Got one more in me before the end of this month.
Luck has not been on my side recently...
Stress has been bad this month...
Two Saturdays ago had my house broken into, and now I threw out my back at work and can barely walk, and waiting for an MRI...
Joy...
Currently, WildFlowers is in the lead on the poll, so giving this one last chance to catch up, but I'm not complaining (WildFlowers is my preferred choice anyways).
If I'm sitting at home for a while, other stories are just naturally gonna get worked on.
Thank you for the support on this story, but the plan is still coming along slowly and not as easy to work on as others.
So with that, let's get into the story, shall we?
Enjoy.
This morning was quite strange.
He had started to become accustomed to Mikoto coming to help him adjust to his new place, but when he heard the knock at the door, the person that greeted him was not who he expected. It wasn't Mikoto…
It was the Old Man…
Why was he here today? Was something the matter?
Wait, was Mikoto not coming anymore? He was starting to learn so much from her…
He had just learned she was friends with his mom…
But as the Hokage joined him in his little apartment, the old man ruffled his hair in the comforting manner he always did. "Don't worry, my boy… I just wanted to talk with you this morning. So much has happened so quickly I feel it was necessary to come to you so you can understand."
"Okay…" Naruto curiously stared at the Hokage, who gazed upon him with a light expression and twinkle in his eyes before frowning as he hadn't gone through his morning routine yet. "Oh, I need to make my breakfast…"
"Most important part of the day. I think that is an important step of any day, my boy." Hiruzen chuckled and let Naruto start his breakfast. "But I do suggest something other than ramen…"
"But I find it delicious!"
"Oh no… You inherited her palette…" Hiruzen quietly muttered, bringing his hand to his face in embarrassment at the child, and shook his head. "Naruto, I'll take us out for breakfast this morning after we take care of business. How does that sound?"
"Eh? Really?" Naruto stopped as he was about to grab a package of ramen from his cabinet before slamming it close and jumping back to the table excitedly. "Yatta! Okay, Old man! You gotta deal! Whatcha want to talk about?"
"Always full of energy…" The Hokage muttered once more as he couldn't help but admire the child's enthusiasm before gesturing toward the chair as he pulled one out to take a seat. "This may take a moment. Best to take a seat, my boy."
Following the Hokage's example and doing as he said, cerulean eyes curiously glanced at the wrinkled expression of the Old Man. "Is this about what's been going on? It's been really confusing, and I don't get it. After Ruby came here yesterday…"
"It heavily factors into it, yes," Hiruzen affirmed with a nod and a deep, regretful sigh before inhaling as his brown eyes held a certain gleam in them as he looked upon Naruto. "Naruto, my boy, I'm afraid there are some things I have neglected to tell you, and some are for your own good. I don't think, as of now, you need to worry about them as it is too much of a burden for you. But given what has happened, some context is needed…"
"Negl…Con… What?"
"...I failed to tell you some things, and I feel you need to know some of the reasons why." Hiruzen stroked his face, regretting the lack of teaching Naruto had received and allowing Mikoto more leniency on teaching Naruto as he glanced at him in confusion…
This was unacceptable.
Even at five, going on six years old, he should have a little more grasp than this…
"Oh!" Naruto spoke with a long and drawn-out emphasis as he now understood before his face fell and his eyes glistened. "Is this about not telling me about my mother?"
Wistfully gazing at the young child, Hiruzen solemnly nodded. "Yes, but there is more. Your mother is only part of what I kept from you. I never intended to keep the information from you to harm you… But to keep you safe until I felt you were ready to take on that challenge… But sometimes the best intentions are also the worst, which has been proven many times, and even I am a fool. What has happened recently has only proven that as it is something we overlooked and didn't think was important and has now turned out to be crucial…"
Naruto curiously gazed at the Hokage, not grasping what the man was saying for the most part. He could hear the remorse in his voice and knew he felt like he did something wrong about not telling him about his mother, but there seemed to be a reason for it. He wanted to learn more about what it was, but…
"Naruto, by chance, have you looked at your right hand recently?"
