So, I know I promised you all a ten thousand word chapter, but this chapter isn't that long-
Its eleven thousand words long.
I'd call that cause for celebration, wouldn't you? So, seeing as I put 110% into this chapter, I hope you all enjoy it. It's also far less angsty then I had been expecting it to be [I'm not actually sure that any of the angst I was going to include managed to make it in while I was writing...], so those of you who don't like angst should be able to enjoy it.
Thanks, as usual, goes to ncpfan for his help.
Alright, so after I posted the last chapter I got to thinking about the cliffhanger. Naturally, I began wondering how many of my old readers were reading this story. So, if any of you were reading my other stories back when I was updating and are familiar with the fondness I have for cliffhangers, I would ask that you add 'Chire, Senbonzakura' to any review you might write. To those that don't want to write a review, I would ask that you send me a PM containing it, just to satisfy my curiosity.
For those of you who don't know, 'Chire, Senbonzakura' was a cliffhanger from Awaken, Noblesse. I want to say chapter six, but I'm too lazy to check.
Just one last thing before we begin. I know you all seem to love Tatsuki, so I was thinking about writing a little one shot about the future Tatsuki envisions for the two of them in this chapter. If you'd like to see it, let me know and feel free to send suggestions. I think it would make a fun little side project.
So, I've taken up enough of your time, I think, so on with the show.
Enjoy!
He was at her side before he knew he had moved, cradling her bloodied flesh to his chest. Had he not, he may have missed her voice.
"N-Naruto"
Hope, relief, and other poisonous devils attempted to take root within his heart, but the harsh reality of her situation beat them back into the growing emptiness that was threatening to overtake him. His chains had pierced strait through her torso, striking a host of organs that she wouldn't survive long enough without to receive proper medical attention. This was it then, her final moments, her last gasping breaths. The cold tightness within his chest seemed to spread numbness throughout his body.
"Oh gods, Tatsuki, I'm so –" He was cut off when she weakly raised a finger to his lips.
"Hush," She whispered, remarkably calm considering her current situation. Perhaps when you're so close to death's door it doesn't seem so daunting. She continued with a serene smile. "We don't have time for that."
She gave a hacking cough that splattered blood across his torso, the warm liquid running down in rivulets that went almost unnoticed by the boy. "Heh, we really don't have much time at all."
"Tatsuki-" Her finger went over his lips once more.
"If I get a grave you can come talk to me all you like, but for now, listen. This is my last chance to talk to you, you're last chance to hear my voice." She gave it a weak laugh. "I hope you can remember it fondly even long after your hair has drained of its colour."
"You know, I really had looked forward to that night with you, and not just because of the debt. You were my only friend, as odd as that sounds. It was so nice having someone who saw me for who I was, I wanted to be able to express just how much I appreciated having you in my life." She smiled sadly.
"I guess that's out of the question now, but there's still one thing I can do." Pulling herself up, she brought her lips to his own for a quick kiss, leaving the tang of copper in his mouth. "I suppose that will have to suffice."
"You know, this body is technically yours now, feel free to do whatever you want to it." She tried to give him a sultry smirk but it lacked the mischievous playfulness it usually had.
"I'll take good care of it." He promised, leaning down to give her another quick kiss.
"It was just a little thought I liked to play with some nights, but I really could have seen us starting a family of our own, we never would have had to be alone again." Tears began to leak from her green eyes as she thought about the future she would never have.
His own tears fell upon her as he held her tighter.
"Please don't leave me." He begged. "Don't leave me alone again."
She continued as if she hadn't heard his pleas. "Perhaps we could pretend, just for these last few moments, that we belonged to each other, that we had finally found happiness in this horrid world."
"Anything, Tatsuki-Hime, we can do anything you want, just don't go."
"I'm glad I was finally able to find a husband before I died, it's just a shame I won't be able to help with the children. You make sure to have lots for us, okay?"
"I will, I promise you, I will. A daughter would be nice, what will we name her?" He asked softly, running his hand gently through her hair as her breathing became faint.
"Hitomi," She said with a smile. "We'll name her Hitomi, and she'll be the most beautiful little girl the world has ever seen."
"I'm sure she will be. After all, with you as her mother, how could she not?" He gave her a final kiss to her forehead. "Get some rest, love, I'll see you in the morning."
"Yes, in the morning. Goodnight, darling." It would be the last thing she ever said, the last time he ever heard her voice, and he would remember it for as long as he lived.
As numbness took over his body, it did nothing to stop the tears.
Her body had cooled long ago, her precious lifeblood coating his torso in a thick layer of crimson. He walked slowly, almost reverently, down the streets, as if she were only sleeping and he was trying not to wake her from her dreams. The shirt her assailant had worn was wrapped tightly around her to preserve her modesty as he made his way to the Yamanaka compound.
He had promised her that he would take care of her body and this was the only way he knew how. They were her family, not only did they deserve to know of her passing, but she deserved to be buried amongst her kin. It was all he could do for her at this point.
He would not, however, be surrendering her possessions to them. No, those were his to remember her by.
As he had countless times throughout this dreadful walk, he found his gaze drawn to her pale face, bathed in the soft glow of the moon. She looked so peaceful, so perfect, as if the heavens had dropped an angel into his waiting arms.
Instead, they had taken her from them.
His purple eyes moved up to the clear sky and he frowned. It was such a beautiful night, entirely unsuited for what had just recently taken place.
'Can the sky not spare a single tear for the loss of such a brilliant sun?'
It should have been raining, the pouring rain and howling wind a song of the world's mourning at the passing of his first friend. But it was not to be. No, the sky remained cloudless, a grinning moon leering down upon the both of them as stars twinkled in ignorant joy. It was as if the world around him mocked him for his loss, or perhaps it felt he didn't deserve to see what misery he had inflicted upon it. It might wait, then, for him to leave before shedding the tears she deserved.
Shaking his head of the thoughts, he pressed onwards, her drying blood gluing his shirt to his skin. Only briefly was he glad that his new cloak had been left at his home that morning. Had it not, however, he would not have spared a second to be upset about the loss. The body in his arms was far more precious than a cloak from a stranger could ever be.
