Children of Sorrowful Fate

AN: Naruto isn't mine, though the second generation is. And thanks to those who read this, drop a review sometime, it makes my day.

A bit of fluff in this chappie. The proper action will start up real soon though.

Book Four, Chapter Two

The rest of the summit passed in relative peace, or rather it did for Hitori and Taran, who were asked not to join the rest of the proceedings. Each of the Kage's followed Gaara's example, and the Uzuamki found herself with one of the bodyguards from each one.

Thankfully, none of them seemed to mind Konohamaru's training suggestion, and the three other nin spent the days testing the two jinchuuriki's strength.

Taran had the sneaking suspicion that Hitrori was holding out on them, and she winked at him whenever he shot her an accusatory glance on the matter.

Shukaku had bristled about being read so easily, but the auburn-haired youth ignored it. It wasn't something he could ask her about with so many watching anyways.

And she was being watched, more so than he was. They knew about Shukaku's sand abilities, some from experiences with his father no less, some from even longer back than that. They didn't expect Taran's abilities to be any different from the rest of the containers for the ichibi.

The Kyubbi on the other hand, there was only one other person who had contained that demon insofar as the Kage Summit knew, and recent events had brought to light the fact that Naruto only housed part of the nine-tailed fox.

The whole kitsune... and the legendary Sage training of Myobokuzan... and the byakugaun, even if it was sealed with the Caged Bird...No one knew what to expect from her, no one even made an attempt to guess at her abilities.

So they watched and reported back to their masters.

The last day of the summit couldn't come sooner for the girl, and she sighed with relief when Neji and Shikamaru came to retrieve them to head back to Konoha.

"We'll be there in a week," Gaara spoke quietly as he and Kiyomi joined them, "It'll take that long to organize my forces enough."

"Why couldn't we just meet at your place, you're the leader of the joint army," Shikamaru rubbed his neck, "All these people... troublesome."

"You know as well as I do that Konoha is the most centralized of our villages," the Kazekage looked toward his son, "You still have your orders to guard that girl." he ignored the broad grin from Hitori at that and turned to Neji, "I suspect that you still have some extra lodging for him while he continues his mission."

An eyebrow raised, "If I didn't know any better..." the glare from the teal eyes interrupted that train of that thought, and the Hyuuga chuckled, "Of course Lord Kazekage."

"Troublesome..." Shikamaru muttered as he turned away.

"Kiyomi... do you wish for me to tell Chozo Kiyoshi's message?" Taran asked quietly.

She stared at him for a moment, "N...no..." she hit her arm lightly, "No," she said, her voice suddenly stronger, "I'll tell him myself when Suna's forces arrive in Konoha. Just... just don't tell him anything yet."

"What if he asks?" emerald eyes stared at her.

"Tell him to wait for me to get there." she turned to follow Gaara who was walking away.

Hitori's pale blue eyes followed her for a long moment, but didn't say anything, though Taran was expecting her to open up with questions at any second.

They both turned and followed the Hokage's entourage.


It was a tearful reunion at the village gates, somehow word had gotten out that the Uzumaki was returning, and almost the whole village came to greet her.

Taran wondered just how many of them she actually knew, and how many were just there to see how much of Naruto was in his daughter.

Thankfully, not as much as everyone claims. I wouldn't let you hear the end of it then.

What? You're saying that those rumors about him and Father are completely unfounded?

You're getting better at being a smart-ass! Remind me to throw you a party!

I think that's just me being around you too much.

The response from Shukaku was interrupted by a sudden hug around his neck, and Taran realized that they had entered Neji's residence without him noticing.

"I've been wanting to do that forever!" Hitori said happily as she let him go, "Too many people watching all the time though, so I didn't want you to get embarrassed."

As it was, he had turned bright red, and she giggled, "You've been arguing with that tanuki haven't you?" arms were crossed as she regarded him, "The toads told me I get a weird look in my eyes when I talk to Kyubbi, so that's what they must be talking about."

"I should hope the Kyubbi doesn't drive you as crazy," he almost grinned at the indignant squawk Shukaku gave him at that.

"No," she took his hand, "Come on, Uncle Neji said that you could place your things in the guest room. He went out to get me some cinnamon buns."

"For someone about to fight a war, you're amazingly calm."

She stopped at that, "If I stop and think about it, I feel like I'm about to jump off that cliff again." she seemed to want to say more, but was stopped by the door opening.

