Chapter 10: Secrets and Decisions
Really nice reviews, thank you. I'm off from school now so you'll get hopefully two more chapters in the next ten days. If I can I'll give you one for Christmas.
This chapter covers a lot but I needed it to. Hope you enjoy it and if any of you can guess what I'm planning in any aspect of the story let me know I'd love to hear what you think.
Chapter 10-
"Dad!" Naruto yelled, he ran over and hugged his father who had just stepped out of his carriage.
"I'm so glad to see you. Naruto you know you're a hero, because you escaped we forced the rock village to pay for the destruction it caused." Minato ruffled his sons hair affectionately. "Everyone's so proud of you."
Naruto grinned, "Dad, are we going home now?"
His dad smiled, "Whenever you're ready. How was your stay here?"
"Great! Everyone's been really nice. Dad can we stay a little longer you can meet everyone."
"Alright then." Minato said. He turned to the Kazekage, as Naruto ran off, the leader of the sand village stood smiling a little ways off.
The Hokage walked over and grabbed the man's wrist in respect. The Kazekage did the same to the Hokage. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"You as well," the Hokage replied. "Thank you for treating my son so well."
"Don't worry about it." The Kazekage said. "In fact I was surprised my son has a hard time making friends as he is a jinjuriken, but he and Naruto have become very good friends since they met."
The Hokage smiled. "Perhaps we can talk further in your office."
The Kazekage nodded readily. "Certainly, follow me. I expect that Naruto and Gaara are talking somewhere as well."
True enough Gaara and Naruto were talking in his room. "Naruto… I don't want you to go."
Naruto frowned. "I don't want to leave you either Gaara, but I have to go home."
The two sat in silence for a little while. Naruto misunderstanding what Gaara felt, and Gaara slowly, trying to gather the courage to tell Naruto he was the container of a demon that might kill Naruto some day.
After a few minutes of an accepting silence Naruto spoke. "Perhaps you could come back to Konoha for a few weeks."
Gaara looked up not sure if Naruto was serious. "Do you think… Do think your dad would let me come?"
Naruto grinned. "I know he would but it's your dad I'm worried about."
Gaara sat knowing that his dad might not agree. The first person to actually care for Gaara was offering him a chance to stay with him if for only a little longer.
"Well Naruto would you come with me to ask my dad?" Gaara felt like he was in a dream it was too unreal he was getting what he always wanted. A chance to escape from the hate and experience something other than pain, Gaara knew he had to convince his father.
Naruto beamed. "So you will come great! Let's go ask right now." The blonde stood up and offered Gaara his hand.
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"Seeing as how well I hear Naruto's doing what would you think of having children of each kage meet in a country without ninjas, they would have a chaperone and train and learn from each other. It would be a great way to strengthen bonds with other countries. It would also allow our children to get stronger. What do you think?" The Hokage asked throwing the idea on the table not thinking too much about it.
The Kazekage looked at the handsome man before him astonished. "It's brilliant."
The Hokage looked more interested leaning forward now toward the Kazekage who stood feet away.
"Well I mean there are conflictions to the idea." The Hokage said reluctant to put the plan into action.
"Sure I mean they couldn't go all year round but it could be considered a mission. The ninja would go for a few months a year until there sixteen or so."
The Hokage nodded, "That's good but I know for a fact that some of the kage's children are older than sixteen."
"Well then we can invite everyone for the trial period. We'll try it out in a month in the land of tea. I have a contact there he can set up a place for them to live. I'll send a guard with my children very strong. He was going to be there trainer in a few years anyway." The Kazekage seemed excited exploring all the possibilities. In the past the village hidden in the sand's main weakness was having bad relations with other countries and this would fix the problem.
"Well if you'll do it I'll send Naruto and Jiraiya. I suppose it would be alright to visit him every now and then, right?" He questioned the Kazekage as if needing final reassurance.
"Definitely, I know you haven't been on best terms with the village hidden in the rock so I'll invite the Tsuchikage's nephew. He doesn't have any children. I'll also invite the Rain and Grass do you think you could invite the rest? My village has no contact whatsoever to the Mist, Cloud and Waterfall."
"Hmm, you're forgetting the Sound." The Hokage said casually, he was still very comfortable discussing light politics.
The Kazekage grinned, "I wasn't aware that the Sound had a kage leader."
The Hokage smiled back, "I'll look into it. In the mean time I believe we have two snoopers at the door. Using one of the many jutsu he knew he opened the door without getting up and Naruto who had been leaning on the door trying to hear everything fell into the room.
Naruto looked at the two kages innocently. "Um sorry…"
Gaara who had been hiding in the shadows walked through the door and used his sand to pick Naruto up.
"Um… Father." Gaara began. Naruto seeing this would not end well if Gaara asked cut him off. "Lord Kazekage, would it be alright if Gaara came with me back to Konoha for the month before we leave for tea country?"
