Disclaimer: I do not own, nor do I gain anything (but writing and editing experience) by using the plot and characters from these works. Naruto and and the Harry Potter series belong to their respective creators, editors, publishers, and companies.
Summary: They were all trying to escape, whether it was from fate, war, grief, abuse, hate. They were all trying to escape. There are many Harry Potter spoilers for those who have not read the books, and spoilers for the Naruto series as well. Warnings: violence, cross-dressing, swearing, silliness, torture, implied drug use.
A/N: I'm updating, yep. This is dark again…but there's some fluffy parts…for a little while. It will get lighter, I promise, just give it a few more chapters… Anyways, thank you to all who reviewed, put this on alert or favorite. Enjoy, much love ~ depressedchildren
Key:
text is text
levi corpus a known spell, usually a perversion of a Latin phrase
"Dialogue" the opposite language of the world they are in
Chapitre Dix
Jiraiya stared down into his drink. Sometimes…Konoha sickened him; between the clueless, bloodthirsty civilians and the conniving council. He knew why they had the council, to appease the civilians and maintain the civilian monetary contributions. He also understood why the Hokage begrudgingly listened to them; the council had connections with the Daiymo. Really, it all dwindled down to economy, money, financial support, or any other term for it.
It was disgusting how dependent even the greatest ninja in the country could be on the financial support provided by those heartless people. Without financial support, which usually required bending backwards to meet the council's demands, meant ninja with less to do and being paid less for the work done. It was overall bad to not meet the council's demands; of course ninja were masters of subterfuge, which was always useful in finding ways around the harder to meet demands, but sometimes it wasn't enough. Just looking at Suna showed the significance of monetary support; through Jiraiya's network he learned that the Kazekage was willing to sacrifice his family to make a jinchuuriki in hope of increasing future revenue.
Jiraiya couldn't help but sigh. He knew where his significance lay. Yes, he was the spymaster. Yes, he had an immense and intricate network of informants, but what he provided was intelligence for the ninja which then used it to guard the country. He played a vital role to the security of the country, but he only reported to the Hokage who left out mention of him for security purposes. He was someone working from the shadows, so to speak, unacknowledged by anyone in the country for his work. He assumed the council had caught on, but did they know for certain, likely no.
Was Jiraiya paid for his services? Not exactly, hence his budding work as a novelist. He could not be paid for being the spymaster, for if enemies were to ever question where his income came from—when he seemingly traveled the world fucking around—it would raise too many questions. Writing was providing him something to live off of, but unfortunately it also caused a decrease in his credibility amongst the council. His reputation was nearly in tatters from all of his skirt chasing. He was still a brilliant and revered ninja, but he was not seen as terribly reliable due to said skirt chasing tendencies.
He shook his head before he ran a hand through his hair. He really should have written back, maybe none of this would have happened? Though, the council would have gotten what they wanted one way or another. They wanted another Namikaze under their thumb—not that the council ever really had Minato-kun, Jiraiya chuckled to himself at their delusions. Minato-kun was trying to figure out a way for the Hokage to become independent from the council and their money. By now the brat likely would have found a way to make Konoha self-sufficient without need of the Daiymo's support or money. Jiraiya shook his head sadly at the wasted potential.
What the council's schemes came down to was having someone powerful, with the same potential as Minato-kun, but someone they could inculcate into their corruption. Fat chance they had at that, the little Namikaze hated their guts for their machinations and their attempts on little Naruto's life. Though that was it, wasn't it? Why they thought he defected, or wanted people to believe he defected.
The council realized the little Namikaze was already swept up by the "demon-child." They realized that they wouldn't have some tool to manipulate. The brat loved the "demon," which was simply unacceptable. Perhaps they thought his young mind was seduced by the Kyuubi's evil chakra, and he had fled Jiriaya while on the training mission.
Jiraiya barked in laughter, bitter laughter at that thought. The other occupants of the rundown bar looked at him curiously. Jiraiya just lifted his glass and tipped his head toward them before knocking back the shot. It burned the whole way down, but damn did he need it. He was a ball of nerves. Jiraiya may be ever the optimist, but he still felt anxious about his student's success. Would the brat pass his ANBU examination?
The council wouldn't make it easy on a "demon sympathizer," and that was what worried him the most. It was as if… Jiraiya sighed again and motioned for the bartender to refill his shot. It was as if the council took out anyone they couldn't manipulate or use as a tool. They became expendable. Naruto was expendable unless they could mold the toddler into a weapon for Konoha, and the Namikaze brat was expendable if they couldn't get him to hate the new jinchuuriki.
Jiraiya understood that the Hokage could do little about the council due to the aforementioned monetary games and traps, but perhaps… perhaps someday the council would cross the line and get a reality check. Jiraiya almost couldn't wait for that day when the council was told their place. It would take someone ballsy, someone powerful, someone with a vision…maybe it would be his god-son Naruto? Jiraiya smiled against the lip of his glass before he knocked it back as well.
Yeah, he could almost see it now. A mini version of Minato-kun telling the council how it is, and maybe the brat would be standing behind the council kunai at the ready with a fierce ANBU mask. They'd be a hellish team someday, the brat and Naruto.
That was what he looked forward to as he waited for his newest informant and a seal from the Hokage that informed him of the brat's success: his student and his god-son becoming the fiercest shinobi in all of Konoha. Yeah, the brat would succeed, he just knew the brat would succeed and piss the council off. He would be one tool they could not win over and control. Yeah…that was it, that was it.
…
"Let me see," Harry blushed at his friend's request, and only covered his arm that much more. It still hurt, almost as if the needle was still piercing his arm.
"Nii!" Harry glared at his roommate for dragging the loud child into this. Begrudgingly, Harry removed the gauze bandage from his arm, thus revealing his ANBU tattoo. Kakashi looked at it intensely before squeezing the younger boy's shoulder, though not the one with the tattoo.
"So…?" Harry winced as Naruto poked his still red arm, the tattoo would take a few days to heal. Harry forced himself to focus on what Kakashi was saying rather than the pain. "What's your name?"
Harry shyly retrieved his porcelain mask, it was a fierce depiction of a crow, "Karasu," Naruto and Kakashi seemed to be trying the name out, Harry had already done so while getting his tattoo. It felt so strange, but so good to have a name. After all these years, he had a name people could call him!
"Karasu…" Kakashi gave his usual eye-smile before clapping his friend on the shoulder, "I like it!" Harry smiled softly in return.
"Me too,"
"Nii, name Ka-su?" if not for his familiarity with the little blonde, Harry would not have understood his question.
"Yes, but you can only call me Karasu when I'm wearing this," Harry held up his ANBU mask, "or I'm here and it's just us three," the boy then gestured between them.
"Okay Nii!" the two ninja smiled at the ecstatic little boy. "Ichi-ru's?"
"He has a point, you shouldn't have to cook on your birthday," Kakashi wheedled, however his eye-smile portrayed a sly expression.
"You just don't want to see Naruto cry," Harry deadpanned which made the eye-smile deflate and caused Naruto to giggle at his guardians' interaction.
"Am I that transparent?"
Smiling slightly, Harry shook his head, "No, I just read your mind," whether that was indeed the case or Harry being nice, Kakashi was not sure. "Alright, Ichikaru's it is" Naruto cheered loudly, his chubby fists pumped up into the air while he wobbled slightly in his highchair.
…
"Are kids his age supposed to eat that much?" Harry was looking at his friend with an alarmed expression. Harry's hand had shot out several times to ensure the blonde wasn't drowning in his miso ramen. Though how else was Naruto supposed to eat his ramen when he could not fully use chopsticks and the bowl was too heavy for him? Maybe this was a bad idea, but Kakashi had been eating here with the blonde all week.
"He's not allowed to come here again until he learns how to use chopsticks," Harry ordered in a low voice to make sure the blonde, who was up to his ears in ramen, could not hear him. "No matter how big of a tantrum he throws,"
"You have to be monster to say no to his kicked puppy face," Kakashi whined weakly. At Harry's look, the teen sighed and began to stir his ramen with his chop stick.
Like Harry, Kakashi had changed over the last year and ten months. He had wallowed in his teacher's death for a few months, that is, until he recalled what Harry had said to him. He was Kakashi's friend, one of his precious people. He hadn't lost everyone, yet, and he'd have Naruto when they came back. It would be like reminder of his teacher and his boisterous wife, a show that they were still traces of them in the world.
It took a lot of effort to change the way he thought to see life that way, but it finally worked. His Sharingan was a reminder of Rin and Obito, every time Kakashi checked into the hospital Rin would come to his mind, the bustling Uchiha compound was Obito's reminder. Ever since the war ended he had thought of those little things as haunting reminders, places and things to make him regret and feel sad, but now…now they were his reminders of their existence, and of the good they made.
