Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Naruto

Warning: This story will contain spoilers from Naruto and Harry Potter so if you don't like spoilers don't read this story. Also, some facts may be different from the original plot and characters might behave differently from their original natures but that is how I need them in order to write my fanfic so again if you don't like it refrain from reading it. The genre is Drama/Hurt/Comfort, Harry is emotionally hurt. In this fic, Harry may behave emotional and depressed (but not throughout entire storyline) so think carefully before you write something to you don't like my fic please read something else but if you have constructive criticism for me do go ahead and enlighten me. Lastly, there might be some future violence or coarse language. You have been warned!

Chapter 7: Grudge…

"Harry Potter, why are you protecting those fools? Instead of showing gratitude they show their fear and resentment towards you, yet you refuse my offer of power to take a vengeance. Why let them live when you hate them so much? "

Harry looked around as he followed his adoptive father and a ninja named Kakashi. The basement they were in appeared to be secure, preventing any possible intruders. In middle of the room, underneath dim torchlights, Harry spotted Sasuke lying unconscious.

The young savior approached the boy and combed the matted hair gently away from the child's face. His eyes narrowed at the sight of the familiar symbol engraved at the base of Sasuke's neck. Harry took in a deep breath. How he had hoped to never hear about the curse again, but then again he also hated to ignore someone who only could be helped by him.

"You can start whenever you're ready." Harry gave a nod in acknowledgement to Sarutobi.

Harry closed his eyes, reassuring himself everything would be fine like last time. However, as Harry reached deeper into Sasuke, the wizard noticed the sinister air surrounding him was stronger than his last experience. Harry gulped at the evil sensation that started to creep on him. It was like walking down the dark hallway that was dripping sticky black tar. The core of the curse seemed docile, however.

Harry remembered how his magic guided him last time with Anko and spread his magic around what seemed like the essence of the curse. However, something was different as he encountered unknown force giving off angry aura. It was difficult to surround the curse, as the resistance seemed to get more upset over his action. Harry struggled against what he guessed was the host until the curse suddenly got loose from the wizard's grasp and became aggressive. It latched on to Harry's magic like a deadly parasite and started to spread around. At the same time while Harry fought the curse, he was violently pushed out from the core of Sasuke's curse to new endless darkness. There was a searing pain burning its way from Harry's fingertips moving up his right arm.

"Hari?" Sarutobi called out to his young charge as he saw a familiar black markings spreading to Harry's upper arm, as he struggled in pain, not knowing how he should act.

"The curse is spreading on him!" Kakashi watched in shock and prepared himself for whatever is to come.

Harry couldn't hear any of the occupants in the room crying out for him but instead he heard another voice.

Feel the hate. Give in to me. A smooth silky voice hissed softly from the murkiness giving sweet yet all too familiar temptation to Harry.

I will give you a power to fulfill your desire- Vengeance.

The young wizard was now bent on his knees in pain in reality as he tried to escape from the abyss. While Kakashi rushed to Sasuke to check his student, Sarutobi went by Harry's side to give support as the teen desperately held on to his right arm. The curse, which was now visible up to Harry's exposed part of right shoulder, was now spreading to his neck all the while intensifying the burning sensation.

Come to me. The voice tried again in more comforting manner, however the Gryffindor knew better than to listen to the sinister entity.

No! Harry shook his head furiously.

Obtain the power unimaginable.It reminded Harry of Voldemort when he tried to lure him in.

I already have enough as it is. Harry refused.

I will give you more than you can ever obtain. The voice was louder and more demanding than before as something started to surround Harry.

I don't need power anymore!Harry cried out in panic.

And with that last sentence, Harry used everything he had to get rid of the presence within him. When the presence was gone, Harry opened his eyes and looked around in panic. He was sweating profusely and panting. He calmed himself after realizing Sarutobi was supporting him.

"Hari, are you okay?" Harry nodded slowly in response to his adoptive father.

"What happened?" Harry avoided the worry filled eyes in shame that he has disappointed the kind man and had failed his request. Nonetheless he still answered.

"I, I couldn't remove the curse. Sasuke, he has so much hate. I don't know he is doing it consciously or subconsciously but he's is holding on to the curse. And as long as he holds on to it, I can't get rid of it."

