Summary: In the end, the war destroyed everything dear to him...well, almost everything. With the elemental nations in ruins and his heart heavy with unrelenting grief, what else could he do, but return to the home, to the family he left behind. Can the Elrics handle the return of their elder brother, and the secrets tucked behind his happy smile?

Tags: Major Character Death; Major character Injury; PTSD; Implied/Mentioned noncon; Implied/Mentioned Torture; Canon Typical Violence; Dark Themes; Spoilers

Pairings: Uzumaki Naruto/Uchiha Sasuke; Edward Elric/ Roy Mustang

Inspired by : The Story Untold- BlackDeviousRose & Bonds Are Stronger Than Gold- BloodPokemon101

Prologue

It was over.

Six years of fighting, of dying and it was all over and he was the only one left to see it.

A bitter, broken smile crossed his lips as he stared up at the sunset, the burning oranges and reds mixing until it was a macabre reflection of the desolate land around him.

Six years of pretending to be alright, of lying to the faces of his loved ones to keep them from worrying...and all of it was for nothing.

There was nothing left.

No one left.

Madara, Obito, and Sasuke had made sure of it.

Every single one of his precious people were gone. His beloved village was gone.

And from the darkness encroaching upon his vision, the taste of copper on his tongue, he knew he would be joining them soon.

The thought was more comforting than it should've been and his began to slip close.

"Kit," Came a deep, tired voice.

Kurama. He'd become close to the demon since discovering him the night of his graduation, their bond less of a friendship and more that of family. The demon was the only one in the world he trusted implicitly.

"Hey 'Rama-nii. Guess this is it."

"No. Or have you forgotten your promise?"

"My promise?"

His demon sighed. "Hai. Your promise to your brothers. You promised to return to them."

Naruto stilled, his eyes widening. Years had passed since he'd thought of his baby brothers, the lingering resentment between them making his heart ache as he did so. Six years younger than him, they'd been his everything until the council had forced him to return to Konoha. Away from the only family he'd ever known.

He'd promised to return.

He wouldn't lie to them. Wouldn't abandon them.

His chakra surged, and he screamed as it began forcefully healing the gaping wound in his chest.

After all, there was nothing else for him anymore.

*/*

He'd been dying when he found him.

A tiny child of five lying in an alleyway, beaten and broken as his body struggled to heal itself. It was his birthday, the worst night of the year if he'd ever known one, and he hated it with a burning passion.

Hated his village.

Lying there in his bloodstained clothing, he'd been fully ready to die, hoping beyond hope he'd be reunited with the parents he'd never known. The warmth and love he'd only dreamed of and for a moment it seemed his prayer had been answered.

A man, younger than his jiji but with eyes so much older entered the alley and crouched beside him, eyes liquid gold and so sad.

"Oh little one," He whispered softly, "What have they done to you?"

"T-Tou-san?" He whimpered hopefully and the man gathered him in his arms, shaking his head for a moment then pausing.

"Would you like me to be?"

He nodded weakly, giving his new father a smile before he could resist the darkness no longer. The last thing he saw, was the man's warm smile.

*/*

"Tou-san, is Ms. Trisha gonna be my mom?"

His father blushed lightly, and he nodded to himself.

Since being taken in by his father four months previous, he'd only ever seen the man show interest in the beautiful brunette woman.

Trisha Elric was a gentle woman, who seemed determined to mother him to death since she had no children of her own, and he took to calling her Kaa-san to her immense pleasure and his father's embarrassment. For some reason, the elder blonde refused to confess his feelings for the woman, despite multiple assurances from his son.

It was frustrating.

Seeing as the man refused to answer his question, he took it upon himself to get the two together and he knew just how to do it.

*/*

It worked!

A bright grin overtook Naruto's lips as he watched the ceremony in front of him. With the help of Pinako-baa-chan and Sarah Rockbell, he'd managed to get his father together with the woman he loved and now, he was finally going to have a complete family.

Their wedding was a tiny affair, just their family and the Rockbells, but it was beautiful and by the end of it everyone was happy.

A warmth feeling stirred in Naruto's gut and he couldn't help but grin even brighter, especially remembering the news.

He was going to be a big brother.

*/*

"He's so...ugly."

Hohenheim snorted at his eldest son's words as the six year old held his baby brother for the first time, blue eyes full of tears but warmer than he'd ever seen them.

Trisha giggled tiredly, ruffling the boy's hair but he paid her no heed, kissing his brother's forehead.

"Don't worry Eddy, your nii-san is here. He'll protect you...even if you're ugly."

The baby cooed softly and he smirked. "Yeah, otouto. It's the promise of a lifetime."

Unbeknownst to him, guilt flashed in his father's eyes, and his heart sank. Oh, if only.

If only…

*/*

"You're leaving."

Hohenheim stiffened as his eldest spoke, his blue eyes too serious for a child his age.

Looking away from his wife's sad gaze, he turned to the child who was watching him, the ten year old before him so different from the child he'd found dying so long ago.

"Hai," He whispered before handing the child a missive with the symbol for his former village on it. "And so are you."

The child stumbled back. "W-what? No! No, Tou-san, please."

His heart clenched at the terror in the preteen's gaze.

"I'm sorry, Naru. The council has ordered you to return to your village or you will be…"

"I'll be killed." He finished brokenly, and Trisha flinched, pulling the boy into her arms.

His father nodded. "I'm sorry."

Naruto gave him a tired smile. "I knew it would happen eventually, tou-san. I ran away twice before you found me...they dragged me back both times."

His mother sniffled and kissed his forehead. "Write me, okay? I don't care if it's just a few words or an entire book. Write me. And, if you can, come home."

"Hai," He hugged her back just as tight.

"I love you." They cried at the same time, and he snorted before pulling back.

"Tell my brothers, I'm sorry."

"Why?"

The three turned to find Edward and Alphonse standing on the staircase, the former glaring at them.

"You're leaving?!"

"Ed, I-"

"Don't bother! Just...Just leave!" He snapped turning and running back into his room. Al gave them a mournful look then followed his brother but not before they saw the tears that left his eyes.

A heavy hand landed on his shoulder and he nodded. With nary another word they departed, his brother's words echoing in his mind.

'I promise, one day I will find my way back to you both. I'll go back and return stronger and able to protect you. I promise."

A new determination in his heart, he steeled his spine and followed his father down the path that would lead him into the place he'd only ever known as Hell.

TBC...