I am very pleased to say that I am back! I'm sorry for my 2 months of absence! Unfortunately I had to switch my work schedule from the standard M-F 40 hour week to a second shift 12 hour 6 days a week schedule. Let me tell you it kicked my ass! But I am thankfully done with that forever and I am back to my normal routine! Which includes the writing of this story! I also want to thank everyone that has favorited and followed this story thus far! Don't expect the next chapter to take 2 months! I promise it will come sooner. So here it goes!
-UM
Where Loyalties Lie: Chapter Seven
Shikaku and his son remained silent as they made their way to the Nara compound, silence may not have been unusual for the two but the Jonin Commander knew that he could not let Shikamaru fall into his feelings. The Nara head was personally familiar with the thoughts that he knew plagued Shikamaru's mind, and while he wished his young son would've had more time to enjoy his childhood before he had to understand the curse of his intelligence, Shikaku knew that there was only one path that he could rightfully take. It didn't stop him from desperately wishing that he could feign ignorance to his son's inner turmoil though, he wanted nothing more than to tell him not to worry and force him into innocence once again, but this was a path that he knew was unacceptable. His son was changing, had been since the day that he walked through the Academy doors and laid eyes on one petite blond known as Uzumaki Naruto.
No, he could not let his son suffer he would be the father that his wasn't, he would explain to his young son that while such intelligence was a gift there will always be a price along with it. More importantly he wouldn't let his son question every detail of this day alone, especially knowing that eventually Shikamaru will not only analyze what was witnessed, but his own part in this as well. And like the quicksand pits that many fall prey to in Suna, it would be all too easy for the young Nara to sink deeper into fear and self-doubt, and like the quicksand there is no escaping without someone there to help you.
Shikaku regarded his only son that walked beside him very carefully, the dark haired boy clutched a bright orange back to his chest like it was his lifeline, and the expression that his six year old wore is one that should never be found on such small features. With his brow furrowed, contemplative brown eyes, nose crinkling in distaste, and lips forming a hard line, the Nara heir looked more like a hardened war veteran than a child. The older man watched as worry turned into anger, only to be replaced by fear, and lastly doubt. The Jonin Commander closed his eyes and sighed, he knew at that moment that the look on Shikamaru's face will haunt him until the day death takes him.
"Shikamaru." he started, holding his hand out, "Let me carry her bag son, we aren't home yet and it looks heavy."
"No." Shikaku wasn't surprised that his son declined his offer, but what did shock him was the force behind the single word.
"Well…" He sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose, "Well…let me carry yours at least."
The young boy stopped to shrug off his dark green bag, letting it fall onto the road. Shikaku grabbed the now dusty bag and led his son through the market place.
The walk through the Nara compound was a quiet one, most were already sitting down for dinner as the sun twinkled just above the horizon. It wasn't until they turned onto the familiar stone walkway to the main house that their apprehensive silence was interrupted.
"Shikaku!" the angry voice of his wife shouted, causing him to wince, he hadn't thought about Yoshino's reaction, "Do you even realize how worried I've been Shikaku? It's been three hours since the Academy let out, three hours!"
"I know Yoshino. I know." The clan head mumbled as he rubbed at his temples, trying to banish the instant headache that only his wife's shrill cry could cause.
"Well?" the Nara Matriarch snapped, anticipating his answer.
"We were at the Hokage's office." Shikaku jumped at the voice of his son, he truly didn't expect him to answer.
With a speed only a worried mother could manage, Yoshino was crouching on the ground in front of their son, his face already in her hands as she checked him over for injuries.
"What are you tal-wait!" Yoshino stopped mid-sentence her eyes now resting on the overfilled, bright orange bag that Shikamaru tightly held, "Who does that belong to Shikamaru?"
"N-Naruto." The young boy stuttered out, which was all it took for the emotional onslaught of the day to catch up with him. Dark brown eyes that had been previously filled with unshed tears finally let a few escape, which only caused him to scowl harder as they were wiped away by his mother's white apron.
Shikaku chuckled at his son, he had never liked being fussed over, even as a baby he would start to get cranky with people when they cooed at him too much. Some things never change.
