Kiri's Susanoo

Chapter 3

Only a Child

Authors Note!No need to tell me my flaws I know them but pointers are always welcome. Enjoy the Chapter! Also I hope now hard feels are being held have a good day everyone
DisclaimerWell I don't own Naruto, if I did Sasuke would be dead by now

(Shorter Chapter then usual but looking for jobs takes alot of time. I know it jumps a bit but it's got to be that way until i get to a point. Also a buddy of mine gave me a link thinking it would help me and well, it did. Anyone who wants to get a better grip on plot developement Go here .com/article/how-to-make-your-novel-a-page-turner/ ALSO Im looking for a Beta that will stay with me and help me out. I've gotten to much false hope lately so don't say you will do it and back out please. Once again Pickle i apologize enjoy reading)

"Wow hold on boy… you've got to know the Details-" Haruo said only to see Kushina shake her head while she held the blond…

"He's right dad" she said softly. Naruto's eyes where now wide with shock… He could feel her tears wetting his shirt and neck as she held him… "Naruto… when your father came to me and took you with him he said that everything would be alright… he said he would watch over us and I b-believed him"

"What are you talking about!" Naruto yelled in frustration and pushed away from the women… "He took me from you? Why would he take me from you! What's going on your not making any sense"

"Naruto… Y-You don't know?" her eyes where wide with shock as she looked at the clueless blond. Tears still fell from her eyes as she looked into his watering gaze…

"Know what!" Naruto yelled

"That you father sealed the Kyuubi no Yoko into his own son sacrificing his life to save the village and his family" Haruo said while crossing his arms, Kushina quickly stood and slapped her father before turning back to Naruto to see him blankly staring at nothing.

Naruto felt his heart stop as the hate filled glared he had received all his life flashed before his eyes…

'Demon' They'd all screamed… 'monster! Killer!… It was because he was the Kyuubi?'

Haruo simply shook the stinging of his cheek off and continued

"What… he needs to know, its been what? 6 years?… Minato promised my daughter you would be fine but when he sealed the Kyuubi away… before his physical body vanished it collapsed onto the cave holding you… You where supposed to be dead boy. They looked for you for two days and never found your body… think of how she felt. Could you live with yourself? Could you stand at the graves of your son and lover knowing that you where alone, not to mention her emotional state was already wrecked from being pregnant and just having you…" He paused while silently asking himself why he had said that before continuing "Minato, Sarutobi, Jiraiya and a few others where the only ones who even knew Kushina existed… Without Minato there to protect her she was nothing but a women who didn't belong in Konoha… So she returned home where she wouldn't be alone… I found her and she was a shell of what she used to be" he explained only to see Naruto fall to his knee's tears falling from his eyes…

"I-I'm the K-Kyuubi" he whispered before shivering and feeling his stomach churn with nausea. "I-I'm a monster… my dad made me into a monster" he mumbled only to feel a hand on his cheek…

"Your father saved our lives as did you… Your father trusted that his son would be strong enough to not become the monster… to not give in to Kyuubi's power. You are the real hero of Konoha… you are Minato Namikaze's son… and my baby boy" Kushina said softly while holding back her sobs… "And… I'm deeply… so deeply sorry I didn't return… I'm sorry I never checked but I couldn't go back there, not after risking everything to be with your father… and then losing you both"

'Risking everything to be with… my dad?' Naruto though to himself. What could she have meant by that? Before the young boy could ask he felt everything inside him erupted. He was tired… and didn't want to fight them anymore, he gave into his emotions and before he knew what he was doing he was shouting…

"You still left me! All my life I've watched others and cried because they had something I never would. A Family! And people to play with! You left and never thought about me!" His eyes where puffy from his tears and he felt like he was going to collapse… "When me and the old man left Konoha it was amazing… The people here don't beat me… I don't need to cry! And I don't have to believe you when you say your sorry… not until you show it!"