"What?" Naruto frowned at the Old Man's question before slowly raising his hand and looking into his palm. "Hey, wait… What's with this strange mark? When did it get there?"
"It's a particular sigil, my boy. A marking that I did not understand until recently what it meant. Something only two other people have ever possessed… One is the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama." Hiruzen told Naruto, drawing the child's eyes as they turned to massive ovals.
"Nani! The First has this mark! That is awesome!" Naruto nearly jumped out of his chair in sheer excitement. "What does it mean? Is it something cool? Does it grant me some sort of power? Wait, am I related to…"
"Hold on, my boy! One question at a time!" Hiruzen chuckled at the energetic response from Naruto, shaking his head as he had to hold off the child's ravenous response knowing how much he respected the Hokages and saw them as heroes. "To be honest with you, a lot is still not understood about the marking, so I cannot tell you much about it. And no, you aren't related to the First directly. However, you both share a similar ancestor…"
"The first person to share that mark. Ōtsutsuki Ashura." The Hokage stated, and as expected, Naruto tilted his head and blinked. "Yes, I know you don't know the name, and I don't expect you to. Its history before it was well documented and only verbally passed down, barely ever recorded. Only the oldest clans kept it documented, and what little information we have is usually about one man…"
"The one that began the renaissance of chakra itself by gifting it to the world who brought about the first age of peace, the Sage of Six Paths Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo."
"Nani?" Naruto looked at the Hokage in awe at hearing such a story. "Why is that story not told more often? That sounds awesome! I would like to hear it!"
"It's one lost to time, I'm afraid, and it is becoming more so each and every generation as it becomes forgotten as the old clans have slowly dwindled and their history and records have been lost to time." Hiruzen's eyes glistened, reminiscing of past days before chuckling. "Maybe some other time… But having that marking shows that you are something special, my boy… It may also be why these weird things are happening to you. You both may be even more special than your parents and why I wanted to sit down and talk to you today, Naruto…"
"I think it's time for me to tell you who your father is now that you know about your mother."
As Naruto's breath hitched at the thought of learning who his father was so soon after learning about his mother, his eyes glistened as he looked straight into the glimmering gaze of the Old Hokage. His eyes glistened. All of this…
All because he heard his new friend crying and wanted to help her…
Now he was learning about who his family truly was.
Somehow, he just hoped Ruby's day was going well for her, for if this was happening for him…
He could only imagine what was happening to her.
"Yang… Ruby is okay…"
"She is not allowed to leave me again! Nuh-uh! Not happening! No way! She's staying right here beside me!"
Qrow sighed, unsure how to handle this situation, as he watched his niece drag Ruby alongside her, refusing to let go of her sister, who looked helpless in her grasp.
There was no denying that the scene she had witnessed was traumatizing for her. After having to deal with Summer's passing so suddenly and everything else that had followed, to see her sister just up and vanish in a flash of light was not an experience to take lightly.
It was not something he was either, but he had to try and calm her down, as the last thing he needed was somehow Yang to get transported if it were to happen. There was no guaranteeing how it worked if it would work safely for her, if she could go at all, or she could just get stranded.
Her just maintaining a steady grip on Ruby like she was some stuffed animal also wasn't healthy for either girl…
"Yang…" Ruby helplessly called her sister's name while entrenched in her grasp, wiggling desperately and kicking the air behind her. "Need to use the bathroom…"
"Got it! Bathroom!" Yang turned to the bathroom and started to carry Ruby, who mournfully began to tear up as she hoped this would get her sister to let her go, but instead, she was dragging her to the bathroom.
"Okay, no!" Qrow intervened, stopping Yang from taking Ruby into the bathroom. "I know you are frightened about what happened, but you've got to give your sister space. You can't crowd her like this, firecracker. It's uncomfortable…"
"I'm not losing her!" Yang cried, her lilac eyes building up with tears as she held tightly onto Ruby, refusing to let go. "No! You aren't taking Ruby from… Ah! Bird! Get out of hair!"
