A/N: I humbly present: chapter 16! This one was fun to write, for sure.
Nope, don't own Naruto.
Chapter XVI: Family and Seals
Naruto sat at a table in the Konoha library, his nose buried in a book on fūinjutsu. He and Sasuke checked out books on fūinjutsu basics yesterday, but Naruto had read each cover-to-cover already. The blond decided to return to the library, while Sasuke stayed at the training ground to hone some of his elemental jutsu. Though Naruto usually loathed studying, he wanted to get to a point where he could successfully perform the Hiraishin.
Fūinjutsu was complicated, more complicated than Naruto expected. Most of the material that he found was too advanced for him. Seals ranged from fairly simple to incredibly complex, and Naruto could barely even begin to wrap his head around the complex seals. He wondered how people like Jiraiya and his father ever managed to be as proficient as they were with all the intricacies involved; just reading the theory behind complex seals made his head hurt.
Naruto plopped himself down at the table with another book on fūinjutsu theory. Thumbing through the pages, he skimmed for information on how to properly channel chakra into simplified seals. He'd seen the sealing formula that the Second Hokage developed and marveled at just how his father was able to simplify something so complex down to four characters. The Yellow Flash must have been a genius to have been able to achieve such a thing.
A sigh escaped his lips as he continued skimming, a soft hum of activity filling his ears. As he skimmed, he found something that turned his blood to ice. There, in a book on fūinjutsu, was the name "Uzumaki." Naruto's breath hitched. He remembered Tsunade mentioning an Uzumaki clan that was connected to Lady Mito, and subsequently his mother. His mind ran at a mile a minute as he tried to connect the dots. He shook his head and decided that it was time for him to pay a visit to his grandmother figure. He shelved the book and set off.
Naruto didn't even wait to be ushered in. The blond burst through the doors, staying true to his title of "Number One Unpredictable, Noisy Ninja."
"Granny! I need to ask you someth—" He froze when he saw Kakashi standing in front of the Hokage, whose eye was twitching while a vein on her forehead bulged.
"This had better be good, brat," Tsunade growled through clenched teeth. Kakashi simply smiled awkwardly beneath his mask.
Naruto let out a nervous chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck as his posture shrank. "Sorry, Granny, Sensei. Did I interrupt something?"
"Oh no! Kakashi was just giving me his report for the day! Nothing at all!"
Naruto winced at how thick her voice was with sarcasm. "S-sorry. I, uh, I can wait."
Kakashi decided to speak up. "Actually, Naruto, I was just about finished, anyhow."
Tsunade huffed as Kakashi started to leave. "Now what did you need, brat?"
Naruto took a deep breath. "I…wanted to ask you about my mom."
Kakashi froze mid-stride, Tsunade stared at the younger blond. The room fell silent, enough to rival even the most reverent temple or cemetery. Tsunade's eyes softened as she let out a sigh.
"Kakashi, I think you'd better stay for this."
The silver haired jōnin turned around without a word, nodding stiffly as he joined Naruto. The younger blond turned to his sensei, who only offered a sympathetic smile, which only served to confuse Naruto further.
He shook his head before he found his voice. "Granny, I found something else. When I was at the library looking at books about fūinjutsu, I saw the name 'Uzumaki' again."
Tsunade cocked an eyebrow. "And what would you like to know?"
"Well, why was it in there? Does it have anything to do with my mom?"
"Ah, now that's something they don't teach in the academy these days," Tsunade began, sounding more grandmotherly than she intended. "The Uzumaki clan were sealing masters. So much so that people feared them for their sealing prowess."
Naruto's eyes widened beneath his sunglasses as she continued. "As a matter of fact, my grandmother was the first jinchūriki of the Nine-Tailed Fox, believe it or not."
Naruto's jaw hit the floor. "She was?! I wasn't the only jinchūriki of the Fox?!"
Tsunade shook her head. "Nope. And, if I recall correctly, there was one other before you."
The younger blond was fidgeting by now, anxious to know more. "Who? Who was the jinchūriki before me?"
The Hokage shot a glance at Kakashi before she spoke quietly. "Your mother."
Naruto froze as his jaw set. "My…my mom? She was a jinchūriki?"
Tsunade nodded quietly, letting him process the information.
"Did…did you know my mom, Granny?" He asked, his voice much smaller than before.
She let out a sigh and offered him an apologetic expression. "Not personally. I'm sorry." Naruto's posture deflated before she spoke up again. "But, your sensei did."
