Disclaimer : Same as the last six chapters.
Author's Disclaimer: Sorry about the delay on this chapter. I left for a camping trip with my parents. Anyway I hope you like it . . . And Yaoi-Haters be warned there is a scene of Yaoi!! Don't say I didn't warn you.
Chapter Seven: Discoveries and Meetings
Sometime ago, there was once a Clan that had existed in Fire Country; a Clan so strong that it was feared even above that of the Hyuga Clan. It was the A-su Clan, whose ability to manipulate the earth was frightening. But two within the Clan refused to abide the rules dictated by the elders. They had different ideals of what their bloodline ability should be used for and they passed those ideals to their young son. They exiled themselves from the clan and lived peacefully in the Village Hidden in the Leaves. But there it was their misfortune; for when the dreaded demon Kyuubi struck, the couple were amongst the first to perish, trying hard to stay the demon. And their young son scarred for the rest of his life, by a horizontal scar across the bridge of his nose. The boy grew and learned and became known as Umino Iruka, Chunnin School teacher though he is more powerful then a mere Chunnin.
The dolphin named teacher was, currently, sitting with his adopted little brother in his arms as everyone around him bickered about what Naruto had seen. Truth of the matter was that Iruka knew the identity of this Child of Earth. Apparently, by the gleam in his eye, Kage did as well. He studied the school teacher, absently, before returning his gaze toward the others in the room. They all had taken seats, wary of any more surprises.
"Child of Earth" Tsunade murmured. "Jiraiya, isn't there a Clan in Fire Country that have the ability to control the Earth?"
"Yes, the A-su Clan" Jiraiya said. "But they'll have nothing to do with Naruto's Vision. They're not actually the loving type". Jiraiya frowned, his eyebrows knotting in displeasure. "From what I've heard, The Clan is slowly dying".
"Dying" Ino replied. "What can cause that to happen?"
"The heir had refused to follow the path of what the Clan Elders had decreed" Jiraiya replied. "He fought against the Kyuubi and perished along with his wife. Perhaps their missing son, the last of the A-su Heirs, is the Child of Earth". Tsunade nodded, she made to spoke up when a low moan can from Naruto. The Blonde Heir slowly sat up, his hand coming to rested against his head. "How ya feelin', Kid?"
Naruto fell back into Iruka's arms, groaning. Inari wandered over and whined, nuzzling the blonde's face, affectionately. Suddenly Inari's amber eyes were fixed on Iruka, who looked away.
-- You know it's your destiny, why do you deny it? –
That brought many reactions. All the Rookiee nine gapped at the fox, who had just spoke. "What . . . How . . . Huh?" Kiba said. Hinata couldn't help but smile at Kiba's lack of finesse. "Did that Fox just speak?"
"Yes . . . Inari has spoken many times" Naruto replied, he sat up this time being aided by Kage and Iruka. "You merely closed your hearts off from the possibility of the fact". He smiled at them. "Open your hearts to what lays dormant in your blood and you can conquer anything". Naruto looked to his aunt, who was staring at him sternly. "I take it you know".
"Yes . . . And when exactly were you planning on telling me?" Tsunade asked, quietly.
"Not anytime soon" Naruto replied. "At least, not until I learned how to control this ability". He looked away, his eyes studying his hands which rested upon his lap, from the corner of his eye, he noticed Inari watching a fidgeting Iruka. "Aniki, is there anything wrong?"
"Eh . . . . NO!" Iruka said. "I got to get back to the academy. I'll see you later tonight, Bye!" With that, Iruka all but ran from the room; Naruto looked at his aunt, questioningly.
"That is not normal behavior for Iruka" Kakashi murmured.
Iruka sat at his desk, staring at the homework piled before him. He removed his hitai-ate and pulled out his hair, allowing it to shield his face from everything. Iruka rested his head into his hands and sighed. He was about to start correcting when he felt several distinct Chakras in the room. Iruka was on his feet in a matter of moments, staring at the shinobi that had appeared in the room. "W-who are you?!" Iruka demanded. Suddenly, Iruka found himself on his back staring up into the menacing face of a Sound Shinobi. He struggled to release himself but was rewarded with a swift kick to his side. Iruka glared up at his attackers, his warm chocolate eyes flashing a grey-color. "I'm warning you".
