 12 year old blond, appearing to be timid and tranquil to most, gave off an almost sage like Aura to Haku, something Haku couldn't help but be inspired by, the same Aura Haku felt from Zabuza.
Haku felt an odd connection to the young boy, as if they shared the same life, something Haku shook from his mind as he recalled the horror of his childhood and briefly thought their was no way Naruto's was worse.
Still there were several things about Haku that he couldn't understand, and when he tried to probe Naruto the young blond either seemed genuinely clueless or depressed and uncomfortable.
Even Kakashi couldn't explain Naruto's eyes, just like the 2 rogue Shinobi none of them knew what they were gazing upon, nor did they understand the sheer magnitude of them.
Oddly enough while Naruto did possess such eyes, he just like everyone else had no idea what they were and infact he didn't even think about where he got them, he just thought they were another reason for the village to hate him.
But something Naruto had no memory of at all was the massive statue he had summoned to crush Zabuza and save his teammates.
This confused Haku as he noted Naruto didn't lose consciousness until after the statue had been release, so he theorized that Naruto should have atleast remembered summoning it.
Finally something that bother Haku specifically, something that no one else had witnessed was the shape that Naruto's chakra had formed and carved itself into, the shape of a purple, radiant orchard fox.
He had never before encountered such a thing, while his master could exude vast clouds of his chakra he could never shape or mold his chakra into a coherent form.
But it was more than that, as Haku noticed, Naruto didn't mold the chakra, it did it on its own accord something that shocked Haku.
All these 3 things combined caused Haku's opinion of Naruto to be extremely high, it was then that he thought back to his meeting with Sasuke, and how Naruto was obviously the friend he wanted to protect and grow beside.
"I supposed you could say, a good Shinobi would protect those that are precious and dear to them, to give their own life in defense of theirs." Haku spoke as he thought back to what he would have done to defend Zabuza if Naruto hadn't knocked him out.
"Are good Shinobi well liked?" Sakura questioned, the first hint of energy she had shown in over 20 minutes.
"Of course, people look to them for protection and guidance, for wisdom and strength, for clarity and justice." Haku answered.
"So do you think if I became a super good Shinobi - like the Kage - that Sasuke will like me?" Sakura asked, her eyes beaming with joy, causing small drops of sweat to appear on the left side of Haku's face.
"U-uh yes, I am sure he will - he does want to protect those that are close to him after all." Haku asserted with a half panicked smile.
"Then thats my purpose! To be the greatest kunoichi that ever lived! No one will be better than me - that way Sasuke has to notice me!" Sakura bellowed as she firmly stood up and clenched her right fist tightly, her words fueling herself with energy and determination.
Haku smiled deeply upon hearing this, happy to help another human being find their own purpose.
"Then - lets started with this special technique." Haku responded as he quickly pulled a senbon needle out from his waist pouched with his right hand.
"YES! FINALLY!" Sakura shrieked as he jumped in the air, reinvigorated by the fact that she had finally pasted 2 days of brutal taijutsu sparring and could move on to actually handling Senbon.
"Yes - finally." Haku answered in an endearing tone
"Now - lets get started." Haku asserted as he handle the senbon vertically infront of his face.
"Don't have to tell me twice!" Sakura bellowed as she entered into a crouched stance.
-Flashback ends-
Special? Sasuke asked himself as he began thinking back to the day he woke up after the bridge battle, the day he shared with Naruto that he would never forget - for the remainder of his life.
-Flashback-
"He what?!" Sasuke declared as he jolted up from his bedroll inside the same room Naruto had slept in during his coma.
However halfway up he felt a pain erupt in his side and tumbled backwards back into his bedroll as Sakura quickly rushed to his side.
"Sasuke! Are you ok?" Sakura pleaded as she gripped his left arm and leg, causing Sasuke to quickly shake her off and snort in annoyance.
"Yea whatever - Wheres Naruto?" Sasuke asked his Sensei as he tore his attention off the molesting pink haired kunoichi and directed it towards his silver haired jounin.
