Sorry for the long wait! I have been extremely busy with my first year of college! Did super well by the way! Anyways, I had so writers block with this to but I am now back up and running! Without Author's notes this chapter ended up being 9827 words long!
I didn't remember everything about the beginning of Naruto so I had to go back and read a lot and I really didn't have time for it when I was in college especially as I was trying to update one of my other stories pretty often as well.
EXPECT UPDATES WAY MORE OFTEN NOW THAT I GOT PAST THE HARD STUFF!
Start Chapter 13
Fish, strange wrath-like swamp fish the size of horses seemed to have just showed up out of no where the first night. Following Harri around as he made his way through the hell that was the dark watered swamp. Harri was sure at the time he was going through the water filled nightmare that if his heart had pumped any harder or faster than it already had been he would surely have die of heart failure!
The mass of glowing almost transparent scaled looking beasts had eyed him like a tasty treat. Jagged pearly teeth showing through their ghastly skeletal looking bodies like twisted parodies of a jack-o'-lantern's grin. Harri couldn't help but shudder at the memory of the creatures oddly confused looking but intelligent blood colored eyes that swivelled grotesquely at his slightest movement. They had been just waiting for him to screw up, he was sure. Their massing gapping mauls hanging wide open as they swam after him. A strange energy had begun to settle in the air when the massive beastly creatures had gathered. Their fins and tails had looked like massive semi translucent swatches of the finest mourning silks dancing through the water as they all eagerly followed after him. They would even every once in a while trying to snatch him from low branches in a terrifying frenzy ripping everything they touched to pieces. Harri didn't think it was even possible to be more relieved than he was when his feet finally hit solid ground on the second night after such an ordeal.
Harri hadn't had the chance to eat when in the swamp though. There were hardly any animals from what he could tell. The place was practically dead. A feral hunger clawing at Harri's belly. Harri felt weak. He could hardly keep himself standing upright. The only thing that had been good about the place was that it was strangely warm, day and night. So although Harri was cold, he didn't feel like he was going to freeze to death or anything.
Harri tried his best on concentrating but his mind was consumed with the need to eat. Never had he ever been so hungry in his entire life! He ignored the irritating ringing in his ears that had started once the undead looking fish appeared. His mind on juicy rabbits. His appetite for fish long gone and likely for a long time as he watched the creepy creatures insides move about clear as day for hours on end like half liquified jell-O. Just thinking about them was nauseating.
"Did-did you just escape from the death grounds?" A masculine voice squeaked. The sound of glass shattering against stone jerked Harri from his hunger fueled daze.
"D-death grounds?" Harri repeated, forcing his eyes from searching the underbrush. Startled as he saw he was actually standing in front of a modest looking noble compound. The boards of its elevated decking worn and splintered in places.
The man let out a startled gasp, looking ready to wet himself right there and then. Muttering about blessings from the greatest of gods, paling as he properly took in Harri's condition, his eyes darting to the necklace around Harrison's neck and big green eyes. "My lady please forgive me! Come come! A clever goddess in any form is to be taken care of to the best of our abilities! I am so very sorry that you were made to travel through such a horrid place just to shower your grace upon us unworthy mortals!" He insisted, suddenly dropping to bow deeply. Forehead to the stone path he had stepped on moments before hand. "Our prayers are surely answered now! We have not been forsaken as we had feared. Siri Kami has been listening to our heart felt prayers!" The man exclaimed becoming more and more manic sounding as he babbled on with wild devotion in his eyes.
Harri tried his best to inch away from the crazy sounding noble. Because that was what he obviously was with his fine kimonos long and beautiful even if a little worn. At the very least some sort of civilian noble branch member. "I-I became lost." Was all Harri could muster up.
"Come! I am sure I can find you something much more appropriate to wear!" The man suddenly said, almost as if he could sense Harri's thoughts on bolting. "And something to eat as well! I am sure after such a long journey even the divine fall to hunger! You look thin, famished! The calibration of the greatest of gods, Siri god of deadly storms and typhoons, is to start in only hours so we are grateful that you have come so early!" The man explained, clear worship in his dark blue-gray eyes. "I'm so pleased that I have been given the pleasure of meeting a god. Father would be so pleased!"
"Okay..."
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The man and a small team of servants eagerly dressed Harrison in beautiful almost peacock feather patterned robes more than a couple of sizes too big for him, that was after insisting that he bathed. Tired and ravenous Harri felt more than a little irritable he washed up quickly, an edge of terror still choking him even as he showered. Harri refused to even contemplate sitting in the deep tub of water waiting for him. When dressed, Harri felt like he had been bundled up in a blanket burrito. The long regal robes were so large and cumbersome.. Harri decided he really did have the right to be irritable at that point.
The food served, at the almost disturbingly quiet feast full of staring eyes, was everything Harri loved and some things he had never seen in his life. Harri was eager to dig in. Though he outright refused to be hand feed by the overly devoted acting handsome young noble not much older than himself. It was insisted upon that he sit by Harri and was clear that the young teen was of a high standing nobility. From a main branch. Harri didn't care much about that though, he was too hungry to think of much of anything. He was use to people fussing over him.
Harri eagerly ate bits of rabbit meat and sparing bites of the 'over cocked' nearly medium rare steak. Harri had a feeling that it would surely be a treat for anyone outside of a main family in such an area. From what Harri could tell the less important a person was the farther out they were sitting at the three main tables spanning at least fifty feet each. Going from ridiculously elaborate robes to simple thin ratty Kimonos. Harri tried ignoring the churning in his stomach insisting that there was something wrong with the situation. Deeply wrong.
Harri would just have to sneak away once the meal was over.
"I wish to make a toast to the great Siri for gifting us with such a beautiful goddling to be betrothed to our prince of the most divine image!" A handsomely dressed man announced, excitement and adoration clear in his voice as he spoke.
The others around the tables cheered. "My the sacrifice be red with blood in their lack of divine image and our prince be blessed in his Siri blessed marriage!" They all roared merrily.