His eyes narrowed as he spotted the Yamanaka district and anger quickly boiled within him at the figure he saw before it. Just as quickly, however, it was pushed back down. It wasn't his fault. Not only had he been following orders, but even if none of it had happened he wouldn't have been able to save Tatsuki. He might not have injured her himself, but she would have been at the mercy of the drunkard who had taken an interest in her.
Neither ending was pretty, but a small seed of doubt within his heart wondered if it would not have been better for the drunkard to get her so that she might live longer. She would have been hurt, but he could have been there to help her heal. Shoving painful memories to the side, he focused on his task. It was too late to back out now, Inoichi had seen him. And so with solemn steps he approached the head of the Yamanaka clan, one of his kin lying dead in his arms.
There was confusion at first, followed quickly be recognition and shock, as the body was handed to Konoha's most skilled mindwalker, but Naruto attempted to share no words with the man. As soon as the body was out of his grasp he turned on his heel and walked away into the night.
He couldn't bring himself to look back.
Giddy excitement permeated throughout her entire being. She had done it, she had finally done it! After waiting for so long an absolutely perfect opportunity had finally arisen and she had wasted not a moment taking advantage of it.
Yes, he would be sad, he would be hurt, but he'd move on quickly enough and the pain he went through was more than worth getting rid of that whore that liked to hang off her precious warden.
It was unacceptable.
But justice had been swiftly dealt.
And that meant there was no one left to steal her warden away from her. He was hers now and would remain hers until the day he died. Nothing was going to change that. If the gods were really smiling down on her, this would not only leave him to herself, but push him closer to her as he searched for comfort. Maybe then he'd come to really appreciate who he was going to be spending the rest of his life with.
There were only two women left in his life now, and neither one of them was a threat. Kato Shizune, apprentice of the slug Sannin, was seen only rarely and if any type of relationship formed between them it seemed most likely to become that of siblings. Siblings was fine, there were no romantic feelings, no pleasures of the flesh, just two people who were close. She could accept that for her warden.
The other woman she wasn't fond of due to her blood, but Uchiha Mikoto was also a nonissue. Sure, she had slept almost naked with her warden, but she was gone now. Hopefully far, far, far away. She was a potential threat, to be sure, but one whose chances of stealing away Naruto were nullified by the simple fact that she couldn't spend any time with him. Ever. And that pleased her greatly.
Giving a smirk, she lounged within her seat as she reveled in the sweet euphoria of victory.
It had been a very long time since she had felt so wondrous and it would be quite some time before this feeling faded. Conjuring a glass from the seal she sipped delicately the Uchiha's prized wine. It tasted like success, like a perfect plan that had come together and would continue to give favorable results long into the future.
It was just a matter of time now before Naruto finally came to her, finally saw what he had all this time, but until then she would wait patiently. He had just lost someone close to him, he needed some time to himself. Time to mourn, grieve, and with a bit of luck for her, get over the prostitute that had been sinking her claws into him. And if he didn't succeed? Well, that's what she was here for.
She'd help him forget about the little skank, he deserved a real woman and she'd be happy to provide him with one.
Her warden, like her, deserved nothing but the best.
Mito would be happy to crush anyone who thought they were better for her warden than she was.
He. Was. Hers.
And no one was going to take him away.
What was she doing? Staring blankly at her table, Kurenai rested her forehead in one of her hands. It had been almost two years since her mother figure had left on a training trip with her biological daughter and it had been at least two years since she had last seen Naruto.
For two years she had kept an eye out for the young boy that gossiping housewives and chatty old women seemed to have far better luck spotting than she. The stories had decreased drastically after the first six months, but they were still there. Talk about seeing him at a local store, or dashing across rooftops on his way to the training grounds. And yet she, a skilled Jounin, could not find him.
She had asked the Hokage, of course, but he refused to release such information. He had claimed something about it being a security precaution considering Naruto's status, but they both knew it was because Naruto wouldn't be happy with the Sandaime giving out his address.
Though did the Sandaime know that Naruto hadn't been showing up to the academy? It would be strange if he knew and allowed such a thing. It was exceedingly rare for the offspring of a Shinobi and Kunoichi not to become a shinobi simply because they grew up in an environment that encouraged it and their chakra systems were better than those born to civilians.
Then of course was his heritage. How could the son of Uzumaki Kushina and Namikaze Minato not become a Shinobi? Not only was it a waste, but it drastically lowered their chances of survival. A target like that would need to be able to protect themselves if something happened, otherwise you'd lose them completely and that was an even greater loss than them not becoming a shinobi in the first place.
Then again, it was also possible that Iruka had lied, which begged the question of why.
Naruto hadn't told his teacher to keep her away from him, had he? It was not a pleasant thought and she much preferred the idea that Iruka had lied because he was suspicious of her, which was understandable. It had been over a year and she was just checking on Naruto then? She would have been suspicious too in his position. She could almost look at it as the teacher protecting Naruto, for which she was grateful. He needed all the help he could get.
Help or no help, however, did little to change the fact that she was still uncertain as to his wellbeing. He could have made powerfull friends and be living the high life with them, safe as can be, or he could be scraping by within the red light district, piecing himself together a life from the discarded trash of Konoha's less than savory inhabitants.
And here she was, doing nothing.
She couldn't stand it.
Kurenai could only imagine how Naruto might see her should she finally manage to encounter the elusive boy. He would pity her at best, be disgusted at the worst, and this was someone who knew her. If she was so pathetic in her uselessness that it warranted pity from the person who thought she wanted to kill him there was something wrong.
'How can I call myself a Kunoichi, let alone someone who wants to help him with whatever he needs? Gods, I can't even help myself.'
A most curious thought hit her then, one that made her rethink her actions for the past two years.
'If I can't find him to give him aid, at least I can turn myself into someone he would be willing to come to when he needs help.'
Yes, this was a plan, a real plan, something she could do, something she would be able to see the progress of. If he was so against seeing her as she was now, she'd just have to become someone he would be proud to call a comrade.
'He's going to be a Shinobi, I can be the superior he looks up to, his senpai. And, just maybe, I can convince Sandaime-Sama to let me lead his Gennin team.'
With renewed hope and a smile on her face, Kurenai grabbed her gear and set out to train.
She would be there for him when he needed her. For now though, she needed to become someone worth going to for help.
'Don't worry, Naruto-Kun, I'll be part of your life soon enough. I will become someone you can be proud of, or I'll die trying.'
