A Demon's Kindness
By: Crystalin Elf
Chapter 3: The Missed Birthday
PREVIOUSLY:
He was quiet for a moment, before he stood. "Why don't you and I go out into the lobby and keep her
company while she waits for her cousin to arrive?"
"Ok!" Naruto bounded out of the room eagerly and waved to Hinata when she turned to look at him. "Ne
Hinata-chan, mind if I keep you company while you wait?"
The girl shook her head and smiled.
Sarutobi kept a discreet eye on the two, and the entire afternoon passed before Hinata's escort arrived.
That day, Naruto learned the human version of several of the games he had once played with his littermates.
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Fifty-one weeks later, or almost one year (for those who want to know how much time has passed.)
He viewed the room before him with a neutral expression. Before his eyes was a room filled with various
items he would call cat toys, towers made of carpet and wood, with platforms, and filled with holes that
connected like so many mole tunnels. They were all the perfect size for him, if he were in his fox form,
to play with. He could jump from platform to platform, dart in and out of the holes, or crawl his way
through the tunnels…
He appreciated the gesture, and that fact that he had just been given a gift, yet he also felt a trickle of hatred
toward this 'present' as well. This was yet another attempt to distract him from what he really wanted
to be doing, which was find and play with Hinata, or at least go out to enjoy the festival that was
currently going on in the city…
"So Naruto, do you like your present?" Sarutobi sounded rather pleased with himself, which caused
Naruto's left eyebrow to twitch slightly.
After all, it wasn't that he didn't like…
How Sarutobi could miss the twitch to the boy's eyebrows, the only indication of his conflicting reactions,
was beyond Naruto. In his mind, Sarutobi should have been more observant than this.
"Yes Hokage-sama, I like my present," Naruto replied, keeping his voice steady.
Then he sighed and turned to face Sarutobi. "I guess this means I can't go and play with Hinata-chan,
doesn't it? Or go to the festival."
That last was a definite statement, and not a question, and Sarutobi smiled at Naruto's quick grasp of the
situation. "I'm sorry Naruto, but you're expecting company, aren't you? And since today is Hinata-chan's
birthday, she will be spending the day with her family. There are certain traditions that her Clan
has, on the heir's third birthday, that they won't tolerate to have interrupted by one of Hinata's friends. I
know you understand."
Naruto DID understand of course, but that didn't mean he had to like the situation. Hinata always came over
to play with him on Fridays, after all, and had done so for almost a year. She was his only friend, and he
wanted to be with her on her birthday, to give her the lilac teddy bear he had carefully picked out for
her, on one of the rare excursions into the village that the Hokage allowed him.
He had even behaved the entire day, just to make sure he had enough time to pick out the perfect toy.
But he had to wonder if she would like his gift… he knew she came from a family that placed an emphasis on
practical gifts, and even though she was turning three, Hinata would probably not receive any toys
other than the one he wanted to hive her. Would she even be allowed to keep it?
He just didn't know.
But he hoped she would be allowed to keep the small gift. For that matter, he hoped he'd be able to give it
to her! He was losing his patience over the situation, which was unusual in and of itself. He thought of
himself as a very patient person; mustn't he be, to wait two years before being allowed to make a
human friend, to wait an entire year between visits with his own kind, to be calm, and to not be bothersome
so that he was allowed a few hours to play outside in the forests once a month?
Yes, he had been very patient these past three years, more so than he should have had to be. The humans his
age were certainly not as mature as he was, and the foxes his age were probably all parents. And the
other kitsune his age?
They might have laughed at him, raised all alone away from his own kind, and forced into lacking the basic
understanding of his culture that only being raised among others of his kind could provide. He didn't
really think they would laugh at him, but he didn't know they wouldn't, and that bothered him.
All he had was Mirra's word that they wouldn't…
Arg, he was thinking too much! He shook his head to try and clear his thoughts away, then turned to look at
the Hokage. "Thank you for the present Hokage, this was very thoughtful of you," Naruto said softly,
offering a slight bow to the old human…
And felt his head being patted, as the Hokage smiled down at him. "You're welcome Naruto. Now, I have
to be going to sign the treaty, but stay here and play, alright? I'll bring you some treats later."