The Kazekage looked at Naruto his expression not changing for a moment and then he nodded. "I see you wish to pay back the hospitality Gaara showed you that is fair enough. Gaara pack your things you will be leaving soon."
Gaara disappeared in a cloud of sand eager to leave.
Naruto turned to his father and whispered into his ear. "There is something I have to tell you that I left out of the letter. I'll tell you about it later."
Minato nodded deciding it would be best not to press the matter forward.
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The Tsuchikage grit his teeth. The Hokage had made him look like a fool, and that Hyuga carrying him around everywhere.
Since being returned he had given a speech which undoubtedly restored the peoples faith in him-he was a brilliant public speaker. He had also executed the guard who had failed to find the children. The scapegoat's death gave the villagers of the village hidden in the rock a sense of justice.
Today was the day he would meet with the medical ninja to see if he had done his job. The Tsuchikage sat waiting in his room the doctor as the man called himself was supposed to have arrived three minutes ago and the Tsuchikage was getting nervous. He knew the 'Doctor' would not come if he had failed.
A minute later he breathed a sigh of relief as the man walked into the room. "Hello my lord the man said addressing the Tsuchikage. The leader nodded back.
"I take it the sealing was successful?"
"Indeed we have inserted the seal right next to his spinal cord if they try to take it out they run the risk of paralyzing him. Also we have put another seal above that which blocks out any type of jutsu that could be used to destroy the seal from outside his body."
The Tsuchikage nodded his teeth shown as his lip curved up into an evil smile. "Good and the seal will work won't it?"
"Absolutely, when shall we use it?"
"We will call a truce with Konoha for the next ten years giving the boy time to grow more powerful than we will use the seal. You are dismissed."
The medic ninja turned a smirk on his face. He pushed his glasses into place and vanished. He almost felt bad for the Tsuchikage.
With Naruto
As soon as they were ready to leave Gaara put the bags containing everything he needed for the next month into the carriage and the four left. They had picked up Hinata an hour before it was time and had her comfortable in the carriage released a whole day earlier than the doctors wanted.
They made good time over the next two days and arrived in Konoha where five people were waiting.
"NARUTO!" Sasuke and Ino, shouted, glad to see their friend's return. Itachi was waiting as well he had a smile on his face which though seemed out of place did not disrupt the tough handsomeness which he pulled off so well.
Along with them stood Hiashi who picked up his daughter as soon as he spotted her and hugged her, uncharacteristically gentle and kind. The final member of the group who had come to greet the arrivals was Jiraiya.
The legendary sennin was there for a number of reasons. He had come to greet them. He had come so he could be the first to here both Naruto's story and his student's talk with the Kazekage and finally because Anko had told him to get Minato as soon as he got back and bring him to her.
Jiraiya shuttered, she was one woman who scared him more than an angry Tsunade.
Naruto smiled, "Hey guys," he choked out, through the bear hug he received from his friends. "I'd like you to meet my friend Gaara."
Ino looked skeptically at the red haired boy while Sasuke walked over and shook his hand. "Any friend of Naurto's is a friend of mine." Sasuke said, before turning back to the blonde.
"Oh right guys I have got to show you this weapon I got in the sand village." Naruto ran back to the carriage and grabbed the fan which had been tied in place to the back of the carriages wooden trunk.
"I took it with me everywhere in Gaara's village and I can actually use it pretty well."
Ino looked at the beautiful fan closely and gently stroked the metal handle. "So pretty!" Ino said. "Can I try it?"
Naruto laughed, "Do you think you can lift it," he asked politely but not at all convinced that she could.
Ino huffed indignantly before trying to lift it. After a few moments of everyone laughing she gave up her face flushed with embarrassment and exasperation.
"It's too heavy! I bet you can't lift it up Sasuke." Ino said, glaring at her friend.
Sasuke rolled his eyes at the girls and went to pick the fan which was larger than him. "Grr!" He said heaving the fan a foot off the ground. "GRAA!" He shouted not letting go. The dark haired boy lifted the heavy fan up for a second before dropping it.
The group laughed again, this time at Sasuke's face contortion instead of Ino's failure.
"Very impressive, Naruto." Itachi said lifting the fan up easily with his right hand. "It is a beautiful weapon as well. The two katanas added in is a very nice touch."
Hiashi looked impassively at the group, the Hyuugas did not fool around with weapons. "You'll have to get yourself a teacher if you wish to learn how to use those katana.
Naruto grinned, lifting the weapon onto his back after taking it from Itachi.
Jiraiya tapped Minato on the shoulder gently and then whispered into his ear what Anko had told him to say.
Minato turned to Naruto his face a brilliant shade of crimson. "Excuse me son I have to go."
Naruto nodded. "That's alright I'm going to show Gaara around the village."
