"Naruto, I'm not going to repeat myself again. Look at me," Kakashi said in a stern voice.
"I don't wanna!" Naruto shouted at him. He was sitting on his bed with his back towards Kakashi. The ninja had attempted to put him in bed, hoping to at least get a few hours' sleep before needing to have the much-needed conversation with Naruto regarding what had happened, but as usual, Naruto refused to give him that gap.
"Naruto, I understand that you're upset about what happened but you need to go to sleep."
"Go away, you don't want me anyway!" His outburst surprised Kakashi. Just where did he get that idea from? Kakashi ran his hand through his hair, still upset from earlier, probably. He reached out from where he sat at the end of the bed and gently pulled Naruto to face him. Even more surprising than his outburst, Naruto's face was tear stricken.
"Naru-chan, talk to me please."
Naruto's cheeks were flushed. He still refused to look at Kakashi but launched himself towards him. He wrapped his arms around Kakashi's shoulders and sobbed into the crook of his neck. Immediately, Kakashi brought Naruto closer to him and held him tight. He rubbed Naruto's small back but his attempt at soothing Naruto only made him cry more. His breath hitched, tantrums he could deal with but heartbreak he couldn't, not when the last time he was held in such a way his sensei was still alive.
"Kashi-nii, I hate you. I hate you, I hate you, I hate you! It's all your fault, I just wanted to play. Hina-chan almost got taken away, what about me Kashi-nii? What if I got taken away?" Naruto sobbed.
"Naru-chan I know you hate me right now, but I promise you that I didn't know this was going to happen. I would have made you stay with me and Tenzou if I did. You're precious to me, Naru-chan. I wouldn't let you be taken away."
Naruto calmed down slightly but he was still sniffling. "Don't lie Kashi-nii. You hate me that's why you sent me away. You're just like the old lady that kicked me out."
Old lady? I don't remember him being with any- Kakashi's eyes widened with realization. Naruto always wanting to play, him being upset when he didn't get enough attention, why he didn't like being separated from Kakashi, running after a ninja without thinking, insisting on seeing Hinata and hating being left alone . It all started to make sense, Naruto acted the way he did because of the time before he met Kakashi, when he was kicked out by villagers supposed to take care of him, before he knew what it was like to be wanted. Kakashi wanted to laugh at the irony but more than that, he wanted to kick himself.
He never spoke to Naruto about why he was in the park that night and he never bothered to ask Naruto about what his life was like before. To Kakashi, he was only three and couldn't have possibly understood what was going on around him, but he had missed all the signs. He knew Naruto would shy away when they were in public together and he noticed how Naruto would go quiet when people spoke about him. It scared Kakashi at how Naruto lasted that long without breaking down, at how good he was at keeping a façade when he was only a toddler. Is this how Sensei felt around me when he was still alive?
Kakashi let Naruto out of his embrace and held him at an arm's length. He wiped Naruto's tears with his sleeve and forced him to look up.
"Naruto, I love you remember? I told you that when you asked me before we met Team Rou, I told you that you were family to me. I could never hate you, never. You didn't deserve to be with that lady who kicked you out, and I would never do that to you. Naru-chan you won't understand it now, but you mean so much to me and to everyone around you."
"Even Tenzou-nii?" he asked quietly.
"Even Tenzou-nii. We spent the night talking about you and what games to play, we're making you a playroom Naru-chan," Kakashi said. He and Tenzou had spent the beginning of the night thinking of games to train Naruto with and the playroom idea seemed perfect. He would have an entire room and the garden to exercise his developing skills, all the while thinking it was just a game.
Naruto perked up, his eyes as wide as saucers. "Really, a playroom just for me?"
"Yep. If you want, Sasuke and Hinata can come over too. Though it still has to be built."
He smiled at the idea and Kakashi felt a weight lifted from his shoulders. He could imagine the different ideas going through Naruto's head, though he might have made it seem too perfect. Everything still depended on the decision of the council.
"Kashi-nii, you're not lying about hating me 'cause even if you are, I still get the playroom okay?"
Kakashi laughed, "I'm not lying Naru-chan, I promise. In fact, to prove to you I'm not lying I'll let you in on a secret. But you can't tell anyone."
