Kakashi looked down at the sleeping child on the slab of stone. Markings were carved and engraved not only in the rock but the floor and walls covering the room in an intricate seal.
"Is he okay now?"
Kakashi said not bothering to look up, Jiraiya sighed.
"He's stable, i can't do much other than that. The seal is too complex and over my expertise, the only one who can truly fix it is…"
He didn't have to say it because they both knew but Kakashi said it anyway,
"Minato"
And then they were in silence again. Because there was no doubt as to where Minato was at the moment. And Kakashi wanted to be angry, angry that his former teacher wasn't prioritizing the current situation but at the same time he couldn't.
Because looking at Naruto laying there in sleep he couldn't imagine it.
That was why he didn't want Naruto in the exams, there were too many dangers and problems. He couldn't protect him…
Kakashi clenched his fist,
He should have.
Naruto's mental state had probably been a bit frail after losing his mother. He probably went to continue the chunin exams despite that because he didn't want to deal with it; Naruto had chosen to run away.
So when something life threatening had happened it was all that was needed to fray the seal.
Kakashi hated this.
He wasn't scared of death, or of risking his life…
"I'm going to see Rin and get her take on this, i trust him in your care."
And Jiraiya left the hidden location they were in.
Kakashi wasn't even scared of seeing Naruto go nine tailed berserk; those things he could deal with. Rather it was losing Naruto that scared him the most.
For the longest time he felt that something had been ripped maliciously away from him. And he was left with a never ending loneliness that would never heal. But Naruto….
For some reason seeing Naruto.. Being with Naruto… Naruto being there had taken it away.
Like a painkiller, Naruto had magically made the pain disappear.
But the more time he spent with Naruto the more he realized that it wasn't enough… Naruto just being in the same village wasn't enough… Naruto just being in the same team wasn't enough...Naruto just being in the same room wasn't enough….
Kakashi felt the tears fall landing noiselessly on the slab doing nothing to rouse the unconscious child.
He needed Naruto.
He needed Naruto like he needed air.
Like an addict he need Naruto all the time. He needed to know he was safe, that he was okay, that he was here…
But Naruto wasn't….
Naruto was hurt and breaking and…
Naruto wasn't okay.
And Kakashi realized it wasn't just losing Naruto that scared him..
It was Naruto not needing him because,
Kakashi couldn't protect him.
"You're leaving already?!"
Rin said in shock. The man couldn't be serious. They needed him!
Not only was his student in immense pain but his student's student was breaking and Naruto his god child was most likely cracking at the seams.
Jiraiya looked at her then back at the stone faced Uchiha that had reached the title of the strongest ninja; Obito Uchiha.
"Naruto is losing more and more control every time that chakra comes out. He needs to learn how to control it."
The room grew silent,
"We don't know how Rin managed to control her demon but the fact is she can't teach Naruto"
Rin looked down, another gap in her memory that she couldn't place.
"In the lightening village they have a better understanding, i remember that Minato told me that the eight tails container has amazing control of his beast."
Obito closed his eyes,
"So what do you plan to do?"
Jiraiya nodded,
"If i can convince them to train Naruto and teach him these incidents won't keep happening."
Obito knew what Jiraiya was doing. He was trying to protect Naruto. The council was not taking the recent events lightly. To them Naruto was a threat with more cons than pros. And in a ninja village threats...were eliminated.
But if Naruto could harness the power of the fox than surely they would rethink their decision. Obito frowned he wanted to do what was best for the village but at the same time he knew… He also wanted to help Naruto.
He had hoped when Minato came that surely the man would take control and offer some light on the darkening situation...but that was too optimistic.
Minato had secluded himself away not even bothering with his son.
Obito knew from the first incident when Minato had lost his arm that something had broken between the father and son but he didn't know what. And perhaps his admiration for his teacher had blinded him into thinking that there could be anything wrong.
But that had been foolish.
Minato was human and he was hurting.
It took both Rin and Kakashi to realize how much Naruto had been hurt in this chaos and now hearing that he had practically died in the exam; that was harsh. Obito did like the kid and not being able to see that sunshine like smile pained him….
"Um… what are you doing kid?"