"Don't you laugh at him Shikaku!" Yoshino screeched making the other two Nara flinch, "What!" She said somehow getting louder, "It's okay to cry!"
The look of contempt on Shikamaru's face proved to be too much for the Jonin Commander, and instead of appeasing his annoyed wife, he laughed harder. Shikaku side stepped the smack that he absolutely deserved, bringing him closer to his son as a now irate Yoshino stomped into their home. Seconds later his own raspy laughter was joined by quiet snickers.
"Thanks Dad." The six year old boy said after a few minutes of them standing in the dark, their laughter had already died down but neither of them wanted to face The Nara Matriarch just yet.
"Anytime Shikamaru," Shikaku said as he grasped the young boy's shoulder, leading him into the house, "Anytime."
It was the steady beep of the monitor that slowly began to rise Kakashi out of his drugged induced sleep, he shifted slightly and a single grey eye blinked open. He bolted upright in the already slightly inclined hospital bed momentarily in shock of his immediate surroundings. (Not that the ANBU Captain would ever admit to such confusion) Once the Copy-Ninja comprehended that he was indeed in Konoha's hospital, he sank back into the mattress, taking a few seconds to admire the multiple tubes and wires attached to his arms. It was at that precise moment that Kakashi realized that he wasn't wearing a mask causing his left eye to shoot open, the man that was contemplating more sleep abruptly sat up, his sharringan spun dangerously without his hiat-ate to cover it, and his heart rate spiked, causing an insufferable piece of modern machinery to beep rapidly, drawing what seemed like every female nurse in a 3 mile radius to room 422.
It was only Kakashi's years of training allowed him to rip the offending oxygen tube out of his nose and cover his face with his stiff white sheet mere seconds before the door burst open. To say that the nurses were disappointed was an understatement. The white haired ninja swore he heard a sniffle from one of them.
"Ahh…" he started a bit awkwardly, "Well…could one of you…possibly inform the Hokage of my status…and tell him to bring a mask."
"Of Course Hatake-san!" A blond nurse about his age piped up, "He's with that girl right now," she said with a sneer "but…" her lips perked back up into a smile, "I'll go get him for you."
Fury coursed through the ANBU Captain at the nurse's words, he expected them from the civilian population but when such blind hatred was coming from someone that should know better his anger turned murderous. The only thing that saved the ignorant blond woman was the fact that she let slip: if the Hokage was with Naruto right now, than his most precious person was at the very least safe.
The killing intent that the Copy-Ninja was emitting did not go unnoticed, not by the nurses still left in the room, or by the many machines he was hooked up to. As the heart monitor picked up the man's elevated heart rate another round of unbearably loud beeps filled the room. Deciding that he had been closely watched for enough time in one day, Kakashi, in a spur of the moment attempt to quiet the insufferable machine let the sheet fall from his face and began pulling off wire after wire. In the 15 seconds that it took the ANBU Captain to remove every tube and wire attached to his person and of course return the sheet back to its position of temporary face cover (really though, where was his mask) the room was in an absolute uproar. Every piece of equipment that he had recently been attached to begin to beep, squeal, or ring. It was when the shrill cries of the nurses joined the incessant screams of the equipment that Kakashi briefly considered dropping the sheet that he had pressed up against his face in favor of covering up his wounded ears.
A deep throaty chuckle interrupted the hysterics of room 422 causing each nurse to abruptly stop and a distressed Hatake Kakashi to glare at the doorway.
"About damn time." The Copy-Ninja barked at his superior.
The Hokage only snorted, and threw a piece of black material at the 20 year old man that was currently throwing kunai with his eyes. In seconds the mask was firmly in place, Kakashi sighing in content.
"Leave us." The Sandaime spoke to the nurses, only to get reprimanded by one of them.
"Lord Hokage," she began, her hands placed firmly on her hips, "This man is under our care, he needs to be closely monitored for another 24 hours, at least."
The Copy-Ninja watched with narrowed eyes as Hiruzen stroked his beard and hummed in thought, regardless of what the old man said, there was no way he was staying in this hospital room.
"While you are indeed right," The nurse threw a triumphant smirk towards the bed, "Hatake Kakashi will not be wasting anymore time sleeping."
