I do not own Naruto
on·set
/ˈänˌset,ˈônˌset/
noun
noun: onset; plural noun: onsets
the beginning of something, especially something unpleasant
Shikamaru sat in the rather noisy classroom. Well the noise was coming from two parties in particular he concluded. On his right he had Kiba screaming about some new brand of chips he saw with Choji and then far on the other side of the classroom he could hear the girls all chatting about flowers and some other girl things he presumed. The Nara had to close his eyes from the sheer irritation that was growing inside of him. He didn't understand why they couldn't be quiet. It was morning, they all shouldn't have so much energy right now. He glanced back at Sasuke who stood staring out the window. He appreciated the boy's silence. Heck he would probably be friends with him if it wasn't for the brooding and sense of being better than everyone else.
Shikamaru glanced over at the empty seat next to Kiba. Naruto had been absent all week. Kiba had made a point yesterday that they couldn't really go ask the orphanage about him..it was different than asking a family about their child. Shikamaru shivered...remembering the last time he saw Naruto...or more the state he was in-
"Good morning class!" Iruka called out, snapping Shikamaru's attention out of his thoughts. The class all greeted him back. The conversation slowly started to die down as people took their seats. Sasuke tore his gaze away from the window. Iruka set some papers on his desk, looking up at his students. He sighed, his gaze falling on the empty seat by Kiba.
"Class I have some news to share with you. It's about your classmate, Uzumaki Naruto." Some heads peaked up at this, especially Shikamarus. Even Choji stopped chewing to listen. "So I have been told by the Hokage that Naruto will no longer be continuing his studies here with us." The class gave a mixture of a response back.
"Why-why?" Hinita stammered quietly.
"HA! I knew that dobe was too dumb to continue!" Kiba laughed out.
"Kiba I don't think Naruto's intelligence is the only thing in question here." Shino murmured behind his coat, making it almost impossible to hear him. Iruka raised his hands to get them to settle down.
"Wonder what it was eh Shikamaru." Choji whispered before he finished up his potato chip bag. The Nara nodded his head, glancing back at Sasuke who was intently listening to their teacher. From his somewhat shocked expression he took it the Uchiha had no idea about his ex-friends whereabouts.
"All I know is that he will be continuing his studies elsewhere, for an area that is better suited for his learning demands." Iruka couldn't help the offended tone as he spoke. Of course he was shocked when the Hokage called him in last night to deliver the news. When he questioned him the older man just shook his head, restating that it was a S class secrete. His only mission was to tell his students and to continue on with his current lesson plans.
Iruka sighed. Naruto had unknowingly tangled himself into his group of classmates. He knew no one could really get Kiba going like Naruto or how no one else was able to get Shikamaru to be serious for a few seconds instead of lazy. His gaze settles on the Uchiha. He had hoped Naruto was gonna be the one to break Sasuke out of his shell. He knew it would take time and patience but he had seen firsthand how the bright blonde had already worked his way into Sasuke's inner circle. Now he had felt like all hope was lost for the Uchiha boy.
Shikamaru didn't respond to Choji's words. It wasn't out of fear that he might slip what he thought he knew. No. Shikamaru knew he could keep a secret. The Nara studied their teachers' body language. He seemed defeated, like he had just come from a fight. Judging from the news he assumed he tried to figure out the status of Naruto but, the Hokage wasn't going to tell him. That meant something really bad must have happened….and Shikamaru knew that to be true. For when he closed his eyes he could still see the red chakra enveloping Naruto's sunny exterior and claiming him.
XXX
It was hot. Like unnaturally hot. Naruto woke up with a start. Coughing as he looked around. He was back in the sewer, the cage door standing unnaturally tall right in front of him. He pushed himself up out of the murky water, dragging his hand across his sweaty forehead. Cautiously he approached the doors.