"What the…" Qrow narrowed his eyes as a large black bird suddenly landed in Yang's hair, its crimson eyes glaring down at Yang before it picked her in the forehead.
A foul snarl crossed his features as he noticed his window had been forced open, and he returned to the scene to see Yang continuously pecked in the head and screaming at the bird. "Raven… This is not what I meant by stepping up…"
"Get out of my hair!" Yang finally dropped Ruby as she tried to swat the bird away from her hair. "You foul beast! Uncle Qrow! Help!"
"Ruby, go to the bathroom." Qrow simply helped Ruby stand up, his gaze still drawn to the scene with annoyance. "Might want to take your chance while you get separation from Yang while you have it. Think your little episode scared her."
"Sorry…" Ruby frowned, noticing the bird fly off Yang's head and almost perch itself behind Ruby as if daring Yang to come close to her sister again. "I just worried about Naruto and wished to see him again, so I knew he was okay…"
"Hey," Qrow gingerly patted Ruby's shoulders and softly smiled at her. "I didn't say you did anything wrong, did I, kiddo?"
"No…"
"Exactly. It's natural to want to know how a friend is doing." Qrow ruffled Ruby's hair, much to her chagrin, and what seemed like a laughing caw from the bird, which annoyed him as he had to refocus and settle his thoughts. "We're just got to play things a little safer now that we're starting to learn how this connection between you and him works, okay? At least until we figure out everything about what is happening and how you two are linked and can come to each other's side."
"Okay." Ruby nodded, her silver eyes gleaming as she looked up at Qrow, mostly understanding what her uncle said. "Mom said that our eyes…"
"Whoa, whoa. Hang on." Qrow's eyes narrowed, Yang gasped and stumbled, and the raven behind him cawed loudly behind her. "Ruby, you're gonna have to explain that one right there. What do you mean your mom said?"
"I talked to her in my dreams." Ruby tilted her head at her uncle. "She said our eyes can make wishes come true. That I was lonely, and they gave me a friend to talk to… A friend that was the son of her friend…"
Another loud shriek from the bird terrified Ruby, but Qrow looked over at it and nodded."Yeah, I remember. She didn't talk much about it, but it was strange how she'd zone out with her eyes shining… Wonder if Tai knows more than we do?"
He was thankful Yang was too lost in the context of Ruby talking to her mother to catch him talking to the raven to question his actions. Ruby was too young to ask him about what he was doing and might not suspect it…
Yang would have if she weren't terrified at hearing Ruby just said she had talked to her mother in her dreams. And was so confused about what was going on with her sister.
It was a break as he didn't want to have to come up with a lie about why her mother was in her corvid form in front of her instead of just being here normally…
He wanted her or Tai to take the initiative with the children desperately needing a parent. This was not what he was expecting.
"Well, we have at least an idea of what is happening on this end." Qrow frowned as he turned back to Ruby. "But this never happened with Summer if that is the case. Or she had control over it as she never disappeared and her friend never came here."
"Mom… Didn't go to see her friend?" Ruby looked confused, gazing up at her uncle with her lips pursed.
"Not unless she was doing it when we weren't aware, which I suppose is possible." Qrow shook his head before gesturing with his hands and shrugging. "She always was a private individual, but since we've known her, someone was almost always around. I don't remember Raven or your dad ever saying anything about her disappearing like you did yesterday or a friend coming to see her like Naruto came to see you."
"Oh…" Ruby lowered her head and frowned. "Mom could only… Hear her friend? Then why can I… Is that why she asked if I was hearing voices…"
"I don't know," Qrow stated simply as he gently lifted Ruby's head and gazed deeply into her eyes. "There are some things in this world that simply don't have answers. Right now, this is one of those things. We don't have the answers for what is happening, and all we can do is try and search them out and be safe about it in the meantime. And that means taking caution about what we do. Does that make sense?"
"Safe?" Ruby looked up at Qrow, not entirely understanding what he was saying. "Do you mean like not running into the forest by myself again?"