"Now wait one minute," the now furious nurse began, "My patient needs-"
"Your patient is no longer your patient. Now I believe I told everyone in this room to leave us."
"Bye now!" the Copy-Ninja said as he waived to the nurses while they spilled out into the hallway, only one remained, the rest at least had the decency to look embarrassed for their coworker's attitude.
It wasn't until the Sandaime gestured to the still beeping machinery telling her to 'shut that shit off' because it was 'giving him a headache' that the infuriated nurse finally left allowing Hiruzen to softly shut the door behind her.
"Bit harsh don't you think?" The ANBU Captain asked the Hokage once all of his fangirls left the small room.
"Not at all," Hiruzen grinned at him, "I don't have the time for anyone to be arguing with me just because they want to see your face."
The younger man shuddered as he pulled back the blanket, swinging his legs over the side of the bed in the process. The Hokage sank into a stiff looking brown chair as the ANBU Captain slowly stood, eyeing the neat pile of clothes that were set on the small table next to the old man. Kakashi picked up the familiar clothes and sighed in relief, someone was smart enough to bring him a set of his standard Jonin attire. (Kakashi hadn't worn civilian clothes in years and there was no way in hell that he was starting today.)
"How is she?" The white haired ninja asked as he pulled on the privacy screen effectively separating the two men in the room.
"She's still unconscious but her vitals are perfect, it's likely that she is just as exhausted as you were."
Relief washed, no relief crashed over the Elite Jonin with all of the force of a hurricane as he quickly pulled off the hospital gown, the cool air causing him to shiver.
"How long was I out?" he asked while dressing himself with the speed only the Copy Ninja could possess.
"Just under 45 hours." Hiruzen answered.
The ANBU Captain started to nod but grunted in affirmation after he realized that The Hokage couldn't actually see his response. Neither of the men spoke as the younger man sat on the edge of the firm hospital bed once the privacy screen was wrenched back open. The man who was normally an imposing figure sat slumped over, elbows resting on knees as he rubbed his closed eyelids, looking very much his age. The last Hatake felt a pang of guilt as he watched the man that he respected above anyone else, he didn't doubt that many of those grey hairs were caused by himself. Anyone could see that The Hokage was getting too old for his position (had been for quite some time) but both knew that until Naruto could protect herself the Sandaime would never give up the hat.
That guilt didn't last long however as Kakashi remembered the promise that The Hokage didn't keep. And while the ANBU knew he was being overly biased (The Hokage did have an entire village to look after) he couldn't help but be furious that the one time that he was forced to leave Konoha for longer than a few days was also the one time that she was kidnapped. Being the Jinchuriki of the Nine tailed fox, Naruto had more attempts on her life than The Hokage himself had, and while he wished this wasn't the case, many plans to kidnap the small girl had also surfaced over the last 6 years. But this was the first time any of the plans had succeeded and he wasn't there.
"You said she'd be safe."
Hiruzen's eyes snapped open, meeting Kakashi's mismatched ones, and even though the ANBU Captain was the master of the poker face he knew that The Hokage could see right through his composed exterior.
"I know- I…" the Sandaime let out an exaggerated sigh, "I thought we'd be enough…I thought…I don't know what I thought…You won't be leaving the Leaf for that long again."
Kakashi nodded at the old man.
"I blame myself." The Hokage whispered, almost too quiet for the Copy Ninja to hear.
"Good." He responded. "I blame you too."
"I wouldn't expect anything less Kakashi."
In that second the older man reached into his pocket and pulled out a seal, a seal that the ANBU had seen countless times before. A silence seal.
"Jiraiya's?"
The Hokage nodded as he placed the small seal on the table and activated it.
"I don't want to be overheard, now what did you see?"
Kakashi dragged his hand through his hair as he gathered his thoughts, briefly wishing he could go home and shower, he could still feel the filth that was stuck in his white hair.
"When I got there Mizuki was in the corner, he was terrified, it was the fox."
"What?!" The old man bellowed as he rose to begin his pacing around the room.
"It's true…the Kyuubi was speaking…through Naruto." Kakashi flinched as images of Naruto's broken body flashed through his mind.
