HunterX097: Hello guys, I'm back XD. I'm so sorry I took many time to release the new chapter. You know, the life always get us busy and many work've waited me but it doesn't mean I don't spend my free time for one of my hobbies lol.
I read your review and I'm grateful you like my story and thank for your generosity about my mistakes in grammar. I will try to improve it and make next chapters more better than ^^. About sex scene, it's a T rate story and I'm not good at writing about it, so pardon me, please. For the roles reversed, I think it would be etter than canon and it doesn't have much it in fanfictions, it's good you guys appreciate it.
Alright, it's the time for the story, I hope you enjoy this chapter and don't forget reviewing ^^.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. All rights go to Masashi Kishimoto.
Kakashi's second battle with Zabuza was nowhere near as destructive as the first. Both jounin were still weak from their encounter a few days prior, and this second contest was mainly a battle of Taijutsu and weapon play. Neither shinobi had gained the upper hand, but both had landed several blows. It was only a matter of time before one of them made a fatal mistake.
"NARUTOOOOOOOOOO!"
Kakashi startled at that scream. It was Sasuki's.
Shino heard it clearly too and had a horrible feeling in his gut, causing him to spare a glance in the direction. Something terrible was happening.
'Naruto...Sasuki...'
Sasuki hugged Naruto's lifeless body. Tears streaked freely down his cheeks. He was dead. Naruto was dead.
She couldn't believe this was real. She shakily held her hands together and let out a pulse of chakra as she tried to expel some non-existent genjutsu.
"Release...release..." Sasuki muttered softly as she kept released pulses of her chakra. But no matter how hard she tried, the world around her didn't change. The blond continue to lay in her lap, dead. The ice dome around her was still up and floating.
"Wake up, Naruto. Please...don't leave me alone." She begged softly, her voice barely more than a whisper. A piercing pain drove itself through her eyes but she ignored it.
Everything slowly became numb as reality set in.
"Is this the first time you've ever had a friend die?" Haku asked, "This is the path of a ninja, Naruto-san knew it well and still sacrificed himself."
It became quiet for a moment before the anger that bubbled up inside Sasuki threatened to boil over.
"You…" She scathingly muttered. "You killed him…" She clenched her fists as tears continued to pour from her eyes. "He is...my most precious..." She looked away in anguish as if she was trying to reject reality. She continued to tremble violently. Whether it was from anger, sorrow, disbelief or a combination of all of those she didn't know. Her emotions as of that moment were as turbulent and tumultuous as her thoughts.
Sasuki took a deep breath and silenced her tears. Crying would not avenge Naruto. She reverently placed a soft kiss upon his lips, ignoring the flecks of blood that stained them. The unbearable rage kept on filling the Uchiha girl as she laid Naruto on the ground, careful not to push any of the needles any further into his still form. It clawed its way through her chest, consuming her. She hadn't been strong enough to save Naruto, but she would be strong enough to avenge him. She stood silently, breathing deeply, reveling in the righteous anger that coursed through her body. When she opened her eyes again, she gave the fake hunter ninja a look of pure and utter hatred.
Haku took one look at her eyes and felt fear. She had never seen eyes like those before. They were now black in the background while three intersecting ellipses gave it the appearance of an arabesque flower. They seemed to radiate power and seeped fear into anyone who looked at them.
Uchiha Sasuki, one of remaining people of the Uchiha clan and the youngest daughter of the Uchiha clan head, had activated her Mangekyo Sharingan.
Haku felt a very strong killing intent arise from the girl. She then realized with sudden understanding that she had only made things worse. She decided not to wait and attacked her enemy. Only, as soon as she started to attack, Sasuki was already gone.
She only had a moment to widen her eyes before a fist connected to her face. She skidded to the floor and looked at her attacker.
"I'll kill you for what you did..." Sasuki snarled in a blood lust tone as she dropped to the ground and slowly walked up to the recently downed missing ninja. To her credit, she hadn't lost her composure and immediately went inside one of her mirrors.
Not that it stopped the Uchiha from following her movements as she jumped from mirror to mirror.
Had she been in a calmer mood she would have noticed the clarity of Haku's movements were to herself. They were like slow motions. But because of the emotional turmoil Naruto's death brought to her, Sasuki could barely think anything else aside from revenge for her crush.
