Authors Note: This chapter will be predominantly in Han's POV.
Disclaimer: I obviously do not own Naruto, the world, the characters or any of the situations. All of these belong to the creator Masashi Kishimoto.
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Chapter 24
Scars
Kirigakure was an ominous village at first, but slowly they all got used to the thick mist and even started to feel comfortable. Easing into a routine, most of them slowly adjusted to what would be their surroundings for the foreseeable future months. Most of the jinchuuriki were gaining control over their transformations as well.
Han was silently sipping his tea in the house alone. Roshi was sleeping in his room, which they each had one to them self. However, the three youngest jinchuuriki being Naruto, Gaara and Fu shared a room as they had become close.
The others were off doing their own activities in Kiri, be it exploring or doing paperwork in Yagura's case. Han was content to just relax and be left to his thoughts. It was much like his travels as a missing nin, with only your thoughts for company, and Kokuo sometimes.
So far he didn't regret coming along with the others. It had so far been yielding positive results, the transformation training being one of them. But still, Han kept his distance from most of them except Roshi. He liked the group, but he was still getting used to daily social interaction after all these months. Roshi and him had gotten over their rocky start to get a decent friendship though.
These days getting the house relatively alone was rare. So Han would enjoy Kiri some other day and take advantage of that fact now.
The younger jinchuuriki were voluntarily taking lessons at Kirigakure's academy. Naruto had already been enrolled in Konoha's, and he didn't want to fall behind when he came back. Fu wanted an early start as she had not officially started her training yet while Gaara came along for the ride. The teachers were accepting of them, though they were not informed of the new student's status.
The older jinchuuriki trusted the kids to control themselves, and Yagura may have mentioned that the academy teachers had some prejudicial tendencies.
Turns out that without the weight of constant discrimination and mistrust from those around them, they produced better results. Yagura had gotten ahold of past academy records for the kids when they first enrolled, and there was a considerable difference between the two. For one, Naruto was topping the class with Gaara and Fu trailing close behind.
Yugito hypothesized that the sudden chakra boost from the nine tails was motivating Naruto to do his best. After all, he was serious about his goal of becoming Hokage and on their journey saw all the possibilities that jinchuuriki could perform.
Even if the younger jinchuuriki were at the academy, there were usually at least one other person in the house. So Han was once again enjoying the current but temporary solitude.
It was rare when he could take some of his armour off as well. When they first arrived in Kirigakure he had been encouraged to try and take it off every once in a while. However, Han felt secure in his red armour, it was like his grandfather was with him while wearing it through battle.
The armour hid his steam scars as well, the scars that were so prominent and seemed to define him whenever people saw them. One of the main reasons he wore the armour was to hide them. The scars that marked him as not normal, as the steam style five tails jinchuuriki.
In a group of jinchuuriki though, where he was normal for once instead of an outcast. It probably wouldn't matter, but for a while he could pretend that his status was the only thing different about him.
Han was long used to his scars. But that didn't mean he wanted everyone to know about them.
But in that moment, he showed them off in the open, where no one but him could see. Suddenly, he heard shuffling and noise from Roshi's room and rushed to get his armour back on before the older jinchuuriki came down.
The five tails jinchuuriki just barely finished when the other occupant entered the room, giving a curious glance to Han as he made his own tea.
"Good day Roshi." Han said politely as he sat back down.
"Same to you Han. You seemed panicked when I came in." Roshi noted as he drank his own hot tea.
"Did I?" The five tails jinchuuriki feigned innocence as silence enveloped the area once more.
Later, all the jinchuuriki except Han who was taking a late night stroll were talking. Naruto noticed that they were missing the five tails jinchuuriki, which in turn spurred on some thoughts about their quiet companion. With a question in mind the boy approached Roshi.
"Hey Roshi, how much do you know about Han?" Naruto curiously asked, taking a seat next to the older jinchuuriki.
"Not much, he lived outside Iwagakure and we didn't talk much or meet while we were both missing nin. Why do you ask though?" Roshi questioned after informing the boy.
"Well he's always wearing his armour. So I was wondering what he looked like without it." The nine tails jinchuuriki explained with a slight pout.
"Why does he wear it by the way?" Fu added in, inserting herself into the conversation.
"Han explained to me once that it helps him control his steam so he can fight effectively with it." Roshi informed politely.
"What do you think he looks like without it though?" The blonde boy asked out loud.