"Sasuke is holding on to the curse?" There was a hint of disappointment in Kakashi's voice.

"This is just my opinion but I think he has a great desire for power." Harry voiced his thought carefully.

Kakashi stared at his student sadly. It seemed his last talk hadn't sunk in properly. He would have to have a more proper talk with Sasuke or he was going to go down the path of an avenger.

"Hari, why did the curse transfer to your arm?" Sarutobi asked in a worry filled voice.

"I am not exactly sure how, but the curse tried to consume me." Harry was still dazed and shaken up from the event but tried to explain as best as he could.

"Consume you? As in to take control over you?" The two looked at Harry in shock as he nodded again to confirm their doubts. They stared each other then Harry waiting for further elaboration.

Despite the continued silence, Harry's mind was off to in a different place, too distracted to notice them. The feeling was familiar like when Voldemort was trying to take over his body. Was this curse some kind of Horcrux? Should he ask them about it? If he did then how should he word it? But then again, do they even know what the Horcrux is?

"Is your skill blood limit?" Kakashi interrupted the young wizard's line of wondering as he recalled how he was unable to copy what Harry was doing or what he seemed to be doing to Sasuke. After all, only thing the teen did was put his hand over the curse mark for few minutes before the curse was transferred.

Harry knew what blood limit was but had to wonder, could his ability be considered a blood limit? Magic did run in the families although there were some muggleborns and squibs, however, not everyone could do what he had done just now. The curse removal wasn't something that ran in the family. After some thought, he finally answered.

"In a way, yes."

"What do you mean? Can you elaborate it?" The jounin asked slightly irritated at the vague response.

"The origin of my power is something I inherited from my parents but the ability to remove the curse is irrelevant to my heritage." Harry worded carefully.

Sarutobi and Kakashi thought of the response. What had just been revealed meant that the boy's mysterious power was something inherited from his parents. That also could mean there could be more people with the same or similar ability. Then came Harry's hesitant voice.

"Is there any information that you can tell me or I can look at about the transferring of souls?"

Neither of the two men were expecting such a sensitive topic to rise from the current circumstance.

"Do you mean souls moving on to the next plane as in heaven?" Sarutobi broke the eerie silence not sure if he was on same page with his charge, who by now looked uncomfortable at the inquiry.

"No. More like-" Harry trailed off deep in thought as he tried to figure out a best way to describe without causing too much alarm yet enough for him to gain information. The young savior sighed at the dilemma he was faced with. He couldn't find a way around this problem without them knowing too much if he wanted their information. Harry finally opened his mouth.

"-as a means to achieve immortality."

"To become immortal?" Sarutobi asked disbelievingly.

Harry's gazed into the age old man's eyes and nodded his head slowly. The serious expression on teen's face suggested it wasn't a pleasant subject for him as well. Whatever the case was, the issue Harry brought up sounded a lot like forbidden dark jutsu.

"Why do you ask? What does this got something to do with Sasuke's curse?" The 3rd pressed on.

Was Orochimaru up to something? After all, Orochimaru was a fanatic who was obsessed with immortality. However, Sarutobi wasn't about to let his adoptee go through the pile of forbidden jutsu not to mention that even if he did manage to allow it, the boy would not be able to read the scrolls. This brought another worrisome question. His charge seemed to have some knowledge in areas of dark arts. He decided to take a look into the matter.

"I am not sure myself at the moment." Sarutobi stared at Harry for a while then broke the silence.

"We do have tales of gods who were considered sacred spiritual being of immortality in the Kojiki." Sarutobi's words seemed to have caught the boy's attention.

"Kojiki? Where can I find a copy of this book?"

"I will get the book to you by tonight."

Harry stated his gratitude to his adoptive father for the gesture. If the mythology was the nearest information he was going to get here then he would still try and see it what he could dig from it. Merlin was considered a myth among muggles but was real, right? Harry believed that there were some truth behind the legends and myths.

"So you can't remove the curse." It was more of a statement of disappointment from Kakashi then a question yet Harry felt ashamed.

"When the curse was transferred to me, I was offered power to do as I like. Maybe Sasuke-kun has a strong desire for power or it's something I am not aware of, but whatever the reason is I can't remove his mark as long as he's holding on to it. I am sorry."