"Yeah, definitely don't do that again." Qrow cracked a soft chuckle, wiping his eyes before leaning down and hugging Ruby. "You are so damn innocent. It's not funny… Rose, we got to work on you disappearing on us and figure out what the silver eyes can do. It's not funny when you are scaring your sister half to death. Leaving me about the possibility of you never coming home… I don't think we can take that right now, alright, kiddo?"
Feeling the tight embrace of her uncle wrapped around her, Ruby's head lowered again. Everyone was so worried about her when she left. It was like she had done something terrible. Even if her uncle had said she hadn't, it felt like she had…
"Okay…" Was all Ruby could mutter. "I'm sorry…"
"I won't disappear again…"
He couldn't believe it.
His dad…
Was the Fourth Hokage.
The man he looked up to and was so awesome. The same man that defeated the Nine-Tails and saved Konoha almost six years ago. Who was a legend in battle and earned so many accolades…
It felt like a dream.
He finally learned his mom's name, and now he knew his dad was the most awesome Hokages of them all…
And why he wasn't here today. He, indeed, had given it all to protect him and the entire village.
He was a hero to everyone.
Naruto didn't quite get everything else the Hokage said. There were some fantastic stories, but he didn't quite understand them outside the originator of chakra was somehow involved in all of this? And that this marking on his hand could link Naruto to him? That was amazing but also very frightening, as there was no telling what any of his power was doing…
Not to mention there was his run-in with the Nine-Tail Fox.
Naruto shivered. The Hokage didn't bring anything about him up, and he had to wonder why, but at the same time, maybe they were thinking of something. It could be, and they didn't want him to worry about it.
It was like the old man not to tell him things if he believed he'd cause a fuss over them. Or be loud…
Or many reasons, now that Naruto thought about it.
The Old Man didn't tell him a lot of things…
What he did tell him was that he was going to have a dedicated guard to watch over him because of these last few incidents of him teleporting and Ruby coming to him. He called it a precaution, a word Naruto had no clue what it meant, and a safety measure, which Naruto understood.
While there was no fear of Ruby, it was the worry that something else might cross over on accident, and they wanted to be prepared on the off chance. Like one of those creatures, he said that attacked them passed through.
Which was fair. He didn't want to see another one of those ever again!
They were scary!
He was glad Mikoto still came over after breakfast with the Old Man.
She seemed in an excellent mood too! He wasn't sure what it was, but her soft smile seemed far more…
Happy? He couldn't put it into words, but she felt different.
And she wasn't just helping him with household stuff and his reading any longer. She was teaching different things. Things that were much harder to grasp but things she said he would need to learn if he wanted to become a shinobi.
So he tried really hard as he wanted to learn those!
Mikoto also came with these books with the big red swirls all Konoha shinobi had on their backs. She said he wouldn't be able to do anything with these any time soon, but someday he could learn from them when he was older. Someone more experienced could teach him about them than even her.
But more importantly…
For the first time, he now had a picture of her…
And his dad.
Together.
And he could help but stare at how beautiful she was. Her bright red hair…
Dazzling smile with a mischievous glint in her eyes as she wrapped her arms around his father...
And his father, calm, cool, and collected with a warm smile.
His eyes held loving care within them despite them rolling at her knowing the trouble he knew his mother was about to bring him into.
"Hey, kid."
"Ah!" Naruto jumped away from the picture he was admiring, his eyes wide at the sudden intruder in his house to see a man with silver hair wearing a porcelain mask that strangely looked like a dog. "Ah! Crazy Silver!"
"Crazy Silver…" The man in the mask awkwardly looked at Naruto with a tilt of his head. "You know, kid, out of all the nicknames I've ever received that paint me in a negative light…"
"I like that one." His eyes curled into a smile behind his mask, bemused. "It's got a nice ring to it, and it defines a signature feature I quite happen to like!"
"Ah…" Naruto didn't know how to respond to the man in the mask or his relaxed demeanor as he blanched at him. "Okay… Is something wrong? Am I glowing again? Oh no!"
