Okay, here is the next chapter. I hope everyone enjoys it. Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed and added me to their faves and alert lists.
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The Boy In The Orange Jumpsuit
Chapter Thirteen – A Single Moment of Clarity.
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It had been a week since everything had happened, and as people were starting to heal, Madara was making plans to move them.
"It's becoming more dangerous to keep them here Kakashi. If we don't move them soon we may never get the chance. The fact that I've vouched for you won't protect this house from being searched and I fear it'll be sooner rather than later." Madara stated. Kakashi nodded his understanding. Minato was with them at the moment. Tsunade was finding it easier to walk around now and Kushina sat beside her husband. Rin and Mikoto were not there, but Itachi was. He had bought Sasuke for his usual 'lessons' and Sasuke was playing with Naruto and Sakura, as well as other children. Obito sighed as he looked through some documents.
"We discussed the idea of getting everyone out by train before." Kakashi stated.
"I never thought there would be so many injured. We're transporting fifty people, and out of those fifty, forty-two are injured, some severely." Madara replied.
"We've suffered many hardships Madara. We can survive another small one for freedom." Minato quipped. Madara nodded.
"Do you think your people can handle being transported by freight train to Konoha? Do you think that the worst injured will survive the journey? It will be two weeks long on the rails through the mountains and across Kiri, into Konoha. Do you think that you can all survive it? Can you guarantee that I'm not about to send you to your deaths?" Madara asked.
"Why not ask the people themselves? I know that we've suffered far worse things in the camps then we could on this journey." Minato replied. Madara nodded his understanding and stood up to go and speak to those injured who were conscious.
xXxXxXx NARUTO xXxXxXx
Naruto was sat with the other children, trying to teach them what he'd learned from Kakashi, and Sakura did her best to help. That was when Sasuke's Uncle walked into the Annexe.
"What's going on?" Naruto asked Sasuke as he looked at his dearest friend.
"I don't know. Maybe it's time for me to go home." Sasuke replied.
"See you tomorrow Sasuke." Naruto said sadly. Sasuke nodded his acknowledgement. Once he had left a discussion began. A discussion about whether or not they could handle a journey to Konoha. Naruto grabbed hold of Sakura's hand. This might be what they had waited for, for so long. What all of them had dreamed of. There was no argument. Everyone agreed unanimously that it was time to get out of Oto. It was their only chance for real freedom.
xXxXxXx SASUKE xXxXxXx
Sasuke was playing with a toy car in the hallway when he heard steps coming up the stairs. Sasuke didn't know who these footsteps belonged to, so hiding seemed like the best option. He watched as a soldier stamped across to Rin's room with Sasuke's father.
"So you saw her with a blood stained shirt." Sasuke's father commented sternly.
"Yes sir. She may have been helping the escaped prisoners and in that case sir, I'm afraid your wife may also fall under suspicion, as I'm sure you know." The soldier stated calmly.
"I know well enough soldier. Keep your mouth shut. I'll find out once and for all what is going on here." Sasuke heard his father bite out. Sasuke felt shivers crawling down his spine. Once he saw the pair enter Rin's room, Sasuke crept towards the staircase and went as quietly as possible to find his mother. Both Rin and his mother were in danger. How Sasuke knew he wasn't really sure, but when his father used that tone of voice, Sasuke knew that he was angry. He found his mother in the garden with Rin and told them what he had heard.
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Itachi was helping his Uncle Madara, Obito and Kakashi, to plan the safest and least troublesome route towards Konoha. His brains were unparallel to anyone else of his age group. There was a knock on the door and Kakashi went to open it.
"Mikoto? Rin? What's wrong?" Kakashi asked.
"Fugaku suspects Rin and I." Mikoto stated as she walked into the study with Rin and Sasuke.
"I'm more afraid for Rin then I am for myself." Mikoto added.
"How did you find this out?" Itachi asked his mother.
"Sasuke overheard your father and one of his soldiers talking." Mikoto replied gently as she ruffled her youngest child's hair. Madara sighed.