However, after a mission where he had to take a life…he could not help but dwell on morbid things. Was the Sharingan with which he was gifted meant to be used in such a way? Would Rin and Obito approve of him casually killing people with the help of the transplant eye? Would his Sensei approve of his sometimes brutal attacks and ways of dispatching enemies? This usually brought him to the memorial stone. He sought penance there, he begged for their forgiveness, forgiveness for using the gifts and knowledge they gave him in such a…terrible way. It was a shinobi's duty to kill, but…
Kakashi shook away those thoughts the way he normally did, with memories of what Harry said to him while in his mind. He was a precious person, and Harry wanted him to take care, to be safe…so he wouldn't lose him too. And now Kakashi had Naruto to pull him from those dark places, his cheerful smile was so much like his sensei, despite having very few teeth.
Speaking of Naruto…
"Neh! Kaka-nii, why no face?" it took the almost fifteen-year-old a minute to process the question.
"I don't like showing my face," Kakashi stated before distracting Naruto with a flash of light while he chugged down his ramen. Harry already knew not to try and catch his friend with his mask down. When Kakashi was ready, he'd show Harry his face, and the boy was okay with waiting as long as it took.
"So what is your schedule like?" Kakashi ignored Naruto's loud disappointed whines in favor of his older, but still younger than him, companion.
"I'm on patrol from sunset to rise," Kakashi nodded slightly at the boy's response. Part of Kakashi wondered if his young friend was on probation. He had not heard all of the stipulations that came with the test.
"They haven't found a partner for you yet? Or are they just keeping you close?" Kakashi had paused between his two questions, and the latter of which came out as a bitter afterthought.
"Both, I think, though I am on probation" Harry shrugged, and stirred his ramen with his chopsticks, "At least I can watch Naruto while you work during the day," Harry stated smiling slightly.
"Yeah…you know they want me to take a Genin team?"
"They wouldn't listen to you," Harry's expression was one of disbelief, disbelief that the Hokage would suggest Kakashi take such a position. Most of the academy graduates were ten to twelve years old, which would make it difficult for the teen to control them.
"Well, if they fail my test, then I won't have to worry," the nonchalant way Kakashi said that made Harry shake his head in amusement.
"Bell test?" Kakashi nodded his head in affirmation, both males shared pleased smiles.
"Ah!" the two ninja turned to the side to see that Naruto had finished his second bowl of ramen, some of the noodles stuck on his chin while one stray noodle stuck to the boy's eyebrow.
Chuckling softly, the two grabbed napkins from the dispensers on the counter, and began to gingerly wipe away the mess from the blonde's face. Kakashi threw money on the counter for their tab before he helped Harry with a squirming Naruto out of the stand.
…
The rest of Harry's birthday was spent moving his few belongings, mostly clothes and a few scrolls, to Kakashi's apartment. Kakashi's place consisted of a living/dining room with a designated space for the kitchen, a bathroom, and one bedroom. The bedroom could fit three bedrolls easily; however, ever since Naruto began to crawl, he preferred to sleep with Harry rather than in a crib.
In Harry's week long absence, the little blonde had become a leech to Kakashi, as demonstrated by the untouched bedroll set up for Naruto. At least they wouldn't have to go out and get another mattress for a few years.
Naruto chattered incessantly while his guardians put away Harry's few possessions. The eight-year-old never really unpacked his weapons from his training with Jiraiya, and so he was all set after rounding up the few clothes that would still fit him. Come his first paycheck, Harry would have to go out and get new clothes, and healthier foods. How was Kakashi still thin with all that junk food spilling out of his cupboards?
"Nii!" Harry turned to look at the little blonde and he smiled when he saw a book in the toddler's hand. It was a collection of myths, for some reason the little boy loved hearing the fables Shima and Fukasaku told him. Jiraiya had spotted this book during their few hour stay in Amegakure, and he bought it "as a gift for Naruto." Harry quickly deduced that they found the bag full of Naruto's things in his pack and gave it to Kakashi while Harry was in interrogation.
"How far have you read?" Harry asked as he flipped through the book. He assumed the teenager had read to the little blonde.
"Chapter six," Kakashi sat down on the other side of Naruto and began to sharpen some of his dulled kunai. Naruto didn't even bat an eye at his older guardian, for his attention was solely focused on the colorful pictures in front him. Smiling, his pudgy fingers began to trace the design at the bottom of the page.
Harry found the correct chapter and began by reading the chapter title, ""The Tougeika, Chapter Six.
""There was once a large and thriving clan, which moved from region to region in a time before the great hidden villages. They were special, they were unique. They could see into people's minds" strange…" Harry looked over at his friend who also looked intrigued.
"It's probably coincidence, this is a book filled with legends and most legends were an attempt to explain the impossible… so they usually have no weight." Harry nodded slightly, though he did not look encouraged. Naruto, for his part, was mesmerized by the colorful artwork. "Why don't you keep reading, I'm sure they are very different from you and your father," Kakashi suggested before going back to sharpening his kunai.
Taking a deep breath, Harry repeated the sentence he had cut off, "'they could see into people's minds and mold or destroy them. The Tougeika clan, as they were called, could even shape ideas in others' minds. They had an affinity for seals, and helped the many clans improve the seals placed upon the first jinchūriki. However, the Tougeika clan grew sick of the fighting that surrounded them, and all together they disappeared. The potters of minds and seals left to never return,"
"That's sad," Kakashi murmured, not at all perturbed.
Harry nodded, lost in his own thoughts. Where had they gone? He was from another world, could they have gone there? Did other worlds really exist?
"More!" Kakashi and Harry turned to look at their little jinchūriki and laughed softly.
"Alright, what's next?" Kakashi took the book from Harry after setting his kunai down, ""The Lady Raven, Chapter Seven…""
Harry watched as his teenage friend read the book carefully to the little blonde, this chapter took up several pages, rather than two pages filled with pictures and text squeezed in. It was a sad story, but half way through the little blonde's eyes drooped shut, as his head rested on Kakashi's leg.
Kakashi closed up the book before he began to move the little child to his bedroll. Harry had already left to get ready for bed, and so Kakashi felt it safe to change his clothes. He had just changed into his sleep pants and was about to pull on a shirt, when he felt small hands touching his back.
"What happened?" Kakashi grimaced beneath his mask, but his efforts to put on his shirt were undone by the following words, "I'll get the first aid kit but know that you're going to tell me, one way or another."
Where did the kid have the right to come off as the adult? Kakashi was the oldest one! However, Kakashi felt like a hypocrite. He often acted like the parent with his father, he wasn't sure why it happened, but he had always felt confused by his father when he was very young, about Naruto's age actually.
Kakashi was motioned to sit while Harry tended to the many bruises covering Kakashi's torso. "Kakashi, what happened?"
"Civilians, they were trying to "kill the demon" but I made them take their aggression out on me rather than him," Kakashi wasn't going to say that he had used a henge to appear as Naruto and took the beating while the toddler hid elsewhere. "And since then they have been…dealt with," Kakashi ended carefully. Harry paused in his ministrations at his friend's words.
As the guardians of the Kyuubi jinchuuriki they were in a precarious place politically. To outright attack civilians attacking Naruto could be twisted to suggest demonic influence; however, after the fact, the civilians could be…handled. Many of the mob that had attacked likely vanished the next day to never show up again, others might wander back into society after weeks and weeks of "behavioral" adjustment.
"How did they get in?" Harry's voice was cold, but Kakashi knew his anger was directed at the civilians and not him.
"Door," Kakashi had his head bowed, grimacing.
"You forgot the majority of people use them, didn't you?" Harry teased softly as he finished rubbing a salve on his friend's purple and yellowing torso. It was actually more likely that the teen didn't expect civilians to have the guts to actually attack, for their windows were secured and the building itself was also very secure.
"There's exploding tags around it now," oh the landlord would be thrilled about that. Harry just shook his head while Kakashi put on his shirt. There wouldn't be another problem for a while what with the vanishing mob members, but it would be best to prepare for future incidents.
"I'll start working on safety measures, okay?"
"Okay,"
…
In his pajamas, Harry began to place seals around the apartment door and every window. The small pieces of paper would alert them that someone had entered the apartment. Each form of entrance glowed a light blue after the first seal, but why not try to keep people out too? Harry still remembered that strange barrier his father made around that building during the Kyūbi attack.
Moving to the outside of the door (having disarmed the exploding tags), Harry recalled what the energy in the barrier felt like, and he remembered the purpose behind it. Letting his wild energy out slowly, he made a veil around the door. With it completed, Harry tried to walk back in to the apartment but was repelled back. Surely there was a way to make it recognize him? The seals in the Hokage's house were like that.
