Mask of Deception
By: Kisu
A/N: Just clarifying things a little, the poison that Naruto has is when he got attacked by the Sound-nins way back in the beginning. Naruto has been hiding the poison from Gaara. His eyes won't turn milky white, they're still blue. ^^ Episode 76 is out! YAY!
Disclaimer: Naruto and characters do not belong to me..
Chapter 7: Memories
Iruka set his cup down hard, making a solid thump on his wooden table. "Naruto is back?" He gasped, before checking if he had broken his cup or scratched the table. Kakashi watched him lazily and crossed his arms.
"Yeah. So it seems." He drawled.
"What do you mean?" Iruka asked, suspiciously.
"It seems like he doesn't remember that he's Naruto, or rather yet…doesn't want to remember." Kakashi replied.
"What?" Iruka swallowed, as a lump seemed to appear in his throat. "What do you mean he doesn't remember?"
"…seems like he lost his eyesight now too." Kakashi finished saying. Iruka realized he had blanked out and snapped his attention back to the silver-haired jounin leaning against the wall in front of him.
"His eyesight and his memory!?" Iruka was now completely devastated. He shot to his feet and clenched his fists. "He wasn't ready to be a Chuunin. I knew it."
"Ah…seems like he's ANBU now." Kakashi replied, calmly.
"ANBU? Naruto isn't old enough to be in that level or experienced! He never took the ANBU exam!" Iruka raged.
"It isn't concerned with the age. Just the ability." Kakashi smiled. "According to the Hidden Sand's requirements, Naruto has the ability." He thoughtfully looked away from Iruka. "But, Naruto might just be a high level jounin and not completely a full-fledged ANBU. It usually takes years to learn an enormous amount of jutus." He heard Iruka getting up and rushing to the door. "Where are you going?"
"To see him, of course!" Iruka yelled. Kakashi got up and followed the man out the door, making sure to it was lock before taking the stairs two steps at a time.
Satoh Uzutaro sat in front of the Hokage monument. It had captured his eye once he had set foot in Konoha, destined to kill Orochimaru. The nurse had guided him there and left him after his reasoning that he wanted some time alone. He inhaled deeply and a small smile crossed his face. The air was wonderful. The air was hot and dry at Hidden Sand. They had to walk around with cloths over their faces when sandstorms terrorized the village. A feeling of regret washed over him and he pictured a familiar shinobi's jade green eyes. "Gaara." He whispered, shooting to his feet. His vision might have been impaired but he wouldn't lose to anyone. Especially himself.
Taking on a familiar stance, he felt the ease of his taijutsu touch every taut muscle on his body. He heard the footsteps of two people approach him. One was hurried while the other one was slow and steady. He swung around and somersaulted over the first man to land in front of the man behind him. He executed his taijutsu, lashing out with his punches and kicks. The jounin could hardly keep up until he saw an opening and slid his feet from under him. Uzutaro fell onto his back with a grunt and he got up slowly.
"Hey, hey. No good in attacking your sensei." Kakashi commented as he placed a hand on his elbow to help him up. Uzutaro's arm jerked away from him and he stood up.
"I don't need your help." He replied, coldly. "You're not my sensei."
"Naruto?" This voice was a new one.
"I'm not Naruto." He seethed. Anger was getting to him. Anger he hadn't felt in such a long time. He was helpless, without his eyesight—he wasn't strong enough to protect Gaara. He had to train. Yes, that was it. He would train immediately.
Iruka shot a questioning look at Kakashi and the jounin gazed at the blonde who seemed to be thinking things over.
"He says his name is Satoh Uzutaro." Kakashi explained. "He says, he's not Naruto."
"But he is Naruto!" Iruka protested. "Naruto, look at me." His head lifted slowly and he turned his face in his direction. His eyes were blue but unseeing. Iruka bit back a cry of despair.
"Your voice is familiar." Uzutaro said, confidently. He raised his hands and Iruka watched with tears gathering his eyes as the blonde touched his face and ran his fingers across the scar on this nose. "Iruka-sensei, was it?" He stated. Kakashi raised an eyebrow as he examined the man. Uzutaro gripped his head and fell to his knees. "Ugh…"
"Naruto!" Iruka quickly knelt down next to him, his hand hovering slightly at his shoulder.
"Don't touch me." He hissed before being cut off a painful groan.
"Naruto!" Iruka unheedingly grasped his shoulder, tightly. "Naruto! Naruto, are you all right?"
***
Beyond the world of reality, was a sea of red. The surface was undisturbed and it was eerily quiet. The boy who was submerged in the water, opened his eyes slowly.
Naruto!
"Iruka-sensei?" He whispered, as his vision slowly came into focus. He stared up at the surface and he looked around wearily. "Where am I?"
Naruto?
This time it was Kakashi-sensei. Naruto closed his eyes. Let the voices fade. If he went deeper, it would be silent there. Silent and peaceful.