Oh no, what in the hells did he just get himself into? Wait, betrothed, no no no! Harri felt faint at the very thought.
This was not going to happen! They couldn't be referring to him could they? Had he just been accepted into a cult or something? He had, hadn't he? Oh... this wasn't good was it?
The boy sitting next to Harri smiled ear to ear blue-green eyes gleaming in delight. He eagerly grabbed Harri's hand and slipped a red ribbon over it evoking more cheering.
Harri forced himself not to react badly. To panic. These people were just civilians he repeatedly told himself. They couldn't do anything to him.
Harri waited until the 2nd day being before escaping, letting the prince 'convince' him to see the shrine dedicated to 'Siri'. Harri was quick to slip out of the long cumbersome robes and used them to tie the prince up before headed west. He had seen a town from the mountainside he had been on before totally immersed himself in the swamp. The town was surely a decent sized one, he would head there to get some more appropriate clothing, if possible a weapon or two then he would get back to the little fishing village on the other side of the island. From what he had managed to get out of the group one just had to follow the road leading from the nearby gambling central of Wave country all the way to a path that led to the area that he needed to get back to.
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Harri rubbed the back of his neck unsure of what to do. This place was much rowdier than he had expected. Wild, and dirty, and more than dangerous. Harri wasn't much of a fan of the place. It was an outlaws paradise. Not that knowing such a thing made it any better but at least he was away from the crazy cult people... The crazy cult people that he was pretty sure had fed some guy to the swamp fish.
Harri would be just fine. All needed to get were some wearable clothes and something to use for defense. He-he could do that. His mother wasn't just a deity of storms after all. At least here he wasn't. 'Siri' was also a god of luck and gambling. Harry hoped that he at least inherited the talent of gambling from the eccentric god.
Harri sold the cumbersome robes adorning him... He was pretty sure the woman was a prostitute he sold it to but really... he wasn't judging anyone in this place. Harri was also certain that he was selling it for far less than it was worth but that didn't matter to him. He needed to become as hard to find as possible. He felt a bit uncomfortable and exposed in the under kimono that he was left with. The shorter thinner layer showing off his wrapped ankle and the wrapping around his side and arm which peaked out here and there. It was worth it though. He would be far harder to find after ditching the brightly colored fine fabric. It was already bad enough that he was so unique looking in the crowd of brunettes with brown eyes and an occasional person with dirty blond hair. Harri was just relieved that he was able to hid Paddy in the folds of the too broad Kimono.
"What do you think you're doing kid?" A man muttered, forcing a broad hand over Harri's shoulder just as Harri was about to enter one of the many gambling establishments. This one, Harri was pretty sure, was run by some Yakuza group by the people he had seen loitering around. Though unlike the other places this one seemed well kept and a shrine of sorts sat guarded by a pair of men.
Harri jerked, terror filling his entire body.
"No you don't. Kids really shouldn't be gambling you know. Why don't you go on home? It really isn't safe here." The man said, snatching Harri's arm, making him yelp in pain. "Kid?"
Harri twisted around, begging every deity that he knew of that he didn't fry the man to death.
Harri took a deep breath and smashed into the man's gut with his palm only allowing electricity to escape his skin as the man was being forced away. Stupid stupid, how hadn't he noticed such a powerful person was around before? This man's strength was beyond nearly anyone he had encountered in years. Harri didn't even allow himself time to think on it. He instead ran to the door forcing a smile onto his face. He tried his best to conceal his trembling.
"You here to gamble kid?" A tall intimidating tattooed man asked, looking over Harri skeptically. Harri vaguely recognized the tattoo over the right side of the man's face as that of a prominent clan's but he couldn't really remember what one.
"Of course! Why else would I be here then to partake in Sirius-um-Siri's favorite past time?" Harri said, forcing cheer, pulling out a small bag of jingling metal.
The man immediately went wide eyed as big green eyes looked up at him. "Of course. Get in there!" The man insisted, Harry swore the man took a whiff of him as he passed by, creepy.
"Hey! Wait, I need to get in to! Got plenty of cash to spend!" The man from before wheedled. Harry was quick to make his way out of sight. Making his way to a group of men surrounding a beautiful young woman with dice and a cup.
"Get out of here! Shinobi aren't wanted here." Harri heard the man up front yell. He was too focused on trying to learn the game being played in front of him to really pay attention though. The smells of the people were clouded with tobacco and hash but he was certain that most weren't human, at least not completely. He couldn't focus on that though. He was sure that guy would be able to get in if he really wanted to eventually and Harri really needed to get some money for some decent clothing and a weapon or something before he did. Harri doubted that he could catch someone of that age and caliber off guard again.
"Evens or odds sweetie?" The woman sitting in front of the cup and dice asked, taking a long drag from the fine pipe handed to her.
"Me?" Harri squeaked.
"Of course!" The woman laughed rather nastily.
"Um... Odds." Harry mumbled.
"And your bet?" The woman purred.
Harri pulled out his pathetic bag of money and sat it down in front of the woman. Glad that he had taken the time to carefully wrap his necklace with the terrifying unnerving shark-like looks he was getting.
"Oh, all of it? The Siri blessed thinks that he'll bless them!" The woman cackled unpleasantly.
Harri cringed at the malicious laughter that rang out. He-he was going to win. Harri was sure. He just-just had a strange right feeling. A buzz in the back of his head insisting that he was going to win.
The woman lifted the cup. Looking confused as what were revealed were a 6 and a 5. "That ca-can't be right." She stuttered, "again!" She demanded. She couldn't believe it! She hadn't lost in months! She was sure she had been using her special dice...
"Okay... If that's what you want." Harri agreed. Eyes almost glowing as his eyes never left the dice and the cup. Trying to not focus on the muttering and excitement of the people around him as they begin to gather.
"Odds." Harri said firmly before the woman could even shake the cup.
"I wouldn't get overly excited if I were you hun." The woman sniped.
"I-I'm not. I just know." Harri muttered.
"Right." A man snorted.