Focusing once more, Harry began to twist the energies around, and let his chakra seep in as well. All the while, he kept imagining that it would recognize his chakra and let him in and out. Taking a deep breath, Harry opened his eyes and took a step toward the veil. He felt the energy encompass him before he was let through.
He felt drained as he slid down to his knees. Once more, the boy focused on the natural energy around him and brought it inwards, which revitalized his raw energy.
"Karasu?" Harry looked toward his concerned friend and smiled.
"Try leaving via the door," Kakashi looked at his friend like he was a three headed dog, before he slowly made his way towards the evil entrance. At first he was puzzled by the fact that he could not move through it, but he soon became frustrated by the fact that he could not budge the mysterious barrier.
"Before you do this to the windows, remember that ANBU have to come in," Kakashi was panting against the open doorway, his back was now resting against the barrier. Harry pursed his lips at Kakashi's words, that was a good point…
But if he could weave the raw energy to accept his chakra, surely he could do that with seals! Smirking, Harry got up from his place on the floor and moved to the window.
Kakashi watched in fascination as Harry completed a long series of hand signs which his eye could barely keep up with. The seal appeared for a few seconds above the window before disappearing. Harry closed his eyes and just stood there, as if he was concentrating on the energy within the seal or within himself. Kakashi's eye widened when he saw the seal reappear, but it flashed a light blue, perhaps from Harry's chakra?
"Kakashi, come here and bring Naruto. I need to add your chakra to the seal so you both can come in and out freely," Kakashi gaped at his friend for a few seconds before he dumbly went and retrieved the still sleeping blonde. By midnight, the apartment was assassin and civilian proof. Harry had apparently added what he had done to the door but in seal form, and he made sure the windows recognized the underlying sense of Konoha chakra. To Kakashi, it was like magic. To Harry, this was a new power, whatever it was.
…
After having such a late night, Harry was more than happy to lie in bed all day. However, a hyper few-months-shy-of-a-two year old felt otherwise. Green eyes peered from under the covers as a wobbling boy stood bouncing in front of him while loud exclamations of hunger pounded against the older boy's ear drums.
"I'm up," Harry sighed, using his arms to bring himself into a plank before hoping into an upright position. Naruto clapped in his excitement, asking for the first time that day if they could go to 'Ichi-ru's', the first of what would seem like a hundred requests.
Naruto watched Harry cook in the kitchen with a disappointed pout marring his baby like visage. "I want Ichi-ru's!"
"You've had too much of it, and you look like you're drowning when you eat there," Harry finished up breakfast, setting a plate of rice with a miso soup broth and steamed vegetables, in front of Naruto. The broth was actually in a sipping cup so the toddler would not have a repeat of the other night.
Harry picked at the food lightly, his body was sore from all the…energy, whatever sort of energy that was, he used guarding the apartment. With breakfast done and the dishes washed, Harry set Naruto amongst his few toys—things Kakashi had picked up on missions ever since he adopted the boy. Naruto was more than happy with the toys, having mostly played with swamp dolls Shima meticulously made.
With a slight frown, Harry realized the toddler would soon forget his toad family. If it wasn't for the Bad Man's fragmented soul residing in Harry, the boy would not have remembered his mother at all. Granted, the memory he had of her was nightmarish, and he hated recalling the incident with Jiraiya.
Thinking of Jiraiya made Harry wince. Naruto was just as likely to not remember him, and Jiraiya was so fond of the soon to be toddler. It wasn't fair to them. They loved Naruto, he was the grandson they all wanted, well…Shima wanted him to call her mother but that would never happen. Maybe he could tell him stories as he got older, or maybe he could just ask the little boy questions about them; anything to keep at least a faint memory of them in the child's mind.
"Nii, play with me?" Harry was lying on the little couch when Naruto wobbled up to him with a fox plushy held out.
"Naruto, do you remember when Gamatatsu-nii and Gamakichi-nii tried to play 'who can catch the most flies' with you?" Harry regarded the young boy who was currently giggling and nodding his head adamantly.
"Tatsu-nii won with big face!" Naruto cried, puffing out his cheeks to imitate what the yellow frog looked like at the end of the game.
Harry nodded, taking the abandoned fox and holding it up to Naruto, "What do you want to do?"
"That Kyuu," Kyuubi, Harry inferred while the little boy held up large stuffed toad animal, courtesy of Jiraiya and the first toy Naruto ever had, "That Bun-bun," Gambunta, "And this Mommy and Daddy," The boy held up the salt and pepper shakers. The great Uzumaki Kushina and Namikaze Minato were reduced to condiments. Oh the couple must be rolling around in Naruto's seal.
"Okay, and what are Cousin Minato and Uzumaki-san doing with these two?" Harry asked, mirth seeping into his voice as he held up the two stuffed animals.
"Daddy's on Bun-bun, and Mommy's yellin' at Kyuu!" How did Naruto know that she was prone to doing that?
"Why is she doing that?"
"Jir-jii said so!" Harry cocked an eyebrow at this, and against his better judgment he moved into his 'little brother's' mind to fish out this memory. It was on their way to Amegakure, Harry was fast asleep and Naruto asked for stories about his parents. The young boy already knew who his parents were and the toads went on and on about Minato, but Naruto wanted to know more about his mother.
"Nii! Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii" Harry snapped his attention back to the little boy who was starting to turn red from trying to get his big brother to focus on him again rather than having misty gaze directed at him. Naruto finally stopped his annoying 'iiii's when Harry lightly bonked him with the fox toy.
"You be Kyuu 'n Bun-bun," Naruto exclaimed, getting a better hold on the shakers. And thus began the epic battle between the three "good guys", according to Naruto, and the big bad Kyuubi. Kushina, the salt shaker, shrieked mercilessly at the Kyuubi toy, treating the large "demon" like a dog. Minato sat atop Gambunta and did "lots of supper cool jutsus" to help tame the wild demon.
Harry had to stop several times and laugh silently into the couch, Naruto's imagination was too…too precious. At the end, Kushina and Minato had tamed the wild demon and now the salt shaker was riding atop the fox plushy. Harry could only imagine the storm Kyuubi was making behind his bars.
"So, why didn't Cousin Minato kill Kyuubi?" Harry asked the toddler.
"Bun-bun say Kyuu too strong!" when did this conversation occur, and if that summons told Naruto what he was- Harry was going to retrace his steps to Mount Myōboku and kick that boss toad's ass. Harry still wasn't sure if Naruto knowing what he was so young would be a good thing or not.
"What else did Gambunta-sama say?" the happy child did not hear the strained edge to Harry's words, content with making his fox toy dance now that the shaker was off of it.
"Daddy put Kyuu in cage," Naruto stated absentmindedly, now making the toad and fox dance together while he spun around merrily.
Harry sighed in relief, laying back into the couch and closing his eyes tiredly. He was exhausted already. How were they going to do this? Being around such exuberance was draining, and trying to interrupt the boy's rapid and childish speech was so tiresome.
"Nii!" Harry's eyes opened immediately, "teach me cool ninja moves," maybe that would keep the toddler busy enough for Harry to nap. Rolling onto his back, Harry peered out the window of their apartment, there just so happened to be a tree brushing against the side of the complex.
In a blur Harry got up, opened the window, plucked a few leaves from the tree, and closed the window again; fire country summers were sweltering and the air-conditioning was on, so the boy really didn't want to waste energy.
"Most, if not all, ninja skills can be mastered through having good chakra control," Harry stepped off the couch so he could sit back on it without jolting into position.
Naruto was wide eyed and silent, as he scrambled onto the couch, Harry laughed as he helped the little boy up and onto his lap.
"Chakra comes from inside all of us, even civilians have some chakra. . But ninja train that chakra so it grows and they practically glow with it. Maybe someday you'll be able to see chakra like Cousin Minato and I can," Naruto was practically vibrating in his excitement.
"Chakra is like your life force; it is a combination of physical and spiritual energy" Harry continued, "If you use too much you can fall into a coma or even die," Naruto tensed, fear started to seep into his cerulean eyes. "One of the first techniques you should learn to control your chakra is the leaf method. You stick a leaf to your forehead and circulate your chakra to keep it in place," Harry stuck one leaf over his scar, without thinking Harry kept it in place with chakra.
"If you use too much chakra to keep it there, the leaf will burn up," putting more chakra to the skin of his forehead, the leaf began to shrivel up and ash drifted down onto Naruto's face. "If you use too little chakra, the leaf falls off," Harry then demonstrated that, the leaf sticking to his forehead before reducing the amount of chakra he kept it there with. The leaf lazily drifted down and onto Naruto's head.
