Chapter 15: Forgotten Memories
When Naruto, Jiraiya, Shizune and Tsunade arrived back into the leaf village a whole month had passed since the blonde had first set out and when he was spotted in the streets with two of the sannin-both of which had swore never to set foot back in the village-many of the Jonin and Chunnin just stared at the young Genin in shock. It also didn't help that word of his win against both Neji and Gaara had gotten around since he was gone and now he was getting many looks from other clans.
"Naruto?" When the Fox ninja looked up he was relieved to see Shikamaru standing in front of him with his hands in his pockets looking bored but intrigued at the same time. "Where you been lately?"
Naruto looked over at Jiraiya who shook his head and Naruto sighed and scratched his head and smiled at his friend "Training mission that's all" Shikamaru looked at Naruto and then nodded before he walked off before he turned back
"Oh yeah Zabuza is looking for you I'd expect him here in a few seconds" Naruto took a deep breath and then motioned for the Sannin to give him some room.
"YOU DAMN BRAT!" Naruto grinned when Zabuza appeared in front of him fury bright in his eyes.
Jiraiya sighed and Tsunade and Shizune looked taken aback why Shikamaru just yawned "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU YELLING ABOUT I JUST GOT BACK!" Naruto yelled back just as loud.
"What's going on" Tsunade asked in a confused voice
"THAT IS THE EXACT REASON I"M YELLING!" Zabuza yelled back getting face to face with the younger teen.
Jiraiya took a deep breath and pointed to Zabuza "Zabuza has a complicated bond with Naruto and doesn't know how to express it and in turn he and the kid argue...a lot and very loudly" Jiraiya said rubbing his temples.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN?" Naruto screamed back
Shizune looked around and saw many of the nearby Ninja had stopped what they were doing and had come to watch the confrontation "YOU LEFT. WITHOUT TELLING ANYONE I THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD IN A DITCH SOMEWHERE!" Naruto grinned and slapped Zabuza on the face good natured
"Aw you care thanks" he said before punching the Mist Nin in the nose "BUT THAT STILL DOESN'T GIVE YOU THE RIGHT TO SCREAM AT ME THE MOMENT I GET BACK!"
"YOU BASTARD YOU BROKE MY NOSE!" Zabuza screamed back as he held his nose in pain.
"NARUTO MY YOUTHFUL RIVAL YOU HAVE RETURNED!" Naruto stilled and then he disappeared in seconds and almost as soon as Naruto was gone Gai who had Rock Lee on his back appeared "DON"T RUN Naruto WE HAVE MUCH TO DISCUSS, AFTER HIM Gai-SENSEI!" Lee hollered after the blonde who had disappeared from sight.
"It's good to see nothing has changed" Jiraiya said sighing happily "Shall we" Tsunade just looked around and then nodded and followed her childhood friend towards the Hokage's office.
"Why do I have a feeling this'll be a big pain" Tsunade muttered as they climbed the steps to her new home. Jiraiya slapped her on the back and smiled.
"Why do you think I declined" Tsunade felt her eyebrow tick and she stared at Jiraiya with a death glare before she stomped towards the entrance and forced the doors open and glared at the council elders who glared right back.
"Tsunade it seems you have come back, I'm guessing it's to accept our offer?" The male council elder said as he scanned over Tsunade who then turned back and glared at Jiraiya.
"You so owe me"
Naruto walked into the temple and took in a deep breath as he breathed in the familiar scent of candles and herbs. To the demonic jailor there was nothing more soothing to the soul apart from entering the temple after a long mission away.
"Ah do my eyes deceive me or is that Naruto standing in our doorway" Naruto smiled and hugged Anton tightly "It's been a while"
"Yeah I went a really long training mission out of the village so I was unable to pray" Naruto said in a sad voice. "But I'm ready to send if you'll let me" Anton nodded and let Naruto pass and looked into the eyes of a hooded boy who sat at the feet of the Inferno Statue.
Naruto took a deep breath and begun dancing as he felt the tingling sensation of his chakra leaving him for the alter in which his offering would be given to the fourth Hokage. It was at times like now that Naruto wanted to stop being a ninja, when he performed a sending he felt as if he was doing something more productive then just killing and taking a life. As Naruto begun his dance for the gods, he locked eyes with Kiba who had his hood drawn up and was kneeling at the base of Inferno's feet just staring at him. The fox boy would be lying if he said he hadn't missed the Inuzuka in fact he would have to say he really missed the young male. As the gods withdrew their presences and there orbs lit up with agreement Naruto tried to walk towards the dog boy only to start to fall forward and get caught in his arms.
