Chapter 2: Chapter 2
Chapter 2: Saying goodbye
Tsuande was numb with shock the as those words were spoken "Excuse me" she took a deep breath "But you essentially said you are Naruto's father?"
Byakuya carefully arched a brow, did his son not know his own last name?
"Minato did not tell him?" he asked.
Tsunade sighed after she took a look at a passage in Sarutobi's journal she had taken out moments ago, it took Jiraya to unlock it due to a complicated seal.
"Sarutobi-sensei, after he was reinstated thought that he could protect Naruto by keeping his parentage secret" she explained sadly after a minute of scanning a few passages.
She did not notice the far off look on Byakuya's face as Tsunade was deep in thought of how her sensei could keep knowledge of parents from a child.
Flashback, Sixteen Years Ago
Byakuya had arrived in the Elemental Nations, mere hours after an attempted assassination on his own flesh and blood. There was one man that he could trust, one that would uphold in protecting his son.
"Are you sure of this?"
Byakuya nodded as he softly handed the warmly wrapped bundle "I am" he replied quietly
The man sighed but nodded "I'll take care of him, when will you return?" he asked softly.
Byakuya thought for a moment while weighing the pros and cons "Fifteen years from now" he remembered that would be the approximate amount of time needed to find the assassin's who had gone into hiding… some Assassins could be quite sneaky.
The other man nodded as he was handed a scroll by Byakuya, wordlessly he left in a shunpo; leaving a blond, spiky haired man to look out the window.
During the entire meeting, neither noticed the crimson red glow in sky during their conversation.
End Flashback
Byakuya sighed mentally as Tsunade snapped the journal shut "Well, I'm glad you're here at least" she started "You said you'd return at his age of fifteen, what took an extra year?" she asked, trying to comprehend the fact that a Shinigami was in front of her due to what she read in the journal.
Byakuya noted the look in her eye as he explained his cold tone "The Kyuubi's reishi clouded our sensors in the Soul Society, it was only a few hours after I dropped off Naruto that it happened" Tsunade was grateful for the silencing seals she installed "I had planned on picking him up a year ago" he let out a small sigh "It's only now that the reishi cleared up due to the markers".
Tsunade nodded slowly as she took in the information, Byakuya asked "How has his life been here?"
Ok, looks like things are going to be down hill at this rate….
With Naruto, Apartment Area
Naruto stared at the ceiling with a sigh, he pushed himself off the bed as he picked up a book, deciding to go out for awhile and get some fresh air.
Hokage's Office
Byakuya showed no emotion to how his son was treated, but his eyebrow did twitch once, whether from annoyance or anger, Tsunade did not want to know.
He heaved a sigh "I see" he said simply as he began to take a look out the window, he was angry at the fact that the man he trusted made his sons life hell by sealing Kyuubi into him.
Tsunade expected this for the most part, given Sarutobi had his secrets; she disliked the fact that he hid who his parents were.
"I assume you'll be taking him back" it was a prediction, not a question.
Byakuya nodded wordlessly, he glanced in the slightest to Tsunade "I would however like to know who tried ruining his life" he felt a mental twitch seeing a murderous grin form on the Hokage's face "I'd be more than happy to" she said as the grin turned into a smirk.
Byakuya merely nodded at that, he left the room the next second.
With Naruto
Naruto lay in a tree branch reading a book, he frowned for a moment as a few thoughts came to mind. He felt as if someone was either watching him or as if there was something going on…
Shaking his head to rid himself of paranoid thoughts, then movement rustled in the leaves. He felt the wind blow gently against his hair, then he disappeared in a blur.
`ROOT nin' Naruto mused `something's definitely up' he thought avoiding detection, stealth was the best option at this point and certainly did not want unnecessary attention.
Naruto heard metal whistling and he dodged an attack by a ROOT nin, quickly dispatching the enemy he viciously kicked the operative in the chest with his shin and he was sent spiraling into a tree, a crack was heard as he was knocked out.