"I will see if I can find out what Fugaku knows or doesn't. But if you are at risk, Mikoto, then we will ship you out of here to Konoha, with the other refugees here. Rin, you're definitely going." Madara said firmly. Rin nodded her understanding.
"And what about Itachi and Sasuke?" Mikoto asked. Madara took a deep breath.
"They're your sons. It has to be your choice Mikoto. Take them with you or leave them with their father. I can't make the decision for you." Madara stated. Mikoto nodded her understanding. She looked at her two sons.
"Itachi, would you want to stay with your father or come with me?" Mikoto asked. Itachi smiled gently.
"I'd always come with you mother." Itachi replied.
"Me too mother. Will we go with Naruto and Sakura?" Sasuke asked. Mikoto nodded and hugged the boys close. There were no guarantees now except for one. That was that they would stick together.
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After Madara had given Mikoto her options, he decided to go and find out exactly what Fugaku did or didn't know. He would visit his nephew with the idea of running a meat cargo, by train, through the mountains, supposedly under Konoha's nose. He would be stopping in Konoha of course, to let the refugees off, but Fugaku didn't need to know that. But this would be the normal and friendly guise that Madara would use to find out any more information from Fugaku, and to gather Rin's things. A plan would be made to come and get anything important to Mikoto, Sasuke or Itachi later, but for now, Madara acted as he usually would with his nephew.
"Fugaku! I thought I'd find you here." Madara stated cheerfully, as he stepped into the study and closed the door behind him. Fugaku looked up and Madara expectantly.
"I did want to ask your opinion on a business venture and get your signature on a travel and trade document. Are you busy?" Madara asked cheerfully. Fugaku seemed shaken and Madara wasn't sure what to say to the man.
"What's wrong Fugaku?" Madara asked.
"You were right you know Uncle. All this time you were right and I was too blind to see it. Now my wife, my oldest child and one of my trusted servants, have been implicated in acts of treason and I don't know what to do." Fugaku stated softly.
"What do you mean?" Madara asked, as he almost dreaded the answer. He never would've guessed the Itachi could be implicated. Even a thirteen year old boy could be held accountable for treason.
"You're not supposed to know, but word gets around quickly in this tiny village. There are few people and they all gossip, so I'm sure you've heard that a whole bunch of prisoners from my camp escaped." Fugaku said softly. Madara pretended to be shocked and his face proved very convincing.
"So you hadn't heard. Well, when I went to the scene of the escape I found children there, dead children, boys and girls, and some adults. Parents who wanted to protect their children from death. It made me sick. Did you know that I've never seen a child's dead body? Or a woman's?" Fugaku asked. Madara shook his head, remaining silent.
"In all the time I have served Orochimaru and all the time I have been going back and forth and running these camps, I'd never seen the end results of what these camps are for. Dead women and children littering the woods. I was told they were moving those children to another camp. I'm far from being a good man Uncle. I know that I will never be considered a good man, but I thought if the children went somewhere else it might be better for them than all the labour they're doing. I've never signed an extermination order for children, but I signed a paper allowing Mizuki and other soldiers to take those children and anyone who resisted and move them elsewhere. I was such a fool. I should've known better what was about to happen but..." Fugaku trailed off. He still seemed disturbed. Madara waited for him to continue.
"I wanted to believe better. I wanted things to be better. I've killed in the name of Orochimaru since I was sixteen years old. I've followed his laws and teachings my whole life. The last man I killed... he was an old man, an old man that was trying to protect a group of people, who shared his beliefs, and who he obviously cared about. I watched that old man die and I watched those people, children that he'd protected, beg for help for him. They cried over him and that was the first time I ever felt guilt for something I've done, within or outside Orochimaru's services. With extermination lists, reports and new orders for death every day I don't think I know who I am anymore Uncle. Do you know what they do with the dead bodies of these people?" Fugaku asked. He looked haunted and Madara was almost afraid of the answer, but he shook his head. He didn't know what happened to the dead from the camps.