"Still makes you tired huh?" Naruto smiled happily at the dog boy who then pulled down his hood and gave Naruto a wolfish grin of his own. "When will you ever learn" He asked as he put Naruto on his own two feet.
"Please being reckless is part of my charm" Naruto said making Kiba laugh and shake his head "What it's true at least that's what Pervy Sage says"
Kiba stared at Naruto for a moment and then fought down a blush and turned away while clearing his throat "It's ah good to see you again, I thought you weren't coming back you were gone for so long" Naruto shook his head and leant back and shook his head.
"I couldn't leave this place...the people I love are here" Kiba looked down and blushed again as the full impact of Naruto's words hit him and he coughed nervously.
"Yeah well still you were gone for a really long time; I almost forgot what you looked like" Naruto laughed and then slung his arm around Kiba's shoulders and pulled his friend close.
"Then I'm gonna have to spend a little more time with you aren't I, get you used to me again" Naruto said smiling at the canine ninja and then laughed loudly making the other prayers in the temple stare at him in confusion.
Sakura glared at the blonde in front of her for a short moment before her face split into a large grin and she launched herself at him "Naruto!" she yelled as she glomped him and the blonde spun her around laughing loudly with her why Sasuke stood back and just watched as his girlfriend and his best friend got reacquainted. "Your Back, I've missed you so much"
Naruto hugged the pink haired girl tightly and then pulled away from her and smiled "Me too, you have no idea how boring it is with just Pervy Sage as company, I've really missed you" he said flipping back landing on one of the training logs and began playing his song merrily making Sakura laugh and begin to clap as she was once again uplifted by Naruto's music. Sasuke bit his lip and looked down ashamed as he watched how much Sakura's eyes sparkled when she listened to Naruto's music. Not once in the whole month they had been dating had he ever been able to get her eyes to sparkle and shine like they were at that moment, the closest he had come to such a spark had been when he had slept with her.
"Sasuke?" the raven haired ninja looked up and saw Sakura's concerned eyes looking at him. So to placate her, Sasuke smiled making Sakura grin back. When the pinkette turned back and smiled at Naruto who just changed his song and begun playing a more complicated tune.
Sasuke looked at Naruto and couldn't help the suspicious glint that entered them as he remembered the words his brother had spoken that day. "You always were jealous of him taking up my time when we were kids" Sasuke looked at Naruto for a moment before he bit his lip 'what did he mean by that, I'd never met Naruto before he entered the academy late even, and I was never jealous as I kid, I had no one to be jealous of'
"Sasuke, come on" Sasuke looked up and saw Naruto waving him over and then nodded before he jogged over. Naruto smiled widely at him and then begun playing the same haunting tune he had played the day of the bell test and Sasuke couldn't help but realize how far he had come from that one test and how long it had really been. Sakura laughed and then leant back against Sasuke and kissed his neck making a faint blush creep up on his neck and spread across his neck. Naruto smiled at his two friends and then continued to play his tunes making the couple laugh and grin, or in Sasuke's case smirk and tighten his grip on Sakura's waist.
"THE RAVEN DOESN'T SEEM TO CARE FOR HER LIKE GAARA DID" Naruto was so shocked at his older brother's statement that he almost stopped playing but just not to arouse suspicion he continued to play.
"Kyu what do you mean?" Naruto asked his older brother as he focused on his music, unable to stare at Sasuke while he was discussing him with his demonic jailor.
Kyuubi sent him an unsure rumble and then heaved a tired sigh "I CAN'T BE SURE LITTLE ONE, BUT..."
"But what Kyu?"
"I CAN'T HELP BUT NOTICE THAT WHEN YOUR YOUNG FREIND GAARA LOOKED AT SAKURA HE SEEMED TO BE LOOKING AT THE ONE THING THAT MADE HIM HAPPY" The demon said in a slow voice
"Yeah so? Not getting your point"
Kyuubi growled ad sent out a wave of annoyance to his little brother "LOOK AT THEM KIT, DOES IT REALLY LOOK LIKE SASUKE IS STARRING AT HER WITH THE SAME UTTER DEVOTION THAT GAARA HAD, TELL ME WHAT DOES Sasuke LOOK LIKE?"