The jinchūriki's head snapped to his sensei, whose half-lidded gaze held a small amount of empathy. "She's right, I did know your mother. Miss Kushina came around quite often, actually."
Naruto's lip quivered despite his small smile. He blinked back tears behind his sunglasses, his voice equally small. "What was she like, sensei?"
Kakashi gave his own masked smile before tilting his head toward the door. "Let's talk somewhere else. I'm sure Lady Tsunade is quite busy."
Naruto nodded fiercely before turning to his grandmother figure. "Thanks, Granny. See you soon."
Tsunade merely smiled and shooed them out of her office. As relieved as she was to have some time to get back to her paperwork, she was also glad that Naruto came around to ask her these things. With Jiraiya gone, she felt compelled to be there for him and help him through whatever she could. After all, he was the closest thing to family she had left.
Naruto walked with Kakashi quietly for a while. Once the park came into view, Naruto turned to his sensei. "Actually, sensei, is it okay if we go somewhere else?"
"Of course. Where did you have in mind?"
Naruto stepped ahead of Kakashi, gesturing to him. "Follow me."
The duo shot off towards the Great Stone Faces, traversing some of the lesser known paths up the rocks. They came to the top of the Fourth Hokage's head. Naruto had beaten Kakashi there and sat cross-legged, staring out over the village. The sun was just beginning to set, painting the sky with pinks, purples, and oranges against the green of the surrounding forest. The tails of his headband whipped while his sage cloak billowed slightly with the breeze. Kakashi took a seat next to his student, whose gaze didn't waver.
The jōnin broke the silence first. "Can I ask why you picked here?"
"This is where I used to come to think," Naruto replied softly. Kakashi hummed in response. He remembered how Naruto used to run all the way up here as a child. When even Sasuke couldn't console him, he found solace on the stone head of his father.
A moment passed before Naruto spoke again. "Sensei, what was my mom like?"
Kakashi stared out at the Konoha skyline, his tone sincere as he spoke. "She was one of the kindest people I've ever met." He glanced to see a small smile forming on Naruto's lips before he continued. "There were times she would bring us lunch. She was quite a good cook. Even simple things like onigiri were delicious. I think she saw my team as her own little family."
Naruto's smile dropped slightly. He'd always wondered what his mother was like; whether she was as kind and caring as he hoped, and whether her hugs were as warm as he imagined. He knew mothers loved their children, but something nagged at him that made him wonder if his mother really loved him. When he was small, he sometimes found himself wondering if his mother wanted him—if either of his parents wanted him. Maybe they didn't want him, didn't love him. Maybe that was why they went away. Maybe that was why he had no parents.
Despite the passing of time and the understanding that came with growing up, Naruto would be lying to himself if he said that thought never crept into his mind now and again. Being an orphan was already a knife in his heart, as much as he tried to ignore it, and the thought of his parents not wanting him only twisted that knife.
Naruto stifled a sniffle. "Did she…want me?" His voice was so small, innocent, and childlike it nearly broke Kakashi's heart.
"Of course she did," he said gently. "Minato-sensei told me how happy they both were. I don't think I'd ever seen your mother as happy as she was when she found out. Or your father, for that matter."
Naruto audibly choked back a sob, ripping his sunglasses off his face and furiously wiping at his eyes. He took a quivering breath to steady himself as Kakashi placed a hand on his shoulder. The two sat quietly for a few moments longer.
The blond took deep, quiet breaths to keep himself under control. He cried a lot more when he was younger, at least when he was away from prying eyes. That was part of his creed as a child: don't show any weakness. He cried when he fought Sasuke, when he learned of Jiraiya's death, and when he met his father in his mindscape. His younger self would be berating him for being such a mess, but he knew now that keeping such strong emotions inside was never good for you.
A cool breeze blew through as a thought popped into Naruto's head. "Say, sensei, you mentioned your team. You said my dad was your sensei, right?"
"That's right."
"Well, what about your team? Who were they?"
Kakashi stiffened ever so slightly at the question. He'd skirted this subject for years, and his 'cute little genin' were none the wiser. The cat was out of the bag, but he decided that it was something that he should save for all three of them.
"That's something I think I'd rather talk to you about when Sakura and Sasuke are here," he said calmly.
Naruto let out a frustrated groan.
"Naruto, there's something I want you to know."
"What is it?"
Kakashi turned to him, his visible eye and his tone full of sincerity. "Your parents loved you. They loved you enough to sacrifice themselves to save you. I know your burden has been a heavy one to bear for all these years, and I'm terribly sorry for that. But, don't ever forget that your mother and father loved you more than anything."
