"Guilty Until Innocent"
By: Shadow and Janime
The silence seemed to stretch on for hours before the young woman known as Hidama looked back down at the blonde boy. "What do you know about the nine-tailed fox that attacked Konoha over a decade ago?" she asked coolly.
He frowned but told her what he knew. "The fox's name was Kyuubi and it apparently caused a lot of damage during its attack, killed many people. It was finally destroyed--supposedly. But it was sealed in a baby's body."
Hidama nodded. "The 4th Hokage used a forbidden sealing jutsu. Only a few know how to perform it but in doing so, you give up all your charka and end up dying. He thought he was doing the right thing, he thought the people would revere him as a hero. He didn't think his beloved village would turn their backs on a helpless infant."
"What about his parents? Why could they not care for him?"
"His mother died in child-birth, his father died when he battled Kyuubi, suffering the fate like so many others."
"But why does he call you mother?"
"Because I am his mother," she snapped but quickly calmed down. "I was the closest thing he had to a family and friend. I had seen what happened and when no one was willing to care for the child I took him in. I stayed with him when he was sick, I smiled when he learned to walk and talk, but I also held him when he came home crying, I defended him when the adults called him names, I calmed him when none of the other children would play with him, I was there for him always." She reached over and gently brushed the golden bangs away from his face, gently tracing the whiskers along his uninjured cheek.
Gaara just stood there. Never had he seen her act like this. She was always so alert, watching the shadows, never let herself get too close to anyone but right now she looked so motherly. This was another side he had never seen but he wished she would show him the same care. "Why did you leave him to fend for himself?"
Her hand paused before pulling back. "I had a mission and I could not take Naruto with me but I did not leave him alone. I told the 3rd Hokage--Sarutobi--to watch over him for me. He could not openly care for the child but he would watch him. Iruka Umino knew about the fox spirit, having lost both parents to it, but unlike the others he did not judge as cold and cruelly so he would also watch over him. I left plenty of money for them to take care of Naruto and that night, I left but I swore to him that one day I would return." She closed her eyes briefly before opening them once more. "He is my kit, Gaara. And I want to know what happened to him. No one harms my family."
The kazekage stood there, looking at her intently. There it was again, the inner fire that made her eyes even colder than before. He couldn't help but shiver as an icy grip raced along his spine. She would hold no qualms on killing those that had hurt the blonde. He couldn't help but feel left out, feel a bit jealous of such a motherly love. But this boy, this was his friend. One of his only friends that truly understood him.
"What are we going to do then?" he asked. He looked up sharply when he felt a hand rest on his shoulder. He had never heard her stand or approach him.
"I want you to watch Naruto for me until I return."
He looked up in mildly surprise. Her pale blue eyes were now calm but he could see the rush of anger deep down, the icy flames wanting to destroy. "Let me go with you to Konoha."
"No. Suna needs you and so does Naruto. He came to you seeking help. But I will take Kankurou and Temari with me. They know who his friends are."
Gaara nodded in agreement. He already missed the warmth of her hand when she drew back, watching as she removed the outer robe she wore and draped it over the healing fox-boy; leaning over she kissed his whiskered cheek that hadn't been damaged. Why couldn't he get that kind of motherly affect-
Hidama kissed his cheek silently, watching the look of surprise cross over his face. She knew she had surprised him, the armor of sand he wore still protecting him even around her. She reached up and traced the kanji on his forehead with a feather-light touch before drawing her hand away..
"You are both my kits, Gaara. But right now, your brother needs your help," she whispered for only his ears. He nodded.
"You will come back." It wasn't a question.
"I never break a promise." With that she left on silent feet.
--
"Well?"
"It's him."
"Are you certain this time?
"Positive."
"Good because I won't tolerate another failure from you."
"There is no doubt, master. His blood reacted differently than the other boy's."
"Very well then; I hate to have to look for another replacement so soon. Help is so hard to find these days."
--
Sasuke handed the backpack to Kakashi. "It's Naruto's."
Kakashi stared at the article, turning it over again and again in his hands. It was covered with dried blood. His eye looked at the large bloodstain on the ground and followed the trail of blood going beyond the village boundaries.
Looking around the area, the two ninjas saw the explosion marks left in the ground and the damaged trees. Upon closer inspection, there was a red-orange residue left from the impact.
Sasuke pulled out a small piece of cloth from his pocket and tore off a piece of bark and gathered some of the dirt. There was no doubt in his mind someone had attacked Naruto.
"This is not from our village," Sasuke turned to Kakashi, "or from anyone we've encountered. Who could've done this?"
"I don't know," Kakashi pulled a shuriken from a tree root. "Whoever it was forgot something." He tossed the shuriken to Sasuke.