"He's spent alot of time outside since the incident." Kakashi replied, his left hand in his pocket and his right hand holding his beloved orange book in hand.
"A-all by himself." Sasuke choked out in disbliefed and his clenched his bed sheets tightly with both his hands, hating himself for being so weak, hating himself for failing to protect his comrades just like he failed during the Uchiha massacre.
If Naruto would have been there... Sasuke thought back to the last moments of the Uchiha massacre, back to when he confronted his brother and attempted to avenge his clan right then and there only to fail and pass out for some reason he did not yet understand.
"I need to find him." Sasuke asserted as he stood up, this time much more firm and stable than before as he finally stood up on both his feet and tossed the bed sheets aside.
"You should rest - its not a good idea to be up and about only 2 days after such a battle like that." Kakashi replied.
"Sakura what happened did he use that thing again?" Sasuke asked his pink haired teammate, who quickly frowned and sighed in response.
"I didn't see everything...but I saw enough to say he didn't summon the creature from before." Sakura answered, knowing that Sasuke was referring to the creature Naruto had labeled 'Gedo Mazo'.
"You don't understand Sakura!" Sasuke barked out.
"None of us do - Not even Sensei but its more than that its that creature something about it is wrong its a power that he shouldn't use." Sasuke asserted as he clenched his fist.
"Last time he did he lost himself completely, unable to recongize friend or foe." Sasuke stated as he thought back to the screaming and rain soaked blond the moment he stood infront of the summoned statue atop the water.
"And that's not even mentioning he was in a coma for 7 days." Sasuke continued as he lowered his gaze towards his feet, briefly thinking about how hard he struggled against Haku when Naruto had single handedly taken on all of Gato's thugs.
At that moment Sasuke began limping towards the doorway of the room, attending to go find Naruto, the blond who had developed into a better brother for him than Itachi ever had, the latter always being to busy to do anything with Sasuke.
"Atleast eat first." Kakashi pleaded.
"Yea Sasuke I can feed you?" Sakura asserted as she clasped her hands together in delight, sending a shiver of disgust into Sasuke's spine.
"I-i'll just eat first." Sasuke replied as he limped out the already slid open doorway and craweled up the stairs towards the kitchen, eager to have a meal in his stomach.
1 hour later at 4pm, in the woods surrounding Tazuna's house.
Finally fed and well enough to move, also being able to shake Sakura off of him, the young Uchiha finally made it into the woods in his search for his teammate and friend.
Well enough to walk, or at the very least limp but not well enough to jump from tree branchs the Uchiha's search was much slower than it could have been if he was in better condition.
The trees and small streams of the island sprawled in and endless fashion across the landscape as Sasuke searched and scanned for any scan and his blond friend.
A bright glare gleamed off in the distance and caught Sasuke's attention causing he to adjusted his gaze towards the treebranch the gleam came from.
There on the branch sat the indian style figure of Naruto, overlooking a small stream and the radiant sun burning in the horizen of the island.
Sasuke couldn't tell what was brighter, the sun or Naruto's vibrant blond hair, hair that hung loose in every way and shape since he wore his headband around his neck instead of his forehead.
"Naruto!" Sasuke bellowed as he broke into a half ass jogging position, quickly grabbing his side, one of the many areas Haku had inserted senbon into to.
"Sasuke!" Naruto replied as he leaped from the treebranch and appeared in a blond flash beside the young Uchiha, something the latter was surprised by how fast he was moving.
"Are you alright?" Naruto asked as he firmly gripped Sasuke right shoulder with his left hand, having appeared to the right side of the Uchiha heir.
"AHHH!" Sasuke screamed as he fell to one knee away from the blonds grasp and under the pain of pressure Naruto had placed on his shoulder, the exact spot 3 senbon had been lodged into.
Quickly thought Sasuke flung himself upwards back onto his feet and proceeded to scream at the blond child.
"IDIOT! I JUST GOT FUCKING STABBED THE OTHER DAY!" Sasuke retorted.
"YOU EVEN SAW THAT - YOU WERE RIGHT FUCKING THERE!" Sasuke screamed, he wouldn't attempt it but he was starting to take several habits from Sakura.