"I spoke to it," the ANBU continued, "The fox asked me to kill Mizuki…because it couldn't."
"The poison?" Hiruzen interrupted.
"Yes. It told me that it'll take two weeks for the poison to completely dissipate. I think…" The Copy Ninja hesitated, causing the Hokage to stop his pacing and stare at the younger man, "I think it wanted to help her. The Fox was infuriated that it couldn't heal her."
The Hokage frowned at this information and resumed his pacing.
"What does this mean for her when she wakes up Kakashi?"
"I don't know…but," The ANBU really didn't want to think about this, "but it's possible that the Fox has taken over."
"We are goi-" The Hokage started but was interrupted by a nurse bursting into the small room.
"Lord Hokage," she started a bit out of breath, "Uzumaki…she's awake."
Three out of nine tails twitched with annoyance as the giant beast waited for the kit to open her eyes. It had been days since the girl had found the place in her mind where the seal was held, or it could've been hours, one could never really be sure, especially when stuck in a windowless cage. As it was Naruto was laying on the ground of her mindscape one cheek pressed to the cold ground, hair covering her face, fluttering when she exhaled. The Fox tried to reach her with demonic Chakra in hopes to wake the girl but the disgusting poison rendered any attempts completely and utterly useless. So instead the beast waited and grudgingly admitted that the boy that placed the seal on the kit knew exactly what he was doing. Of course the Kyuubi knew the girls pain and could send Chakra to heal her, of course on certain days when she was exceedingly pleased or upset emotions could be felt, and the beast was of course strong enough to feel the chakra signatures around her, but until that day regardless of what was attempted the Fox could not break down the seal enough to see.
But when it finally broke, the second that the world around the girl was visible, the Kyuubi no Kitsune wanted nothing more than to destroy everyone in Naruto's proximity. Six tails thrashed in anger as the chakra beast remembered the look in that man's eyes, that human thought that he was important enough and powerful enough to be able to kill the vessel to the Nine Tailed Fox? Please. But it wasn't the insignificant, pathetic man that had the Kyuubi reeling in anger. That worthless human was properly disposed of, thanks to the man known to the girl as Hound, and known as Hatake Kakashi to his previous vessel. No, it wasn't that man that riled the fox it was the sting of cuts all over her small body that had his tails whipping, it was the deep marks on each cheek, ones that were sure to scar because even if the Nine Tailed Fox wanted to heal the small girl the poison made it impossible. And admittedly the beast did want to heal her. The small blond (who had the exact hair color of the man that his once jailer had procreated with) was much younger than the Chakra Beast thought, she could be no older than five or six and that man had tortured her, he ignored the cries of pain coming from the small girl and laughed while he took the poison dipped kunai to her face. No one had the right to do that to the kit, to Naruto, no one would ever be able to hurt her again. The Kyuubi no Kitsune would make sure of it.
Naruto was cold. Cold and probably laying on the floor if the hard ground pressed underneath her cheek was enough of a clue. As her eyes blinked open she couldn't stop the brief confusion she felt at the sight of the light yellow something that interrupted her vision, but then she realized it was her own hair and felt incredibly stupid. The small girl sat up, rubbing furiously at her sore eyes until she felt brave enough to open them. She really didn't know what to expect, the last thing she remembered was the heat and the fire and the running and a door. No, she didn't know what to expect but she absolutely didn't expect a giant cage holding an equally giant red fox. The Nine Tailed Fox. The Kyuubi no Kitsune. The thing that was sealed inside of her. She screamed. Then heard a voice, one so deep that it vibrated through you, one that could freeze you in place with just one word, one that nightmares where made of. And it was consoling her.
"Kit." The voice rang in her ears, "Please stop screaming kit…Naruto."
And as quickly as the scream started it stopped, her mouth hanging open, the Demon Fox just used her name.
"We have much to discuss kit, and very little time, you should be awakening soon."
Naruto frowned, eyebrows furrowing in confusion, "What do you mean? I am awake."
"We are somewhere in your mind young one, you passed out when you opened the door."
"The fire, that was your Chakra, wasn't it?" She asked while curiosity got the better of her and she made her way to the cage.