"Well, I guess I'll bet evens then." The woman said, smirking self confidently as she slammed the cup down after vigorously shaking it.
"I bet everything including what I won." Harri insisted, if he won one more time than he would surely have enough for some wearable clothing at the very least.
"Too bad kid because-WHAT? Again?" The woman shrieked.
"How, that can't be?! Not with your lucky dice!" The man at the woman's side gawked.
"Again." Harri insisted.
"Wait, what?" The woman exclaimed looking baffled.
"I said I would like to go again. I say even this time..." Harri said. Positive he was correct. Just as he predicted, he was. By that point everyone on the place was watching. Dropping everything that they were doing to blatantly stare.
"You idiot Miki! You don't challenge one blessed by the benevolent Siri to a game of chance! Are you insane? Did all that snorting burn up your brain or something?" An impressively tall and ruggedly attractive blood red haired man with animal like yellow eyes hissed.
"I-I just I thought-"
"You thought that you could screw them over because they looked like a child, foolish. You should be more careful! You are lucky we didn't get cleaned out!" The man growled. Gathering up the coins sitting in neat piles on the floor.
"Wait, that one is mine though!" The woman gawked in indignation.
"So you want to curse us all to bad luck because of your disrespect?" The man barked narrow eyed.
The others grumbled nervously.
"Of course not!" The woman shrieked.
"Here blessed of Siri. Please do not curse us all for this woman's disrespect! She is not from this place and was not taught to be respectful to those with the blessed blood." The red haired man pled, bowing his head. The last time he had been disrespectful to one with black hair and Storm Gray eyes, looking just like the statue of the sacred storm god, had been many years beforehand and, coincidence or not, hours after the incident his brother had drown and he nearly did along with him in the raging typhoon that appeared out of no where. He would never risk such a thing happening ever again!
Harri mutely took the money handed to him. Too uncomfortable to even get his mouth moving anymore. Harri forced a breath through his nose and out of his mouth. The man had gotten inside during the commotion. Harri had a feeling he would. Darn it, he probably thought he was a lightning country Shinobi or something. Harri nearly snorted at his misfortune. With his luck, they were in search of a bounty or something. That or a malleable unfortunate child to use as a tool of war.
Harri clutched the change purse to himself. He was quick to leave wishing that he was any good at transformation jutsus or could at least produce a half way decent clone. Even Naruto could do both things and he was far from the best at that sort of thing! Why couldn't he have more human like abilities?
At least he had more than enough to get the things that he needed!
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Harri wasn't exactly thrilled with what he ended up with but they were better than nothing. The small country had a few samurai here and there and the weapons reflected that in the town. Harri had to go all the way to the local sword smith just to find something usable. The man had a Kunai and a Tonto that Harri found usable. He wasn't exactly impressed but he was willing to take anything that he could.
The clothes weren't the best either. Apparently anything nice or pretty had to be custom made. So he was stuck with a regular old Gray Kimono top and pants. At least the person had been nice enough to give him a map though and to point out a place he could get something to eat. Harri had also to avoid the strange dangerous man that had been following him around as well. By mid-day he was ready to get a bite to eat and leave. He had to skip the meal as the group of crazed swamp locals and nobles had rode into town, frantic. At least he had what he needed.
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Harri growled completely and utterly exhausted and wanted nothing more than to sleep. He was sick of it, everything! The only thing he could think of that was good was that he had finally lost the strange older man and the crazed band of nobles.
By the time Harri had finally managed to find his way back to the little village that Tazuna and his family lived in it was late morning and blood was in the air. Harri had to desperately rubbed away the saliva dripping from his chin at the scent. He hadn't had the opportunity to get anything to eat since at the cult. Not even a quick snack of dango. Harri instead had to stick to the forest trails making it difficult to get much and had to be as quiet and stealthy as possible. He ached to sink his teeth into something. Harri did his best to force such thoughts from his mind but just managed. His cravings, the urge to hunt, to rip something apart with his bare teeth was becoming a cloudy haze in the back of his mind. A desperate itch that was getting worse and worse and progressively more insistent.
When Harri got to the house he instantly picked up on the fact that something was very wrong. The door was left wide open and the scent of fear stunk up the kitchen. Harri frowned at the sight of a few of the chairs knocked to the floor and a pot of rice thrown to the ground.
Harri bolted, the only thing that he could think of was that he needed to get to the bridge. Surely everyone would be there or at least someone that could direct him to where he needed to go. Harri threw himself onto all fours launching himself into the trees he found it easier on himself to do so and that he could move with better agility that way.
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Harri launched himself into the fray, knocking Kakashi to the ground right as Zabuza went to cut the head from the mist blinded man. He had been aiming for Zabuza but he was okay with this outcome to. The dark haired man smelled strongly of rabbit. Harri tried his best not to salivate. The young demon was having trouble even controlling himself at that point. Hunger gnawing at him like a deep festering gash.
"H-Harri?" Kakashi hissed, confused and slightly frightened sounding. Furrowing his eyebrows when Harri's reply was a pathetic whine.
"Poor thing." Zabuza chuckled, before holding a hand out. Unseen by Kakashi and barely by Harri. "Come here little one." The part demon almost cooed. Unable to help himself. He had been hoping the little demoness was alright and had been trying to find him for days. His poor Carrier Pup. Weak and frightened and most definitely hungry. Kakashi, that fool, didn't even know how to teach or care for a demon offspring at all. The man hadn't even begun to teach him how to properly hunt.
The man sighed as Kakashi stood forcing Harri to his side, a Kunai in his freehand. He tried to ignore the ugly jealousy filling his chest, trying to cloud his mind. The Pup would be far better off with him. A cunning grin lit the man's eyes. Not knowing how to hunt, the little one would surely be hungry.
Zabuza summoned one of the rabbits he and Haku had raised to use for distractions. Smiling as the faint sounds of excited sniffing filled his ears. Zabuza cut the creature ignoring the terrible cry that it released. In fact the man dug a thumb into the wound to encourage it.
