Emolette: (sound effect) crunchcrunchcrunchcrunch. . .

Naruto: Emo-chan, what're you eating?

Emolette: Cracker nuts, crunchcrunchcrunch. . .

Sasuke: Are they good?

Emolette: -hands them bag of Nagaraya Cracker Nuts- See for yourself.

Sasuke & Naruto: crunchcrunchcrunch. . .

Naruto: Wow, these are good.

Sasuke: I'd hate to admit it, but they are.

Emolette: Cracker nuts are my favorite snack. I also like roasted peanuts. Peanuts are good.

Sasuke: crunchcrunchcrunch. . . You seem less. . . enthusiastic today.

Emolette: crunchcrunchcrunch -shrugs- This is a filler chapter. . . so I'm in a laid back mood now. . . crunchcrunchcrunch. . . Let's just start the chappie. . .

Naruto & Sasuke: crunchcrunchcrunch

Chapter Eight

" A Gift to a Son "

Naruto sat in the lounge of the treehouse, feeling the wind blow through the open windows and making his skin tingle. The lounge was just as large as the training room, though it was filled with comfy couches and shelves full of books and scrolls instead of weights and training equipment. Naruto was sitting on one of these comfy couches with the scroll that Kakashi gave him sitting just a few inches from him. The blond was sitting there for the past hour, just staring at the scroll, not really sure if he wanted to open it. He didn't even ponder on why Sasuke hasn't come looking for him. Maybe Kakashi told him. Maybe not.

Just open it kit

. . .

Oh, giving me the cold shoulder are we?

. . .

If you won't open it, I'll just take control of your arms and open it for you. . .

. . . Kyuu. . .

. . . Yes kit?

. . . I know you taught me not to be afraid of anything. . . but I think I'm afraid right now. . .

Yes, I did teach you not to be afraid of anything, but you're human. You have emotions and you can't help but be afraid sometimes, even with simple matters like this.

Yeah, I guess so.

Now open it. There's nothing to be afraid of.

Naruto took a deep breath, calming himself with a meditation technique, then he picked up the scroll as his bit his thumb and spread blood on the seal. There was a small poof and a cloud of smoke came from the scroll, a signal that the seal opened. When the smoke cleared, Naruto was able to spread the scroll across his lap and read it.

On the first part of the scroll were three names. One was Namikaze Minato, another was Uzumaki Kushina, and yet another was Sarutobi Hiruzen. They had also blood seals on them, so Naruto bit his thumb again (his previous bite healed, of course) and he first opened the one from his father. He spread some blood onto the seal and in another cloud of smoke, a letter appeared on the scroll. Naruto picked it up, unfolded it, and stared at the contents, not really reading it. The paper was, surprisingly, well-preserved and didn't crumble under Naruto's touch, but the letter itself was hastily written, yet wasn't unreadable. After taking another deep breath, Naruto began to read the letter his father wrote for him.

Dear Naruto,

If you are reading this, then that means I am no longer in this world. I am writing this at 3:26 on the morning of October 10. You were just born two hours ago, yet I regret to say that I am not able to watch you grow into the responsible young man that I dream of seeing for I will be sacrificing my life in order to seal the Kyuubi, who is attacking the village at this very moment, in a vessel.

I also regret to say that. . . you are that vessel Naruto.

I am going to be using the Hakke Fuuin Shiki to seal the Kyuubi inside of your body to save our village. Please, do not hate me for what I've done. I hope you understand that I couldn't ask anyone else to sacrifice their own child and that using you was my absolute last resort. I desperately tried to find an alternative, but sadly, there is no other way. I am not strong enough to destroy the King of Bijuus, nor is any human. My last wish is for the villagers to see you as a hero, as the one who stopped the Kyuubi from advancing and thoroughly destroying our home. I hope that they will honor my wish. You are a hero Naruto, do not forget that.

Your mother has also left a letter for you. (in the next sentences, the ink was blotched and smudged, probably because of teardrops) I'm extrem- sad to say tha- -our mother, Uzumak- Kushi- had died shortly aft- giv- birth to you. I -oved her ver- mu- and did -s much as I cou- tryin- -o sa- her, bu- I couldn't. She passed away in my -rms with a smi- on her fac-. I -ope yo- hav- her smil-. She had th- mos- beau-ful smile, an- you wil- too- if you hav- -t.

Please don't be sad for us Naru-chan. It's not your fault, none of this is your fault. We are all born innocent, and so were you. You were such a beautiful and innocent baby. Seeing you in your mother's arms was the most happiest moment in my life, hands down. I'm proud to be your father. And even if it was for a short time, I'm glad that I was able to see you. I have no regrets except that I can't be there for you. But know that your mother and I love you very, very much and, wherever we are in the afterlife, we would do anything to come back and be by your side.

Good bye Naruto, for now. I will see you whenever we're both ready.

Lots of love, your father.

Naruto stopped reading. There was a stinging on the back of his throat and his eyes blurred as tears filled up in them. The young blond took a deep breath, trying to stop that painful stinging, and he wiped his tears with the back of his hand. He exhaled a breath and it came out rattled and cracked. He choked back another cry and wiped his eyes once again as it didn't want to be dry. He bit his tongue and tried to calm himself down long enough to break the seal on his mother's name and open the folded letter. Making sure that he was calm, Naruto started to read. The handwriting was much calmer and easier to read in this letter and Naruto read it hungrily.