"Right sorry - heh" Naruto replied timidly with a light laugh at the end as he gripped the back of his skull with his left hand in an Iruka-like fashion.
Sasuke glared at the blond for several moments, even gritting his teeth lightly before all hatred in his heart disappear and he quickly entered a relaxed position.
"Naruto... Kakashi-Sensei told me what happened." Sasuke asserted, garnishing the blonds attention as he stood there quietly.
"I don't know how Naruto and I don't know why but I know you have those eyes, eyes that give you power unseen by any of us but..." Sasuke trailed off as he clenched his fist tight, or atleast as tight as he could in his weakened state.
"But you need to know at what cost, such power always has one - even the Sharingan." Sasuke spoke the last 3 words in a more timid and quiet tone than the rest, never wanting to speak ill of the legendary trait bestowed upon his clan.
"But how Sasuke? Nothing in that book of mine says anything about a clan with purple eyes." Naruto replied.
"Maybe its just so rare that the clans that have it aren't known for having it?" Sasuke answered in a confused tone, clearly he was at a loss of ideas too.
"Like how the 1st Hokage is the only one of the Senju clan to use wood style? So no one see's that clan as being wood style users?" Naruto answered, clearly having read more about history than Sasuke.
"U-uh yea thats what I mean't." Sasuke replied as he crossed his arms triumphantly and snorted in victory.
"But than how will I learn about what I can do and what the costs are?" Naruto asked, having no idea where to start since no one even knew what his eyes were, his question causing Sasuke to fall halfway over in defeat.
"U-uh...I don't know" Sasuke replied as he regained his posture and stared off towards a nearby stream, his team following this action and staring at the same stream.
It was then that silence overtook the two friends, as a faint breeze from the ocean blew in and cut through the sparse blanket of trees that sprawled across the island.
The only sound being heard were seagulls far off in the distance, and docking bells of ships of the now returning sea trade, allowed to flow into the island for the first time in 3 years.
Neither of the two individuals had any specific thought in there minds, none except of how comfortable this moment was, a moment of peace and serenity inbetween the blankets of terror and fear that was contained in this journey.
"But what I do know..." Sasuke cut into the silence, causing Naruto to tilt his head slightly towards him, only enough for Sasuke to see the left side of his face.
"I'll know we'll use both our eyes to protect eachother, and everything we hold dear." Sasuke asserted as he continued to look out across the stream, causing him to miss the smile the blossomed upon Naruto's face.
It was then that Naruto turned completely towards Sasuke, extending his now clenched horizontial right hand towards his friend and teammate.
"No matter what." Naruto replied, garnishing Sasuke's attention as he continued to hold his fist aloft waiting for Sasuke reponse.
"No matter what." Sasuke answered as he also turned to face Naruto and raced his own clenched fist up before promptly smashing his knuckles against Naruto's as the two friends smiled at one another and the sound of seagulls rang in the distance.
"Don't think that shit at the bridge will happen again!" Sasuke bellowed as he then flew his still clenched fist high into the air.
"I'm only gonna get stronger!" Sasuke stated as he stared up at the sky and unclenched his fist, his fingers reaching out and grasping towards the sky.
Naruto said no words, all he did was tilt his head and smile, happy to know that he had atleast one more day with Sasuke.
-Flashback ends-
Special... Naruto pondered to himself as he gazed down upon the road he and his team walked down, now mere feet away from the western gate entrance.
Soon though Naruto found himself lost in thought as he mentally faded back to the first day he met Kakashi, the first day he was forced to endure since Iruka was murdered.
-Flashback-
"Where are you taking the kid?" The spikey violet haired, trench coat wearing Shinobi of the leaf asked as she shoved a fresh stick of Dango into her mouth as she and her companions left the Dango restaurant.
"Just a walk away town, clear the head, see the sights." Kakashi answered as he lesiurely pulled his favored orange book from his back pouch and began to read it.
Anko noticed Kakashi already nose deep in his porn novel as she tilted her head sideways and placed her left fist on her hip as she glared at him, the dango stick still in her mouth.