"A secret? I definitely won't, Kashi-nii. I probmis," Naruto said and held out his pinky.
Kakashi had to resist rolling his eyes. He let go of Naruto to make it easier to seal the promise. "It's pronounced promise, Naruto, not probmis. I'll show you now but you need to go sleep immediately afterwards, okay? We're going to have a long talk in the morning about everything."
"Huh? What do you mean Kashi-nii?"
"Don't play dumb Naruto. You know what I mean. We're going to talk about what happened last night and you're going to tell me everything you've been feeling."
Naruto pouted. "Kashi-nii, I don't wanna."
"Well too bad, if you want to know the secret you have to agree. Otherwise I'll never tell you."
"Fine! But the secret must be cool. If it's not, I'll tell Obi-nii on you," Naruto huffed. Kakashi did roll his eyes this time, what he was about to show him was something he had never shown anyone and Obito would be the last to know because of how often he bugged him about it. Well my parents had to know, but my mom died before I could even remember and Dad probably forgot how I really looked because of how I never took it off, Kakashi supposed.
He brought his hand up to his nose and by Naruto's gasp, he guessed that the secret was 'cool' enough. He pulled his masked down completely and while it did feel strange since he had never taken it off in front of anyone before, he felt an odd sense of relief.
"Kashi-nii you look so cool without your mask on!"
Kakashi smirked. "That's why Naruto I never take it off. It'll be too much for others to handle."
Naruto nodded, taking in his nii-san's words. It made sense to him, Kakashi already looked cool with his mask on but without it, he seemed even cooler. He felt special to be let in on this secret.
"Kashi-nii, can I also wear your mask?"
Kakashi pretended to think about it. "Nope. But if you behave, I'll buy one for your birthday, and that means going to sleep right now."
Never in all the weeks that Kakashi lived with Naruto had he seen the child jump that quickly under the covers and shut his eyes. He shook his head at Naruto's antics, glad that he was back to being himself again. The conversation in the morning would be a long one, but it needed to happen. For the first time he truly understood why the hokage initially refused to let him take guardianship of Naruto, he was constantly finding himself at a stumbling block. He wasn't about to give though, he said he would change, and he planned on staying true to his word.
"Goodnight Naru-chan," he greeted and left the room after he heard a quiet reply. You must be rolling around with laughter, eh Sensei? I won't you down though, I'll raise him the way you and Kushina-san wanted. He'll be the best ninja this Village has ever seen and even if he doesn't want to be one in the end, he'll be an even better man than you, Sensei. I- We'll make you proud, I promise.
Hiruzen was livid. He wanted a peaceful night, he hadn't been getting enough sleep lately, and instead he was gifted with a three-in-one disaster. The Raikage had broken their treaty and attempted to steal the byakugan, by kidnapping the Hyuuga heir no less. Naruto had been involved with the incident and, by the grace of his favourite silver haired nin, was also training already. To top it all off, Danzo had shown up in the middle of the interrogation with the assailants and demanded that he be put in charge of dealing with Kumo.
Hiruzen disagreed, he was the hokage and he would be calling all the shots. He had given Danzo and the advisors too much freedom to the point where they thought they had authority over him.
"Danzo, you will not be involved with this. If, under any circumstances, I find that you had your hand in this situation, you will be facing punishment," he said to the astonishment to everyone in the interrogation room. Inoichi and his assistants were just about done and were leading the Kumo ninjas back to their prison cells when their argument started.
"Hiruzen, it has been made clear tonight that you have no control over our treaties with the other villages. Allow me to handle this," Danzo insisted and glared at those around him. They left soon afterwards, leaving just him and Hiruzen in the room.
"For you to spark a war between our villages? Danzo, I have made up my mind and you cannot change it. Do not think for even a second that I do not know what your plan is."
Danzou chuckled slightly, "Ever the cautious man, Hiruzen, even in your old age. I have no ulterior motives, I simply want to defend our Village and put the Hyuuga at ease."
"The Hyuuga are at ease! I have seen them tonight and they agreed that if the ninjas involved with this incident are given the death penalty, then no animosity will be held. There is no need for you."
Danzo's visible eye twitched. He was struggling to maintain his calm look and tightened his fist against his cane. He took a deep breath and spoke, "You are being foolish, by showing them kindness you are allowing them to see Konoha as a weak state. Punishment to the Raikage and his village is needed."
