I DO NOT OWN NARUTO OR ITS CHARACTERS, I OWN THIS STORY AND ANY CHARACTERS I CREATE.
Thank you for the reviews
Chapter 6: Home
Growing up
A few days had passed giving Naruto and Sasuke time to recover before they could travel again, the past two days had been interesting to say the least.
The Day following the battle
The Konoha team was surprised to see a group of Mist Shinobi led by Mei Terumi the fifth Mizukage herself arrive at the small village. Apparently she had Shinobi in the area waiting for the proof she needed to help these lands, and all the Rouge Ninja Gato Hired was the chance she needed.
"So...the lords that own this land where protecting Gato because of profit" Kakashi stands across from the Mizukage, being the highest ranking Shinobi there it was his job to negotiate with the Kage. "However we have dealt with the crises at hand...so why come now?" he asks
"Your prisoner is a Rouge from our village, he needs to be brought back and face our chosen punishment" she says in response, Kakashi looks at the boy defeated by Naruto, he hadn't spoken since learning of his masters fate, and had only eaten a small amount of food.
"From what I've heard, this boy never enrolled in your village's academy and was trained by Zabuza...AFTER he went Rouge" Kakashi says "Thus he isn't a registered Shinobi of the Mist, or of any village" he states.
"So you intend to bring him to the Hokage and have him registered as a Leaf Shinobi" One of the Mist Jonin speaks up "You think we will let you do that?" he says in an almost threatening way.
"Is that all you Mist Shinobi can respond with, violence?" Asuma asks stepping forward "But then the Blood Mist Village are nothing but scum" he says, the Sarutobi was surprised Kakashi remained so composed given his history with the Mist Village.
"We are no longer the Blood Mist Village" Mei says "We are-" she is cut off
"I'll tell you what the Mist Village was" Kakashi says and Asuma stood back knowing the mood Kakashi was in now "A gang of thugs who send 15 ANBU level Shinobi to kidnap 1 Konoha Medic to turn her into a weapon against the Village she loved because my sensei showed you how strong you really were in battle" he says and Mei looks away "That was what you were, what you are remains to be scene" he finishes, he would likely never forgive the Mist Village for what they did to his friend but he wouldn't drag her memory into this argument.
"Yes...our actions in the past were atrocious, but I as Mizukage hope to change our Villages fate. This child also suffered because of our past, coming from a small farming village that was often drained of its resources during a war came to hate Shinobi, and as a result he suffered from it" she looks at the emotionless eyes of the tied up teen.
"Well, nothing is being decided now" Naruto says standing in front of Haku, Naruto being the image of his father sent a chill down the spine of the more seasoned Jonin accompanying their Mizukage. "Deal with your other matters and come back, then we can see what Haku wants to do" he says and Mei smiles.
She found Minato to be a very attractive man, and Naruto definitely inherited his looks, but he wasn't withdrawn like Minato which must be his mother's outspokenness that Naruto was displaying now, no Genin would speak out to a foreign leader. While some would claim it an Insult and a lack of discipline, she found it quite charming, "Very well, once I have dealt with the Lords who hid the truth from me, I will come to hear Haku's decision" she says and leaves followed by her guards.
"Naruto...you should remember your place" Kakashi says, not angrily but more to facade being angry to save face, none of the other teams said a word choosing to simply to a spectator in the exchange "Why not just hand Haku over?" he asks curiously.
"You can't truly call a place home if you feel like a prisoner" Naruto states, he could tell Mei wanted to make Haku a Shinobi of the Mist but as he was now...he'd be a danger to his team.
"Well, let's head back to the base of operations" Kakashi says to everyone who all urn and begin to walk away following the copy Nin. Once alone Naruto sat in front of Haku and crossed his arms, the emotionless eyes looked up from the ground to him.
"Why don't you kill me and be done with it, I am a failure" Haku says, he failed to become the weapon Zabuza needed and as a result his master was dead "Either by your hand or The Mizukage's my life will end soon" he adds.
"What did the Mizukage mean when she said you had suffered?" Naruto asks and Haku looks away "If you plan on dying anyway, where is the harm in telling me?" he adds.
"I never understood why it happened; I was born on a farming land and was being raised to take over for my father. One day I learned of my Ice Style Kekkei Genkai and my father saw me use it while showing my mother who also had the same Kekkei Genkai" he pauses for a moment "With tears in his eyes he killed the woman he claimed to love simply for having a Kekkei Genkai, then he tried to kill me...but I killed him and the whole village first. That day I saw that humans are flawed creatures ruled by foolish emotions" he ends sounding bitter and sad.