Anko launched the dango stick out of her mouth with killer intent, the past 6 years living with Kakashi giving her plenty of exercise with her mouth.
The dango stick lodged itself mere inches away from Kakashi feet, garnishing the attention of the masked Shinobi and slightly frightening the young blond child he accompanied.
Finally Kakashi pulled his eyes off his book and resumed eye contact with Anko.
"Something wrong dear?" Kakashi asked with a eye wink.
"Fuck you - keep your pansy ass eye wink for the kids you beat." Anko snorted as she shoved her 2nd dango stick into her mouth, the last dango stick she took with her when leaving the restaurant.
"Sure thing dear." Kakashi started, his eyes still closed and the faint hint of a smirk on his face, only further enraging Anko.
Once again Anko spat the dango stick out of her mouth towards Kakashi, this time towards his face as it sliced against the top of his grey spikey hair causing several strands to fall, some onto his book page others onto the ground.
"Did I need a haircut dear?" Kakashi questioned as he raised his left hand to his scalp and twisted several hair tip in his hands as he once again began staring at his orange book.
At this Anko's tone instantly shifted from one of killer intent to one of love and flirtation as she smiled in a timid manner towards her boyfriend and gently walked up towards the masked man, whose face was still buried in his book.
Anko lovingly wrapped her left arm around Kakashi's right arm, their arms interlocking in the same fashion so many couples before them had done.
With Kakashi's left hand still twisting the tips of his freshly cut hair and his right hand firmly gripping the book he was reading, Anko tilted her head sideways and leaned against the side of Kakashi's face, staring at the same book he was.
For awhile Naruto had been watching them and thoroughly studying the environment, but at the sight unfolding before him he quickly lowered his head to the ground and stopped paying attention.
Anko outstretched her right arm and wrapped it around Kakashi's neck before quickly sliding her face to the side and placing her mouth next to his right ear, while Kakashi continued to read his book.
"You know..."Anko exerted out in a hot, exhausted manner into Kakashi's ear, while the right sleeve of her trenchcoat began to wiggle and squirm.
"Sometimes..." Anko sighed heavily into Kakashi ears as she bit her lip inches away from Kakashi ear and firmly gripped the back of his scalp, the squirming in the forearm of her trenchcoat becoming ever more apparent.
"I just want to fucking choke you." Anko snapped out as a massive brown and tan spotted snake sprawled out of her right forearm and wrapped around the entirety of Kakashi's neck before hissing in his face.
This action scared several citizens walking down the street and they began running off, many already knowing the reputation that Anko had received.
For some reason though Kakashi was completely unphased by this action, almost like this happened on a daily occurence.
"What flavor dango would you like me to bring home home?" Kakashi asked as he continued to read his book and ignored the still hissing snake in his face.
At this question the snakes mouth snapped shut and the daggers in Anko's eyes turned into sparkles, clearly Kakashi knew what to say.
"The kind im named after!" The eye twinkling Anko screamed with joy as she raised her clenched fist to underneath her jaw as her snake slowly began to uncoil around Kakashi's neck and retreat into the right sleeve of her trenchcoat.
"Sure thing dear but I may be late, me and Naruto have a busy day today." Kakashi stated as he continued to read his book, unphased by the incident that just occured.
"Don't be too late I have a mission tomorrow morning and want to get going before it pours." Anko stated as she quickly glanced towards the dark gray, clouded filled sky that engulfed the entirety of the village since Iruka's death 5 days prior.
"Sure thing dear." Kakashi stated in a gentle tone as he winked at Anko.
For several moments Anko glared at the still winking Jounin, slowly narrowing and squinting her eyes as she peered at him before clenching here left hand into a fist and resting it on her left hip.
"Aren't you going to kiss me goodbye? What kind of jackass boyfriend are you?" Anko snorted, a light gust of air erupting from her nose.
"I'll kiss you when I get home dear." Kakashi stated as he continued reading his book.
"Fuck you you just don't want to take off your mask infront of the kid." Anko snorted as he crossed her arms, causing Kakashi to finally raise his glaze off his book and towards his girlfriend.
