lostmoonchild: Thanks for the review! I've been pretty busy (think the only time I really get to go through looking for any typos is when I'm updating) so I apologize in advance for any grammer mistakes that may appear. Okay, so here's the chapter that I'd probably better get posted before the storm (and I swear it's the same one that was dropping very unwanted rain on us last night) knocks out the electricity and my internet.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto so don't sue.
Chapter Twelve
Naruto woke the next morning to find the spot where Hisoka was sleeping cool to the touch and in a panic, rushed out to the living room to find the girl sitting near the coffee table with a bowl of cereal next to her and her drawing supplies in front of her. Blue eyes softened as he watched the girl draw, occasionally stopping long enough to take a bite of her cereal. What was she drawing that she was seeing as important enough to eat cereal in the living room?
It wasn't like he cared if she ate in the living room but he knew how much she hated eating anything that had liquid in it in the living room. Whether she was afraid of spilling something or just something that she hated doing, he didn't know. All he knew was that she must have been determined that whatever she was drawing was important.
Naruto said nothing as he watched the girl. If there had been anybody in his life when he was that young, would they have ever watched him like this? If his parents had been alive, would they have watched him? Damn it. He forgot to talk to Tsunade about adopting Hisoka. He'd have to remember to do it later when they went to see Tsunade. "Morning, Hisoka-chan!" Naruto said brightly.
Hisoka looked up and grinned brightly at him as she jumped up and ran over to give him a hug. Her eyes danced with excitement as if she had surprise for him. "What's going on in your head this morning?" Naruto questioned.
She gave him a secretive smile as she raised her arms up, motioning for him to pick her up. Once she was tucked into his arms, Naruto laughed at the face she made. "You're a silly kid." Naruto teased as they went over to the couch and he flopped onto the lumpy cushions. "Ugh. Thinks it's time we got a new couch. This one's ready to retire I think."
Holding onto his hand, Hisoka reached over and grabbed the drawings, showing him. "What're these?" Naruto questioned, glancing at the girl to see what she'd say.
"When I woke up." Hisoka responded.
Blue eyes focused on the drawings, recognizing the tubes as the same kind that Orochimaru would use in his experiments. In each picture, there was a child that was either inside the tube or lying on the ground. In the final picture, Naruto noted that the tube was empty and that Hisoka had drawn herself with a confused look on her face. "Your parents weren't there?" Naruto questioned.
Hisoka shook her head slightly before scooting off of the blonde's stomach. "What now?" Hisoka questioned.
"We're going to go show Granny Tsunade the pictures. I want you to tell her everything that you remember, got it?" Naruto questioned. "I know we're not supposed to meet her until later but this might be pretty important."
Hisoka nodded in understanding before putting her now empty bowl in the kitchen, waiting as Naruto got dressed. She knew that Tsunade would understand. She just had to.
(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)
She had known that they had been desperate to survive but this was a new low. She hadn't even thought that the family would even consider doing such a thing and now here they were all looking at the living proof of desperation. If the wrong moves were made, the girl would without a doubt be killed. "Naruto, I need to talk to you. Hisoka-chan, why don't you go with Hawk-san on a little walk?" Tsunade suggested.
"Am I coming back?"
Was it possible the girl actually understood her situation better than what they were all thinking she did? "Yes." Tsunade answered with a small nod.
Hisoka looked at Naruto before leaving the room with the aforementioned ANBU member. "What's going on?" Naruto questioned.
Tsunade sighed softly before answering, "During the last part of the Third Great Ninja War there was a group of individuals that had, shall we say, unique talents. There were nine of them, to be exact, and each one varied in strength."
"Okay…"
"The first one was strong enough to perhaps handled the Ichibi. The second could handle Nibi and so forth until the ninth one." Tsunade watched Naruto carefully, seeing that he was trying to understand why she was telling him this. "This family had been around for years, each generation giving birth to nine unique individuals that were killed. Every four or five generations, a tenth child would be born with the rare ability to control all nine Bijuu."
"Great. So what's this got to do with Hisoka?" Naruto questioned.
