"Talking"
Thoughts, sometimes emphasis on words
-Flashback-
---------- Change of Scene
I wasn't able to update (holidays and stuff). So Sorry.
Demons DawnChapter Sixteen: A Citizen of Konoha
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He was up on the roof simply staring at the sky, he liked the stars themselves, for they comforted him. He did not know what he would have done if that sky had been nothing but emptiness, did not know what it the world would have become without the inspiration they conveyed. But the glow was cold and unforgiving, indifferent to those that admired them with so much devotion, based entire cultures on them in fact. But tonight they were simply tiny little pretty pinpoints of light for him.
Someone was on the roof with him, but he didn't acknowledge his or her presence.
That someone put something in front of his face, it was a scroll with the seal of the Hokage on it.
"What's this?" Naruto piped up but didn't take the scroll.
"For you," it was Sasuke. Naruto took the scroll gingerly from Sasuke as if afraid that it would suddenly come alive and strike out at him.
He snapped the seal and read by the waning light of the moon, a smiled spread a cross his face and he shook with excitement. Sasuke smiled and for a moment forgot his anger toward Naruto, but it was quick to come back. He knew what was in the scroll he had after all requested it himself, it was one of his rights as a sort of caretaker of Naruto's. It was Naruto's official right to be part of Konoha, it gave him all the privileges of someone from here, he was no longer of the outside world, he was part of this village, he was now a proud citizen of Konoha.
But this simple gesture was not to be mistaken for kindness or friendship.
It was simple and forthright convenience.
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He was simply not enjoying his stay in Konoha. But he hadn't come for a visit he had come for Naruto. The boy was simply not improving in this village, he had given him a chance of a home, but also hopping that he would become stronger. But they only played games of tag, he however grudgingly admitted that Naruto's academic skills were excellent and one of the best he had ever seen. Thought his grades did not show it, but he had learned that he was now an official citizen of Konoha by the request of Uchiha Sasuke. How ironic.
He threw a kunai at a passing butterfly and pinned it to a tree, only in flight was it beautiful. When still it was nothing more then a repugnant insect. So many thoughts, so many plans and so little time to carry them out…
-Flashback-
He saw it, it was only for a couple of seconds, but it was clear as daylight. He saw the hate in them, saw that he wanted to tear his limbs away one by one and make him suffer for what he was doing, saw that he hated his very being, hated the very air he breathed. So he was progressing nicely, his growth was amazing! One to be admired.
"One more time Naruto, as many as you can possibly manage," he said and was pleased despite himself that the hatred withdrew completely from those all too brilliant sapphire eyes. The boy put his hands together. An almost none existent flash of pity sparked of somewhere in his mind but he was quick to eliminate it. This man, this Tenchi-san, would care about, even love the boy, but he would never pity him. Naruto was sweating heavily, his breathing was hard and labored, his knees looked ready to give away, but he didn't fall. Naruto's stamina's was incredible! One to rival even his own.
"Yes Tenchi-san," Naruto said and did the seal. It was absolutely flawless. Ten very real and solid clones appeared besides and around Naruto, but he realized there was something off about them. He knew for a fact that after the training he had given him he should have only managed two at most, not eight more. He looked at them and he was shocked. It was a different chakra from Naruto's!
"Naruto, what are you doing?" he asked, giving nothing away of his thoughts.
"Hun?" Naruto was puzzled, his sensei looked even more serious then usual if that was at all possible.
"Your not using your own usual chakra," he said slowly and saw the sudden fear in Naruto's eyes, "I think you know what I mean." The clones disappeared at Naruto's will, and he looked around everywhere as if he was trying to escape him. Odd, he had never acted like that, despite the harsh training. Naruto hung his head and finally succumbed to his exhaustion, another odd thing he noted. He crouched close to the boy, and waited for an answer.
It came forced and scared.
"There's something inside me…" Naruto whispered while tearing the grass around him to shreds. This was the first he had ever heard about this and he continued to look down at Naruto questioningly and said nothing. "It's a different from me, and sometimes I can use its chakra, and it's immense and immeasurable. But I can only use it when I'm tired or enraged, it doesn't want me to die for some reason. But I don't like it, I hate it. It makes me feel things, its emotions, but even that only happens when I am having intense feelings. I don't know what it wants, but it's a part of me or becoming a part of me, I can feel it. Everyday we merge a little more, the difference slips more into a gray area, further then before. But we are still apart, I am still the ruling force but we still merge and remain separate entities. That's all I know."