"You're fine, Naruto." The silver-haired man patted the young boy on the head in a comforting manner, his eyes shifting to the photo he was looking at before his eyes glimmered. "He… They were something special. You know that?"
Glancing back at the photo, Naruto softly smiled as his gaze lingered on it. Then, his head briefly lowered, and his eyes glistened over. "Yeah, I heard that… I wish…"
Naruto suddenly flinched as he felt a hand through his hair, making him glare at the silver-haired man. But as he did, he saw an odd sheen in his eye with a soft gaze as their eyes met. And his heart skipped a beat as he spoke. "So do I. More than you know…"
Cerulean shimmered.
Did…
This man know his parents too?
Was he close to them… Like Mikoto was to his mother?
He wanted to know so much more…
But that voice…
It sounded so…
Hurt. Pained…
What had happened? Why was he…
"Come on, kid." His voice had regained its usual chipperness as he ruffled Naruto's hair once more and fouled his mood. "Gotta a few things to show you. Your form in Ninja was all off last time. You have a lot of work ahead of you if you want to become Hokage like your old man. After all, he was the best there was and the best there ever will be."
"Gah!" Naruto yelled, feeling his spiky hair messed up, and fluffed it back to how he liked it before pointing a finger directly at the silver-haired man. "That's it! You are so on! I'll show you who the best there is and the best there ever will be right now!."
"You better believe it, dammit!"
"Mah, where'd you get such a vulgar word from? Kushina would be both upset and proud…"
"Hey… Rubes…"
"1… 2… Yes?"
"Look over there!"
"Where?"
"Ehehehe… Ow! Bird, why?" Yang screeched as she sharply brought her hand back from the colorful board they were playing with as a big black bird snapped at her hand.
A loud shriek was the response from the raven as it fluffed its feathers, and Ruby looked back from the spot her sister had pointed to, really confused.
"You were caught cheating," Qrow called out from the kitchen, seemingly in front of the stove, with a frown.
"I was not!" Yang defended, and a loud caw brought her attention to the black devil perched on the table she and Ruby were playing a board game on. "Don't you sell me out…"
"Do better, and don't get caught," Qrow murmured loud enough for Raven to catch it and caw in agreement, puffing up her chest. "That's the lesson here… Not a good one, but the lesson… Just take a look at Ruby having moved her piece."
"Wait, what?" Yang narrowed her eyes, and then they expanded. "Ruby! Have you been cheating me this entire time?"
"No?" Ruby gave her sister the most innocent look she could muster and made it seem like it was an accident. "Was I miscounting again… Oh no…"
Raven squawked in laughter as Yang glared furiously, not sure if she should believe her sister or not. But that innocent and sweet look of hers was so believable…
"Gah, alright… You drew a two of that color, so you had to move two of that color. Not three…" Yang gnashed her teeth, believing her sister despite the smug-looking bird and the crimson shine coming from her eye as it looked over at Ruby and winked at her. "Don't do that again, or I'm gonna catch it next time and get…"
Yang was cut off as the doorbell rang, startled her, and she looked over at the door of Qrow's apartment along with the raven. The bird seemed more curious than anything while Qrow frowned. "Who could that be? Not expecting anyone…"
Feeling Raven land on his shoulder, his eyes narrowed as he approached the door. He suspected she might have been involved, which was why she was here…
She was simply waiting as if she was going to make a move…
And he was proven correct by opening the door.
"Dad?" Yang shot up from her seated position, her lilac eyes shimmering in surprise.
Ruby's eyes went as wide as possible as she bolted upright and ran straight for the door. Soon as she heard Yang say that, she wanted to see him.
And it was him!
Standing in front of Uncle Qrow!
He had finally got up from the bed! He was here!
"Dad!" Ruby clutched his right, and Yang followed suit and was glued to his hip. "I missed you! So worried!"
