Tears of Hope
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor am I affiliated in any way with Naruto. I just like the show and mangas so I wrote this fanfic.
This fanfic belongs to me. If you want to use it in any way shape or form, you'll need my permission first.
Well on to the next chapter. I've finally hit the big 10! :D (Shakes ass) I hope everyone is enjoying the story.
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Chapter Ten - Retrospect
An empty silence filled the Hokage's office as the gathered shinobi slowly exited the door. Their faces filled with sorrow after having just heard Kurenai's detailed report on what she had witnessed in Naruto's mind. A few hours had passed since Kurenai's genjutsu had taken place and the afternoon sun was already making its way to the horizon. Sakura and Sasuke had remained at the hospital, watching over a still unconscious Naruto.
Tsunade gazed out from her door as the rest of them made there way down the hallway, Shizune waving them off as they made their way out the building. As they walked down the hallway Asuma strode up beside Kurenai, a concerned look evident on his face. "So?" he mumbled trying desperately to find the words. "It ... it must have been hard for you in there." Kurenai looked up at him with saddened eyes, she was clearly upset about the whole ordeal. "When I saw him in there, when I saw how cruel those villagers were to him, I couldn't bare it anymore." Kurenai's head bowed in shame before she continued speaking. "You know... I also used to see him that way." Asuma's eyes turned to face the floor. Guilt slowly overcame him as he quietly affiliated himself with what Kurenai had just said. "I used to think he was nothing but trouble. He was always pulling pranks and making a mess, always causing trouble for those around him. I never managed to see that it was all just a desperate cry for attention."
"Tears filled her eyes as she bared her soul to the jounin next to her, lifting a heavy guilt off her anguished heart. "It all changed during the Chuunin exams" she continued. "That was when I saw the real Naruto, during his first fight against Kiba. He showed the courage and determination to never give up, even when it looked like all was lost. It was then that I realised that he was just like any other kid. He also had hopes and dreams that he aspired to fulfill. He even helped Hinata find her own confidence in herself. Thats why... thats why I will do what I can to protect him!" Asuma put his arm around Kurenai as she sobbed her guilt away. Naruto had always been their when others needed him. He didn't deserve the cruel fate that he received.
Once they had disappeared from view, Tsunade turned to go back to her desk, closing the door behind her. Her mind was still going through everything Kurenai had just told them, still trying to digest the harsh truth that ate away at her soul. Tears started to form in her eyes as images of Naruto's suffering played over and over through her mind. Her fists clenched tightly beside her as a furious wrath began to manifest in her suffering heart.
"Aaaahhhh!!" A massive sound echoed through the halls of the Hokage tower as Tsunades fist came crashing down on the table in front of her, it's form buckling under her devastating strength. She picked up a piece of shattered remains and hurled it against the nearby wall. Violent sounds of destruction could be heard down the hallway as Tsunade proceeded to tear the entire room apart. Even the ANBU guards stepped away from the door in fear as the cries of a terrible fury continued to emerge from the room. "What's going on?" They turned to see Shizune standing there, having heard the ensuing commotion. Just then a large piece of furniture came bursting though the door, shattering it into hundreds of pieces.
Silence followed as the three stood there, looking at the debris lying in the hallway. Sobs sounded from inside the Hokages office as Shizune walked up to the now non-existent doorway, leaning to peer inside. Tsunade was kneeling in the middle of the destroyed room. Her hands pushing against the floor as tears fell from her face. "Tsunade-sama?!" Shizune gulped as she walked up to her teacher. "I wasn't there to protect him, I wasn't there when he needed me!" She cried. Shizune knelt beside her and placed her arm over her shoulder, comforting her as best as she could. The two just stayed there, letting the tears fall as the last glimmers of sunlight fell away from sky.
Sounds of cheer and laughter resounded in the air as the smell of cooked food carried across an open room. As night fell on the village of Konoha, her restaurants filled with all manner of customers, cheerfully drinking a hard days work away, allowing themselves some long earned rest. Tonight Tsunade was one such person, sitting sternly at an open table, quietly thinking about the day's events. She just needed to get away from it all, to give her mind time to collect itself. A waitress approached the brooding Hokage and carefully asked for her order. "Sake please and make it quick!" She snapped, scaring the young girl as she wrote down the order. "y..yes m..mam!" She answered before turning to retrieve it. She was back in a flash, placing the small alcoholic drink down on the table. Tsunade grabbed the cup and quickly gulped it's contents down, before slamming it back onto the surface. "Another one!" she grumbled, sending the worried girl of to the counter once again.