"How did you meet Zabuza?" was Naruto's next question, he needed to hear everything before he could give an answer to how he could help Haku.
"After I became an orphan no one would take me in, I survived on what I found in the trash and I would even have to fight off stray dogs" he begins "But then Zabuza found me, he lifted from the cold and gave me a purpose, from that day I swore to be the weapon that would help Zabuza reach his goals...but I failed again" he closes his eyes "Now I await a death, nothing less than a failure like me deserves"
"You didn't fail, the world failed you" Naruto says and Haku looks at him "I can't tell you why your father did what he did, perhaps they suffered in the war at the hand of a Kekkei Genkai user which made them fear it" he says "But Zabuza didn't save you, he wanted to use you for his own desires" he pauses seeing Haku about to speak "That is what I wanted!" the tied teen yelled, "You're human, you need to find your own dreams, your own ambitions, no matter what mask you hide behind you are human!" Naruto says grabbing Haku by the collar "Zabuza was a vile human, who saw you, a little boy alone in the snow and tried to strip you of your humanity, the life given to you by your mother, you are all that's left that proves she existed!" he says and Haku's eyes widened "Wouldn't she be sad to see her son like this? Wouldn't she want you to live and find happiness?" he asks, Naruto was subconsciously admitting he was home sick, trying to justify his own actions towards his family while trying to convince Haku to live.
"E-Even if I wanted to live, there is nowhere for me" he says and Naruto releases the boys collar and falls backwards.
"You are wrong"
The following morning the Mizukage returned alone, not wanting to risk a confrontation like last time "So you have decided" she says and Haku nods, the colour in his face looked healthier.
"Yes Lord Mizukage, with your leave I would go to the Hidden Leaf and face whatever punishment they deem just" he says and she looks at Naruto before nodding.
"I agree to leave Haku of the Yuki clan with you Leaf Shinobi" she says turning to Naruto "As a token of our agreement I leave The Executioners Blade in your care Naruto Namikaze" she says suprising them all, this was one of their villages legendary weapons "May it find it's honour in your care" she adds and Naruto grips the handle.
"Thank you" he bows respectfully, "I hope you succeed in your dream of restoring your village to its past greatness" he adds and she laughs.
"When you are older you will make a wonderful husband to a lucky lady" she winks and Naruto blushes watching her leave.
"Getting hit on by foreign leaders" Kiba smirks "Quite the guy!" he adds and Naruto pulls on his head band.
"S-Shut up" he mutters
The following afternoon
Team 10 along with Haku had begun their journey back to Konoha, the rest stayed behind to ensure the Bridges completion. However with Gato taken care of many others had begun building alongside the few Volunteer and it looked that soon the Bridge would be finished.
Naruto sat on his own looking at the blade given to him by Mei Terumi the Mizukage, whatever her intentions such a large blade was wasted on him, it was too heavy for him to use in battle. Placing it on a scroll he seals it away using sealing Jutsu otherwise known as Fūinjutsu.
Sakura and Sasuke sat at the other side of the bank watching him "Naruto really is amazing, he not only defeated a Jonin but another Kekkei Genkai user as well" she says and Sasuke nods.
"Negotiating with the Mizukage as well, I doubt even Kakashi could have persuaded her to leave Haku with us" Sasuke says "Seeing as Naruto is the son of the Forth Hokage, perhaps she wants to extend an olive branch" he scratches his chin "But to give him one of their legendary swords too? Maybe she has another agenda" he adds.
"Either way I'm glad this ended rather fast, despite you and Naruto suffering injuries no one died" Sakura says and Sasuke nods absentmindedly "Sas...ke?"She sees his mind has wondered.
"It's true I was injured, and if it hadn't been for Sakura I could have died" he thinks looking at the grass, he would need another day before he could travel which meant to other team would be leaving before them too. It was hard to be the weak link in a team, while Naruto was sore his wounds didn't prevent him from travelling, Kakashi was a Jonin so experience like his made this mission simple...then there was Sakura, in such a short time she had gone from a girl with good grades and Chakra control to a Medic already showing signs of progressing more and more, however he hadn't really accomplished much in the time since their team formed, he had his sword but little else. It was thanks to Itachi he had the Chidori which he copied from Kakashi when Kakashi and Itachi where on the same team.
