A/N: Hey there and firstly, sorry for the wait. Really. Im just waiting a word from my BETA who hasnt yet answered to me so it took me some time. Finally I decided to take things to my own hand and rewrite this story myself. If I get some message from my BETA I would be glad because he is in the middle of working with my chs 1 to 3. Well enough of that. Here is RAW version of CH 4. I like it. Hope you do.
Review please!
Chapter 4: Training day
One week later.
"Again." Hana encouraged Naruto to kick the training dummy. She had dressed in her civilian clothes, purple jacket and lighter shaded pants. Soon after the first day, they had started Narutos training in the way of the shinobi. At this point training was simple. Five days of week they would study how to reed and write, history, math, seal making, shinobi 101, charka basics, literature, human anatomy, you know… normal kid stuff that they taught in the academy. Mornings of study and afternoons some physical exercises. One day would be mixed between some light physical training and some VERY simple chakra control exercises. Last day would be his day off. Not that Naruto knew what to do with it. He never really had anything to do when outside expect running ahead of mobs so when Hana said that it was brake time, he would only sit down and either continue studying or meditate. She had shown how. Hana had tried to encourage him to get himself some hobby but no luck so far. She was almost sure that even the kids in NE had hobbies than him.
Now was the day six and the morning half of the training and he was kicking and punching some small training dummy with his short hands and legs. Or if you could call them 'kicks' more like a swinging ones leg to some direction until it hits something. But it was enough for Hana who was supporting the dummy in front of him. They were currently on the roof. After their first visit there, it had become Narutos favourite place in the whole building. Maybe because it was under open sky, maybe it was because the large garden or because there never seemed to be much people around. They would spend all their physical lessons on the roof. Naruto had once even asked if they could do their classes there to but the wind was sudden and sometimes would send the sheets flying.
This one week Naruto had spent all his time in hospital bed at the clinic. Hana and all the other doctors had stated that he was not to move until he was fully healed. Kyuubis help or not he was still four year child who had been through hell. But after week of sitting patiently in the bed, Hana had realized that all the scrolls and books required their own place. Even though many doctors were happy of their patient, they were not so happy about the all the mess the boy created when he was left alone with his assignments. He seemed to be totally different person when no ones was around or thought no one was watching. He started wonder around, go through drawers and closets, once he even lost himself to cafeteria.
"That's enough for now." Hana smiled to the boy and he stopped. He looked on the ground blushing. He juts couldn't get used to the fact that some one actually complemented him and it seemed genuine. "Why don't you rest while I take these dummies away?"
"Sure." Boy nodded and walked to the garden. There were stoned paths. Tanta had said that if someone would value their lives, they would not walk of the path. He walked to the on of the benches in the garden. Tanta was currently watering her plants with some water jutsu. Holding her hands in tiger seal and small stream of water would fall from her extended fingertips. She had dressed her usual traditional wife attire.
"How are you doing, Naruto-kun?" Woman asked while turning around to water other plants. Even though she was specialist in weaponry, she also knew few effective water and earth jutsus. She was also very interested in Tenzos Mokuton skills. Basically, if it would help her in her garden, she was interested.
Naruto only shrugged quietly. After meeting everyone, Naruto had closed up himself pretty good and spoke rarely to anyone expect to his guardian, Hana and everyone understood this after the hell he had been through. He maybe didn't hide himself behind her but he certainly didn't speak to anyone. And if he did, he most commonly whispered something to his aunts ear who spoke ahead. Everyone had started calling him as her nephew even though no one had explained why. He had figured it was because she took care of him. He had no idea that it was true.
Tanta smiled to the boy and nodded. "Keep it up then."
Naruto nodded and waved his legs in air while sitting on the bench.
Hana walked in to the small garden soon after and passed the trees and different kinds of flowers. She walked on the stoned path. There were even small rivers that squirmed between the small ponds in the garden. Another triumph to Tenzos abilities. The roof was vast as the whole building and the garden occupied roughly third of it. Even still Tanta had considered expanding it.
"Hello Tanta-san." Hana smiled to the woman who smiled back.