Jiraiya smirked at his student who was running off and then began to mumble. "Damn if some women told me that I would not hesitate to get there, the lucky bastard." Jiraiya grinned, "Then again with her… Maybe I'd be scared as well."
After the Hokage left the Hyuugas departed as soon as Hinata had bid her friends farewell. Then giving his signature grin began walking off. "Lunch is on me."
Itachi turned to the sannin who was watching the children follow the happy blonde. "So you decided to hear about his adventure later as well?"
The old man nodded. "Children will be children. It's alright to let Naruto have one more day before we interrogate him to no end." The two laughed. "By the way Itachi have you heard about a group called the Akatsuki?"
Itachi hesitated, before nodding. "They asked me to join their group."
Jiraiya nodded wisely waiting for the boy to continue.
"At first I felt intrigued and honored but… Their plans… They told me what the planned… And I couldn't… What they asked me to do… I couldn't do it. Of course they have told me either to pretend I know nothing and never interfere with them or my clan, myself and another person will all be killed. Jiraiya whatever you suspect of me is not true. I have not betrayed Konoha."
Jiraiya nodded. "I find that to be true unfortunately you are going to be charged with murder."
Itachi flinched. It was no use talking Jiraiya knew.
Jiraiya continued. "I have already informed the Hokage."
Itachi looked to the ground. 'I will suffer my punishment and forgive Konoha… It is what I must do. Don't think to badly of me my little brothers.'
Jiraiya frowned, "The Hokage and Danzou have decided that the reason you killed your cousin had a reason though not a good one and against my judgment. They have decided that your punishment will be missions without pay for one year, two months of community service and a public apology to your clan."
Itachi looked relieved. The community service and apology would be a bitch but he was not in jail and his clan would provide whatever money he needed. He turned to Jiraiya the reason my punishment was lightened was because they don't have anyone of my skill level to be an ANBU captain isn't it?"
Jiraiya nodded. "That was Danzou's reasoning. My student's decision was not based on that. You know just as well as I that our Hokage hates those who hurt others when it can be avoided. His reasoning was that you are a great role model for Naruto and your fondness of the boy has convinced the Hokage you deserve a second chance."
Itachi waited. When nothing further was said he felt he needed to explain to Jiraiya. "You know why I killed him."
"At the time you were afraid that he was going to inform your father of your betrayal to Konoha and he would have executed you right away. As we both know you aren't on the best of terms with your father. Of course it would have been better to come clean than make it look like your cousin had committed suicide."
Itachi looked at the ground. "That's pretty much everything."
Jiraiya shook his head. "That's what the police think too, however, I want to know why you best friend would have turned you in?"
Itachi stepped back. 'There's no possible way Jiraiya found out had he? The only one who knew that reason besides himself was dead.'
"I want to know Itachi!" Jiraiya's tone was serious and demanding.
"I… He…" Itachi did not know how to explain it.
"OUT WITH IT DAMN IT!" Jiraiya knew there was something there and he wanted to know what.
Itachi took a deep breath. "The truth is he overheard the conversation I had with the Akatsuki leader. The leader told me if I wanted to join I had to show my faith by killing everyone in the clan. I told him I wasn't powerful enough to do it even if I wanted to and he said all I had to do was acquire the Mangekyo sharingan by killing my best friend. After we talked he left and I walked outside to clear my head. Shisui irrational at this point in his fear accused me of betraying our clan and threatened to kill me."
Jiraiya realized where this was going. "Let me guess you told him you didn't mean to betray anyone he wouldn't listen thinking you were lying and attacked? Then you fought and curious about the power you could achieve killed him."
"How could you guess the last part?" Itachi asked shame and guilt covering his expression.
'Perhaps Minato was right to give Itachi a second chance. I guess the boy though powerful still has to learn how to handle situation. I need to think about this more but first I'll have to ask the question.' "Itachi you may not be a bad person but I know you are obsessed with power. That is why you were intrigued by joining the Akatsuki in the first place. Now that I understand the story a bit better I have a question."
Itachi waited but he already knew what was going to be asked. "Did you acquire the Mangekyo sharingan?"
"I did." Was all Itachi said.
Jiraiya stroked his chin. "Has it given you the power you desire?"
Itachi wondered what was wrong with himself as he answered the question. "Yes." 'How can I be satisfied? Though he was my best friend and I regret my decision I don't feel sad. What am I?'
Jiraiya closed his eyes. He had watched the boy in front of him kill so many times and each time he seemed to enjoy it. Perhaps he would amend for his sins someday. "Itachi I want to know if when the time comes I can rely on you to put your power to use in protecting Konoha. Will you be able to let go of what you want and help me? Don't answer now the question I'm asking you is more complicated than you think."
Itachi then watched the old man walk off while trying to discover the riddle hidden in his words. 'Would I let go of what I want to help him…'