With a determined fire burning in her heart, it finally felt as though everything was going to be alright.
It had been three days since Naruto had been last seen. That in itself wasn't too strange, as the boy tried very hard to be a ghost within the village he called home. What made it strange, however, was the fact that he was supposed to be under surveillance on the orders of the Hokage. How had they lost him? How was it they were incapable of locating him?
Naruto had not left, Kakashi knew that for a fact because ehe had been in charge of the patrols along Konoha's wall for the past week. What Kakashi did know, however, was that Naruto hadn't been home either. That is, apparently, where they lost him. Someone up the ranks of security personnel had the brilliant plan of assigning all of the boy's watchers to his house. Once he returned he would be kept under constant surveillance and followed as necessary.
Of course, that plan went to shit when Naruto decided not to return home.
Whoever gave those orders probably enjoyed a nice ass chewing from an enraged Sarutobi for that little mistake.
Well, if you looked at it from another angle, whoever had been assigned to watch him never failed in their mission, as the boy never showed up to allow them to begin. They could probably get of the hook with that one, though it would certainly serve to increase the rage Hiruzen felt towards the one who had given out the orders. Poor bastard.
Kakashi supposed that they knew where he wasn't and that was something, at least, but it really wasn't very useful information. Then again, when it came to Naruto there was very little useful information to be found. Gods that boy was going to grow up into a fine Shinobi one day.
That is, if he passed the academy. Seeing as they had someone watching it right now in case he showed up it was obvious he wasn't doing any of his normal things.
But where could he be?
And, more importantly, why?
Naruto had kept the same rough schedule for almost two years now, what had changed that? Something must have come up, something that was far more important than anything else he usually did. The only question then was what.
Giving a sigh, Kakashi shook his head. They had scoured all of Konoha without sight of the boy but he knew that he was still within the walls. He could be underground, perhaps in a bunker or a basement, but that was unlikely. For a day, maybe, but three? An enclosed space like that would probably make the boy rather nervous. There would be perhaps a single exit, and that was never favorable.
So, where else could he be?
His single exposed eye surveyed the horizon, lazily gazing over rooftops as he made a half-hearted sweep of his surroundings. Naruto wasn't about to juts pop up screaming 'here I am, you can stop looking'. Hell, if anything, should the boy be aware of their search, he would keep low even after returning just to make things harder for them.
He'd probably consider it training.
Training, huh?
Kakashi's gaze found itself drawn to the training grounds near the edge of the village. Had anyone checked there yet, or had all the searching been directed towards the village proper? Having a sneaking suspicion that it had probably been neglected, Kakashi slinked off to check. If Naruto was there, great, if not he could claim to be searching after he spent an hour or two reading Jiraiya's newest book.
It was win-win, really.
The house was quiet, far too quiet for her liking. Sprawled across her bed, Shizune wondered, not for the first time, if she should start taking missions. Even a routine C-rank would be a welcome break from this monotonous life she had found herself living.
Of course, as Tsunade's apprentice, the slug Sannin would have to approve her for missions and if the last Senju was stuck here in Konoha then there was no way she'd let her assistant escape, even for a few days.
She could always mention to her master how bored she was here in the Senju compound, but that would simply lead to her being told to go out and search for Naruto. Even after two years, Shizune had no idea why Tsunade wanted to meet the boy, nor did she know why the Sandaime Hokage was keeping all his information such a secret. Surely there was little harm in letting Tsunade of the Sannin know where the boy lived so that she could speak with him. Unless, perhaps, Tsunade was upset with him over something. It was unlikely, but it would certainly be cause to keep the woman as far away from the boy as possible.
If Shizune did know where he was, however, she wouldn't be telling her master. If the woman refused to tell her what was going on then there was no reason she should help her track down a boy who had never met her. Thinking of Naruto, it had been quite some time since she had last run into him. During the first few months she spent in Konoha she would encounter him once or twice a week. As time went on, however, she began seeing him less and less.
Over the last six months encounters with him had been especially scarce. In fact, it had been nearly eight since she last saw him. They weren't anything close, probably not even friends, but he was one of the few people she knew here in Konoha, despite having lived here for the past two years. Shizune really wasn't very good at meeting people. Actually, that was untrue. She was good at meeting people- once. She had no idea how to maintain any sort of relations with them after that.
During her travels it hadn't been necessary. She would meet someone, be polite, take care of whatever business she needed to complete and that was the end. Chances are she wouldn't see the same person twice, or if she did they, and often she, would not remember.
So, now that she was in one place, it was proving difficult to remember who people were and what they had talked about the last time they met. She just wasn't used to it. Admittedly, she had become familiar with the Ichiraku family, as their ramen stand had become one of her favorite places to eat. When you spend over a decade living in hotels your cooking skills have a tendency to get rusty. Very rusty. Suffice to say, neither she nor Tsunade could cook very well. Sure, they managed some simple meals and would practice from time to time, but the go to choice was always a restaurant, be it take out or dine in.
More often than not it was take out, as the many containers in the fridge could attest to.
It certainly hadn't been the result of traveling with the slug Sannin that she had been expecting, that was for sure. No, she had been expecting adventures and excitement. The only adventures she ever got to go on were Tsunade hunts when her drunken master had wandered off into the town and had to be brought back to whatever hotel they were staying in.
Fun.
It was pretty sad and while she had learned a lot, she kind of regretted her decision to join the last Senju on her, erm, extended vacation from Konoha. Naruto, the little thief, probably had more adventures in a day than she had during her entire apprenticeship. In fact, she would bet on it, and that was a bet even Tsunade could win.
Shizune's thought began to wander as she started imagining all the things he might have done over the past two years. It wasn't long until she began picturing herself beside him for those events. It would certainly be fun to actually do something for a change, having a familiar face beside her while she did it would make it even better.
'I wonder if Hiruzen would let me lead a team of Gennin.' Teaching Naruto and two others what she had learned from Tsunade as the four of them did missions all across the elemental nations sounded like a lot of fun.
Sure, it would be a big responsibility, but she had been caring for a Sannin for over a decade, she doubted three preteens could be much more trouble than a drunk Senju.
'Hmm, Team Shizune, specializing in stealth and infiltration, spending weeks behind enemy lines and leaving without a trace.' She giggled at the thought. 'It's got a nice ring to it.'