Naruto looked up and sneaked a peak between his lashes at the couple and couldn't help it when his song suddenly turn sad and slow, "He looks at her like a possession, you're right Kyu, Gaara loved her, Sasuke...doesn't" Naruto said back to the large demon who hummed in agreement.
"AS I WAS SAYING LITTLE ONE" Naruto sighed and allowed his music to start to pick up as he noticed how depressed and sad Sakura was becoming as she listened to the haunting melody "BUT IT ISN'T A CAUSE FOR ALARM LITTLE ONE, I'M SURE SAUSKE WILL LEARN TO LOVE HER, BUT JUST..."
"Not in the way Gaara does, I get it" Naruto said
Naruto suddenly stopped and gave Sakura and happy grin "So Sakura have the sand trio sent any letters or messages while I've been away" Sasuke stiffened but the girl in his arm didn't seem to notice as she grinned and nodded throwing the blonde a thick envelope filled with several pages. "Awesome"
"It reads:
Dear Naruto Uzumaki,
I haven't had much practise writing letters before, but I believe that writing to you I will gain some experience. My Sister Temari says that it's normal to state the reason for writing a letter, but what if I have no reason, what if I just wish to write to you and merely have you reply. The truth is I'm finding it difficult to cope. Kankuro says that it's because you made such a big change in just one moment, but I don't feel that it's the case. My village seems to have accepted the new me after a few weeks of watching me, but at the same time I can't help but feel secluded and all alone in my own village, tell me: do you ever feel like that?
Naruto, I can't help but ask, how is your village dealing with the loss of you great Hokage, if my information is correct you have gone a mission to retrieve the new one, what are they like. My siblings and I can't help but feel responsible for your village's loss and want to do anything to help, even if that means forging our own bonds with your village we will. Temari tells me that she misses Sakura and her wit, and my brother wants to see you once again and show you his puppets as he remembers you joy and curiosity at the preliminaries when he used The Crow. As for myself I miss your comforting aura, even in the short while I knew you I couldn't help but notice the way you can calm down even a darkness born from thirteen years of rejection.
Just so you and your village are aware, our own village has suffered the loss of my father the third Kazekage. I can't say I'm sorry: does that make me a bad person, tell me Naruto, I don't understand if I should grieve over the man who brought me so much pain. Kankuro and Temari tell me to stop worrying but I can't help but be scared that I'll forget all you taught me and fall back into old patterns, and that scares me more than the thought of any battle I may encounter. Our village should start discussing a new treaty with your own, once your Hokage is decided.
I truly believe my village has accepted me for the first time in my life, instead of merely promoting me to Chunnin because of the power I possess, the council has decided against promoting me and instead only promoted only my Sister who hates the fact that she can't go on missions with Kankuro and even me anymore. Apparently she wants to become a strategist so she can meet your shadow using friend again-not that she'd tell anyone of course. Tell me who got promoted to Chunnin from the leaf village, I find it hard to believe that out of all the leaf village finalist that actually got to show off their skills that none of you got promoted.
I'm not expecting you to write back if you don't want to, I can understand if you don't feel the need too, considering I was the one who almost destroyed your village I can understand if you would find any type of contact with me irritating and almost insulting, but I couldn't help but try: simply because I find you as the one thing I've always wanted: My friend.
Yours
Gaara Sabuku
Naruto looked at the letter fondly and stroked it once before he stood up and cracked his muscles before he stared over at Sakura who gave Naruto a strange look.
"So what's the deal, the letter was all strange and cryptic how did you get any message out of that at all" she said pouting "The one I got from Temari was much better"
Naruto smiled and shook his head "Nah I understood, Gaara just takes a little patience and you can read him like a book: he and I are a lot alike" Naruto said before his mega watt grin spread across his face "I'm gonna go write one back"
Sakura stared after Naruto for a moment before she looked back at Sasuke and smiled once in his direction and stood up and smiled sadly "I'm really sorry Sasuke, but my parents get back tonight and they'll want to see me"
Sasuke looked down and grit his teeth and nodded, 'why does everyone want to steal my girlfriend'
Naruto took in a deep breath and stared at the blank paper in front of him before he picked up a pen he had swiped in his earlier pranking days and took a deep breath before he let his words flow down the page.