Naruto tried to look at his forehead, a small awed sound escaped his lips as he brought his hand up to touch the leaf. "Once that's mastered you can move onto walking on walls and ceilings," Naruto gasped, his big blue eyes were practically popping out of his head. "After that, one can learn to walk on water,"
For once the child was silent; he just stared down at the leaf in amazement, his young mind trying to understand how all of this was possible. What did chakra feel like? How did he bring it to his skin? When did one develop this chakra? So many questions whirled around in the little boy's mind, and before the boy knew it, he tired himself out and quickly fell to sleep with his mind racing.
With a relieved sigh, Harry fell back onto the couch and snuggled up with Naruto. The boy should be out for a few hours, the concept probably stunned the toddler into unconsciousness. He hoped he wasn't moving too fast with the boy, though Harryw as certain he had been trained in the same things when he was Naruto's age…then again he wasn't sure. Perhaps he was going through things too fast…but at least the exuberant child was now asleep. Smiling, Harry got his much needed sleep.
It felt like only a few moments had passed when Harry was awoken by a presence pushing against Harry's wards. Glaring at the back of the couch, Harry listened to the noises in the flat; Naruto's breathing indicated he was awake, but he was very still. The angle of the light filtering into the room indicated it was late afternoon and he had gotten at least a few hours of sleep. There was also a human shadow distorting the light from the window above them, and Naruto whimpered fearfully against Harry's chest.
Sitting up and bringing the young child into his lap, Harry glared at the person crouching on the window ledge. The seal let the person in due to the underlying Konoha chakra, but it woke Harry up in the process.
"How did you do that?" Harry's tired mind quickly recognized the voice and shifted Naruto into a more protective hold.
"I mimicked what you did to that building during the Kyuubi attack," the deer masked ANBU casually entered the apartment while looking around with disinterest.
"How?" did Harry hear a panicked ring in his father's voice?
"I can copy chakra flow patterns so why not copy the way that other energy is used?" the minute tensing of his father's arm did not slip past the eight-year-old. "You know what that energy is, right?" Harry took an anxious step forward, perhaps he'd finally get the answers as to what he was; however, Naruto's fearful whimpering caused him to pause.
"I was going to teach you how to use that when you were elven," but that didn't explain what the energy was. Harry started to slip into his father's mind but immediately regretted the action as he was brought to a burned cottage. He was in a nursery, a nursery he remembered from the memories the bad man gave him. Most of the room was scorched; there were holes in the wall leading to a smoke filled starry night. The only thing really intact was a small crib and the charmed mobile spinning above it.
James was standing in center of the burned nursery and glaring at his son, "Get out," Harry flinched and took a step back, his foot falling through a hole in the floor.
"What kind of energy is it?"
"I refuse to tell you," James growled back. Harry suddenly felt his mind being hurtled out of the morbid mindscape and back into his own.
"I would never do that again if I were you," James threatened in his monotone as he loomed over Harry and Naruto.
"He scary!" Naruto wailed as his pudgy hands were curled tightly into Harry's thin shirt.
There was a tense silence where James stared down at the two. The tense silence began to turn awkward as the two operatives faced each other and Naruto stopped his cowering. "Does he want to be a ninja?" James finally asked, almost as if he wanted to end the awkward and tense silence.
"Despite what you or the Council may want, Naruto's going to be a child before a ninja," the older ANBU made a derisive sound at the back of his throat, shaking his head slowly.
"Good luck with that," James had his arms casually crossed over his chest, "The villagers are already feeding their children lies about him," James began as he started to circle around them, "they tell them that you and Kakashi are evil ninja that enjoy killing other children, and that you're raising Naruto to be like that too."
Harry could feel Naruto shaking in his arms, but the young operative was shaken too. He felt as if ice was sliding down his back. He tried to glare defiantly back at James as the man casually circled around them.
"If they aren't saying that, they're telling their children that since you two lived with Jiraiya-san for so long, you're both heathens and degenerates," James seemed to be enjoying himself, watching the two young children trembling as he prowled around them like a predator. He wanted to make sure Harry knew none of them would have a normal life; that no matter how hard Harry tired, Naruto would be viewed as a demon or unwanted, "But perhaps the most popular story, is that your little makeshift family is spying on Konoha and that you're all betrayers just waiting for Konoha to fall,"
Harry straightened, his expression hardening like stone, "Get out," the eight-year-old's throat felt constricted as a cold lump settled into his stomach.
"You know the moment Naruto steps outside, the civilians will try to hurt him," Naruto whimpered pitifully, fat tears were already soaking Harry's shirt and mucus began to accumulate there too.
"Get out before I make sure you can never enter this building again," Harry's eyes were stinging but her refused to cry.
"The only reason I came here was to make sure you train before you go to work. Since you are on patrol duty you must keep your skills at top condition, it is easy to slack off when delegated such a simple task," Harry's green eyes narrowed at his father, he was going to tell him to leave again, but James's following words clamped the boy's mouth shut, "You need to be strong, not just for yourself and Konoha, but for Naruto too."
Harry looked away from his father. Naruto was still a trembling and crying mess in his arms. "I can't leave him alone," Harry whispered while Naruto began to hiccup from his crying.
"Use a few clones. If you're needed, have one disperse. That's what I did with you when I had work at the T & I department," Harry nodded slightly, looking at the fearful child clutching him.
"We haven't had lunch," Harry whispered as his focus shifted to the kitchen.
"Make him something and grab something light for yourself, we'll work on your mental resistance while you digest," James had a feeling this would take a while and so sat down, but he was prepared to jump in and help his son if the child was incapable of cooking. Harry somehow managed to make a sandwich with one hand since Naruto refused to let go of him.
Gently, the eight-year-old coaxed the little boy to nibble on his lunch, his blue eyes still letting tears slip out. Harry ate a few clumps of leftover rice from breakfast while Naruto ate his sandwich slowly. "Naruto, I'm going to leave some clones to look after you, okay? If you're still hungry tell one and it will go get fruit from the market, okay?" Naruto nodded shakily while hiding from the scary ANBU who watched them in mild amusement.
"Naruto, you need to let go of me," the blonde let go of his lunch, and if not for Harry's reflexes it would have splattered onto the floor.
"No!"
James stood from his perch and moved toward the window, "He's at the point in his life where he's afraid of strangers, and he still has some separation anxiety," James used an informative tone as he spoke to the eight-year-old, "I'll wait outside, but keep in mind I'll know if you sent a clone,"
With James gone, Naruto loosened his hold on Harry and let himself be set down in his highchair. Focusing on the specific duties of his clones, namely playing with Naruto and making sure the boy did not hurt himself, Harry created four shadow clones.
"Nii, teach me that!?" though it was phrased like a demand, the toddler rose his voice at the end, thus making his intention known.
"When you're a Genin," every Harry stated, before the real one left via the window.
James was leaning against the tree near the window, arms casually folded across his bone armor. Nodding, the real Harry followed his father to his old home.
…
Harry rolled onto his stomach. Sweat drenched the hairs at the base of his neck and dripped from the end of his pony-tail. His chest was heaving from all of the crunches he did. His father had long since returned to work, but told him to complete a mild (in comparison) yet rigorous training agenda. After Harry's mental defenses were tried and pushed to their limits, James had to leave for his next shift at the T & I department.
Harry had completed four hundred pushups, ran around the village fifty times and had just finished eight hundred crunches. He was exhausted. His body ached in places he didn't know it could ache. The running had been, by the far, the easiest part of the day for he was a speed based person. Harry glared at the setting sun as he forced himself to sit up, wincing at the strain on his sore abdominal muscles.
The boy stretched slightly before he got up and ran home with his legs feeling a little wobbly. He had around a half hour until he needed to be at work, seeing as the sun set rather late during the summer.
Harry paused at the window leading to his flat, smoke was curling out of it, "Kakashi tried to cook," Harry looked up at the clone on the roof, "We weren't ordered to cook so…" the clone Harry bowed its head slightly before the real Harry dispersed it.
"Step away from the stove," Harry droned as he hurried inside, relieved that Naruto was playing on the floor below all of the smoke. Kakashi jumped away from the appliance like it was on fire, which it partly was, "get the fire extinguisher from the hallway," Harry ordered as he pulled the charred skillet and meat away from the stove top.
Kakashi hurried through the entrance, which his chakra had been added to, and returned with the extinguisher. They both knew not to use water techniques on the appliance, unless they wanted to buy a new one, which they didn't.
"I have work soon, so why don't you two go to—"
"Ichi-ru's" Naruto shrieked and consequently interrupted Harry.
"No, why don't you go to the Akemichi restaurant," Naruto immediately deflated, "I don't think they would deny service to you two," Harry added as he began rummaging through the cabinets for something to eat. Sighing, the eight-year-old settled on energy bars, storing a few in his hip-pouch to eat later.
"You heard him Naruto," Kakashi stated cheerfully as he pulled the child up and into his arms once the smoke cleared.
"But it not ramen!" Naruto whined, making his kicked puppy face.