Now if only she could convince the Hokage.
"Come on, Kaa-San, we have to find Nii-Kun a present!" Kushina laughed at Naruko's energy, watching as the smiling girl darted to the first shop they came across. Following at a far more sedate pace, Kushina caught up with her daughter who was staring intently at a red fox plush.
"Do you think Nii-Kun would like this, Kaa-san?" Asked the girl.
"I don't know." Answered Kushina. "He might, but you have to remember that he won't be getting his gifts for another two years. He may like it now, but he might not be interested after he graduates from the academy."
The young girl frowned thoughtfully before putting down the fox and moving deeper into the store on her quest.
"You know, you don't have to search for a gift right now. We can just keep our eyes peeled for anything Naruto might like over the next two years and get it for him."
Naruko turned to her, crossing her arms with a pout.
"We can't do that, Kaa-San, that's like forgetting his birthday!" Declared the blonde. "We have to get him gifts every time so that when we finally give them to him he knows that we were thinking of him during the trip. We can't say 'oh, we found this one on our way back and thought it would be a good gift for your ninth birthday' or 'we found fewer gifts suited to you than we would have liked on our trip, but don't worry, we found some here in Konoha before we stopped by the compound.'."
"Well, we could…" Naruko shot her mother the most heated glare she could.
"Alright, alright." Surrendered Kushina, holding up her hands. "I was just kidding. I'm just making sure you know that we might not find something for him by his ninth birthday. I'm sure he'd rather have a late present that he likes than one on time that he stuffs in the back of his closet to be polite."
"I guess you're right." Conceded Naruko. "I just really want to make sure we have gifts for Nii-Kun. We've been training a lot and I'm afraid we might be so busy that we forget to find him presents if we don't do it now."
"You think of him every day, don't you?" Questioned the Uzumaki matriarch.
"Yeah, of course, don't you?" Kushina gave her daughter a smile.
"Every day, and that's how I know we won't forget. If we find a gift today, great. This week? Still good. Right before we head back? I'm sure he'll still appreciate it, especially if his cute little sister gives it to him."
"Kaa-San!" Moaned the girl, her cheeks flushing red in remembrance of her rather embarrassing word choice within the fire daimyo's palace.
"Oh, you don't like that? How about his beautiful sister?"
"Please stop."
"His sexy sister?"
"That just makes it worse!" Groaned Naruko in frustration. Kushina rubbed her daughter's head affectionately.
"It's my right, no, my duty, as your mother to tease you relentlessly. That goes double when it comes to boys, even if he is your brother."
Naruko hung her head in defeat as Kushina let loose a hearty laugh.
What was the point in being a parent if you couldn't mess with your children?
He had fucked up. By the gods, he had fucked up. Using his fingers he massaged the bridge of his nose, the pipe of tobacco that usually served so well to set him at ease doing nothing for him today.
He had been too hasty in his actions, of this he was certain. He should have waited longer, should have made absolutely sure, and even then he should have properly fished for information from the young man he had so quickly shipped off for a visit with Inoichi.
That was another one of the problems surrounding the boy. Apparently, not even an hour after being released from custody, Naruto had brought the Yamanaka clan head the bloodied corpse of a civilian who had left the clan. Inoichi was, understandably, upset by this. He saw it as retribution for invading the boy's mind, but Hiruzen knew better. Despite his poor decision when he made the mistake of not trusting in the young Namikaze heir, the Sarutobi knew that Naruto wasn't that kind of person. At least, not yet.
The Shinobi world was a cruel one and had a tendency of changing people rapidly. Hopefully, it would not turn Naruto into a monster. At this rate, however, Hiruzen was more worried about the actions of himself and those who claimed to be friends of the Uzumaki clan turning the boy into something cruel and inhuman. He certainly wouldn't be the first person to be driven into such darkness.
So, while Hiruzen doubted that Naruto had just gone out and killed the woman in a fit of rage, the fact remained that he had brought her corpse to the very same man who had forced himself into the boy's mind less than an hour earlier. It certainly didn't cast him in a favorable light with the clan of Mindwalkers.
The Sandaime Hokage may have been able to learn what really happened from Naruto, but no one had been able to locate him in the past few days. Then again, the chance of the boy cooperating with him were exceedingly low. In fact, there was a far greater chance of Naruto trying to stab him. That would be a bad idea, but people were known to do stupid things when enraged. Poisoned wine, however, was also quite likely.
"Sandaime-Sama." Hiruzen looked across his desk to the ANBU agent standing at attention.
"Ah, Lemur, what is it?"
"Sir, Dog has wandered off during the search. We are unsure as to his whereabouts." Kakashi was known for his laziness and laid-back attitude, but for him to go missing during a mission, especially one concerning his sensei's son was strange. Thinking for a moment, Hiruzen turned his attention back to Lemur.
"Chances are that you can't find him because you haven't found Naruto. It's likely that he located the boy and is keeping an eye on him. In case he hasn't, however, you are to continue your search." The ANBU snapped a salute a vanished, leaving the old Sarutobi within his office.
"Cat." She was standing at attention before his desk before the word had finished coming out of his mouth. She had been on edge since Monkey and Bear arrested Naruto and had been quite vocal in letting him know her displeasure with his actions towards a civilian child. She was right, of course, and they both knew it. She was concerned for the boy as she, like most of his ANBU, had become rather fond of the redhead. That made her perfect for this assignment.
"I have reason to believe that Hatake Kakashi has located the son of Kushina, you are to confirm this and observe the boy should he be located. Report to me at the end of the day."
"Sir!" She gave a quick salute before disappearing, rushing off to complete her assigned task.
Leaning back in his chair with a sigh, Hiruzen hoped that her report would be favorable. If he was really fortunate she might even approach the boy. If she could shed some light-even a little- on the body he had delivered to Inoichi that would make his job a hell of a lot easier. Then again, this trouble was a fitting punishment for his mistakes. He had no doubt that he had lost all the trust the boy had in him; this was the result.
In the end, he had only himself to blame.
The other ANBU might not have been able to find him, but Cat was able to find Kakashi without any trouble at all. To be fair, the other ANBU probably hadn't even looked, simply reporting his absence and continuing on with the real search. She almost couldn't believe that the adorable young boy who first walked into the Hokage's office and acted like a little Shinobi had ended up here. The search for him rivaled the one only a week prior for Uchiha Itachi, and that fucker had slaughtered his entire clan- one of the founding clans of Konohagakure no Sato, no less!