"Yes dear." Kakashi answered as he winked and smiled under his masked towards his still snorting girlfriend.
"Hmph don't forget my dango." Anko spat out as she stomped off down the street towards hers and Kakashi's house
As soon as she left Kakashi once again lowered his gaze and resumed reading his book while Naruto stared after the spikey violet haired kunoichi walking away.
"Ka-Kakashi..."Naruto stuttered out in a timid manner, still not speaking much since Iruka's murder.
"Hm? Yes Naruto?" Kakashi asked as he pulled his gaze away from his book and placed it towards Naruto, apparently being more interested in Naruto than his book.
"I-is she always like that?" The young blond questioned as the fading figure of Anko finally turned around a corner down the street and disappeared into the village.
"No - she was very well behaved today - she didn't even beat that girl behind the counter." Kakashi spoke as he eye winked at his charge, the very charge the 4th Hokage ordered him to look after before his birth.
"Oh..."Naruto choke out as he lowered his gaze towards the ground, having grown depressed after remembering the incident that had occured when he first entered the dango shop.
Upon opening his right eye Kakashi noticed the depressing and dark gloom that surrounded the young blond, almost as dark as the clouded sky that loomed over the village.
"Come on - lets go for a walk." Kakashi assert as he snapped his book shut firmly with his right hand before placing in back into his waist pouch, his left hand resting in his left pocket as he spun to his left and began strolling down the street.
Naruto noticed Kakashi was walking the opposite direction of Anko, and briefly wondered if that was on purpose or accident before he quickly began running towards Kakashi in an attempt to catch up with him.
As he arrived to the right side of Kakashi he entered into a walking pace and strolled along side the same Masked Shinobi that Iruka had told him so much about.
As Naruto walked beside the Jounin he glanced at him, further studying the mans features and outfit.
Naruto was so focused on Kakashi he didn't notice as the crowd of villagers infront of them on the road parted and ran to the sidewalks and corners of the street, eager to get away from the approaching demon of the leaves.
Kakashi had both his hands placed inside his pockets and as walked leisurely down the street, something Naruto thought as odd as the entire day Kakashi had always been reading that book, his face buried in its pages.
His right eye was distant, hazy and far off almost as if Kakashi was deep in thought, causing Naruto to ponder about what Kakashi was thinking.
Sensei... Kakashi thought to himself.
They don't even know...they dont even see the gift you died to give us... Kakashi told himself as he thought back to the encounter that had occured between Naruto and the lady behind the counter.
They hate him...for restraining the very thing they fear... Kakashi thought to himself as the brief image of the nine tails fox rampaging and stomping atop houses in the village appeared into his mind.
Is this my fault Sensei...is this another one of my failures... Kakashi asked himself as he clenched his right fist tightly, still in his pocket, as a tangilable feeling of blood on his hand settled over him, the same hand that had killed his close friend and first love.
"Are you alright Kakashi?" Naruto asked as he glanced up towards Kakashi, concern clearly apparent in his tone.
Kakashi peered to his right side with his right eye, tilting his head slightly, into a position where Naruto could see the right side of his face but not the left.
"Thanks for asking Naruto." Kakashi answered with an eye wink.
Naruto had noticed that Kakashi had avoided answering his question entirely but before he could continue his questions the hushed whispers of several individuals lining the side of the street that the two walked down broke his chain of thought.
"There it is." A tall 62 year old man with white haired man whispered into his wifes ear as he glared at Naruto, the hostile tone at which he spat 'it' caused Naruto to lower his gaze to the ground as he walked.
"I can't believe they let it walk around." The mans 60 year old wife spat out in a louder and even more hostile tone.
Kakashi had also heard their whispers, and unlike Naruto he actually knew who they were, retired blacksmithing citizens whose son had become a Shinobi, and even graduated to Chunin of the leaf, something akin to Sakura from a citizen family.
Kakashi also knew their 24 year old son had been slain by the nine tails, leaving them childless and without an heir, losing everything they had valued.