"You can resist it Kakashi-san," Harry joked between bites of his rather pathetic dinner.
"It's so hard," the teen joked in return, making a grimace while he shakily held the child away from him.
"Take him to Ichikaru's and I'll make you teach him how to use the toilet," Kakashi's expression became stone faced and he brought the child back into his arms. Naruto giggled slightly at the change in expression on his older guardian's mostly covered face, and he quickly wrapped his pudgy arms around Kakashi's neck.
"Understood," Kakashi gave a militant nod before moving toward the window while Harry made his way toward the bedroom, "Have fun at work," he called, a teasing tone laced into his words; after all, patrol duty was the most boring job a ninja could have.
…
Months passed where Harry would come home when Kakashi and Naruto were still asleep. He'd crawl into bed, not even bothering to take off his ANBU gear, though he would set his mask off to side. While Harry slept, Kakashi would get up and move the still sleeping Naruto to Harry's bed, otherwise the toddler would wake up and start crying. After that point, the teen would go off to stare at the memorial stone for a little while (roughly two hours). Sometimes he'd make it back for breakfast, courtesy of Harry.
Harry would make a clone to watch Naruto while he took a nap on the couch, after having showered and changed out of his ANBU clothes. If Kakashi came to breakfast, he usually got the blonde ready for the day before taking off for the mission's office. Kakashi was mostly given close to home missions or in the village missions, for the Hokage was being courteous of the fact he had a child to take care of.
Around noon, Harry would wake up and make Naruto lunch and play with him a little. After digesting he would make more clones and head out to do some light training. This mostly consisted of running, and running, and the occasional visit from his father.
Unlike the first day, Harry would make sure he was home in time to make dinner and keep Kakashi from setting the building on fire. After an hour of catching up with Kakashi, Harry would change and go to work. Patrolling was boring, but gave Harry an opportunity to test his ability at sensing energies.
There was very little traffic during the night watch, though he had stopped a few rogues and bandits in the first month he was put on patrol duty. He saw them coming from a couple kilometers away, telling the other guards of the approaching people and explaining he would scout ahead. He would expertly hide and when they came within range for him to infiltrate their minds, the boy would discover their intentions. Depending on the reasons the people approached, the child would jump down and incapacitate them before explaining the situation to the guards back on watch.
Other than that, it was usually ANBU returning from an out of country mission or the occasional lower ranking Konoha team that got back late. Boring, horrifically boring! As fall approached, Harry's shifts became longer and all the more dull. The kid was looking forward to Naruto's birthday, he even had the perfect present picked out for the two-year-old!
Cracking his neck as he leaned against the village wall, Harry sensed an energy coming from behind him—from the village. Curiously, the person had no underlying chakra identifying their nationality. Harry touched the intercom button on his headset.
"Operative Karasu," Harry stated as a way to ensure the other operatives knew who was talking and from what sector on the wall he was at, "Unknown chakra signature coming from the village heading for West, sector seven," there was a crackling of static before Harry received a response.
"Operative Kuma," the person on the other end spoke, "I will take over your sector while you investigate," Kuma…he was stationed on sector two of the North wall. Curious, why would he come all the way to Harry's sector?
"Kuma, Operative Ookami," another ANBU spoke over the headset, "I am stationed in sector six of the West wall,"
"Ookami, I was released from duty, Operative Saru took over my post," Kuma replied to Ookami's crackling comment.
"Operative Saru, it's true, Operative Kuma just got off duty," said the monkey masked operative from sector two of the North wall.
"Operative Karasu, unknown is less than one kilometer away, prepared to investigate," honestly, if no one reminded the operatives of the matter at hand, they would completely forget about it due to their incessant talking.
"Operative Kuma," Kuma began, Harry could see a Konoha chakra approaching quickly, "nearing West sector seven. Operative Karasu should investigate"
"On it," Harry could see a bear masked ANBU reaching his sector. Giving a nod to the man, the child raced off for the unknown.
Pumping chakra into his feet, the boy bounded from one tree to one rooftop, making it to the unknown signature in a matter of seconds. Harry skidded to a halt, a kunai in hand but hidden by his arm.
"Why are you heading to the wall?" a shadowy figure stopped running at the childish voice. The figure then moved into the light of a street lamp, it was a small girl, perhaps a little older than Harry.
"My Dad, he's alive but no one believes me!" a girl cried, "ANBU-san, please, I have to get out there, I have to find him!" she exclaimed, her large brown eyes were fearful, fearful for her father's safety.
Harry slipped into her mind with unsettling ease. She had been brought to village after a bandit raid on one of the outlying Konoha villages and was living in a refugee house. Her father was a retired shinobi from Amegakure and had been training her and a few of the other children in village until the raid. Most of the kids were killed and her father was also believed to be dead. Her name was Rai, and she truly believed her father alive. She had not gone to the academy and so knew no Konoha secrets.
"You should go back to the House, Rai-san," the girl backed up slightly, alarmed that he knew her name, "In the morning come to the mission's office and I am sure a search mission can be set up,"
"But he's dying, I know it, I have to find him now!" Harry shook his head, to the girl's persistent cries. He felt really bad denying her, despite everything his father had done, Harry would still go out to look for him if James went MIA.
"I'll escort you back to your home and I will record this event in my report. I will also strongly suggest a search mission," Harry moved toward the girl, sliding his kunai back in his pouch, she wasn't going to cause any problems.
Turning the older girl around, Harry tapped his intercom, "Operative Karasu, unknown identified as Rai from the Refugee House, I am returning her now and will take back up my post in a few minutes," there were a few affirmative noises sent over the headsets.
When Harry was part way to the House, he started to feel light headed, there was moisture in the air, in fact, it started to drizzle. Keeping his eyes trained on the girl became steadily more difficult. As his eyes began to droop closed and his body became numb, he could see an unknown energy dancing in the air, falling all around him. It looked like the girl's energy…
"Father will be proud of me," Harry wasn't sure if the girl said this aloud or if he was hearing her thoughts, but either way the boy quickly succumbed to unconsciousness.
…
"Karasu?" Kakashi blearily looked around the apartment, not seeing a head of midnight hair on the bedroll across from him. Naruto was curled securely to Kakashi's chest, making the Jounin hesitant to sit up. Where was his friend?
Gently sitting up, Kakashi made sure to keep Naruto in his current position before Kakashi beginning to stand up. Perhaps Harry was already making breakfast? It was a few hours past sunrise… But upon leaving the bedroom there was no sign of Harry in the other rooms of the apartment. Biting his thumb, Kakashi summoned his Ninken and ordered them to search for Harry, maybe the boy was still on duty or there was an incident and he had to report to the Hokage…
Keeping his panic at bay, he gave the dogs one of Harry's shirts to smell him out. He really hopped Harry was just caught up with something and Kakashi was making things out to be more than they were.
"mmmm?" Kakashi smiled down at the waking blonde in his arms.
"Good morning," he whispered, not wanting to fully wake the child. He enjoyed the moments when the toddler was silent. Naruto mumbled something incoherent, burrowing his face into Kakashi's chest.
Kakashi continued to pad around the living room in his pajama bottoms, mask, and headband. He was supposed to meet the fall academy graduates today, so he was in absolutely no rush to get dressed. He could spend another ten or so hours with Naruto while he let his wanna-be Genin team sweat. He enjoyed being late, it meant there was less pressure on him, something he rarely experienced as a child. He had always felt like the weight of the world was on his shoulders due to all the pressure he received from his father and the academy teachers…
"Mmm?" Naruto finally pulled his head away from Kakashi's chest. The little boy looked around in confusion, "Where Nii?" the little blonde had an adorable pout distorting his face, one which caused Kakashi to eye-smile.
"I'm not sure, perhaps he was held up at work?" Naruto nodded slowly, still drowsy from just waking up, "Pakkun and the others are looking for him," Kakashi stated as reassurance for them both.
"'m hungry," mumbled Naruto, nuzzling his face into the crook of Kakashi's neck. Apparently it was still too early for him. Kakashi chuckled softly as he moved to seat himself on the couch.
A half hour passed with no ninken and no Harry… Naruto was now fully awake and seemed very confused, "Nii not make breakfast?" Naruto had his brow furrowed as he looked around the room, "Nii!? Niiiiiiiiiiiii" Kakashi's visible eye began to form a tick, and Naruto was quickly turning red.
"He's outside the walls," Kakashi turned to the gruff voice, Pakkun was panting in the dissipating smoke around him, but his appearance caused Naruto to cry in delight, thus stopping his yell of "Nii." The boy's pudgy hands clapped together and he stretched his hands out toward the talking pug.