It was insane.
Then again, this was an Uzumaki, insane was part of the everyday. At the same time, this was an Uzumaki, they didn't found Konoha, no, they had just ruled a fucking country. Maybe the size of the search wasn't all that strange.
Hmm, now that she thought about it, didn't that make him a prince? There wasn't a country to rule over anymore, but still, royalty was royalty and when it came to coffers, the Uzumaki clan was matched by few. The Uzumaki treasury was enough to let them hold onto royal status. People with that much money were kings and queens, regardless of blood.
Of course, if he was a prince, why the hell weren't people rushing to be the one to aid him? Surely there would be those who tried to get in his good graces for the chance to enjoy his clan's riches. Perhaps it was the knowledge that Kushina was clan head and was still around that dissuaded them from trying anything. That woman was scary when she was angry and learning that people were trying to take advantage of her son would certainly piss her off.
Then again, seeing as she had just up and left him, she really had no right to be angered by the life she had inadvertently pushed onto his small shoulders. He was handling it remarkably well though; those shoulders were stronger than they looked.
Slipping through the tree, Cat came to a crouch on one of the larger branches. Kakashi sat on the same branch, leaning against the trunk with one leg swinging lazily through the air. His nose was buried in a book, as it often was, and he made no move to acknowledge her arrival.
Like Hiruzen had predicted, Naruto was nearby, training as if his life depended upon it. On her right Kakashi moved, pushing himself up into a standing position.
"Well," He spoke in a lazy drawl. "It would seem as though Hokage-Sama has sent someone to relieve me of my watch. I suppose I'll be off then, ta-ta." And with that he was gone, most likely returning to his apartment to enjoy reading his book in the comfort of his own home.
Shaking her head at her senpai, she turned her attention fully to the young boy in the training field. Trees all around him had been torn down to toothpicks, leaves scattered over upturned soil that had been filled with countless small craters. Whatever grass that had once been present was not to be seen and deep gouges had torn through the landscape in seemingly random patterns. Naruto was in the middle of the chaos, sprouting chains from every part of his body in every size and length imaginable. From lengths of solidified chakra as thin as her pinky to great links wider than her torso that probably wouldn't have looked out of place with an anchor at the end.
He seemed to be trying to control them all at once in different ways and was failing spectacularly.
Taking the seat Kakashi had just vacated, Cat proceeded to watch.
It would be the most destructive training session she had ever witnessed.
As ants might they scurried passed him, doing all in their power to avoid eye contact as they parted before him, a sea of flesh and terror.
It brought a smile to his face.
The trickle of people grew steadily less as he pressed forward into the darkest depths of his precious sanctuary, down to the one room that was for him and him alone. A sanctuary within his sanctuary, somewhere he could pause and gather his thoughts before diving back into the chaos that was his quest to learn everything. At the moment, that meant focusing on achieving immortality so he'd have time enough to do so. There was just far too much to squeeze into a single lifetime.
As it was, he had already come up with a viable- if not inconvenient- way to extend his life indefinitely. It had the added bonus of allowing him to change his appearance and –even better- his gender. Tired of buying drinks at the local bar? Boom, now drinks are being bought for you. He'd probably end up wasting a lot of time trying a lot of the things he had already done again as a woman, just for curiosity's sake. Of course, the ability to just walk into the female side of hotsprings without any trouble was certainly intriguing.
It really had been far too long since he had last been with a woman.
Pushing past carnal desires, he came to the door to his private chambers, pushing open the intricately carved double doors of dark wood. Stepping into the comforting darkness of his room, he allowed his posture to relax, a soft grin spreading over his lips.
His chair-which was more of a throne- quickly found his body sinking into it with a groan. It had been fifty-six hours since he had last stopped his work for a well-deserved rest. As much as he would have liked to continue, he knew that the self came first. All his work would be for naught if he ground himself into dust to complete it.
Closing his eyes for only a moment, they opened again to see the painting of his godson. With a grin splitting his face, he recalled the latest news he had received concerning the boy. To think the boy would be capable of such a thing, a shiver of delight tingled through his spine. It was absolutely incredible how effortlessly Konohagakure no Sato was able to create monsters such as himself.
Uzumaki Naruto, son of Uzumaki Kushina and Namikaze Minato had taken a life. Oh, but that wasn't the best part- the boy had not only taken two with the same attack, but of the two had been a close friend of his. The chakra chains originally created by Uzumaki Mito had torn through the young Yamanaka woman without mercy, caring nothing for the agony such a death would inflict upon its victim.
It was delicious.
From what he understood, the woman had been at the mercy of some civilian thug, he would have never imagined that his godson would strike her down for her weakness. It reminded him of himself so much that he couldn't help the feelings of nostalgia and pride that swelled up within him.
The thug had been killed too, of course, for the crime of threatening that which belonged to the young man, but that was to be expected. It was still the woman's death that he just couldn't get over. His godson was growing up so quickly! Had he been capable of shedding them, that thought might have brought a joyous tear to his eye.
That wasn't all either, for the boy, even after such a brutal execution of one of the few people he had been close to, had not been satisfied. Even now, he was certain the young Uzumaki was still training to perfect his chakra chains. It had been an excellent kill, but for him to want to improve upon it at the age of nine? This child would grow up to be a monster rivaling even himself.
Perhaps that's why it was called godfather, for he truly was feeling as thought the boy was his son.
Of course, he would have remembered sleeping with a woman like Kushina and he was absolutely sure that hadn't happened.
Then again, he certainly didn't have the alcohol tolerance of Tsunade, or even Jiraiya for that matter, it was possible. He hoped, however much the thought of Naruto being his own son pleased him, that such was not the case. To have slept with the Uzumaki princess and yet not remember it? That would indeed be a cruel fate.
He erased such thoughts from his mind. Perhaps the first thing he needed to do once he had a new body was go out on a date or something. If that didn't work out he could always find a hooker or something. These thoughts really were far too distracting for him to be having while working towards true immortality.
Focusing on more important things than his libido, his attention turned to today's date. It would be Naruto's birthday soon, what could he get him? The curse seal had almost been perfected, it would no doubt increase the power of his chakra chains, though it might cost him control. Control seemed to be what the boy was working on, however, so perhaps that should be saved for later.