"Harri! What are you doing? Stop!" Kakashi hissed, doing his best to hold onto the suddenly struggling growling child.
"Hungry aren't we little one? This foolish copy monkey doesn't know how to care for you properly at all does he?" Zabuza crooned mockingly. Letting out another cold amused laugh.
"What-what are you even talking about?" Kakashi grumbled, relieved that Harri had finally stopped 'her' sudden struggling. Seeming to either be calming down or simply becoming tired. He was just glad that Zabuza hadn't taken the opportunity to attack though he had a feeling that it wasn't exactly a good thing either. He was definitely planning something. He need to get Harri out of there though. She smelled of injury and weakness.
Zabuza smirked, letting the injured rabbit go, not before tying a string around it though.
"Ouch, Harri no!" Kakashi hissed, his tone panicked. What was wrong with 'her'? She was acting like some wild animal or something!
Harri snarled darting after the delicious smelling creature. His stomach aching with hunger. He would kill it! Harry snatched the creature up digging canines in and eagerly shook.
"Good boy." Zabuza praised, snatching Harrison up and running his free hand through dirty hair, making no attempt to take the rabbit from the child. Repeating his praise into little impressionable ears as he continued to gently stroke through Harri's hair. "That's a very-very good pup. Shaking it so well. Such a good little hunter you will become!" The murderer cooed into an ear.
"Harri!... Damn this mist!" Kakashi growled. Going stiff at the weak dying shriek of a rabbit and the sudden much stronger stench of gushing rabbit blood. What was going on here? Did the man use a substitution jutsu? What was going on with his student? "Give Harri back!"
Zabuza chuckled, his face twisting up into an amused smile. "Why would I do that when the little one would clearly be happier with someone that knows how to care for them?" Zabuza teased. Letting out a little sigh as Harrison began to chew on the critter in his mouth. He was going to end up choking himself on the rabbit's fur if he continued to do that. Such a helpless young pup. He was lucky that he had discovered him or he would have never been able to survive, surely! Poor neglected little thing. Being raised by clueless humans.
"Stop playing games with me Zabuza! Give my student back!" Kakashi snarled. As terrified as he was furious at that point.
"Fool. You don't even know what this child is. How delicate and incredibly rare they are." Zabuza chuckled, mockingly. "How could you possibly know how to properly care for this little one?"
"You mean because of the line purge, right?" Kakashi snorted, "Yes, I figured that out. Along with how she's likely from a hidden and what was likely an already almost extinct line likely of some sort of royalty or nobility."
Zabuza had to force a hand over his mouth just so he didn't end up laughing out loud at the absurdity of the other man's statement spoken with such certainty. Did he really believe that the kid was just some human brat and a female at that? What was the leaf teaching their brats about demons? Oh well he could believe what ever he wanted to. He never found much use in arguing with idiots anyway. All he needed to do was get rid of this copying monkey and then he would have all the time in the world to encourage the little one to imprinting upon him and to take care of him and to teach him how to be a proper little demoness. He definitely had the taste for blood like a well bred demon should so that was a start at least. He was such an adorable little thing.
Harri yelp as the rabbit he had been gnawing on was yanked from his mouth and something was suddenly pulled over him and immobilized him completely. He was placed down in something. His head began to bob as an unnatural sleepiness settled over him.
"Now be a good boy while I go get our paycheck."
The sharp ting ting tinging of metal forced Harri back into wakefulness along with the sounds of shouting. He licked his lips tasting drying blood. His stomach released a needy groan.
Wait... where was he? Why was he in some sack... No... was this a sleeping bag?... well... of sorts as it didn't actually have a hole or anything to get out of. It's there wasn't anything on the inside to help unzip it either. Harri actually found himself quite liking it. It felt safe and warm and soft... He tried ignoring how he felt in it and instead focused on what was going on nearby and the strange nausea inducing dizziness that he was feeling. Ugh, he felt terrible! What happened to him? Harri wiggled his body this way and that way in an attempt to grab one of the blades he had on him. Nothing. There was nothing there. Harri forced himself not to keen in distress. The Zabuza man must have taken them.
A shout of pain from Sasuke was all it took to have Harri using his chakra to free himself. He may not have been a fan of his cousin... he actually was pretty disturbed by him a majority of the time and his overly possessive behavior... but that didn't mean he wanted anything to happen to him. Sasuke... he was all he had left.
Harri groaned as light hit his eyes. He shook his head trying fruitlessly to somehow clear the fog from his mind by doing so. What ever the man had given to him was obviously far more potent than he had first thought. Ugh, he was sure he was going to end up with a terrible headache after everything was said and done.
Harri held his head and took a deep inhale in an attempt to clear it. Blood. So much. Harri whipped around scenting the air. Kakashi's and-and Sasuke's... no not just theirs Naruto's as well. Harri went ridged as his senses went haywire.
"N-Naruto!" Harri squeaked as the oppressive aura of the adult demon inside of the other boy lashed out so strongly it became visible even through the thickened mist. He was practically a baby compared to that thing and he really wasn't too keen on that thing realizing what he was. Who knew what it would do or how it would react? He sure didn't want to know! Why wasn't anyone else freaking out? Could they not see it as well?
Harri forced his mind from such thoughts once he realized it wasn't heading towards him or anything and made himself spring forward to kicked Zabuza with as much force as he could muster. He just managing to put enough strength behind his kick to cause the man to simply graze his teacher instead of cut him in half like he would have done.
"Harri! You are- you are alright!" Kakashi exclaimed in relief. Freezing in the motion of putting his hand on his students head in reassurance. His eyes went wide at the blood covering the child. Smeared thick around lips and the chin smelling strongly of rabbit blood. "What the?"
"Bad!" Zabuza scolded, flexing his sore jaw. "You just needed to stay put until Haku and I finished this job up! Damn it, now I'll have to punish you!" Zabuza grumbled, growling under his breath as Kakashi shoved Harri behind himself.
"Don't you dare come near them, any of them!"