"I don't really know if I'm being honest, but you should respect his privacy and wishes if he doesn't want to show anyone." The four tails jinchuuriki stated with a chastising manner.
"Yeah, I know…" Naruto trailed off, sharing a look with Fu that agreed that this was not the end of the matter.
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Naruto, Fu and after asking and dragging him into their shenanigans Gaara decided to try and see what Han looked like under his armour. This had proved to be a hard task.
The group of three noticed that Han always ate separately from the group, turning a different direction as well when eating. This was odd but everyone knew he liked being alone. Somehow Han was more antisocial then Roshi, who was a missing nin for far longer then the former which was something they noted.
After that they tried to just follow the five tails jinchuuriki around Kirigakure. However, not once did he remove his armour. He also caught them quickly which they had to then flee before he could question them.
So in the end they decided to just steal the armour while Han was showering. The bathrooms were big and thus he probably wouldn't hear them enter and take his armour.
Once an unsuspecting Han went to the bath area. The trio waited about three minutes of solid sound before silently entering. Having planned beforehand, the trio quickly rushed over to the red armour that was left unattended too. However, they found that the armour was extremely heavy, which they should have realized giving that it belonged to the large jinchuuriki.
Attempting to lift the set to no avail for a full minute, they eventually had to use some of their tailed beasts chakra to heave it out of the room. A plain tunic and pants were left where they were. They made minimal noise that was luckily covered by the rushing water.
They dropped the armour outside the bathroom wall then waited eagerly to see the results. Roshi proceeded to walk past the three jinchuuriki and paused, sensing that something was wrong.
"Why are you three just staring at the bathroom door?" The older man asked cautiously, proceeding to then notice Han's armour by the wall. "What did you do?" Roshi then questioned worried.
"We took Han's armour so we could see what he looks like without it!" Naruto explained simply with a grin.
"What did I say about respecting other people's privacy?" The elder chastised with a long sigh.
Roshi was going to scold the kid's and then put Han's armour back, before they heard the water stop and confused sounds come from the bathroom. Soon, Han's deep voice was calling out from the door.
"Can anyone hear me?" He called out in an annoyed voice that echoed from inside.
"Yeah Han, me and the kids are out here." Roshi answered back, looking at the kids excited faces before sighing once more.
"Did you take my armour?" Han curtly asked in the same tone.
"The kids did, I just got here." The four tails jinchuuriki replied. "They want to see what you look like without your armour apparently." He added.
Han took a deep breath in and out before pausing. The silence lasted for about half a minute before Roshi ended it to try and solve the situation without issue. "I can bring the armour back in if you like Han." Roshi informed only to be answered with a grunt.
"Don't worry about it. I doubt you'll be able to even lift it up. Just give me a minute." Han called out, his footsteps growing fainter.
The four jinchuuriki believed that this meant Han would just show his face, while Roshi became intrigued upon the mystery as well. However, when the door slowly opened they saw the large man wearing the plain clothing. His short dark brown and almond hair was visible as well. Lastly, his lower face area and every other area of his body was tightly wrapped in toilet paper.
Ignoring the gaping jinchuuriki, Han simply picked up the armour with ease and reentered the bathroom, soon after leaving it with the red set on. He then proceeded to stand in front of the three now embarrassed children. "I do not want to show anyone what I look like. Please respect that." Han simply told them as he walked off to his own room to sleep.
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Han couldn't sleep that night though. It was actually hours earlier then he usually slept, he just needed an excuse to isolate himself. When he got to his room, he was in deep thought.
"So they want to know what I look like. I suppose it was inevitable that they would become curious." Han thought with a drawn out sigh.
"I am sorry Han." Kokuo began before Han cut them off.
"It's not your fault Kokuo, it never was." The large jinchuuriki stated with serious finality. "But what do you think I should do Kokuo, it probably looks extremely suspicious at this point." He then asked his tenant for advice.
"Honestly, I do not know what you should do. Maybe the other jinchuuriki will simply let it go." The five tails suggested hopefully.
"Maybe Kokuo, maybe. But maybe I should also just reveal it, it's not, that big of a secret. Just some steam scars from years ago." Han noted with some sadness.
"But you don't want to even then." The tailed beast observed.
"No, I don't want them to see my scars. I've always tried to hide them. They have always marked me as a physical reminder of what I am." The armoured man explained softly. "I just can't stand the thought of the stares I would get. The thought of stares being at me, without even knowing what or who I am." He continued.