"Really . . . and here we thought we were the ones warning" sneered a shinobi. Iruka grabbed the neck of the shinobi on top of him and snapped it. Iruka delivered a swift kick to another attack and flipped up, landing several feet away. He lifted his head and glared at the intruders with icy grey eyes. He pulled out several kunais and launched them at the attackers, before dodging out the window; if he was going to defeat these shinobi, he need to rely on his bloodline, despite how much he hated it. Iruka landed, gracefully, in a nearby park. The Sound-Nins landed seconds after; Iruka turned slightly and gave a cruel smile. These idiots wanted to mess with him, it was their life. Iruka created a type of strange seals. "A-su Batsu . . . Tsuchi Kouken, Ryoku Hireki! (A-su Clan . . . Earth Guardian, Powers Reveal!)". Leaves fell from nearby trees and whirled around in tiny hurricanes. The sky over head turned a dark and menacing color; lightening flashed over head as thunder boomed. This caused several of the Sound-nins to step back and glance, warily, at Iruka. The Chunnin gazed at them with icy eyes.
"I warned you . . . but did you listen" Iruka spoke. He felt several familiar Chakras approaching his location. He could feel Kakashi was one of them; this was not how he planned on revealing himself. Iruka pulled out a kunai for each hand and moved into an unfamiliar fighting stance. It was the beginning stance of the A-su's Lead family Taijutsu. The Sound-nins rushed at Iruka, only to be cut down; Iruka's speed was amazing as he attacked and finished the Nins. The A-su clan did not like to rely upon Ninjutsu or Genjutsu but rather a series of complex Taijutsu. One Sound-Nin was lucky enough to graze Iruka's forearm; the Chunnin looked at his arm then at the smirking Sound-Nin. "I wouldn't be too happy about a scratch" Iruka commented, licking his arm and smiled at the other. He lashed out, catching the shinobi in the neck and sent him revealing backwards. "Any other takers?"
The last remaining Sound-nins scowled and launched a joint attack. But at that same time, the Anbu of the Hidden Leaf crashed into the clearing. The two sound-nins cursed and backed away. "We'll be back, you can count on it" hissed one.
"The Child will serve the master" sneered another. Iruka snarled and launched a kunai, catching that shinobi directly into the neck.
"Tell your master" Iruka spat, venomously. "That he will have to deal with the A-Su Clan first!" The Sound-Nin disappeared, leaving the dead bodies of his comrades behind. Iruka noticed several the Anbu watching him warily. He sighed and created several seals. "A-su Batsu . . . Tsuchi Kouken, Ryoku Hitoshirezu (A-Su Clan . . . Earth Guardian, Powers Hidden)". Iruka felt his bloodline inherit power fade away, leaving him woozy and weak. He collapsed backwards into the familiar arms of Kakashi. His head rested, weakly, against the man's shoulder.
"We should get him to Hokage-Sama" said the Medic-Nin apart of the team; her hand hovered over Iruka's chest. "His Chakra is very weak". And that would be that last thing that Iruka would know, for darkness ensnared the Chunnin within its grasp.
Light danced its way across the wooden floor a beautifully furnished bedroom. It danced its way up the bed and caressed against the tanned skin of the brunette laying asleep in the bed. "He still hasn't awakened" came the quiet voice of Kakashi, as he surveyed the younger man; it pained him to see his lover like this. "What's wrong with him?"
Tsunade, who had been standing next to Kakashi, shook her head. "I don't know" she replied, honestly. "There's only minor injuries, I don't understand it. Nothing should have caused that much of a drain on his Chakra". She turned her blue eyes to the young school teacher. Beside the bed, Naruto sat watching Iruka's face intently. Her young nephew had been there since Iruka had been brought to the Estates by an Anbu squad lead by Kakashi. And that had been over three days ago; at Naruto's side, Inari sat. Kage was not that far from his young lord, leaning against the farthest wall in meditation. Tsunade rubbed her forehead, irritated and concerned. A low moan brought attention to the shifting shinobi in the bed.
