Mask of Deception
By: Kisu
A/N: Sorry for the wait, I lost my few chapters that I typed up for this fic…and dedicated my time in worshipping Itachi…sighs This keyboard sticks.
Disclaimer: Naruto and all the characters belong to Kishimoto-sama! Bow to the God! BOW!
Chapter 8: Cracking the Surface
A young boy with golden hair slowly roused from his sleep, his blue eyes opened slowly as he took in his surroundings. "I know you."
"No, you don't." The older man replied. He turned his head at the sound of the voice. Even though he was vision impaired, he knew where he was. He was in his younger's self mind. This was where all his memories were locked away.
"So this is how I look like when I'm older." The boy's soft voice came.
He shook his head, wildly. "Go away!" He yelled, angrily. "I don't want you near me!"
"Are you afraid?" The boy's voice taunted him, softly. "Are you afraid of acceptance?"
"I have acceptance!" He screamed, loudly. "Naruto is dead! Uzumaki Naruto is dead!"
There was silence before the quiet voice of the boy faded away.
"Is that so?"
---
"Satoh-kun!" Hinata whispered, shaking him lightly. "Neji nii-san, what are we going to do?"
"We can't bring him to see your father like this." Neji replied as he deposited the unconscious man onto the ground. The two of them frowned as they stared down at him. "He's slowly remembering."
"Really?" Hinata asked, looking up hopefully. "Are you sure?"
"Positive." Neji replied, staring at the blonde. "We have to make him remember, stimulate his mind with things that he was used to."
"Like ramen?" Hinata suggested, thinking of Naruto's former love of Ichiraku. Neji nodded. "But, won't that be dangerous?"
"We'll do it slowly." Neji said. "But we have to do it quickly before Gaara comes back. I know he will be back for him."
"Oh no." Hinata said, softly. The blonde man groaned softly and stirred. Neji placed a finger to his lips and Hinata nodded as she knelt down next to the fallen Jounin. "Satoh-kun, are you all right?"
"I-." Uzutaro stated as he gripped his head. "What happened?"
"You fainted." Hinata said, touching his shoulder. "Do you want to go back to your room to lie down?"
"No. I think I'll go meet your father." Uzutaro replied as Neji helped him up.
"Are you sure?" Hinata asked, wringing her hands in worry.
"I'm positive." Naruto assured her.
She nodded as she led the way and Uzutaro followed behind with Neji close behind him. They further down the hall and Hinata rapped softly on the doorframe of sliding double doors. "Father." She called. "I brought my guest, Satoh Uzutaro."
"Come in."
Hinata, slid the door open and they removed their sandals before stepping in onto the cool bare floor. They bowed in respect to the Head of the Hyuuga clan. "You asked for us, father?" She stated. Hiashi got up and walked toward her.
"Satoh Uzutaro?" Hiashi asked as Uzu inclined his head, slightly. "I heard you were a Jounin. You passed the exams with incredible speed."
The blonde remained silent as Hiashi walked forward and stopped in front of him. "But I'm surprised that you are the vessel of the Kyuubi."
"Kyuubi?" The man stated. "Indeed I am."
"So, you are no one other than Uzumaki Naruto." Hiashi continued. "A missing-nin of Konohagure."
"I no longer go by that name. I no longer consort myself to this village." Uzutaro replied, politely. "I am Satoh Uzutaro of Hidden Sand." Hiashi narrowed his eyes and lunged forward. Uzutaro drew in his breath sharply as he skidded backwards, trying to avoid the man's advances.
"Father!" Hinata gasped. Uzutaro heard the older man coming toward him and jerked to the right, but Hiashi had lashed out with a palm to his chest. Uzutaro coughed and dropped onto his knees, panting heavily.
"You're not that strong." Hiashi mused.
"Hiashi-sama!" Neji glared. "That was uncalled for!"
"My daughter brought you here for one reason, correct?" Hiashi asked. "To train and use your senses better?"
"I have no idea." Uzutaro replied, quietly.
"Get up." Hiashi ordered. Uzutaro raised his head up and slowly rose to his feet. Hinata quickly came in between them and narrowed her eyes.
"Father, you can't treat him like this!" Hinata exclaimed. "He's not feeling well today and as a medic-nin, I forbid this!" Hiashi, stopped and smiled softly at his oldest daughter's outburst.
"Very well." Hiashi replied. "But, I intend to train you. So tomorrow morning, I will meet you at the dojo. 5 am sharp."
"Nani?" Neji frowned as Hinata's jaw dropped. "Why?"
"I have my reasons." Hiashi replied as he turned his back to them. Neji and Hinata saw that this was their dismissal and bowed.
"As you say." They said, quietly. Uzutaro bowed and let Neji lead him out the door.
"Otou-sama." Hinata spoke up from the doorway. "Please don't attack Satoh-kun like that again." Then, she slid the door closed and Hiashi heard her footsteps disappearing around the corner.
"Hinata." Hiashi smiled, softly as he turned around. "You've grown."
---
"Gaara."
The young man at the window didn't move as his older sister knocked on the door. He continued to ignore her as she opened the door slightly and peered in. Then, she cautiously placed a foot into the room. A swirl of sand flew up and Temari quickly backed out of the room, shutting the door to prevent it from getting to her. She leaned against the opposite wall, trying to regain her breath.
"You needed something?" Gaara asked as he opened the door. Temari blinked and straightened, slowly. Her younger brother stared at her with his soulful eyes and she smiled softly.
"Gaara, it's been weeks and Naruto hasn't returned yet." She stated, softly.
"He knows how to take care of himself." Gaara replied.