"We are not a warring nation, Danzo. Konoha has been at peace for the last three years and it will not be disturbed. I know you plan on ridding the Uchiha and involving Kumo would be the cherry on top of the cake. Do not take me for a fool! I was chosen as the hokage and you will forever be in my shadow, that is your sole purpose is it not? I control the ANBU forces while you run behind the scenes with the illegal ROOT. Mark my words, Shimura, you will not succeed for as long as I live."
Hiruzen looked at Danzo with fierce eyes and walked past him. They were standing opposite each other in the room, Danzo nearest to the door. As Hiruzen passed him his grip on his cane tightened even more, leaving dents where his fingers were when he released his fist.
"You speak with great confidence, Hokage-sama," he spat, "but dogs do not sleep forever."
Hiruzen paused before he left the room. "Is that a threat?"
"It is a warning, Hiruzen Sarutobi. Your life and title mean little to me and regardless of what you are thinking, neither do the Uchiha."
The hokage turned around only to be met with an empty room. Danzo had always been a problem with but with recent events, Hiruzen found it difficult to maintain his composure. ROOT was still intact despite his orders to have it disbanded and what he had found with the help of Shisui on his most recent mission to the Land of the Waves was that there were moles within ANBU. The young Jonin thought the mission to be insignificant and simply given to him because of how quickly he would be able to finish it but after consulting Hiruzen the day before he was supposed to leave, he realised that it wasn't at all what he thought.
Hiruzen had no knowledge of his mission, it being given to him by Danzo without his consent. The old war hawk had the authority to do so but after learning who was to accompany Shisui, Hiruzen grew suspicious. Shisui's team consisted of two ROOT members, Dajimu and Tera, two of the most trusted agents of the subdivision. He instructed Shisui to be on his guard and repeat everything that was said during his mission. His thoughts were proven to be correct.
Dajimu and Tera tried to subtly convince Shisui to join Danzo's side. Under the pretence that he would think it over, Shisui questioned them further on what they had planned since they wanted him to join.
"We cannot reveal that to you unless Danzo-sama instructs us to, however if you choose to join you will be amongst the most honoured members," Dajimu told him.
"Is there some sort of hierarchy in ROOT?" Shisui asked. He knew that ROOT was in a league of its own when it came to Konoha's covert operations but for it to have its own hierarchy system made it seem more unnerving than it already was.
"Not necessarily but there are members that Danzo-sama hold in a higher regard based on your skill and loyalty," it was Tera who answered this time.
Shisui nodded but still unwilling to let it end there he asked another question, "Will this plan involve the Uchiha or will it involve Hokage-sama?"
Neither responded immediately, almost as though they could not reply but after a short pause, Dajimu said, "Like I have said, we cannot reveal certain aspects unless Danzo-sama allows it but the ANBU is involved. That is all you may now."
It disturbed Hiruzen when Shisui reported it. The ANBU were under his command but with Shisui's revelation, ROOT may have already infiltrated the corps.
When he finally arrived at the tower, he signalled at the hidden guards that it was him entering and flared his chakra signature to prove himself. He entered the building, switching on the main lights and made his way to his office. Glancing around to see if anything was amiss, he noticed that one of draws in his desk was pulled out slightly. He opened it completely and chuckled.
Of course, that would be missing, Hiruzen thought to himself, feeling giddy that Danzo had fallen for his trap. His plan was now set in motion, all he do now was watch with bated breath as it unravelled.
"You are foolish, Danzo if you thought I would keep Team Rou's folder at my desk, however I thank you for showing me your plan," he said quietly to himself.
In that draw lay a folder of Team Rou's records, its members' detailed history of living and serving in Konoha. The ANBU's records were usually kept in its headquarters but Hiruzen had ordered to see them during a meeting with the village advisors and Danzo three days ago. He kept the folder in his desk to see how long it would be until Danzo would realise it. He may be an old fool, but he had realised Danzo's advances a long time ago, it had just taken time to carefully craft his plan.
A page was missing from the folder and if he connected Danzo's words from earlier to that moment, he could form an idea of what his former teammate was planning. The page that was missing belonged to none other than Kakashi Hatake.