"I-I know you are in there...and I know what you are." He called out, his voice echoing across the open room. He listened to the water as it hit the side of the walls, a light splashing sound that filled the silence. He was sure it was in there. No he knew it to be certain. "Show yourself!" He yelled. He watched as what was once darkness a giant red eye appeared. Naruto stumbled back a little as another eye came into view. They were the color of blood, the irises slitted like animals. He could feel like the piercing gaze like it was tearing right through him. Instantly the room felt like it grew even warmer, the waves crashing a bit harder against the walls. He watched as two monstrous sized paws crashed by the doors of the cage, sending up the water all around him. He stumbled, trying to regain his balance as he took in the giant creature that slowly moved into the light.
Naruto had seen many drawings of the nine-tailed fox but standing in front of it now he realized none of them truly captured it properly. He had to stand several stories high, Naruto knew if it wasn't for the creature leering down at him he wouldn't be able to see him properly at his full height. He snarled slowly, the sound rumbling around the room as it grew in the volume. The pipes above shook with agony. Naruto was able to see his sharp canines as he proudly displayed them to the boy.
"Tasted my chakra and have come back for seconds?" His voice was deep and thunderous. Naruto continued to watch as he stepped closer to the cage doors, illuminating himself properly now. Naruto noted that his fur was a bright orange, but upon further examination he could see strands of a dark rusted red and some flakes of gold. It looked incredibly soft but he would never dare to touch it. He saw nine tails proudly swirling beyond the bars, all of them swaying in a rhythmic nature.
"It's my chakra for the taking." Naruto mustered up the courage to say. Hearing his voice at a much smaller volume than before. A slow chuckle resonated from the beast as it slowly echoed all around him even when he stopped.
"You wouldn't know how to use it little boy." Naruto clenched his fist, his cheeks burning intensely. "Look at how the other day turned out." The fox sneered down at Naruto who stepped towards the cage, his arm outstretched.
"You know what happened at the training ground don't you! Give me my memories back!" He watched as the fox looked him over once more before curling in on himself, his tails coming to rest by his head.
"I think i'll watch you scramble for a bit longer." and with that the fox closed his eyes, like he blew out a flame. The waves calmed instantly and the room grew silent again. Naruto couldn't help the feeling that he was alone even though he knew the fox was just beyond his reach. He huffed, turning around to leave the big room.
XXX
Naruto shuffled his feet against the worn wood floor of the Hokage's office. He wanted to be anywhere but here but after being discharged this morning from the hospital Danzo informed him of a very important meeting with Hokage and himself. Sighing, he quickly glanced at the Hokage. He was sitting in his chair shuffling through some papers that a masked Anbu had just presented to him. Naruto couldn't help the boiling anger in his stomach that threatened to show. He didn't want to be in this office anymore. He didn't want to be in contact with this man that he once thought was god himself. Whipping his head away his nose twitched in irritation. His mind was racing as his anger grew and grew. Danzo glanced down at his student, noting his lengthened nails that curled into his own skin. Sarutobi paid the boy no attention as he murmured something to the masked ninja. He could sense a slight prickle in the air and the source of it seemed to be radiating from the blonde. Rubbing his hand across his forehead he waved the Anbu away and making sure they were alone he activated the privacy seals.
"We obviously have lots of things to talk about." The older Hokage stated, glancing upon the young boy. "I would imagine you have some questions concerning your...situation." Naruto noted every time the Hokage opened his mouth he grew angrier and angrier. His knuckles were white from clenching them, his teeth gritted with an effort to remain silent.
"Naruto has been brought up to date on the situation and where we stand with moving forward." Danzo murmured. The Hokage nodded, lacing his fingers in front of his face.
"Naruto-kun this is a safe place to speak frankly-" The Hokage didn't get a chance to finish as Naruto's head flew forwards, his face red with suppressed rage.
"How could you!" He screamed. His voice breaking from either his rage or hurt. Sarutobi didn't say anything in response, just observed the boy. "You-you sold me off to that orphanage to be alone and didn't even give me the chance to know the truth from the start. Did you not have faith in something you were already holding in high regard for what was inside of me?" He seethed. Naruto tried to keep his thoughts straight, he wanted for the Hokage to hear what he was saying but he couldn't help the thundering ache growing in his head.
