Wrong Again
Chapter 10
Sorry, this was supposed to be out in a few days only but…I lost my muse for a few days along with my cell phone and thus my peace of mind. I had a lot of trouble with the whole chapter; nothing went the way I planned! But here you are my lovely readers, enjoy!
It took way too long for ramen to cook in his opinion. The thing said instant ramen, so why the hell did it take three minutes? He half pranced around the kitchen agitatedly even though his gaze never left the cup of slowly softening noodles.
There hadn't been anyone in the house as far as he knew. Then again, he didn't check his father's room. To his way of thinking, he was going to avoid his father at all cost until he figured out how to keep the stupid fox from taking over. So far the only thing he could think of was to ask for help while he avoided his dad.
He didn't know anything about seals and all that stuff. A few people came to mind when he thought about it; first of all there was the pervy sage, but he wasn't even suppose to meet him until he was twelve. His problem couldn't wait that long and he didn't know if the sannin was in Konoha. The same went with the old hag; he wouldn't see her too until later. His father could probably handle the seal since he made it and all but that was the last person he wanted to be in contact with Kyuubi.
The other person was … Well, he wasn't an option anymore with anything. His mood slightly drooped at the thought that he could no longer ask Kakashi for anything. The man hadn't been much of a teacher at first but he was there; albeit late and lazy. Thinking of the man he realized he hadn't gone to the Memorial Stone like he wanted to.
Suddenly he decided that he would do that. His case of nostalgia was strong; he had been so focused on Sasuke and the thought that they were finally together that he had forgotten old friends and ties. It wasn't that Sasuke wasn't important but so was everybody else too.
It was different here, some people were here and others weren't; the feeling of his former teen self warred with his newer child self and he didn't like feeling so torn. If there was one thing that he hated, it was indecision. Naruto Uzumaki didn't ever let something as silly as indecision stop him. He was going to be the Hokage! He didn't think his father suffered from that problem so he wouldn't either.
As set as his mind was to wander over to the Stone, he couldn't leave without eating his ramen first. It was so ingrained that he didn't even have to remind himself that his ramen was waiting patiently for him now to be consumed. Several breaths later, he was on his way.
It didn't take him long to reach the place. Kakashi was always there and in their futile attempts to see the face underneath the mask they had come here often to spy on him.
Once again he stood before the stone and his eyes immediately went to the spot where his former teacher's name resided. He wasn't quite sure what to do now. He had never seen or heard Kakashi talking to the stone so words seemed unnatural.
Obito had touched the stone though, lovingly as if he could touch Kakashi himself. Taking a shaking hand he decided to go by example. After all, Obito was fast taking over a spot in his life similar to the white haired man. He would never be Kakashi, but he was another male figure that was much appreciated.
His finger brushed the engraving hesitantly and when no lightening struck him on the spot he passed his finger back over it once more this time more firmly. And just like that he felt himself being drawn into his past; it was weird thinking like that. Would it be the future or the past since this is my past? The thought was confusing so he let it slide; he'd ask someone later like Shikamaru when he got to know him again.
Kakashi wasn't here and neither was the old man who was like a father to him when he was younger. With no one really right now that he could turn to besides Sasuke, he felt quite alone. Just like when he was younger, the other younger him, he couldn't remember a time when he hadn't been able to run to the old man.
Iruka was awesome but he shot down the thought because he knew that until he proved himself, even Iruka hadn't cared much for him. That thought led to another and another with a separate person each time. It was depressing and the longer he stood there, the more abandoned he felt.
Stupid Sasuke, if it weren't for him, this wouldn't have happened. Whatever had happened when they slammed into each other had brought him here to this Konoha where things weren't the same but still everything was going wrong.
Well, he couldn't say everything. His father was alive and so was Obito. Kakashi might not be alive but he had saved his teammate and Obito lived because of him. He was glad he got a chance to meet someone from Kakashi's past.
And then there was Sasuke. There was always Sasuke except this time he hadn't gone all moody and avenger on anyone, yet. And he was nice to him for the most part. He was still a bastard but there had been times when he had caught Sasuke staring at him strangely, but it wasn't a weird strange and he didn't mind it, he just didn't know what it was.
Really the only connection he had to his past, or future, was Sasuke. Even with some differences, he somehow felt right. It was almost like they were the same person; he even went as far as calling him dobe even though they hadn't gone to the academy yet.