"I was just demonstrating a simple watering jutsu to your nephew here." Brunette woman answered and turned around to the bench where the boy was trying to form a needed seal combination but nothing really happened. "You need to say it too sweetheart." She said correcting him. "Remember? Suiton: Watering jutsu."
"Erhm!" Hana cleared her throat. "What you think you are doing?"
"Teaching something which will help him when he's gardening of course." Tanta answered patiently.
"No." Hana stepped between the two and he stopped immediately forming the hand seals. "We talked about it. You will not learn any jutsus before we have taught you the basics. Remember?"
Boy nodded quietly.
"You shouldn't be so hard on the boy." Weapon mistress scowled her friend. "He's eager to learn new jutsus that is always a good thing."
"Even though he's only barely able to mold chakra?" Hana asked narrowing her eyes.
"Well you are starting with the charka control exercises aren't you?" Tanta asked. "Well as might start by aiming high."
"My nephew isn't some NE freak who doesn't even know how to smile!"
"I understand that." Tanta nodded patiently. "But little sweat wouldn't hurt him you know."
Hana frowned and looked at Naruto who was already forgotten the watering jutsu and was chasing a butterfly with his eyes. He seemed forgotten his usual shyness and smiled widely as the beautiful bug landed on his nose. Then it continued its journey towards another interesting flower.
"Naruto, lets take a break." She finally said. "Lets go see how others train shall we?"
Boy nodded and jumped of the bench. As they exited the garden, they saw one of the Uchihas meditating in the middle of the roof. Naruto didn't really remember anything of him expect that he was Uchiha (the fan on his back gave him away). He always was more cautious of his own actions when he saw one of them remembering how the military police had treated him. Man opened his eyes and nodded in his typical Uchiha manner.
"Good day Naruto-kun." He said politely.
The boy only stepped closer to Hana who was little worried of this. He wasn't that cautious with anyone else. He maybe was quiet but this was absolutely worrying. "Good day, Kabata-san." She answered on his behalf.
Man returned to his meditation as they walked passed them.
Hana had never liked the Uchiha clan. Sure, they were the strongest clan in Konoha. Sure, they were all great ninjas who had strong doujutsu. But that was all. They were all arrogant, inbreeding idiots who thought that they were on the top of the world. True they were much warmer than Hyuuga but still they thought that there was no equal to them. Idiots.
And her real resentment had started when she had seen how military police acted. Police! Protect and serve! Who keep order and law in the streets were abusing young child just like he was some thief! She knew that not everyone inside the ANBU liked the idea of having Kyuubi vessel inside the base but each and every single one of them carried out their duties as Konohas elite. Some of due scare of Danzoz revenge but still. And that was only a clear minority which remained silent.
She could only to wonder was Kabata Uchiha on Narutos side or against him. Not that really mattered. But so she knew who she needed to be careful of. She needed to see underneath the underneath. She snorted. If Hina would hear her now she would laugh. She had always taught Minatos favourite praise was so stupid. She looked at Naruto who had gazed up on sudden noise. She only smiled and petted him.
They walked down the stare case to floors bellow. Naruto saw glimpses of people inside the common rooms and cafeteria and so on until they reached the first floor and the long hallway that had several doors. Most of them had only training equipment like wooden weapons, training dummies and such. But there was also four other doors that had sings on top of them. Two of them were dojos. They hear could voices of intense training inside. Third one was the gym and she could here the sound of some very untasteful music and the sound of metal hitting against the metal inside. Forth was the pool area where he had yet to visit. Hana had said that this week there was intense water jutsu training going inside so it was temporally closed. This had risen more than few annoyed objections from females of ANBU who wanted to bath. There were showers in each smaller common rooms and group captains quarters but they just wasn't enough. Some women were simply too feminine to be satisfied with that (Tanta and Hakena being top samples).
For a moment Hana had thought that showing Naruto some more effective water jutsus would bring some natural curiosity and would help the boy to interest in chakra control exercises but then the hallway started flooding with water and the door to the pool area seemed to be breaking at any minute now so she stepped to another of dojos and pulled her nephew behind. She slammed the door behind him just in time before powerful stream of water flushed though the corridor.