It was the early of the morning and Fugaku found himself unable to sleep. The entire mission now seemed pointless. Nothing eventful had happened once again and his team was starting to grow anxious. Usually after two days, there would be sort of contact with the enemy but there was none. He put up with another day of his team's constant complaining but was certain he would go insane if he had to deal with it for another eleven more days.
He planned on sending a member of his party with a message for the hokage within the next two days if things remained as peaceful; he would no longer partake in the mission. Although it went against protocol, he could not stomach the idea of wandering aimlessly until they reached the village located in the desert and had given in to the queries of his men. Fugaku knew that he was sure to face criticism for abandoning his mission, but that would be nothing when rumours would spread that the great Uchiha Clan head was given a mission based on false claims. It would bring dishonour on his clan and to him as both a man and ninja of Konohagakure.
He laid wide awake in his tent listening to the maddening noises that his teammates were making in their tent next to his. He was glad that he had given in to their demands of sleeping in his own tent because he was given some sort of sound barrier against their snores. Fugaku hated that part of missions, he could never find himself getting enough sleep when the people around snored. His wife, Mikoto, never snored but she was an angel and perfect in every way. He groaned and turned over to his side, using one arm to cover his ear.
"Stop thinking about her damn it! You're not some lovesick newlywed, Fugaku," he said to himself. He loved her wife dearly but wished that she would stop popping up in his thoughts whenever he went on a mission. He sometimes felt that he missed her a lot more than she did him when he left on long missions. Perhaps that was where Sasuke got his excessively clingy behaviour from.
"Come on, Fugaku, you need sleep." He closed his eyes and tried to relax his muscles. The snores coming from the tent next to him were just obnoxiously loud crickets. A small smile replaced his usual stoic expression. He could feel it, the gentle tugging of sleep. Just as he found himself unable to move, his body completely rested, he heard a squeak. His eyes shot open and after a few attempts of forcing himself to regain mobility, he left his tent.
He kicked the tent next to his and activated his sharingan. The sound had come from deeper within the forest. It may have been dark, but the lack of light only enhanced his hearing. He ran towards where he had heard the sound and whatever made the squeaking noise did it again. Without missing a beat, he took a kunai from his pouch that hung on his pants and flung it in the direction of the noise.
"Katon!" he shouted and a small fire illuminated the forest.
"Shall I aim my flames in your direction or will you state your business here, boy?" he questioned the owner of the strange sound, a scruffy looking boy. He was held against a tree; the shuriken had stuck between the material of his tattered sweater and the tree's trunk. He was short and had a youthful look. The boy scowled at Fugaku.
"Oi, don't shoot the messenger, shitty old ninja! I was paid to do this."
"A loss of money for your employer then. I'll ask you this once more, what is your business here?"
"A please would be nice, ya know? I put in all the effort of listening to those bastards and sacrificing my sleep, the least you can do is quit threatening my life, ninja."
Fugaku threw another kunai at him, this one barely missing his throat. "Answer the question before the next kunai renders you unable to, boy."
"A'ight, I'll talk since you're so insistent but I ain't no boy, ninja," he said and pulled his arm to free himself. He gave a Fugaku a small satisfied smirk, "I could have done that earlier, just so ya know."
Fugaku's teammates arrived at the scene, ready to pounce. They came closer to where Fugaku stood but their leader lifted his hand.
"You four," Fugaku warned them without turning back, "stay on guard."
"Fugaku-sama, what is the situation?" a ninja by the name of Tekka asked.
"This boy has information on the supposed enemy we've been sent to scout."
"It's just a brat, so why do we need to be so guarded?" another ninja asked.
"Setsuna, do not question my authority and act according to your whims. You are to stay back."
The boy looked at Fugaku chastising his team with amusement and laughed. Fugaku released his killer intent causing the boy to shudder.
"You think you are in a position to laugh, boy? Do not forget your life is in my hands."
Still keeping up his confidence, he glowered at Fugaku, "I said I ain't no boy. Man, is being this broody a personality trait for all ninjas or is it just you Uchihas? Look, I have information that you want so don't go waving your kunais around and threatening to kill me." He slouched downwards to sit against the tree and rested his head against his arms.