Wait a minute! Sasuke didn't call him that until after a year when he went all huffy and bastardy on everyone. Come to think of it, Sasuke never really liked him at all; he didn't show it if he did. This thought led to more thoughts on how Sasuke acted very much like the old one, the real one back when they were genin.
He had taken it for granted how similar they were; he had actually been comforted by that without even realizing why he had been so comfortable with Sasuke. He was stunned. The possibility that Sasuke really was Sasuke made his mind draw a blank. It took the span of a few silent moments before his brain caught up to the realization.
"Teme! Why didn't he tell me!?" outraged that the other boy had kept silent about his true self and letting him think he was alone in this Konoha was unforgivable! At least until after he beat the crap out of him.
The only thoughts running through his mind centered on maiming the bastard somehow. Anything else could come later. He wasn't going to admit just yet how relieved he felt when he made the connection.
He wasn't alone after all.
He entered his home and marched straight up the stairs. In his single-mindedness he didn't catch the subtle sign that his father was home nor did he pay attention to the ANBU presence around the manor. To him they were always around for one reason or another. This time it wasn't any different.
At Sasuke's door he turned the knob only to find it locked. Annoyed that Sasuke would dare to lock him out he drew his foot up and with a little boost of chakra, sent the door flying open with a bang.
"Teme! Why didn't you tell me?!" he shouted at the three occupants in the room who had turned to him with wide eyes. The surprise from everyone including himself made him falter. Immediately he regretted not paying attention as his father was now staring at him with a frown. Great, now he's gonna be suspicious!
"Err, is this a bad time?" he stammered out even as he started inching his way to the left. In two seconds he would be out the main door. In fact he didn't even give anyone a chance to answer as he turned and darted away before someone could say something.
"Naruto." He stopped dead at the authoritative voice with a cringe but didn't turn around just yet; that someone being his father had spoken, he couldn't just ignore him. Instead he called over his shoulder in a small voice, "Yeah?" Hell that sounded pathetic even to his ears!
"Why don't you join us," Minato spoke evenly. He mentally swore at everyone in his head but he didn't try to escape. His father would catch him if he so much as stepped away from the door any more than he already had. From the way his dad sounded, it looked like Sasuke was in trouble, which meant that he was in trouble as well, if not more so for just kicking in the door like that.
"Naruto." He was jarred out of his thoughts and realized pissing his dad off at the moment wasn't a good idea. Reluctantly he dragged his feet loudly across the hallway floor until he stood once more in the doorway of Sasuke's room. He looked guiltily at Obito and his father; he couldn't yet bring his eyes to look at Sasuke after his outburst.
"Come inside and close the door," his father coaxed patiently as he tried to draw his suddenly skittish son into the room. He slowly complied but every time he tried to shut the door it swung open again. The other three watched him silently, each thinking their own thoughts as he tried again and again.
On the fifth try Minato sighed and spoke up, "That's enough; I don't think the door's going to close anymore Naruto. Why don't we go into my office?" He gave his father a sheepish chuckle and absently scratched the back of his head. He followed Obito while he studiously avoided Sasuke's insistent stare.
When the office door was closed and locked by none other than the Fourth, he knew his well thought out plan of avoidance was screwed. A really bad feeling swelled in his gut when his father told Sasuke and him to sit down while they remained standing.
His dad approached him with an inked brush and began drawing something on his arm. It looked like the same thing that had been on Sasuke's arm. When his father was done he held a hand over it. It glowed for a moment as the seal was activated and his arm tingled. It stayed tingly for a few more seconds before it faded.
"Now, why don't we get started?" Minato spoke up but there was no cheer in his voice. He regarded the two boys closely. Sasuke was silent and expressionless but Naruto on the other hand was a bundle of twitching nerves. It wasn't a hard guess who would crack first.
"G-Get what started?" Naruto stammered out as he rocked back and forth in his chair and his feet swung erratically in the high chair; the boy hadn't even looked at Sasuke yet.
"Questioning you two," Obito said ominously as he stepped forward toward them, "We've noticed several things that don't quite add up when you do the math." Naruto stopped his fidgeting immediately at his words and Sasuke grew tense. It was then that Minato silently observed the two boys glance discretely at each other.
Whatever communication they had just happened in that split second before they both looked back to Obito. The Hatake carried on as if he hadn't seen the look.
"Sasuke, according to your brother, you haven't been allowed to train yet but on several accounts were seen displaying a skill level of a genin, or even more. You used chakra, showed fighting techniques never taught by the clan or the academy. You knew about the exact tunnel that Fugaku had taken Naruto even when Itachi didn't know.