"You idiot!" Someone yelled. "I told you it wouldn't work!"
"At least I tried something you pansy!" Jutsus caster yelled back. "You can go to hell!"
"Oh really!? Take this! Suiton: Daibakufu no Jutsu! (Grand Waterfall Technique)"
"Roll over and die! Suiton: Suikōdan no Jutsu! (Water Shark Missile Technique)"
Hana sighed. Why did men had to be such children. And why she had to be the responsible one? Ever since they were kids. Hina always get them into trouble and she got them out of it. And took all the blame. But did it really hurt her colleagues act little more their age? Little what their positions required? They were ANBU for crying out loud!
She raised her gaze to realize that she had chosen the dojo that was usually used for weapon training. Naruto was already hypnotised by all the shiny swords, spears, kunais and all. The way they flew from other side of the room to the other only to be blocked and thrown back. Maybe it wasn't a bad choice after all to bring young Naruto here. At least now he shows some open interest.
She walked him to other side of the room where was pillows on the floor to sit at. Naruto sit quietly but wide-eyed to show that others displayed. Nearest couple was man named Chadao and some older man… Naruto tried hard to remember his name it was futile. Most of the name he had learned during his first day had been flushed off by solemn week that he had spent on the clinic. Hana had said that he wasn't allowed to leave the clinic until they were sure that he was completely healed. People did visit him but not everyone had much time in their hands.
His eyes took over his mind again he concentrated to this match. Chadao-san was using a typical ANBU sword when his opponent was using a naginata. Scary looking spear. They had dressed in traditional training gowns. Men's eyes were narrowed as they glared at each other. Then one flash of light and they were on opposite ends of the room and the older guy was on his knees. He coughed little blood. "Damned." He whispered.
"Have you trained at all?" Chadao asked amused. "Or what's wrong with you?"
"My girlfriend." Man said whipping the blood from his cheek. "She's started being all moody and stuff lately."
"Really?" Younger man walked to his side and looked at him curiosly. "What happened? Did you say someone else's name in bed? Told her about last Saturday? C'mon! You can trust me."
Older guy only glared at him.
"What you did last Saturday?" Hana asked narrowing her eyes. "Merumi-san?"
Man turned around frightened. "Hana-taichou! How nice to see you. And Naruto-kun. How's your studies? Good I hope." Boy shot his gaze to the ground quickly as he could but nodded but only barely noticeably.
"Merumi-san?" Hana said warningly. "Did you do something last Saturday?"
"Of course not! Chadao is only joking around. Aren't you Chadao-san?"
"Of course I am." Other guy smiled. "What brings you here? You rarely train at the dojo."
"Because of a reason." She said coldly. "I considered that Naruto-kun would like to see some sparring. Merumi-san, you know what is this buildings policy in two-timers." She narrowed her eyes again releasing her killer intent and all the action in the room stopped. She, Anko, Tanta, Hakena and several other female ANBUs had made sure that inside their base had not a single two-timing bastard by nearly killing one guy who had the encourage to brag of his 'achievements' in cafeteria. He would have died without emergency care of Hana but would never again practice two-timing. It would be a miracle if he could even have one girlfriend.
"That's why Im telling its not that! Last Saturday me and some guys were drinking and I accidentally drank bit too much. That's it! Okay?"
He stopped talking when he realized that everyone else in the dojo were looking at him and grinning. Even Naruto in secret.
"Man, Merumi, you really need some time off." Someone said.
Before the guys could start childish bickering, Hana cleared her throat. "Merumi-san, when you say that she acting all moody, what you mean?"
"You know. Mood's chancing rapidly. She's sleepy all the time. Complaining about pain in her lower back." He listed all the symptoms. Hana saw where this was heading already. "And when she's finally is in a good moon, awake without pains in her back, she starts-"
"Puking." Red haired medic ended.
"How did you know?" Man asked impressed. "Its not anything serious is it?"