The younger ninja looked at the small yet deadly weapon. "Seven points?" He looked at his teacher.
"Think about it. In all our past battles have you even seen anyone used this kind of shuriken before?" he asked.
The young man slowly shook his head. "It's either a past enemy trying to confuse us with new tactics, or someone new entirely."
"Right." He looked at the blood trail once more. He wanted to follow it, to summon one of his ninja dogs to locate his missing student but Naruto was a determined young man. Wherever he is, I hope he's safe.
"Let's go Sasuke."
He nodded and wrapped the weapon in another piece of cloth before carefully putting the new found evidence in his pockets.
--
Laughter and darkness surrounded him.
"You can't deny it. You are a demon."
Naruto spun around, finding No-Face standing behind a large bloody pelt.
"You are responsible for the deaths of all those so-called ninjas," No-Face said and he reached down, grabbing the pelt. "As you are responsible for hers!"
He ripped the pelt away, leaving the mangled body of a white-haired woman.
Naruto bolted upright in bed, screaming at the top of his lungs. Gaara, who had been sitting in the chair beside the bed, jumped to his feet. He watched as Naruto growled in pain and gripped at his stomach. Gaara saw the blood slowly seep through the bandages.
"Shit!" Gaara hissed. He grabbed Naruto's upper arms and pushed him back down on the bed as he yelled for the doctor.
Teijo and his apprentice--a young boy with brown hair and green eyes, flew into the room. Teijo was in his mid-thirties and had just recently been approved as head of the medical unit. His deep brown eyes held a light of wisdom that was seldom seen among the people of the village.
"What happened?" Teijo asked as he tied a cap over his short wavy black hair.
"He just woke up screaming," Gaara answered.
Teijo carefully picked up the edge of the bandages. "He pulled his stitches. Minoru," the doctor looked at his apprentice, "get the suture kit and the gloves from the cabinet, and don't forget the ether."
Minoru nodded and ran out of the room.
"Gaara, I'm going to need your help," Teijo looked at red-headed ninja. "Hold him down just as you are. Don't let him move."
Gaara nodded in response. A few moments later, Minoru returned with the requested items. He pulled the small rolling food tray over to the bed and placed everything on it. Minoru grabbed a cloth and the small bottle of ether. Removing the cap, he poured a little on the cloth.
"Put it over his nose and mouth," Teijo instructed. "Gaara, you better hold your breath for a little bit."
Deciding to take heed of the doctor's words, Gaara inhaled deeply and held the air as Minoru placed the ether-laced cloth over Naruto's mouth and nose.
Instantly, Naruto's groans of pain quieted and his eye glazed over. "Gaara…" he said in a muffled groggy voice, "Your hair is really bright…" Naruto's eye slid close.
Minoru pulled the cloth away and set it aside on the windowsill. He then grabbed a pair of gloves and helped put them on his master's hands before putting on a pair.
Gaara released his breath and watched Teijo cut the bandages with a small pair of scissors. Setting them aside, the doctor carefully pulled the strips away and made a face at the literally bloody mess. Taking hold of an even smaller pair of scissors, Teijo cut the pulled stitches and Minoru removed them with a pair of tweezers.
"The good news is that he didn't pull the inner ones," Teijo said as he readied to stitch Naruto's wound for the second time. "If he had, there would be a lot more blood."
"Will he be alright?" he asked, ignoring the scent of blood and ether.
"If he stops tearing himself apart he will," the doctor said, trying to lighten the mood but didn't press on.
His fingers quickly threaded the needle and seemed to glide across the wound, bringing the torn skin together. It was clear to see he was used to doing this sort of thing, keeping the stitches small yet precise. Tying the end off he nodded to his assistant to clean up the blood that had been spilt. "Gaara, I need your help again."
Gaara stepped closer and helped him carefully sit the boy up, letting him lean into his chest for support. He noticed that the blonde's body was warmer than usual--even through the sand armor. "He's warm."
Teijo looked at the blonde's flushed face. "I'll check his temperature." He and Minoru rewrapped Naruto's stomach in clean gauze and wrappings, tying it securely. Nodding, their leader gently laid the Leaf ninja back on the bed, allowing the medics to finally remove their gloves. He rested the inside of his wrist on his patient's forehead for a moment.
"I doubt it's a fever but just to be sure I'll send for some cool compresses." Minoru took this as his cue as he took everything away on the rolling tray and to dispose of the used and bloodied items. He returned shortly with a shallow bowl of water with a stark white cloth resting over his arm. The doctor also checked the splint, making sure the bones were immobilized and went through his vitals. "He's healing but what happened to make him tear the stitches?" he asked.
"I don't know. Suddenly he sat up, screaming. That's when he grabbed his stomach," Gaara told him.