Naruto grimaced, he decided to leave the scene in a shunshin the next second, appearing in a meadow he heard an inhumane roar, then a shadow fell over him as he narrowly dodged what appeared to be a large bear like thing that was twenty feet tall and had a swaying tail with a menacing looking mask on it's face.
Naruto narrowed his eyes slightly `the hell is that?'
"Kit, get of the way!" Kyuubi yelled in his mind "That's a Hollow!"
Naruto decided not to question but to do as he jumped back avoiding an attack, then a red glow was in its mouth as it aimed at Naruto….
With Byakuya
Byakuya was searching for his son's faint reiatsu signature when he saw a Cero go off in the distance, he immediately left in a shunpo to the adjacent area.
With Naruto
Naruto panted as he had his back to a tree, hiding from the "Hollow" that had attacked him, that red blast attack skinned his left arm, he just barley got away and had blood trailing down his appendage, he winced at the dull throb.
"Come out come out, time for feeding!" the hollow laughed as it searched for Naruto, Naruto lowered his breathing to silent levels, then something happened….
*SMASH!*
The tree was reduced to bits as Naruto dodged the swinging of it's tails
"Time for some fun!" a maniacal laughter echoed from the hollow, Naruto skid for a few moments, what was this thing?
"Bakudo 61: Rikujokoru"
Naruto heard a the words as six beams of light seemingly slammed into its midsection and the hollow thrashed violently "Come out you worm! I'll kill you, you damned shingiami!"
Naruto cocked a brow `Shinigami?' he thought, Kyuubi was unusually silent at this point.
Byakuya shunpoed a distance away, he glanced in the slightest seeing Naruto, his eyes widened slightly before recomposing, he had to finish this quick.
The hollow sniffed the air as if it was matching a scent and cackled "Ah, so familial relations?" it questioned in an echoing tone.
Naruto stood and wrapped medical bandages around his left arm to stem the blood flow, he could see the man clearly, deciding not to interfere he jumped back into a tree, Byakyua immediately understood, it was plain and simple.
Finish this quickly
Byakuya murmured pointing at the hollow "Hado 4: Byakuri" a bolt of white lightning shot at the hollow who just barley in time shifted it's head as the attack skinned it's mask leaving a crack.
Naruto watched the battle, he remembered `Familial relations?' he thought `Kyuubi…'
Kyuubi spoke up "Kit…looks like I found something interesting in the DNA section of your mindscape"
Naruto cocked a brow mentally as if he was gesturing the great fox to go on "I was blocked off from accessing this portion since you were born, right?" Kyuubi asked.
Naruto mentally nodded slowly as Kyuubi continued his explanation "Up until now, I've been disintegrating what appeared to be a mental seal there, and it turns out you have the genetic structure of a shinigami"
Naruto just felt his mind shut down for a moment, he shook his head, deciding to wait till this fight finished, he wanted a few answers if this…shingami was his father.
The hollow was losing badly as it had already had half it's mask cracked and left limb cut off "DAMN YOU! DAMN YOU!"
Byakyua remained calm as he withdrew his zanpakuto "It's over, hollow" he said in a cold tone.
The hollow was desperate as it frantically searched for a way out of this situation; a sickening thought came to mind "I may not be able to defeat a taicho…." He pounced towards Naruto who snapped out of his thoughts "BUT I CAN KILL THIS BRAT!"
Byakuya's eyes widened as he shunpoed as fast as he could, Naruto dodged the attack…but the tails were going to demolish him when-
"Chire (Scatter), Senbonzakura (A Thousand Cherry Blossems)" Byakuya appeared in front of Naruto in mid air as the blade dissolved into sakura petals, then he swing the hilt of his zanpakuto as the blades sliced into the hollow deeply and it screamed in pain as it cut into it's white mask and disappeared into nothing.