"Quick question, has her breasts grown a cup size or two?" She asked this with purely medical curiosity. But when she had asked it all the guys in the room started grinning all perverted except Merumi who was reddening embarrassed.
"Well… now that you think about it… possi-"
"Oh grow up already!" Hana screamed angrily to others. "Yes or no?"
"Yes!" Man nodded.
"Okay. This is very simple." Red haired medic nodded recognizing the symptoms. "Go and take a day off, go buy some flowers and chocolate. Visit the jewellery store and buy a golden ring, hurry to her and ask her to marry you."
"What?" Merumi blinked. "What the heck is wrong with her?"
"Just go or I will castrate you personally."
Men gulped in the room and looked at Merumi who only nodded and disappeared in a flow of leafs. Naruto watched this technique wide-eyed. If he had that before he could have escaped from bad people.
Chadao looked little puzzled. "What was wrong with his girlfriend?"
"She is pregnant." Hana said smiling to Narutos stunned expression. "And soon he is going to be married." Then she looked up. "Who will do his shift?"
"Well…" Chadao smirked a little. "I was kind of hoping that you would let me train Naruto or something. We did agree on that."
"You want me to leave him alone with you?" She said. "Are you mad?"
Naruto heard the request and shifted little closer to his guardian. He didn't want her to leave him. Not now. Not ever. She was kind and warm. Something he thought a mother would be. He had met Chadao few times. He wasn't bad as the villagers but he still didn't want to alone with him. What if he was waiting for a chance to kill him? As soon as Hana looked to other way he would be beaten to death like so many times before. He didn't want that to happen. He unintentionally touched her jacket and took a hold of it like from a security blanket. This move wasn't left unnoticed from anyone inside that hall.
"Hana-san, I know you're worried of him. I can understand that." Chadao lowered himself closer to Naruto. "But you are also an ANBU group captain and a best field medic there is. You won't be able to look after him all by yourself. You must let others have a chance." He looked at Naruto who has still holding Hanas jacket and looking directly to his kneels.
Hana gulped. He was right. During this week she hadn't let Naruto alone even in bathroom. Not that the boy had ever complained about it. But even though she had a mission to look after and evaluate him, that didn't mean it would last forever. Sooner or later she would be sent for another mission that always could be her last. And it was for the best of Naruto to interact with someone else once in a while. Otherwise he just might turn into what she feared the most. NE freak who didn't even know how to smile or to speak expect: 'understood'. She was almost sad that the base denied access to anyone else expect the authorized personal. He could use some peers to help him out of his shell and it was almost sad that all the kids had to stay outside. Almost. Her expression hardened when she remembered how other kids had treated him. Almost as bad as the adults if not worse. And only kids in the building were those NE freaks. She could imagine them playing with Naruto. Image of two kids throwing kunais at each other came to her mind.
Chadao looked at little boys eyes. They hadn't moved an inch from the floor. "Naruto, are you hungry? Do you want anything to eat?"
Boy only shook his head quickly.
Hana touched her stomach overdramatically. "I think I am. Why don't you accompany me to cafeteria? Tenzo will be there. You like Tenzo don't you?"
Boy only shrugged quietly.
That was an understatement. When they had met for the first time, man had calming aura around him. It was most likely due his Mokuton skills that calmed Kyuubi inside the boy but to Naruto man was made him feel… quiet. He didn't understand it any other way. But that didn't mean he trusted him. He did smile a lot more around the man and had even once laughed when he had played with him using his skills growing trees around him, making him reach high places or tickled him. But even he hadn't been able to break the boy's silent wall.
They left leaving people back to what they had been doing. The corridor was now cleaned from the flood that had occurred just few moments ago but the voices of the pool area hadn't yet silenced. They were still in the middle of a fight. Naruto looked little curiosly to their direction but didn't say anything. He only followed his guardian up the staircase.
They arrived moments before the lunch rush. Hana picked what he thought Naruto would like and lead them to table. While they were sitting alone inside the empty cafeteria, she decided to brake to news to him.