Everyone grew quite as Kushina's bangs fell over her eyes… Naruto realized what he had just said and felt his legs beginning to shake… He lifted his hands only to see everything start to grow blurry around him…

"I-I'm… sor-sorry" He mumbled while stumbling a bit… "I'm" But before he could finished everything went dark around him… the last thing he heard was the women screaming his name…

Kushina moved quickly and caught Naruto's limp body… She raised her hand to his forehead and froze instantly…

"What's wrong!" Haruo said as the crowd began gathering around closer…

"He's burning up! We have to get him to a doctor" she yelled before standing and lifting him up into her arms and began running down street and through the crowd…

------

"Sir are you sure… we can return back to the mansion at any time we have no right to burden" Aimi said only to see the young Mizukage smile while shaking his head in refusal.

"Its nice to have company I can trust Aimi-Chan and Mei doesn't need to return to a place were she witnessed such things at her age… You can both stay here for as long as you wish" Yagura said smiling at the young women. Aimi felt a soft warm blush cover her face as she nodded and bowed her head.

"Thank you Mizukage-Sama" She said formally.

Yagura frowned slightly while raising her jaw and looking into her eyes "Being Mizukage… isn't all about formalities Aimi-Chan. You can call me Yagura and also, is it your intension to train Mei-san?" He asked while gently pulling his hand away from her jaw and holding her silver eyed gaze…

Aimi didn't know if she was to be frightened of him or flattered… she had heard so many stories about the man being ruthless and insane but… he was so kind…

"Yes… Yagura-S…" She paused before smiling "Yagura-Kun… she asked me to help her get stronger although I'm not sure how much I can help her" Aimi finished. Yagura's eyes where a bit caught off guard by the 'Kun' placed at the end of his name… It was a good change.

"Don't say that, you're a great Shinobi and she could learn much from you… but would you mind me helping with the training?" He asked once again noticing the young women flinch… "I'm sorry if I seem strange by asking… its just I find myself very bored lately and Mei-san has caught my attention. She is a very determined young girl and I want to help her in any way possible for what my men did"

Aimi could feel the honesty in his tone and smiled before nodding "I'm sure she'd love to have you as a Teacher Yagura-Kun… but I should go check on her, she hasn't been sleeping a lot lately. If you would like, I'll let you tell her about your assistance in her training" Aimi said smiling. Yagura's eyes where round as he turned his head away quickly hiding the blush on his face…

"Ah… that's not necessary you can tell her" He stuttered while picking up a scroll from his desk and acting like he was about to do something with it. Aimi smiled while taking a few steps backwards and opening the door.

"No Yagura-Kun, it would mean a lot more to her coming from the Mizukage… Trust me she's a soft child at the moment but she has a lot of pride ready to be released inside of her… You could help with that" and with those words said, the raven haired women shut the door leaving the Mizukage alone in his office…

"pride?" Yagura's head throbbed as a crimson orb filled his thoughts along with a voice from his past 'Make me proud'

His face was painted in horror before he shook his head quickly while chuckling to himself to try and remind him of the little sanity still remaining inside him… "what am I thinking?"

-------(Naruto)-------

Kushina sat over Naruto while placing wet rag over his forehead. The doctor was packing his things up and writing the bill out to Haruo who stood at the door silently watching his daughter and sleeping grandson.

"There's no need to worry, its just a little fever caused by him suddenly moving from his usual dry environment to a misty place like this. Not to mention he must of over exerted himself at one point because his body is slightly exhausted" the man paused and handed Haruo the bill earning a nod from the older man. "One more thing… He is still a child and well from what I heard he must be a little aghast. Its not every day you learn that something like the Kyuubi No Yoko is sealed inside you… Give him time to rest and make sure if he needs someone to talk to, you'll be there for him. Children can play grown up all they want but when it comes down to it they still need there parents"

Kushina gripped the blanket of Naruto's bed tightly. Her bangs fell over her shame filled eyes as she waited for the doctor to leave the room… Haruo slid the door shut and stood foot a moment letting out a deep sigh before turning to his daughter…

"It's not your fault" He said softly and placing a hand on her shoulder. Almost instantly, it was as if his touch triggered her tears… She began to sob.