As soon as the Uchiha saw the ice user minutely twitch in preparation to jump to another mirror, she intercepted her mid-jump and punched her to the ground once more.
Meanwhile, Haku only stared at the stoic girl that was slowly walking towards her fallen form, awestricken by all that happened to her. Despite the violent manner she had dealt with her, she found herself entranced by the fluidity of her movements and it was precise as well with no wasted movements. It was beautiful. And it terrified her to no end. That girl was like a goddess delivering judgment to those who had done her wrong.
Kakashi and Zabuza stared down one another, the ground around them cracked from the battle they had been having. Neither was able to gain an upper hand and only now they were taking a small breather before going at it again. As the battle had moved farther from Naruto, Sasuki and Haku, Shino had stayed near Kakashi and did not know what had happened with the girl.
"Tired Kakashi?" The missing ninja goaded, stretching his neck.
"I'm just getting started." He threw back.
They were interrupted by a concentrated but intense release of chakra and a thick killing intent. Something was going wrong with Naruto, the fight between Sasuki and Haku, and whatever Kakashi thought of that it couldn't be good.
'I must hurry...' The jounin thought before charging to Zabuza.
When Naruto opened his eyes, he realized that he was in somewhere.
Picking himself up and looking around, he felt something familiar in here. Look like he used to come here or saw this scene...maybe in a book as he read lots of books. He was at the crest of the hill he'd finally arrived at and looked out over the rolling landscape of valleys and forests towards the great furrow he could see carved into the country. The line dug into the earth was about two kilometers wide and stretched from one vanishing point in the distance to the next.
A climate that guarantees warmth and plenty of precipitation year round ensuring the soil is quite capable for use in agricultural aspects, and a large amount of land. Naruto realized this place...
The Land of Fire...
Suddenly, there was a loud bang making Naruto jump. He turned back to see a dark and menacing storm quickly gathered. Winds beat against the houses with a high speed and this furious he had never witnessed before. Whole large area was filled the darkened sky. Ancient trees were uprooted and crashed on the earth due to storm. The air produced the screaming sound.
Naruto could smell the smoke too. Flames all around. The uncontrolled fire occurring in vegetation more than 6 feet in height. The burnt stench of wood slowly being reduced to ash, a hint of sulfur being carried in the smoke. These fires reached the proportions of a major conflagration and were begun by combustion and heat from surface and ground fires.
And he saw, coming out of the fire and smoke, two figures...and they looked familiar. Looking closely, the Uzumaki could easily realized one of them was female based on her appearance. They looked at each other for a while before one person charged to the other.
"Hashirama!"
"Madoka!"
Hashirama and Madoka... those names... he knew them. In fact, no one in the the Hidden Leaf Village, in the shinobi world didn't know them.
They were legendary shinobi. They were strongest ones in the history of the shinobi world. Famous clan heads of two strongest clan in the Warring Clan Era. Founders of the Hidden Leaf Village. The god and goddess of shinobi.
The Shodaime Hokage of the Senju clan, Senju Hashirama and the infamous Matriarch of the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Madoka.
Realization hit the blond boy. That scene... mountains... the waterfall... the battle...
Uzumaki Naruto was in the Valley of the End.
What happened? Why was he in here? No. How could be in here? He remembered he was in the Land of Wave for his mission, his first mission with his team. He encountered with Demon Brothers, Momochi Zabuza, and Haku. He was fighting against Haku with Sasuki...
Wait! Where was Sasuki!? And Shino, Kakashi-sensei, old man Tazuna, Haku...
What the hell was happening to him? Was he dreaming?...
"It's not really a dream...How do I say this? It's more of our memories..."
Suddenly, everything around Naruto went black, then he saw himself standing in somewhere. It looked like a small garden, and standing there was a young man who was looking at him with a smile.
"Hello, Naruto-kun. I take it you won't know me for I existed at the era when chakra was discovered. In fact, the first human born with chakra was my father and uncle."
Naruto blinked at the young man, before finally saying, "Who are you? And...your father?"
The man nodded with a soft smile, "The Sage of Six Paths, Otsutsuki Hagoromo. I'm his youngest son, Otsutsuki Ashura, and I am your ancestor from long ago." He then pointed at the blond boy, "And you, Uzumaki Naruto, are my transmigrant."
