Chapter 2: By your side
A/N: I do not own Naruto or its Characters, Usagi Unmei is MY character. This is a non profit story, all rights belong to Masashi Kishimoto and the respective Industries. Please enjoy!
Usagi worked all night at her forge, twisting metals around the gem she created. Its gentle blue colour glowed with a strange Aura, the silver around it made it cool to the touch even though the gem itself radiated a warmth. Usagi lifted the necklace up to examine it, the light from the rising sun reflected off the gem giving the room a blue tinted colour. Smiling she wraps the necklace in a small box, now to wait for Naruto.
Naruto woke to the sound of chirping birds, the window of the room he was staying in was open as four small blue birds sat in the window singing. Light filtered into the room, creating a warm glow. For the first time in his life Naruto woke feeling genuinely happy, and loved.
As he sat up he caught the smell of food in the making. Hopping out of the bed Naruto made his way to the kitchen where Usagi was busy at working making a traditional family breakfast.
Naruto watched intensely as Usagi focused on making the meal correctly. There was steamed rice perfectly seasoned; Miso soup; lightly seasoned grilled swordfish. To go with this dish was Nori, or dried seaweed. Natto, commonly known as fermented soy beans. And kobachi, a vegetable mix.
Usagi turned, smiled at Naruto asked "hungry?" Naruto wasted no time nodding and helped set the table. Together they ate, and once they had eaten and cleaned the table Usagi gave the small box to Naruto. Confused he looked up at her, to which she only smiled.
Slowly Naruto opened the box to reveal the silver chain and blue gem pendant. He was captivated by the piece of jewelry before him, eventually he was able to pull away from the beautiful piece in his hand and look back up at Usagi. Before he could say a word she spoke.
"A gift, from me to you. I will not accept no as an answer, so please take it." Naruto stared at Usagi with big blue eye, they began to water over as tears spilled out. Usagi reaches forward and wipes the tears away, kissing his forehead she whispers. "I'll always be by your side, Naruto, even if you can't see me."
Naruto found a way to smile through his tears and held the gift tightly to his chest. After a moment he slips the necklace on and returns to the room he slept in to dress. Once done he went back to find Usagi outside staring off in the direction of the Hidden leaf. Naruto swallowed hard, He knew he would have to return their eventually, but being here was like being home. He didn't want to leave but, he had to.
Usagi turned to face Naruto with a smile. "Don't worry little friend, You can always come and visit me. Trust your instincts and you'll find your way here." She patted Naruto on the head, gently stroking his blond hair.
Naruto sighed bitterly but nodded. He knew she was right, so he did as he was told and gathered his things and headed off back towards the Hidden Leaf. As he walked away he heard he proclaim "Please, Naruto, No more self mutilation! If I find anymore cuts on you I'll be very angry!"
Naruto couldn't help but laugh and look down at his arms, normally the Kyuubi would heal his wounds but it seemed the beastly fox within wanted to leave a reminder to Naruto NOT to harm himself. So be it. No more self harm.
The walk was not too long, but thanks to the area in which Usagi picked to live, her home was well hidden from the village. Naruto stumbled out of some shrubbery and into the clearing right in front of the Hidden leaf gates, at the front gate, on lookout duty was Kotetsu and his partner Izumo, both of whom jumped up when they saw Naruto.
"Geezus Uzumaki! Where have you been?" Izumo asked franticly, he had bags under the one eye that was visible, seems he didn't sleep well.
Naruto looked sheepishly away from the man and ended locking eyes with his partner Kotetsu, unlike Izumo Kotetsu was taller, with a broader build. His eyes were narrow but normally filled with amusement and warmth. But at his moment, they seemed to be filled with sleepiness, annoyance and worry?
Kotetsu pinched the bridge of his nose as he exclaims tiredly "The entire Village has been looking for you kid. What happened? Where did you run off too?"
Naruto looked down at his feet, unsure of how to answer the question. After a moment he looked up and opened his mouth to talk, only to be cut off by an angry female voice he was all too familiar with.
"UZUMAKI!" Naruto visibly shuddered at the voice. Looking past Izumo and Kotetsu he saw comming at him, a very, very angry girl. Her green eyes filled with anger as she stormed up to him. Pushing the two older men out of her way she swung at Naruto. "Where the hell have you been?!" she screetches
Naruto narrowly missed being hit by her swing, ducking her moved around her. This did not stop the angry young lady as she continued to swing at him while asking a mulitiude of questions mixed with curse words.
Eventually Naruto backed into someone, looking up he could see the half covered face of his teacher Hatake Kakashi. Sheepishly Naruto smiled at the man, his only response was a tired sigh of relief.
Another voice called out "Yo, Moron." Naruto winced and made an soft unpleasent sound as he looked past his teacher to find a raven haired boy his age standing with his hands in his pockets and a glare that could kill you on his face.
Naruto shook his head and tried to move past the five of them, but none would let him leave.
