Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Author's Note: I wrote this chapter listening to Akino Arai's 'Tsuki No Ie'
I still haven't decided if Naruto will be evil or not... what do you think?
Also I've already made several jutsu for KuroNaruto version...
Some parts of the Jiraiya section I took from the anime, though it is somewhat different, the dialogue has the same meaning...
On to the story...
Chapter 8: Love and Family
Meanwhile in Konohagakure, a certain sannin for once wasn't on one of his research escapades.
Jiraiya was thinking of that past events and how it lead to him losing another student.
A few months ago, one of his sources gave him information of a spy in Konoha from Akatsuki. The description was quite vague, a man who wore a long black hooded cloak, hell most of Konoha's citizen match the profile if they wore a 'long black hooded cloak' Jiraiya was amazed at his source's stupidity. How the hell was he gonna find this guy with that description. It didn't help him that a few months after that his student went AWOL and suspected to have massacred several people. It's not like he believed any of that, it's just Naruto hasn't been himself when they left Konoha for almost 3 years. On top of that his suspicions were raised when he remembered that day when the three sannins fought…
Flashback—
The battle was fierce, he couldn't mold chakra properly and on top of that his movement is somewhat limited giving Orochimaru a clear advantage even without his arms. It was at this when Naruto and Shizune were fighting the four-eyes that Orochimaru strikes up a conversation.
"For me he is nothing, but a worthless kid" eyeing Naruto.
"That's why I'm teaching him and not a genius like the Uchiha"
"Probably because he reminded you of yourself back then…"
Orochimaru didn't mind Naruto so much then when he saw that he was no match for Kabuto. But then when they heard—
"RASENGAN!" they stopped their fight and turned to the source to see Naruto planting a Rasengan to Kabuto's abdomen and sending him flying a few meters into a rock. At this he saw the change in the way Orochimaru looked at Naruto…
"I let him live in the Chuunin Exams because Akatsuki wants him alive…I should have gotten rid of him then or it will cause problems for me…" he heard Orochimaru whisper confusing him.
Orochimaru then flew towards the genin, He tried to stop him but he sent him to the ground using his tongue. But before he could connect his sword to Naruto, Tsunade blocked it with her body. What Orochimaru told Tsunade made him even more confused.
"Why are you protecting a mere genin? If Akatsuki gets him it will be more trouble than one"
End Flashback—
It was okay for Orochimaru that Naruto fell to the hands of the Akatsuki before he used Rasengan. Then he suddenly changes his mind when he saw what Naruto was capable of. Why was he troubled that Naruto could use Rasengan when he knew that the jinchuuriki was going to die once the biju is extracted? It didn't matter that Naruto had such skill when he was going to die. Somehow Orochimaru was threatened when he saw what the boy was able to do and decided to get rid of him before Akatsuki gets him. And then he remembered another thing…
Flashback—
"We have orders from our organization to take Naruto-kun with us…"
End Flashback—
Itachi said that Akatsuki wants 'Naruto' but didn't specify the Kyuubi. He knew that Itachi knew that they know the Kyuubi. Heck, Itachi knows that I know their objective was to take the biju. Was there something he was missing that will give the answers?
"Jiraiya-sama!" he heard a shout that made him snap out of his thoughts.
"Hmm?" he asked grumbling…
"Hokage-sama wants to see you"
After seeing who was speaking…
"Kure-chan, I didn't know it was you, cutie-pie" Jiraiya was drooling.
"Stop calling me Kure-chan!" Kurenai couldn't believe that this perverted old man was one of the sannin…
"How's your student doing?" Jiraiya asked turning serious on the topic.
"Hinata? Not good… They say she doesn't want to eat. Her father is really worried and has started to forcefully feed her. It's just been a year since Hinata beat Hanabi for the clan seat, the Hyuuga elders are worried for her well-being…" she said with sorrowful eyes.
"I guess she was the one who took his death the worst…" Jiraiya said sympathetically.
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In the Hyuuga compound…
"Naruto-kun!" Hinata shouted as she sat up on her bed sweating and panting heavily…
Neji hearing the scream quickly went inside her room. Neji was really worried for Hinata. Ever since Naruto beat him in the chuunin exams, he had started to become closer to Hinata. He treated her like a younger sister and would train with her sometimes. He decided to visit Hinata today after he has just returned form a mission.