"Hmm, sounds like a nightmare." Teijo rolled his sleeves up and dipping the cloth in the water, wringed it out and folding it in half placed it over Naruto's brow. "That's all I can do. Would you like to have Minoru here to help you?"
The kazekage shook his head silently. "No, I can handle it from here."
"As you wish. When he awakens please let me know." Bowing to their leader both doctor and assistant left. Gaara looked down at his friend and slowly, sat back down in his chair. A nightmare. What could he have possible dreamt of that would cause him to react in such a way? For that matter, who attacked him in the first place?
--
Tsunade rubbed the back of her neck and sighed, tired. Iruka's status hadn't changed but at least he wasn't getting worse--that she took as a good sign.
Bunch of idiots, Tsunade thought at the villagers who attacked Naruto. And what have I been telling them for how many weeks?
She gave a lot of credit to the younger ninjas who finally accepted Naruto for standing up to their parents. They may be punished for defending a "demon" but the wounds Iruka received were not from an animal--demon or not.
The big busted medic worked like she had never worked before, ignoring the bile that threaten to rise when she saw the amount of blood. She threw out orders which were obeyed quickly, throwing her coat off and pulling on a pair of surgeon's gloves. Once the clothes had been removed she felt the bile rise two more times, the bitterness filling her mouth. She felt the image of her holding her lover's bloodied body in her arms rise, making her want to run away and hide but she fought it back ruthlessly. This man needed her help.
Everything happened so fast yet at the same time everything seemed to be standing still. Iruka's chakra level was critically low, showing that he at least put up a fight and didn't submit easily but deep in the back of her mind the hokage took into account each wound she came across. Whoever attacked him was a human being and she knew that Naruto was not the cause behind this. The pattern showed the attacker to be ruthless and sadistic.
Her heels made soft clicking noises as she walked down the brightly lit halls of the hospital, her body weary with exhaustion mentally and physically. But she had no time to rest. She paused and looked out the window. Naruto was gone but that wasn't what worried her. She still remembered how her heart seemed to plummet when Kakashi and Sasuke came to her, the silver-haired jounin holding the bloodied pack of her favorite blonde ninja.
But he isn't dead, a voice deep down whispered, giving her a shred of hope. They found a trail of blood leading away. He escaped. He is still alive.
Tsunade closed her eyes and let her head rest against the cool glass of the window, struggling to keep the tears from falling. She had sworn to herself she wouldn't let the fox-boy suffer, that she would see him achieve his dream of being hokage. She brought her fist back, imaging herself beating the hell of those idiot adults who tried to take the law into their hands but she rested it on the glass with as much care as she could muster. She felt a sudden rise in chakra around her. One of the shinobi guards was looking for her.
Time to act like a leader. She stood straighter, rubbing the tears that fell away and turned.
A puff of smoke appeared before her before and faded away to reveal one of the shinobi guards. He wore a white mask in the shape of a wolf with intricate designs. "Hokage, forgive me but I have urgent news," he said.
"What is it?" Did they receive word from Naruto?
"We have visitors from the Village Hidden in the Sand and they wish to speak with you personally."
Tsunade blinked. It had been a very long time since anyone from the Hidden Sand Village ever asked for her personally--quite a few years. Almost as long since she began wearing high heels.
"Tell them I'll be there shortly."
The guard nodded and vanished in a puff of smoke.
"Sakura! Hinata!" Tsunade called and the two girls appeared. "I have to take care of something. Keep watch over Iruka and if anything changes, come get me immediately."
"Yes, ma'am," they bowed and scurried off.
Running her hand over her head she performed the basic seals and disappeared from the hospital and appeared in her office. The smoke faded quickly and immediately she recognized the blonde hair girl carried a large folded fan on her back, and a young man wearing all black and red kabuki paint with a large bundle wrapped in bandages on his back.
"Temari, Kankurou. This is a surprise. What can I do for you two?" she asked.
The siblings didn't say anything but stepped back to allow their third party to step forward. She was tall and lithe, with skin pale as the moon, hair whiter than pure snow, and pale blue eyes that sent icy chills through every part of her body. She wore baggy pants that hung low on her hips, a short vest laced tightly in the front in shades of blue with a golden guard on her right wrist, bandages wrapped around her left upper arm and a sheathed katana on her back. Where Tsunade had the bust every woman dreamed of this woman before her looked like every man's wet dream but something in her eyes showed something cold and hard..
"I want to know what happened with a young ninja that resides here," she said coolly. "His name is Naruto."
The female hokage narrowed her eyes, not trusting this woman. "What is your relationship to him?" she asked just as coolly. The woman slowly crossed her arms over her chest, meeting her stare.