"What?" Kakashi tried to hear what the dog said over Naruto's delighted cries. Kakashi's face was pale as he desperately hoped he heard the summon incorrectly. "Naruto, please be quiet," he tried to keep his voice soft, but the harsh edge to his words caused the little boy to quiet with tears in his eyes. "What did you say?"
"We followed his scent to a large river forty-five and sixty, definitely outside the walls. After that we couldn't smell him anymore," Kakashi's breathing quickened, his chest rising and falling rapidly in panic.
Naruto turned teary eyes to his 'eldest brother,' and his bottom lip began to tremble, "I'm sorry Kaka-nii! Don't be mad!" the little boy wailed into Kakashi's rapidly moving chest.
"I'm not mad at you, I'm worried about Karasu…" he wrapped his arms securely around crying blonde, his cobalt eye was trained on Pakkun, "Was there anyone else with him?" the dog seemed to frown as he thought over his answer.
"Just the scent of rain, nothing else," it did rain last night, didn't it? Kakashi shot up from the couch, causing Naruto to give a startled cry.
Without bothering to put on shoes or a shirt, Kakashi raced out the window with little Naruto clinging to him like a lifeline as tears still streamed down his face.
The toddler had to wonder, what did he do? Was Kakashi mad at him? Where was his big brother? Did something happen to him? Naruto couldn't bear such a thought; his big brother was everything to him. Harry and Kakashi were Naruto's world. The boy just cried harder into Kakashi's chest, now certain the teenager was not mad at him, but mad that something happened to Harry. And Naruto was mad too, where was his big brother, what happened?
…
Kakashi landed on the Hokage's office window ledge, he tapped on the window, despite the fact that the old man was surrounded by ANBU. Sarutobi must have seen the look in Kakashi's eye since he waved the teen in. Kakashi was shaking in equal parts worry, fear, and anger.
"He's gone, I think he might have been kidnapped, he wouldn't just leave Naruto," Kakashi rushed out, pushing his way through the ring of rather irate ANBU.
"Are you talking about Operative Karasu?" a monkey masked ANBU growled, "that little defector never should have been—"
"He's not a defector," Kakashi interrupted. He was in front of the ANBU in a second with his headband pulled back and his Sharingan spinning wildly. Despite being a half foot shorter than the ANBU, the monkey masked man stepped back in alarm. However, Kakashi backed off when three different hands with kunai were point at his chest, more importantly, pointed at Naruto.
"Operative Saru," Hiruzen's tone was chiding as he addressed current object of Kakashi's rage, "we have no way of knowing if Operative Karasu did indeed defect, perhaps he was kidnapped as Hatake-kun suggests,"
Naruto was quietly whimpering against Kakashi's chest, he didn't like ANBU, unless they were Harry, but these ANBU were too big to be his big brother.
"Stand down you three," the ANBU operatives snapped to their Hokage's attention, and kunai were placed back in their respective pouches as they looked straight ahead. "When Operative Kuma awakens he will give his statement, then we will know if we need to send out a rescue party or start a man hunt," Kakashi and Sarutobi were not at all happy with the ANBU operatives around them.
"For now, all of you should return to your posts," the old man sent a cold glare at all of the surrounding ANBU, who all hopped to the order. When they were gone, Kakashi was about to leave too but the Hokage gestured toward one of the chairs in his office, "Sit down," he ordered.
Once they were seated he began speaking again but in a more pleasant tone, "Have either of you had breakfast?" As if cued, Naruto's stomach rumbled audibly.
"Nami-kun usually cooks," Kakashi sheepishly answered, flushing under his mask. Did he use the boy's new name? The Hokage knew Harry's identity so there shouldn't be a problem with Kakashi saying Karasu, but to be safe he had best use the nickname.
"Kaka-nii, your eye scary!" Naruto pulled away from Kakashi, his blue eyes zeroing in on Kakashi's Sharingan. At least Kakashi could finally understand what the little boy was saying, so if Harry really wasn't coming back…Kakashi mentally shook away those thoughts, focusing back on Naruto.
"I'm sorry about that Naruto," Kakashi slid down his headband, and he gave a soft eye-smile when the boy relaxed, "It was a gift from my teammates," he stated softly, a sad smile was hidden behind his mask, but Naruto's suddenly large smile made the Jounin feel better.
"Then I like it," the two were pulled from their moment by a deep chuckle, Sarutobi Hiruzen regarded the two with shining eyes, amusement clearly written on his face.
"Naruto-kun and Karasu-kun are doing you good, Hatake-kun," Sarutobi was so happy he could call Harry by a name finally, saying Namikaze-kun made his chest ache in a sad remembrance of his successor. When Minato succeeded him he had been looking forward to a long retirement, but it had come to an unfortunate end.
Though the fifteen-year-old wore a mask, the old man knew the teen was blushing. "No need to feel embarrassed, Hatake-kun," Sarutobi sighed in a satisfaction when a secretary came in with a tray of tea and rice balls.
Despite it not being Naruto's beloved ramen, the little boy reached out for one of the rice treats and quickly devoured it in his hunger. The secretary had to stifle a laugh at the adorable sight and remind herself that that was the demon child, though he looked too cute for words with the stray pieces of rice sticking to his chubby face.
"Perhaps you should bring another tray of food, I'm sure Hatake-kun is just as hungry," the woman bowed quickly and left, throwing glances behind her and trying to convince herself that that was the demon. However, the last glimpse of the child she got before the door closed was of Kakashi blowing on the little boy's tea and helping him drink it since Naruto's hands were too small. How…how cute! That can't be the fabled demon, but… She was torn as she hurried to get more rice balls from the staff room.
Naruto scrunched his nose up at the taste of the tea, but he could deal with it, after all, Kakashi and the old man were drinking it just fine. He really liked those rice things too, maybe when Harry was back, he could make Naruto them. But Naruto didn't know where his big brother was, in fact, Naruto was worried he might not even come home.
"Where Nii?" Naruto turned worried eyes onto the two older people in the room.
"We don't know," the old man with the funny beard had a sad look in his eyes, but he seemed nice too.
"Oh…" Naruto frowned as he looked down at the tray in front of him. Absently, he started to pick off some of the rice from the treats.
"Why is everyone waiting on this Kuma?" Kakashi asked after a long pause, the air was heavy due to Naruto's weak and sad monosyllable response.
"Apparently a child from the Refugee House was trying to find her father, and Operative Kuma took Operative Karasu's position while the boy investigated. All seemed well, except there is no one missing from the House and the child's name that Karasu gave was not in the register. This morning when the guards changed posts, Kuma was found unconscious and there was no Karasu," Kakashi swallowed some tea to calm his nerves, but it sloshed around in his stomach uneasily.
"What wrong?" Naruto was looking up at his guardian in bewilderment. He didn't understand the implications of the Hokage's words, but perhaps that was for the best.
Kakashi quickly wrapped his body protectively around Naruto. There had been a loud popping noise just behind him and he was damned if he'd let Naruto get hurt by any explosives. As for the Hokage? He was the Hokage, he could defend himself.
"Shika-san," the Hokage was still in his chair, seeming completely at ease with the loud and rather sudden appearance of the head of the T & I department. However, the old man's cordial greeting was cut off by the panicked ANBU's hands slamming against his desk.
"Where the hell is my son? What happened?" Naruto made a loud wail at the scary and loud voice, but James paid the child no mind, "Tell me, damn it!"
"Shika-san, calm yourself," the old man held an authoritative tone, thus silencing and seating the shaking ANBU, "Help yourself to some tea," it was not suggestion but an order. Glaring behind his mask, James leaned forward and took one of the spare cups and filled it with the herbal smelling liquid.
Holding the cup in his trembling hand, the wizard just inhaled, already feeling calmer due to the smell. Ah the powers of tea…at least this old man didn't lace it with any sort of calming draught as a certain Headmaster was prone to doing (only because said headmaster often needed it or the situation called for such measures). A lot of similarities between the two old men could be drawn; but now was not the time to dwell on such things.
Sarutobi had a small frown adorning his aged face; Naruto seemed so scared of James. "Shika-san, perhaps you should take off your mask, Naruto-kun seems awfully frightened," throwing one last glare at the Hokage and one glare at the demon brat, James took of his dear deer mask. The child calmed immediately, removing himself from his hiding spot in Kakashi's arms.
Kakashi, however, continued to eye the ANBU operative warily. Thankfully the teen held his tongue, though the Hokage could guess some of the things the teen was dying to say.
With a sigh, the old man began to explain the situation to James, watching as the man's grip on the teacup grew steadily tighter. If Harry was kidnapped, which the Sandiame believed to be very likely, the boy's kidnappers were in for hell when James got a hold of them.
…
Waking up in a blood encrusted room chained to a metal bolted chair with a searing headache, was something Harry did not want to experience again for at least a few more years. However, as luck would have it, a repeat performance occurred not even three months later.