-SMACK-
His head is suddenly forced back from a blow that his headband which left a small scratch on it, he looks across at Naruto who is smirked tossing a pebble up and catching it "A Shinobi must be aware of his surroundings" the Blonde grins seeing the annoyed and flustered look on his face.
Kakashi watched, as the two boys tossed stones across the lake towards each other while Sakura waved her arms in protest trying to stop them "They really are growing as a team" he smiles under his mask, after about an hour the trio where skipping stones across the larger body of water talking casually while doing so.
Hinata stared at them from behind a tree...or more specifically at Naruto, "There he is...I thought this would be my chance to simply talk with him...but I can barely look at him without getting all flustered" she thinks with tinted red cheeks, their small conversation was still playing in her head from the other day. "Whatcha looking at?" she hears Kurenai Sensei say causing her to have to repress a scream of terror. "K-Kurenai-Sensei" she whispers and the older woman smiles.
"He's quite the young man, I grew up hearing stories about his father and found them difficult to believe, yet hear is another legend in the making casually throwing stones" she says leading Hinata to a small place to do some girl talk. "I can see why you would be infatuated with him" she says and Hinata looks at her sandals.
"I like Naruto, but the Naruto I love isn't the person he's has become, it's the person he was" Hinata says and Kurenai looks confused "Once...during a snow storm I got lost looking for my way home, it was dark and cold and I was so scared" she smiles "Then I felt a warm sensation, Naruto wrapped me in his coat and brought me to his house, talking to me about anything and everything just to make me forget I was lost" Kurenai couldn't help but smile at the noble deed "He even protected me from some bullies, and after getting hurt doing that he was more concerned about me that his own injuries, and he had that big smile on his face that made me feel better" she pauses "Then one day his smile was gone, he buried his face in Jutsu books and never looked at me again" she sighs sadly "The person he is now is someone I trust but, I watch in hope of seeing the smiling boy who would help anyone...not because he could but because he wanted too" she says.
"That boy is still there; people grow and change as times demand them too. Naruto more than most, it must be hard to live up to the expectations as the son of a Kage" Kurenai says "However perhaps being around you will bring out the old Naruto...even if it's just a little, but nothing will change if you hide in the shade and watch from afar" she places her hand on the young Hyuga's head. "If you can be someone he can open up to and maybe you will earn a place in his heart" she smiles before leave the young girl with her thoughts.
Konoha
The light flickered in the room reflecting onto Izumi's face causing her to squint as she opened her eyes "Where am I?" She thought feeling the neck brace restricting her head movement, raising her right arm seeing a cast "I-Itachi?" she called out weakly.
"I'm here" she feels the relief hit her upon hearing his voice "You are in Konoha Hospital, you where critically injured" he says, she can tell by his tone he has learned the truth "You should have told me you where applying for ANBU" he says and she closes her eyes.
"I was afraid you would stop me" She admits feeling his palm press on her shin letting her know where he was sitting.
"I would have" he says deeply "ANBU isn't something someone like you can handle" he says and she feels tears fall from her eyes "Because you value life too much" he clarifies rubbing her cheek softly to wipe the tears away looking down at her.
"Then ANBU isn't for you either" she closes her eyes nodding as best she could, "How do you figure?" she hears him ask her "Because you value my life too much" she flashes a grin.
He pokes her forehead "I am beginning to think that myself" he says and she blushes madly "But I have been wrong before" he smiles at her sudden flabbergasted look as he stands to leave "I need to report to details of the mission to The Hokage and the elders, Lord Minato saw fit to wait until you had regained consciousness before discussing the matter" he says "I'll be back as soon as I am free" he says and she smiles using her eyes to confirm his promise.
_The Hokage Estate_
"Outrages, I gave you that mission Minato because you said you had a plan" Danzo says, Itachi figured the mission came from Root, only they have the network to gain such Intel in the first place "Now Kisame Hoshigaki has escaped into the Land of Lightning and gone dark" he paces back and forth clearing angered "Itachi I am surprised at your decision to choose the girl over completing the mission, ANBU never let small emotions compromise the mission" he says and Itachi's stone faced look gives him nothing in regards the Uchiha's plan.
"That is why I wish to retire as ANBU" he says suprising both Minato and Danzo, "Lately I have felt withdrawn from my friends and family, it is time I take my place as Heir to the Uchiha Clan" he says and Minato stands.
"I understand, however why bring this up now...why not days ago?" The Blonde asks, Itachi was one of the few ANBU he truly trusted and it hurt to lose him.