"I'm his mother."
--
Naruto slowly opened his left eye, coming out of a dream that he really didn't want to wake up from. He felt safe with the person who had been caring for him in the subconscious world. She smelled like moonlight rain.
When his eye managed to focus, a familiar person in a chair near him came into view. "Gaara…" Naruto said weakly.
The red-haired ninja looked at him. "Naruto… are you alright?"
"I've had better days," the blonde grinned slightly and tried to sit up.
"Stay down," Gaara gently pushed down on his friend's right shoulder. "You tore your stitches when you woke last time. Teijo would not be pleased if he had to replace them again."
"Okay." Normally he would have argued but the painful twinge on his stomach was enough proof. He blinked at the unfamiliar name. "Who's Teijo?"
"The head doctor in Suna. He's the one who took care of your injuries where you arrived in my office."
"Oh." Bits of earlier that day came to his mind. Finally stumbling into the Village Hidden in the Sand. Forcing his body to push on despite the pain he was feeling. Asking the red-head for help. Losing himself in pale blue eyes-
He blinked and frowned, trying to think where he had seen those eyes before but his head hurt.
The young leader stood and going to the door asked one of the assistants to get Teijo before returning back to his friend's side. He looked him over before speaking up. "Naruto, what happened? I've never seen you like that."
"..."
"Why did you come seeking my help?"
"... Because someone is framing me." He couldn't look up at those teal colored eyes. "Not sure when it started but there's a murderer on the loose and he's been framing me. But I didn't hurt anyone, I didn't attack Iruka-" His beloved foster-parent, gasping for air, covered in blood hit him hard. His good hand closed into a tight fist, remembering No-Face's words. "That bastard, he's the one framing me."
"Tell me what happened, from the beginning." The kazekage listened, taking in every detail that was spoken and not spoken. He knew of the dislike the villagers had for the blonde but to openly attack him? How could they think he would attack the closet person he had? But this No-Face... a ninja who was probably a high-level shinobi without a face. He was taken from his thoughts when a pained voice whispered out to him.
"I didn't have any other place to go... I don't know why this guy is after me, but I'm not gonna let him get away with this. I don't care if it costs me my life, he will pay for hurting Iruka-sensei."
"You aren't going after him alone. I'll help you track him down and kill those responsible." The corner of his lips quirked as he thought back to what Hidama said. "That's what brothers do."
"Ah, you're awake," Teijo entered the room, preventing Naruto from asking Gaara what he meant. "You were in quite a nasty state when you arrived," the doctor went on as he checked Naruto's stomach and wrist.
"I've seen worse," Naruto said quietly. Teijo didn't hear him but Gaara did, and the Kazekage knew who the blonde meant.
Teijo removed the small towel from Naruto's forehead and placed his hand lightly against his brow then his right cheek. "Your temperature has gone down a little as well; very good--not to mention impressive."
Now this he couldn't help but grin. "Yeah I'll be back on my feet in no time!" he said proudly.
The doctor couldn't help but chuckle at him. "I believe it. Well if you promise to be careful and not eat yourself sick I'll see about having some food brought up-"
"Ramen! I want ramen!"
Gaara closed his eyes but he was resisting the urge to groan. He knew about the blonde's appetite to eat nothing BUT ramen all the time. He honestly didn't care for it very much. The older man thought it over.
"Not exactly a healthy meal but alright. Would you like anything Gaara?"
"No, I'll eat later."
"As you wish." But before he left he gently patted the blonde on his shoulder. "I'm glad we were able to save you in time, boy."
Naruto nodded slightly. "Thanks, doc."
Teijo nodded and left the room.
"So you serious about helping me find this No-Face guy?" Naruto asked.
"That's what brother's do," Gaara repeated himself from earlier. He held his right fist out and smirked.
Naruto grinned and lightly tapped his right fist against Gaara's. When Minoru arrived with a plate of fruit and the ramen--especially the ramen--Naruto just about forgot everything else.
Authors' Notes:
Janime: If I was in Tsunade's shoes when Hidama said that she was Naruto's mother, I would have hit the floor. Then again, I'd hit the floor anyway if I was literally wearing her shoes.
Shadow: That makes two of us.
Janime: I don't like high heels. This is why I dressed as Kin at Katsucon.
Shadow: And they're uncomfortable. Give me sneakers no matter what.
Janime: Now to the fic, as you can tell Gaara is a bit OOC.
Shadow: We're being as accurate as possible but there will be several times where the characters would seem like themselves.
Janime: This is just fan fiction after all. It's not like we're writing a new episode.
Shadow: I rather just sit back, watch the show, and argue when I don't agree with something.
Janime: I do that with every anime.
Shadow: See you next chapter!