"I was walking around the forest when this lady approached me, she had a mask on before you ask what she looked like, but she had this… thing with her. I think she called him 'Tobi' or something, Kami was he freaky. He had this high-pitched voice and wore an orange spiral mask with just one eyehole. The whole time she spoke he fucking stared at me! Anyway, she threw a pouch at me and said that was payment for delivering this message to 'that group of Uchiha cowards', her words not mine."
"What was the message?" Fugaku growled at him.
"She said, 'Tell him this past midnight, he'll be even more paranoid than he already is. Tell him that we were looking at him at the stream earlier, the great Wicked Eye Fugaku was being watched! If he could be spied on by ninjas like us, then it's no wonder why he's failing as a clan head. The Uchiha's destroying themselves… how ironic for the Leaf's most powerful clan. Take this as a warning for Konoha, Fugaku and repeat it to your hokage. Continue to chase us and we'll come after your weapon. Go to Suna and we'll raze the village after claiming their prized possession for ourselves. We confirmed the rumour, so war will come when they reach maturity. To all those who betrayed me, your day will come. Your master's blood was not enough three years ago. Figured it out yet?' that was all she said before walking away. I blacked out afterwards and found myself walking here when I woke up… that was about just before you caught me," the boy finished.
Setsuna charged towards the boy and dragged him up his arm. "You expect us to believe all this huh? Who is your master, tell me her name!" he shouted at the boy but received no reply. Instead, the boy's body shook violently and began to steam.
Fugaku observed the scene in front of him with his sharingan. Your employer hit the jackpot with you, he thought upon realising what would happen if Setsuna continued to handle him violently.
"Setsuna get away from him! Tekka, Yakumi, fetch the medical supplies. Inabi leave immediately and repeat his message to the hokage. Tell him to send a recon team!" Fugaku ordered his team. "Now!"
The ninja called Inabi left, Tekka and Yakumi retreated immediately to their tent to get the medical supplies though Setsuna still did not let go of the boy.
"Huh? Fugaku-sama, don't tell me you're listening to him. He's leaving out information, we need to-" before he could finish his sentence, the boy pushed him hard causing him to fall to the ground.
The boy cracked his neck and stood up straight. His eyes rolled to the back of his head and his mouth opened wide. He lifted his arms up and ran towards Fugaku in a daze-like manner. Fugaku intercepted his movements and pinned him to the ground. The tattered clothing the boy wore seemed to melt away and Fugaku let go when he felt the boy's body heat increase with the amount of steam produced.
"Save-save me. They didn't tell me it would end like this," he said and groaned in pain. He cried out in pain as his clothes melted off his body at a faster rate.
Fugaku took a kunai and crouched next to him. "I sent my team to get our medical kit, but I don't think you'll make it till then. I will put you out of your misery but I think Setsuna's right, you are lying. Tell me, is what you said the truth or is there something that you are not telling me?"
He screamed as Fugaku ran the kunai along his bare back. The cool metal made the boiling feeling worse. The kunai left a small but deep cut between his shoulder blades as Fugaku pressed it harder into him.
"Well, what will it be? I'll have no problem torturing you as your body destroys itself from the inside, boy."
"Fi-fine I'll you everything, just stop dragging the kunai. Please," he panted.
"Speak fast then."
"Everything-everything I told you about the message is true, I don't know anymore than that. But the folks that hi-hired me, they're part of some group. They're called Akatsuki, I heard them say that name before I passed out. Please, you must save me! I live in a village nearby, the money, it's for my family. Please, I don't wanna die like this."
Tekka and Yakumi arrived with the kit but stayed back when they noticed the position their leader was in. He would not appreciate it if they interfered. Fugaku grinned slightly, "See that wasn't so hard now, but you made a mistake thinking I was easily swayed with words."
He turned the boy over and looked him in the eye, sharigan piercing into the plain brown ones. He held the kunai against the boy's neck and whispered, "There isn't a village nearby and what's happening to your body is your jutsu."
"How can you be so cruel?"
"Consider this a favour, boy. Your problem can't be solved with a few bandages and a soldier pill. Be glad I'm not letting you blow up."
With one slick movement, he slit the boy's throat. He checked the pulse and stood up, deactivating his sharingan in the process.
"Setsuna, get that look off your face and stand. He's dead."