Naruto's friend had been a prostitute, so maybe he could replace her as a gift? No, that would't last long enough, perhaps a slave in her place? He might enjoy that. Then again, while slavery was still legal, it was extremely difficult to go through all the legal bullshit surrounding it. He would do it for the boy, of course, but seeing as his godson was still a civilian minor, it was probably a bad idea. He wasn't even sure if he could own a slave, even as a prince of Uzu, before he had reached legal maturity. At least, not without his mother's consent, and that was out of the question.
No, he needed something practical, something simple, something he could find immediate use from. He needed something suitable for the little killer he was. A grin split his face.
Orochimaru knew just the thing for his godson.
"Alright, class dismissed." The sound of stampeding children momentarily drowned out his thoughts, but when they had gone a sufficient distance from his classroom his mind instantly drifted to the empty tree right outside the window.
Excluding the time he had spent in the hospital, there had been not one single day that Naruto had missed completely. But then, two days after the Uchiha massacre, he had simply vanished. It would seem, however, that he was not the only one who hadn't seen him. All of Konoha's ANBU seemed to be searching for the missing boy in a search that almost made the one for Uchiha Itachi look half-assed.
And yet they turned up empty handed.
He knew the boy was stealthy, but this was absurd. Either Naruto was no longer in the village- unlikely- or they weren't searching in the right places. Then again, who knew the right places when it came to the boy? The Hokage might have, but this search showed otherwise.
No, they boy was not one to broadcast anything about him. Even if he was in Konoha he was likely to have a multitude of places to hide should something happen. It only begged the question of why he had chosen to disappear. He had been here the day of the Uchiha Massacre and the day after and even the day after that, so it couldn't have been caused by that, but other than that there were no events that Iruka was aware of.
He had, however, heard one Yamanaka Ino saying something about her father going to the Hokage about the boy. Had something happened between the two of them? He would have to ask the girl at the next opportunity. As far as he could tell, any interaction between the young Uzumaki and the Yamanaka head would have been the last known sighting of the boy.
Whatever the case might be, if he didn't show up soon his grades would plummet drastically. He would be dangerously close to not just failing but actually being kicked from the shinobi program entirely. Iruka couldn't stand the idea of such wasted potential if that were to happen.
Then again, he doubted even that would keep the Uzumaki from his chosen profession. Iruka wouldn't be surprised if he went straight to the fire capital to register as a Shinobi of fire country residing within Konohagakure no Sato, the imperial fire court would probably love to have someone who answered to them within the walls of Konoha, it would make it much easier for them to keep an eye on the village and communicate their desires to the Hokage.
Iruka gave a slight shiver at the thought.
It would be good for the boy, certainly, and for Hi no Kuni as a whole, but he was certain to make plenty of enemies within the village if that's what he ended up doing.
It wasn't as if he really connected with a lot of people and it wouldn't have surprised the academy instructor if Naruto actually viewed most of Konoha's populace as hostiles or unknowns, but there was a big difference between him seeing them as such and the Shinobi of Konoha actually having it out for him because he answered to someone higher than their Kage.
It would not be something he should have to deal with so young, not just to become a Shinobi. It was, however, still a viable option for the boy, whether he passed the academy or not. Perhaps the young man would prefer being able to spend a bit more time traveling the forests between the fire capital and Konoha, rather than staying cooped up in the village when not on missions.
Either way, Iruka hoped he'd show up again soon.
He still had plenty to teach the aspiring Shinobi.
Link after link, chain after chain, chakra poured from his body in such masses that it was visible, coating his form in an ethereal blue glow. Some formed atop his clothing, some from his skin, and some from beneath even that, tearing out of his body in a spray of blood that shimmered like a thousand gems in the light of the setting sun.
What little off his clothing remained hung onto his body in tatters, glued to his flesh by drying blood and sweat. His form was in remarkably good shap for a boy his age, especially considering his living conditions, but that changed with the bloody birth of every chain that had formed within him, leaving his skin a patchwork of skin and bare muscle. In several places yellow bone stood out proudly within the splotches of bare flesh that writhed as his body flexed from one position to the next, never stopping, never resting, never concerned for his own health.
There was just one thing that mattered and that was mastering these chains.
Uzumaki Mito had been the first to use such chains and was famed for having bound the Kyuubi no Kitsune with them after Uchiha Madara summoned the Biju at the Valley of the End. She never used many at a time, but those she did use were nigh unbreakable and could exert enough force to crush a mountain. She was not to be trifle with. Over a lifetime she mastered the chains, using them whenever possible. She eventually had enough control over them that she wouldn't have needed to move her flesh ever again in her life. Truly a sign of one well versed with their technique.
Kushina Uzumaki was taught the chakra chain technique by an aged Uzumaki Mito not long before the woman's death. She, like Mito, reached a very high level of mastery over the chains. Unlike Mito's, however, Kushina's chains were fast and numerous to compliment her swordsmanship. The Uzumaki clan were wel known for their skill with blades and Kushina had taken a liking to them like many clanmembers before her. Preferring it to her chains, she used them to supplement her style, making her a terribly dangerous foe to face on the field of battle. As her use of the chains differed greatly from that of Mito, she never obtained the same level of precision as the woman, choosing instead to swing them like swords or, as some might say, tails.
Both were masters of their chosen style, but to Naruto, that wasn't enough.
He could not allow his chains to just be fast or only be strong. He needed them precise, he needed to be able to control a million just as wel as he controlled one. He needed to master not a use of the chains, but the very chains themselves. He wanted to be able to use them as chains, as rope, as snakes, as anything he wished to form them into. Why did they have to be chains, why couldn't they be plates of solidified chakra? Why did they have to come from his body? Why did they have to be pure chakra opposed to being made out of a readily available element such as wind or earth?
He would master these chains in ways that his predecessors couldn't even fathom, or he would kill himself trying.
As chains around him began to disperse in blue mist and his chakra reserves began to scrape the bottom he grit his teeth and formed more, biting down harder every time they tore through his flesh. It was a glaring mark of how far he had to go to master this technique to the degree he sought.