Sasuki's mind was muddled with feelings of sorrow and despair as she stared at Haku with her fists clenched tightly. The ice shinobi was slowing down and the Uchiha had no need to dodge the needles anymore, preferring to just deflect them with her kunai. Her star-crimson eyes was focused on the masked shinobi's movements with blood running from them, waiting patiently for her moment to strike. She could tell that that ninja was running out of chakra, her attacks had become far less accurate. Haku started a particularly slow mirror transfer, and Sasuki struck.
Her dark hair billowing behind her, Sasuki leaped into the air, perfectly timing a devastating kick that sent Haku careen down to the bridge's surface. Haku landed heavily, immediately rising and desperately stumbling towards the nearest mirror, only to be cut off by the furious Uchiha. Standing between Haku and her precious mirror, she delivered a series of punishing blows, finishing the combination with an ax kick that drove the enemy ninja to her hands and knees.
All fight left drained from Haku's body, and Sasuki let her crumple to the ground. The raven haired girl stood over her, glaring down at her opponent. She reached down and roughly tore the mask from the girl's head. She wanted to look into the bitch's eyes when she exacted her vengeance.
Just one blow. The final blow. Vengeance would be taken, justice would be delivered, and all would be right in the world again.
"I have failed you, Zabuza-sama." Haku said before turning her gaze towards the enraged Uchiha. "Please, kill me. I no longer have a purpose." Her eyes filled with tears and regrets.
"Gladly." Sasuki snarled as she jumped and flashed through a few familiar signs. Haku's eyes closed, waiting her death.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!" Sasuki breathed a big fireball at her. Haku would be surely incinerated by it and died painfully. 'I'm sorry, Zabuza-sama. Please forgive me, Naruto-san.'
"Water Style: Water Wall Jutsu!" At that time, the water beneath Haku and began to shoot upwards, forming a thick wall which was in front of her. The fireball crashed into the water wall. Water was naturally stronger than fire, so Sasuki's deadly assault was immediately neutralized.
"Phew, it's so close." A voice came from Haku's place and Sasuki widened her eyes.
She stepped closer and take another glance at. A familiar blonde head flickered as the water wall slowed down, The Uchiha rubbed her eyes, to be certain all which she saw wasn't her imaginations.
"Na...Naru...Naru...to." She stammered. Tears started to trickle down her face once more.
"In the flesh and bone." He smiled broadly. "I won't die until I'm the best shinobi in the world you kn-"
He groaned quietly in pain and looked down to see what had tackled him, only to see Sasuki holding onto him. She hugged him tightly, not wanting to let go.
The blond was confused at first but then he wrapped his arms around her. Sasuki buried her face in his chest with a trembling body and Naruto's shirt was getting soaked from her tears.
"I thought you died," Sasuki whispered. She sounded broken.
"Come on. I'm alive." Naruto whispered. He had on hand rubbing her back affectionately while the other was running through her silky raven locks, he put his chin over her head and pulled her close to him.
"I saw you die in my arms."
"Sorry..."
"You scared me."
"I'm so sorry..."
"I thought I had lost you, that I would be all alone again. Please don't do it again! I need you so much. So don't do anything like that again." She said in between hiccups. He cooed her and kept holding her.
"Shh I'm alive right now, right? I am not that easy to kill you know. Those little needles won't kill me. At the very least a blast enough to level Iwa would be needed to take me down and away from you." He said playfully, she giggled and punched him in the chest playfully.
"Dobe." She whispered.
"Hime." He replied and both chuckled.
After calming herself down, Sasuki looked her best friend or...crush seriously, "How can you be alive? Whatever you said, I saw your wounds, all of them was deadly injuries. So...why?"
Naruto became nervous, "Well...I will let you know after we're done." He said before turning to Haku. "Haku, are you alright?"
"Why? Why did you save me Naruto-san? Aren't we enemy? I also nearly killed you." She whispered.
Naruto looked her then he gave Haku a beaming smile, "You know, there are many reasons why everyone kill each other but...do you really need a reason to save others?"
Haku stared at her savior, this was the first time she had ever met someone such as that boy. Everyone knew, the world of shinobi was cruel and terrible, you had to do anything to exist, shinobi was just a tool, they just killed, slaughtered, follow orders and was emotionless. Needless emotions just interrupted our works and even caused them cost their life. They should just care about themselves, their missions and their master.