"You were a child." The Hokage murmured from behind his fingers. "It would have been foolish on our part to entrust our village's greatest secret to one so young." Naruto couldn't help the bubble of laughter rising in his throat, he looked around the office searching for something to refocus himself. Danzo still stood off to the side, watching the scene unfold around him. Naruto glanced at the pictures lining the opposite wall, the Hokage portraits. His eyes stopped on the sunny haired Hokage.
"What about him-," Naruto jutted his chin in the portrait's direction. Sarutobi didn't have to turn to know what the boy was talking about. "Danzo-sama told me he wanted me to be known as a hero. Someone that sacrificed their whole life for the sake of this crap of a village." Sarutobi mentally flinched at his tone he directed towards the village.
"Naruto, the village never would have seen it that way. With the Fourth gone they would only have remembered the destruction and death that was brought upon by the Nine-tails." Naruto couldn't help himself as he flung his arms in the air.
"Then you could have made them!" He cried. "You could have done something for me!" Sarutobi sighed at the boy. He noticed his normally bright azule eyes were rimmed with a red tinge.
"I will not force my village to love something they can not. It will only form a wedge within Konoha." Naruto choked on his words, his anger vanishing in defeat. His body turned cold, sorrow overthrowing him.
"So instead you fool me. You play me. You leave me to be the one alone." Naruto stared down at his sandals, not wanting to look the Hokage in the face. He couldn't even begin to understand where he was coming from. If the Nine-tails was so important why wouldn't they have treated him with some sort of respect. Instead they treated him like an object that was better kept on the lone dusty shelf.
"Naruto-kun I believed putting you into the orphanage was for the better. I wanted to give you a chance at a normal life." Naruto scoffed at his words. Still not looking up he responded to the Hokages words.
"You clearly don't understand what that place will do to someone. How it seeps despair and loneliness into your entire being and you had a chance to save me from that and yet you didn't." Naruto knew he could never forgive the Hokage for this. He never could right this wrong.
The room grew quiet as everyone thought over the whole conversation. The Hokage knew Naruto couldn't understand his actions. It was simply because he couldn't explain his inner turmoil he had had with having to come to terms with how the boy was never gonna have a real life. He was meant for one thing and one thing only. To contain the Nine-tails. Danzo had told him over and over again what his life would entail and the event that took place just a few days ago helped reinforce that into his head. Helped him to reason why it was okay to treat this child this way. Maybe if Naruto was able to recall his actions he would be more accepting. Sarutobi cleared his throat, lowering his hands to rest on the table.
"Naruto you will understand that this knowledge is highly sensitive and if it were to fall into the wrong hands it could bring Konoha down. Because of this it is an S class secret and should only ever be discussed between the members of this room." Naruto was barely listening as he spoke. He wouldn't meet his gaze either. He chose to stare out the big window just behind the Hokage. "Now from my understanding Danzo has informed you of how you will be departing from the academy immediately to begin a more personal training regimen." Naruto glanced at the Hokage.
"So will I ever become a genin then?" He had realized he had never asked Danzo any of these questions because he was just waking up when his teacher had informed him of what was going to be happening. Now that he was much more with it he had some questions. Sarutobi nodded, glancing at Danzo.
"With these circumstances we are facing, I have agreed, along with your academy teacher's, that you would have passed the exam with flying colors. With that knowledge we all feel comfortable speeding up your graduation date and granting you the honors of becoming a genin today." Naruto watched as he opened one of his drawers and withdrew a long wooden box. He indicated for Naruto to come forward, handing the box over to him. Hesitantly Naruto grabbed the box, glancing at the Hokage and then at Danzo before he looked at the box. It was a smooth dark wood with hinges on one side. Naruto slowly opened it up to reveal a forehead protector. He bit his lip as he took it out of the box, setting the box down on the desk. He noted it was heavier than he imagined as he examined the piece of metal and cloth. His fingers traced over the Hidden leaf's symbol.