Chains around him of all sizes tore through air and dirt alike, spearing trees and swiping through bushes and any animal unfortunate enough to approach these training grounds like a blade of the gods. Some danced around him like serpents while others buried through the earth like the roots of a great tree. They clashed together, a tangle of limbs he was still learning to control, with the ring of metal on metal and a shower of purple sparks.
As chain after chain destroyed its siblings, he continued to form more to take their place. His chakra was dangerously low now, so far that one might say he hadn't any chakra left, but still, he pressed forward, tearing through his skin with chains formed from chakra he did not have.
He would not stop.
He would not rest.
He would not fail.
Until his bones were ground to dust and his flesh withered away he would continue to improve himself beyond anything anyone had ever heard of. And, when his bones were dust and his flesh had withered he would tear himself from the grasp of the Shinigami and resume his work.
He would master these terrible chains that had taken her from the world.
He owed her that much.
She felt another of his wounds steam shut as his body drew upon her chakra to heal itself. He was tearing himself apart with this training and deep within her heart, she began to question whether or not she had done the right thing. He wasn't meant to react like this, he was supposed to be sad for a bit, maybe come to her seeking comfort, and then move on.
He got over his family's disappearance, hadn't he? What made this situation so different?
Was it simply because he knew he had been the reason for this loss? She didn't need to ask that question, she already knew the answer. She knew exactly what he felt right now, probably better than even himself.
While he had to deal with a flurry of emotions and thoughts that swarmed through his head as he drowned in guilt and sorrow, she could make sense of things even he didn't realize.
Every chain that tore through his flesh did so because he willed it, even if he hadn't realized it yet. He needed the pain, the punishment, to atone for his actions. His chakra responded to that need, inflicting pain on the body to match the pain in his heart.
And it was all her fault.
Had removing the girl been worth the pain she caused her warden? Should her own desires cause him such agony? Never before had she cared for someone and never could she have imagined that she might have such affection towards a human child, but he had become her world. He came to her almost every day, he spent time with her, fed her, housed her, clothed her. It was not how she was used to being treated and she loved every moment of it, prisoner or no. If this was her sentence she would gladly serve it forever.
But then that little strumpet had to start getting close to him, started taking up his time and occupying some of the thoughts that should have been hers. She couldn't stand it. When the opportunity to take back what was hers revealed itself she hadn't hesitated to take it.
The cost was proving to be more than she could have ever predicted.
Why couldn't he see that this was a good thing? He didn't need to waste his precious time on such a woman when she was here for him, willing to do whatever it took to make him happy. But no, he had to get close to the prostitute, so close that by trying to help him she had ended up hurting her precious warden. It only increased the hate she felt for the damn Yamanaka whore.
She hated to see him suffer, but this suffering had been necessary, he'd see soon enough. Before long he would realize that he was better off without the girl. He would move on with his life and come to thank her for what she had done.
She could only fantasize about how he might reward her.
The sun had hidden itself from the world two hours prior and yet he was still going at it as if he had just started. Cat had to hand it to the Uzumaki clan, their stamina and determination was inhuman. She was honestly a bit envious. She couldn't even begin to list all the things she could do with that sort of drive and the energy to follow through. It was insane.
Of course, seeing as she didn't have that kind of stamina, it was probably time to call it a night. Sure, Hiruzen had wanted her to watch him, but he also wanted a report. If she stopped by his office to inform him then the search for Naruto could be called off and other ANBU could be assigned to watch over this incredibly long training session of his.
Giving one last look to check for any issues-other than the fact that his blood was coating the ground around him and his skin was shredded as it desperately clung to his flesh- she dashed off to report to the Hokage as quickly as possible .Maybe she could get a medic assigned to watch him. Tsunade had been back for two years now and while she might be against spending her time babysitting a young man who seemed intent to kill himself training, her apprentice might appreciate having something to occupy her time now that she wasn't spending it keeping her master out of trouble.
It took only a few minutes to make it to the Hokage tower and she was admitted without pause. The Hokage must have informed everyone there about the importance her mission held to him.
"Hokage-Sama, Cat reporting in." He seemed pleased to see her, having most likely been eagerly awaiting word on the boy he had always seen as a grandson.
"Ah, Cat, am I to assume due to the time of your report that you managed to locate young Naruto?"
"I did, Hokage-Sama." She answered. She volunteered nothing else, waiting to see what it was her leader deemed the most important piece of information. Did he want his location? His wellbeing? What he had been doing? She'd let the old Sarutobi ask the questions that had been burning in him all day.
"I see, and how is he doing?" Wellbeing it was, then. In that case, she'd keep it simple and blunt.
"He's tearing himself up, sir."
"I see, I knew there must have been more to what Inoichi had told me. He could probably use some familiar company right now, I should see who I can find that can help him deal with this."
"With all due respect, Hokage-Sama, I believe you misunderstood. I was being quite literal when I said he was tearing himself up. He seems intent on training until he collapses. Seeing as he's an Uzumaki, that's quite a bit longer than he should be allowed to."
The Kage looked concerned by her report but after thinking it over a few more moments he seemed even more alarmed than before.
"The way you said that, you don't mean to tell me he's still at it, do you?" She gave him a stiff nod in the affirmative.
"As of five minutes ago he was still training, yes."
Hiruzen looked furious.
"And you left him there alone?!" Despite his rage, Cat stood calm, responding in the same professional voice all ANBU had learned to use in the face of an angered god.
"I do not have advanced enough knowledge in medical techniques to be of any use to him in his current condition. I thought it better to report the situation to you so that the search for him might be called off and someone with the proper skills might be assigned to watch over him as he trains."
Sufficiently calmed, Hiruzen took a deep breath and leaned back into his chair.
"I see. Good work, Cat. Now, you mentioned training, what exactly is he doing?"
"He seems to be attempting to improve his ability to use chakra chains. The field will need to be redone when he's finished but he seems to be doing as much damage to himself as he is his surroundings. Approaching him would be unwise, as he's currently attempting to control multiple chains individually- giving him a single point to focus on will probably result in being ripped to shreds."
The Hokage seemed disturbed by that news, probably thinking about the girl that had been given to Inoichi by the boy. The wounds she had could easily be attributed to a host of chains tearing through her venerable flesh. It was not a pleasant thought.
Or a pleasant way to die.