"Naruto-kun, I want to talk with you." She said gently not sure how she should start. Boy looked up frightened thinking the worst. "Its nothing like that." She assured him guessing his thoughts. "I just have to leave you with someone else for few hours later today."
Boy looked little more scared and shook his head silently.
"Im sorry but I have to. I sent the man who had to work so it's my responsible to do his work. You don't want me to get into trouble, do you?"
Blond boy thought for a moment and looked down. "I don't want you to go." He whispered weakly.
"I know you don't and I don't want either." She touched his hair. "But I made this mess, so it's my duty to clean it."
"I still don't want you to go." He repeated.
"Don't worry about it. Ill be gone only for few hours and I will always be five minutes away from you. So if anything happens, remember that in five minutes I will be holding you." Red haired woman took him in her arms and hugged him tightly. "And besides, you're a big boy now aren't you?"
He nodded quietly.
"Remember that. Ill have… Chadao-kun or Tenzo-san or Tanta-san to look after you. You like them, don't you?"
"I… don't know." He whispered. "Wood guy seems… okay. Plat lady… is nice. Chadao-san… I don't know."
"Hey! Why I don't get a nickname?" Speak of the devil. Man had followed them soon after when his training partner had disappeared. There was also Tenzo looking passive as always and… "Kakashi-san. You're back!"
Silver haired man raised his hand lazily. "Yo." And they all entered the cafeteria and after picking their lunch they joined to their table. Tenzo next to Naruto who had went silent immediately. Kakashi sat opposite side, next to Hana. Chadao sat between her and Naruto. He was still trying to make the boy talk by suggesting some nicknames for himself.
"How about… 'Fire master'? I kick ass with fire jutsus." He suggested but the blond boy only shrugged his head.
Then Mokuton user surprised him by making his chair rise higher. He started smile first lightly and then the man made the stool shook a little and his grin grew wider but he remained silent as he grabbed his seat so he wouldn't fall down.
"So, how's Naruto?" Kakashi asked looking at the sight of a smiling boy on higher seat than others.
"Quiet." Hana asked smiling herself to boys happy face. Chadao add his own part by creating a small fire hurricane to his hand. It was his own creation while he was still a jonin. It was fairly simple close-range jutsu that had similar effect as the Rasengan and Chidori but much more simpler to learn and not as effective. It was called Kakihariken (Fire hurricane). But to the boy in front, it was an amazing show. "He doesn't talk much. Only in private and even then only few selected words. It takes so much of me to not go and kill everyone in this damn village." She lowered her voice so the boy wouldn't hear.
Kakashi nodded understanding. "It cant be helped. But at least now he is safe. We only need to find a way to open him up."
"It would be a lot easier if he had any peers to be with." She muttered and leaned to her hands. "Im afraid that he will grow to someone with no emotions at all. Only capable for complete the mission and to wait for the next."
"I don't think you should be afraid of that." Silver haired smiled under his mask. "Look at him."
Hana raised her gaze. Boy was laughing. There was no sound but his grin was giving it away. He looked around how Tenzo played with his Mokuton skills, how Chadao used his own fire jutsu arsenal and then Shiyaku appeared with his squad and rushed over to their table smiling. He made his effort to make Naruto break from his shell by creating boys shadow to turn into most funnies shapes.
--
"Okay Naruto-kun, try again but this time, hold you're chakra long as you can." Hana observed from side. They were standing on the roof again but this time they had chosen another training sight from the middle of the garden. Soft tune of shamisen surrounded them played by Hakena. She was very musical woman who enjoyed the sound of her own played music. And while she seemed to be completely occupied with her sound, she stole quick looks of them. The boy was the son of Yondaime. Could he live up to his fathers name?