Naruto was shocked as he landed further up the tree branch, he shook his head to rid himself of it. The next second Byakuya stepped onto the branch and Naruto was silent for a moment as if it felt like hours "who are you?" he asked calmly, he wanted to know.
Byakuya saw the look in his son's eye, he sighed mentally "We need to talk" he said simply before reappearing on the forest floor.
Naruto nodded curtly before jumping down, landing he gave a look that said explain yourself.
"Naruto…" Byakuya started getting a slightly widened look from said boy "I am your father, Byakuya Kuchiki" he said quietly, he knew from the look in his son's eye that he could not lie after what the hollow just said.
Naruto opened his mouth for a moment then closed it, he looked to be in thought. On one part he was angry that he was left in Konoha, but the other told him to try and understand what was going on. He rubbed his temples for a moment "I'm sorry but.." he struggled trying to comprehend this "Do you have proof?" he asked quietly, Byakuya seemed silent for a moment "I do" he confirmed "A birth certificate, perhaps?" he questioned in his usual tone.
Naruto didn't even flinch at it, he himself had been used to the way he was talked to during his time in the village "Yes" he agreed "But before I leave with you, I'd like to at least see the few people who have been good to me…"
Byakuya hesitated for a moment; Naruto was most likely trying to figure out different scenarios that could have lead to his father picking him up now "Very well, I will be back in an hour. Meet me here."
Naruto nodded softly before Byakuya left in a shunpo, Naruto rubbed his temples `Kyuubi, what do you think?'
Kyuubi was unusually silent "Kit…I suggest you do what you intend to" the great fox sighed "Things are going to get very troublesome, I know you might be angry." he trailed off.
Truth to tell as Naruto leapt from tree to tree, he was angry, but it quelled down for awhile, Naruto could tell from earlier that his "Father" was analyzing his reaction, anger was in the former blonde's Unique Sharingan eyes. He could tell that his "Father" is surprised by his "new" eyes.
Naruto sighed to himself as he stopped at the Hokage Tower, he wanted an explanation as to what happened, deciding to discard his anger for later, opening to window to Tsunade he smiled "Hey Tsunade-san"
Said woman smiled "Hey gaki, I assume…."
Naruto nodded at the hanging question, he asked "He talked to you?" he asked quietly.
Tsunade nodded at the question, she could tell the black haired Gennin that he was in an agitated state "What are your thoughts?"
Naruto was silent for the first two minutes, a sigh echoed the room as he sat on the window sill "My original thought was anger…" he states softly, Tsuande nodded in understanding, she got up and walked up to Naruto, she smiled giving some advice "Try hearing his side of the story".
Naruto looked at Tsunade, he had surprise "my…Otou-san" he ended slightly saddened "Had a reason as to why he couldn't take in his son?" he asked with a small snap.
Tsunade winced briefly, Naruto sighed "Sorry" he apologized "This is very overwhelming" he admitted as he rubbed the bridge of his nose with his index finger and thumb.
Tsunade smiled "gaki, I did fill out the paperwork for your release…." She started "All that needs to be done is filing the paperwork and handing in your hi-ate."
Naruto paused for a moment then slowly nodded "Alright, but this hi-ate belonged to Iruka-sensei" he smiled "I'll take it to him, I have Kakashi-sensei to see before I leave"
Tsunade smiled, she hadn't seen the black haired boy like this before, he seemed happy but was going to leave Konoha without regrets "Alright, good luck gaki"
Naruto nodded as he left the window, Tsuande rubbed her neck "Damnit the paperwork…" she muttered.
Naruto popped his head back in "Oh, and about doing paperwork, why not use Kage Bunshin's?" he suggested with a smile before quickly leaving.
Tsunade paused for a few seconds as the information sunk in…..
With Naruto, several seconds later.
"DIE DIE DIE YOU SONS OF BITCHES!" a manically Kage's voice cackled in sheer insanity, Naruto chuckled for a moment as every shinobi and civilian sweat dropped at the personality of the Kage when it came to paperwork.