Kakashi much like Asuma, Kurenai, Guy and several others their age had all be restricted and ordered to refrain from attack the Kyubi, while the older and grown members of the village confronted it.
Kakashi did his best to appease the situation, pulling his right hand out of his pocket and wrapping his right arm around the shoulders of the still downcast young 12 year old blond walking beside him.
This brief contact of affection caused Naruto to raise his head slightly as he titled his glance upwards towards the squainting eye of Kakashi.
However before Kakashi could say anything else another hushed conversation broke out from the passing citizens on the street.
"They should have never let it become a Shinobi - what was lord Hokage thinking?" A young 32 year old black haired women whispered into the 14 year old boy walking beside her.
Much like the couple before, Kakashi knew this lady, and also knew her husband had been slain by the nine tails 12 years ago when their son was only 2, the boy never knowing his father.
Upon hearing the hushed comment Naruto quickly downcast his gaze once more, not noticing either of the hated glares the women and her son, who was only 2 years older than Naruto, had direct towards the young blond.
"I hear it cursed our village - thats why the clouds won't leave." A 30 year old man in overalls with black hair whispered into the ear of another man walking beside him wearing the same outfit, obviously they we're construction workers.
At this moment a stern silence filled the air between Naruto and Kakashi as they strolled down the street together, Kakashi's arm still wrapped around the young blonds shoulders.
"I can't believe he's touching that thing." A group of 4 kids, who graduated the same year as rock lee, tenten and Neji, whispered amongst themselves as they passed glares and stares at the downcast blond and the jounin beside him.
Unlike the adults, the children around Naruto's age didn't know why they hated Naruto, they just knew everyone in the village did, their parents, teachers and friends and so this hatred only spread and grew as it infected the children.
"So - Naruto." Kakashi interjected, speaking loudly enough to block out the whispers.
"I have a place I like to go too, every once and awhile - I figure we could go there now." Kakashi stated, avoiding the fact that he actually goes there every single day.
No verbal sound of communication was made from Naruto, all he did was nod his head forward gently as he continued to walk down the street along side Kakashi, the center of the street cleared as citizens made way for the demon.
They last sound either of them heard was the hushed whispers of yet another couple of parents.
"I hear that thing killed his own teacher." The 25 year old man said to his wife as Naruto and Kakashi continued to stroll down the street together.
15 minutes later in a small clearing on the outskirts of the village.
Naruto peered down through his bangs upon the black marble kunai shaped stone that stood atop the ground of the clearing infront of him the names of over 30 indivduals inscribed upon it.
Naruto examined the tablet as Kakashi stood behind him, the young blonds mouth moving up and down in hushed whispers as he quietly read the aloud to himself.
There were names Naruto didn't know, like Mujini Anano and Nigiri Umeboshi and then there were names that felt out of place like Obito Uchiha, the only Uchiha on the stone at all.
As Naruto's eyes danced and sprawled across the names carved into the tablet, a set of three names in specific caught his attention as his mouth ceased its movement and frozen as he contemplated the meaning of the names.
Ikkaku Umion, Kohari Umino and Iruka Umino, all three of which died in defense of their village and of those they loved, Naruto's attention focused specifically on Iruka's name, freshly carved into the marble.
At this moment Kakashi pulled his right hand free from his pocket and firmly gripped the top of Naruto's head with it, in the same fashion Iruka had done so many times for so many years.
"Their heroes, all of them, and it is here that we remember them." Kakashi stated solemnly.
For several moments Kakashi and Naruto stood their, the only sound was the sound of gentle gusts of wind blowing through the trees and the ensuing number of leaves that began to blow through the clearing as a result.
"Do people really remember them..." Naruto's question trailed off, his gaze still downcast towards the memorial infront of him.
"Of course - there are some people who visit this shrine everyday." Kakashi replied, avoiding the fact that he was one of those people.
Naruto was at a loss for words, not yet comfortable enough with Kakashi to express his emotions fully and as a result the ensuing conversation turned once again into another moment of silence.
Finally Naruto noticed the now dead and decaying flower petals that sprawled across the ground beside the memorial, so dead that they began to resemble the dirt between the patchs of grass.