"Who a-are you kidding, It's all my fault. I shouldn't of been such a child and stayed and gone to Minato-Kun's funeral, but when Sarutobi told me Naruto wouldn't be buried with his father I was so angry… I couldn't" She said stopping a few words early to release her feelings.

Haruo sighed slightly before pulling her into his arms and patting the back of her head softly. He had seen her like this once before… when she returned from Konoha. He had told her if she went to Konoha then she could never return… but when he saw her heart broken standing in the rain, no father could send his own daughter away after that. He had known Minato from a distance as he knew he knew him. They only spoke through letters but to say they had a father-in-law relationship was… wrong… but after hearing Kushina's story he wished he could have shook the boys hand. Because of him his daughter was alive, and now… His grandson.

"He loved you both dear, and he did exactly what my father did for your mother and you. There is no better sacrifice to be made then for those you love and he knew that. I'm sure he had regrets, but in the end his resolve was strong enough" Haruo said smiling.

"B-But I stomped on it! He died knowing Naruto would be alright, but did he? He was cursed, beaten and hunted and I let that happen!" She yelled only to stop at a mumbled from behind them… Her teary eyes turned to show the sleeping blond mumbling in his sleep…

'Dad' his dry voice whistled 'Is it really you?'

"Well it either a dream or I'm here, what does it matter kiddo" Minato said while sitting across from Naruto who was sitting up from the ground. Between then was a camp fire that seemed to be burning brightly.

"But… its gotta be a dream you're the fourth Hokage you couldn't be my father…" Naruto's eyes were void of all emotion as he began to glare into the darkness. "And if you are my dad then you doomed me from birth"

"You know, for a 6 year old your speak like your grown" Minato said while shining a flashy smile at the boy. His attitude was… childish which shocked Naruto. He figured his father to be the type of man who put duty first…

"I had to grow up fast… when your beaten from birth it takes a strong mind to stay alive" Naruto explained only to see the mans eyes become hard. They looked into Naruto's as if he was digging through his mind for something…

"Naruto, I spent my entire life wishing I could stay young and act childish but still be strong… In the end I managed to pull it off pretty well. I would always make fun of Sarutobi and Jiraiya for being so level headed and rash, but in the end I was the one who got things done. That might be why your mother loved me so much, and it's the reason your so strong" he said while smiling. Naruto felt like he was looking in a mirror… "You even have my smile kid… although I think I was more of a cry baby then you are… which has me worried"

"That has your worried?!" Naruto yelled while stranding up and balling his fists. He was shivering slightly and noticed the flames of the fire dim a bit. "Strong people don't cry! I don't want to cry anymore! Its Ch-"

"Childish?" Minato finished while standing and taking a step towards the fire "No Naruto, When we cry we are being strong because we're crying for a reason… When I knew what I had to do to save you and your mother… I couldn't stop crying. Same goes for Sarutobi and Jiraiya-Sensei. When you cried with Kurenai-San how did you feel? Protected? Safe?… all around better? You say you have to be strong but people who don't let things out end up being cold and empty and you my boy are nothing like that"

"What do you know! Your fake anyways! This is a dream. You act like you've been watching me from day one" Naruto yelled only to see Minato reach through the fire… His hand glided towards his cheek but when it should have touched it simply pashed through leaving a cold kiss on his cheek.

"That's because I have been… now kid wake up but remember… You're still" Minato paused as everything around them began to dim leaving him standing in the flames… "... Just a child… And theres nothing wrong with that"

'Wait! Dad!' Naruto mumbled in his restless sleep. Kushina quickly pulled the covered from him and looked in amazement at the seal on his gut shining dimly until it finally returned to its black tattoo ink look.

