lostmoonchild: Ohayo! So it's Friday morning and I'm messing around on YouTube looking for songs that's been driving my brother nuts and now updating stories while waiting for a song to load. Thanks for the reviews, they actually got me thinking.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto so don't sue.
Chapter Twenty One
Kaboom!
Kiba rolled over onto his stomach and groaned as he heard the sound of footsteps running towards his room. "Kiba!" Hisoka screamed as she dove onto his bed and scrambled under the blankets.
He had known from the moment he first picked up the scent of the oncoming storm that he wouldn't have a peaceful night. He just wished that the girl had been able to sleep through the storm but with the thunder being as loud as it was his hopes had been in vain. "Tone it down a little, Hi-chan." Kiba said as he put an arm over the girl's trembling form. "You're okay."
"I don't like storms! Th-they…"
"I know."
He rolled onto his side and stared softly as the girl sobbed into his chest. He couldn't imagine living in a world where the smallest things brought back a memory of pure terror and wanted nothing more than to be able to make everything okay in her eyes again. "You can sleep in here with Akamaru and me if you want." Kiba sighed. "I don't care."
Apparently comforted by his words, Hisoka nestled tightly against him and stared into the darkened room, flinching when she saw lightening and heard the crack of thunder. She wanted Naruto but knew that he couldn't always be in Konoha to hold her hand and comfort her. "Go to sleep, Hi-chan." Kiba murmured, his eyes growing heavy.
Flinching at another crack of thunder, Hisoka nestled even tighter against Kiba and listened to the sound of his heart beating. Closing her eyes, Hisoka fell asleep to the lullaby she had known since before she was born.
(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)
Blue eyes scanned the rainy area, watching as the rain feel in icy sheets. Naruto made no movements at the flashes of light or the cracks of thunder, his thoughts distant. "Is something bothering you, Naruto-kun?" Hinata asked softly.
"Not really. I'm just wondering if Kiba's getting annoyed at Hi-Hi yet." Naruto answered patiently. "She hates storms."
While she wanted to say that a fear of storms was common in many children, Hinata found herself unable to say that to Naruto. She knew he was angry and hurt that Sasuke had proven himself able to harm an innocent child as well as betray Konoha for something as trivial as revenge. "For what it's worth," the Hyuuga heiress offered softly, "I think you're an excellent father. Leaving your child behind while you go on missions isn't easy."
"I know. I've just never been gone for more than a week and a half ever since she came to Konoha." Naruto told her.
The two sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes before Naruto started squirming. "Naruto-kun?" Hinata questioned.
"Dammit! I'm getting twitchy! Why can't something-"
Thunk.
"Don't start wishing for stuff to happen, baka!" Sakura scolded as Naruto nursed the rising goose egg on his skull. "Now come on. It's time to start rounds again."
Grumbling softly to himself, Naruto got up before darting off to check out his area. Hinata glanced at Sakura and saw the weary look in the pinkette's eyes. "Are you okay, Sakura-chan?" Hinata asked.
"I'm fine. Come on, let's get started. We can't ensure our target's safety if we're standing around talking."
Nodding slightly, the two women went their own way determined to return home as soon as possible.
(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)
The last time Naruto had ever felt uncomfortable with a woman around, Naruto thought as he lay against a rock, was during his three-year training with Jiraiya and had been chased by a bunch of girls. Now he was stuck keeping an eye on a woman that looked like she'd rape him if given the chance. "Are you sure you're okay? You look so tense." The woman, Kira, said with a look that plainly said how she could relax him.
"I'm fine!"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes!"
It had become painfully obvious since the first day that Naruto would need to watch his back when it came to the woman. He knew she was a paying client but when even Sai agreed that it wouldn't be in anybody's best interest to let Naruto be alone with the woman, they all knew the blonde was in a bad position. "Naruto is one of Konoha's best. If he says he's fine then there's no need to worry." Shino said simply.
Thank the gods for Shino. "Yeah! I just need to sleep a little." Naruto said quickly.
"You can rest your head on my lap if you wish."
Thanks but no thanks. "I'll be fine." Naruto said quickly. "Us ninja go through harsh training. Only the strong get through it."
Harsh training? Not in the Academy but that was something civilians didn't know unless their child was in the Academy. "Oh, I see. Then I'll bid you goodnight." Kira said with a small wink as she laid down.
