Dedicated to Vallavarayan

AN: Sorry for the late update! Again, the chapter has not been edited so it should contain few mistakes. Enjoy! I will later post a poll to write a Valentine One Shot. (My lame way of apologizing). The following pairs will be there: NaruHina, SasuSaku, ShikaTema, InoCho, NejiTen, KakaRin, MinaKush. (If you want another couple up for the one shot, then message me)

Chapter 10: A Mother's Love Part II

The Konoha team arrived at Tazuna's house exhausted. Naruto first thought was to throw himself to the ground and rest, getting a good amount of rest but knew better. Instead, he waited as Tazuna called for his daughter inside of the house.

"Tsunami! Come and welcome the ninjas that escorted me home." Tazuna yelled as he opened the screen from his home. The house was a simply two floors high with complementing colors. The roof's shingles were scarlet and the wood was a light hazel brown. The door was a traditional screen door that slid to the side and had high windows, a peaceful home.

"Welcome home father." A woman appeared from the door with a warm smile. She noticed the disheveled looking ninjas and opened the screen wider. "Hello, my name is Tsunami. Please, come in the house." She bowed her head in gratitude.

"Thank you Tsunami-chan." Kakashi gave her a one eyed smile and motioned the genin to walk inside.

They walked past the living room and made their way to the kitchen. "I hope you guys are hungry. I was just finishing lunch when I heard you guys."

"We would appreciate it." Kakashi spoke, taking a seat of the table.

"You have such a lovely home." Commented Sakura as she gazed at the inviting home.

"Thank you um…"

"Sakura."

"Yes, thank you Sakura." Tsunami grabbed her long blue hair in a low ponytail and reached for the plates.

"I would like to thank you for bringing my father home safely and assisting him as he completes the bridge. The country isn't doing very well and I appreciate any help we receive."

"You are very welcome Tsunami-chan. If I can ask for a bit a favor, it would mean a lot." Kakashi asked.

A bit confused, Tsunami nodded her head, waiting for the jonin to continue.

"May my students set up to rest outside?"

Set up outside? To rest? "They can rest and stay in the house. That is the least I can do. We have room upstairs." Tsunami frowned at the request. The twelve year olds looked tired and all beaten up. She figured that they were sore from the travel too and the best solution would be for them to rest inside in the comfort of a house. Her maternal instinct were telling them that these kids needed to be tended and cared for. She knew that they probably had caring parents at home but she knew that they were just kids. She was aware that they were trained to fight but she wanted to be much more lenient with them in her home.

Kakashi saw her confusion and decided to explain why. "I thank you but it would help them with their training and endurance. They want to take their training serious, so I will have them sleep outside for a week."

Most civilian wouldn't understand what it meant to train, especially how Kakashi did his training. He always wanted to make sure they were in a place where the terrain can change and go along with the expectancies of missions. Taking account of everything would help his genin for most situations they would face in the future together.

"A week!" Naruto yelled, not able to stay quiet for a minute longer.

"Yes Naruto, a week. We will set up the tents outside and sleep at night after training. We can be in the house to eat and use the facility but not to sleep." Kakashi responded lighthearted.

"Why?" Naruto pressed. He did want to take his training to the next level but he was worrying about the position Kakashi was placing him and his teammates in. Sure, Naruto had experience training and camping outside but it never last longer than a week. He never considered himself spoiled but blessed. It didn't matter what he own or his family owned, what mattered most was being with them, though he hasn't spent time with his parents in the longest time ever. The point was, he wasn't sure if he would adjust so quickly.

He was already hurled into many courses of events and thrown information at since becoming genin. Heck, he did not have time to process most of the things that had happened with Mizuki. It was stupid, yes but Naruto didn't want to hate his parents. He felt bit of resentment towards them but they were his parents regardless. He was raised better. He was raised to love and respect family and friends. They were a higher priority, not including missions for that yet had become part of him.

"You wanted me to train you, then I will. Ninja train under any conditions and in any environment. This way, you'll be better prepared for further battles despite your surroundings." Kakashi explained with one incoming instance in mind. "The more experienced you are and more exposed to different place, the more likely you will all be able to adapt."

"Does it have to be now?" Sasuke asked, massaging his left shoulder. "Sakura is still tired despite her denying it, and Naruto is probably tired too with little chakra." Not to mentioned I am a bit tired too. He finished the rest in his head, looking at the table.

Naruto mentally sighed at the last comment but said nothing. He looked at his teammates and went to grab his pack again. "I'll set up the tents while Sakura freshens up a bit. Teme, help me will ya?"

Sasuke nodded his head and grabbed the bags too, heading to the backyard. He dropped the bags near the house and looked up at Naruto. The blonde had a thoughtful look and stood still.

"Naruto."

The Namikaze did not respond and began to pace up and down the mountainside. He hardly noticed anything around him as he began walking up and down the side of the house.

Sasuke followed him with his gaze and got tired with the silence. Naruto was an extroverted persona and Sasuke knew that since they grew up together. "Is there something wrong dobe?" He questioned and did not get a respond. Agitated, Sasuke retrieved a kunai from his pouch and hurled it at the genin.