Red eyes glowed beneath him and a tail, glowing a brighter red than the shade of the water sneaked around Naruto's waist.
"Kyuubi?" Naruto asked, still staring with unfocused eyes. A rumble from the chest of the Nine-Tails turned into a deep-throated growl.
"You have awakened. It has been long." The demon replied.
"I've been asleep?" Naruto frowned, dazedly.
"Your own consciousness fears the pain you have experienced." The Kyuubi replied. "It has locked us away. In these miserable dark depths."
"I thought you could break free." Naruto implied.
"It is your will, not mine." The Kyuubi replied. "Besides, who said that I wanted to break free?"
They drifted into a comfortable silenced as the tail wound around Naruto's waist drew him deeper into the dark depths of the sea of red.
But on top of the water, a figure gazed down with a blank expression. Uzutaro watched silently as Naruto's figure disappeared, before walking away. His footsteps echoed in the deafening silence.
***
"I have to train!" Uzutaro gasped as he inhaled, sharply like someone coming out of the water for air. "I have to get stronger!"
"Calm down." Iruka said, with worry.
"Must protect…Gaara." He whispered. The dull ache in his head continued to throb. "I must not let this weakness penetrate my defenses."
"You should take it easy." Kakashi told him seriously.
"I'll take him." The turned toward the new speaker and Uzutaro raised his head.
"Neji?" Iruka asked with surprise.
"He can stay with me until he gets better." Neji said, confidently. "We have a dojo."
"Okay." Kakashi nodded. "I'll tell this to the Hokage." Neji walked over to Uzutaro and wordlessly helped him up, flinging Uzutaro's arm around his shoulders. Neji hid his surprise; Uzutaro was much lighter than he thought. When they were out of hearing distance, Uzutaro lightly pulled against Neji's hold and walked on his own.
"Why did you help me?" He asked.
"Because someone helped me once." Neji responded in his stoic tone. "I decided to repay them back."
"I hope it doesn't concern me. I've never met you before." Uzutaro replied, tightly. Neji smirked with amusement and turned his head away.
"Don't worry, this has nothing to do with you." He told him, curtly. They stopped outside of a large estate and Neji pushed one of the wooden doors open. Four men of the Hyuuga family who surrounded them immediately greeted them. "It's me. I brought a friend to stay over for awhile." Neji said in monotone.
"Does Hiashi-sama know about this?" One of the men asked.
"He'll soon know." Neji replied.
"Then, unfortunately we cannot let you pass. After all, the village has been attacked a few weeks ago." The man said. "You may pass, Neji-sama. But you must notify Hiashi-sama about your decision." The man bowed, submissively. Neji narrowed his eyes and Uzutaro grinned, cheekily.
"It's all right, Neji-san." Uzutaro said, softly. "I don't want to stay somewhere where I am not welcomed." He turned to walk around and out the door when a new voice slid into the silence.
"He's my guest. He'll be placed under my care."
They turned to the speaker who was standing behind them and they bowed respectfully. "Hinata-sama."
Hinata smiled and nodded her head as she walked up to them. "Satoh-kun, I assure you your hospitality is granted." She said as she took his elbow. "If anyone wants to take it up with my father, feel free to do so." She said to the Hyuuga men. Neji glared at them as he passed and the men meekly looked down.
"Why did you bring me here?" Uzutaro asked as Hinata helped him down onto a cushion by the table. Neji settled himself on the other side and Hinata poured them cups of green tea.
"I thought you would need a little help with your taijutsu." Hinata murmured. "Neji-Oniisan and Lee-kun are willing to teach you. You may have difficulties defending yourself after your eyesight loss." She smiled, and gently placed a hand on top of his. "Godaime-sama had placed you in my care. I will try to get your eyesight back. But…I'm not sure if I have the abilities to do so."
Neji examined his cousin out of the corner of his eye. They had developed a better relationship ever since his fight with Naruto. The blonde had opened his eyes to many things and that was the fact that if he was to fly, he had to grow wings. After awhile, Hinata had come up to him, timid as always and asked him to help her train. She wanted to prove her father wrong and Neji agreed. He placed her through harsh training, training he had done to become the best. It had amazed him how determined Hinata was.
Surely but slowly, Hinata began to change. She became more self-confident and she let her hair grow in long silky waves down her back. Her relationship with her father was still awkward and there was no telling the day that she had to fight her own sister to become head of the Hyuuga family.
That day was sure to come very soon, ever since the Hokage had taken an interest in her and treated her like her protégé.
***
"But…I-I don't want to become head of the family." Hinata replied, with wide eyes.
"It is your right. What do you mean?" Neji glowered.
"A right? Or a death sentence?" Hinata asked, softly. She stared onto the ground and placed her hands together, playing with her fingers. "I'm glad, Otousan chose Hanabi. I don't need the responsibility."