Dear Gaara
I'm sorry if my reply is a little late, I only got in to the village this very day, as you mentioned in your previous letter I was searching for the new Hokage, and brought her back to the village. As for what she's like...she's very caring and I believe the Leaf Village will grow under her guidance. As for you question about me feeling secluded in my own village, my answer is yes. I feel so very alone at some times that I want to go and hideaway in the Forest of Death. But I don't: I watch the families and I work through my pain and I think about how I want to help each and every one of those people who are so much better off then myself. The life of a demonic jailor is a sad and lonely one, as you've probably come to the conclusion. But we have a power that other people can only dream of and isn't it our duty to use that power to help the people who need it the most. Gaara we are bless with the bond of two brothers who can never leave us, some people go through their lives without anyone, just remember the next time you feel alone and isolated in your home: Shukaku will always be there for you.
As for the loss of Old Man Hokage...it was hard, he had served our village for so long and it was a shock to lose him to someone like Orochimaru. But that is all in the past now and we have a new Hokage who will serve us just as well as he did. I'm sure Tsunade would be honoured to renew our ally treaty with the Sand village when given the chance but given the state of the leaf village at this very moment I have a feeling your village will be grabbing for her attention, but I'll make sure to put in a good word for you. As for your darkness, I didn't calm it I merely showed you to your guiding light, I didn't do anything so great, I just lead you to your brother who is the one who has been helping you through everything.
I haven't heard much about your father, but from what I have been told, I've deducted that the relationship you shared with him wasn't one filled with any love or affection, so as for not grieving at his death...my answer is no: you are not a bad person. To be truthful Gaara I am honoured you hold my opinion to such high regard but I don't believe that you should be asking me if you are a good person, because I don't believe I am a good person. As for Temari and her secret, I think Shikamaru feels the same way; I don't think he had ever been tested as hard as he had when he went up against your sister. Congratulate her for me for making Chunnin, unfortunately without a Hokage no decisions on whom and who hasn't made Chunnin have been decided.
And just before I go...don't ever believe you can't write to me or reach out to me, I will say this as many times as I need to before you believe it yourself: You are one of my most precious people, you are my best friend, the only one who can truly understand me.
Yours
Naruto Uzumaki.
Naruto sighed and sat back before he scanned his letter once more before he nodded and then folded it and put it I a perfect envelope and whistled for the messenger hawk. As the beautiful bird landed on his window seal he couldn't help but smile and feed it a small mouse he found in the forest. "Can you take this to the sand village for me girl?" The hawk looked Naruto up and down once before it nodded and then rubbed its head against his hand as he tied the letter around his neck. "Good girl, go" Naruto said launching the bird from his arm.
As the hawk disappeared from sight Naruto's face darkened as he felt a presence behind him so whipping out his curved kunai Naruto spun around and faced his opponent who happened to be Kakashi "Kakashi Sensei!"
The silver haired ninja looked at Naruto with shock in his eyes and then smiled at him "Well hello Naruto how was your mission with Master Jiraiya?" Naruto glared at his sensei for a moment and then launched himself into Kakashi's arms who just looked shocked at the display of affection from the boy who had been cold towards him for the last few weeks. "Naruto?"
"Please don't hate me" Kakashi's gaze softened and he shook his head running an hand through the younger boy's hair comforting "I know I've been mean and angry at you for the last few weeks, but I couldn't help it, what you said to me really hurt and I tried ignoring you and what you meant to me, but I can't do it"
Kakashi took a deep breath and decided now would be the best time to come clean "Naruto, I haven't hated, not since I took care of you in ANBU" The blonde stilled and looked up and squinted until he gasped.
"Ookami?"
Kakashi nodded and then pulled Naruto into a large bear hug and smiled into the younger boys shoulder "You have no idea how long I worried over telling you about me, but you're not a little kid anymore and you don't deserve me keeping secrets from you anymore: you're not my little Kitsune anymore"
Naruto gulped down his tears and nodded into Kakashi's vest "Kakashi, I wouldn't have hated you; Ookami was like my father in ANBU I love you"
Kakashi stilled and pulled the boy away from him and stared at him in shock "but what about when I ignored you and shunned you after Itachi left?" he asked in shock, there was no way Naruto would have been able to handle rejection like that.