The revelation left the people in the room to their wonderings. If what the teen had said was true, did it mean he refused the curse's offer of power since there was no trace of the curse? However, Anko also refused the power yet ended up with the curse. Anyhow this could mean the teen wasn't power hungry nor was he seeking immortality like Orochimaru. If anything, the boy actually seemed guilty for not able remove the curse from Sasuke. Was it possible that Orochimaru's desire for immortality had to do with this curse seal?

Suddenly, Sarutobi realized Harry was repeatedly wiping his right arm using his other hand as though something filthy was on it.

"Hari, is there something wrong with your arm? Would you like to see Kazuki or Kaede?" Harry hurriedly stopped his action and gave his guardian a reassuring smile.

"No. I'm alright."

The wizard had to stop the urge to wipe his arm again not long after he stopped the action. He couldn't help but feel that something vile was on his arm. Harry knew it wasn't true and he was just being over sensitive but he couldn't resist the feeling.

"I want to go back, can I?" Harry asked.

"Of course but Hari, if you feel unwell make sure you go see them, okay?"

Harry reassured his guardian of the request and got up from his place to head back to the house.

"I will take you home." Sarutobi patted Harry's back softly to let his intentions known.

"No, that's okay. I am sure you are busy." Contrast to Harry's worry to not take any time from his guardian from Hokage's busy schedule, the man kindly smiled at the teen comforted him.

"I will always have time for you."

The words made Harry feel very warm at heart. Nevertheless, after realizing that the curse was some form of Horcrux, it appeared that the dark lord was haunting him more in the evenings. The problem rose when even Konohamaru was starting to notice Harry's nightmares because it woke the small boy last night. Since that last incident, Harry considered putting a silence ward around his room during night, but it created another problem because Asuma came to check on him frequently at night.

So after about a month of suffering Asuma made sure to talk about this growing problem of nightmares with either Kazuki or Kaede. That was the reason now that Harry was coming out from Kazuki's office. Although Harry wasn't pleased with his increased dose of prescriptions, he decided to still take the medicine if it meant that Asuma and other people would stop worrying about him. He didn't like to go through the busy hallway because it seemed he was one of their favorite topic to discuss about when seen. So he decided to use the quiet hallway to reach the exit and avoid the crowd. Then he thought he heard someone's voice. As he continued further down the hallway he heard shouts again in more distinct manner.

"What the hell are you talking about?!" The voice was familiar to the wizard's ears.

Was that Naruto's voice? And then as if to confirm his wonderings, more angry voices came. Maybe the blond was arguing with his friends? Whatever the case was, Kazuki disliked when somebody yelled or argued. Harry became fond of the hyperactive boy and especially after the incident with Sasuke he was worried about the well being of Team 7. Also, Konohamaru considered Naruto like an older brother so Harry chose to save the boy from getting scolded from any passing hospital personnel. Harry walked toward the source of the sound just to be frozen on the spot right outside the door when he saw an unwelcome figure.

"Hari-san?" Harry wasn't sure who called out his name as his eyes were trapped with a cold glare.

"What are you doing here?" Shikamaru asked. The genin bit his lower lip at the worsening of their situation. With two genin the odds against this sand monster was bad but now with his teacher's new adoptive brother who was a regular civilian on the scene, the situation went from bad to worse.

Gaara broke the stare with Harry by closing his eyes and continuing on with his previous conversation.

"A monster, eh?"

That word made Harry's heart wrench as though Gaara meant it toward him. Harry swallowed hard as Gaara's eyes became more deadly.

"I was born a monster."

Harry listened as Gaara told his story. When he said family was just the link of hatred and piece of meat, in a way, it reminded him of Voldemort and his own relationship with Durleys. It was sad to know that he had to suffer killing his mother through birth as well as the fact that his own father was trying to kill his own son. It also brought up the past memories when the red head mentioned that he was raised as a weapon and how the people tried to get rid of him when he was deemed too dangerous.

"Then why do I exist? For the sake of what?"

It was the question Harry had also asked so many times like Gaara back in England and even now on and off. It was also the question Tom had asked so many times before he had finally gone mad. When Gaara explained his own answer to the questions, Harry wondered if that was what Voldemort had thought as well. It really seemed Voldemort existed to kill every human beside himself. The dark lord's slogan was kill muggleborns and save pure bloods but in reality, it was closer to kill everyone who opposes me whether they were pure blood or not.