"What about those flowers?" Naruto asked, notioning towards them the petals upon the ground and the fact that they were old and dying.
"I brought those yesterday, must be the weather usually they last longer by the past few days the clouds haven't parted at all." Kakashi was referring to the dense dark cloud coverage that had engulfed the entirety of the village since Iruka's murder.
"Do you come here everyday?" Naruto asked, forcing Kakashi to sigh in defeat as the young blond as finally asked the question he had been avoiding.
"I couldn't say for sure." Kakashi replied with a shrug of his shoulders as he retracted his grip from the top of Naruto's head and placed it back into his pocket.
"Did-did lord old man put Iruka's name here?" Naruto asked.
"Yes - because Iruka did what everyone on this stone had done, he gave his life protecting this village." Kakashi replied.
"Bu- but im not apart of this village - this village hates me." Naruto answered, lowering his gaze towards his feet, as he thought back to all the hatred he had experinced and how Iruka was the only light in his world.
"You still don't get it - do you Naruto." Kakashi stated, causing the blond to quickly raise his gaze towards the silver haired jounin.
"Get what?" Naruto asked in a timid and depressed tone as Kakashi right eye slung sideways in its socket, his pupil focusing directly upon Naruto's face, the same face covered almost entirely by his blond bangs.
"You saw the two names written avoid Iruka's correct?" Kakashi asked, earning a quick nod in agreement from Naruto.
"Did Iruka ever talk to you about his parents?" Kakashi asked, causing Naruto to instantly remember the statment Mizuki had told him, that Naruto had killed Iruka's parent, that the demon inside him did it.
"N-no." Naruto replied as he turned his gaze back towards the memorial, staring intently at the two names of Iruka's parents.
"They gave their lives - without hesitation - to save Iruka's live, a trait worthy of rememberance for any Shinobi, the same trait Iruka inheirited and exherted upon you - do you see now Naruto?" Kakashi once again asked.
Kakashi tearing his own gaze away from Naruto and directed it towards the memorial stone as he garnished the blonds attention and gaze.
"To Iruka you weren't a student, and you certainly weren't the burden you think you are - to him you much more than that, more special." Kakashi asserted.
"Special?" Naruto questioned, his mouth left agasp slightly as he waited for Kakashi' response.
"To Iruka..." Kakashi trailed off as he turned his head slightly to the right, lowering his visable eye towards the blond before winking in his ever so often routine.
"You were like a son" Kakashi stated, leaving the young blond shocked and his mouth further agasp as the realization of the statement.
Naruto had thought of his father and mother many times, of where they went, of if they hated him, if they left him, even if they were still alive, but at this moment in time he finally consider the possibility of Iruka being his father.
At this realization Naruto once again directed his gaze towards the memorial stone, focusing intently upon Iruka's name.
Like a son... Naruto's thoughts trailed off as he repeated the statement over and over again in his head, as he thought about the same place him and Iruka had shared so much of there time together, the cliff overlooking the Hokage Monument.
"Kakashi..." Naruto questioned faded out, barely a whisper but loud enough to garnish the elite jounin's attention.
"Yes?" Kakashi replied as he opened and revealed his right eye.
"Can we stop by the Hokage Monument - b-before..." Naruto's questioned trailed off as he didn't wanted to mention the subject of his thoughts.
"Yes, but we need to get going now if we want to make it in time." Kakashi answered, knowing full well that Naruto was referring to Iruka's funeral which was scheduled for later that day.
"Are you ready?" Kakashi asked as he peered downward towards the young blond beside him, still staring intently at the name of his Sensei carved into the memorial.
Naruto leaned down and forward as reached out with his right hand, his fingers extended fully and his palm open and directed towards names enscribed into the memorial.
Naruto's hand finally made contact with the stone, resting and pushed up against the cold, wind battered black marble of the memorial slab as the blond leaned against it and glared down infront of his knees where the names were carved.
Dad... Naruto asserted the one word he had longed to say in his mind, as brief images of Iruka cooking, studing and playing with him filled his mind, the images of the man who gave him a reason to live.