But that boy, Haku knew that he was nice, he was so special. He was a shinobi but he still thought for others. He didn't care that Haku was his enemy and nearly killed them, he still saved her.
"Haku, listen, it's not necessary to fight against each other anymore. We can stop and talk. I swear I won't do anything to Zabuza, I'm going to him and Kakashi to stop their fighting." Naruto said softly.
"As long as Zabuza-sama was safe, there won't be a problem." Haku smiled
Before the blond could respond...
"Well isn't this a great sight to see...everyone here at their weakest point. This must be my lucky day... " The voice of a man suddenly said as the sound of a cane tapping and distant laughing on the bridge lured everyone's eyes to the end of the unfinished bridge to see a light brown haired short person in a business outfit with dark glasses.
Behind the short man were a large amount of armed, cocky looking mercenaries as they chuckled and grinned among themselves.
"Who?" Sasuki started.
Haku gritted her teeth as she saw the man. "Gatou" She hissed out. "He betrays us." She thought with anger, annoyance and then she was unconscious.
The two high level shinobis had turned and also saw Gatou and his small army of thugs. "I should know it..." Zabuza growled out. "What the hell are you doing here Gatou!?" He called out with an annoyed and angry tone.
Kakashi then narrowed his eyes as he looked at the short man. "So that's Gatou?" He muttered.
Gatou, however, snorted in response to the question. "I'm tired of waiting for you to get the damn job done you pathetic baby demon." He explained with a nod his head towards the giant mob behind him.
This made all the men chuckle as if it was humorous.
"That's why I have these guys here behind me. I wasn't really going to pay you anyways, you were way too expensive." Gatou stated as he turned back to the two jounin. "Now that all of you are tired, I can just sit back and watch as you both die, those konoha ninjas and the old drunk gets what's coming to him..." He declared as he began to smirk some more.
Zabuza's eyes narrowed as his worse fear came to be, then he let out a sigh, "Well Kakashi it seems I'm out of a job, I have no reason to fight you or to kill the bridge builder." He declared and Kakashi nodded. "You will die today for betraying me, Gatou!" Zabuza snarled.
"Oh?" Gatou smirked. "By you and what army?"
An arrow stabbing the ground right in front of his face answered him.
"How about this army?" A voice echoed in the air from the other side of the bridge. Gatou looked up, and broke into sweat when seeing all citizens in the Land of Waves, with Inari and the children who were helped by Naruto, leading, standing there, weapons ready.
Naruto managed to keep from insulting Inari by remarking upon the fact that the boy was wearing a wok pan for a helmet, and instead just flashed the kid a thumbs up.
"Nice timing, Inari!"
"Hehe, a hero shows up at the last second, right?" Inari said with a grin. Naruto shook his head in amusement.
"Alright, let's help out increasing the numbers," Naruto said, putting his hands in a cross seal. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
In a poof of smoke, the entire bridge was filled with about forty Naruto's clones, all of them grinning brightly at the now terrified thugs. Kakashi did the same, creating fifteen clones. Thugs immediately turned around and ran back to the ship that had carried them there, some of them even jumping into the water out of fear. There was only Gatou in front of them, his arrogant smirk dropped like a rock and he was sweating bullets...
"Anyways,..." the voice of Zabuza suddenly rose next to his ears. "...who said that I need help to kill a bastard like you, Gatou?"
Gatou looked like he had just pissed himself.
"Uhhh… please don't kill me?" he whimpered.
"Too bad." Zabuza said, and with a swing of his sword, Gatou became a dead body without its head.
Team 7 and everyone else sweat-dropped.
"So...our work here is done?" Naruto asked.
"Yeah." Kakashi nodded. He reached his headband, pulled it down to cover his sharingan up.
"Victory!" Inari yelled and all the villagers celebrated.
Mission completed.
Haku's eyes fluttered open.
The first thing she knew was that she was facing a wooden ceiling, and that she was lying on a soft, comfortable bed.
And after realizing that, the first thing she wanted to do was to fall into her blissful slumber again. It was too long since the last time she slept on a bed. It was much, much more comfortable than the sleeping bag she usually used during her constant travel with Zabuza-sama.
'Zabuza-sama!'
Everything rushed back into her head with the might of a hammer blow.