Naruto shook his head in amusement, god how he loved the uses of the Kage Bunshin, stopping at Iruka Umino's apartment, he knocked on the door.
Said man came to the door, he scratched his scar for a moment "Naruto!" he smirked "I heard the news, you succeeded on the mission"
Naruto nodded gratefully "Iruka-sensei, we need to talk" he leaned on the railing of the balcony, Iruka noted his tone, he nodded moments later "About what?" he asked closing the door behind him.
Naruto sighed "I'm leaving Konoha" the single sentence shocked Iruka "Let me continue, my…father found me and it seems I'm going home" he ended quietly.
Iruka looked at Naruto, he had a hint of happiness on his face and some of longing, he was going to miss the place, sighing moments later the tanned Chuunin nodded "I understand" he smiled "So, I assume you're here to return the hi-ate?" he asked quietly.
Naruto nodded wordlessly as he handed the blue clothed hi-ate to Iruka "Thank you though, Iruka-sensei" he said quietly with a small smile on his face "I enjoyed the times at academy" he shook his head in remembrance.
Iruka chuckled at that "Yea, there were some good times and bad times" the two shared a laugh remembering good times, Iruka changed the subject "Anyone else your going to see before leaving?" he asked curiously
Naruto nodded "Kakashi-sensei" he stated simply, Iruka groaned "Please tell me you won't start reading the orange books" he grumbled at the end, Naruto chuckled inwardly "I won't" he rolled his eyes getting a mock glare from Iruka only made the young Kuchiki to be laugh.
Naruto calmed down "Good bye, Iruka-sensei. I'll see you around" he jumped off the railing the next second.
Iruka sighed, things were not going to be the same without Naruto around.
Naruto made his way to another district, he stopped in a tree and sweatdropped seeing Kakashi ignoring Gai once again.
"YOSH! My eternal rival! Your student should test his flames of youth against my young stundent!" a fire in his eyes lit up as he got in a good guy pose.
"Hm, you say something?" Kakahsi asked as he looked up from his orange book.
Gai face vaulted "No! damn you and your hip attitude!" he recomposed seconds later, Naruto dropped from the tree as he gave a "Yo" he said simply.
Lee gasped dramatically "Another Rival! What say you and I run laps around Konoha!?" he challenged
Naruto looked at Lee, bored of course "Hm, you say something?" he asked, eye smiling.
Lee and Gai face vaulted "DAMN BOTH OF YOU AND YOUR HIP ATTITUDES!" the mini me and sensei accused.
The two shrugged in unison.
"YOSH! I MUST SURPASS NARUTO-SAN'S FLAMES OF YOUTH BY RUNNING ON MY HANDS!"
"LEE!" Gai said with anime tears going down his cheeks "I WILL JOIN YOU IN THIS CRUSADE!"
"GAI-SENSEI!"
"LEE!"
"GAI-SENSEI!"
"LEE!"
Then the genjutsu of horrid beach and white and red strips came up as the two hugged.
Naruto shook his head in annoyance "You are a master at "Ignorance is bliss" quote" he stated as if it were a fact.
Kakashi nodded in agreement "Well, at least someone recognizes my talent" he said cheerfully as he continued to ignore the genjutsu that dropped moments later, the two clones left in a cloud of dust.
Naruto rolled his eyes "Talent? It's an art form" he joked getting a chuckle from Kakashi as he snapped his book shut "So, any reason why you're here? He asked the next second.
Naruto nodded "I'm leaving Konoha, seems my family found me" he ended quietly.
Kakashi's single eye widened in shock, he sighed sadly moments later "I take it there's no convincing you to stay?" He asked, though he already knew the answer.
Naruto nodded making Kakashi sigh "If it makes any comfort, I enjoyed having you as my student" the silver haired jonin commented.
Naruto nodded, then he remembered something that would give the two a good laugh "Hey, you remember that mission with Tora?"