A single tear escaped one of Naruto's eyes, rolling down his whisker-marked cheek. He gave a small nod, his voice thick and on the verge of breaking. "I won't. Not now, not ever. Thank you, Kakashi-sensei."
The jōnin gave a smile and ruffled Naruto's hair. The blond stood up, as did Kakashi.
"I think I'd better head home. Thanks for talking with me, sensei."
"You're most welcome, Naruto. Go get some rest. I'll see you tomorrow." With that, Kakashi disappeared in a swirl of leaves. Naruto leapt off the stone head, heading back to his apartment.
Tsunade had just put the finishing touches on a budget request when she heard yet another knock at her office door. She let out a groan as she set her pen down. "Enter," she all but growled.
The door cracked open slightly, allowing a red-clad, pink haired kunoichi to slip through. The Hokage raised an eyebrow; she wasn't expecting her today. "Sakura? What do you need?"
The younger kunoichi offered an apologetic smile and a deep bow. "I'm so sorry to interrupt you, Lady Tsunade, but I wanted to ask if you had time to teach me."
As smart and dedicated as she was, Sakura could be a bit much at times when it came to pestering Tsunade about her training. She had been doing it more and more lately, and the Hokage suspected it was for a specific reason, one she intended to find out. She huffed through her nose as Sakura straightened. "Sakura, why are you so concerned about your training lately?"
The pink haired girl opened her mouth to answer, but swallowed her words when Tsunade pointed a ruby red fingernail at her. "The truth, Miss Haruno," she ordered.
Sakura swallowed hard, her mouth suddenly feeling as though someone had stuffed it with gauze. "I…just want to be stronger for my friends."
Tsunade rose from her chair and approached her apprentice. "You want to catch up to them, don't you?"
The younger kunoichi hesitated before meekly nodding. "I want to be able to protect them, too. I've learned so much from you and Haku, and I'm so, so grateful that both of you have taught me…"
The Hokage cocked an eyebrow. "But?"
Sakura chewed her bottom lip as she fidgeted with the hem of her qipao-style top. "I still don't feel strong enough."
It was Tsunade's turn to sigh. She knew Sakura was selling herself short, and it didn't help that Naruto had just acquired what was quite literally the most powerful dōjutsu known. Her voice lowered to a soothing, motherly tone. "Sakura, look at me." Emerald met honey as the older woman continued, placing a hand on her student's shoulder. "You're a fine medic. I'd even go so far as to say you're one of the best medics I've ever seen. Your chakra control is near perfect, and your chakra-enhanced strength almost rivals my own. On top of that, you've got your Kekkei Genkai that Haku helped you hone. Truth be told, I think you could really give Naruto and Sasuke both a run for their money in a one-on-one spar," she said with a smirk.
Sakura couldn't help but smile. "Do you really mean that, Lady Tsunade?"
"Of course I do. I wouldn't tell you if I didn't." She released Sakura's shoulder, her voice returning to its normal volume, though there was a gentleness about it. "Now, what did you want me to train you on today? I have a pretty good idea, but I want you to say it."
Sakura nodded. "I'd…like to try forming the Byakugō no In. I've read everything you told me to read, including the stuff on fūinjutsu. I think I'm ready to try it."
"Very well. Let's get started. You're aware of how to channel chakra into a basic seal, yes?" The pink haired kunoichi nodded before Tsunade continued. "The basic idea is almost the same. The key is molding chakra without channeling it into your hands or other limbs. Instead, you focus it into a single point in the middle of your forehead."
Sakura nodded as the older kunoichi continued. "The process is as follows: mold as much chakra as you can without exhausting yourself. Make sure it's as potent as you can make it, and focus on containing it right…here." The Hokage tapped the middle of her student's forehead.
After one more firm nod, Sakura formed the Ram seal and closed her eyes. Her chakra reserves had grown since she was a genin thanks to the training that her two teachers had put her through, but they were still a far cry from Naruto's or Sasuke's. She had to remind herself that Naruto was a jinchūriki, and that it was nigh on impossible for anyone that wasn't a jinchūriki to have reserves that large. She focused on molding as much chakra as she could, not wanting to think about her limitations.
Feeling herself reaching a breaking point, she channeled it into her forehead, shifting her hands into the Bird seal. She felt a tingling sensation that began in a pinpoint that grew as she felt the chakra coursing through her body into the single point on her forehead. Once she had channeled all that she could, she dropped the hand seal and opened her eyes.