Amazing. He was able to figure out so much on his own about the Kyuubi and himself. But I can tell that he is holding something back from me, something important. But he will tell me in time. He could not possibly use the chakra without the consent of the Kyuubi, a half-truth I suspect. Still an effective use of it however. I wonder why he would choose to use it now. Perhaps he had no other way to tell me then to show me. And he knows full well that my eyes can catch anything. A very amusing child indeed, not to mention the potential! But for now it will only be safe to assume that he knows nothing about the Kyuubi.
The boy looked like he was awaiting the death sentence. Very interesting.
"Let's go for some ramen, were done with training," he said and stood up. Even he, the unmovable was, was startled by the look of pure love the boy gave him, the look of pure adoration and respect, not totally unfamiliar to him but without any of that jealousy and longing. He closed his crimson eyes and dared a smile then, the wind was nearly knocked out of him when he felt the crushing hug of the boy, he stepped back slightly so that the he wouldn't be knocked down, thought of course he wouldn't have been. He let his hand rest lightly on Naruto's back. Naruto looked up to him and gave a wide grin.
"You're paying of course," Naruto said and disengaged himself and walked off toward the village they were currently residing in. He groaned and followed Naruto.
"Of course I have to pay! Who else has the money?" he shouted after him. Naruto only made a gesture with his hand and kept on walking. He gave a sigh. Feeding the boy was driving a hole into his pocket, and money was not easy to come by anymore since he couldn't go on mission that paid well, since they were more often then not the ones that took a long time and much traveling, he couldn't take Naruto on any of the missions and his 'clients' would more then likely be put off by a child. Besides Naruto was yet not mentally ready to consciously take a life, yet…
-End Flashback-
He thought it interesting that Naruto had caught sight him briefly, and he had been hiding carefully. He was still a missing-nin, one that could not really afford to be caught. More out of inconvenience then the actual fear of being caught and killed. But of course Naruto did not know that and no one would be able to tell, he was after all Tenchi to Naruto, so much so that he was starting to forget his true name.
"Itachi," he whispered to himself. He must never forget it, despite the boy. Angel, he had no idea what had ever driven the nearly scrawny boy to ever say that to him. Him of all people. This thought was often one he liked to replay and rethink once in a while, but he had never asked for an answer. Never asked the still bony boy why he had called him angel. He of the demon eyes never asked.
He jumped down from the tree as he saw the sunlight kiss the treetops.
It was time to pay his dear student a visit.
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Naruto was in ecstasy at having his own apartment! No more having to chare with Sasuke! It had been a welcome change especially after the little episode in the forest of Area 23. Something had happened then, and Naruto saw it but would never admit it. It had damaged their circle.
There was no one to share this moment with him, not really anyone to care for he had told no one and Sasuke had gone back to his house. As it should be! Naruto had scoffed, but he been apprehensive and felt out of place without the silent Uchiha at his side and Tsubasa had been too busy with Byakugan lessons to come with him, not that she would have found the place any faster then he had. But still it would have been nice to have some company…
The bitter disappointment was evanescent as he felt something inside his new home, a powerful presence.
He opened the door quickly and jumped in and caught a body in a tight embrace.
"Tenchi-san!"
End Chapter Sixteen
Next Chapter: More of Naruto's past.
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So chapter sixteen is done. Yay! I am glad to announce that I did redeem myself! (It took me like two rewrites just to get that one! And I at the last moment I just got it! But I realize now that I shouldn't try to update as soon as possible, rather I should try to make a good story that people will read and enjoy. But people reading it just put pressure on me… As I've said, it surprises me that people read. It shocks me. A lot. lol. But I love it!). And yep! It's official now, Tenchi is Itachi, thought I did kind of give that away on the last chapter. Anywho's I respond to some stuff now.
Anonymous :): Kakashi doesn't think Naruto is weak, it's just the way he saw it and interpreted things. The way I see Kakashi is that he doesn't think a lot of people are better then him, and he is the sort (like many in Naruto) that only respect power and ability and those whom are stronger then they themselves are, sort of like Sasuke (except he is willing to see the potential in others, and recognizes when someone can surpass even him).
plur: THANK-YOU SO MUCH!!! (talk about a confidence booster!). And as to parings, I'm not sure on that matter, but maybe. I mean, if more people want to read that in this fanfic, then I guess yea. Naruto's and Itachi's relationship is more that of a parent/teacher/friend/and everything else in between. But any other suggestions and or questions you have are welcome!
And I am glad you like it nancie, thanks for reviewing!!
Please read and review.