She remembered the fight on the bridge, when she had been forced to use her most powerful jutsu, and the blond shinobi from Konoha took her attack for the girl and then he saved him from the wrath of that girl.
Haku bolted upright and looked around. She was in a small bedroom. Wooden walls. Small desk at the corner. Naruto-kun sitting on a chair next to the bed. Electric light bulbs on the ceiling.
'Wait. Naruto?'
"Ah, Haku, you're awake!" The one eye blonde said in happy voice.
Yes. Naruto.
"Eep!" she yelped, unconsciously pulling the blanket covering her body up, muffling her voice in the process.
Despite being a powerful ninja, Haku was still a girl. And having a boy in her bedroom, well, not quite her bedroom anyway, looking at her sleeping face…Haku's face burned up dangerously, and she opened her mouth, ready to scream…
…only for a hand of Naruto muffling her before any sound could come out.
"Shhhhhh!" Naruto exclaimed in panic. "Don't scream, do you want Zabuza to castrate me? He has been trying to do that for a while after I said I would look after you when you slept!"
'And that if Sasuki didn't kill me first.' Naruto sweat-dropped when he recalled the Uchiha's thundered expression. 'I swear she looked ready to tear me pieces as she glared at me with her Sharingan...it's terrifying.'
"Wait!" Haku's eyes widened. "Zabuza-sama is still alive?"
"Of course." Naruto gave her a foxy grin. "And he seemed to be quite worried about you, Haku."
The embarrassment was quickly replaced by a smile of relief and happiness. "Thank goodness…" Haku sighed.
Then she remembered. "Wait, Naruto-kun, where am I?"
"You're in Tazuna's house," Naruto answered. "Gatou was dead, and you probably won't want to go back to his place anyway."
"I see..." Haku looked down "Naruto-kun, I..."
"Alright, you don't need to tell anything Haku." Naruto smiled softly. "You just know that we are not enemy anymore, now we're friends."
"But I don't deserve to be your friend." she voiced her thought unconsciously. "I...Kyah?"
Her voice was cut off abruptly by Naruto wrapping his arm around her waist.
"Silly Haku," He grinned foxily. "I don't care whether you deserve to be my friend or not; the only thing I know is that I want you to be my friend, and that's enough for me to accept you. Now, stop moping around and come down stair to eat, everyone's waiting!"
Then he dragged her out of the bed, despite the poor girl's frantic struggling.
That night
After dinner, overcome by weariness from helping Tazuna and he just recovered, Kakashi decided that Naruto should get some rest. The blond nodded, then went to his room, got into his bed and closed his eyes. Zabuza and Haku shared a room. After helping Tsunami to wash dishes, the jounin was going to enter the room he shared with Naruto, Sasuki caught his wrist and stared at him.
"Let us share the room for tonight. I want something answered to me alone and want the answers now. You can share the room with Shino for tonight." She said, Kakashi nodded and stepped back. The jounin could felt her shaking voice, even for a moment. He knew the girl was still affected by the accident before, her best friend and crush had nearly died in front of her. It was no wonder that she wanted to stay close to him.
But Kakashi wasn't going to miss his chance of teasing his cute little genin.
"Don't do anything I wouldn't do Sasuki-chan~" He sing-sang and she twitched.
"No one would do half the things you would do with all that smut you keep reading. That's why you don't get a girl and have to read the book you lazy ass pervert." She growled.
Kakashi eye smiled, "True but you don't have to be that hostile to your sensei. A little respect sometimes would be nice you know." He said.
"It would, wouldn't it?" The Uchiha asked and stepped in. Kakashi sweat-dropped. He wasn't going to respected anytime soon.
He entered the room which he had to share with Shino and...no sign of anyone.
"Huh? Where does he go?"
Sasuki stepped inside and saw Naruto laying down on the Futon. She sighed. What would she do? That idiot was too worry about that Kiri girl to be up all night. The raven haired girl mentally fumed whenever she thought about it. He had been just bad injured on the battle but still tried to look after Haku without caring for his own health. Why didn't he let the Tsunami woman, Kakashi or Zabuza do that? Why did he take care of her himself while that girl had nearly killed him!? She was not worthy of his kindness! That idiot should have let Sasuki burn her alive on the bridge!
Sasuki shook his head furiously. No. Never again. She knew how kind Naruto was. He was too nice to take someone's life. He had never purposely killed someone unless he didn't have a choice, so no way he would let her to do that. Sasuki didn't want to upset him because of that.