Boy collected all the chakra he could. Everything and was struggling to keep it up. Hyuuga lady didn't know why drove her to do this but she activated her Byakugan and watched the boys chakra control. That moment she noticed two things. One, boys control was a mess (to a four year old with ninja inheritance). All his chakra was divided irregularly around his body. Most of it seemed to be circling around the weird charka way in his system around his stomach. 'That must be Kyuubis seal.' She thought. The other thing she noticed that made her more worried was he had currently enough chakra as an average genin. Four years old and enough chakra as 14 year old kid (approx age when genins enter the chunin exams for the first time). Then she noticed that smallest visible amount of red chakra appeared from the seal and started to move around inside his blue chakra. And everywhere it went, it caused weird effects. First the red chakra drove the blue chakra away of it and the next moment it was like a magnet which pulled all the blue chakra towards it. It slowly reached his head and the boy's concentration was lost and most of the chakra disappeared. It continued it way out of the head when it suddenly withered away. But Hakena saw that there was still a small amount of blue chakra running around him. And sometimes a red chakra spike appeared from the seal shaking everything up. Was Yondaimes seal supposed to work that way?
"That was very good Naruto-kun." Hana praised the little boy who looked down blushing again and with confused feelings. He was happy and doubtful and blushing and holding back tears. He hadn't shred a single tear since the first day but they seemed to be around the corner all the time. All the confusing feelings disappeared when red haired medic started checking him up for possible chakra exhaustion and was surprised when the boy was barely winded. Normally that kind of amount would have taken a lot more than few drops of sweat from a four year old kid. "You have amazing stamina." She praised again even though she expected knowing what the reason was. She smiled and nodded. "You did great. Now, go and wash you're face in the river and try some of the meditation exercises which I told you about."
Boy nodded and walked away. When he was walking away, Hakena saw this as a chance to go and talk to her. She carried her shamisen in her lap and walked to her. The woman was colleting the few exercise gear that she had loaned from storage. One was a simple ball. A person would put chakra into it and try to make it glow. Teacher would tell him to raise or to lower the chakra. Lower the chakra dimmer the light and the opposite. The other one was kind of Rubik's cube. This exercise needed much more complicated and needed much control. Person would try to get cubes sides moving in particular order. Cubes insides were designed so it would be effected by chakra. There were others, some would be simpler, others harder but Naruto didn't try any of them. She had only shown him them and told that when he would be able to pass all these, he would have the control of a medic. She was considering training the boy with her own skills so she wouldn't need to worry of him getting into a battlefield and getting killed in a first chance he got. She knew it was a helpless dream knowing his parents but there was always a chance… right? She had also said that before she wasn't satisfied with his control, he wouldn't be allowed to learn a single jutsu. Now she was collecting them back to a bag where she had carried them.
"Hana-san. May I have a word?" Hyuuga woman said with usual cold voice.
"Yes. Of course. What is it? She turned around to face the black haired woman.
"Its about Naruto-kuns training you did just now." And she explained what she had seen. "I was wondering is the seal malfunctioning. Or was it supposed to work that way?"
Hana gave a cornered look to the boy who was 'meditating' by looking at the river and the little fishes it had. "I have patrol duty soon. I will ask Hokage-sama about it also. But thank you for telling me."
"Not at all." Hakena nodded. He pale eyes scanned through the area. "Even though my clan is not as open-minded as they maybe should be, they can't ask me to abandon Minato-samas son."
Hana nodded. "I was wondering, how your niece? She is Narutos age isn't she?"
Hakena nodded. "Hinata-samas fourth birthday is at the end of this December. She is doing fine, considering what happened few months ago."
"Horrible. I still cant believe that leader of the Cloud was acting so low." Hana shook her head. "How's his son doing? Neji wasn't it?"
"Yes. He is totally closed himself from rest of the clan. He only spends his days training and more training." Hakuna showed little emotions when she talked about him. "Boy lost his father and is blaming the main family for it. No one really knows what to do."
"He's only five. Im sure that when he grows up he will understand." Hana touched her friends shoulder gently.
"I… hope so."
--
Danzo was reading some of the old reports regarding for some matter when he heard door opening. There had been no knock so he was curios to see who would have the guts to enter his office without his permission. "What is it?" He asked angrily not turning around even if he wanted to.
"What are you doing?" Asked curious little voice as the door was closed behind it. Now the councilman had to turn around.
