Chapter 3
"He needs a bath." Sasuke said quietly. "And he probably needs to eat, he doesn't look like he's been fed in a month."
"I'll go run him some bath water." Itachi said. "He may have to borrow some of your clothes Sasuke."
"That's fine." Sasuke said shrugging, he really didn't care about. He just cared that Naruto got the proper care that he needed.
"Somebody is going to be a mother hen." Itachi chuckled before turning and disappearing out of the kitchen, and heading down the hall. Sasuke scowled after his brother before returning his attention to Naruto, whose sobs had finally quieted and he just lay there, soaking up the gentleness of the woman that was holding him.
"Is he going to be okay?" Sasuke asked quietly, just the sound of Naruto's cries had been enough to make his heart hurt.
"I think he will be." Mikoto said softly, as she leaned forward and gently pressed her lips against Naruto's forehead. "He's had a rough childhood up to this point, but I think that from here on out things are going to get better for him."
"We're going to need to get him some clothes of his own." Fugaku said thoughtfully. "And I'm going to need to know who his previous caretakers were." They weren't going to get by with doing this to a child. "And Itachi is probably right, he's likely to need some therapy of some sort."
"We'll make sure that he gets those things." Mikoto said. "But I think right now the most important thing we can for him is give him the kind of affection that he's been missing."
"I don't understand why someone would have a child and then treat them like this." Sasuke said. "It's hardly fair, and if you don't want a child don't have one."
"It's not always that simple." Fugaku replied. "His biological parents may have wanted him but something may have happened to them that led to him being put in foster care."
"Well someone didn't do a very good job of taking care of him." Sasuke muttered, reaching out and taking Naruto's hand.
"Why don't you go with Sasuke, and get a bath, I'll fix you something to eat for when he gets out of the tub." Mikoto said quietly, Naruto nodded, and shyly took Sasuke's hand and followed him out of the room. Mikoto looked over at Fugaku.
"There's no way in hell that we can let him go to another home. I won't risk someone else hurting him because they're so damn heartless." Fugaku nodded. It was pretty clear to him that his wife was already attached to the child, he wouldn't incur her wrath by having Naruto removed.
"I'm going to dig around into his past to see what I can find out about his previous caretakers." Fugaku replied. "I might have to change some laws and become stricter about child abuse and those accused of it."
"Whatever you do, you have to keep Naruto safe." Mikoto replied. "I don't think Sasuke's going to like it very much if something happens to him."
"I don't think anyone is going to come after him, no one seems to care about his whereabouts." Fugaku said thoughtfully. "He just seemed to slip easily through the cracks."
"From here on out that's going to change though." Mikoto said as she stood up and walked back over to the kitchen table and sat down. She was going to make a list of the things that Naruto needed and she was going to go get them. Hopefully Itachi wouldn't mind keeping an eye on the boys for a little while so that she could get what she needed.
"I guess I need to figure out something for him to eat too." Mikoto said, as she stood up again. "I wonder what kind of food he likes?"
"I'm sure Sasuke can figure something out while he's acting like a mother hen over him." Fugaku said. "I think Sasuke will be able to get a lot of information out of Naruto."
"Don't use your own son to interogate Naruto." Mikoto replied. "Sasuke wouldn't like it, and I doubt Naruto would ever trust you if you pulled something like that."
"We need to find out more about his past, and those that have hurt him." Fugaku told his wife, "Surely, there's someone out there that knows something about him."
"That boy isn't going to be removed from this home." Mikoto said firmly. "Besides that I think Sasuke is already attached to him."
"I don't plan on kicking him out back into the streets." Fugaku said. "I just want to know more about him. Like what if he has some sort of illness that we need to know about. What's his medical history like."
"You bring up a good point, it would be a good idea to know about that sort of thing." Mikoto said. "Hopefully, the kid has a clean bill of health." Fugaku nodded and glanced at his watch, he was already late for work but he supposed a few more minutes wouldn't hurt.
"I'll see what I can find out about his former caretakers." Fugaku said. "So I might be home a little later than usual."