"Aniki?" Naruto questioned, he grasped the man's hand. Suddenly, Iruka shot up and grabbed Naruto the rolled off the bed as several Kunai were placed in the bed. Naruto blinked up at the brunette. Kage was beside the two, his Katana drawn; Inari was at the Shadow-Nin's side, snarling. Kakashi was protecting Tsunade from a possible threat.
"Ah, I see you've recovered" came an amused voice. "Fast but hardly fast enough. And too think your abilities are going to waste". Out of the shadows, a regal woman exited; she was old but she held herself with pride and dignity. Her Crystal blue eyes twinkled in amusement at the situation before her. Her pure white hair was drawn up into an elegant bun. "I would have thought you have reported to me, Kage".
"Forgive me, Ouhisama" Kage said, sheathing his Katana and kneeling before the woman. A wrinkled hand that once had been young and strong patted the Shadow-Nin's dark hair. Iruka released Naruto from his hold and leaned against the bed, drained.
"You know, if you just released that barrier on your power" Mei Kurai started, "this wouldn't be a problem". Naruto stood up facing the tall woman that was his great-grandmother. "And this must be my little one, Hmm . . . Just like the Uzumaki men with that hair color but your eyes are ours". She touched the blonde's hair and smiled. "And your power belongs to that of your mother's Clan".
"Uh . . . Who are you?" Kakashi questioned, "not to be rude or anything".
"Oh, Shadows no" Kurai laughed. "I am Mei Kurai, Matriarch of the Mei Clan; Naruto's great-grandmother". Kakashi, slowly, relaxed but still not comfortable with the woman. "Hmm, cautious. Not what we have on you, Hatake Kakashi . . . You must be Uzumaki Tsunade, Naruto's Aunt". Kurai offered her hand to Tsunade which the Hokage took, cautiously. "Not exactly the most welcoming bunch, I've met in my years". Naruto was absolutely flabberghasted. Never would he actually imagine his great-grandmother like this, she kinda like he was once. Always cracking a joke or prank; Naruto would have figured his great-grandmother to be a stern ruler but this was unreal. Kurai looked at her great-grandson, with a smile. "What has Kage filled your head with? Probably I'm some mean old witch that didn't want you, Hmm". With that said, Kurai gave Kage a rather hard wack, which immediately caused the Shadow-Nin to whimper. "Teach you a lesson . . . Speaking of which, we must discuss your upcoming lessons".
Kurai turned his attention to Iruka, her eyes piercing him. "But first we must speak about your Aniki" Kurai said, crossly. Iruka blinked as the woman grasped his ear and pulled him up. "Now, Iruka . . . Isn't it?"
"Yes, Ma'am . . . Umino Iruka" Iruka said, trying to free his ear.
"Yes, well, we really have to talk about that insane little Chakra barrier you placed upon yourself" Kurai said. Iruka felt his face turned scarlet, he noticed Tsunade and Kakashi looking at him. "What would your grandfather think? Honestly, do you think that your Clan is still that Stuffy traditional clan that follow what it's Elders say?"
"Uh . . . I don't know" Iruka replied. Kurai gave Iruka's ear a painful tug, causing Iruka to yelp and Naruto to giggle. It would appear that Kurai had adopted Iruka as another grandchild. "Okay . . . Okay, Yes!"
"Well, they aren't" Kurai replied. "Not since your parents were killed nearly seventeen years ago. Changed their ways, they did; hoped you come back to them, but you didn't, did you?"
"Kurai-Sama, what are you talking about?" Tsunade interjected.
"Ah, so the little devil hasn't told you" Kurai said. She looked at Iruka, who could help but gulp. "You're just as bad as your grandfather . . . Your Iruka here isn't what he plays out to be".
"Huh?" came Kakashi's intelligent response.
"Real bright, Handsome" Kurai retorted. "Umino Iruka is in actually fact A-su Iruka, on his father's side. Umino is his mother' maiden name".
"That means you're the Child of Earth!" Tsunade and Kakashi shouted. Kurai released Iruka's ear, which he rubbed furiously. Her wrinkled hands created several seals, which Iruka visibly recognized as the release for his chakra barrier.