"You feel you would never be able to feel normal if you didn't cover your scars." Kokuo summed up, producing a scoff from their jinchuuriki.
"You know me so well don't you Kokuo." Han chuckled.
"You are my jinchuuriki after all. I can hear all your thoughts and views." Kokuo replied playfully.
"I know, I know. I guess that is one reason I liked being on my own as a missing nin. I decided what was normal when no one else was around." The jinchuuriki explained with a distant tone.
"Do you miss it? Being a missing nin." The five tails questioned curiously.
"A little, but only a little." Han stated confidently.
"Can I ask you a question Han?" Kokuo then asked, a little nervous.
"What is it?" Han said back.
"Do you ever loathe being a jinchuuriki? If you had the chance to go back in time and change things, to somehow avoid being one, would you?" The tailed beast asked, more curious if anything.
Han paused for a moment, contemplating an answer. "No. I would stay like this. It made me who I am." He answered firmly. "It's the treatment that I hate, when we are hated and isolated usually. I do not like the perception that I'm weird. I don't dislike what makes me 'weird', it's just the preconception about what it makes me." Han elaborated on.
"That is an interesting viewpoint." Kokuo expressed.
"I suppose it is." The jinchuuriki agreed. "But my grandfather always told me to never feel ashamed of what makes me, me. My scars and what you and I have been through, is what makes me, me." He continued to explain. "I am not ashamed of those things. It is the treatment I would get because of them that I want to avoid most of the time." Han concluded softly.
"The humans have such odd beliefs about how to treat each other." The horse like being said.
"You and your siblings dynamic is not that much better." Han retorted with a soft laugh. Silence enveloped them for a few more minutes before Han come to a decision. "I think I'll just show them if they ask actually. They won't treat me differently, I am sure of that. There is no perception to fear from them." Han concluded as a knock sounded at his door.
Opening the door he found the trio of young jinchuuriki looking ashamed. Before he could guess why they were there, Fu began speaking for the group.
"We're sorry for not respecting your privacy." The girl quickly said, bowing her head apologetically.
Besides her the other two children nodded in agreement. Han sighed before offering a small smile, though they couldn't see that through his armour.
"It's alright. Don't worry about it, it's not that big of a deal." Han reassured them quietly, getting down to their level. "Actually, do you want to see what I look like?" He proceeded to ask.
The kids looked to their left, where Roshi was curiously watching, most likely making sure they apologized.
"Are you sure you're okay with that?" Naruto nervously asked after turning his head back.
"I'm fine with it Naruto. I really am." The older jinchuuriki stated confidently yet gently.
The three looked at Roshi then each other, before slowly, hesitatingly nodding. Giving a slight chuckle, Han stepped back into his room for a moment and removed his armour in an eerie calm. Leaving only the plain tunic and pants he wore under it. The scars on his face and arms fully exposed. Stepping back out, he heard the audible gasp from the kids.
Roshi also had a reaction from where he stood, his eyes slightly widening. "So, this is what I look like without all that armour. Not what you were expecting right?" Han asked, as he gestured to the burnt scars.
"How did you get them?" Gaara slowly asked after a few seconds.
"When I first started using my steam, I burnt myself really badly. My grandfather made me the armour to control it. I still burn myself every now and then but I'm used to it." The large jinchuuriki explained with a light tone, though inside he was nervous about what they were thinking.
The redhead simply blinked before pointing to the red mark above his left eye, meaning love.
"My uncle tried to kill me a few years ago. After that I put it here." Gaara stated, eyes meeting Han's.
This was news to everyone present, the origin of the mark on Gaara's head. No one asked about it, Yagura only fixing his seal up a little to make training with Shukaku easier. Though the one tails only needed to be told that Kurama was helping Naruto to agree to assist Gaara. Not wanting to be one upped by the fox.
Han paused before grinning. "I guess we all have our scars then huh?" The five tails jinchuuriki said to which the boy nodded.
Eventually, all of the jinchuuriki became aware of Han's steam scars, but none judged him. Some even shared their own marks, like Yagura and his stitched eye wound. But that marked the beginning of real, long bonds for Han, things he lost almost a decade previously.
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Authors Note: So I struggled with writing this chapter. Mainly with putting the ideas I had for this into words. I like the idea that Han and Roshi would have these complicated thoughts after being alone with nothing but said thoughts for years. But honestly that was just me rambling a bit.