He Sees Darkness, But Smiles Like The Light
By The Un-wanted Angel and Beta'd by Morgan Yukimari
A/N: Now, this is one happy author, because think of how surprised I was to walk away from my laptop only to come back a day later and see I had 10 new reviews for one chapter :) I love you all so, so, so, so, so so much! Not only do I love my reviewers, but I love my readers more than anything! Let's keep it up with the reviews ^^. Also, this chapter will reflect a little bit on the Uchiha side and Sasuke's sadness and longing father-son-love from his father, also Itachi will be mentioned in this chappy :)
*smiles*
We do not own Naruto
CHAPTER 12
Naruto couldn't stop fidgeting in his chair. Today was the Parent-Teacher Conferences and he was a little nervous about them. They had a meeting every year in the middle of the school year; Teachers would show their students improvements both in school work and classroom expectations to the parents. Naruto didn't think he did anything bad or wrong, but he couldn't help but feel nervous.
What if I wasn't smart enough or I'm not qualified to be a ninja? Naruto panicked.
Kyuubi woke up from his slumber.Hm...Kit, you'll be fine. You try your best, that's what really matters.
But what if "my best" just isn't good enough? Tou-san says it takes a lot of patience and hard-work to be Hokage. What if I don't become Hokage. Naruto bit his lip.
Woah, woah, Kit. You're only six, don't take it personally. You still have lots to learn and lots of time. Kyuubi didn't answer anymore questions Naruto had. And before he knew it, the meeting was almost over.
"Naruto is improving in the classroom." Iruka said with a smile.
Minato beamed, I expect no less from my child. He thought before saying, "you hear that, Naruto? You're improving." Minato patted his son's head and Naruto's cheeks redden, a small smile curling his lips up.
"Naruto tries his best and puts forth a lot effort. He has completed the basic requirements and in my opinion, Naruto will make a great ninja." Iruka continued.
Naruto beamed, this wasn't so bad after all. All his worries washed away. Naruto spaced out and before he realised it, the meeting had ended. He heard his father and Iruka-sensei push out their chairs and stand. He assumed they must be shaking hands, which they were. Naruto got up as well and grabbed onto his father's leg.
Minato smiled down at his son and said, "Can you wait in the hall for me for a bit, Naru-chan?"
Naruto turned his head up to his father and after a moment, nodded his understanding. Placing his hand on the wall behind him, he traced his way out of the room. As he stood in the hall and listened to the shuffle of people walking by, be began to get nervous again. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other as he leaned against the wall. "I wonder what Tou-san and Iruka-sensei are talking about." He wondered aloud.
"Uchiha Sasuke, is outstanding!" Naruto heard a voice echo down the hall. He tilted his head in the direction the sound came from. Curiosity getting the better of the poor boy, he wander down the hall towards the sound. When he finally came to the classroom the sound originated from, he stood outside the door and eavesdropped on the conversation.
He listened as the teacher elaborated on how well Sasuke was doing. "Sasuke has been above-average in school work, does more than meets the requirements in training, I have no doubt in my mind this boy will bring great wonders to Konoha as a ninja!" The teacher smiled.
"Hmph," Fugaku said. "Keep it up, Sasuke and you'll be just like Itachi."
But Naruto didn't hear what Fugaku said to Sasuke, he had only caught bits and pieces of the words outstanding, above-average, and great wonders rang through his head. Iruka never said anything like that about him. He felt his eyes begin to swell with tears. All Iruka had said was that he tried his best with forth-effort. That seemed like nothing compared to Sasuke. Naruto couldn't handle it anymore, he choked down a sob and ran out the school doors.
He felt pathetic, he felt worthless, and most of all, he felt like he had just let his father down.
"Iruka, what I wanted to ask you was..." Minato sighed. "Have any teachers or students been treating Naruto differently?"
Iruka thought for a moment. "Not to my knowledge. He's always with me, accept for training next trimester. He'll have a different teacher."
"Who might that teacher be?" Minato asked.
"I don't know, sir. No one knows until the middle of break. We usually do it by their Chakra levels. The advanced ones go with the higher ranking teachers and the ones who need help will either repeat this class, or be moved to a special needs classroom-"
"My son will not go into that classroom." Minato interrupted.