"That's fine." Mikoto replied. "I'm going to go out and get some clothes for him. He may need some other things as well. Maybe Itachi will keep an eye on the boy's for a little while." She doubted that Itachi would mind, he was good with helping with Sasuke whenever she needed him too, sometimes Itachi's girlfriend Izumi would come over and help. Maybe she could help entertain the two boy's as well
"Hey, are you okay?" Sasuke asked as he turned towards Naruto, who stood in the doorway to the bathroom, and stared. Tears welled up in the blue eyes as he slowly stepped into the room.
"It's such a nice bathroom." Naruto said quietly, "I've never been in something so nice before."
"It's okay I guess." Sasuke shrugged, as he stepped aside and allowed Naruto further entry into the restroom. "You're going to be borrowing some of my clothes, so toss yours in the garbage once your out of the tub." Naruto nodded and walked over to tub, pulling his shirt off as he went. Sasuke's eyes fell on Naruto's back, and his mouth fell open at the sight that was before him. Scars ran up and down his back, some deep some not so deep, some of them healing and other's looking like they were fresh. Tears welled in Sasuke's eyes, he'd thought that Naruto had been abused but he hadn't been expecting something like this.
"Itachi!" Sasuke hissed, trying not to startle Naruto, who had quickly grabbed a towel and wrapped it around himself when he realized that Sasuke had seen his back. Tears streamed down Naruto's face as he walked over to the nearest corner and sat down with his back pressed against the wall and his knees pulled up against his chest. Wrapping his arms around his legs, Naruto tried to make himself appear smaller than he was. He hated for anyone to see the scars that he bared, he was ashamed of his weakness and inability to protect himself.
Suddenly the sound of hurried feet filled the air, and Naruto sensed when the older boy was beside him.
"What's wrong?" Itachi's gentle voice asked, reaching out and pulling Naruto out of his backed into a corner position and sat down beside Naruto, gently pulling the smaller boy onto his lap.
"I have scars on my back." Naruto whined softly. "I hate for people to see them, and Sasuke saw them."
"He won't ever use your scars against you." Itachi said gently. "Sasuke would never do anything like that. We're all scarred in our own ways so there's no reason to be ashamed of the scars that you carry."
"I should have been able to protect myself." Naruto mumbled. "I should have been able to stay away from them."
"It's nothing to be ashamed about." Itachi said gently. "You're just a kid, you probably couldn't have stopped what happened no matter what you done."
"I should have been able to do something though." Naruto replied shaking his head.
"You can't stop an adult hellbent on hurting someone." Itachi replied. "You're still little, there's no need to stress yourself about something that you couldn't have stopped."
"How did I end up here?" Naruto asked. "I should still be out on the streets."
"Fate brought you to us." Itachi replied. "There was a reason that we came upon you in the park. I think fate wanted us to bring you home."
"I wish I could believe that, but fate wants me to suffer." Naruto replied.
"I don't believe that for a minute." Itachi replied, holding Naruto tighter, he had the feeling that Naruto had a lot of anxiety about being brought into a new home. They were going to have to work really hard to make Naruto feel comfortable and welcomed here. Therapy definitely sounded like a good idea to Itachi.
"I know things might be a little difficult for you to believe now." Itachi said softly. "But I promise things are going to get better for you, you're going to be okay with us. You won't ever be hurt again, you'll soon learn that you can be happy."
"Can I take my shower now?" Naruto asked, sounding like he was uncomfortable with the conversation.
"Of course, and if you need anything just call out." Itachi said gently as he released Naruto from his warm embrace. "Sasuke's room is right next door and he has ears like a bat."
"I do not." Sasuke grumbled from a few feet away, he hadn't wanted to stray far away from the upset Naruto.
"You have very good hearing." Itachi pointed out. "So do bats." Sasuke shrugged. He didn't particularly care about that bit of information. He just wanted Naruto to be okay, and not to be stressed about the situation that he was now in. He wanted Naruto to feel comfortable with his family, and trust that they wouldn't do anything to hurt him. Sasuke was sure that was going to take a long time for Naruto to be able to trust that they wouldn't hurt him, especially judging by the looks of his back. Sasuke couldn't help but wonder just who could hit a kid so hard to leave behind those kind of scars? Who could have that much hate inside of them that they didn't care about the physical damage they were doing to a kid?