"See? And this is why the little one doesn't listen! Not guidance and no repercussions for misbehaving! It's disgusting how soft you Leaf lot are!" The wild eyed man spat.
"H-Harri... You know that... I don't really want you fighting or anything because of the condition your in... but please help protect the bridge builder. No stepping in, got it? It's just me and you 'demon'." Kakashi said.
"No! Sasuke! I'll kill you!" Harri heard
Harri froze like a frightened rabbit. Ignoring the frightened mutterings that questioned if the sudden now suffocating Aura of the beast within Naruto was Zabuza. Harri couldn't help but to make a frightened noise in the back of his throat.
"But Sasuke's alive." Harri muttered under his breath in confusion. His chakra may have been extremely suppressed but he was certainly alive. Why... why was that old scary demon leaking it's influence out of Naruto so strongly? It wasn't like some major emotional upheaval should have happened strong enough to cause what ever it was making poor Naruto carry the beast inside of his body to lose his grip on it... did... did he think the other boy was-was dead? Harri paled as he looked around him.
Sakura was sobbing, the scent of panic surrounded his teacher. Harry was much too small and young to be able to do anything against a demon like that! He was having trouble enough just staying focused and on his feet... the-the smell of blood all around him was making it even harder. He... was quite certain if it had been another few days and he hadn't been as attached to his teacher and the others he would have likely lost himself to his hunger. It.. Was a disturbing thought.
"We need to finish this up quickly. I have things to do." Kakashi said after a few minutes of fruitlessly fending the other man off. Taking out a scroll and running blood from his injury down it. Harri made a nervous yelp at the sound of something shattering. He had to squint to see it but he was pretty sure Naruto was destroy some sort of shiny walls. Though the feeling of icy chakra and scent of cold water filled Harrison's nose. As screams of rage filled his ears. Distracting Zabuza.
"He's going to die." Harri said, not even realizing he had said such a thing out loud until Sakura was screeching at him.
"Don't say that! Why would you even say such a terrible thing? Sasuke, he's going to be fine!" The girl insisted. Not noticing how the bridge builder went wide eyed and stiff behind her. Gazing at almost glowing animal-like green eyes. The man felt like his very soul was being pierced right through. He could scarcely breath. This was no ordinary child.
"I wasn't talking about Sasuke... Oh. Kakashi-sensei's about to summon something!" Harri exclaimed excitedly making a strange almost canidae whine in the back of his throat. The scent of dog filled his nose and completely distracting him from everything. "Dogs!" He keened delightedly as Zabuza let out a short yawl of pain the scent of dogs and blood mixing in the air.
"This ends here Zabuza Momochi. This time... You die." Kakashi said gravely.
Zabuza let out a short bark of laughter. "Bullshit, my future is death? Ha! Right, says the copying monkey who can't to anything else!"
"There is nothing.... you can do to get away in this situation. Your death is assured at this point. You... you went to far. Your ambitions were too great and you ultimately failed in everything you wished to achieve. As a Shinobi... a rebel... a Missing Nin. You are running from everyone at this point, so desperate for money... your willing to work for a vile criminal like Gatou... just to try to keep on going. You're.. at the end of the road. You... will die here. That is what I foresee." Kakashi said, voice cold and void of emotion.
"What?" Zabuza growled.
"The Mist is clearing Zabuza." Kakashi pointed out, his tone suggesting he was smiling.
Harri made an excitable sound at the sight of the dogs, completely disregarding the fact they were in the process of pinning and mauling the man in front of him. He could not have cared less about anything that was happening around him after sighting and scenting them.
Not about Naruto, not his cousin or the bridge builder or even the water below them. Harri's mind was immediately filled with the want to be accepted by the dogs and to eat with them and to snuggle up and go to sleep then they could all go play and-and-. Wait... what was Kakashi saying? His energy was visible... sort of like his own was when he used it? Something about bringing courage and hope? Harri's brain wasn't feeling up to understanding human anything at that moment. He felt overstimulated and yet weak, like he was listening to everything and feeling everything underwater. It was distorted and strangely muted.
"Harri! Stop acting so weird and help!" Sakura hissed, eyeing the two figures in the dissipating mist.
"Why? He's going to die..." Harri pointed out, sounding like a small confused child.
"Why do you keep saying that! They aren't-aren't going to die!" Sakura insisted almost hysterical sounding, looking ready to hit him.
Harry turned to the pair and smiled a disturbingly sweet smile for the situation full of sharp canines. Somehow still being absolutely adorable. "Do you think Kakashi-sensei will let play with his dogs when he's done? They're so cute! They are so much easier to understand than human's, don't you think? I don't want to make Mia jealous though! Maybe it will hurt her feelings?"
"What is wrong with you? You're acting like a total freak! I mean look at the blood on your face what did you even do?" Sakura finally snapped, freezing when Tazuna grabbed her shoulder.
"Quiet down girl!" The man insisted. Eyeing Harri's pale unsteady form. She... obviously was delusional, possibly hallucinating or something as well. He wasn't deaf. He had overheard the silver haired Jounin fussing over the kid's health problems. Some sort of bleeding disease or something. He was sure something like that could mess with anyone's brain! He was sure being stuck in the wild or where ever 'she' had been hadn't helped much.
"Why? She-"
Sakura went wide eyed, holding her hand to her mouth in horror as a boy dove in front of their sensei being impaled with the light he was creating in his palm.
"The-the dogs are gone!"
"That doesn't really matter right now! We need to get out of here, you and us. Like your sensei said before." Tazuna insisted, nearly choking in horror as he swore a drop of blood dripped from the kid's eye. He needed to find someone, anyone with some sort of medical knowledge.
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"Now both of your arms are useless." Kakashi pointed out. He and Zabuza froze.