"To be honest I believe that I was avoiding you, not the other way round" Kakashi looked at Naruto in shock and the young boy chuckled a little as he turned and sat on his window seal motioning for Kakashi to sit down. "When Itachi left I felt guilty, I couldn't stop him no matter how much I pleaded, I had been so close to him for so long and yet I couldn't stop him. Then when you found me broken and bloody I couldn't help but be embarrassed, so when I got better I began to skirt around the team, started requesting solo missions more, then one day Team Ookami was disbanded and Falcon was my new Team leader and Rat was my guardian" Naruto said giving Kakashi a small smile which turned into a small frown when a dark memory crossed his mind.
"Naruto?" Kakashi asked in a concerned voice.
The blonde shook his head and then looked up at the cloud littered sky "It's just I never really thought I was alone, not really, I mean I always had you and the ANBU teams, or I had the temple elders, but the more I think about it, the only one I really had this whole time...was Kyu and that's what the council wanted all this time" Kakashi looked away in shame and then cleared his throat.
"That's not true you have team 7" the scarecrow said in a small voice making Naruto shake his head a little in sorrow.
"I wish it was that easy, but it's not, while in a way I do have you, you're my friends and I would die for you, but I don't have the bonds that you all have, I don't have someone to lean on when I'm scared and I don't have anyone to tell me what I do wrong and scold me, simply because I was born alone, Sasuke may say that it hurts more to have it ripped away from a person but in truth, he doesn't know what true loneliness is because he's always had someone" Kakashi looked down at Naruto and sighed himself, when the blonde started to talk all serious like, he couldn't help but feel old "Look Naruto I'm not saying that your life is perfect but think...if you hadn't gone through the training you had, do you think you would be able to protect your friends the way you have?" Naruto sighed and shook his head. Kakashi smiled slightly and took in a deep breath. "You've been gone to long Naruto, I missed you"
The blonde looked up at his sensei and then grinned "I missed you to Kakashi Sensei and I can't wait to show you how much stronger I've gotten"
Kakashi chuckled and then stared at Naruto's ink tipped fingers and cocked his head to the side curiously "Ah Naruto, did you write a letter?"
The blonde looked down at his fingers and then grinned happily before he nodded quickly "Yeah, Gaara from the sand village sent me one why I was away and I just replied, I hope he gets it okay" Naruto said in a nervous voice as he waited for Kakashi's reaction.
The silver haired Jonin nodded and stared at the now setting sun "It's good you and him, have become such close friends, I'll tell you one day your friendship...it'll be the stuff of legends" Naruto looked up at Kakashi and grinned
"Ya think so?" Naruto said happily, Kakashi nodded and smiled down at his student and then threw and arm behind him and leant back bracing himself on his arms. Naruto sighed and followed suit and for the first time since his early ANBU days Naruto felt at home.
Tsunade stared at the three Jonin in front of her and just shook her head in confusion "So let me get this straight...you want these two to advance? And only these two?" She said slowly as if to get her point across.
Anko nodded and stepped forward "Lady Hokage, these two not only proved that they can handle themselves in the field but from what I've been told, both of them have an idea of what it means to be a leader"
Tsunade pursed her lips as she stared at the two applicants in front of her and shook her head "but still just these two, surely one of the other finalists should qualify"
Ibiki stepped forward and shook his head "I'm afraid not milady, in my own test only these two were able to gather what information they needed without being spotted by my chunnin sentries and I'm saying this to be thorough to brag, but my chunnin are trained to the tee to spot cheating and information gather techniques, the fact that these two genin can do so without being spotted...that's pure skill"
Tsunade rubbed a hand over her brow and then stared at Gemma "Well what do you have to say, you fought just as hard for these two as the other proctors" she stated leaning back wanting to hear the young Jonin's argument.
Gemma sighed and played with his senbon before he stared at the two pieces of paper on the table "I'll make it brief, one of those two has the ability to make snap decisions and make an analgise of a battlefield and its advantages in mere seconds, the other can work out strategies so well thought out that he can anticipate the next move his opponent can do, there is no way either of these guys should be genin anymore, in fact I'd look up there records if you don't believe me" Gemma said in a bored tone.