Obito was severely uncomfortable with the closeness the blonde kid was in. The kid was practically in his lap! But throwing him off would probably anger not only his former teacher but his teammate that for some reason was obsessed with the boy,
"I heard yer eyes change color"
Obito looked into blue eyes. It had been awhile since he last saw him. Jiraiya had taken him away with the permission of Minato and tantrum of Kushina and left the village. But he still returned at least once a year and this was simply one of those times.
"Uh… yea cause i'm an Uchiha"
Naruto smiled but it was mischievous,
"Then show me"
Obito looked exasperated,
"No, it's dangerous"
Naruto pouted but Obito had no intention of relenting. And he watched as Naruto scooched back and breathed a sigh of relief at the breathing room. But Naruto just looked at him. He really wondered what it was that Jiraiya was teaching the boy for him to have such analytical eyes at the age of seven. And Obito didn't like the cheshire smile that spread over whisked cheeks as if he had found something,
"What are you scared?"
And His heart starting racing because staring into those blue eyes seemed to feel more dangerous the longer he looked. And Naruto reached out his hand toward his face,
"Scaredy cat"
And Obito could feel his breathing quicken as he felt like he was drowning and his body tensed in response on edge just waiting for the trigger to release the spring loaded gun,
"Show me!"
Naruto yelled and without thinking it activated tomoes spinning and he barely registered Naruto's eyes widen.
What? another human?
Obito turned to see a large gate. It was in a prison of sorts and he looked up to see a large red eye and gasped taking a step back
You… you are part of THAT CLAN!?"
Wind blew like a hurricane and Obito placed his arms up in protection but it did nothing to quell the killing intent. And Obito really was scared because there was a monster and real monster in front of him that clearly wanted nothing more than to kill him,
"Don't worry he's more bark than bite."
Obito spun to see little Naruto standing behind him looking at the gate,
"Still how'd you bring us here?"
Naruto said as he looked up at him
DAMN YOU BRAT! WHO DO YOU THINK I AM!?
The yelling was so loud that Obito had to cover his ears but he briefly noticed that Naruto was unfazed as if he was used to it.
"OBITO WHAT THE F**K DID YOU DO!?"
Was what he heard as he came back to consciousness lying on his back staring at the ceiling. And if he looked right he could see a very angry Kakashi pinning him down,
"Wha…?"
Because he honestly didn't know what was going on?
"NARUTO, NARUTO? ARE YOU OKAY?"
And he looked further right to see Naruto frozen eyes dazed as Rin tried using her mystic palm to bring him back. And he wondered what he had done indeed. But just then a hand grabbed Rin's shocking her enough to jolt and still dazed you could hear the whisper,
"I'm….fine… i.. Asked him...to…"
And then Naruto fell unconscious.
Naruto was just a kid. A kid with a monster in him that was strong enough to terrify Obito. But Naruto lived with it everyday….
Obito sighed,
"Kumo has never been on the friendliest of terms with Konoha,"
Jiraiya nodded,
"I'm well aware, which is why i wish to leave immediately. The faster i can convince them the sooner all this can be repaired."
Obito nodded in approval,
"But…."
Rin looked down and Obito couldn't bare to see the pain in her eyes,
"Naruto… he needs you...Minato needs you...we…"
She looked up at him,
"Surely if we all just gather and think we can find some jutsu to fix this! Naruto can get help, and…."
Everything would not go back to normal…
She knew it, they knew it. But she wanted to hope at least, that maybe just maybe if Jiraiya stayed...
"It's not only jutsus' and power. As Shinobi, we must be able to make sure we have proper judgment and make good decisions. If you want to live as a Shinobi, you must be wise."
Rin looked at the Sannin. He wasn't saying anything wrong but..
"Why… WHY IS THIS THE ONLY ANSWER THOUGH!? PEOPLE ARE HURTING! OUR PRECIOUS PEOPLE ARE HURTING! ISN'T IT OUR JOB TO HELP EACH OTHER! IF LEAVING THEM IN PAIN IS BEING WISE THEN I…!"
"If you're a fool... then it will be a world full of pain."
Rin froze as the white haired ninja looked at her, his eyes cold as one who had seen death and the full consequences of people's action.
"That's reality"
I really do enjoy that line and I have no idea why...