"My existence will not vanish." Gaara suddenly looked demonic and gave off his killing intent

"No." Everyone looked at Harry at his abrupt interruption. The young wizard himself wasn't sure where he got the courage from, but he wanted to help Gaara in a way. Let him know that the path he was taking was doing more harm to himself than good.

"Eventually your existence will fade away just like everyone else's. Your existence lives on through the people you love." Harry didn't back away as Gaara glared daggers at him.

"I don't love anyone. I am a monster that loves only myself and fights only for my sake." Gaara hissed.

"You don't love yourself if you're torturing yourself. You can't love yourself if others alienate you like that. How do you know to love yourself when you have never been loved?" Gaara grabbed the side of his head and moaned in pain when Harry finished his words.

"Ugh… Shut up…"

It was like seeing Tom suffering when he got betrayed by the ones he loved. The ones who he thought loved him but actually just used him. Did Tom felt the joy of killing, like Gaara described himself, as he went down the path of destruction? Did he seek a way to immortality to continue his existence for he knew once he was gone, his existence would end as well? After some thought Harry looked at Gaara with sympathetic eyes.

"Someone has betrayed you, hasn't he?"

Gaara flinched at the comment and avoided the eye contact. He was still grabbing his temples in pain.

"Someone you loved betrayed you." Harry continued.

"Shut up." Gaara said shakily.

"That person never loved you didn't he?" And that seemed to struck the cord as Gaara responded to it violently.

"Shut up!" With that yell something hard hit Harry on the head sent him flying at the wall.

Naruto and Shikamaru looked at the event as Gaara's sand struck on Harry sending across the room toward the wall. Fortunatly, someone has caught Harry before he hit the wall and plummet to the grounds for more damage.

"The main tournament is tomorrow. There shouldn't be a need to get too hasty." Gai told Gaara while securely holding Harry in his arms. Harry was still dazed from his last attack.

"Or do you plan to stay here starting today?" The jounin's warning was clear.

Gaara grabbed his head as more pain came to strike him. He decided to take his leave. He couldn't make the problems big now. They had a mission to accomplish. But before he left, he turned back towards leaf residents.

"I'll definitely kill you guys. Just wait." With that last threat Gaara left.

When Gaara was gone everyone's attention went to Harry, who was still in Gai's arms. He was bleeding from the head.

"Oww, my head."

"Hari-san your head is bleeding! Are you okay?!" Naruto was shouting frantically.

"I'm alright." Harry waved off the question.

"I don't quite agree with you. Boys, I will take him to the doctor." Gai told the two boys.

"Here are his glasses. They're broken but take it with him anyway. These also seems like his books. I will go and inform Asuma-sensei." Shikamaru said as he handed the older teen's belongings to Gai.

"I appreciate that." Gai left with Harry still in his arms.

"I'm fine." Harry protested as best as he could in his dazed state.

"No you are not. I am taking you to the first doctor I see." Gai shook his head as he rushed down the corridor approaching the nurse.

"-azuki." Gai stopped in his tracks, as he was about to call out to the nurse.

"What?" The jounin asked since he couldn't comprehend the teen's pained mumbling for the first time.

"Kazuki-san." Harry tried again slower but more clearly.

"You want to see Kazuki-san?" Gai asked in disbelief. He didn't mind the old doctor himself, but the younger generations tended avoid the grumpy man to attend to their wounds.

"Kazuki-san." Harry nodded, feeling slightly dizzier. And now he was starting to become nauseous as well. With a shrug the jounin headed towards the hospital director's office.

When Gai suddenly burst into his office without any warning, Kazuki cursed inwardly. Children these days! Didn't they know how to knock?! However, when he became aware that Harry was in Gai's arm bleeding from the head, he quickly got up from his paper work and began to examine the boy.

"What happened?" Kazuki asked in serious tone.

"He got struck in the head by sand. The force was enough to send him at least 3 meters across the room." Gai tried to explain the story from the start but was interrupted by the hazy voice.

"I am fine." Harry complained.

"Of course you are not fine. You left my office less than 20 minutes ago to come back with laceration enough to cause bleeding and what sounds like a concussion?" That wasn't a question but Harry still answered him with apology and tried to explain that he didn't mean to get hurt.