That was who he was after all. That was Uzumaki Naruto she knew and loved with all her heart.
"You're really an idiot." She whispered.
"I know, so you don't have to say it."
Sasuki startled as she heard his familiar voice. Naruto soon sensed the presence of someone and he knew that was the last Uchiha when he heard her voice. He got up and looked his best friend.
"I suppose you want to some answers, don't you?" She nodded.
"So what did you want to ask?" he whispered.
"What happened at that time? I determined that your heart and pulse stopped. How can you be alive?" she asked and Naruto sighed. He knew this was coming.
Kurama remained quiet as it was Naruto's decision. 'It's your choice kit, hope it's something he'll won't regret later on.' He thought to himself.
"...Ok, but before I explain I want you to know that what I'm going to say to you is top secret, S-rank one. The Hokage put a gagging order on the village, no one is allowed to tell anything about it without his permission or they will be executed because of breaking the village's law, so you must not disclose anything to anyone after you hear it, are you clear?" He said sternly.
Looking at his expression, Sasuki knew that Naruto wasn't joking or anything. He was actually serious. What was those? Why were they so important that the Sandaime Hokage didn't allow anyone to reveal?
"Yeah, I see. I promise I won't tell anyone anything." She assured.
Naruto smiled softly, "Alright, so..." He suddenly sensed someone at the door, then smiled slightly when he knew who was that. "You know you don't need to be out there to overhear. Come in...Shino."
Sasuki widened her eyes and turned to the door, the Aburame boy was really standing at the door.
"Hello, Naruto. How are you?" Shino asked with a hint of concern.
Naruto smiled, "I'm fine, thanks for asking." Shino nodded, then he stepped into and closing the door.
Shino and Sasuki sat on the bed. The young Uchiha looked at Naruto.
"Well Naruto?"
"I know." Naruto took a deep breath. "...Sasuki, after this you can hate or disgust me something but just know that I'll be always there for you whenever you need me, okay?"
Sasuki was a little surprised by that. What's his secret that was so important that he made that expression? 'Whatever it is, I'll never hate you, Naruto. After all, you're my best friend, you just saved me from death and I nearly lost you, no way I can leave you after that...' She thought but nodded at this waiting for an answer.
"Just tell her, she won't hate you. In fact, I doubt about this stuff." Naruto just nodded again to Kurama's words.
"Alright…How much do you know about the Nine Tails, Kyuubi?"
"The Nine Tails? Not much except that he was killed by the Yondaime Hokage."
Naruto chuckled lightly at this, "Sasuki, the tailed beasts can't be killed, even the weakest, the Ichibi. Defeated yes, killed no. So when the Kyuubi attacked, the Yondaime decided to do the next best thing. He decided to seal it at the cost of his own life, sealing it into a newborn baby." He explained.
"Sealing the Kyuubi into a baby? But what does this have to do with you-" Sasuki widened her eyes as realization hit her. The Kyuubi's attack had happened on the October 10th, and Naruto's birthday was... "No...no way...y-you..."
"Yeah, Sasuki, that baby...is me." Naruto replied, lifting up the shirt and showed the sealing drawing on his stomach. "I am the jinchuuriki of the Nine Tails, Kyuubi no Youko and the reason why I can survive after Haku's deadly jutsu, it's because his chakra healed me."
Sasuki was truly baffled and stupefied by learning this while Shino remained quiet, the young Uchiha didn't unnoticed this, "Shino, you know this, didn't you? You weren't surprised as you hear it!" she accused the bug boy.
Shino nodded, "Yeah, I knew before you Sasuki, but don't take this the wrong way." He said as he noticed the girl was thinking Naruto didn't trust her enough to tell her his secrets. "Naruto didn't tell me anything, my insects felt his chakra. It's so different from a shinobi's normal chakra and plus the fact he had so much chakra, so it's not difficult for me to guess he has something special." Shino explained and he caught the grateful look from the blond shinobi, he just shrugged instead his no-problem reply.
"...I see." The Uchiha said quietly, "Wait a minute. So that's reason why majority of the villagers hate you?" She asked and the blond boy nodded.