"I'm sorry kid, but now that you're back we gotta take you to see lady Hokage." Izumo said empathetically.
Naruto lowered his head and laughed bitterly. "Baachan is going to kill me, If Sakura-chan doesn't first."
Upon saying that the girl with green eyes smacks Naruto on the head. "You deserve that!" she shouts before walking ahead of them, her pink hair ruffles behind her.
Naruto was led to the Hokage mansion in the middle of the village, where he met Aoi and Genma, both seem rather irritated and yet relieved to see Naruto. They allow him in with his team, navigating the familiar twisty halls of the hokage mansion Naruto is struck with fear as he fast approaches the office of Lady Tsunade.
The team of four stand before her door, none moving to knock. After a moment Sakura reaches out and taps the door three times, in response a voice calls out "Who is it?!"
Sakura takes a deep breath, then answers "Haruno Sakura of Team 7 lady Hokage. I have come to inform you that Uzumaki Naruto of Team 7 has returned to the village Ma'am."
The moment Sakura stops speaking a loud noise is heard within the room, the sound of someone standing, knocking over a bunch of papers and running to the door to be exact. The door swings open and before Naruto stands a lady with long blonde hair pulled into two loose pigtails, honey brown eyes, red lips and peach skin colour.
She reaches out and pulls Naruto into a large warm hug before throwing him across the hall angrily. "Naruto! Where HAVE you been?" her voice sounded like it was coated with venom and dripping in worry. "Bed empty! No note! Out of my mind with worry! Did you care?!"
Naruto flinches at her words as she slowly stands "I'm… Sorry Baachan…." Naruto trailed off. At the sight of Naruto cowering in fear, which is unusual for the spastic ball of sunshine Tsunade sighs. "Naruto, I want you to return to you home for today. I want you in here bright and early, to explain what happened and where you went. I will have Ibiki and Inoichi here to make sure you are fully honest with us."
Naruto nods slowly as he backs away from her. Tsunade shakes her head, before Naruto could leave her sight she speaks "I hate to do this, but Sasuke, please escort Naruto home, I don't want him leaving the village."
Sasuke blinks in surprise. "Y-you want me to walk this moron to his house?" Tsunade looks at Sasuke and nods with serious intent. "What, you want me to spend the night there too? Baby sit the brat?" Sasuke retorts jokingly. But to his unwelcome surprise Tsunade smiles and answers. "Why yes Uchiha, what a wonderful Idea."
Both Sasuke and Naruto turn in a hurry and stare at Tsunade.
"You can't be serious!" Both exclaim loudly. At that moment they turned to face eachother. Sasuke's eyes narrowed as he glared at Naruto, and in return Naruto let out a whine of protest. Each tried to convince lady Tsunade that this was a bad idea, but she dissmissed them and woudn't let Sasuke out of his new 'babysitting' job.
Naruto hurried home with Sasuke trailing him, He considered slamming the door and locking it in Sasuke's face, but in reality that would only anger the Uchiha.
Upon entering the small apartment Sasuke finally spoke "So dobe, where DID you run off to?" his voice was cold and void of any kind emotions. Naruto flinched but said nothing. Sasuke began to wander the small home as to map out what was where, he came upon the bathroom where his eyes were drawn to a half open draw filled with shiny silver objects. Opening the draw Sasuke looked down with wide eyes.
"NARUTO!"
The small blond let out a yelp as he scrambled into the bathroom to find Sasuke holding a sharp unused razor in his palm.
"What the fuck is this?" Sasuke asked impatiently. Naruto shook his head as a bitter smile crossed his face. "Don't smile! This isn't funny Idiot!" Sasuke snapped at him, Naruto slowly looks up at Sasuke, his bright blue eyes seem to dull a bit, there is a faint glow under Naruto's shirt. It goes unnoticed by the boys.
"Actually, its quite funny indeed Uchiha. Not that you care, but I've been constanly given these as a suggestion sense I was eight years old. Only recently…." Naruto stated, he slowly removed his orange jacket to reveal his scarred arms. "Did I find comfort in inflicting pain upon myself." Naruto's voice seemed unusal to Sasuke but it was the words that scared him the most.
Sasuke threw the razor down and grabbed Naruto by the shoulders. "STOP IT!" he yells. "Stop that right now Naruto! I don't ever want to see these damn things again, I don't ever want to hear about you cutting into your arms!" His voice was stern yet filled with concern for the blond.
Naruto blinked in shock at the forcefulness of Sasuke's words and actions. He backed away slowly from his team mate. "What… what do you care?" Naruto asked bitterly.
Sasuke smiled weakly as if he was ashamed "Idiot, I care cause we are team mates, I care cause you're my friend. I care because you and I know what its like to be alone!" Naruto looked down and away from Sasuke unsure of how to respond to the sudden words.
"I know we fight a lot, and frankly that might never change. But, Naruto….." Sasuke started, Naruto closes his eyes tightly to fight back the rising emotions.
"Naruto." Sasuke continues "I will always be by your side."