"Ha, your getting your ass kicked aren't you? How disappointing Zabuza." An oily voice mocked. "Oh, well I wasn't really planning on leaving you alive anyways. Snort* or on actually paying you. Zabuza... I'll be having you kill here. Now." Gatou laughed dozens of thugs grinning along with him standing behind him. "You see village ninja's would betray me. So I get you missing nin guys! I have you guys do all the hard work and I kill you before I even have to cough up the money. Smart right?... You were a bit of a problem. Being stronger than the average one but... really 'demon of the mist' more like baby devil! Now your weak enough we can kill you, easy." Gatou said smug smile on his face as his men cheered in agreement.
"Who are these guys?" Naruto growled under his breath. He tensed as Harri whispered with certainty, "They're all going to die." As 'she' held herself, a strange traumatized look glazing over 'her' eyes.
Harri practically begged himself to fall back into that pleasant haze he had been in. It was nice when he hadn't understood what exactly was going on. But no, he had to be unpleasantly smashed back into reality once those people showed up. Their scents nauseating and unnerving. Even with everything going on he hadn't felt threatened by anyone that had been there before they arrived. He was certain that they wouldn't harm him. Not even Haku or Zabuza. They may have hurt each other but definitely not him. Even the smell of their blood had clouded up his head into a happy doppy state. It was 'safe' for his body to shut down like it had though he still couldn't believe that he had allowed himself to get to such a dumbed down state. Anything could have happened to him!
Now Harri was able to feel the painful cramps from days of hunger fully and the fear he should have been feeling along with the cold of the air and the bone tired exhaustion of not sleeping for at least 70 hours and being on the move for so long. Harri was pretty sure he was near collapse.
"Don't... don't say stuff like that Harri!" Naruto hissed, even as his face softened ever so slightly easily pushing the other boy behind himself. "You really... shouldn't say stuff like that but.. I'm glad you are okay."
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"This fight is over Kakashi. I no longer have a reason to go after that bridge builder or to battle you."
"Huh?" Naruto loudly exclaimed. He yelped as Harrison yanked him back.
"He's going to let them kill him." Harri explained, flinching when Gatou brutally kicked Haku's body.
"You bastard! What do you think you're doing?" Naruto screeched. Lurching forward.
"Stop! Look at their numbers." Kakashi reprehended the blond, snatching him by his wrist. "Think before acting!" He scolded. Naruto jerked away from the man.
"Weren't you friends?" Naruto barked, tears in his eyes.
"Haku is dead kid." Zabuza replied.
"Didn't you care about him? Didn't you-you care at all?" Naruto asked desperately.
"Kid.. In this world there are those that use and those that are used. Shinobi are tools. Haku was simply my tool and I... was apparently Gatou's." Zabuza explained in a plain monotone.
"You-you don't really believe that do you?" Naruto demanded.
"N-Naruto that's enough.. You-you don't have to fight him anymore!" Harry insisted, meekly stepping forward trying to not show how weak and wobbly he was. The look Kakashi flashed him... he was certain that he wasn't doing a good job of hiding his weakness.
"No! He is still my enemy! Haku, he... really loved you!" Naruto snarled pointing at the ice users body. "He loved you so much he was willing to die for you with-with a smile on his face! Do you really feel nothing? Is that how it is to become a powerful Shinobi like you? He-he died for you without his own dreams, own hopes, to die only to be a tool... That's just so sad! It's-it's unforgivable!"
"You-you don't need to say anymore. Haku... It pained him to fight. He was simply too kind... I guess we Shinobi aren't just emotionless tools... I'm glad I got to fight you guys in the-the end..." Zabuza said, turning to grin at the three even as fat tears rolled down his face. "Take care of princess there, got it?"
Zabuza's eyes frozen over Harrison for but a moment. Swallowing hard as he realized the shade of the lovely canine looking thing was back almost seeming to overlap the exhausted looking green eyed demoness, fidgeting as he did. He let out a short mirthless chuckle. Seeing a true god with his own eyes... A child one at that. No doubts now. He would surely die. "Now... kid let me borrow your Kunai!"
"Huh? Yeah, right!" Naruto sniffled tossing the man the throwing knife.
"One useless ninja against us? I've had enough of this pathetic mushy crap!" Gatou snorted. "Attack!"
Harri's head bobbed. "Their-their all go' to die." Harri slurred, eyes on fire in a familiar way. Was-was he crying? How did he-get on the ground? Harri felt incredibly confused. Something tightened around him and suddenly his arms and back were being rubbed at. Why, why were they doing that? Was he cold? He didn't think he was. A familiar safe scent filled his nose. Harry let himself sleep, ignoring the annoying shaking motions he was being put through for some reason. He was just so so tired. He just wanted to sleep for a little while, that was all.
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"Hey sleepy head! You gave us quite the scare! Here, drink this." Kakashi said nearly the moment Harri woke, bundled up as tightly as possible. He pushed a warm bowl to Harrison's lips encouragingly. Doing an eye smile when Harrison managed to swallow a few mouthfuls before beginning to sputter a little.
"That's it! We need to get as much as you can handle into you. You apparently can't go very long without eating. Your... body... was actually in the middle of eating itself during the battle on the bridge and the mist was making it do so far faster.. as your body was unable to properly fight the cold." Kakashi sighed and patted Harri's head.
"Your condition seemed to be acting up... along with the weakness and exhaustion. According to Tazuna and Sakura you were acting very unusual and that could have been explained by the not eating or sleeping... but when you collapsed you were bleeding from your eyes... I... know you don't like it but the very moment we get back... well, you will be seeing a doctor, like it or not." The man explained in a firm parental tone.
"It was crying." Harri croaked.
"People don't bleed from their eyes when they cry Harri." Kakashi corrected, almost exasperated sounding.
"I-I do. I'm fine!" He insisted, even as the man pulled him to lay in his lap to cuddle him up against his chest for extra warmth.
Kakashi let out a tired sigh, deciding to ignore Harri. And agreed just to settle the kid down. Afraid what ever condition Harri had would be triggered if 'she' got too stressed out. Harri, keeling over, seemingly dead had been terrifying! He was sure 'she' wouldn't make it and it had been quite a bit of touch and go there for the last few days. Just thinking about it was anxiety inducing.