He knew this was supposed to be a special moment. A moment where he was being recognized by the village as an adult, where he was being asked to choose them. To stand by and put his life on the line to protect it in every way he possibly could. He knew all of these things because for years he had imagined what it would feel like to hold one of these. Ryo and him have talked about where they would display theirs. He knew the feelings he was supposed to be having because he had them once as a younger kid. Biting his lip he realized he didn't feel a powerful tie to the village like he thought he would. He realized that he didn't know where he stood with a village that could do horrible things to their own. He knew though if he rejected it-it would be considered treason on his own part. He slowly raised the forehead protector to his own forehead, pulling the dark blue fabric tight against it as he tied it behind his blonde spikes.
Sarutobi was smiling as he watched the boy. He knew that forehead protector was always meant to adorn his head. He felt as if somehow he was able to do Minato and Kushina right. Even if he had already done them so wrong.
"A perfect fit." Danzo murmured. Sarutobi nodded in agreement.
"I agree with you old friend. It suits you Naruto-kun." The blonde nodded, his head feeling a bit heavier with the motion. "Now that you are a genin you will not be placed onto a normal three man squad. As I'm sure Danzo has told you, you will be joining him in an apprenticeship where he will train you in the areas you need to better defend yourself and Konoha." Naruto glanced at his sensei who still hadn't budged, even an inch, from when they first entered the room.
"When will I get to say goodbye to my friends?" Naruto asked. Ryo, Keiko, and the other boys from the orphanage flashing into his mind. He rubbed at his temple as an irritating ache grew at the thought of them, but he paid it no thought. Sarutobi and Danzo shared a knowing look before Danzo spoke.
"We believe your training to be our utmost priority and with the time we have already lost we don't want to waste anymore." Naruto scowled at this. They were going to take him away from his only family and not even allow him to say goodbye.
"But what are they going to think! Ryo will-" He grabbed at his head, the ache growing into a powerful stabbing. He shook his head to try and lessen the pain.
"They all have been informed and during your stay in the hospital were granted the permission to come and say their goodbyes. So do believe us Naruto, they understand." Sarutobi stated, his eyes never leaving the boy. Naruto nodded, the ache slowly residing but still he was uncomfortably aware of it.
"I guess i'm not really leaving the village so I might still see them." He murmured. Danzo nodded, bringing his cane out from under his cloak.
"We must be leaving Naruto, the Hokage has another meeting to get to." The young boy nodded, turning to leave the office. Danzo shared one last glance with his friend before he turned and left with the boy.
Sarutobi sighed, aware of his privacy seals that were still active around him.
"I take it you heard all of that." He asked the empty room. He felt, rather than heard, the small rustling of wind as the masked Anbu appeared at his side.
"Hai, Hokage-sama." The voice murmured. Sarutobi reached for his pipe.
"Then you must have felt Naruto's disdain towards me. He loathes me and because of that he will now cling to Danzo like a son would a father. We must be cautious of my old friend," Sarutobi paused as he lit his pipe, slowly breathing in the smokey taste, "My trust for him runs very thin so I am putting it on you to watch them. Make sure we don't lose all of Naruto to Danzo and his ways. It was your sensei's wish that you did train him one day you know?" Sarutobi exhaled as he looked up at the Anbu mask that resembled a dogs face, the red and black markings around the eyes, mouth, and the sides of the mask brightly contrasting against the white porcelain.
XXX
Naruto stood in front of the worn down old building not believing what his sensei had just told him.
"Really? In here?" He asked again, his finger pointing out the loose shutter that was hanging limply at the corner of one of the windows. Danzo nodded.
"We have many ways to get into and out of root if need be. Of course one wouldn't want to make them appealing to unwanted guests. Now come along boy." He murmured, setting off towards the broken doors of the building.
It was a complete mess, to be frank Naruto thought. From outside the boarded windows, the shabby wood paneling, and the peeling door that seemed to always stay cracked all looked displaced on this side of the village. If he hadn't known better he would have thought the orphanage got an upgrade.