Tsunade smiled and shook her head "That won't be necessary, Kotsue go get Izsum and get the two lucky candidates, I want to give them the happy news straight away" The proctors looked at Tsunade in shock and confusion and the Hokage decided she should elaborate "look I already knew who I was going to promote simply because of their test scores and the your three reports as well as the reports of the Sand sound Invasion, I just wanted you to tell me why I should promote them personally"
Anko was about to retort when the door opened and the two candidates entered, "You wanted to see us Lady Hokage?"
Tsunade smiled at both boys and then started to write on their applicant sheets before sighing "at first I didn't want to promote anyone, considering half the candidates didn't get to participate in their fights, but as it were your proctors were very forward in who they thought should become chunnin, so please let me be the first to congratulate you Shikamaru Nara, and Naruto Uzumaki for reaching the rank of Chunnin" Naruto and Shikamaru glanced at each other and then gulped before they smiled weakly at Tsunade who threw a Chunnin vest at both of them. "You don't have to wear it, but you get one either way"
Naruto nodded and just left the flak vest in his hand while Shikamaru pulled his on lazily, "Thanks Grandma" the blonde said winking before he jumped out the window to dodge the chair that came flying for his head "See ya"
Shikamaru laughed a little and then looked at Tsunade who was smiling herself "Lady Hokage...he may be a little rough, but you couldn't have chose a better chunnin then Naruto himself"
Tsunade smiled and then nodded, "Yeah I know"
When Sakura, Kakashi and Sasuke Saw Naruto walking up to them the next morning with a new ninja headband and a chunnin patch on his sleeveless jacket, the pinkette couldn't help but giggle a little at how cute Naruto looked as he blushed. Kakashi clapped Naruto on the back and congratulated the blonde for making the rank so quickly reminding the silver haired ninja of himself. But unlike his two teammates Sasuke didn't make any move to congratulate the blonde, in fact he just stood back and stared at Naruto just running through all the things that had put the orange and black ninja in front of him.
"Sasuke?" The raven looked over at Sakura who was looking at him happily "Aren't you going to congratulate Naruto on making Chunnin on his first time?" The pinkette said excitedly as she looked over at Naruto who was talking with Kakashi and rubbing the back of his hair embarrassedly.
Sasuke nodded and walked over to Naruto who looked away and then punched him lightly in the shoulder "Congrates, but don't let this go to your head or anything, your still a dobe" Naruto grinned and nodded before slapping Sasuke on the back making the raven stumble a little.
"Just remember who the team's SIC is now" Naruto said in a happy voice.
Sasuke looked at Naruto like he had grown another head and almost laughed "Ah Naruto I'm the team's SIC, I always have been" Sasuke said in a taunting voice and then looked at Kakashi for confirmation who just shook his head sadly.
"I'm sorry Sasuke, but now that Naruto is a Chunnin he is the second highest ranking ninja in the squad which means that he is the SIC from now on" Sasuke looked from Naruto and then from Kakashi and then at Sakura who nodded sadly and then walked off with head down. "Sasuke where are you going" Kakashi called out.
Naruto held his hand out and shook his head "Kakashi sensei, think about this, Sasuke is a Uchiha and on top of that he is Itachi's brother, try to understand that why I am important to him, the fact that I became a Chunnin before him and then took his position as SIC all in one blow is a bit much for him to swallow, the only thing that would make this day a little more bitter is if he lost his Sharingan" Sakura looked over at Sasuke's figure which was slowly disappearing from view and sighed.
Kakashi nodded and then ran a hand through his wild silver hair and then put a hand on the boy's shoulder and smiled at him once again "I'm really proud of you Naruto, you did well" The blonde scratched the back of his neck and then laughed.
'You are aware that Shikamaru was made Chunnin as well"
Sasuke glared at everything in his room and then chucked a large book at his draws making one of them fall apart and fall to the floor. Sasuke sighed and walked over to the broken draw and found instead of clothes the draw had only two books in it. Looking around him to see if anyone was watching he slowly picked up a book and was shocked when he saw it was a diary entry.
Dear Diary
Today big brother came back from ANBU headquarters all happy, he even agrees to play with me...Sasuke looked at the words and then gasped, 'I remember this"
Flashback
Sasuke walked through the house his head stuck in a scroll when suddenly he walk head first into his brother who just laughed and helped pick him up. "Sorry big brother" he squeaked. He wasn't going to lie, he was six and he would honestly admit that his big brother scared him a little.