Iruka cocked an eyebrow. "I'm sorry?"
"Make sure that my son doesn't go into that classroom. He's not stupid, Iruka. He just needs help. I think he should go into the advance class. I know for a fact, Sasuke Uchiha will be going into that class and I want my child near Sasuke." Minato explained.
Iruka nodded. "I'll see what I can do, I can only recommend him. But deciding is something I can't do."
"No, it's fine. Recommending will be enough...for now." Minato smiled sadly.
Minato left the classroom as someone else and their child stepped in.
"Okay Naruto, ready to go-Naruto?" He asked. Minato didn't see Naruto in the hallway. He started to panic, looking into other classrooms and ignoring the fact that he was either disrupting a meeting or making a scene of himself, checking the bathrooms and even the playground.
"Damn...this is deja vu." He panicked. He looked around some bushes until he heard crying.
"Hm?" Minato slowly pushed aside some branches on a bush and saw Naruto. The boy was clutching his legs to his chest desperately and had his face pressed against his knees, hidden behind his blond hair. Minato immediately dropped to his knees and held Naruto close to him. As soon as Naruto felt his father's touch, he wrapped his small arms around his father's neck and squeezed tightly.
"Naruto? What's the matter? Why did you leave when I told you to stay?" Questions kept rolling out of his mouth and all Naruto did was sob.
"I-I...I tried my best, Papa, but I didn't do it!" Naruto sobbed into his father's neck.
Minato was confused. Had he missed something?
"Naruto? Do what? What didn't you do?"
"I...I didn't make you proud!" Naruto sobbed. "I over heard a teacher talking about Sasuke's grades and...and...he said he was 'outstanding' and that Sasuke...would be better at things." Minato continued to stroke Naruto's blonde hair. "All I did was fine. I'm not happy with "fine" I want 'excellent' and 'perfect' I want those grades. I worked hard for them...and I didn't get them." Naruto let out a loud cry. Minato felt guilty. Did he not tell Naruto that he was proud of him, no matter what?
"Naruto...I thought I told you, that those who do their best are really the smartest of children." Minato reminded his son, soothingly. He rubbed away tears that fell from Naruto's pale, lifeless eyes. "Naruto, I am proud of you. Of everything, even the simplest things, that you do. You make me happy each and every day. I'm blessed to know that you, Naruto, are my bright child."
Naruto smiled and hugged his father. Minato returned the hug. "Come on, let's get you warm and dry." Minato said, picking up Naruto carrying him out of the snow.
"Now, don't think you're not in trouble for worrying me..." Minato warned. Naruto gulped he knew what that tone meant.
After the snow had melted into a slushy substance and then into water, the grass had grown into a luscious green. Warm sunshine fell from a gorgeous, blue sky and spring was in full bloom. Naruto loved this season more than anything. With his sight he got to see many animals he had never seen before. Flowers were a new experience for him as well; he made sure to pick a bunch for his Papa while walking home with Kakashi from school one day. He experienced new smells and sights.
One day, Minato was granted a rare day-off. He figured since the weather was nice and there was no snow he'd take Naruto to the park. After Naruto was dressed and ready, they set out.
"Tou-san, may I use my sight at the park?" Naruto asked.
~Minato smiled. "I don't mind, but tell me if you get any headaches." His father reminded him.
Naruto nodded, knowing the drill by heart. Minato would always ask him after he used his sight to tell him if he had any headaches and if by God he did he'd not only get a long lecture on how to use his sight properly from his father but one from Kyuubi. So usually he lied about the headaches. The ones he got were small and a quick nap or some water would always cure it, so he saw no harm in not telling his father.
"Will Sasuke be at the park?" Naruto asked.
"I think so." Minato replied.
"Itachi too?"
Itachi...
"Maybe."
"Sasuke says Itachi gets mad every so often." Naruto replied.
Minato stopped walking, thinking about what Naruto had to say about Itachi and Sasuke. "Is that so? Can you tell me more about it?" Minato asked.