"Fugaku-sama, you killed him…"
"He would have killed us if I hadn't. By the looks of it, he probably didn't know he could perform ninjutsu in the first place hence the reason he couldn't control it. He was a walking bomb."
Setsuna nodded and stood up. He walked towards the body to inspect it. The boy's front looked a salmon colour, his skin was blotchy and peeling from the excessive amount of heat coming from inside. His clothes were almost entirely melted off, save for shorts he wore and his part of his sweater that clung to his lower abdomen. Steam was still coming out his body and mixed with the blood dripping from his neck. Setsuna brought a hand to cover his mouth and turned to face Fugaku.
"How'd you think the enemy knew about it then?"
"Most likely, they didn't. They got lucky in choosing a proxy with an underlying power. You would have noticed it too if you used your eyes," Fugaku said as he beckoned Tekka and Yakumi to come over.
"Apologies, Fugaku-sama. We'll improve our actions next time," Yakumi said.
"Never mind that now. Sort out the body while we wait on recon, our mission's been cut short."
"Hai."
"Fugaku-sama are you sure we should retreat? We now know that the enemy was in this area, if we investigate we'll be able to apprehend them," Tekka said.
"They're no longer in the area, Tekka. You heard what he said, they knocked him out yesterday so they would have continued to move afterwards. Damn it! We would have caught them by now if I had just noticed them at the stream." Fugaku stomped his foot on the ground. He closed his eyes and clenched and released his fist. Losing composure now wouldn't do any good.
"When you're done sorting out the body, put out the fire. We'll go back to camp and return to Konoha tomorrow. We should be able to meet up with Inabi and the recon team along the way." Fugaku left, making his way back to his tent. While his team dealt with the body of a dead boy and putting out a fire he quite literally started, he allowed his thoughts to consume him.
He didn't grieve over the fact that he killed someone only a bit older than his son, he was a shinobi after all and part of their lifestyle was to protect their village whether it meant killing someone they'd rather not. He lived through and fought in the third shinobi war, Fugaku was a man with a heart hardened by war. One life meant nothing to the lives of many. Mikoto, Itachi, Sasuke, I'm sorry for failing this mission and my role as a clan head. But I swear on my life, no harm shall come your way. No matter what happens after this, you will remain safe.
"Master, was this really the right choice? The others will be angry at us when they find out we messed with the Konoha ninjas," Tobi asked as they journeyed their way to their organisation's rendezvous point. They were both carrying oil lamps to light their way in the dark.
"They're always angry at something, Tobi. Pein will just have to get over it," his master mumbled.
"Tobi's tired. Why did we have to leave this early?"
"Because someone decided to sleep in late and we need to make it back in time for the next meeting. You shouldn't even be tired, you're not even human."
"How rude Master! Tobi is human, aren't I?"
His master stopped and hit his head with the lamp. "Baka! Don't ask me after sounding so offended. And stop asking so many damn questions, I want to get as far as possible before dawn comes."
Tobi shielded his head with his hands. "Alright, stop hitting me. I'll keep quiet."
"Good." They continued to walk in silence but after a while, Tobi's master stopped.
"Tobi, it's not like I wanted to do it in the end. But I have to after the way they hurt me, it's only fair. I'm doing it for a good cause too, ridding the world of its treachery."
Tobi brought his lamp to his master's face. "Master, just because you're wearing a mask doesn't mean Tobi can't see your tears. I mean, I can't see it but I know they're there."
His master scoffed, "I'm not weak. I stopped crying a long time ago, Tobi so don't bring it up again. Konoha will pay for their crimes."
"H-hai, Master." Tobi said with worry laced in his words. He couldn't help but feel his master would soon regret her words.
A/N: This chapter is still quite short but it's the longer one I've written so far. I've experimented with content of a more 'graphic nature' so tell me your thoughts of this chapter. I've also tried to add some light-hearted humour in between. I'm still practicing my writing so any constructive criticism or suggestion is welcome. With regards to answering reviews, I will be doing that once I start getting more but those (TigrezzTail, love ya for commenting after every chapter) that's always reviewing, a big thank you. 5 reviews or more gets an extra chapter once I update. Favourite and follow my story and thanks for reading it :)
Until next chapter, ja!