"Hitori! You're back!" Chozo, Jin, Shiro, Lian, and Megami stood in the foyer, all looking much the same as they did four years ago...

Well, they were taller, and Megami's hair was cut short now in a page-boy, and they were all dressed differently in their clan styles, Chozo who was in his family's armor, Megami was in the Hyuuga family robes, Jin dressed like his father, and Lian like his.

Shiro still wore the same type of outfit he always did.

Hitori grinned, "It's been too long!" and went to hug her old friends.

Chozo looked at Taran then, "Are Kiyomi and Kiyoshi coming too?"

Emerald green eyes stared, "...Yes... they'll be here in a week."

It's not a lie you realize. Both of them will be here.

He didn't respond to Shukaku, just watched quietly as Hitori caught up to the rest of the Konoha nin of her age group.

He wondered how different he looked to them, they had all seemed to age, but for one like him, who had done his growing up all at once at the young age the Shukaku turned the memories to him, he thought that he might be stopped in time.

Pale blue eyes turned to him, and he thought suddenly of how much she aged, and yet still seemed to be the same girl that left him in Suna.

Curvier. Quieter. Power and chakra oozing out of her, but yeah, sure, same girl.

Can I have just five minutes of private reflection?

Not if you're going to be emo. I can't stand angsty fluffiness. What you need to be thinking on is how to get away with groping one of those melons...

"Taran?" Hitori asked at the indignant squawk that came from him at that.

Payback's a bitch ain't it.


"Where's Chi?" he asked after they ate dinner, and she sat on the balcony watching the stars.

"A year ago, he left, saying that I didn't need him anymore," she closed her eyes, "I think he went to where Daddy and Uncle Sasuke are... he seemed so tired after that battle..." Taran walked to stand next to her, and she opened her eyes again, "One night I woke up, and he was sitting next to me, and he told me that he couldn't stay any longer. Then he kissed my forehead and vanished."

Both stared in silence at the night sky over Konoha for a moment.

"Taran... you asked me how I can be so calm with everything going on," she swung her legs that were hanging over the balcony, "I've been cheating. I keep imagining how life would be like if we didn't have to fight this upcoming battle."

"How so?"

"Like I keep thinking that you and I would probably get married or something," she blushed, "I mean, since I've always liked you a lot."

Emerald eyes stared at her, "Tell me about it."

Tell me about the wedding night! Taran ignored the raccoon demon.

"Well... I always thought that it would be neat if you and I went to the ocean. And Uncle Neji would give me away..." her eyes seemed far-off in the dream, "And Aiko and Kiyomi and Megami and Kiysohi... they would be dressed in these pale blue dresses, the same color of my eyes, and long and breezy, and there would be forget-me-nots and daisies as my flowers. Aiko, being the eldest, would be my maid of honor, and I would set up the best man as Shika, because they go so well together. But Chozo and Shiro and Jin would be the rest of the ushers."

"What about Lian?"

She puffed her cheeks, "I'm not forgetting him! I was getting to that!" she smiled wistfully, "He'll be in charge of the procession." she was quiet for a long moment before she continued, "And Uncle Gaara would be the one performing the ceremony... And knowing you, when it came time to kiss me, you'll throw up a sand shield so that no one would see it."

"That time I wouldn't. It's important," he looked at her, "What would you be wearing?"

"Something long and breezy and sleeveless too, like my bridesmaids, but white. And there would be forget-me-nots and daisies in a wreath on my hair, and I would take the orange out just for this. No shoes, I like feeling the sand under my feet," she sighed, "It's a nice thought isn't it?"

He nodded, "What makes you think it won't happen?"

She turned to him, "Taran... even if you and I survive the fight..." she stopped at the sadness in his emerald eyes, "You realize it too."

"Growing old together... it's a luxury shinobi can never have," he whispered, vaguely aware that their faces were inching closer together.

She nodded, tears forming in her eyes.

Their lips were a second from crashing into each other when the door to the balcony opened, "Hitori, would you like to come with me to visit your parent's graves?" Neji asked quietly.

ARGH. He had to have been checking on her with that eye trick!

Exactly why do you care?

She swung her legs around and slid down off of the balcony, "Taran..." she shook her head, "We'll talk later."

He nodded, and she walked away, leaving him to stare at the stars and inwardly argue with Shukaku.