He fell in line behind Danzo, stepping over a loose floorboard as they made their way inside. While the inside wasn't much better than the exterior at least it was empty. His sandals echoed around him as they made their way down a narrow hallway, stopping in front of what would have been a small linen closet. Naruto, acknowledging the beauty of the building, couldn't help contain his excitement of actually being able to make his way into the base instead of being shushined in. Danzo pulled open the door to reveal an empty linen closet. Naruto sagged a little, his excitement vanishing.
"But-" He opened his mouth to start when Danzo raised his hands in the release motion and placed one of them on Naruto's shoulder, murmuring the words under his breath.
"Kai." He turned back to what was once the linen closet, only now to reveal a small wooden staircase. Danzo wasted no time and began his track down them. Naruto quickly followed, careful with each of his steps. Each of the steps were so narrow only one of his sandals could fit. He had no rail to hang to so he was very cautious with each of his steps. The farther they descended down the harder it was for Naruto to breathe.
After what seemed like the never ending staircase, it opened up to a low lit room. The only source of light being a single lightbulb dangling from the ceiling. There were three sets of doors on each wall and Danzo didn't hesitate as he took the one to their right. It opened up to a tunnel. A very long tunnel that seemed to have no end also. Naruto realized that if you had a nice training base you wouldn't want just any random person to walk into it, but surely there had to be a shortcut? Caught up in his thoughts he knocked himself over when he crashed into Danzo's still form. He reached out for the wall to stabilize himself from falling. Naruto cranned around the man to see that the tunnel opened out to a landing. On either side there was nothing but darkness. Naruto shuddered at the thought of how long one would fall if they took a nosedive off the landing.
"Come now boy." Danzo called, bringing Naruto out of his thoughts. Danzo was already at the other side of the landing while Naruto had been caught up in his thoughts. He flushed, rushing to catch back up with the man. Naruto lost count of how many doors they went through and how many staircases they traveled down. He knew by now he had to be hundreds of feet beneath Konoha. His eyes had adjusted to the darkness somewhere along their journey, he was now able to see the small animals scurrying around them. Danzo stopped as he entered a big open room. Naruto paused to steady his breathing, noticing how much this room resembled the one where the nine-tails was held.
"Kira," Danzo greeted the darkness. Naruto watched as the woman seemingly withdrew herself from the darkness. Her bird mask contrasted with the blackness. "Is everything prepared?" The woman nodded, stepping forward to reveal her darkened cloak she wore. She knelt before them, her head lowered to the ground.
"Hai, Danzo-sama." Danzo nodded in satisfaction. He turned to Naruto, his arm outstretched towards him.
"Then I leave you with him." Kira nodded once more as Danzo shoved the younger boy forward. Naruto turned to question Danzo when he realised he had vanished. Wide-eyed, he searched the room for the older man, realizing that it was just Kira and him. The women stood, her cloak flapping slightly from the motion.
"Come Naruto. Introductions are in order."
XXX
Kira led Naruto down a small hallway that had doors adorning each side. Naruto had lost count past one hundred and sixty six. She slowed her pace as she approached one of them on the left. She turned to face Naruto, indicating for him to go first. He nodded slowly, reaching out for the handle and pushing it open.
It revealed a small bedroom. The walls and floor were made up of the same dark concrete from the hall. Small candles hung on the walls, disorientating the shapes of the furniture. He noted two beds pushed up against either side of the room. They had small thin mattresses and thick cotton blankets set up on both of them. Something in the corner catches his eye as he sweeps the room over.
What he had assumed was a shadow takes the form of a girl. Under his brief gaze she doesn't withdraw or flinch, but neither does she step forward to be seen. He notices her shape already had the beginnings of womanhood, yet he doubts she couldn't be more than a couple years older than him. She stares back at him with a look designed to not give any emotions away. She's still a child though he notes, keeping her natural smile under lock and key from others. He bets that she steals a few of them here and there in the comfort of being away from others. There's an uncomfortable silence as the two have a stare down, neither of them saying a word to the other.
Kira steps in, glancing the room over. She flips her mask off to the side of her face.
"You did a good job Emiko." She notes, running her hands across a small wooden desk in the corner, bringing her fingers up to eye level to examine them for dust. The girl, Emiko, bows her head slightly to the older girl.