She was greeted by her master, who wore a proud smile. "Congratulations, Sakura. You've successfully created the Byakugō no In. With this, you'll be able to perform the Sōzō Saisei."
Sakura's face stretched into a smile as she excitedly brought her hand up to feel her forehead. When she felt nothing, her expression dropped slightly.
"You won't be able to feel it, it's a seal. You can see it, though," the Hokage explained.
"Oh, I guess that's true, isn't it?" The younger kunoichi admitted sheepishly. She weaved through hand seals and created a small ice mirror in front of her. Her eyes widened at the diamond-shaped, muted purple seal that now adorned her forehead. She inwardly breathed a sigh of relief that the seal did, in fact, look fashionable. She dissolved the ice mirror before deeply bowing. "Thank you, Lady Tsunade."
Tsunade couldn't help but smile. "You're very welcome, Sakura."
The younger kunoichi turned to take her leave, a smile adorning her face.
"One more thing," Tsunade said as she went to her desk, rummaging around for something.
Sakura stopped and turned, tilting her head slightly as she watched with curiosity.
"Ah! Here it is," she called from behind her desk. She made her way to her student, holding what appeared to be a folded cream-colored tablecloth. Sakura's confusion grew as Tsunade presented it to her. She took it carefully, examining it while trying to mask said confusion.
"Er, thank you, Lady Tsunade. But, uh…what is it, exactly?"
"Unfold it and find out!" The Hokage responded jovially.
Sakura pursed her lips as she let the cloth hang from her fingertips. What she thought might have been a tablecloth turned out to be a haori. One that was styled exactly like Tsunade's, save for the colors. This haori was cream-colored with deep red trim. Turning it around, there was a red circle with the kanji for "healing" emblazoned in black.
She turned to her master; emerald eyes impossibly wide as she clutched the haori. "This…for me?"
Tsunade simply nodded, beaming with pride. "Try it on."
Sakura nodded, slipping the haori on and admiring the sleeves. She tried to get a better view of herself, but realized she needed a mirror. A few hand seals later and another ice mirror appeared. She tried to contain her excitement; she wore a face-splitting smile, her eyes twinkling like their namesake gems.
Tsunade appeared behind her. "It suits you," she said nonchalantly. Internally, she marveled at how Sakura had successfully created the seal on her first try. It was no easy feat, and deep down she knew that her student was more than capable, but seeing it with her own eyes still filled her with pride.
Sakura dissolved the ice mirror, her smile holding fast as she bowed deeply again. "Thank you, Lady Tsunade! Thank you thank you thank you!"
The Hokage huffed good-naturedly, wearing her own smile. "It's nothing, Sakura. One thing; be sure to channel chakra into that seal every so often. In order for the Sōzō Saisei to be as effective as it should be, you need to add chakra to the seal now and again. Now head on home and get some rest."
Sakura gave a firm nod. "Yes ma'am!" With that, Sakura bolted out of the Hokage tower and ran straight home.
Ino had just finished her dinner when she heard her apartment door unlocking. Sakura was arriving later than she expected. Not that it mattered too much, since there were leftovers and she had also come home a bit later, on account of T&I business. She turned towards the commotion, feigning annoyance.
"There you are, Forehead! What took you so lo—" Ino's next words died with a gasp as she beheld her best friend and her ensemble.
Sakura twirled around, making sure the platinum blonde could see the haori in its entirety. A light blush adorned her cheeks. "What do you think?"
Ino's baby blue eyes twinkled as she scurried over to her roommate. "Where in the world did you get this?!" She took a bit of the haori between her fingers, feeling the silken texture of the fabric and admiring the color. "It looks so good on you!"
"Lady Tsunade gave it to me."
"Really? What for? Just because?"
Sakura's smile held a touch of mirth as she pointed to the seal that now adorned her forehead. "For learning this."
Ino's eyes widened as her head tilted. She lifted a hand and brushed her fingers against the muted purple diamond. "What is this? Doesn't Lady Tsunade have the same thing?" She stared with childlike wonder.
The pink haired kunoichi beamed with pride. "It's a seal; the Byakugō no In, actually."
"That's a seal? And what the heck is the Byakugō no In? Some kind of jutsu?"
Ino sat down as Sakura set her haori on the back of a chair and began heating up some of the leftovers. "Well, yes and no. The seal holds a ton of chakra that I can release in a pinch, which will heal injuries almost as fast as Naruto does. The seal itself is the Byakugō no In, the healing jutsu that releases all that chakra is Sōzō Saisei."