"Come on Sasuke, let him bathe in peace." Itachi said, interrupting Sasuke's thoughts as he started for the door. "Naruto is going to need some privacy. Sasuke frowned, and glanced back at Naruto who was still sitting in the corner of the bathroom, before turning and following Itachi out of the restroom.
"Did you see his back?" Sasuke asked as they stopped right outside of the bathroom door, after shutting it to give Naruto some privacy.
"No." Itachi shook his head. "He doesn't care to have people see his back apparently."
"It was covered in scars, some of the looked pretty deep and fresh." Sasuke said swallowing hard, he felt like getting sic k just remembering how badly scarred the other boy's back had been.
"I understand he's had a pretty rough childhood." Itachi said quietly. "Which is why it's important that you don't rush him into doing anything he's not ready for."
"I wouldn't do that." Sasuke said shaking his head. "I want him to want to want to be here. I can be patient sometimes you know." Itachi chuckled.
"He might end up being a good playmate for you." Itachi said.
"Maybe." Sasuke said. "Mom and Dad could have helped with that if they had another kid though."
"I don't see that happening." Itachi replied. "I think they only planned on the two of us." Sasuke shrugged and looked back at the bathroom door. He couldn't help but wonder what was going through Naruto's head right now, the poor kid must have been scared to be dragged to a house filled with people that he didn't know. Sasuke was going to do whatever it took to make things easier for the other boy.
"I don't know why, but I want him to be comfortable here." Sasuke said. "I've never felt this way about any other kid that I've met. It's just there's something about him that makes me want to protect him."
"It seems to me that you have a sixth sense for those that truly need some help." Itachi replied. "It's not a bad thing to have, though there will probably be times that it's more difficult to deal with than others."
"Like when?" Sasuke asked, looking up at his older brother. Itachi was sixteen and had never seemed more wiser to Sasuke than in that moment.
"Like when there's nothing that you can really do to help." Itachi replied. "You can't help everyone out there, it's just not possible."
"That doesn't mean that we can't help out as much as possible." Sasuke replied. "There is still more that can be done for those in need."
"Of course there is." Itachi replied. "I'm glad that you want to help people."
"I guess it's sort of a distraction from father not wanting to spend much time with me." Sasuke admitted, "And it does make me feel a little better knowing that I'm able to do something for someone."
"Father won't always be so busy." Itachi said quietly. "There's just a lot going on right now."
"I'm sure, I'm happy that he has a chance to live his dreams, but at the same time I feel like he doesn't love me nearly as much as he loves you." Sasuke admitted. "I just want him to want to spend time with me without being distracted by everything."
"Just because I don't get to spend as much time with you as I do Sasuke, it doesn't mean I love you any less." Fugaku said softly, coming up behind Sasuke. "I love dearly, and would do anything for you. Which is part of the reason I work all the time." He hated that Sasuke felt like he cared less about him then he did Sasuke, that wasn't true.
"It doesn't feel like you want to be around me though." Sasuke said quietly.
"I'm sorry that I've made you feel that way." Fugaku said gently, as he kneeled down beside Sasuke. "I didn't mean to, I just want you and Itachi to have the best life possible, and sometimes that means making sacrifices. I guess I didn't consider that I was sacrificing time with you and how that made you feel." Sasuke sighed and raised a hand to wipe at tears that he'd been unaware of falling down his face. Fugaku knocked Sasuke's hand away, and gently took his thumb and wiped at the tears.
"I guess sometimes even an adult can be an idiot." Fugaku said softly, as he pulled Sasuke in for a hug. "I've probably been more of an idiot than I've realized."
"That's okay, I guess I can't expect you to be smart all of the time." Sasuke said quietly, laying his head on his father's shoulder. "I'm old enough to understand that you have to work."
"But I don't have to work all the time, I do need to spend time with both of my boys." Fugaku said quietly, rubbing circles into Sasuke's back. "I'm going to be late tonight, but I'm going to see what I can find about Naruto's background."
"He's been beaten." Sasuke said grimly. "His back is covered in scars and some of them are fresh." Fugaku grimaced, he'd seen the way Naruto had melted down in the kitchen with his wife, and he couldn't help but wonder how someone could hurt a child like that.