With peripheral vision, Naruto saw the kunai and bent backwards, in a backbend. He lifted himself up and glared the raven-haired boy. "Hey!"

"You weren't paying attention so I had to get your attention." Sasuke shrugged it off as he began setting up his tent. Sasuke wasn't a patient, few knew this, and Naruto was one of those people. That is why Sasuke could be at peace and be himself without a second thought.

Naruto mumbled profanity under his breath and hastily began to set up his tent. "Are we still going to spar?"

Sasuke raised his brow and smirked. "Are you ready to lose?"

"Taijutsu only or mixed in with some ninjutsu." Naruto beckoned Sasuke with his hand. Both boys left their unfinished tents unattended and walk to closer to the mountainside, getting a good distance from the house of Tazuna.

"Both." Sasuke answered as he charged forward Naruto. He quickly delivered two punches, one to the head and the other to the chest.

Naruto blocked the punches with his arms and kicked Sasuke at his midsection. He did not stop and began to send a series of punches and kicks all over. In a blur, Naruto's arm and legs began to make contact with the raven-haired. The attacks were swift and precise with years of practice.

Sasuke attempted to deflect most of the kicks directed to his head and punches but most of the combos were a bit too fast for him. Naruto was fighting with rage and Sasuke knew it as the executions were too brutal; it was a matter of times until he began to get clumsy and he would find an opening to attack. He was just going to wait. However, it was one of the most difficult strategy to follow through with because he was being to even more sore. He already had bruises on him that the missing nin had caused.

He was wondering how long he was going to take it. He had taken hits from his father and older brother when he went through training and it hurt much worse than this. The sad part of the training he had with his father and brother was that they were going easy on him, though Sasuke knew that his brother was stronger his father; it didn't stop his dad to be much more aggressive with his attacks. The only reason why he continued to let Naruto fight him in such way was so he could let out bubbled up anger. How he knew the blonde was a bit trouble was beyond him but he understand what he was going through.

It didn't stop him as he was getting desperate for an escape. Seeing a quick opening as Naruto reached over to kick him underneath, he knocked Naruto's right arm down and kicked Naruto at the shoulder. At the impact of the kick, Naruto jumped back and grabbed his upper arm that began feeling numb. "Not bad teme." Naruto began to stretch his arm, attempting to bring life and feeling. His knew it was probably for the hits he swung at Sasuke was why his arm and hands were feeling numb.

"I was going to say the same thing dobe." Sasuke smirked again. He was slouching over his knees and wiped the bead of sweat off his forehead.

Naruto cracked his neck and promptly went to meet Sasuke, connecting his knee with his stomach. Sasuke's eyes widen and he began to cough up blood. They were both sent in the air and Sasuke felt a bit queasy. He took advantage that both of them were in the air and hooked his legs around Naruto's neck hurling him away from him, while still clutching his stomach.

Naruto landed on the ground and groaned, rolling on his back. "I thought we were going to spar, not battle."

"Well, you didn't take out your kunai. I figured you wanted to let out steam from earlier." Sasuke answered, avoiding to mention directly what happened yesterday.

Naruto reached for his pouch and hurled some shuriken at Sasuke. Sasuke dropped to his knee as felt the kunai pass barely above his hair. "That knee to the stomach sure did hurt." Sasuke grunted, attempting to get up. He was too lazy to fully maneuver away from the hit but knew that Naruto didn't mean to directly hurt. It was the same with him when he threw the kunai at Naruto. It was to prove a point.

Naruto chuckled and sat up. "It was nothing."

"Hn."

Naruto rolled his eyes and laid back down on the ground, getting comfortable. Placing his arms behind his head, he began getting lost into his thoughts.

The pug was getting tired. Pakkun has been running since receiving his orders yesterday midafternoon. In any other times, he would have taken a break to rest and eat but he knew that this was a time where he needed to make his delivery swiftly.

Traveling on foot to Konoha and Land of Waves for a shinobi took five days; it was trip Pakkun planned to make under three days. Unlike shinobi, he was much faster and compared to an average dog, he was a dog on steroids. He was especially trained for battle and tracking.

It made him wonder why Kakashi was so brusque and anxious. Was it because Naruto? Pakkun was knowledgeable and he had a hunch why Kakashi was being cautious and careful. Pakkun knew that Naruto was probably sought out by Iwagakure ninja.

Despite having treaties signed between some of the village, some of the ninja still had a large grudge against the Leaf Village. Many of the villagers lost their love ones, especially those who fought in the actual war. None other than Namikaze Minato and now known Namikaze Kushina did most of the killing. It was only natural that the village would dislike them but they had to put on the façade that everything was fine. Their resentment helped rage the ninjas that were fresh from the academy and those who worked already.

The small pug sighed before jumping on series of tree branches.