"You were imprisoned by the clan briefly over a year ago and it was because Mikoto truly believes that you're her son that she snuck you out. Apparently they must have found something otherwise you wouldn't have been kept that long. As far as anyone knows, you would have stayed there and rotted.
"What did they find out about you?" Obito asked as he gauged the boy's reaction to everything he had said. Sasuke had kept his stare level throughout the entire time. He didn't say anything for a moment until he looked over at Naruto. The blond returned his stare but didn't say anything. He seemed to make up his mind and looked back at Obito and Minato.
"I don't know what I told them; they must have drugged me," he started slightly thoughtful. He hadn't even thought about that. What had they discovered? Did they know Itachi was a spy? Is that why everything went wrong? Where did Madara fit in? There was too much that he didn't know about to make any assumptions.
"Mikoto swears that you're her son, yet we have reason to believe otherwise," Minato spoke up to prompt the boy, to keep him talking. He could only imagine what the Uchihas had used to get the boy to talk and not remember anything.
"I…Is she okay? My mother?" the pale boy asked. Obito debated if he should hold that knowledge over the boy's head but decided against it; he had just lost his father too. That display of grief had been quite convincing. They had to know what was going on though.
"She's fine, you might even get to see her if you cooperate with us," he replied. Sasuke seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and he nodded softly.
"Teme! You're not supposed to say anything!" Naruto panicked, "I thought we had an agreement with the whole eye thing!" Sasuke glared at him. Minato eyed his boy; he didn't think he was wrong that Naruto would spill easily.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Sasuke scoffed at the other boy who fumed at the dismissive words and tone. Just as Naruto was about to lunge at the still sitting boy Minato caught him by the back of his jacket and plopped him back down in his chair. With the stern sound of his name he neutralized the squirming blond.
"Who are you?" Obito prodded once the fuming blond had been shushed by his father.
"Uchiha Sasuke, the last surviving Uchiha of Konoha," he held his head high and kept his gaze even with the two adults. Before they could ask just what he meant and before Naruto could protest, he added, "Of my time."
His declaration was met with silence. Naruto gaped at him and even he seemed surprised, but Minato watched him closely and saw a bit of relief in those blue eyes as well. The blond boy moved his mouth as if to speak but once more Sasuke beat him to it.
"Trust me, Naruto." The firm conviction in his voice stilled the blond boy. The staring contest lasted only seconds before Naruto crossed his arms over his chest in a pout. He gave in to Sasuke.
"Fine, but don't you dare lie to make yourself look better!" he sulked and slouched down in his chair with a huff. Minato and Obito observed the interaction interestedly. It seemed they were both in on it, whatever it was. (1)
It was his Naruto from before; the one that he had grown up with during their genin time and the one who had stuck with him for years afterward. The relief he felt at the moment was incomprehensible; he hadn't killed him.
Naruto was alive and had been with him the entire time. From his reaction, he was pretty sure Naruto hadn't been aware that he was here as well until now.
"Explain." The Fourth's curt order drew his attention from the sulking blond boy. He turned back to Naruto's father. He had had his suspicions about Naruto and he would have bet his life on it but hearing the blonde's last words truly confirmed it.
The only thing to do now was keep the idiot alive and to do so, he would need all the help he could get. Help in this case was none other than the legendary Fourth. He had no doubt the man loved Naruto and would stop at nothing to keep him safe.
"Over a year ago, when I woke up and found myself in my old room with my mother standing before me, I couldn't believe it. Thinking it was a genjutsu, I didn't believe her or my father or Itachi. My family was dead, by Itachi's hand and…By mine."
Minato cocked his head, no doubt thinking about those cryptic words. Perhaps the man was already putting things together. He didn't spend too much time thinking about that; he'd find out anyway.
"The last thing I remembered before waking up that day was setting out to destroy Konoha," he looked at Naruto, "Naruto was there and we fought. In the heat of the fight I don't remember what happened around us but as a last attempt we charged each other with chidori and Rasengan. Everything went black after that."
When the boy mentioned chidori and Rasengan, both adults' expression showed surprise. No one knew those attacks except himself and Obito. How could these two boys use them?
"No one knows about those jutsus except us!" Obito voiced his own thought. Sasuke appeared unperturbed and he spoke, "Kakashi created it."