"A-su Batsu . . .Tsuchi Kouken, Ryoku Hireki! (A-su Batsu . . . Earth Guardian, Powers Reveal!)
Iruka looked up at Kakashi with a icy grey eye before looking at the floor. "There . . . Much better" Kurai said. "Now you don't feel so strange anymore". She walked over and combed her fingers through Iruka's silkly dark hair, smiling fondly. She leaned forward, almost as if she was going to kiss him. "If he truly loves you, he will accept everything about, even your darkest secrets". Kurai placed a kiss upon Iruka's head and walked away. She grasped Naruto's hand and Tsunade's arm, "Kage, Come!" she ordered. Together the little family disappeared, leaving Kakashi and Iruka alone; the dolphin named Chunnin sat upon the bed, idly staring at his hands.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Kakashi questioned. Iruka looked up then away, shrugging his shoulders. "That's not an answer, Iruka". The scarecrow moved toward his younger lover and knelt before him. He grasped the tanned hands into his gloved hands, "didn't you trust me enough for this?"
"It's not a matter of trust, Kakashi" Iruka whispered, removing his hands from the scarecrow's grasp. He moved away from the elder shinobi, getting up from the bed and looked out the window. "What would you have done if you really knew who I was? That I was . . . am Heir to such as Clan?"
"And what is so terrible about your Clan?" Kakashi questioned. He moved toward Iruka, only to have the smaller man move away. "Goddamnit, Iruka! I'm trying to understand here. But you don't seem to want me to!"
"Yes! I don't want you too!" Iruka said, turning around. "I don't want you to understand my Clan! I don't even want to understand them!" Unshead tears shone bright in the icy grey eyes. "You know nothing of the A-su Clan! All you know is that we are manipulators of the Earth, Shinobi with a great gift! And I would give anything to have it gone!"
"Iruka, it's your bloodline!"
"A Bloodline that had condemned thousands to an Early grave!" Iruka shouted. His eyes widened and he covered his mouth, looking away. Kakashi frowned, not liking what Iruka had just said.
"What do you mean 'Early Grave'?" Kakashi questioned.
"Nothing . . . I meant nothing". Kakashi grabbed Iruka's shoulders and shook his lover. He, quickly, yanked his mask down and pressed his lips against Iruka's; he paid no attention to Iruka's squirming. Kakashi pulled away, he rested his forehead against Iruka's; his hands cupped the other's face. His visible eye solemn and serious as it studied Iruka's face. Kakashi pressed butterfly kisses all over Iruka's face, licking away the tears that slid out of Iruka's closed eyes. "Iruka, look at me".
Grey eyes opened and stared up into Kakashi's face. "When I had tried so foolishly to push you away after Obito's death, you told me something" Kakashi started, brushing away tears. "'Pushing people away will never solve anything nor prevent the hurt that we all have to face'. I begging you, Iruka, don't push me away, please". Iruka threw his arms around Kakashi's waist and buried his face in his lover's chest.
"I'm sorry" Iruka whispered, crying. "I didn't want to lose you, like I lost my parents". Iruka pulled away, looking upwards at Kakashi's visible face. "I'll tell you anything you want to know". Kakashi nodded, hugging Iruka closer; the Chunnin rested his head against Kakashi's chest.
A young boy ran around the legs of the adults, excited. A pair of arms caught the little boy and scooped him up; the blonde-haired Kunoichi smiled at the boy's pouting. "Are you excited, Little Brother?" she inquired.
"Yup! We get to see Naruto 'gain!" the boy cheered. "We get to see Niichan!" The boy's antics brought laughter from the blonde and she rubbed her nose against the younger's.
"Yes, we get to see Naruto" she replied, smiling as she remembered the last time she saw the Leaf-nin. He had changed drastically when she had first seen him; long silkly blonde hair, gentle eyes and, though he was short, he was several inches taller then her.
"Temari's gone off in goo-goo land" commented a voice. The boy turned and his face light up in an immediate smile.
"Aniki!" Temari glared over at her second younger brother, Kankurou, who merely grinned at her.
"Anyway, let's go. The Caravan is leaving" Kankurou said, "you wouldn't want to miss your opportunity to see the Runt again, would you?"
"For the last time, he is not a Runt!"
TBC