At this moment Naruto clenched his right hand, dragging his coarse Shinobi trained fingertips across the the surface of the memorial before his knuckles followed suit as he clenched his fists against the black stone.
I won't fail you this time dad...I won't fail anyone ever again... Naruto thought to himself as his right hand began to lightly tremble as it laid pressed and clenched against the memorial stone.
Kakashi watched the scene unfolding infront of him intently, knowing full well the feeling of guilt for failing to protect someone him loved.
"We should get going Naruto." Kakashi stated, earning a brief nod of acknowledgement from Naruto, as he retracted his hand from the memorial and stood up straight be taking 2 steps backwards to stand alongside Kakashi once again.
"Lets go." Naruto asked as he spun around and began to lightly dash over in a jogging pace towards the Hokage monument, with Kakashi behind him.
-Flashback ends-
"Welcome home team 7 - we need your papers." A 24 year old, black spikey haired man with a white bandage tied across his face resting upon the bridge of his nose asserted breaking all three genin from their trains of thought.
"Certainly Kotetsu - here you are." Kakashi asserted as he leisurely reached into his back pouch and pulled out 4 papers from it, all three of his students rallying around their Sensei.
"Kakashi Hatake, Sakura Haruno, Sasuke Uchiha and Na-" Kotetsu's sentence trailed off as he realized whose name it was and quickly flung his glaze towards the young blond standing infront of his desk.
"Naruto Uzumaki." Kotetsu asserted as he quickly regained his focus, he didn't hate Naruto but he didn't praise him either, to him Naruto was just a deadlast graduate of the Academy, someone only to be joked about that Iruka wasted his time with.
"Thats correct, returning from the land of the waves." Kakashi spoke.
"It says here you left over 3 weeks ago, but your mission was only supposed to last a week you'll have to explain this to the Hokage." Kotetsu asserted, earning a brief sigh from the Hokage.
"Yea well I was planning to visit him anyone so that'll work." Kakashi replied, not mention why he had to visit the Hokage, it was a subject of too importance.
Kotetsu didn't say another word as he grabbed a sheet of paper from under a desk and flung his pen towards it, sprawled paragraph after paragraph of information, protocalls, and codes in the document.
"Here you are." Kotetsu asserted as he hand over the freshly filled page to Kakashi who gripped it and hand and proceeded to walk down the street with all 3 of his students around him, Kotetsu watching intently.
Still can't believe he graduated... Kotetsu remarked to himself.
Iruka...what all did you do to that kid? Kotetsu asked himself rhetorically, already knowing that he would receive no answer.
Was he worth it? Kotetsu quickly thought, unware that Naruto asked himself that question every single day of his life, was he worth it?
And Naruto was determined to be, he would not fail his Sensei's dream, he would not fail his friends, not this time and not ever again.
"KOTETSU WHERE IS MY SYRUP?!" A bandana wearing Shinobi screamed as he exited the back door place in the back of the entrance stall that held the desk where visitors checked into the village.
The mans anger and hatred clear in his voice as he didn't even wait for a reponse before leaping towards Kotetsu who had barely manage to turn around in time to notice.
Kotetsu leaped to the side, avoiding the assaulting mans razor sharp nails by mere inches as he proceeded to run out of the stall and into the entry way of the village, the bandana wearing Shinobi fast behind him.
"Chill out Izumo you have to be professional in the entry way." Kotetsu asserted as he began running in circles, Izumo stilling chasing him around.
"I'll professionally kick your ass!" Izumo bellowed as he leaped at Kotetsu and tackling him to the ground, the faint sound of this entire exchange echoing across the surrounding area causing Naruto to hear and smile.
That is it Sensei...the joy of living in a village. Naruto thought to himself as he smiled lightly, walking along side his teammates, before his smile quickly decayed into a frown.
But...but what about the people who don't live in a village... Naruto asked himself as he grew concerned and worried about all the people that must live the same life as Inari and Tazuna did, people who didn't have heroes or saviors.
Naruto resolved to change all of that.