Itachi chuckled a little and then patted the young boy on the head "It's okay Sasuke, just watch where you're going next time remember being a ninja means more than just knowing things you have to be good at the practical side of things as well" Sasuke watched in shock as his big brother walked down the hall and into his room.
'What happened to him...he was happy?"
Flashback
Sasuke pulled himself out of the memory and flicked to another page and started to read fascinated with all the old memories he had kept away and hidden over the years.
Dear Diary
Something weird happened today, big brother was going to play with me, but suddenly a hawk landed and gave him a message and he just left me saying that it had to something to do with his charge...Sasuke looked at the words for a moment and then hummed as he remembered this particular memory.
Flashback
"Big brother are we going to play today" Sasuke said in a happy voice, Itachi smiled and nodded and slowly walked out of the house and into the back yard. 'Okay were going to play stealth search" Itachi chuckled a little at Sasuke's antics but then froze when he heard a hawk squawking on the air.
"Sasuke stay quiet for a moment" Itachi said and after a moment of making sure Sasuke wasn't going to say anything he whistled to the bird which gracefully flew to his shoulder and just perched there.
Sasuke stared at his brother for moment and then gasped when his older brother pulled a small strip of paper from the bird's leg and then read over the message. "Brother?"He asked quietly
Itachi looked up and scrunched the paper up and then sighed "Sasuke I'm sorry but I have to go"
Sasuke ran forward and shook his head "But why you never have any time for me, you have a mission practically every night and then you spend nearly all day at the ANBU base what is so interesting there"
Itachi fixed his younger brother with a glare and then sigh "Sasuke I can't do this my Charge needs me"
Sasuke stared after his brother who was had just disappeared and then sighed "Who could his charge be?"
Flashback
Sasuke suddenly froze as some pieces fell into place: "You always were jealous of him taking up my time when we were kids" Suddenly some of that made sense. Sasuke shook his head and glared at the pages in front of him.
"There's no way Naruto is his charge" Sasuke whispered in a strong voice, but then he turned the page and another memory sprung forward.
Dear Diary
Toady I met Big Brother's Charge, his name is Kitsune, I don't know much about him, or what he looks like for that manner, he kept his face covered by this huge black cloak, although he was waiting for Brother by our house and he had another ANBU with him who looked important but when the kid saw brother he rushed and gave him a hug. Sasuke looked at the words and remembered the first time he'd ever seen the cloaked boy
Flashback
Sasuke sat on the front steps of his house when two figures dropped down in front of him. One was shorter than him and was wearing a huge black cloak that covered all of his features and made him unrecognizable and the other was an ANBU with a Coyote mask on. The ANBU laughed at something the boy said and was about to say something in return when he spotted Sasuke sitting on the steps and bowed to him.
"Hello Sasuke is your brother ready yet, we have a mission and are ready to go" Coyote said in a happy voice when suddenly the masked boy leapt forward until he was standing in front of him and Sasuke was staring into two bright azure eye.
"Hello, I'm Sasuke" He said holding his hand out
Coyote was about to say something when Itachi walked out in full ANBU gear his mask askew "Kitsune you know the rules" Sasuke looked at the boy who nodded and then ran forward and hugged Itachi tightly "Yes I missed you as well" Itachi looked at Sasuke who was staring at the two of them with shock and then pulled Kitsune to stand next to him "Sasuke this is Kitsune: My Charge"
Flashback
Sasuke sighed and shook his head and almost laughed "Yeah right like Naruto would ever get into ANBU he's good but he's not that good" Sasuke said as he put his childhood diary back into the draw.
But just as he was about to walk away something from his last encounter with Itachi ran through his mind "Kisame take Kitsune" Sasuke's eyes went wide and his mouth went dry and suddenly everything became clear.
"Naruto is Kitsune" Sasuke whispered as he stared out the window and then began to chuckle a little "Of course now it all makes sense, the way he was always tired at school, the way he was able to do things other students even I couldn't, they way he is okay with death and doesn't flinch at taking other people's lives" he said in a frantic almost mad voice.
Suddenly a glint caught his eye and when he moved towards it he froze when he saw a picture taken on one of their teams many C ranked missions, it was of him and Naruto. He was smirking at the camera while Naruto had his arm around his shoulder and was grinning happily. "You lied to me" He said smashing the picture on the table causing a huge crack to run up the middle of the photo.