"Thank you for this lovely meal." Sakura thanked as she patted her full stomach. She would have felt embarrassed of eating too much, especially in front of Sasuke and Naruto but they hardly noticed. Both of the boys were too busy scarfing food down their throat, they hardly noticed the pinkette doing the same and she was grateful for it.

"It's a pleasure to have you guys over. The house isn't so empty anymore." Tsunami commented with a warm smile.

"Where's Inari?" Tazuna asked as he sat down on one of the limited chairs.

"Who's Inari?" Naruto asked as he gulped down a cup of water with food still not chewed. He was still tired with 'sparing' with Sasuke and a bit thirsty.

"Naruto! Don't talk with your mouth full! It's rude!" Scolded Sakura. She shook her head in disgust and began to wonder how his mother dealt with him, though she figured that he was just that hungry that he forgot he had to be polite, overlooking all of his table manners.

"Yeah dobe." Sasuke said in between chews. "We are guest at the house."

Naruto glared his friend and kicked him under the table. With no luck at his side, he managed to kick Kakashi who sat right across from him. The jonin cleared his throat and looked at Naruto. "That was my leg Naruto." Naruto sweat dropped and chuckled sacredly, returning his gaze to the old man who coughed into his hand.

"Inari is my only grandson. He's probably upstairs in his room staring at the ocean." Tazuna commented stiffly.

"Why didn't he join us to eat?" Sakura questioned as she looked back to the stairs.

"Well… my son has trouble opening up to people." Tsunami began softly. She thought about the past for a moment before she felt tears forming at the corner of her eye. "If you excuse, I will go upstairs." She stood up and hastily went up the stairs to her room. She closed the door firmly before throwing herself to the bed with muffled groans with the new reminder of her horrible past.

Everyone else sat there in silence. They felt the atmosphere in the room change. One moment, they were making small talk and enjoying each other's company. They would tease each other but they were laughing and smiling a lot. Naruto was beginning to wonder if he upset her by mentioning her son or something else had happen before they have arrive. He was sure his teammates were thinking the same thing. The playfulness left them in the awkward pregnant silence.

No one dared to move or say anything until Tazuna spoke. "They both had suffered a great deal."

Again, the Leaf ninjas didn't move or speak though they had turned their gaze to the elderly man.

"It all began with Tsunami first husband. They were married and happily living with me because we only had each other. They had a good happy marriage. Soon along their marriage, Tsunami found out that she was pregnant. They were both thrill and scared. At the time, Inari's dad had been sick. Everyone did get sick but it was uncommon for him. He was thought to be immune to most colds or sickness but it did not get worse until Inari was already born. He tried his best to be with his growing family, but he couldn't. He was force to stay in bed for a few months until he insisted that he was doing fine. All he wanted to do and be with was with his wife and son.

At the time, we did manage to have a hospital but it was expensive. We were saving enough money to take him when he turned for the worse. He was a stubborn man and refuse medical treatment since the beginning. He urged that the money that was saved up should have been for his son to get an education of sorts. When we did take him an emergency and he died before we could arrive. He had gotten the chills and a high fever and didn't tell anyone until Tsunami came upstairs to give him lunch.

Tsunami was crushed but determined to raise her son that barely was three at the time. She never expected to lose her husband to a disease or illness. She never knew the true reason why he died but decided not to dig deeper because she knew that she wouldn't be able to handle it. Instead, she turned all of her attention and love to her son. Tsunami did manage to send Inari to a good school but he didn't like it. After a while, she made him go to public school nor far from here.

Once enrolling, he was picked on immensely. We never understand why. Was it because he was short? I don't know. But then came a day that change the disheartened boy, the day our country found a new hero in the midst of chaos.

"A hero?" Naruto said softly as Tazuna continued with his story.

"A group of four boys was picking on my grandson. He had a puppy named Pouchie at the time and the boys wanted the dog. My grandson of course didn't want to give away his dog but thought it would have been best. Maybe then they would leave him alone. Considering to give away his Pouchie, the boys already too the dog and my grandson was crying. They threw him in the water and Inari was conflicted. He wanted to go save his dog but he didn't know how to swim. He was later thrown in the water and struggled to stay afloat. The boys got scared as they saw Inari struggle. Pouchie was angry that Inari didn't help him so he swam off leaving Inari struggling. If it wasn't for Kaiza, my only grandson would have died. He-"

"He should have let me die." Spoke a annoyed voice. Shocked, everyone turned to see who interrupted Tazuna.

"Inari!" Tazuna scolded.

"He should have left me there. Then maybe, I wouldn't be living here with Gato." The small boy brushed as he glared at the everyone sitting down.

"Why would say that?" Naruto asked in outraged. He wore a look of confusion mixed with surprise. Such a young boy he appeared yet spoke of death as if he truly wanted it. "You have a mom that loves you with all her heart and your grandpa here."

"Shut up! You don't anything!" Inari yelled out, pointing a finger towards the blue-eyed ninja. "You think that you can walk over here and fix everything. You are wrong! You will all die thanks to Gato. It won't be the first time he kills anyone."

Next Chapter: Cutting the Strings