"And you taught Jiraiya." Naruto added as he looked at his father's astonished face. Both adults were left gaping. It didn't last long though before anger coursed through him at the mention of his dead student.
"How dare you talk about Kakashi? You weren't even alive!" he grounded out in a low dangerous tone as he turned his anger onto the pale boy. The boy shrank back a bit but held his ground.
"Weren't you listening?" Sasuke asked slightly exasperated despite his wariness at the show of anger. The boy paused for a moment as if he wanted to say something else but changed his mind. No doubt the kid was re-evaluating his tone of voice.
"Look, when I said of my- of our time, I meant it. Naruto and I aren't six year olds. We've been around all this for almost sixteen years now. We've gone to the academy and graduated. Kakashi was our jounin guide," he explained.
"Yeah, and since Kakashi-sensei was training Sasuke bastard Jiraiya trained me and taught me Rasengan!" Naruto joined in once more. He seemed more enthusiastic about telling his story now that Sasuke had broken the ice.
Jiraiya taught him my move? He was once again speechless. Why would his teacher teach Naruto his signature attack? It didn't make any sense.
"Jiraiya?" he asked just to be sure but his stomach was sinking. Naruto nodded and proceeded to spout things about the sannin that he couldn't dispute. He listened and vaguely registered the name Gamabunta. His little boy had summoned the great frog boss himself? Jiraiya let him sign the contract?
"Where the hell was I?" he demanded cutting Naruto off. Immediately he knew something was wrong when the boy went silent and wouldn't look at him.
"Naruto?" He couldn't bear it; he took a step toward his son. His son shrugged and mumbled under his breath.
"What?" he prodded when he couldn't understand a thing the boy said.
"You're dead," he said softly, "You sacrificed your life to seal Kyuubi." To say that he was shocked was an understatement. And here he thought that he wouldn't be surprised anymore once the idea of these two boys being from another time clicked in his mind.
He went back to that day when he saw Naruto barge into his office. He had passed the strange behavior off, but examining the event now it made sense. You're dead. The shock and disbelief that he hadn't picked up on slammed into him now.
"I…I," his mouth couldn't form the apology on the tip of his tongue. The thought that Naruto had been alone tore at him. His heart broke at the way his kid was trying to shrug it off.
"It's okay, the old man- the Third was there for the most part. No one told me about you until Jiraiya decided to tell me. H-how you gave your life to save the village and that my mother, Kushina, died giving birth to me. I always thought that I was some nameless kid that no one wanted." Naruto's voice had thickened with each word but everyone could see that he was trying hard to hide it.
It was the name that struck him this time. Obito inhaled sharply and glanced at his teacher. Kushina was Naruto's mother?The revelation was beyond words.
Minato couldn't take it anymore. He had placed the seals onto the two boys thinking that the truth that the seals would reveal would enlighten him as to what the hell was going on but now he wasn't so sure if he could take it. His son was from another time and was fighting against his best friend. He was supposedly dead and Jiraiya had to teach him the things that he was looking forward to teaching.
And Kushina was Naruto's mother? That thought alone kept repeating itself in his head and it was impossible yet he was dead according to his son. Oh god, his son! His biological son, not just in name but in blood as well. Kushina. Naruto. He couldn't take it anymore! He needed to be alone to sort his thoughts and emotions out.
"Stay with them," he rasped out to Obito. Then he was gone with his Hirashin leaving behind two confused boys and a torn student.
A/N:
Man, that was hard to write. I'm so so sorry if the constant switch in perspectives confuses anyone. I placed lines where there was a clean break between POV's but I might have slipped here and there in other places. It's just so hard to tell it from one person when there's so much going on with all the other people and I want to cram all their views in at one time for the full effect. I hate having to go back and write up how someone else thought about the same thing. Hence my reason for shifting so much.
Minato's taking it hard, poor guy. I always wondered what he would do if he found out how Naruto lived because of his choice.
Anyway, originally where I placed the (1) was where I had wanted to stop because I really didn't want to deal with the interrogation. But then I realized that you guys would have somehow found a way to kill me since I had promised that this chapter would be the chapter of the interrogation. So here it is. This is the main part; the next part will be a general overview for Obito as he continues to ask questions. I figured if I stopped here and posted, you guys wouldn't have to wait another few days for an update.
Would you rather have short chapters and faster updates or long chapters with unknown amounts of time in between? It's a hard question that I ask myself every time I sit down and type things up. Thanks for reading everyone! XD