Tsunade looked over Lee and then sighed as she saw all the damage the fighter had taken to his spine. "So Grandma what's the verdict, can you fix Lee's injuries" Naruto asked softly unlike Gai who was bouncing from one foot to the other frantically.
"Well it's not good; he has sand particles inside his spin and vertebra the only way to get them out would be an operation and even with my skill...he has a 50/50 chance at dying" Lee froze and Gai became stony while Naruto nodded and walked over to Tsunade and pulled her aside.
"Is there any way to up the chances even 1 percent?" He asked "You don't know bushy brows like I do, being a ninja is his whole life" Tsunade saw the sorrow and determination in Naruto's eyes and then nodded.
"I'll see what I can do, but I want you to stay with him until I come and get you" Tsunade said fiercely and Naruto nodded and turned back to the two ninja who were just standing there and put his hand on Lee's shoulder and smiled at him warmly. Tsunade sighed and rubbed her forehead and quickly walked towards the medical library gnawing on her bottom lip 'I don't know what I can do, but Naruto I'll give it a shot'
Lee looked down and chuckled "I guess that's it, I can't be a ninja anymore" Naruto looked over at Gai who looked heartbroken and motioned for him to leave "I mean I don't want to die and just one slip up, and it's over" As his sensei left the room Naruto sighed and picked Lee up.
"Come with me, I want to show you something" Lee frowned at Naruto confused but followed him anyway and when they got to the exit of the Hospital he was shocked to see, Shikamaru, Kiba, Chouji, Shino and Sakura waiting for them.
"Naruto why'd you call us here" Shikamaru asked yawning loudly.
The blonde looked at each genin and the one chunnin and sighed "I'm sure by now you've noticed that I'm a little different to you guys and I'm sure you've all done your digging only to come up blank right" Most of the ninja in front of him looked down embarrassed. "Well I think it's time you learnt a little bit about me"
Lee stared at Naruto in shock and then leant on him more as he lead the small group through the village until they came to a secluded part of the forest where a ANBU dropped down in front of them and bowed to Naruto. "We've been waiting for you"
The group gave Naruto a confused glance but followed him anyway as they were lead into the ANBU base. "You made it" the group turned around and saw the ANBU that normally escorted Naruto to and from the academy standing on the balcony above them before he dropped down in front of him.
"Everyone meet Rat, head of the ANBU unit, and my old guardian" The group stared at Naruto in shock and Rat motioned for them to follow him until they reached the ANBU sitting room.
"My name is Naruto Uzumaki as you all know" Naruto started off much to his audience who were captivated by him "But there is a side to me that you don't know and I thought that as my dear friends and comrades it was time you learnt" he said and then a large explosion of smoke surrounded him and when it cleared the group all gasped as they saw Naruto standing in full ANBU gear with his fox mask sitting askew on the left side of his head.
"No way...your Kitsune" Kiba whispered and Naruto nodded sadly
"Kiba's right, at a very young age I was I guess adopted by the ANBU and was sent on missions where I earned the name Kitsune, I continued to go on these missions throughout my academy day I only recently started going on the odd job now again" Naruto said holding up his arms for inspection.
Lee stared at Naruto in shock why the others talked among themselves or to Rat and then hobbled over to the blonde and sat down next to him "Why's you bring me here"
Naruto smiled and looked up at the roof "Did you know everytime I went out on an assassination mission there was a 60 percent chance that I wouldn't survive, but did you know I still went" lee stared at Naruto in shock and shook his head confused.
"But why?"
"Silly, I did it to serve the Leaf village. The truth is a ninja never has any idea that he will survive, they go into each battle thinking it might be their last and they have to treasure every moment their alive" Naruto said and Lee just stared at him in awe "I'm telling you this because your surgery is the same deal you really think that even if the odds were just a little better the outcome might be tipped"
"Are you saying, don't be scared" lee asked in an unsure voice and flushed deep red when Naruto threw his head back and laughed loudly
"Are you crazy, every ninja goes into battle scared, even the most harden ANBU have the moment before the engage the enemy where they are scared, but we overcome it with our need to complete the mission" Naruto said to the other ninja sitting with them who had started to listen in.
Lee nodded with a slight smile on his face and Naruto grinned and looked around at each ninja staring at him "I hope your all a little enlightened now"