Slowly she placed a hand on Naruto's forehead and could feel his body cooling by the second… His breathing began to slow until it was normal along with his heartbeat. She gently lowered her forehead to Naruto while rubbing his check. Tears fell from her eyes onto his cheeks as she cried…

"Minato… I know you're here so… just help me" she whispered before kissing the boy on the forehead "Help me protect him…"

"This is your chance to right everything dear. This is your chance to raise the boy and protect him just like Minato knew you would. I'm going into Kiri to see if I can get any word about the boy being looked for… if he was with the Hokage I'm sure there is a search party"

---(Konoha)---

Sarutobi slowly walked through the gates of his home and could feel the chill of winter approaching early this year. He looked up and could see Minato standing with Kakashi and Asuma. Kurenai bushed passed her Hokage while removing her mask and dropping it to the ground… Her bangs covered her eyes but the tears could be seen from everything. She didn't waste her time with hello's and simply made her way passed the welcoming group which struck Jiraiya as strange… but then noticed Naruto wasn't with them.

"Oh no" Kakashi said softly. Asuma had already realized what it must be and was running after the women only to see her stop and stumble a bit before he caught her.

'ITS NOT FAIR!' her screams echoed bringing a cold chill up Jiraiya's spine…

"W-where is Naruto" Jiraiya said holding his firm glare on Sarutobi's as he stood motionless. A heavy breeze pulled any fallen leafs into the air along with heavy dark clouds that covered the sky blocking out the warmth of the sun.

"I'm sorry my boy… but it seems we will be placing yet another student into their final resting place…" The old man said while raising his head. Tears fell from his eyes that where filled with shame and regret… "I couldn't protect him… The funeral is in two days"

The rain hadn't stopped in two days and on top of the Hokage's mansion stood only a few people… Even over the roar of the rain you could hear the cheers of the village… They hadn't stopped for two days and wouldn't stop until Naruto's grave was filled with his belongings. Kurenai stood along side Asuma, Kakashi and those who worked in the Hokage's mansion who learned to love Naruto. The Shinobi where all told to attend it but… only a few came.

Jiraiya stood next to Sarutobi who held a rose in his grip… Blood could be seen dripping from his palm but he paid no attention to it. The rain hid his tears and only fueled his urge to bath in his sorrow.

In the distance a figure stood on top of the fourth Hokage's head glaring down at the Mansion. Crimson eyes continued to look upon the scene never blinking… "Naruto-San…" He said softly only to look over his shoulder to see a man appear out of nothing. His face was covered in a orange mask…

"Itachi… I put you in charge of watching the boy didn't I?" the asked. The irritation could be heard in his tone…

"Yes… you did but unfortunately by the time I returned to the village I learned of the Hokage taking him along with him to Kiri" Itachi explained never taking his eyes off the mansion. Madara eyed the man with his right eye and smirked slightly.

"Are those tears Itachi?" he asked with a chuckle in his tone… Itachi's eyes cut quickly and began to change. Itachi locked his eyes with Madara's as bloody tears began to drip from his right eye.

"You of all people know my reasons for doing what I did Madara, so don't play your games around me please… we've already been down this road and you know you can't get into my head even with your all powerful eye…" Itachi said calmly before turning away… "and for the record that mask is terrible"

Madara simply watched as Itachi vanished leaving him alone on the head of the fourth Hokage. He crouched down and pulled a kunai…

"Minato, Minato, Minato… If not for you I would already be closer to my plan… and now the brat you sealed the Kyuubi into is gone… That leaves me asking, where is the Kyuubi's Yang"

With that the man stabbed his Kunai into the statues head before vanishing. Moments later a group of Anbu appeared with there weapons drawn…

"No one is here" a man in a bear mask said…

"Over here" another said before pulling the Kunai from the stone… "Lets head back… We should report this to the Hokage"

Sasuke slowly walked out into the rain and up onto the top of the mansion. It was deserted leaving only Naruto's belongings in a coffin and a picture of him with a few flowers on top of the grave. He stood motionless looking down at the blonds picture…

"I never really knew you… but my brother would talk about you when we would train" Sasuke said in a dull tone… "He said I should befriend you since you've never had anyone except for those who looked after you… He cared about you and, for that I'm glad your gone" Sasuke paused. Lighting flashed behind him as he looked down at Naruto's picture and gave it a hard kick shattering the glass. "Anyone Itachi ever cared for can't be trusted… and until I kill him everyone's my enemy… I envy you Naruto, at least you got to die…"

TBC