Naruto nodded, he began to repeat what Sasuke had told him just a few days ago. "Sasuke told me that Itachi had gotten into a fight with some of his family. He said that they blamed Itachi for the death of his friend, Shisui." Naruto replied, confused. "I don't understand, Tou-san. Why would they blame Itachi for that? Itachi seems like such a nice person. He's nice to me and doesn't treat me any different than what people should."
Minato smiled, he was glad for Itachi for treating others with the same respect. But...Shisui.
He hadn't spoken to Fugaku in a while. He wondered what he had to say about all of this.
"Naruto. Don't worry about that. Itachi is a good person." Minato explained. "Good people always get justice."
Naruto shrugged. "Will you push me on the swings?" Naruto asked, changing the subject.
Minato nodded. Naruto, you're so naive.
*Naruto*Naruto*Naruto*Naruto*Naruto*Naruto*Naruto*Naruto*Naruto*Naruto*Naruto*Naruto*Naruto*Naruto*Naruto*Naruto*Naruto*
"Higher, Tou-san, I wanna' go higher!" Naruto cried for joy as he was pushed on the swing, laughing and swinging his feet back and forth. Minato smiled and pushed a tad bit harder. He didn't want Naruto to go too high and become frightened or worse -fall off the swing. He made sure not to make Naruto go any higher than he already was.
"Weeee!" Naruto cried with joy.
"Naru-chan!" Someone called out, Naruto looked forward seeing Sasuke waving at him. He smiled and as he was really high in the air, he jumped off the swing. His son's suddenly departure alarmed Minato so much he didn't see the swing come back at him. It hit the frazzled father in the face and knocked him down.
"Naruto, hi!" Sasuke called. "Are you using your sight?"
"Yes I am, Sasuke and I like spring! It's so pretty, almost as pretty as autumn-" Naruto replied only to be interrupted by his father.
"NARUTO!" Minato yelled, anger and worry laced in his voice. Naruto turned towards his father, an apologetic look on his face. "How many times have I told you, do not jump from high places?!" Minato said, hands on his hips. Naruto blushed, frowning.
"To not to. Or I'll get injured," Naruto replied, his eyes downcast.
"That's right." Minato said, checking Naruto's ankles to see if he bruised them. "Hello, Sasuke. are you here alone?" He asked.
"No. I'm with Itachi, but he left to go talk to someone." Sasuke replied.
"Well...how is Itachi?" Minato asked, very concerned right now about Itachi's wellbeing. He knew all about Itachi. Itachi was probably the most powerful Uchiha currently alive. He had no doubt in his mind that Itachi was a good child, but there was something about Itachi that made him reconsider some things.
Sasuke shrugged. "He's sort of quiet. It's been bothering me." Sasuke frowned. "and he's always gone on missions lately."
Well, the kid's only thirteen and he's a freaking captain already. More than that, he was only in the Academy for little less than a year. I'd say the kid was a genius.Minato thought. "I see. Can you please tell him that if he's having any problems he can talk to me and I'll help him." He replied with a smile.
"Tou-san acts like Jiji." Naruto replied, copying his father's stance and placing his own hands on his hips. "Always fathering everyone."
"I'm The Hokage, it's sort of my job, I guess." Minato said and thought about it for a moment. A sly smile came to his face as he said, "and I think someone'sjealous."
Naruto's face turned red. "Nuh-uh!" The younger blonde replied, shaking his head. Minato bent down and wrapped Naruto in his arms, snuggling and tickling the giggling blonde.
"Yes you are, yes you are!" Minato teased.
"Papa!" Naruto laughed. "That tickles."
Minato chuckled. "Oh, Naruto you're my ball of sunshine." Minato's eyes shone brightly with a giant grin on his face. Naruto returned the smile.
From the corner of his eye, Naruto noticed Sasuke starting to walk away. "Sasuke?" Naruto called, confused.
"You know, I-I-I'm gonna' go back to my brother...see ya' around, Naru-chan." Sasuke spoke, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill over. Naruto, completely confused, just watched Sasuke walk away. He didn't exactly want Sasuke to leave, but he got the feeling he couldn't stop him.