"Sadly, yeah. Except some clan heads and shinobi, most of civilians and shinobi who lost their family resent me. In their eyes, I'm a murderer, I'm the demon who destroyed the village and took thousands of lives 12 years ago." He said with a sorrowful smile. "Sasuki, now you knew the truth. I know some Uchiha died in the attack, so if you hate me, I can unders-"
Naruto didn't finish his words as the girl pulled him and threw her own arms around his neck, burying her face against the crook of her teammate's neck.
He was stunned.
"Sasuki...what're you do-"
"Enough." Sasuki spoke out, interrupting him.
"...Huh?"
"Enough, Naruto. It is unnecessary to say anything." She said, her voice shaking a little. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I've never noticed you're carrying heavy burdens and I still get you in my trouble."
Naruto could felt tears sliding down his skin 'She is crying...again.' Naruto thought confusingly but he said nothing, just silently hugging her back.
"Why? Why didn't you tell me?" She asked, her grip tightened. "Damn it! Naruto, you should tell me sooner!"
Naruto just sighed, "Sasuki, I'm sorry. I'm just afraid that you don't want to be my friend. It's not like that I don't trust you, but my overwhelming fear from the past always haunts me and I couldn't bring myself to tell you." He said sadly. "...I don't want to lost my best friend."
"Hn, you stupid dobe" The girl huffed. "Why did you think that? You forget who I am? I'm Uchiha Sasuki, one of the top students in the Ninja Academy and is the Rookie of the Year. I know the different between a kunai and a scroll. No way I will think of you any differently. You are still the dobe to me." She looked up into his blue eyes, her hand putting on his cheeks. "Don't listen to what those idiotic villagers said to you. You're not demon."
Naruto looked her gratefully. She really didn't hate him. She didn't leave him in the same way everyone did after they knew that he was a jinchuuriki. Naruto smiled. "I'm both surprised and really happy that you defend me." He commented with a brighter tone. "Most would had given up completely on me after learning about the whole Kyuubi being sealed inside of me."
"Just because you got some stupid fox demon sealed inside of you, doesn't mean I'm gonna hate you. The dobe is just the dobe, nothing more, nothing less." She explained, smirking arrogantly.
"Oh screw you too Uchiha!" The demon fox responded in fury as he felt insulted, but wasn't heard.
Naruto could only chuckle a little at that. "Thanks hime-chan. And I'm sure he is pretty stupid, huh?" He said with gratitude as he began to chuckle some more.
"If I was out of this damned seal, I'd kicked all of your sorry asses!" Kurama roared his declaration.
"Anyway..." Shino suddenly spoke out. "...now we know about your secret, Naruto, and I understand the reason why Hokage-sama wants to keep it secret. However, there is one thing which I still wonder."
"And?"
"Why is you, Naruto? Surely there can be many other people he could use to contain the beast for him. Why used a baby who had just been born?"
Sasuki turned to Naruto, looked him confusingly. In fact, she was wondering that. What was special in Naruto that the Yondaime had to seal the beast into him but not others? He was powerful she admitted, but this was a tailed beast they were talking about.
"...For that, I don't really know." Naruto answered sincerely. "Maybe because I was an orphan, I was chosen to be used, or from the moment I was born, I was doomed to a life of loneliness...but whatever it is, I don't blame the Yondaime, he was the Hokage and he had the obligation to protect his village as a leader at all cost. I don't blame villagers for their behavior, the loss of loved ones is so much for them..." He said in a solemn tone.
Inside of the seal, Kurama said nothing as he just sighed with his momentary feelings.
Shino said nothing. In his mind, he admired Naruto's compassion and generosity, almost nobody was nice enough to have the look such as Naruto's if they were in his case. This, however, made the boy feel displeased. Naruto should have thought about himself a little. He was so forgiving.
Sasuki felt annoyed when she listened to what her teammate told. The Uchiha even felt like she could go to Konoha now and level it to the ground with how angry she was. How dare they treat Naruto like that? He had been just a baby! It wasn't his fault! He didn't even get to choose! She was furious with the Yondaime Hokage when he had done that to a child and made this poor boy's life miserable since the day he was born.
"Wait. You did said some clan heads and shinobi don't hate you. Okaa-san and onee-chan are surely two of them so it means they know about the Kyuubi?" Naruto nodded.