As he entered her room he saw her crying…
"Hinata-sama…" Neji said as he hugged Hinata. Hinata started to cry on his chest. 'She has been like this since Naruto disappeared; now she's gotten worse after the news of his death'
Hinata didn't attend Naruto's funeral. She was too weak after hearing the news that she couldn't get out of bed. She just cried all day saying that she won't believe he's dead until she sees his face again. She cried and cried blaming all the villagers for Naruto's death, saying that they were the devils and she would kill them all. The elders fearing that Hinata would really do so in her current state of mind, decided to lock her up in her room. They didn't want the future clan head to go and kill people. Hiashi even thanked them for understanding and still letting Hinata become the clan head. They never change their mind on Hinata as the clan head saying that they are only following the clan's rules that since Hinata defeated Hanabi she has all the right as the head.
Hanabi too was worried for her sister though she didn't show it after her pride was hurt when Hinata defeated her. She would sometimes feed her sister and bring her food. Hinata would only eat if it was her, their father or Neji that brought her food.
Only time would tell if Hinata will be caught with her grief forever Hiashi thought…
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On to Team Kakashi…
"Will we encounter any shinobi along the way?" Sasuke asked out of boredom
They were traveling for 2 hours now it was already getting dark… Sasuke and Kakashi were walking in front followed by Kujo and Sakura to the rear of the group just behind Kujo…
"Maybe, we'll never know so we gotta be prepared" Kakashi said with his eye shaped like a 'U' though there was not much happiness in it anymore.
"If were going to meet any Akatsuki member, I will kill them…for 'him'" at this Kujo raised an eyebrow and smirked, but he didn't see coz Kujo was behind him…
"What are you smirking for?" somehow Sakura saw him smirk...
At this the group stopped walking.
Kakashi and Sasuke turned to see what Sakura was talking about.
"What?" Kujo asked in a bored tone.
"You smirked when Sasuke-kun talked about Akatsuki" Sakura was glaring at him.
"What? I can't smirk if I heard something stupid?" he retorted in a mocking tone.
"Stupid?" Sasuke said joining in on the converstion.
"All this talk about the Akatsuki and this stupid dead member of yours, it's all stupid"
Sakura had enough and gave him a chakra enforced punch only to miss as her punch was about to connect.
"What?" she yelled as she eyed her fists in confusion 'I was sure it was gonna hit him!'
"I didn't know you were blind pinky…" he teased her.
Sasuke was about to join in when he was stopped by Kakashi placing a hand on his shoulder.
"That's enough! Both of you act like children, we are on a mission! We have no time for childish games. Sakura! Don't fight an ally and you!" pointing a finger at Kujo "Don't disrespect my former student or you will answer to me, got that?" sending Kujo a good amount of killing intent, but was surprised when he just shrugged it off.
'Sakura's punch couldn't hit him… I sworeI heard those bells… must be some sort of genjutsu…better take note just in case' Kakashi thought as he eyed Kujo suspiciously.
They continued to walk for a while when Sasuke started a conversation amidst the silence surprising everybody including Kujo. Kakashi and Sasuke started talking about random stuff with Sakura joining in on some of them. Sakura glared at both them when they started taking about Icha Icha which Sasuke, much to Sakura's dismay, has started reading as well. She blamed Kakashi for influencing Sasuke too much. It was then that she saw why Sasuke was more open to Kakashi than most people. They both lost their bestfriendsand bothe didn't have parents. Now that she thought about it where was the girl named Rin who was part of Kakashi's team?
Flashback—
"Every one that I loved is dead…"
End Flashback—
Is she…?
She looked at her former teacher's back. 'He has lost more than Sasuke… Is he even happy?'
"Romance between team members is not good you know and Kakashi's too old for you…" Kujo, who was now next to her, whispered, cuts her thoughts.
"Shut up" she retorted sending him a cold glare. But she was thankful that it didn't reach Kakashi's ears, she shuddered to think what would happen if it did. Other than being a strong ninja, her former sensei was also known as one of Konoha's biggest pervert.