"Naruto, what brings you here?" He asked from bright yellow haired boy who scanned the office with his eyes. "Did something happen?" They had only seen each other once since the first day and it was only been a quick check up. Now the boy had made his way to his office.
"Aunt Hana had to go somewhere." He didn't really understand what this 'patrol' or 'shift' was but it seemed important. "She asked Wood guy to look after me."
"So… why are you not with him?" Man asked more curiously that he had wanted to admit.
"I run." Boy said simply. "I was bored." He walked to one of the shells and pulled out a scroll. Danzo rushed to him and snapped it away from him. They glared at each other angrily. It was true that Hana was the only person who Naruto talked to but also the only person could control Naruto. They had been on the roof, where Tenzo had played with the boy when they had heard a fight. Shiyaku and Hakena were arguing about something (or it was more like the Hyuuga who screamed and Nara who only smiled and kept repeating: wonderful) so he had decided to go and calm them down. That was a mistake. After two minutes of talking calmly it was all settled. Expect that Naruto had disappeared. That was a mystery to everyone how he had managed pass all the people on the roof, staircase and the building to Danzos room unnoticed. Even to Naruto himself. He was only bored looking their fighting and had decided to look around. Before he knew it, he was glaring at the bandaged man inside his own office.
Naruto didn't know why, but this man made him loose all his guard just like the opposite. He didn't wear his polite smile but was glaring angrily at the boy who had dared to invade his privacy for something trivial as 'being bored'.
Then he sighed. It couldn't be helped. Might as well ask something and take a look after his progress. "How's your training going?" He asked sitting to his pillow on the floor. "I've heard that you been concentrating on your studies more than you're skills.
"Aunt Hana said that I should know all the basics before I do anything else." He shrugged and walked around.
"Don't touch anything." Man muttered warningly. "That's good. Did she introduce you to any of the chakra control methods?"
"Some toys." Boy shrugged. "Today I only had to 'mold' chakra. It made me feel dizzy and hot."
"I see." Man nodded and returned his attention back to his reports. "Do you like it here?"
Boy shrugged. "Don't know." He looked around curiosly and started digging everything in sight.
--
"Naruto-kun! Naruto-kun! Where are you?" Tenzo yelled worried. "Anything?" He asked from Hakena who was using her Byakugan.
"No." She shook her head.
"Im soooo dead!" Tenzo screamed terrified. "When Hana founds out I lost Naruto, she will kill me!"
"This is bad. Not wonderful at all." Shiyaku said looking around.
"How could you loose him?" Kakashi asked wide eyed. "He is four years old for Christ sake!"
"Im sorry Kakashi-senpai but I only turned my back for two minutes and he had disappeared." Mokuton user explained in shame.
"And you have checked the entire roof?" Silver haired man looked around.
"Hakena-san used her Byakugan." Tenzo answered.
"This is bad." Kakashi whispered and thought it for a minute. "Okay, Shiyaku, you and Hakena visit the dojo and made you're way up. Me and Tenzo work our way down. We meet half way. Don't mention this to anyone. If Hana founds out we lost him, we all be doomed. Go." Both of them nodded and disappeared. "Lets go."
Tenzo nodded and they rushed down the staircase to the lower levels.
They looked everywhere. They visited the dojos, the storages, quarters, clinic, cafeteria. And he was nowhere to be found. After one hour Hanas shift was coming to nearer and nearer to and end. And so were the lives of the peoples who were looking for Naruto. "Where he is?" Tenzo asked out loud looking around furiously from places he couldn't possibly be.
--
Naruto was on the roof. Soon after he had left the Bandage man, he had found himself on the garden from the same spot he had mediated earlier this day. Evening sun was setting coloring everything orange.
"Hello." He trembled when someone called for him. There hadn't been anyone since he had arrived here. He turned around and saw boy standing in front of him. He was older than himself. That much was obvious. "What are you doing here?"
Naruto only shrugged and didn't answer.