My dearest baby boy,

You are such a beautiful baby. You look so much like your father with your sun-kissed hair and cerulean eyes that look like oceans. When I held you in my arms, it was the happiest moment in my life, hands down. (Naruto slightly smiled at this for that was exactly what his father said) I can't wait to take you home and change your diapers and clothes and give you baths and feed you and tuck you in at night while singing a lullaby. Back in my former home of the whirlpool country, I never dreamed that I would have a family. Before, I've always belived that I was destined to be alone, until I met your father.

Did you know that I used to hate your father before? He was such a prankster and I just hated him for his immature ways. I actually met him when I took my first steps into Konoha. He set up a couple dozen buckets of water on top of the gate and when I walked by, I triggered the strings and the buckets of water fell onto me. He was nearby and he was laughing like crazy. Of course, that was short lived when I blew my top and very nearly pummeled him to death. I thought that I would never see that blond, blue-eyed creature after that, but destiny called for it and I just kept bumping into him all over the village. I slowly warmed up to his presense, and eventually fell in love with him. Imagine my surprise when he fell for me also. I was so happy when he asked me to marry him. We were on top of the Hokage monuments when he popped the question.

And then, shortly after our wedding, I recieved the news that I was pregnant with you. That was the best news I recieved in years and you should've seen your father when he heard the news. He looked like he was ready to shout it out to the world and I wouldn't have blamed him if he did. He was also so very excited that he was going to be father. He wanted to care for you as much as I did, so I told him that he should give birth to you if he wanted to mother you also. (Naruto slightly smiled at this also)

Well, I guess that is all I have to say for now, except know that I love you Naru-chan. Live or die, I will still love you with all of my heart. And I know about your father's plan to get rid of the Kyuubi. If he decides to use you, just remember I love you, no matter what you are.

See you Naru-chan.

Hugs and kisses, you mother.

Naruto looked up and blinked rapidly, feeling that stinging pain at the back of his throat again as he held back tears. He didn't want to cry. He hasn't cried in years and he didn't want to start now. But the thought of his mother and father writing these letters in their last moments, even though his mother didn't know that, just made him feel. . . sad. This was a different kind of sadness that he had never felt before. It wasn't the sadness of lonliness or rejection or even hate (yes, you are sad when you hate), but it was the sadness of losing someone you love.

Naruto let the tears fall and his eyes burned as they did so, but he still choked back his cries. The blond clutched the two letters to his chest. They were the only things that proved that his parents lived and loved him. They were the only memoirs he had of them, and he wanted to preserve them forever. . .

"Naruto, are you here?!" cried a voice and Naruto jumped. He quickly wiped his eyes free of any tears and fixed himself up as Sasuke entered the room.

"Aa, Sasuke," he said, though it was a bit too quiet.

"Naruto, we'll be meeting tomorrow at the bridge for our first mission," said Sasuke, sitting next to Naruto. "We'll be doing D-rank missions for some time since we're only genins - "

Sasuke stopped talking when he realized Naruto wasn't even listening. He saw the letters Naruto clutched in his hands and the scroll that was spread onto his lap. Sasuke looked at his face and saw one lone tear slide down his cheek. Sasuke has never seen Naruto cry, but he was senseless enough not to question as to why he was crying. Instead, being the good friend that he is, Sasuke reached over and wiped the tear off of Naruto's face.

"You hungry?" he asked. "I can fix something up for you, seeing that you didn't finish your bento earlier."

". . . Sure," was all Naruto said before Sasuke stood up and left the room.

When Sasuke was gone, another tear slid down Naruto's face but his lips curved into a smile for some reason.

Emolette: -sigh- I'm bored.

Sasuke: Want me to screw you again?

Emolette: No.

Naruto: You have writer's block or something?

Emolette: Maybe. I need some inspriration. . . or maybe just something to give me an energy boost.

Sasuke: What should we do to get your blood pumping?

Naruto: I know! Why don't we teach you some taijutsu?

Emolette: Despite how much I would love that, I'm not the athletic type.

Naruto: Well then, whaddya want us to do?

Emolette: Hm. . . -evil glint in eyes- . . .

Sasuke: -shivers- I've seen that glint before. . .

Naruto: -shivers- So have I. . .

Emolette: -takes out video camera with evil grin- Now, Naru-kun, why don't you let Sasu-kun undress you and. . .

Naruto: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SHE'S A SASUNARU FANGIRL TOO! -runs like there was no more ramen in the world-

Sasuke: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SHE'S GOING TO MAKE ME RAPE THE DOBE! -runs like Orochimaru came back from the dead-

Emolette: GET BACK HERE YOU TWO!!! I WILL MAKE YOU DO WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO!!!- runs after them with a very dirty scene in mind-

Mysterious Announcer Dude: Due to the absense of the author and her two. . . friends (cough"victims"cough) . . . the chapter will end here. See you in the Wave Arc!