He had wondered more than once if that was how an actual parent felt when their child was gravely ill. It was definitely something that Kakashi didn't want to be repeated, ever. He would just have to figure out a way to convince the council that Harrison was too frail and unsuited for such a job. At least Shikaku was on the council he new that he would at least agree with him. He knew that the man already seemed to take issue with it.
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In the week that Harri was bedridden... or well pretty much forced to stay in bed, as after a few days, he was strong enough to get up on his own. Kakashi attentively stayed by his side Sasuke did the best he could to do so as well though was watched relentlessly. Kakashi hadn't been too keen on the boy changing his cousin's clothing the first time around either but it wasn't like he knew Harri nearly as well as Shikaku who was practically an uncle or something from the impression he had gotten. At least Harri eagerly wolfed down anything... 'she' was given. Harri didn't seem nearly as picky as Sasuke. Thank goodness as Sasuke could be a bit of a nightmare to feed!
It had been nearly a month that they had been away by the time they were ready to leave. The other's seemed rather sad to leave. Harri not so much. He didn't really mind the place as much as before but that didn't mean he ever wanted to come back either. He missed Mai-Mai terribly and Shika! It was distressing to be away from them for so long... that and to knowingly be surrounded by water 24/7. Island life was not for him. At least this time around they had a bridge to go across instead of a boat... that didn't make the biggest difference in the world to Harri as he felt that both were frightening but at least he couldn't be capsized into the water while on a bridge... hopefully.
"Hey! The bridge still needs a name!" Inori pointed out wiping at the tears gushing down his face.
"Well.. Why don't we call it The Great Naruto bridge, in hopes that it never crumbles and keeps us remembering that hope and courage we so desperately needed! And when he is a famous ninja the bridge will become famous to!" Tazuna said with a grin as the five left.
"The Great Naruto bridge? I like that old man!" Naruto cheerfully yelled back, delight clear as day on his face as he blushed in pleasure at being acknowledged. Harri smiled to, he was happy for him. Naruto may have been loud and brash but he was a really good person. He was glad these people didn't judge him harshly like at home in the village.
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Harri made an excited noise as the village came into view squirming free of his sensei's grip and diving out of the man's arms to run the rest of the distance.
"Harri! Stop running!" Kakashi demanded, tone absolutely disapproving.
"Oh hi princess! Passport please." One of the guards said, holding out a hand smiling kindly at Harrison.
"Of course!" Harri cheerfully agreed pulling it out of his hoister from next to his scroll that he had once again nicked back. He was sure that Kakashi was expecting him to have to wait if he ran ahead as the man had taken that from him to. Harri wouldn't be heading to the hospital. He would immediately go over to one of three places.
The Nara clan compound. The Akimichi... and if everything else was a bust then he would head over to the Inuzuka's to hang out with some of their less human friendly dogs. The Inuzuka my be willing to hand him over but Baku and a few of the other dogs sure wouldn't be. Kakashi couldn't force him to come with him if he was on inhabited clan lands.
The moment Harrison's passport had been looked over and stamped he was out of there. Getting an indignant yell from his teacher. Thankfully it was a Wednesday. Shika's mother was usually gone as she liked to get together with her friends on Wednesdays.
"Shika!" Harri whined as he approached his friend's home, walking straight into the home. "Shika are you here?"
"Wh-what's going on?" Shikamaru grumbled stumbling from his room. Rubbing tiredly at his face.
"Missed you!" Harri keened, nearly tackling his friend to the floor.
Shikamaru was quick to cling back. Allowing his friend to nuzzle him and to rescent him as he knew he would do. "I really missed you to." Shikamaru said, gently carding his hands through Harrison's mildly greasy hair. "You need a bath..." He grumbled good naturedly as he nuzzled back automatically. He led Harry to his room looking far more alert than he had before. "Lets get you something to wear." Shikamaru said, rummaging through a dresser drawer. "Are you hungry?" The older boy asked, eyeing Harri with a worried expression. He was paler and thinner looking, he sure felt a bit bony now to. He was sure of it Harri had lost weight. "We have some beef Dad brought home. I'm sure he would be fine if we ate some. I'm feeling a bit hungry myself." Shikamaru said, making sure his friend wouldn't protest the offer. "Here, go get washed up. I'll get the food done. Then we can go take a nap." He said, handing Harri some clothes.
"That sounds nice!" Harri said, voice cheerful. "By the way pretend... I'm not here if my sensei shows up. He... is still convinced my crying is going to kill me or something." Harri vaguely explained, getting a pained grimace from the Nara.
"Ugh, how troublesome."
"Yeah... sorry Shika! By. The way where's Mai?" Harri asked on his way to the bathroom.
Shikamaru snorted. "Probably sulking over you being gone somewhere or chasing cats again. That troublesome beast.." Shika rubbed his face, fond smile tugging at it. "Silly thing's practically started a full out war with Choji's witch lady neighbor's cats again so she might be over there. That or she's harassing the Inuzuka's dogs again. She'll be back this evening."
Harri laughed, "Maybe she's doing a little of all three!" He said easily imagining his Mai pushing around other 'dogs' and cats alike and just causing mayhem in general. She was very mischievous after all!
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Just as predicted there was loud insistent knocking on the door only a hour or so after Harri showed up over at The Nara compound. Both boys were already cuddled up half asleep in Shikamaru's bed.
"Ugh, really?" The young Nara groaned, dragging Harri to lay over him as he yanked the blankets around them and pulling Paddy to his friend's side. He hummed contently, much more comfortable. After a few minutes of knocking the noise seemed to sort of fade out. He smiled affectionately as he heard Harri's breaths even out and joined him in sleep not soon after.
That didn't last very long.
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"I knew you were here!" Shikamaru heard, he blinked his eyes in confusion. Swearing the someone was watching him. He shrieked, nearly knocking Harri from the bed. Pulling the smaller boy to himself at the last moment. Though his freak out woke Harri and had him panicking as well.