"I'm tired of seeing this village behind a mask, I want to experience it all for myself" Itachi says "The person I have become...isn't suitable for ANBU" he adds and Danzo faces the Hokage.
"Itachi knows too much about the ANBU organization, if he tells this to his Uchiha brethren it could harm our standing" he says making sure Itachi heard him.
"The Coup by the Uchiha have long been put to rest" Minato says as his fingers interlock so he can rest his chin on his clasped hands "So long as Itachi agrees NOT to spread any classified information I have no reason to deny his request" the blonde says annoying the older man
"Of course" Itachi says "This village is my home, anything I unveil could put it and the people I care about in danger" he says feeling Danzo's murderous aura "There is nothing I won't do to protect this village and the people I hold dear" Minato couldn't see but Danzo did, Itachi's Mangekyou Sharingan activated as a warning to say
"Stay away from my family"
The Land of Waves final day
The Bridge had been completed, and named "The Great Naruto Bridge" in honour of Naruto for his success in leading the mission; Team 7 and 8 were walking home together. The adults walked farther ahead than the others leaving the Genin to talk, the conversation shifted to the rumour of curse seals being used on ANBU which prevented them from talking about the villages secrets should they be captured. Naruto used his knowledge from a book he read to take the lead of the conversation.
"Long before the Villages were established, back when Clans clashed over territory, Clan leaders would use a Curse seal on weaker Clansmen to safeguard their hideouts. Even after Lord First and Madara Uchiha allied their clans Senju and Uchiha, along with smaller clans like the Sarutobi and then Hyuga clans which became Konoha, clans still used this curse until trust was formed between the clans and the cursed was abolished" Naruto says "Well one clan still uses curses on their clansmen" he says absentmindedly realizing too late to stop it.
"The Hyuga" Sasuke says and Hinata looks away, he had heard about it as well, being in the same house as the Chief of the Konoha Police meant Sasuke sometimes heard information he shouldn't of.
"What curse do they use?" Sakura asks curiously, she never heard of curse seals before "I mean why you would in the first place?"
"Um...The Hyuga Clan's main house protects the secrets of the clan's history and ancestry, and so those in the Hyuga that aren't members of the main house have the seal placed on them, so when they die their Byakugan is sealed and can't be used ever again" she says suprising some of the others including Sasuke. The Uchiha also had a Dojutsu but don't use a curse seal to destroy the Sharingan upon the user's death.
"I hear it is also to prevent the side branches from usurping the Main Branches power and authority" Sasuke says casually while Kiba mocks like his head is in pain since the rumour that once activated the Hyuga curse causes unbearable head pain"
Hinata looks away before she turned to Sasuke to shift the conversation "How come the Uchiha don't worry about the Sharingan being stolen?" she asks and Sasuke shrugs.
"Our Clan isn't a Clan to be taken lightly, Me, my brother and my Father are descendants of Madara Uchiha...or so I've been told" he begins shocking the group even Naruto for a change "That's why we are the main family, the other members respect our heritage and respect our rule, I couldn't tell you why we don't fear our Sharingan being stolen" he ends with a shrug.
"Still Hinata, the Curse mark puts you at the most risk" Naruto faces her causing her to blush "I remember you know, when the representatives from The Cloud Village came in the name peace" he begins recalling the tail "Then in the dark of night one broke into the Hyuga Compound and made off with you in an attempt to bring the Byakugan to his village, and then he was blown away by your father" he pauses, he never heard about the ramifications but he remembered how angry the Cloud Village was threatening war again, but then it all paused.
"Still the only non clan members here Naruto and Sakura" Kiba points out, Sakura shrugs not really caring about it anymore. This mission has given her some confidence in her own abilities, however there IS as Clan she wants' to join.
"That's not true, I have my father's surname but through my mother I am a member of the Uzumaki Clan" Naruto says causing the whole group to halt with shock, only Kakashi knew this so it was huge to learn there were still members of the famous clan from the destroyed Whirlpool country around today
"Amazing, I heard the Uzumaki clan is cousins with the Senju" Shino chimes in to the conversation "and that their chakra is unique and quite powerful" he adds and Naruto nods.
"Yeah, the main feature for an Uzumaki is the red hair though" he says and Genin look up "Yeah, only half Uzumaki. I may look like my dad but I did inherit the Uzumaki Chakra" he states and Kiba scoffs
"What's so special about your Chakra?" the Dog Ninja asks, he and Naruto had a one sided rivalry and this revelation really put the final nail in that particular coffin.