"Who are you?" Boy asked and stepped closer. Naruto stood quickly up and backed away with accusing face. "Oh you want to know my name first? Im Itachi. Itachi Uchiha." He bowed in high manner. When he looked up, he saw that the boy was even more frightened than before. Had it something to do with his name? He observed the boy quickly.
Boy was young. Not more than four. He could have been an NE member but they didn't leave their personal base without a reason. And that boy was way too emotional to be one of them. Fear could be seen from his eyes when he looked up to him.
"I don't hurt you." Itachi said quietly. "Tell me, what's your name?"
But the boy didn't answer. He remembered all the police officers in the streets and this must have been same kind of man. All the Uchihas were. They hated him. Only because something his father had done to him. It was not fair!
"Listen, if you don't tell me your name, you have to come with me." Black haired boy said gently and extended his arm. "Don't worry. I won't hurt you."
"You're lying!" Naruto screamed. "You all lie! I remember! I asked help from police but they only ignored me or hated me like all! Go away!"
Rage in his words had surprised the Uchiha prodigy. "What you mean? Konohas military police treat every-" Then he finally noticed the six whisker-like marks on boys cheeks. He had often heard how many of the officers hated the demon who had the guts to come beg for help. But that boy had been killed. His father had himself said so on the day he had been called for an emergency meeting to ANBU hq later. He had been late when his father had told him that the Jichuuriki had been killed. He himself had no opinion on the boy. He maybe the demon vessel but it had nothing to do with him. Itachi had promised to protect the village and that he would do.
But he still couldn't understand how the child was still alive? More than that, what was he doing on the roof of the base? He was sitting on the middle of Tanta-sans garden and she would freak if she would find out.
But the boy didn't seem to trust him at all. He looked at him. He was young and short. He had bright blue eyes that looked frightened but still had a fire on them while he glared back up to him. Quickly he remembered his little brother but shook that out of his mind. Boy looked around furiously. Was he waiting for someone?
"What are you doing here?" He asked trying not to sound… himself. "This is Tanta-sans garden. She is very protective of this place."
"Aunt Hana said we would train here!" Naruto answered with shaking voice. "Go away!"
"Aunt Hana? You mean… Akahana-taichou?" Older boy asked frowning a little. What was her relationship to this boy? He looked around. The son was setting fast and it would get rather cold soon. "We should get inside. We can look for Akahana-taichou after that."
"No!" Boy screamed and hit his hand down. "Go away! Leave me alone! All you leave me alone!"
Itachi had a feeling he hadn't felt for years. Not since he had first tried to use a jutsu in his life. He was feeling helpless. He had never dealt with this kind of boy. Who refused to accept help. It didn't make any sense. It would be logical to come inside and to trust him. He was older and an ANBU. Then he realized what the problem was! Boy didn't know it. He knelt to his feet and bowed.
"Im sorry for my rudeness. Im Itachi Uchiha. Heir of Uchiha clan and currently working as an ANBU black op. Who are you?"
Naruto thought it for a minute. Maybe it wouldn't be bad to answer to him. Maybe he could go away if he did.
"Im Naruto. And I stay here."
"But if you stay here you'll catch a cold."
"No I won't. I never catch cold." Naruto said coldly. "Go away. I don't want to be near of you."
Itachi kept himself from sighing. Good ninja never showed his feelings. "Fine." He sat next to the boy. "We wait here for Akahana-taichous return."
Naruto didn't understand what he meant but didn't sit down. Only glared at the older boy who began to meditate. Did everyone do that? It was so boring!
"Moon is big." Dark boy said slowly looking up. Sun had finally set and they were looking up. "I guess it's a full moon." He whispered and shook his head. "How long have you been here?"
Boy shrugged. "A Week." He answered slowly.
"I've been in the force for two weeks now." He answered. "Do you want to be a ninja?"
Again Naruto shrugged. "Everyone's help me to be one."
"Don't go down that path." Itachi said quickly. "Don't fall because everyone else is pushing you down. Make your own path."
Narutos leg started to tire and somehow he felt enough relaxed to sat down. And somewhere inside the base three guys were getting shit kicked out of them by angry women.