"I'll find out who done it." Fugaku promised "And I'll make them pay for it. How did you see his back?"
"He was getting ready to get in the bath and was getting undressed." Sasuke replied. "I don't think he realized I was still in the bathroom because he freaked out and Itachi had to calm him down."
"He's going to end up getting attached to Itachi too I think." Fugaku said thoughtfully and Sasuke shrugged.
"Who wouldn't? 'Tachi is the best brother around." Sasuke replied and Itachi chuckled, and reached out and ruffled Sasuke's hair.
"Glad you think so kiddo." Itachi murmured. "But you're just as special too." Sasuke shrugged and looked back at the bathroom door, he hoped that Naruto didn't get the idea to try and harm himself, before someone else could harm him. Sasuke really didn't like the idea of anything bad happening to Naruto, he'd already had a tough life, he deserved to catch a break.
"Is he going to stay with us?" Sasuke asked and Fugaku nodded.
"You're mother will shoot me if I even try and have him removed." Fugaku replied. "Besides I think he's going to end up being a good playmate for you, you've needed someone your age to hang out with."
"I"m okay with Itachi's friends, they're pretty cool." Sasuke replied.
"But they're not your age." Itachi pointed out. "You need to be around kids your age too. Not that I have any issues with you being around, because I enjoy getting to pick on you." Sasuke stuck his tongue out at Itachi causing the older boy to laugh and reach out and ruffle Sasuke's hair, only to have the smaller boy smack his hand away.
"I've spent a lot of time on my hair." Sasuke complained.
"Oh really?" Itachi raised an eyebrow. "Because it looks just like a duck's ass." Fugaku chuckled at the irritated expression on Sasuke's face, right before Sasuke turned and slammed into Itachi, slamming his tiny fists into whatever part of Itachi that he could reach.
"Don't think you're going to damage me too much short fry." Itachi shot back, laughing as Sasuke tried harder to beat him.
"You should probably take this away from the door." Fugaku said. "If Naruto comes out of the bathroom seeing you two acting like monkey's, you're probably going to scare him."
"If Itachi's face doesn't scare him first." Sasuke said, sticking his tongue out at Itachi again. "I don't want Naruto to have a heart attack." Itachi chuckled at his brother before bending down and picking Sasuke up, leaving him dangling over Itachi's shoulder.
"One fart from you and I'm going to bite you." Sasuke said, his face dangling just inches from Itachi's ass.
"You're lucky I'm not windy." Itachi told him before laughing at Sasuke's squeak.
"Kami help me." Fugaku said as he stood up. "What am I going to do with you boy's?"
"Send Itachi away to boarding school?" Sasuke suggested, squeaking again when he dropped an inch or so.
"I don't think you would survive me being away, you would die of boredom." Itachi said.
"Eh, you're probably right." Sasuke replied. "But I wouldn't mind being set back on my feet, all my blood is rushing to my head."
"I suppose I wouldn't want to make you pass out." Itachi said as he sat Sasuke back on his feet. "I wouldn't want to miss out on my entertainment."
"I'm not the entertainment, you are." Sasuke said, looking up at his older brother.
"I think you're both the entertainment." Fugaku said, having noticed the bathroom door open and Naruto stood in the doorway watching them silently, with an intrigued expression on his face.
"Are you hungry?" Fugaku asked. "My wife is making you something to eat downstairs." Naruto nodded, he hadn't had a meal that hadn't come from the garbage in a little while. Having a homemade meal would be great, and then maybe he could get some sleep, Naruto was feeling tired, he hadn't had a good sleep where he could rest without worry of what would happen to him in a while.
"Food sounds good." Naruto said quietly, unsure of what he was supposed to do now.
"Come on then." Sasuke said quietly, reaching out and taking Naruto's hand before leading him off down the hall and downstairs.
"Naruto is going to be good for Sasuke." Itachi said quietly. "I can see it already."
"Yes, there's something about that kid that I can't put my finger on." Fugaku said quietly. "I'm thinking he's going to be good for this entire family." He had no idea that Naruto would change their way of life in ways that no one expected.
Should I continue? if no reviews I won't update this story again.