"If I'm right in assuming this, Hisoka's either the one that's actually supposed to control the Kyuubi or she's the rare one that can control all the Bijuu."
Naruto stared at the older woman in disbelief. "Uh huh, sure. So a five year old girl that got the shit beaten out of her has the ability to control Bijuu." Naruto raised an eyebrow. "I think you're getting senile, Grandma."
If she were to bunch the blonde, could she restrain from cracking his head open or would she be forced to operate on him in her office? "I'm being serious here, Naruto." Tsunade told him. "They took refuge in the Whirlpool Country before its destruction and it's safe to assume that Hisoka is the absolute last of this unique family."
"Right. So why would Orochimaru and Sasuke want to starve her to death instead of trying to kill her off or trying to get her to help them?"
Tsunade thought for a moment. "It's possible that whenever you and Sasuke got into a fight and you ended up using the Kyuubi's chakra, some of its chakra rubbed onto Sasuke and then Hisoka unknowingly took it. I don't think I need to tell you how unnerving it is to have your chakra being drained from your body by a third party."
"My money's on controlling all of them. I've met the genius that got charged with my keep and that idiot could barely control himself. Besides, the girls usually get charged with all of them."
Why the hell did the girls get charged with all the Bijuu? Hold on a minute… Did you already know?
"From the moment we got within two miles of the snake-nin's."
And you didn't say anything why?
Tsunade was silent as she watched the blonde, seeing the look in his eyes. Was it possible that the Kyuubi was talking to Naruto? She couldn't deny that there had been suspicions about the whole subject but they had yet to ask Naruto. Despite the few people that believed he'd tell the truth, Tsunade was fairly certain he'd lie just to save his life from the few that would be screaming for his immediate death. "Yeah, well, I don't care if Hisoka's the last of some psychotic family. She's my little girl and I want to adopt her." Naruto said with a determined look.
Tsunade stared at Naruto for a moment, her eyes wide in disbelief. He knew what she could do and yet he wanted to adopt her? "Naruto, do you even realize what they can do to a full-fledged Bijuu?" Tsunade questioned. "The effects they can have on a Jinchuuriki could be lethal."
"Do you really think that Hisoka would kill Killer Bee or me?" Naruto questioned. "She just needs to learn-"
"And how do you propose she learns, Naruto?" Tsunade questioned. "Look, all of the Kages are going to be coming here to see her. They will all determine if she's a threat to the respective countries or not. I don't think I need to tell you what will happen if they do see her as a threat."
"I still want to adopt her."
A sigh left Tsunade's lips as she looked at him. "I'm sorry, Naruto. Until this matter is settled, I cannot allow her adoption to anybody. Not even you." There was sympathy in her eyes. "You should probably go get her and I'm also sorry to say that you two will need to stay in the village."
"And if Sasuke comes back for her?"
"You let me handle that. Now go."
(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)
It was clear that something was bothering him and she had no idea was it was. Hisoka looked up at Naruto as she held his hand tightly in hers, watching him carefully. "We've gotta stay here." Naruto told her. "Some people are going to be showing up here before too long to meet you. It's important you make a really good impression, got it?"
Why? Her eyes asked him.
"Because you're special and we want the people that are coming here to like you. They're really important, just like Granny Tsunade, so you need to mind your manners."
Am I in trouble?
"I don't know yet. Just remember that what Granny Tsunade says goes and that what the important people say goes as well."
Hisoka nodded slightly and rested her head against Naruto's arm. "When this is all over, Hisoka-chan, I'll talk to Granny Tsunade again about adopting you. Right now she doesn't want to give either of us any false hope." Naruto forced a grin. "Just be yourself and they'll love you as much as I do. Sound good?"
Hisoka nodded in understanding and grinned at him in response. She'd make Naruto proud of her and no matter what, she'd make sure that the new people that were coming liked her.
lostmoonchild: I personally can see Naruto trying to make the situation seem like it's not that big of a deal but still make it clear that it's a big enough deal that manners and a very good impression are both a must. Okay, I'm gonna go vanish for another week so read and review!