"They dig mass graves for them. Shove them into pits and cover them with dirt. They don't even give them clothing to be buried in. They just throw in a bunch of naked bodies, with shaved heads. They sell the hair. They kill them with Zyklon B gas, mass execute them, and then dump them in pits like animals. That will be over soon though, because that lovely stone hut that we have these people dragging rocks to build, even small children, that hut is to become a crematorium. We'll be burning them to ashes soon. It saves on the labour of digging a pit. There are rumours that we will have to dig up the mass graves and burn the decomposed bodies." Fugaku said sadly.
Madara wasn't sure whether he wanted to be sick or angry. At least, in some way, Fugaku was finally learning that his actions had consequences. Although Madara truly wished his nephew hadn't had to learn the hard way.
"What is all this about Itachi and Mikoto?" Madara asked gently.
"Someone saw Rin with a bloodied shirt, travelling through the woods with Itachi and Mikoto. I've tried my best to keep it quiet, but I don't know how long I can. I have to send Mikoto and Itachi away." Fugaku replied. His face was set and his eyes determined.
"You're right Fugaku. If you want to save them you'll have to send them away. But it will have to be out of Oto, or anywhere that is controlled by Oto. That leaves Konoha." Madara replied. Fugaku nodded his agreement.
"There are going to be road blocks soon. There will be checkpoints at every station, even through the trade routes." Fugaku told his Uncle.
"But there aren't any yet." Madara stated.
"People will be looking for Mikoto and Itachi soon. If word reaches the capital..." Fugaku didn't think about ending that sentence. Then something occurred to him.
"You said something about a travel and trade document. Where were you heading?" Fugaku asked.
"The plan was to sneak into Konoha through the backdoor and sell meat at a good price. Of course I wouldn't actually say anything about Konoha on the trade report. That report will say I headed towards Kiri over the mountains, and sold meat there. After all, Orochimaru-Sama doesn't like us fraternising with the enemy, but they're money is still good." Madara stated. Fugaku nodded, and then pulled out some documents, then signed them. He handed them over to his Uncle.
"You will need to be gone within the next two days if you want to beat the news of trade searches. Take Mikoto, Itachi and Sasuke to Konoha. At least there, Sasuke and Itachi will be safe and with their mother. I know that your business arrangements are always flawless. Tell Mikoto I want to see Sasuke and Itachi before they leave. There will be no suspicion that I helped them to escape justice. I'll feign anger and outrage at their disappearance. I'll pretend to search every corner of Oto's territory, looking for my non-treacherous son. If Mikoto should be caught, there will be nothing I can do for her. But with your help, she shouldn't be caught. However, so as not to arouse suspicion, she should come home tonight with the children and Rin. Things must seem normal, as though I know nothing of what is going on. In any other circumstance, Mikoto would be here. Of course, they'll have to sneak out and find you late at night, before you leave. I'm sure you can think of a good escape plan." Fugaku shot out. He was quick with his words, as though if he didn't get them out quickly enough, he might change his mind.
"If it helps, you're doing the right thing, Fugaku." Madara told his nephew solemnly. Fugaku nodded as he shuffled some papers and threw them into one of his draws.
"Just... make sure they're safe." Fugaku said softly. Madara nodded as he left the study. He hoped his nephew was not trying to trick him, but he saw the truth in Fugaku's eyes. The man had become disillusioned and wanted to save his family. If the only way he could do that was to send them away from him, then he was going to do it. Madara went to tell Mikoto everything that had happened and then allow her to decide what she would do. After all, This was her life and her sons' lives that she was thinking about now. Somehow, Madara knew that, just maybe, he'd made a breakthrough in this brutal savagery that Orochimaru called war.
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Okay, that's the end of this chapter. Just for a small noted reference, Zyklon B was a cyanide based pesticide that was used in the concentration camps by Nazis, in the gas chambers. There are plenty of pages about it on the internet and you can find books on all of this in your local library of course. Also there were crematoriums where Nazi's burned the bodies of the Jewish people they gassed to death, and there were mass graves created for the gassed Jews also. However, once the war was over it was very difficult to find out what had happened to your relatives because of the ways they were buried, without possessions, clothing or even their hair. Please R&R and let me know what you think. I'll try and update as soon as possible.