"It was, I'm sorry it caused you hurt, I had hoped to spare you the pain of what your instructor was doing to you, but unfortunately I couldn't break free soon enough."
Naruto couldn't believe her ears, the Kyuubi wanted to spare her, the beast that was supposed to want nothing more than death and destruction actually wanted to help her.
"Why?" She asked with narrowed eyes.
"Because you are my vessel. If you die, I die." Naruto nodded at the Fox's answer, "And because I want to help you kit, you can learn much from me. I can teach you to protect yourself, with my help you will be the most powerful Jinchuriki to have ever existed."
The young blond that was thoroughly examining the seal on the cage door stopped to consider his words. The Kyuubi was practically offering to train her, which sounded like a great idea, but this was the fox, and she had no way of knowing if this power was for its personal gain, or for hers. Naruto couldn't help but think of the Hokage, he would know what to do. If she were as great as the Hokage, she would know what to do, believe it.
"Would I be strong enough to be a Hokage?" Naruto asked the beast, her eyes filed with hope.
The Kyuubi snorted, "Of course. You would be stronger than all the Kage combined."
"Well…" She started, "How do you plan to help me?"
"You'll have to draw yourself back into this mindscape, I cannot help you when you are out of it."
"Why not?" The blonde asked, completely confused.
"I do not have the sort of freedom that allows me to see or hear the outside world, kit, the seal does not allow it."
Naruto pouted at that information, there had to be some way that the fox could help her in the outside world. She eyed the seal again, it was so complex that there was no way she would be able to alter it, maybe someday, but her Fuinjutsu skills were not that good…yet.
"So…We need to come up with a way to have a connection outside of my mind, right?" The Fox nodded, "The seal is too strong to be changed…but you are in my mind…If only I could alter that."
Two tails twitched in the corner of her eye as she paced the room mumbling to herself. The Fox seemed content enough to follow her movements with giant red eyes.
"I got it!" Naruto exclaimed, skipping to the center of the room, "How long has this…cell...been this way?"
"I've been in this cage since the day I was sealed here."
"And I've never been here before, right?" She asked excitedly.
"Of course not, you would have remembered this place, kit."
"Exactly! So what if I just…changed it?"
With blue eyes shut tight in concentration, Naruto missed the slightly amused look that the Kyuubi gave her, she was muttering under her breathe again and in seconds their surroundings were completely transformed.
Instead of a cold, hard stone floor there was earth, instead of the steady drip of something akin to a sewer pipe there was a river that poured into a lake, instead of dark, dank walls there was a forest, instead of a low ceiling there was a full sky with a single cloud, unmoving despite the light breeze but more importantly instead of a cage in the middle of it all, there was only a collar.
Naruto's blue eyes popped back open staring at what she created, happiness brightened up her features when she saw the lake and the forest, but eventually she focused on the giant beast before her, the complex seal that once kept it in a cage was only a collar around its neck.
"It worked!" she screamed as she threw herself at the Fox, wrapping small arms around one of its legs, "See that cloud up there?" She didn't wait for the Kyuubi to answer her, "It's more like a window! It's only black because I'm really sleeping! When I'm awake you should be able to see everything! You can already hear! Listen!"
And listen they did, in the distance they could hear the faint hum of machinery that didn't belong in such a place, voices of unseen entities flowed with the breeze.
"Kit…" The Kyuubi no Kitsune started somehow at a loss for words, "Call me by my name…Call me Kurama."
Naruto's answering smile was brilliant as she once again hugged the fox, burying herself into red fur. She didn't see the solitary tear that rolled down a fury cheek.
There it is everyone! I jumped around quite a bit in this chapter but I really enjoyed writing it. I always wanted her to meet The Nine Tails young for this fic. Especially because I made her find out about her Jinchuriki status earlier than canon. I was playing around with how I wanted him to be though, the unhelpful-take over the body whenever Naruto gets angry- type of Fox or the protective-this is my human vessel, you peasants-type of fox. Obviously you see which Kyuubi won.
This upcoming chapter will be what everyone has been waiting for: Shikamaru and Naruto will finally meet! I've started writing it and I can't wait!
So dear readers send love or hate! Tell me what you think! I love to hear from everyone!
-UM