Harry quickly became aware of the fact that his mask was gone and his body was soaked. At least his captors changed him into dry clothes. Well, his sopping wet hair was quick to drench the back of the rough cotton tee-shirt he found himself in. The boy had no weapons, his hair tie, which contained a few senbon, was missing and the chains were chakra suppressing…hell they were absorbing his chakra!
As per protocol, Harry had tried to flare his chakra for help. That was when he realized the absorbing part of the chains. Banging his head back against the backrest, the chair being made for someone much taller, Harry sighed at his misfortune. He would bite his own tongue off if need be, though he doubted they would break him.
Shivering against the metal chair and beads of water still dripping off his body, the boy wondered how he came to be in this position. Nothing in the girl's mind, at least what he saw, suggested such malicious intentions. Everything she had told him was true, yet here he was with a throbbing headache and in a torture room.
With a derisive laugh—one which lasted a second—Harry could hear his father's words replaying in his mind. "You will also not be the only child fighting, you may have to kill other children," and here he was captured by another child. He wondered what happened to the guard, Kuma; was he alright? Did the little girl kill him? Did her friends on the outside help?
Harry was getting hungry, oh well, like he'd trust anything his captors gave him. Quickly becoming bored, the boy closed his eyes and tried to sense out the energies around him, there was a guard outside the door, and three people were further down the hall. It looked like there were chakras above him, fifteen if he counted right. They were all mid-range to high level chakra readings. Most of the people had an unknown nationality to their chakra, similar to the girl…speaking of which. The girl was one of the mid-range chakra levels in the hall, and she was coming toward him.
Rai must have suppressed her chakra when she was running toward the wall, but she gave off enough to alert attention to herself. How did she even knock him out? Harry remembered the drizzle that started up suddenly…there was the girl's chakra in the rain; perhaps it was a technique her father taught her? Speaking of which, there was a stronger chakra next to the girl and it held the underlying sense of an Amegakure native.
Time to meet the parents.
What did that saying even mean…? He remembered Minato saying that to Kakashi when a kunoichi had a crush on the teen and he protected her from getting hurt from her own stupidity. He was bored already, and his thoughts were a testament to this.
But at least his captor, her father, and his interrogator (Harry wasn't so sure on the last one, for they could all easily be that) finally entered the room. Stimulation at last!
"Good evening ANBU-san," the girl had a sickly sweet smile in place, and her voice oozed sweetness like molasses. Was molasses sweet, Harry recalled his father eating it once, saying it was basically just sugar, the sap of the sugar cane or something, but Harry wasn't allowed to have it.
The sound of skin striking skin resounded in the room, as Harry's face began to burn and sting.
Harry kept in his surprised scream even though his brain was still sloshing around from the backhand. Well, that taught him not to let his thoughts get away from him. No more debating about what molasses was, but what was it? Harry gritted his teeth as he was struck again, no more thinking about molasses!
Harry turned his face toward his captors, noting that the girl's father was likely to be his torturer, but what was with the creepy man beside him? The boy quickly reminded himself not to let his thoughts distract him, and remained focused on the burly man in front of him.
Raising an aristocratic eyebrow, Harry droned, "May I help you?"
"Spill everything you know about Konoha's safety measures, the ANBU tower codes, every rotation schedule—" the father, who Harry learned, via mind snooping, was named Ru growled in a low voice as he loomed over the eight-year-old.
"Whether they think I defected or was kidnapped, all of the things you mentioned will have changed by now, try something else?" his interruption was met with another heavy blow to his head, causing him to lose more of his baby teeth. Maybe he should have Naruto get into fights when his teeth came loose? It was rather effective, but no, Naruto was to live a normal childhood.
"You cheeky little shit," Ru practically screamed, he had his hand pulled back for another go, but Rai stepped in.
"Very well, what are the identities of your fellow ANBU?" Harry shrugged, Rai let her father punch him, this time in the gut, "Let's try that again, what are their identities?" another shrug, another punch. This went on for an indefinable amount of time, though Harry didn't mind the punches so much, they were nothing in comparison to the mental attacks he had been subjected to and he could brace his stomach muscles for the abuse.
"See, I am needed?" the creepy man, who until now had been leaning against the far wall, draped an arm around Ru, a sadistic smile touched his pale features. "Someone has already put him through torture training, now stand aside." Harry did not like the tone the man used; it sent shivers down the boy's spine.
"Just remember to ask him questions," Ru ordered, reluctantly letting the other man do as he pleased. "Speak clearly kid, so that the tapes can hear you," Ru joked as he lead his daughter out of the room and left Harry alone with the pale, willowy man.
"You can call me Shinigami, Shini for short," the sordid man began to circle around Harry, every now and then his cool fingers would graze against the boy's arm or swelling cheek.
"You have lovely hands," Shini commented, stopping his stalking to lean over the back of the chair to grasp the boy's left hand, "Well-manicured even," Harry knew what was coming, he could see the vile man's thought process. Without putting much thought into his actions, Shini reached inside a pocket and retrieved pliers. Harry read his absentminded thoughts as well as heard the rustling of fabric as Shini took out his chosen utensil.
"Why don't you tell me who guards the Hokage?" the pliers were set before Harry's hand, pinching onto his index finger's nail on his left hand. The boy's heart was beating quickly; still unsure whether knowing his captor's next move was a good thing or a bad thing. Steeling his mind, Harry gave his answer.
"I don't know," the boy flung his head back and bit his lip savagely to keep from screaming. The pain ricocheted up from that poor finger and into Harry's brain faster than he thought possible. His nerves sent messages down to his stomach in a matter of seconds; they were screaming that it was too much! Before Harry knew it, he was retching onto the ground in front of him.
When Harry was done retching, Shini crouched down in front of him, the bloody pliers being waved back and forth, "Want to answer that question again?"
"I don't know," Harry gasped, head still bowed forward from his previous actions. The same finger was grasped tightly and pulled back, Harry bit through his lip as the poor digit cracked under the pressure. Why did it hurt so much? Harry had broken bones before, but this hurt so much more.
"Why don't we try a different question, hmm?"
…
Operative Kuma awoke to a crying child, a worried yet murderous looking teen, and an even more murderous looking ANBU operative wearing a deer mask. The Hokage and an official recorder were off to the side. Despite that the Hokage was smiling pleasantly, Kuma felt his stomach drop.
"Do you remember what happened last night?" the official scribe asked as he moved to sit next to the disoriented ANBU operative.
"Uh…I got off my shift around two and was heading home,"
"Where is your home located?" the scribe and Hokage shot James warning looks. The professional interrogator scowled behind his deer mask as he folded his arms over his chest. He was seeking the truth from the man; he didn't care if the scribe had problems with his methods.
"The west side of the village, near sector ten," there was a confused edge to Kuma's voice, showing that he did not understand why he was being interrogated.
"Forgive Operative Shika, he is personally connected to this incident, and is reacting in a rather unprofessional way," the old man had that blasted smile in place, one James likened to Dumbledore, though at least he knew the Hokage was only following protocol and felt similarly to James and Kakashi.
"Oh…um..." Kuma's focus darted back to the scribe, "I heard Operative Karasu explain that an unknown chakra was heading toward the gate, sector seven. I offered to take his place since Operative Saru relieved me and this way no sector was unguarded," the official was writing quickly onto his parchment.
"And did Operative Karasu seem hurried or disappointed that a relieved officer was taking his post," the scribe's voice was a poor attempt at sounding neutral, for there was an almost excited edge in his tone.
"Now wait a minute," "How can you imply that?" Kakashi and James looked away from each other quickly, having both spoken up at the same time. Naruto continued to hide himself, the deer mask and bear mask were scaring him...
"I don't know…maybe he was hurried. He told us the current position of the unknown while we were still figuring out who would take his post," the scribe just nodded while jotting something down; the official was practically screaming his thoughts, all of them circling around how Harry was a defector.
"And after that?" James's fists were clenched in their folded position, he was going to do something to this scribe, maybe shove that writing utensil up somewhere where it wasn't so nice. Or perhaps he could cast an itching jinx on the prejudiced… James took a deep breath, having missed the majority of what the injured operative said while he mentally schemed.
"He nodded to me when I took his post, after a few minutes he told us that Rai from the Refugee House was the unknown and he was escorting her back. I waited for fifteen minutes and didn't see the kid or feel any chakra around me, and then…nothing," James redirected his attention back to the man at this point, "I don't remember anything else, I must have been snuck up on and knocked out," the man was snuck up on and knocked out, at least according to his memories.
This really did not bode well for them; everyone in the room knew this. To the Council and to village, it would look like Harry defected. Out of the whole of Konoha, only four people continued to believe otherwise. Harry would never defect, but so far, the evidence was stacked against them.