Kazuki still complained as he tended to Harry's injuries.

"Now don't be too harsh with him. He saved my student and other two genin from a sand-nin." Gai spoke as he tried to rescue the teen from the doctor's lecture.

The aged doctor could feel the migraine coming in from that comment. It sounded like more paperwork for the hospital and reports for Hokage. Oh, how he felt like banging his head somewhere hard if it meant no more paperwork.

"I will hear the story from you later Gai, but you young man," Kazuki waved off Gai and looked sternly at his patient.

"You will be staying here tonight for monitoring and while you are at it let's make your regular checkups few days earlier so you will be staying here for next 3 days."

"Noooo. I don't like hospital wings…" Harry muttered while shaking his head weakly.

"Well believe me, that hospital wing you mentioned also hates to see you in here injured just as much. Now let's take you to your room." The doctor snorted as he replied.

"Oh, I hate that room." Harry thought he was being more whiny than usual. Maybe he was finally going wacky.

"Yes, and that room hates you just as much." Kazuki answered tiredly.

"Aww come on now, be easy with him. What room is he going to anyway?" Gai intervened to lighten the mood. But his action seemed to make the doctor age more than before.

"The ones that has to pass through my office." He eyed the green menace before him carefully.

"What?! You can't do that! How could you do something so harsh?!" Kazuki was sure if he went deaf it wasn't due to his old age but this man in front of him who shouted his lungs out.

"Pardon me?" Kazuki was really starting to have a headache. Someone please save him!

"How could you confine this young lad's precious youth to rot in that room alone! I know he's Hokage-sama's son but that doesn't mean he has to stay in a private room alone! He needs to enjoy his youth! He needs-" Kazuki interrupted in annoyance before the jounin could finish the sentence.

"He needs monitoring!"

"Will you guys please stop yelling? My head hurts." Harry begged as he was still in Gai's arm. As Gai apologized to the teen, Kazuki sighed and stepped forward.

"If you are not taking him then I will take him myself." As Kazuki reached out his arms, Gai suddenly seemed proud of himself.

"I got an idea!"

"I don't want to hear it." Horror was marring Kazuki's face. Sadly, Gai didn't hear the doctor's request since he continued on with his amazing discovery.

"Let's put him in Lee's room! That way they can keep each other company for their long stay!"

"It's only 3 days and-" However Kazuki was cut off again as Gai continued his speech.

"I am a genius! I will put him in the spare bed next to Lee's. Let's go young man to let your youth flourish! Hahahaha!"

And with that laugh, Gai sped off with Harry in his arms. Kazuki gave up. He was grabbing his head which was growing with migraine and yelled at crazy green beast.

"I told you to not run in the hospital!"

Harry fell asleep not long after he was laid down and checked by Kazuki. When he woke up, he groaned from the piercing sunshine and the pain emanating from his head.

"Hey, you are awake." The polite voice Harry didn't recognize greeted him.

Harry looked towards the owner of the friendly sound to find two people were on the bed next to him. He seemed to be in hospital yet this was odd since he always used a private room.

"Good morning. How are you feeling? My name is Rock Lee. I heard from Gai-sensei that you saved my life, thank you so much. I am in debited to you." The smaller figure asked.

"You sure are in his debt my youthful student!" The taller of the two shouted making Harry wince.

"What? Wait! Hold on!"

What happened while he was asleep? Who was this boy anyway? Harry found what seemed like his glasses near the drawers next to him and reached for the said object. He frowned as he found some cracks stretching across the lens. Why were his glasses broken again?

"It's broken but Gai-sensei said he will get you a new one to thank you." The boy named Lee continued when he noticed Harry's frown.

"I sure will! There isn't enough glasses in this world to thank you for your bravery!" And the man started to laugh as he patted the shoulder of the smaller figure next to him.

"No! No, you don't have to! Excuse me but who are you?" Harry was confused at the current situation. He remembered the event that lead to his predicament and the older man seemed to be the one who carried him the day before but who was this noisy man?

"What?! You don't know him?! He is the best jounin of the Leaf village!" Harry only cocked his eyebrows at Lee's comment as though to challenge that idea.

"I am Maito Gai!"