As she sat there waiting, the sound of talk and laughter filled the air. Friends conversed as they ate and drank together, passing by the time with laughter and cheers. But the cold words of a nearby patron caught the attention of Tsunade's ear. "I heard that the monster child was attacked not to long ago. Ha ha ha! Serves him right if you ask me. Too bad they couldn't finish him off!" Tsunades mind snapped as the last few words the man spoke fell onto her ears. An inner rage ignited in her soul as she jumped up to her feet and tossed the table in front of her aside. "What did you say?!" She growled, walking over to the now alert man and cracking her knuckles in the palm of her hand. "Hokage-sama, I...I didn't see you there. We were just talking!" But his words fell on deaf ears.
As the cool night air blew down the gently lit streets of the village, Jiraiya had made his way into its heart, searching around amongst its occupants. He had been trying to find Tsunade for quite some time now. He knew when she was upset about what had happened and he wanted to talk to her about it. "It isn't normally this difficult to find her?" He thought to himself, knowing that Tsunade's destructive personality meant she was normally clear giveaway. Just as he had finished his thoughts a crashing sound came from inside the nearby restaurant. "Hmm, I wonder?" he thought to himself as he approached the source of the commotion. "WHAM!" A large burst of dust exploded out from the wall as a limp figure flew through the once solid structure. "I guess that's her" Jiraiya sighed as he saw an irate Tsunade stepping through the newly formed entrance. She walked over to the motionless body lying on the floor and grabbed the collar of her unfortunate prey lifting him off the ground. Monster! Monster! I'll show you a monster!" She screamed as she raised her fist to finish the job.
"That's enough Tsunade!" Tsunade turned around to see Jiraira looking disappointingly at her. "This isn't going to help Naruto at all!" He continued folding his arms in front of him. Tsunade looked back at the man's face, fear filled his eyes as she stared blankly into them. Her fist began to relax before she tossed the man onto the floor beside her. "Call a medic over!" she shouted back into the restaurant. "He'll be in hospital for a while before he's able to walk again!" Tsunade then turned to Jiraiya, his face was plastered with a blank look as he sighed at the sight before him. "You really should learn to control your temper" he scoffed as Tsunade walked slowly past him. She stopped right behind him, pausing, waiting, neither of them turning to look at one another.
"It isn't your fault you know." Tsunades turned around as Jiraiyas soft words reached into her heart, trying to ease the guilt she felt inside. "But... but I should have seen this coming, I should have watched him more closely!" she snapped back. "You have a responsibility to the village. How can you take care of it and Naruto all at the same time?" Jiraiya's words struck true. Tsunade bowed her head, staring blankly at the ground. Jiraiya then turned to face Tsunade and slowly walked towards her, placing his hand on her shoulder. "You can't always be there to protect Naruto" he spoke softly. "Right now he needs friends that will be there for him if he's going to prosper in this cruel world of ours. We'll need to inform the other gennin about the situation." Jiraiya placed his hand under Tsunades chin lifting her face so that her eyes met his before continuing. "We may... we may even have to tell them about the Kyuubi sealed inside Naruto." "What?" Tsunade replied, her eyes widening in surprise. "But if they learn about the Kyuubi, they might begin to hate him as well, he may lose the only friends he has." Jiraiya removed his hands from Tsunades shoulder and folded them back in front of him. "They will never be able to help Naruto if they don't understand why he's in so much pain. If they are truly his friends, then they will stand by him no matter what. "Tsunade paused for a moment before nodding in agreement. "I guess you're right. It may be the only choice we have at this time."
An eerie silence fell on the empty hallways of the Konoha hospital. It's narrow passages echoed with the sounds of creaking as the cool night air sank into the walls. A lone shadowy figure slowly made it's way to the room that held Naruto, quietly approaching the door. He reached out to the handle with one hand, while pulling a kunai out from under his cloak. A murderous chill fulled the dark hallway as the door slowly creaked open. "I hope that's a gift you're carrying. The man turned in surprise to see who was there. It was Kakashi, standing calmly behind him, A serious look engraved upon his face. "He must having been hiding out of view" the man thought to himself, quickly placing his weapon away. "In case you didn't realize, visiting hours are over" Kakashi continued. "I'm sorry, that is my mistake, I'll be leaving then." Kakashi looked on as the figure walked down the hallway, before disappearing from view. "This could be dangerous!"
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There be trouble in the future for Naruto. But now everyone is ready to protect him. I'll try to upload new chapters soon, but I don't know if there will be another one today. :(
There'll be more Naruto in the next chapter!!
Please review!! Feedback is always good to have!!