When Kuma was finally let alone, he sighed and relaxed against the bed, soon, soon he'd have his revenge on this stupid country. He just had to wait for the kid to break, if Ru couldn't do it with a little pain, then Shini would, no matter the cost. He knew Operative Karasu would be a good pick, half the village already believed he was defector, and he was a kid—despite being an ANBU operative he was still young and inexperienced, he'd break easily enough.
…
Harry was floating, it felt heavenly. There was no pain, just a fuzzy blackness. He felt like he was wrapped in a tight cool cocoon, one which soothed the fire burning in his fingers. All of them were broken now, and all of them were missing nails. Shini started on his toes, breaking each one before smashing his instep to—what Harry believed to be—dust. That was when he passed out, that was when this darkness wrapped him so securely. He had yet to spill anything, even when Shini asked him about the Council, namely the three people he hated most in Konoha; Harry did not betray his loyalties.
Though, for some reason, Harry suddenly found that he couldn't breathe. In fact, it felt much cooler now, icy even. Opening his eyes, Harry found himself staring into a metal bucket, one filled with ice and water. Water was already rushing down his throat; he jerked and shook his head. With water already in his lungs he could not close his mouth, and could not breathe!
The forceful push of water down his throat suddenly ceased, there was air. He hacked, and coughed and gasped for breath. They were going to dunk him again should he not answer their questions; it would be the death of him if he didn't get his breathing down.
"Who is the Kyuubi vessel?" Harry jerked his head against Shini's hand, showing him he had something to say. The hand in his hair pulled him up roughly.
"I know that one," he gasped, dragging in air, while forcing his heart rate to slow, which also meant getting his breathing back under control.
"And?" Shini asked testily. Harry's pulse was slowing down as he accumulated air into his lungs.
"Not telling" Harry was immediately dunked, but he waited it out, his heart rate slow to keep his need for oxygen at bay for a few minutes more. He let out calculated bubbles of stale air until Shini believed he had killed the kid. Harry was brought up with a smirk on his face, sneaking fresh air into his lungs before he was plunged back into the mind chilling water.
This continued for a while, Harry had no sense of time in this place, but that didn't matter. This was like a test, yes a test of his abilities, his resistance to pain.
"Shini, that's enough," it was Rai's voice, stern and strong for a change. The creepy man was about to dunk Harry under again when she came in. Instead of doing what he intended, he smashed the boy's head against the dull metal rim of the bucket, consequently sending ice water all over the boy.
Rai was lifting his face up, her face distorted in false concern. Shini was scowling at the back wall again, clearly not happy that his fun was put on pause.
"Look what you did," she admonished, tilting Harry's head sideways for better light, "that will need stitches," she exclaimed, referring to the new gash in the eight-year-old's forehead. Blood was already sliding down into his emerald eyes.
Rai 'tsk'ed. She slowly fished out a needle from her person, along with some metal thread. "Do you have anything to heat this with? For sanitation purposes?" she asked in her mockingly sweet voice while she threaded the needle. Shini's smile was back, the one that screamed the level of joy he received in seeing others bleed.
"Why yes I do," Harry's attention was drawn to a black bag resting on the interrogation table, Shini as rummaging through it before he pulled out what looked like a blow torch. Hmm…what would he use that for, Harry wondered. Oh torture, of course.
Rai had heat resistant gloves on while she worked on making the needle glow red. Shini was currently securing Harry's head to the back of the chair. Taking a deep breath, Harry prepared himself for the incoming pain as Rai approached him with the hissing needle.
As the needle broke skin, Harry screamed and he kept screaming.
…
The man hunt had begun, and James was forced to stay behind to interrogate thieves and degenerates. But he understood why, they didn't want him going rogue with his son, they didn't want him protecting a defector. So James stewed, but kept his senses open for any accidental magic Harry might produce during his distress. But he was not the only one forced to continue living like nothing happened.
Kakashi had to deal with his Fall Genin team, or would-be Genin team. Naruto was firmly attached to his hip while he glared down at the little pests. He made them wait three hours before he arrived at the school. After introductions, during which Naruto was uncharacteristically quiet, perhaps he understood he would not be seeing Harry again, he sent them on their way. But that was yesterday and today he was going to take out his anger on something and he didn't care what.
The three little Genin stood no chance. Kakashi schooled them, with one arm since the other was holding a soon-to-be two year old. He verbally obliterated them, calling them scum for abandoning one another, when if they had worked together they could have succeeded. He shouted out what sorry excuses for shinobi they were. They bowed their heads in shame and would never lift another kunai in their lives. Instead of being shinobi, the three defeated Genin went back to their family shops and would do their best to protect the store and help the family business.
As it was with the night before, Kakashi and Naruto sat in silence in their apartment. Kakashi attempted to cook, but ended up making instant ramen. Naruto hardly ate. Kakashi cleaned the boy up and when it came time to read a bedtime story, the boy just shook his head. He curled up against Kakashi, and cried himself to sleep. Just as the night before. Kakashi tried his best to cheer the child up, but his efforts were in vain.
After a week, it seemed only a miracle would turn things around. Naruto's birthday came finally, it was hollow for them but the streets were filled with joyous debauchery. People sang praises of the Kyuubi's "death," and countless drunks—ninja and civilian a like—tried to break into their house. Thank god for Harry's barriers and all of their attackers' drunkenness. The barriers over the windows were set so one would have to take off the seal; only high ranking sober Jōnin and any sober ANBU could break through. Thankfully all the ninja that tried were inebriated.
Kakashi sat on the complex's rooftop with Naruto in the light of the moon, the streets were quiet now, and it was just the star filled sky and them. Numbly Naruto pointed to a shooting star, "What's that?" he whispered as his quick eyes caught sight of another one.
"A shooting star," Kakashi whispered in return, and bent his head down to whisper into two-year-old's ear, "Close your eyes and make a wish, but don't tell me what it is, okay?" Naruto nodded, and closed his heavy eyes.
With every part of him he wished for his brother to return, to come home and be with them again. He wished and wished; his brow furrowed in his concentration. He just wanted his big brother back. He wanted his family whole again.
…
All but one limb was broken, that being his left arm; the one with IVs stuck in it. It was the only way he was still alive, they forced him nutrients through those tubes, and they gave him adrenaline to keep him awake trough the same means. Harry smelled. He felt disgusting and weak. His baths consisted of dunks in ice water, and his bathroom breaks were laxatives forced down his throat and him being carried to a toilet, other than that he soiled himself. He was strapped to a chair in his own filth.
The bottoms of his feet became good friends with the blow torch, and the boy now had a deep seated hate for sutures. Harry was certain the majority of his ribs were broken by this point, which made the water torture lethal. He had already been resuscitated three times in his last session. The only thing Harry found joy in was scaring his torturers with the knowledge he procured about their lives. Any reprieve from the torture, even a minute one, he would exploit with his insight.
But he was growing weak, and he was certain he would die soon. Shini came in, Ru was behind him.
"It's been a week, why hasn't he talked?" did they think him too delirious from his current fever to hear them?
"Ru, Ru, Ru" Ru clearly did not like the informality with which Shini spoke, if Harry discerned the man's facial expression correctly. "I say we get him hooked,"
Ru's expression lit up, "Of course, then we can sell him once we get all his secrets,"
Hooked? What were they talking about; Harry could only see images of a syringe, and some powder being melted in a spoon. What was that, what were they going to do? He was genuinely afraid now, they both felt so confident in this new method of obtaining information.
"Do you think I can have him?" Shini's voice held something in it, something that made Harry shudder, "he's so resilient to all my tricks…and he's so young," the man gushed as he moved closer to the feverish child. He gently lifted up the bruised and bloodied face. Harry didn't want to know what Shini was thinking, what with the way his eyes clouded over.
"You're disgusting," Ru spat out from the doorway, "But fine, you can have him," the misty look left and a predatory gleam took over. "No touching until we get our answers," Ru added in a threatening tone, Shini deflated at this, but his hold on Harry's battered face tightened.
"Fine," there was such venom in the creepy man's voice, "But how long do I have to wait," Shini all but whined.
"We can have a batch in by tomorrow," Ru jerked his head, meaning for the man to follow him; however Shini did not move toward the door. Instead he crouched down to eye level.
"Soon you will be too broken to even fix," Shini exclaimed, a happy smile in place as stroked the boy's face. Cackling to himself, the man left, leaving Ru to shudder along with Harry.
A Suivre
A/N: Before anyone freaks out, READ THE WARNINGS, read them again, and again. The warnings are on-going so once something happens it stays with the warnings. Set your minds at ease, and that's all I'm going to say about that.
I'll see if I can get the next chapter out in a week or two. Classes are starting up, but after the next chapter it should be getting lighter, and Itachi will be coming in in a few more chapters. Thank you for reading ~ love, depressedchildren