Chin resting in her hands, Ino cooed at her friend as she sat down to eat. "Well, look at you! You're really turning into one heck of a kunoichi, Forehead."
Sakura offered her gratitude for the meal before digging in. "That's not all. This is supposed to help me not use as much chakra. Which is good, since, you know, I don't have as much chakra as Naruto and Sasuke. Well, I have more than I did before, but—" She said in between bites of stew. She let out an exasperated groan, trying to keep herself from giggling. "You get what I mean," she said resignedly.
A small laugh escaped Ino. "Yeah, yeah, I get ya, Forehead. That seriously is really cool, though. All I've been doing is working with my dad."
"Are you liking it?"
The platinum blonde shrugged. "It's not too bad. He's just tough on me because I'm his daughter and stuff. Honestly, I miss hanging out with you and Haku during our breaks."
"We miss you, too, Pig. Our little trio needs to get together again sometime. With or without our boys," Sakura offered.
Ino snorted. "It'd take divine intervention to get Shikamaru to agree to anything without him bitching and moaning about it. And you know Chōji, as great of a shinobi as he can be, tends to think with his stomach."
A laugh escaped the pink haired girl. "You know, Naruto is pretty similar to Chōji in that way. He can put away food like nobody's business."
"Oh, trust me, I know. I was there when we went to Ichiraku's for dinner. I still can't believe that guy went through eight bowls. Eight bowls! That's insane!"
Sakura nearly doubled over in laughter at Ino's incredulity. "Ino, you have no idea. Naruto used to eat just as much back when we were genin. Sasuke and I even wondered if he had multiple stomachs. Heck, even Kakashi-sensei thought it was nuts!"
Ino gaped. She knew Naruto loved ramen, but never figured he'd been obsessed with the stuff since they were genin. "Jeez, Forehead. Sometimes I wonder how you put up with him and his undying love of ramen. Not to mention his antics and thick-headedness."
"Same way you deal with your boys. They're my teammates and my friends, so it's less putting up with them and more just kinda rolling with it. Naruto's less of a blockhead these days. It's actually pretty impressive how much he's grown and matured." 'And in more ways than one,' she mentally added. She'd have to be blind to ignore how he started looking more handsome as time passed. Especially after that fateful shopping trip.
A wry smirk crept across Ino's face. "Oh? You getting some eyes for the blond boy now? Can't say I blame you; blonds are more fun, after all," she sneered, a mischievous twinkle in her baby blue eyes.
Sakura's cheeks burned as her brow furrowed. "You and I both know that's not what I meant, Pig," she growled. She would never admit it out loud, but he had caught her eye since the shopping trip. "That dinner we had was just as friends; I wanted to check up on him." The dinner she had with Naruto was really quite nice. Him cooking for her was a sweet gesture, and she was glad she got to catch up with him.
Ino let out a giggle. "Oh, re-lax, Forehead, I'm only teasing. You're probably too focused on your training with Lady Tsunade to worry about boys anyway, right?"
The pink haired girl snorted. "Damn straight," she said firmly before letting a small laugh escape her.
They sat quietly for a little while. Sakura finished her meal while Ino sipped on a cup of tea. The silence was comfortable; even though they didn't see each other during the day as much, they enjoyed being able to eat together and relax in the evenings. Usually they talked about their days, which often included complaining about T&I or the workload at the hospital. Their rivalry of the past seemed so silly now. After the Chūnin Exams, they both felt they had drifted away and decided to reconcile. They rekindled their connection to each other, fondly remembering how close they were during their days in the academy. They may not have been attached at the hip like they used to be, but their bond had grown stronger, nonetheless.
The two kunoichi were about to shut their doors for the night. They had said goodnight, but Ino had one last thing to say.
"Hey, Sakura?"
The pink-haired girl poked her head out into the hallway. "Yeah?"
A small smile adorned Ino's doll-like face. "I'm proud of you. You're really shaping up to be one hell of a ninja."
Sakura smiled warmly at her friend. "Thanks, Ino."
The two bade each other goodnight, resigning themselves to a restful sleep.
A/N: More fluff! I know it seems like there's a lot of that lately, but I wanted to make sure the characters get the development and interactions they need. I have to admit, tackling Naruto learning about his mom was an interesting adventure, but I think it turned out well!
Translation notes:
Byakugō no In - Strength of a Hundred Seal
Sōzō Saisei - Creation Rebirth/Mitotic Regeneration
Hiraishin - Flying Raijin/Flying Thunder God
Thanks so much for reading! Chapter 17 in the works!