Normally, Kakashi would have paled but in surprise he laughed "Oh yeah, that mission…"
Flashback, Tora Mission, Several Hours before C mission assigned.
Naruto was highly amused right now, as was Kakashi who was watching from a tree as he had his book stashed away, the situation for capturing Tora was greatly amusing for the two.
"Come here you baka cat!" Sasuke yelled as he sped after Tora, the demon cat evaded the Uchiha once more.
"Come to Sasuke-kun you dumb cat!" Sakura cheered her crush on.
Kakashi was sniggering as he interpreted the words, he leaned on a tree branch to keep himself from falling out of said tree.
Naruto held a smirk for awhile, then it happened….
A highly girlish scream echoed from the forest, Sasuke tried to kick the cat to knock it out but then it bit down on his….hot dog…
Several awkward moments later, laughter echoed across the forest, Kakashi was laughing so hard that he clutched his stomach as he fell from the tree and rolled on the forest floor while laughing.
Naruto was laughing as well seeing Sasuke get buzz sawed by the evil Tora, he leaned on a tree for support while Sakura was prying the cat off Sasuke's face which only made the scratches worse.
Tora bolted away the next second, Sasuke saw the two laughing as he did a patented Uchiha glare at the two.
Naruto stopped as did Kakashi seeing Sasuke's face torn up so bad that he had to use a bucket load of bactine to heal it, Naruto looked at Kakashi as did said man, seeing the scratched Uchiha's face only made the two laugh harder.
End Flashback
Kakashi and Naruto were laughing like old time friends "Ah, I remember that you took a video of it discreetly and gave it to the ANBU HQ" Kakashi got through laughs.
Naruto nodded as he calmed down slightly but still had a chuckle in his voice "Let's not forget that Iruka-sensei enjoyed the show with the orb I provided him" he smirked at the end.
Kakashi gave a mock shocked look "You gave him that thing!?" he asked incredulously "That explains why he had that damn grin on his face" he muttered thoughtfully to himself.
Naruto nodded, amused he sighed at the end of his nod "Alright, I think I've spent enough time here, I've done what I've needed to…"
Kakashi gave him a look, "Anyway, well good luck with your family Naruto, I hope the best for you" he shook hands with his now former student.
Naruto nodded gratefully "Good luck, Kakashi-sensei" he said one last time before he left.
Kakashi chuckled as he flipped open his orange book `Ah, things are gonna be quiet for awhile…' he sweat dropped seeing a dust cloud in the distance
"KAKASHI! MY ETERNAL RIVAL!"
The silver haired Jounin sighed `Well, better uphold traditions.' he eye smiled to himself before flipping another page in his book, he chuckled inwardly at ignoring the spandex wearing Jounin.
With Naruto
Naruto made his way back to the forest where he had met his father, many things were going through his mind, like what should he say if Byakyua is his father? What should I do? Who was my mother?
Naruto shook his head as he entered the clearing , Byakuya was waiting for him there with a scroll clutched in his hands, Naruto gave a brief nod, the Sixth Divison Taicho knew full well that the mini me of him would want to know before confirming it.
Byakuya explained "This is the birth certificate, but different from others" seeing his confused expressing he explained "This has a blood print analysis" he undid the scroll revealing a certificate there, but slightly different as it had two thumb prints that were visible "Place your thumbs here and the document will tell"
Truthfully, it was an identifying kido put onto parchment, it was mainly used with clan families in case heirs or members were lost and needed to be confirmed by their blood.
Naruto looked skeptical at first, but nodded quietly, he put his thumbs near the corners of the paper, he felt a slight cut formed on both the thumbs, he ignored that as he took his arms back at his side. Then something happened.
Slowly, a kanji formed below the parent's signature, it said Confirmed
Naruto's eyes widened in shock, Kyuubi was as well, if you could see it that is.