Harry was at the loss for any words as the man in front of him gave a smile reminding Harry of Lockhart even to his blurry vision. Harry shuddered at the thought and put on his cracked glasses for better focus. He'd have to fix it using magic later when nobody was watching. When the young wizard was able to see enough details he had to blink few times at the sight of yesterday's crazy man and said man's miniature version. Harry rubbed his eyes and massaged his temples and opened his eyes again to find no change in his vision. When did he start to have a double vision? Or was this the effect of the yesterday's head injury?!

"My name is Sarutobi Hari. Nice to meet you. You are the one who carried me to Kazuki-san when I was hurt yesterday, weren't you? Thank you very much." Harry finally introduced himself as he entertained the possibility that the two could be related.

"Don't mention such! After saving my beloved student Lee here, I could carry you to any doctor no matter how far they are away! Hahahahaha!"

Loud. That was the word that came across Harry's mind every time the man named Gai uttered a sentence. Harry decided to interrupt the man's laughing as it was starting to get on his nerves.

"I am sorry but when did this happen? How did I save him?"

"You don't remember?! Oh, no! It must be the concussion! I will go get Kazuki-san!" Gai was about to dash out the door when Harry's hasty yell stopped the man.

"No! I am fine! And it has nothing to do with my head injuries, if I even have any! I just want to you to explain to me how I came about to save your student."

After he heard the story from Gai, Harry shook his head. He only intended to break up the argument at first when he saw Gaara, he wanted to save Naruto and Shikamaru from getting killed by that mad boy but he wasn't paying attention to the boy who was sleeping the bed of the room.

"I see. So that's what happened. Well you don't have to thank me. I mean, I was only trying break up the fight between the boys and nothing else." Harry explained.

"How modest! You have everything that young man needs to enjoy his youth!"

Now Harry was completely lost on what this guy was saying so he decided to let the man lecture on about how to live a wonderful youth. After what seemed like hours Harry realized that not much time had passed and he really had to think about whether or not he preferred his designated room of isolation or room with eccentric duo. But in a way it wasn't as lonely as the other place. After a few more minutes of conversation with them, they suddenly remembered something.

"Oh, aren't we forgetting something important Gai-sensei?"

"That's right Lee. We almost forgot about final Chuunin exam! We should go and support our teammate, Neji!" Harry watched the two exchange conversation in awe. Really, he was sure that this duo had some kind mental bond between them, synchronizing their every thoughts and moves.

"We better hurry then Gai-sensei! We could miss his match!" Lee got up and reached for his crutch.

"Would you like to come as well?" Gai asked Harry.

"I don't think a trip to Chuunin exam is part of Kazuki-san's check up plan. Thank you for your offer though." Harry refused politely.

He knew what the final portion of the event was about and even if he wasn't in the hospital, he hadn't been planning to attend to watch children fighting each other to move up in their ninja rank. He had enough of battle scenes engraved in his memory to last an eternity.

"Okay, then Hari, we will see you when we come back."

Harry waved his goodbye to the older man.

When they were gone Harry fixed the crack in his glasses and continued to read the Kojiki. He was enjoying a quiet afternoon in the hospital for the first time ever which he thought wasn't possible until he met Lee and Gai. Suddenly, someone knocked on the door to his room and it was soon opened to reveal a familiar doctor.

"Kazuki-san. I thought you would be at the final examination."

"Kaede is there. And if every hospital staff who wanted to go and see the examination went then this hospital would be deprived of its basic function." Harry smiled lightly at the answer.

Harry watched Kazuki as he went through with his regular checkups and checked for any sign of the head injury from the previous day.

Then Harry heard something. It was a loud bang! He could also feel the grounds shake. Harry and Kazuki rushed to the open window to see few giant snakes stampeding towards the hospital. Kazuki grabbed the teen next to him and jumped out of window, setting Harry on the ground.

"Find a safe place." The old doctor swiftly turned back toward the on coming threat, and as one of the big snake raised its tail to strike at the hospital, kunai thrown by Kazuki flew towards it, only to do no damage and not stopping the summon in the slightest.

"No! That's the ICU!" Kazuki's desperate plea was ignored as it brought its tail down.

Harry didn't think twice, he had to save those people. Without any thought he instinctively yelled out loud in parseltongue.

"Stop!"

And with that loud hiss all the snakes around the hospital stopped their motions.