"Thank you, Cat. You are dismissed." Giving a bow, she left the office. Her duty was done, now it was up to someone else to watch over the boy until he grew tired of bleeding everywhere. After that, maybe she could have a chat with him about problem she spotted in his technique. As it was, he had entirely too many openings.
She'd have to fix that.
It had been a week and finally the skies could hold it in no longer. Great tears of the heavens crashed down upon the earth, heavy with sorrow. It was fitting then, that the Yamanaka had decided on this day for her funeral. She may have left the clan to make a life for herself, but the bonds of blood were stronger than that. She'd be buried with her kin just as if she had remained in the clan and had worked hard to bring it to glory.
It was a simple ceremony. When your clan is famous for its skill with the mind you didn't need some great event to remember the passing of a clanmember. Those memories could be accessed any time and even shared between people, there would be plenty of time to grieve in private for those that chose to do so. Those that didn't would probably juts push the memory away, not desiring to be reminded of those that had been lost.
It was the way of the Yamanaka.
Two men brought the cylindrical casket to the grave and it was lowered slowly. The rain had not let up and those present strained their ears to hear the priest speak, after which the grave was filled. It was Inoichi himself who struck the simple wooden grave marker into the ground, giving a few parting words as head of the clan he welcomed her back before wishing her good fortune on her way to the next life.
As the crowd dispersed he approached the grave, aware of the gaze of the only remaining Yamanaka. Perhaps Inoichi could make out his identity in this rain, maybe he couldn't. It really didn't matter.
Dipping his bandaged hand into his bag we withdrew one of Madara's ten bottles of wine. Taking a single sip for himself, he poured the rest of it onto the freshly disturbed soil. Placing the empty bottle down by the grave marker he took a step back, ignoring the rain that crashed upon him.
This was all his fault, but for the life of him he couldn't think of a proper way to atone for his actions.
Rain soaked through his clothing, reminding him of the blood that had stained him red oh so recently. As lightning flashed in the distance he saw glowing chains that streaked through the air. Blue. Purple. Red.
The red chains snaked through the air as if they were self-aware, striking out at a target that should have never been a victim to such monsters.
Lightning flashed again, filling his vision with a bright red glow.
But this time, he was not in that alley and there was no Tatsuki.
No, he lay sprawled on the floor, clutching at his arm, after an explosion of red chakra had burst from the Uzumaki compound.
The chakra, it looked so much like his chains, but that chakra-
His heart froze.
No, it couldn't have been. He didn't want to believe it.
It began beating again.
It was, it had to be, every part of his being was screaming this truth at him.
Molten fury pumped through his heart and burned his veins.
Under his soaked clothing the seal on his right arm began to burn an angry red, clearly visible through the fabric. He still didn't know what it did, but it had glowed that night too, hadn't it? Infused with the chakra of the Kyuubi no Kitsune, it had established the connection between him and the seal on his sister.
It still contained that accursed red chakra.
And it, no, its source, was why he had lost control.
She was why he had lost control.
His anger skyrocketed and a red haze came into existence around his arm as the chakra of the Kyuubi reacted to his emotions. Clenching his fists until they bled, he spared one last look at the Yamanaka staring at him, unaware of the way his purple eyes glowed angrily in the darkness, before he dashed away.
He had to know.
Now.
The double doors didn't open gently this time, blown off their hinges at his passing. With every step he took the black marble floor cracked and shattered. Every lantern he passed lost its sickly green light and plunged the world deeper into darkness.
She was sitting at the end of the table, as usual, and didn't seemed concerned with the violence that followed in his wake. His steps were swift and within moments her throat was in his hands, pressed tightly to the chair she sat in.
"Mmm, you're pretty forceful today, Warden, I like it." His grip tightened. Leaning in, he hissed a single, venomous question.
"What. Did. You. Do?" She just grinned, as if this was one big game.
"You know exactly what I did warden, I got rid of that damn whore for you." Was that pride he heard? She was proud of what she had done? His grip tightened even further, completely cutting of all air. How could she be happy with what she had done, with what she had stolen from him? Did she not know how much Tatsuki had meant to him?
His first friend was gone, and she was fucking proud that she was the reason.
"Why?" he demanded. "Why would you take her from me?" He released his grip enough for her to take grasping breaths under his burning gaze.
"Because," Mito finally answered. "You're mine." His blood boiled.
Hers? She thought he was hers?! He did not answer to her, she had no power over his choices. What gave her the right to declare him hers and dictate who he was allowed to spend time with? He had once been proud to think of her of his own, now that same thought just left a bad taste in his mouth. He let a growl slip past snarling lips, looking very much like the wolf he was so often likened unto.
"I answer to one man, and you are not he."
"One?" She questioned with a raised brow. "I thought it was two."
"It was, but then one of them lost my trust." He threw her through the chair, sending her to land sprawled over the stairs that led to her personal chambers. "Just like you." He made no effort to disguise the disgust in his voice.
He turned to leave as she began to push herself up, a growl of her own escaping her throat.
"Your trust? I lost your trust? You're the one who left me in here alone in favor of that slut!" She spat at him, eyes glowing red in fury.
He turned and made to say something but was cut off as she continued.
"Every day I was here for you, ready to do anything to make you happy, but that wasn't good enough for you, was it? No you had to have another, had to spend your time with her because you knew I wasn't' going anywhere." Faint traces of red chakra became visible, flowing towards her from deep within his side of this sealscape.
"Fine, if you want her, you can have her. Maybe while you sit before her grave you'll realize what you've taken for granted, but when you come back to me begging don't expect me to care." The tendrils of chakra increased in size and speed, rushing out from his seal and into his sister's. The golden band that represented the gate that caged her began to shimmer and Naruto was quick to step onto his side.
He did so not a moment too soon as the gate reverted to its original form.
Staring at her between the bars, his last glimpse of her was her snarling face and her last words echoed within his heart.
"You don't deserve me in your life," She hissed. "You don't deserve anyone."
And his sealscape crumbled.
The rain greeted him again, along with a familiar ache in his heart. Collapsing onto his knees into the wet soil of the forest floor he punched the earth with all his might. He heard the familiar snap of bone but could not bring himself to care. Her words hurt far more than his flesh ever could.
His tears were lost to the rain.
And there we have it, chapter X. I hope to see you all next week for chapter XI. Remember, 'Chire, Senbonzakura'.