Said former blond was silent for a few minutes, as if he was deliberating something mentally. He patiently waited for his son's response.
"It's true, isn't it?" Naruto asked softly, he gaze hit the floor "You really are my Otou-san…"
Byakuya nodded softly, Naruto was extremely silent for another moment "Why? He asked, Byakuya did not understand as he continued "Why leave me here?" he asked softly.
Byakuya could see the hurt in the former blond's eye, he sighed mentally "Back when you were born, the more radical members of my clan tried killing you".
Naruto had no reaction, Byakuya took this as a sign to continue "After that, I originally had planned on having you under the care of a "Minato Namikaze"
Naruto's eyes widened slightly "What changed the situation?"
Byakuya raised an eyebrow but did not comment on the fact that he analyzed something so fast "Kyuubi" the flinch did not go unnoticed "The lingering powers of the Kyuubi had…blocked me from getting to you, the originally prediction was that it would take no more then fifteen years to clear up" he sighed at this point "It took an extra one" he added quietly.
Naruto sighed to himself, it was all overwhelming to him, shinigami, hollows, and the fact that Kyuubi had interfered with his life, though he did not blame the fox for what had happened.
Byakuya decided it was time for the finisher "And there is another part of my explanation you should know"
Naruto looked up at this, he sighed mentally `Kyuubi.'
Byakuya took in a sigh "The Kuchiki clan itself, is one of the Four Noble Families"
Silence
Naruto muttered something that made the man sigh again "This is going to take some time…"
Byakuya could not help but agree on that fact.
For the next three hours, Byakuya had gone over the Shinigami and their duties along with the military organization, coupled by Thirteen Divisions called the Goteijuusantai (Thirteen Divison Imperial Squads), which dealt with regulating the human world by sending purified souls to the Soul Society, and the hollows, which Byakyua had explained were decayed human souls that fell to their inner hunger.
Then the explanation for the attack he had done earlier with his katana which was called a Zanpakuto (Soul Cutter), a manifestation of the Shinigami's power, each had a different type of power though, Naruto understood the basics of all this, but knew that there was more in depth things then usual, he decided to file it away for later reference.
"I know of the fox as well" Byakuya said coolly, Naruto felt panic rise in him, Byakuya seeing this observed "I assume that you'd think that I'd view you as the fox"
Naruto nodded shortly, he looked away as if he did not want to meet his father's gaze.
What felt like an eternity to Naruto finally ended, the former blond sighed "He's trained me. He gave me these eyes in hopes to try and make up for the hell his sealing caused me." he said simply as he looked at his father.
Byakuya went wide eyed here, most shinigami assumed the fox was a creature of pure destruction. But why help a boy?
Naruto would have chuckled but explained "About ten years ago, he broke free of an illusion on himself" he sighed here "It eventually lead up to me going on a training trip" he finished at the end, remembering that he was kicked out of the orphanage at the age of six and met the Kyuubi, seeing it's container weak at this point decided to train the former blond by taking him on a trip across the Elemental Nations.
Byakuya nodded slowly in understanding, Naruto asked a question that came up "Otou-san…" he started out "If shinigami can't be seen, why is it I am here now?"
Byakuya nodded at the question "In the Soul Society, to post shinigami at certain locations, a Gigai (Faux body) is used to blend in with humans, that way they can do their mission without being noticed, yours is a specially crafted one that has "Chakra" pathways and a growth capability"
Naruto understood the infiltration part, but wondered who would come up with such a device.
In Soul Society, a lazy mad scientist sneezed making him spill chemicals on the ground, thus making him freak out momentarily.
Naruto sighed, all his questions had been answered and he now asked "What now?" he asked, the last question being on his mind.
In response, Byakuya unsheathed his zanpakuto and stabbed into the air in front of him, the odd thing was that it seemed to tear into a space, a clicking sound was heard as if a door was being open, Byakuya said three words that seemed to make Naruto smile inwardly.
"Now, we go home"