"Yes sir," replied the blond, before he fully entered the room. He carefully locked the door before shifting to
his fox form, and then darted into the mini-maze before him.
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The day passed on with little interruption, and only the visit of his yearly 'guest' broke through the monotony
of Naruto's day, since the guest heralded the arrival of new books, and new things for him to learn. He
was able to go to sleep, having snacked on the promised 'treats' the Hokage had brought him (after his
guest had arrived and was grilling him on what he had learned during the year), and fell asleep with a full
tummy.
For the moment at least, he was content with the world.
- - - - - - - - -
Sarutobi sat across from Mirra, sipping the tea she had insisted they drink. The kitsune was watching him
quietly, as though he were some mildly interesting bug she had just discovered. He gave a purely mental
sigh, wondering what he had done to displease the woman.
- - -
When Mirra sighed, she instantly caught the Hokage's attention, and smirked inwardly to herself. She hadn't
spoken to him since the first time she had met him, and she dearly loved to remain mysterious before
him. He was definitely wondering why she wanted to speak with him now.
"For now, I'll dispense with the act of 'beating around the bush', as you humans say," she began, tipping her
head to the side as she studied him. "How long to you plan to keep Naruto out of your human
schools?"
She smiled slightly as Sarutobi appeared startled. Ah, these monkeys are so amusing at times! "I suggest
you put him into a pre-school soon, or turn him over to a family for training. He's going to fall be behind
in your ninja ways if you don't."
"I realize that Mirra-san, but…" Sarutobi began, before she interrupted him.
"No buts! That child's potential is vast, and the Mother had entrusted him to your people. You will train him
properly." She paused a moment before continuing.
"Perhaps you could send him to the Uchiha, or the Hyuga. He will certainly receive thorough training from
them." She gave him a severe look, to make her point more strongly. "I'd suggest the Uchiha more
strongly, since they have boy-child Naruto's age, and the Hyuga will be training their heir more intensely
now that she has reached three years of age."
She paused again. "You humans can be so odd at times. Anyway, take care of it."
Sarutobi nodded slowly, bowing to the woman's wishes. "Of course, Mirra-san."
"Oh, and another thing," she said as she stood gracefully, "we have reason to believe that both of Naruto's
parents continue to exist."
"Ja'ne," she added, as she exited the room and ended their meeting.
- - -
Sarutobi stared after the woman's retreating back in disbelief. Both of Naruto's parents… still alive? He
frowned. That couldn't be possible… not when the Fourth, and seven other of the strongest shinobi
alive, had been the ones their lives to defeat the demon. His frown deepened, as he tried to dislodge his
thought that Naruto's father had been a demon. Monstrously powerful, yes, but a demon? Sarutobi
knew better.
But still, he wasn't able to stop the thought.
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To Be Continued:
Honestly, I was going to continue, but I want to go to bed, and all in all I think saving the rest for another
chapter would be best. I'm altogether happy with my grammar and sentence structure, but it's 3:27am,
so I hope everyone will forgive me =)
Minna, you're the best! I love your reviews! And someone even guess Naruto's parentage *giggles happily*
As to the previous chapter, and Hinata having a 'conversation' with Naruto, she did have a small one. I use
= = = to separate when I shift between different characters who are in different locations, and - - -
when shifting between two people in the same room together talking. Confused? Sorry :)
Naruto is only three now, as far as human age goes. Since he developed into an almost adult fox before he
was 'awakened' he is considerably more mature than other children his age. Hinata's 'adult'
conversational skills are due to her being a Hyuga, and even if she isn't a genius at being a Ninja, that doesn't
mean she can't JUST be a normal genius educationally.
Did that make sense?
Anyway, thanks for reading, and sending in all those previous, wonderful reviews. You all make me want to
post what I write ^_^ rather than just keeping the story to myself.
Ah.. and to Silver Dragonfly: If you want to post this on your site, please feel free to do so. However, I
won't 'submit' the story in word format until it is complete.