"You mean other than my Kekkei Genkai?" Naruto replies flatly causing Kiba to deflate remembering "Still, according to my dad, my mom has strong Chakra even by Uzumaki standards" he says with a semi proud tone. He acknowledged their strength but he was out to prove his own...
The rest of the conversation died down, and soon with different paces and such Naruto was soon walking at the back with Hinata...much to her embarrassment. "He's...so close" she thinks focusing all her might on not blushing, with a side glance in her direction however turns her might to mush as her cheeks turn a tinted pink.
"It's been awhile since we walked together like this" he comments and she nods "You know, I don't think any less of your clan, traditions that have become quite common for your can be seen as foreign to people not familiar with its practise" he comments, he felt like they went overboard earlier when talking about curse marks.
"I understand" she comments, she didn't want to admit out loud that she disliked her Clan's current state "Still I am surprised your mother is from such a legendary Clan" she says and Naruto smiles.
"Yeah, she moved to Konoha after the Land of Whirlpools was destroyed" Naruto states "She wasn't treated with the most welcoming reaction" he says, his father explained that the Village was still in the grips of the Third Great Ninja war and outsiders weren't trusted. He never explained WHY Kushina was sent to the village instead of going to where the rest of the Clan went.
"It must have been hard for her to adjust" Hinata says and Naruto gives a small grunt in response lost in thought "Still, she is lucky to have married the person she loved" she says quietly with a small blush.
"My parents are a weird couple" Naruto says with a small smile, while he may never be on the same wave length as them, he would always be their son "Still loud, brash and bossy pretty sums up my mother, not the kind of girl I'd want to marry" he says casually walking ahead "I'd rather have a quiet and dependable girl like you Hinata" is the last words he says as she halts almost losing her footing
"Girl...like me?" she blushes madly looking at his back, the reflection from the sun gave him a glow that reflected her feelings for him. He was the Sun and she was the Moon, always watching in the shadow as he gave the world light and she could only show herself when he was gone.
"Hinata..." she hears him call out "We should catch up to the others, we are almost home" he says and she nods. Soon enough the massive gates of their Home, it was early in the morning which meant they would have to report to the Hokage in the afternoon or evening depending on how long they sleep in.
"I missed this place" Sasuke says and Naruto stands beside him, looking up at the Hokage Mountain and looking at his father's "Wonder what we missed" he adds and Naruto shrugs, each of the teams split up until it is simply the three Genin of Team 7 where left alone with their Sensei.
"I doubt Minato-Sensei foresaw the outcome of this mission" Kakashi says, after all on his first mission out Naruto defeated a member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, recruited a Kekkei Genkai user and received a token from another Kage "But none the less you all performed perfectly, I was extremely impressed by you Sakura" he says and the Pink haired Genin smiles. "Well we will meet up when the Hokage wants a mission debrief, however I suggest you all head home and rest in your own beds" he says and they nod.
After Kakashi had left and Naruto headed home too Sasuke turned to Sakura "I owe you for saving me" he says, it was hard to admit it but in that moment Sakura saved his life without regard for her own safety.
"I only wanted to protect someone I care for" she says and he looks away blushing slightly, "Besides you helped me too, I would have died if you hadn't been there" she adds.
"Even still...I owe you" he says "So if there is something I can do then tell me" he adds and she blushes already knowing what she wants to ask.
"H-How about a...a date?" she suggests but quickly shakes her head "I'm kidding...how about" she is cut off by Sasuke.
"1 date seems fair I guess" he states and her eyes widen "After the debrief?" he suggests and she nods, "See you later then" he says putting his hands in his pockets and begins walking towards the compound.
"Did that just happen?" Sakura questions reality
_Namikaze Residence_
It was still dark in the house "Mom and Dad are likely sleeping" he thinks placing his pack on the ground, he pours himself a glass of water to quench his thirst. Behind him he hears a door open.
"Naruto" Kushina calls out, she looked like she was only up, bead head and all to prove it "Welcome back...how did it go?" she asks with her foot twitching like she was resisting the urge to leap over and crush him in a hug.
Naruto saw her jittering and sighed opening his arms, given the all go Kushina charges at him enveloping him in the strongest Mother Hug she could muster
"I missed you too mom"
The End
Hope you liked it, the next chapter we learn Haku's fate, Sasuke and Sakura go on a date and Naruto discovers a dark secret
Till Next Time
~DoTheBartMan