The woman was a cougar! He thought he had been dreaming when she first began flirting with him but now he was absolutely certain of it! Not that he thought all cougars were terrible but he just wasn't into women that were older than him. Jiraiya had tried to get him to help him with 'research' but he had refused upon realizing what was expected of him.
A soft sigh left Naruto's lips as he closed his eyes, falling into a painfully light sleep.
(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)
"Okay, class, we're going to work on the clone jutsu today." Iruka told the class. "Line up and I don't want to see any 'special techniques' that count as a useless jutsu."
"Iruka-sensei! Is there really such a thing as a useless jutsu?" A boy questioned.
"Yes. One has been created and I assure you that it will get you nowhere."
"Oh! Daddy told me he made one that knocked out Sandaime!" Hisoka announced.
"And I hope Naruto never teaches you that one."
Iruka watched as the girl pouted slightly, having the feeling that Naruto had told her that he'd never teach her that one. For that one he was grateful seeing as the girl really didn't need to learn any useless jutsu. While he could see that she was smart and enjoyed having fun, getting into trouble was just something he didn't want the girl to become accustomed to. "Why not? Is it that awesome?" A boy questioned.
"No, it's just that stupid." Iruka replied. "Now let's get started."
He watched as each child produced a clone, nodding slightly in approval and giving encouragement to those that needed it. A wave of uneasiness came upon the Chuunin teacher's being when it was Hisoka's turn. Would any of the Kyuubi's chakra blend into her clones or would it be a normal clone?
Hisoka's gray eyes closed as she took a deep breath, forcing herself to remain calm. "Come on! Get it over with already!" Somebody called in boredom.
There was a puff of smoke and Iruka sighed in apparent relief when he saw subtle traces of the Kyuubi's chakra in the clone. "Not bad. You didn't learn that from Naruto, I suppose." Iruka commented as the clone vanished.
"Iie. Hinata. Daddy says he sucks at making clones. Shadow clones are the only kind he's good at."
Nodding slightly in understanding, Iruka motioned for the children to go back inside. As the day continued on, Iruka noticed that the girl was looking out the window as if searching for something. "Hisoka, can I see you for a moment please?" Iruka called when class was over for the day.
Ignoring her classmates' taunts that she was in trouble, Hisoka nodded slightly. "I need to hurry up or Kiba will think I'm in trouble." Hisoka told her teacher. "Then he'll tell Daddy."
"I doubt that'll happen." Iruka soothed the girl. "You're not in trouble. I just want to ask you about something."
"What?"
There was such confusion and caution in her eyes that Iruka couldn't help but see that she was wary. "What is it you're looking at when you look out the window?" Iruka questioned.
What kind of question was that? Hisoka stared for a moment before answering carefully, "I'm looking for something. I know it's that way," she pointed towards the direction she was staring at, "and that it's outside the village but I don't know where. Kyuu-chan thinks that the others know I'm okay and want me so they can all protect me."
"From what?"
"The Uchiha people."
People? The only Uchiha that was alive still was Sasuke. They had all heard the report that Itachi was dead but to hear that Sasuke wasn't the last was just impossible. "You mean person." Iruka said.
"No, I mean people. Kyuu-chan said that there's one older than Sasuke-teme," the brunette sighed knowing where Hisoka had picked up the nickname, "and a lot stronger. Kyuu-chan thinks that he'll kill me the minute that I refuse to let him use them."
While it was disturbing that there was possibly another Uchiha out in the world somewhere, Iruka just couldn't get past the whole "Kyuu-chan" bit. There was just something wrong with the monster that had destroyed the village and killed his parents being given such an affectionate name. Then again, the girl was a member of the Kairi family and they all had a reputation for thinking of demons as their babies. "What makes you certain that the Kyuubi isn't lying to you?" Iruka asked.
"Cause you don't lie to the only person that would argue for you to be free."
lostmoonchild: My brother and I actually got into a discussion regarding Hisoka learning the Sexy Jutsu and all he could really keep doing was say "Sexy Jutsu" before lifting up his shirt. Yeah, I can basically tell him what I have planned and expect a joke about it but he found the scene with Iruka commenting about Naruto's "useless jutsu" rather amusing. Well, I'll see you guys next week so read and review!