"Mikoto-obaasan was jounin at that time and Izumi-neechan is one of ANBU who guarded me. Most of clans in Konoha joined in defending the village at that time, of course they will know." He replied, then looking at the girl seriously, "You know the rule of the Sandaime Hokage, Mikoto-obaasan and Izumi-neechan can't tell you anything unless jiji allows them." Sasuki nodded, knowing that he was right.
"Alright, I think those are all what we can know until now." Shino said flatly. "It's late. I suggest you two should sleep, especially Naruto. You really push too hard." And he left the room, leaving Naruto and Sasuki behind.
Both stayed silent for a few moments before Sasuki spoke up.
"In the battle, my Sharingan changed..." She said, pushing chakra to her eyes until they morphed into the new form.
"Damn..." Kurama swore as he saw the girl's eyes.
Meanwhile, Naruto looked at them in awe, "So you awakened the highest level of the Sharingan. Congratulations." He said and Sasuki stayed silent. Naruto was confused as to why she wasn't happy.
"Naruto. Do you know how an Uchiha can awake Mangekyou Sharingan?" She asked distastefully.
Naruto gulped. Oh no, he nearly forgot it!
"Sasuki..." Naruto couldn't complete his words as she hugged him and Naruto felt his shirt get wet again, she was crying silently.
"Onee-chan told me it activated once its user experiences great loss, especially of someone close to them." She mumbled in a shaky voice "The pain and anguish of seeing your death due to my weakness forced them to awaken." The Uchiha whispered, Naruto rubbed her back affectionately and she was trying to calm her down. He should have known it. This was the second time. The first time, it was fake, but this time, Naruto could have die if it weren't for Kurama.
He was himself guilty for making her like that again.
"I'm so sorry because I worry you so much. I don't think everything became like that." He whispered softly. "I just don't want you to be hurt."
"And you think I would want to see you get hurt for me?" Sasuki asked quietly. "Naruto, you've done so much for me. You shouldn't have gone so far as to ready to give your life for me because you don't need to do."
Naruto shook his head, "Don't say that Sasuki, or I will be sad." He said in a serious voice. "I don't regret my decision to save you. If we are in the same situation again, I will do what I want to do without hesitation." He then looked straight her eyes. "You see, Zabuza and Haku, both of them were considered demons by their village. They had no worth nor kind people who would smile for them. Their only worth was in their skills and Haku was hunted for that, too. But..." Paused a little, he continued, "...they are lucky to at least have each other. I can understand their need to protect each other or even...die for their precious people.
The raven hair girl turned her stunned eyes on him completely and Naruto smiled sincerely, "Mikoto-obaasan, Izumi-neechan, Iruka-sensei, Hokage-jiji, my friends in Academy, team 7..., I would give anything to save you guys, to protect you guys. Even my dream and life. That might not sound like much coming from me but... it's still the truth. Believe it."
They remained silent for a while before Sasuki, whose dark bangs were now hiding her eyes from sight, spoke up. "You're really an idiot because you tell those without thinking about the consequences." She then looked up, a warm, genuine smile spread over her face. "But at any rate..." She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly "Thank you so much dobe." She said in a gentle voice. "Thank you for saving me, for always helping me with my troubles and for being at my side each day." and closed her eyes. She slept.
Naruto was a bit unexpected, but he still held her in his arms. Naruto's heart was racing when he felt her soft skin and warmth as she hugged him, and he didn't really want her to let him go. He didn't know the reason why but he found a little piece of happiness with her words, it made him feel cherished and consoled. Naruto smiled slightly when he felt Sasuki nuzzle herself into a more comfortable position. He gently ran his fingers through her hair and soon too fell asleep letting the exhaustion for the day take over him
Kurama just sighed as he silently watched two sleeping teens, especially Sasuki. Great, now the Uchiha brat awakened the higher level of her bloodline. Everything would be more complicated...or interesting he thought.
Kurama would never told it but he, however, felt gratitude for her presence in Naruto's life. He knew he wouldn't be enough for Naruto to stop feeling lonely, but he knew Sasuki would be more than enough. It would seem that their bond might survive. Perhaps Naruto was right, Sasuki and her family really were different from the rest of her clan before. No. Maybe not an arrogant clan anymore with Uchiha Mikoto was the clan head. Perhaps Uchiha Sasuki would be more resolute and loyal to that wonderful bond. After all, their story was only starting.