"Gaara, I'm worried." Temari admitted. "What if something happened to him?" Gaara's posture tensed slightly and Temari kept a wary eye on him. Slowly, he raised his hand up and brushed along the side of his face where the kanji letter, "ai" was. "Gaara, do you love Naruto?"
"Love?" Gaara repeated dumbly. His eyes glazed over and Temari waited patiently for him to answer. Having grown up with a horrible childhood, Gaara was still confused about feelings, especially emotional ones. "Love Naruto?"
"Yes." Temari nodded. "Love in like, you will die for him."
"I can't die." Gaara said. "The sand protects me."
"But if you had a choice, would you die for him?" Temari pressured. Gaara was slowly absorbing this and Temari watched him carefully.
"I-." Gaara began but was abruptly cut off when he moaned in pain. His hands reached up and grabbed his head.
"Gaara!" Temari gasped, reaching out for him.
"Leave me alone." Gaara growled before stepping back quickly into the dark room. He slammed the door in her face and Temari jumped back.
"Gaara…"
---
"Naruto…what is love?"
The younger man turned to look at him with his gentle blue eyes and a thoughtful smile crossed his face. "Love? It's when people care for you."
"So does it mean that you love me?" Gaara frowned as he turned his head away from the window.
"Maybe." Naruto replied in that secretive smile of his. He got up from his chair and Gaara watched as he approached him. Warm arms circled around his waist and Gaara leaned back slowly against his chest.
"Will you die for me?" Gaara asked, quietly.
"If I must." Naruto told him as he buried his face into his back.
---
"Love." Gaara repeated softly, he touched the kanji letter on the side of his head and turned around. Temari was still out there, waiting for his response. Slowly, he touched the doorknob and opened the door. His sister looked up with a small knowing smile. "I'm going to get Naruto. Watch the village for me while I'm gone, Temari." The smile on Temari's face quickly wiped off and she clenched her hand defensively.
"Gaara, let me come with you!" She exclaimed.
"Has the brat made up his mind yet?" Kankoru asked as he appeared around the corner.
"I will go alone." Gaara stated. Kankoru frowned.
"You can't possibly believe that Konoha will welcome you with opened arms." He told him.
"I know. Don't worry, take care of the village." Gaara said. "I'll be back soon with Naruto." He walked past them but not before placing a hand on Temari's shoulder. "Arigatou…Oneesan." Temari's eyes widened and she whirled around to face Gaara, but the shinobi was gone and all was left was a trace of sand on the ground.
"Gaara…" Temari whispered her eyes bright with tears.
Gaara had learned to love.
---
"Uhm…Satoh-kun, I have to apologize for my father." Hinata began, softly as they walked toward his quarters. "He's a little…abrupt."
"No problem." Uzutaro replied with a smile as he glanced at the timid girl beside him. "I knew you had that spark in you, Hinata-chan. I was serious when I told you that you would be a great Hokage."
"Stop joking." Hinata said, fiercely as she turned to face him. "I can never be a Hokage. I'm not strong enough!"
"Well, with that kind of talk then of course you'll never be." Uzutaro told her. She narrowed her eyes and turned to her cousin who was peacefully gazing off into the gardens. As if he felt her eyes on him, he turned and met her eyes. A confused expression crossed his face as it slid to Uzutaro and back to her.
"Did you say something?" Neji asked. Hinata frowned.
"Frowning will give you wrinkles, Hinata-chan!" Uzutaro exclaimed. Hinata's eyes widened and she quickly looked away.
"He said that to me…a long time ago." Hinata murmured. Uzutaro closed his mouth and they lapsed into silence.
"Hinata-chan. You can call me Naruto-kun if it makes you happy." Uzutaro offered.
"What?" Hinata's head shot up and her eyes slowly slid to meet Neji's.
"I mean, Gaara calls me that after all." Uzutaro replied, quietly. "It's like a pet name. Temari and Kankoru call me Naruto."
"If you don't mind then." Hinata said, nervously.
"I don't mind, Hinata-chan." Uzutaro beamed.
"Naruto-kun." Hinata whispered, trying the name out as she hadn't spoken it out loud in a long time.
"Hai?" Uzutaro asked. Hinata was on the verge of tears and she shook her head. Neji smiled softly and glanced back at Uzutaro.
"Let's get back to your room, Uzu." Neji spoke up. "We should change those bandages around your eyes."
"H-Hai!" Hinata gasped, grabbing onto his arm. Then, they proceeded to herd him into his room.
---
A woman with dark black hair pulled up in a bun stood up slowly. The golden ornaments in her hair swayed softly at the movement and the rustle of her kimono broke the quietness of the house. She had taken over the house after she easily disposed of the couple who had lived there. They were easy targets, a quiet pair who didn't like to indulge in the village gossip. So, no one would notice that their presence would be gone for a few days.
She smiled softly and slid her brown eyes over the surface of the bare wood floor. The blood stains had taken some time to come off but nothing a little bleach and water couldn't do.
Her name was Karin.
She was once the consort and subordinate of Orochimaru.
Ah…Orochimaru.
The name still chilled her to the bone and she smiled softly.
Orochimaru was met with an unfortunate death. The death wasn't planned and she hadn't seen it coming.
"It threw off all my calculations." She murmured to herself as she checked her reflection in the mirror. She ran a smooth, creamy white hand over her equally creamy white face and blinked slowly. Orochimaru hadn't wanted her because she was beautiful, it was because she was a dangerous tool in genjutsu. She was the most skilled in Hidden Sound.
"Uzumaki Naruto." She smiled softly. "You will be mine."
Then, the woman got up and walked out of the house, slowly closing the door behind her.
---
TBC…yeh…I introduce a new character! ; You'll understand her "important" role in this fic during the next chapter! Hum…yeh..thanks for reading!