"What the- DAD! DAD! How-how did you get in here, how long have you been watching us?" Shikamaru sputtered, horrified. He yanked a confused Harri behind himself. "Do you have any idea how creepy this is?" Shikamaru asked, rapid fire completely freaked. As he eyed the Shinobi standing only inches from the bed side with his hands on his hips and a 'I'm so done with this' look in his eyes.
"Do you have any idea how creepy it is to find my student sleeping in bed with a boy old enough to get a boner?" Kakashi said in a dead serious tone of voice.
Shikamaru went red faced and choked. "We've been friends since I was like th-three or four! Not everyone's a creep like Sasuke!" He said, disturbed and offended by what the man was implying. Yeah, Harri was definitely gorgeous and sweet and super adorable and... Shikamaru adored him but that didn't mean he was some perv over him or anything, eew!
"Uhuh."
"Damn it Shikamaru. What's the problem? I was having a really good nap you know? And your mother will be back in less than 3 hours. This is such a drag." Shikaku whined, nearly tripping on his way through the doorway.
Shikamaru sat up straighter and pointed at Kakashi who had the gull to cross his arms and look exasperated. "He broke into the house! Harri is back from that Bridge builder mission and after getting cleaned up and eating we decided to take a nap, I made sure the door was locked and everything! Then I heard some knocking but ignored it. And suddenly I woke up and he as standing right there lecturing me!" He said throwing his hands into the air as he shrieked.
Shikaku stared with his mouth wide open for a few moments before stepping forward. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, that's really creepy! Yeah... you need to get out of my house. Why were you staring at my, not quite, 13 year old son In his sleep?" The man said narrowing his eyes suspiciously at the other Jounin.
"What? No! It wasn't like that! I came here to see Harri!" Kakashi insisted flailing as he explained himself. Though he immediately got horrified looks and gasps from both Shikamaru and his father.
"WHAT? And that isn't any creepier? Why would you want to come here to watch anyone in their sleep? A child none the less! What's wrong with you?" Shikaku choked, rushing to get between the boys and the silver haired man. He had never thought that... Kakashi was... into that sort of thing... a pedophile. Eew, eew, eew! Watching those poor boys sleep! What a creep!
"NO! That isn't why I came here! You completely misunderstood me! Completely! I swear!" Kakashi insisted, making an X motion with his arms.
"You said you came here to SEE Harri! You were literally watching... her sleep! What am I misunderstanding here?" Shikaku shrieked.
"I didn't mean it in that way! I meant it as in to find Harri! I don't like kids that way! Never! I knew Harri was trying to hid from me and it would probably take days to catch her if she didn't want to be caught! I was going to take her to the hospital because I have been concerned about her health! Honest! I wasn't looming over them or anything disturbing like that! I literally just entered the room and was about to wake Harri up! I promise you, Shikaku, this was all just really bad timing!" Kakashi insisted, his voice getting higher pitched as he defended himself. Clearly mortified with the accusations thrown at him.
"Uhuh. And why would you need to take Harri to the hospital?" The older brunet asked.
"She's been very sick! She's totally putting on an act for you! She can't even regulate her own body temperature. She sleeps in the same bed with your... son when she's over because she has to not because-"
"We know." Both Shikaku and Shikamaru interrupted. "Though it isn't like we force Harri to do anything. I mean we got a heated blanket that Harri never uses so..." Shikamaru pointed out.
"You knew?" Kakashi growled.
"Of course we do. Harri's been over here pretty much daily for years. You can't let Harri get cold, it's simple." Shikaku muttered rolling his eyes.
Kakashi gritted his teeth together at their blatant disregard. "Did you tell them how you were kidnaped and gone for days? How you weren't making any sense, starved, and how you were bedridden for days after you passed out and nearly died?" Smirking as he finally got a horrified reaction from the pair who immediately began to lecture and fuss over Harrison. He gave Harri an eye smile as the little one glared at him. Growling under his breath. Harri pouted. That was a low move! "Can't you see now why I need to take her to the hospital?"
Shikaku sighed, "We'll get Shoma over here." The man relented.
"No. Harri needs to go to an actual hospital and get actual tests done." Kakashi demanded.
"This is my home on my clan compound. Harri is under my protection. Harri will see our healing Nin." Shikaku said with finality.
Kakashi gave the other man a challenging look. What exactly were they hiding from him? He wondered. It didn't really matter though because as soon as Harri left the Nara compound Kakashi would be dragging 'her' straight to the actual hospital. Kicking and biting, he really didn't care.
Kakashi smirked, the Nara may have been highly intelligent. But well... he was clever... and more than a little devious when trying to get what he wanted. He was sure lovely motherly Iruka would just love to hear all about how his adorable sweet sickly little Harri wasn't doing well and how the Nara weren't helping out in the slightest. If they wanted to play games.. Well we could play games and he wasn't afraid to play dirty. They hadn't won this argument, not by a long shot. What ever they were hiding wasn't more important than his student's health.
End Chapter 13
So here is the next chapter I hope everyone liked it. Sorry it wasn't amazing but I have great ideas for the next one! I really can't wait to start writing the exams!
By the way I have gotten much better at drawing(Anytime I have a picture or anything on here it is something that I made) so if you want to see any of my stuff you can find it on facebook! I am pretty active on there so I can also answer questions and stuff like that! I would love some fanart if anyone's into doing that sort of stuff!
By the way I will be trying to update my Yuyu Hakusho/Harry Potter crossover soon which is really far along now and features weird, adorable, nesting, demonic preggers Harry who loves his exasperated fuzzy babies!
I am also 13 Chapters into the My Hero Academia/ Harry Potter crossover right now to and it is starting to get some steaminess to it! I update that one most often I really recommend checking it out! Harry is likely to enter a threesome with some unusual characters! I regret nothing, Fumi's best Bird and Aizawa's best mom!
Please review! Tell me what you think! I would love some feed back and ideas! It really helps with my story telling and motivates me!
Next Chapter hint: Teddy Bears and Playing dead