Minato sighed and watched Sasuke's retreating back. He knew he had just made a big mistake, and he felt bad about it. Minato reluctantly turned from the young raven. "Come on, Naru. I'll push you on the swings again," he chimed, though his voice wasn't as enthusiastic as usual. Naruto was already running toward swing set so he didn't notice.
Poor Sasuke. Minato thought as he stood behind Naruto's swing. Is Fugaku that hard on his children? Especially Sasuke? Minato wasn't stupid. He had seen Fugaku's "parenting" in action. It mostly consisted of telling Sasuke what he did wrong, praising Itachi or muttering about how the Uchiha clan needed to repopulate again. Minato was sure all the love Itachi or Sasuke ever got was from Mikoto. But even she was cold-hearted sometimes.
"Higher Papa!" Naruto yelled and smiled.
Minato, lost in his thoughts, continued to stare into the blue sky. What would happen...If Naruto didn't have me? He thought.
"Papa?" Naruto asked when he noticed he was slowing down and Minato wasn't pushing him anymore.
How lonely would my boy be? How...scared would he be?
"...Tou-san? Papa?" Naruto asked once he came to a halt, still sitting on the swing. In one swoop Naruto was picked up and smothered with kisses and squished into a great big hug.
"Naruto...Never forget how much I love you." Minato said, his voice no louder than a whisper.
Naruto was confused and his expression reflected it like a mirror. "Papa? What are you talking about? I already know how much you love me," he replied, staring at his father, his brows knit over his azure eyes.
"And never forget that, Naruto." Minato nearly wept. He held Naruto a bit tighter that day.
Sasuke found himself alone at the park today. Itachi was with him just a few minutes ago, but now, he was nowhere to be found. He assumed that his brother must have gone back home, though it was unlike Itachi to leave Sasuke anywhere.
He entered the Uchiha compound and though it was early evening, the streets were eerily quiet. It disturbed Sasuke and the fear began to show on his face. He walked the main street where earlier today, his Uchiha relatives had been talking and enjoying themselves. Even the house where his favourite Oba-san and Oji-san lived was quiet. It was unearthing, and the further Sasuke walked into the compound, the more worried he became. Sasuke didn't know when he started running, but now he stood outside the gate to his home panting heavily. He looked around and still saw nothing but empty streets.
Slowly he pushed the gate open. His heart thumped in his ears and he jumped, startled, when the gate suddenly creaked. He was scared. Scared of what he might find, afraid of what was out there. He shifted his eyes back and forth wildly and broke out into a cold sweat. Calm down, he told himself and told a deep breath. He slowly walked to the front door, calming his body and mind.
But all of it was for not for when he opened the door he saw them. All he saw was them. His mother and father laid out on floor, as if on display, red liquid pooling out around them. Their bodies were black and blue, broken and pale, cold to touch, and completely lifeless. Their eyes were still open, shock engraved into their faces and Sasuke thought he could hear their screams echoing in the house, in his head. He felt dizzy, sick, like he was about to vomit but he couldn't tears his eyes from the gruesome sight. He wanted to run, but he was frozen in place, like a deer in headlights. It took his everything just to fall to his knees, tears spilling from his eyes.
"Mother...Father...?" he called, his voice weak but need oozed from the words.
He looked at their faces and the fear they felt rippled through his body. He reached a hand out to run through his mother's hair. All he could think was why. Why were they dead. Why did this happen. Just why.
Sasuke heard rustling and immediately looked up, new thoughts running through his mind. Could the killer still be in the house? Itachi! Where was Itachi? Sasuke thought, frantic.
Sasuke felt relief run through his body as his eyes fell on Itachi. He was alive. "Itachi...what happened?!" He asked, still afraid. He looked down at his parents again. Dead, they were both dead.
Itachi turned turned toward his younger brother holding a blood stained kunai in his left hand. But what grabbed Sasuke's attention wasn't the ninja tool, but Itachi's eyes. They blazed red with the Mangekyo Sharingan. Sasuke was totally sucked into them as he stared at his brother wide-eyed.
The Uchiha Massacre has begun! DO NOT FORGET TO VOTE ON MY POLL, IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
-The Un-wanted Angel
-Morgan Yukimari