"I know…" Tai's eyes filled with tears, his skin paler than usual and figure trimmer and less built than it usually was, as he reached down, embracing his two daughters shakily. "I am so sorry… I should have been better…"
His eyes shifted upwards to Qrow, who sighed as he slicked his hand back through his hair. "Qrow I…"
"Save it and get in here. Can't blame ya, but something had to be done before things got worse." Qrow looked upon the sight, shaking his head as he looked at the scene with a forced smile. "You might want to get in here before we continue to keep teaching bad lessons to your daughters. We are already teaching cheating, and I'm sure stealing is next on the docket…"
A loud caw and nod was in confirmation as Raven fluffed her feathers in agreement, her crimson eyes gleaming at the sight.
"What… Oh, right." Tai looked stunned momentarily at the sight of Raven in her transformed state before recalling precisely what happened. "Yeah, guess I should realize it wouldn't be that easy…"
"Yeah, it's not." Qrow crossed his arms and held a serious expression. "I got to know you can take care of not only them… But yourself, Tai. With what's happening right now, you need to be apt and alert, as even I'm struggling to keep up."
"Ruby's eyes are active and strange things are happening. We need all available help to understand what is happening here."
He was so tired as he lay on his bed, having done so much today.
She was so tired, lying on her bed for the first time in what felt like forever.
He just wanted to sleep.
She just wanted to sleep.
But as he lay on his bed…
Something bugged her…
As he looked at the marking on his hand, was this the reason for his connection with Ruby?
Rubbing her eyes, did she wish to see her friend Naruto?
And if so…
Was he okay right now?
He wanted to know…
"Naruto…"
"Ruby?"
"I hear you again!" Ruby happily sat up on her bed, her silver eyes glowing excitedly. "Are you doing okay?"
"I'm doing fine! Just got to learn about my dad!" Naruto chirped, happy to hear her voice. "You know that story I told you about! That's him! Oh, wait! How are you doing?"
"Really! That is so cool! Your dad and my mom are so alike!" Ruby buzzed with energy, gleaming at hearing Naruto got to hear who his dad was after telling him about his mom. "I'm good! I'm back with Dad!"
"Wait, is he okay?" Naruto's eyes grew in surprise, remembering something was wrong with Ruby's dad the last time they spoke.
"Yes! He came over and was talking to Uncle Qwow, and while he seemed really sad…" Ruby started with energy before trailing off, noting her dad was still a little off, and was worried about that before smiling. "But he's doing much better! He's eating again. He played games with us… He read to me tonight! He hasn't done that in forever…"
"That sounds awesome, Ruby!" Naruto grinned as he closed his eyes. "I'm so glad to hear you are doing alright!"
"You too!" Ruby beamed, swearing she could feel and see Naruto smiling at her through their connection. "I'm glad we can communicate when we aren't just sad!"
"Right?" Naruto nodded, his grin only doubling. "That would only be a bummer! I think it is just wanting to talk to each other, and I think we have to share that desire or something… Maybe? I don't know… It sounds complex. Also, has something to do with this mark on my hand making me special and maybe your eyes?"
"Really?" Ruby tilted her head, looking curious, as she softly poked her eyes. "Ow… Bad idea…"
"Did you just poke your eyes?"
"No…"
"Haha… You just did."
"Don't laugh at me…"
"To make you feel better, I've been poking at the peeling skin at my marking… It hurts." Naruto mumbled as he looked at the sigil on his hand.
"Better…" Ruby mumbled before giggling. "Little bit…"
"Well, I got some things to tell you if you want to hear them…" Naruto grinned as he closed his eyes, stopping peeling the skin on his slightly glowing mark. "Oh, maybe we should try to do this every night and talk to each other, ya know? That be cool."
Ruby's eyes sparkled at the idea and feverishly nodded in agreement. "Yes! I like that! Tell stories about our day! Promise!"
"Yeah, I promise!" Naruto nodded, his eyes glimmering. "And if we reach out to each other in the middle of the day, we'll know something is wrong! Yeah! It all works! Genius!"
"Yes!"
Meanwhile, a cat mask person out his door and a raven perched outside her window listened to their conversations carefully…
Keeping a stern eye on the situation and ready to intervene if necessary.
Prologue
Fin