Being and Belonging
Healing
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto
A/N: This is my first Naruto story and I'd appreciate any feedback that I can get. And I do have an answer to the question I posed last time to my readers. I carefully considered everyone's ideas and suggestions, but I did have to make a decision in the end. I've decided not to skip several years ahead because I think that watching Naruto grow will help the plot and because, though I know some of you want me to get to the plot as soon as possible, you don't know the characters well enough, they haven't changed or grown, and as an author, doing so would feel like I was crapping out. I want everyone to see the characters expand and become two-dimensional like I picture them in my mind. When we get to the future, I don't want everyone wondering why they did this or that; you'll be to say: oh, he did it because…whatever it ends up being. So if you will, think of the first four chapters as an extremely long prologue, this next segment, which span at least ten chapters as a prequel, and the segment afterwards the actual story I'm working towards. Thanks for all the comments and feedback; I appreciate every one.
Summary: When Itachi leaves town on the eve of his parents' murder, he doesn't go alone. Can Naruto handle what comes next? "Ano sa…Ano sa, where are we going?"
It was dark when Naruto finally woke up.
Dark and two weeks later. He had woken with a sharp, shuddering gasp as if reliving his trials in the forest all over again, jolting half upright before weakening and collapsing back on the gurney. Kisame was the first to reach him, lifting him slowly to rest against propped up pillows and whispering soft platitudes to the small child that would have made Itachi cut out his tongue before repeating.
They had arrived in the village- a small fishing town next to the sea –the same night Orochimaru had made his offer. In the end, it hadn't been so much as the promise of a safe haven to teach Naruto, as it had been his whitening face that had made Itachi accept the snake's offer.
It wasn't that he was worried for the brat, but the kid wasn't going to die without a kick to the ass for the bloody forest fire he started.
When they finally reached the village, Naruto's still form had been handed off to a young medical nin who came from Itachi's old village itself- Leaf. After assuring the two ninjas of his allegiance to Orochimaru, the young man, Kabuto, laid the boy on a small cot, examining his burnt body.
Then breathing deeply, he placed his hands over Naruto's heart and sent continuous pumps of chakra into it. The chakra, instead of sinking into his heart as Itachi had expected, tingled up and down his body. As the chakra touched each burned area, the flesh twisted and knitted together, rebuilding the three layers of Naruto's skin until the final layer closed it on itself, a milky paleness settling over Naruto's normally ruddy complexion.
"Itachi ni-chan?" A timid voice broke through Itachi's musings. "Are you alright?"
Itachi glanced over the young child staring hopefully at him on the bed. Even though his breathing was still erratic and his skin had a coolness to it that Itachi didn't expect, he seemed to be on the mend. "Fine." he grunted, turning and stalking from the room.
Itachi flung open the hospital room door and slammed it shut behind him as he fled- no, strode from the room. Walking down the rough wooden hallways, Itachi left the hospital, heading out into the rain. As the rain soaked through his clothing and his hair began to cling to his face, Itachi started across the muddy compound towards Orochimaru's office.
It was time to uphold the other part of the deal.
Itachi entered Orochimaru's office knocking, instead lounging on the doorway until the sallow faced man waved him in carelessly.
"I presume Naruto kun is doing better?" Orochimaru asked, looking up from a document.
"He woke up." Itachi answered.
"Really?" Itachi turned to see Kabuto leaning against the opposite wall. As Itachi watched, the young nin pushed up his wire-rimmed glasses and stood straight. "Then perhaps I should pay him a visit. Orochimaru sama, Uchiha." With two deferential nods, Kabuto exited the study.
"Itachi kun, why did you come here?" Orochimaru asked, drawing Itachi's attention away from the closing door and back towards him.
Itachi frowned, the facial change barely perceptible on his grim face. "You asked me come find you when Naruto felt better."
"Yes…I suppose I did."
Itachi shifted slightly, not liking nor understanding the look Orochimaru was giving him. "Well," he muttered, his hand slipping towards his shuriken, "what do you want?"
"Now, now, there's no need for that." Orochimaru said, gesturing to Itachi's hand, "Let's be pleasant." Itachi nodded even though the pale man's sibilant voice was making him itch with the need to hurt someone. "I've done you a favor. I saved the life of your little demon. Something I'm sure you're grateful for. Now I want you and your partner to do a favor for me."
"What favor?" Itachi asked warily. Orochimaru could ask for anything from a retrieval mission to the brat himself.
"Let me start with a little history." Orochimaru put aside his papers and leaned forward, gesturing for Itachi to sit. He did so, sinking into a soft chair, body growing tenser with every passing minute.
"I, also, am originally from Leaf. But several disputes with the Hokage and other ninjas led me to leave the village. After traveling for many years, I decided to found a village of my own, but there is a reason that new villages aren't springing up all over the place. Ninjas either already belong to a village or aren't trustworthy enough to be in one. You will find that every ninja in this village is legally considered a missing nin. Each has their own reasons for being here, but I assure you that they are the best of the best."
Orochimaru smiled at him and Itachi felt himself being drawn stealthily into a serpent's trap. "Being part of this village has its advantages, you see. You get the protection of a village, but none of the limitations. That's why I think this place could be of use to you."
The chair creaked as Itachi shifted. "How"
"I will allow you, Kisame, and Naruto to remain here. Do whatever you please with the child. You can train him yourself or allow someone else to. He's of no interest to me yet. In return, you and Kisame will complete certain missions for me."
"I plan to train Naruto, not be apart of another village where my power is used by another." Itachi hissed.
"Think of it as honing your skills. You are young still. Surely there is much for you to learn among these skilled fighters." Orochimaru said.