It was almost dark, so Kakashi ordered them to set up a camp to spend the night. Kujo said that he doesn't sleep so he was going on patrol. Kakashi thought a lot before letting him go…He was getting really suspicious.
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In Orocimaru's lair…
She was locked up in this dungeon for three months now… no food, no water. The only thing keeping her alive was the demon inside her. The dungeon was in the deep bowels of Orochimaru's lair. It stinks of death and the smell of sulfur lingers in the air. It was always wet and torches in every column were the only source of light. Both of her hands were chained to the wall, as well as her feet. She had green hair that was disheveled and spots of blood littered its once brilliant color. She was wearing a grass jounin uniform which was tattered. She had beautiful emerald eyes, which were now dull. She was around twenty years of age, but torture made her look almost thirty. Her hitai-ate was on her neck. It carried the symbol of the Kusagakure (Hidden Grass).
There were footsteps reaching up to where she is…She looked up to the man who betrayed her… The man who took her heart but still betrayed her,Kabuto.
"I'm sorry, Kiku-chan. It seems Orocimaru-sama has decided to get rid of you since you don't wanna cooperate"
"A-Ar-Are yo-you going to ki-kill me?" she asked, her voice trembling and tears running on her cheeks as she looked at the man who she loved and still love despite all the things he has done to her.
"Now, why would I do that?" he said as if he cared for her, tracing her hair with his hand.
He then whispered in her ears "You love me still, don't you?"
Kiku's eyes widened when she saw that Kabuto was holding a kunai. She braced herself as she closed her eyes only to hear the chains drop to the floor. She opened her eyes to see that Kabuto has cut her chains. She saw him walking towards the door.
He stopped and said "You're free… get out of here before Orochimaru-sama finds out about this…And…" he looked back to her "…forgive me…".
She stared at his fading figure, tears streaming down her face.
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In Konoha…
Jiraiya was walking down the streets of Konoha looking for a nice place to drink. Tsunade had just finished berating him about his recent 'incident' in the bathhouse. He was really tired and his ears sting, it was then that he really felt his age getting to him. He breathed a sigh of relief as he found a good spot. He was about to enjoy drinking alone when…
"Jiraiya-sama!" he tried to hide his face but found that the person was walking towards him.
"Ah! Iruka! How long has it been?" he said giving Iruka his best fake smile.
"Jiraiya-sama, will you join me for a drink?" he couldn't really say no, so he accepted the offer.
After a few bottles, Iruka was already sputtering nonsense at him. Actually it was Iruka who did all the drinking.
"…aN' tHat sTupidsh lady shaids…" Iruka sputtered.
He really drunk, but Jiraiya just kept on giving him more to drink 'When the hell is this guy going to pass out?'
Suddenly Iruka started talking clearly…"Naruto… Does he hate me? I'm the only one not having these stupid dreams about Naruto… Does he hate me so? Was I not a good brother?" then he passed out.
It was true that everyone that new Naruto had the same dream, of the paintings and the two doors. Jiraiya deduced that the answer to theirs will be answered if they picked the right door, but so far all of them couldn't go through it. I mean you can't control your dreams right? Iruka on the other hand is really depressed that he was the only one who hasn't dreamed this. He was by far the closest one to Naruto and treated him like a brother.
"Naruto…are you really dead? Or are you hiding from us?" he whispered to no one.
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A few miles away from Konoha…
"ACHOOO!"
"Someone must be talking about you" Kakashi said smiling at Kujo who was sitting opposite him with the camp fire they created.
Sasuke and Sakura were already sleeping, but Kakashi stayed awake. He was wary of the new member of his team. He stayed awake lest he does something.
"You don't trust me do you, Kakashi-sensei?" he said mockingly.
Kakashi's eyes widened a bit but shrugged it off knowing that he was just mocking him.
"Not at all Kujo, just wanted to see the beauty of the moon…" he said looking at the sky to which Kujo also did.
"There is no moon, Hatake-san…"
"Oh…" he sweatdropped "By the way, don't call me Kakashi-sensei again, got that? Especially not in front of Sakura and Sasuke"
"Ok, Kakashi-sensei"
TBC
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