"Thank you Kira-sama." Her voice is soft as she speaks. Kira looks up to Naruto, a small smile on her face.
"Naruto this will be your room. Danzo does apologize for the boarding situation. It appears we are at an odd number of genders so this will have to do." Naruto nods, still not moving from his spot in front of the door. At the orphanage he had only ever roomed with boys. The girls had their own separate dormitory away from them. He had only stepped inside of it once and that was because Keiko dared him to. Kira stared between the two of them before nodding and letting herself out.
Emiko took a step towards Naruto, allowing the glow of the candle to dance upon her face. Her eyes were a dark blue, almost velvety. Her hair was a similar color, maybe a shade or two darker and it was long he noted. It hung around her waist in a high ponytail and she had two pieces pulled out to frame her face. Her face was somewhat round, he noted it still held on to her youth. He was sure in a few years she would lose all her baby fat. She wore a simple black jacket that exposed her midriff and black shorts. She stepped even closer to him. She seemed to be analyzing him also. Naruto couldn't help the blush escaping across his face as he fidgeted under her gaze.
"Your hair really is bright." She murmured, a small smirk flashing across her face.
XXX
Sarutobi sat in his darkened office, the only source of light coming from a flickering candle. Besides the flickering yellow the room is dark, the shapes of the furniture hard to distinguish but the colors of each piece is muted to a grey. The village was dark, a few splotches of light were scattered around the town. The air was cooling as nighttime settled in. The crickets coming out to sing. Sarutobi watched the small candle billow in the wind, the new breeze threatening to extinguish it.
"Sensei." A low voice called. Sarutobi looked to the open window to see his old student perched on the window sill. His long, spikey white hair hung out the window casually blowing in the night breeze.
"Jiraiya," Sarutobi nodded towards the man. "I am glad to see you. It has been too long." His student didn't say anything, his mind flashing to their encounter many years ago.
"How is he?" Jiraiya asked, turning away from Sarutobi as he thought about the blonde in question. The last time Jiraiya had seen Minito's son he was still wrapped in his birth blanket. Some dried blood crusted in random spaces from kushina.
"He is angry with me. I fear his anger for me will grow into hatred for Konoha." Jiraiya couldn't help his snort as a response.
"It is an expected reaction for what you all decided was the best course of action." His voice was bitter, Sarutobi noted. It had been almost eight years since their last conversation on the issue and it was obvious to him that his student still held resentment.
"Jiraiya," Sarutobi sighed, "I have already explained to you that what was decided was best for him-" The older man was cut off as his students head whipped towards him and he sneered back at him.
"No old man, I was what was best for him." Sarutobi could feel the anger rolling off of his student.
"Jiraiya your world was turned upside down when Minato died! How would you have cared for a child in the state you were in?" Sarutobie's tone was almost scolding, like a father catching his son doing something he shouldn't be doing.
"I would have done a hell of alot better than you sending him off to grow up around no one. Not knowing who he is or who his parents were...who I am." Jiraiya's tone softened for a second. His mind flashed to a world where things could be better, where he could have done better by his student.
"I will not have this conversation with you when it is pointless. The matter of the fact is that Naruto is grown and he knows what he contains. Now it is our mission to make sure he is trained properly to keep it." Sarutobi didn't dare breathe a word to his student about how exactly Naruto would be trained. He knew if Jiraiya were to find out about Danzo taking control over Naruto's training all of Konoha might be leveled by tomorrow morning. In time he told himself. Maybe when Naruto was a bit more grown and could show more of the fruits of his labors he would tell his student.
"I will take a look at the seal, but other than that I won't be overstaying my welcome." Jiraiya murmured, looking back out the window. Sarutobi nodded watching the few remaining lights in the village go out. An uncomfortable silence fell between them, neither having anything more to say. Sarutobi added his relationship with Jiraiya to the growing list in his head of things he had strained since he became Hokage again. He sighed, he knew this job would be the death of him.
Thinking about maybe doing a time jump...