"You would make a better head than Hanabi." Neji replied, firmly. "One day you have to fight her for the position. You could change the Hyuuga ways." He took her hands and placed them back to her side. Then, he lifted her chin up so she could gaze into his eyes. "Don't do that when you're talking to someone. Eye contact." Hinata blushed and bit her lip.
"I'll change the Hyuuga way." Her hand hesitantly reached up to brush his bandaged forehead and her eyes softened. "I'll help Naruto-kun live his dream."
***
"How are my chances to regain my eyesight?" Uzutaro asked, quietly. Hinata looked away and Neji could see her struggle with her inner emotions. A bright smile pasted on her face and her tone remained light.
"Don't worry. I'm sure the poison will recede eventually." She told him, but her eyes shook with suppressed tears. Neji sighed inwardly. She was still trying to make people feel better even if things weren't possible.
"You don't have to lie to me." Uzutaro's said, kindly. "I'm not that fragile." Hinata's eyes widened and she gripped her cup of tea in her hands. "I know you're trying to feel better. I can feel the tenseness in your body."
"Y-You can feel?" Hinata repeated, surprised.
"Like chakra or emotions that run off people." Uzutaro said, quietly. "I had to learn to read Gaara. He's very unpredictable when it comes to emotions."
"How well are your other senses?" Neji spoke up.
"Actually, I'm training myself to use my ears." Uzutaro admitted. He folded his hands together and his eyebrows furrowed. "I can usually sense someone before they sense me." His head turned to the doorway. "Someone is coming this way. Female, steps are light. Quite strong, due to her even stride and fair chakra level." Hinata and Neji turned to the doorway, watching it with anticipation. The mysterious figure stopped outside of the screened doors and knocked on the panel of wood.
"Hinata."
"Hanabi?" Hinata rose and walked toward the door. She slid the screen open and Hanabi spotted Neji and Uzutaro. Her eyes widened slightly at the sight of the blonde before meeting her older sister's eyes. "What's wrong?"
"Otousan wants to meet you and your friend." Hanabi told her. Hinata nodded with a smile.
"We'll be right there." She replied. Hanabi acknowledged this with a nod of her head before continuing her way to her quarters. Hinata and Hanabi looked alike. From the dark hair to the silver eyes, but Hinata was slightly taller and had a leaner build. She on the other hand was very slender and looked like she was able to break in two. Sometimes, she was jealous of her older sister. Neji followed her everywhere and she was one of the important people that confided with the Hokage. Hanabi had heard rumors that Hinata might be the next Hokage. After all, she was wise and kind---the people loved her.
Her hand curled into a fist and her eyes narrowed. Hanabi had never joined the academy for the ninjas and never went on the missions that the shinobi were sent on. Her father had insisted that she stayed at home, training with him and learning the requirements needed to be the head of the Hyuuga clan. When she saw the Chuunin exam, she instantly felt the longing to become a ninja. She had worked hard and she had sacrificed a lot of things. She wasn't going to let Hinata take away all her glory.
The two sisters, who were once close had been separated by the pride of the Hyuuga name. Hanabi walked her path and Hinata walked her's. Never did they turn around to acknowledge the other. It was always how it has been and it always seemed to be that way.
***
"Gomen nasai, Satoh-kun." Hinata apologized as they walked down the hall. Neji walked behind them at a respectful distance. "I don't know why my father wants to meet you." Uzutaro frowned suddenly and touched his arm.
"Where is my forehead protector?" He asked.
"The Hokage has it. We don't think it's wise for you to wear it during this time." Hinata fished out another forehead protector from her robe and handed it to him. "Onegai, wear this for now." Uzutaro stopped and took it from her. His fingers brushed the symbol of Hidden Leaf and he frowned. "It'll make you safer. Please, with our situation…" Uzutaro's fingers ran over a few scratches and stopped, his eyes widening. Neji watched him in interest as he slowly raised it to his forehead and strapped it on.
"I'll be the greatest ninja!"
Uzutaro's hands shook as they came away from his head.
"Everyone will acknowledge me! I will be the next Hokage! Just wait and see!"
"Unh…" Uzutaro groaned, grabbing his head.
"Satoh-kun!" Hinata gasped as he fell to his knees.
"Make the voices stop!" Uzutaro gasped as pain lanced through his head.
"Are you afraid? Scaredy-cat."
"How about some ramen, Naruto?"
"Everything comes to teamwork."
"Naruto, you're such an idiot!"
Uzutaro gasped as the faces and the voices swirled around his head. It was getting hard to breathe.
"Get a grip." The voice was familiar and he felt a handclasp onto his shoulder, firmly.
…Hyuuga Neji.
"Everyone is born with an unchangeable fate."
And everything went dark.
TBC! ^^; Naruto is remembering!