"I doubt it." Itachi challenged, getting up. "I apologize Orochimaru san, but I do not think I can accept your off-"
Itachi was cut off as Orochimaru grabbed his collar and pulled him close. "I don't think you understand." he whispered, "You are going to stay here and work for me. Do not forget your place boy. You may be a genius in Leaf, but here you are small, very very small." Orochimaru leaned closer. "And I will take pleasure in killing you and the brat if you do one thing I dislike."
Itachi snarled, his own chakra rising in response to the hissing coil of chakra melting off Orochimaru. Then he calmed himself. It wouldn't do to start a fight here. That wasn't what ninjas did. Ninjas attacked with craftiness, strength, and wit. He would kill the man standing in front of him- he would unleash the full power of his Sharingan on this imbecile who dared insult his power, but he could wait. He could patiently wheel away his time, growing stronger, and smarter, courtesy due Orochimaru's missions. Then Itachi could pick the moment he wanted his man to die.
And then he'd laugh at the horror on his face as he witnessed Itachi's strongest attack.
Itachi smiled ferally. "With an offer like that how can I refuse?"
"Good." Orochimaru smiled back pleasantly, "Here is your first job." Orochimaru handed Itachi a sheaf of papers. "And when you leave Naruto will stay here…just to rid yourself of any temptation of taking the boy and running."
Itachi nodded and turned to leave, smirking inside. Idiot man. Did he really think that Itachi had formed an attachment to the brat to the point where he feared to leave him alone? To the point where he would rush to complete the mission just to return to the child? To the point that he'd cringe whenever a threat was tossed in his direction?
Ha.
If anything it would be a relief to get away from Naruto's whining, pathetic face for a while. A couple days without the brat would probably help him. If Orochimaru was going to play this angle then it's be even easier to get rid of him than Itachi had originally thought. Itachi had no problem with putting Naruto in a little danger to win a fight.
After all, Uchiha Itachi didn't form attachments.
section break
Naruto smiled half-heartedly trying not to wince as Kisame handed him a glass of water and helped him drink some. "Are you sure I didn't do anything to upset him?" Naruto asked again, letting water dribble down his shirt. "He seemed upset."
"He was worried about you." Kisame answered patiently, wiping his chin. "No one's upset."
"Oh." Naruto played with the hem of his hospital gown, stopping when what felt like fire lanced up his arms. "I…I didn't want to make him worry." His breath hitched suddenly and Naruto was ashamed to find himself with tears in his eyes. Ninjas don't cry, Naruto thought fiercely; if you wanna be a ninja, then act like one. "Sorry," he whispered.
"No one's blaming you kid," Kisame said gruffly, nudging his shoulder, "It happens to everyone once in a while. Everyone messes up with their chakra control." Maybe not as spectacularly as you did, but… "That's why it's so important to learn how to control it."
Naruto gave him a watery smile. "You sound like Iruka sensei. Learn this, learn that. Learning is sooo boring."
Kisame grinned. "Now that I-"m
Suddenly the door swung open and a tall, white-haired boy entered smiling. "How's my favorite patient doing today?"
"You're my doctor?" Naruto asked curiously.
"Yes. I'm Kabuto. I was the one who healed you last night," he answered
"Then why do I hurt?" Naruto blurted out as Kisame turned to him anxiously.
"How bad is the-"
"Pain is perfectly normal Kisame san, Naruto kun. I just restored three skin layers at once." Kabuto reassured.
"But even my hair hurts." Naruto complained.
Kabuto laughed. "Well I had to regrow your hair too."
Naruto shook his head and was amazed to find long bangs flopping past his eyes. "It's longer!" he exclaimed.
"Don't worry," Kabuto teased, "You look much cuter. The girls won't be able to keep their hands off you now."
Naruto blushed and started to respond when Itachi swung the door, finding Kisame, Naruto, and Kabuto inside the small room. Immediately he pursed his lips. "You need to cut your hair," he muttered.
"Itachi ni chan!" Naruto shouted, pain forgotten as he launched himself in Itachi's direction. "You're back!"
Itachi caught the boy around the waist before he could latch onto him and dumped Naruto haphazardly back onto the bed. "Here." Itachi placed a large book in Naruto's lap. "I want you to finish reading this by the time I get back."
Naruto frowned at the book in his lap and Kisame leaned over to the title. "Chakra Control Techniques?" he asked.
"Yes. Your last attempt was abysmal." Naruto's face fell sharply at Itachi's harsh words.
"Kay," Naruto answered, sounded subdued, "I'll try my- Wait, 'by the time I get back'? Where are you going?" Naruto asked, flinging the book aside.
Itachi ignored him and passed the sheaf of papers to Kisame. "Assassination. I'll explain on the way."
Kisame nodded and got up. He ruffled Naruto's hair and headed out the door. Itachi turned to follow him when Naruto leaped out of bed again, this time at his feet.
"No!" he cried out, wrapping his arms around Itachi's legs. "You can't just leave me here. Let me come with you. Please. PLEASE. I promise I won't be any trouble. I'll be quiet and I won't eat much and-"
"Naruto get off." Itachi commanded patiently.
"NO!"
Calmly, Itachi reached down and wrestled Naruto off handing him over to Kabuto. Almost immediately, Naruto began screeching, flailing and biting to get out of Kabuto's hands. Finally Kisame poked his head back inside, totally exasperated. "Naruto, we're coming back."
Naruto stopped screaming eyes wide with panic. "Pr- promise?"
Kisame nodded and looked to Itachi for confirmation. Itachi sighed and looked at the sniveling child. His face was a blotchy mess and he was shivering in Kabuto's arm. Great, now the stupid boy was going to get sick on top of everything else. Itachi sighed again.
"Yes, I promise."
To Be Continued…