This was very unplanned and I just kind of let it write itself. I'm intruiged and may write a second part or sequel I honestly don't know. But this happens when i need a break from writing a longer story as I currently am.
Please Enjoy!
It was cold, and wet thankfully making the pain dull. He curled up on the concrete crying and hoping it was over. A hand touched his bare shoulder through the rips in his top. Crying out and curling tighter into a ball he begged them not to hit him more.
"It's okay, kid" a deep naselly voice soothed "they're not gonna hurt you anymore"
The voice was familiar, it was the man with the scars on his face, Mr Nara. He was always nice to Naruto. Tears streamed down his face but a sob broke out of his tiny body as the relief of being safe hit him.
"Can you move?" He asked and Naruto shook his head his leg really hurt and it was hard to breath "Okay, I'm gonna pick you up" he said and Naruto wanted to protest, it would hurt. He opened his eyes to see a small boy, he was like a smaller version of Mr Nara, but more panicked and had no scars
"Dad?" He asked
"It's okay, keep looking at us" he said before gently picking up the boy who cried out as the pain shot through him. The last thing he saw before blacking out was his attackers on the floor deeper into the alley, blood coming from them all.
He frowned when he felt like he was in water, didn't Mr Nara pick him up? He wasn't on a wet floor, at least he felt he was submerged. Dripping was coming from different directions and then he realised it didn't hurt anymore so he opened his eyes. It was a huge room, cold, dark and it felt like his home. When he looked to the bars he realised they were gates until his body froze at the enormous red eye peering out. They were angry and looked at him the same way everyone else had his entire life. His defences came up immediately and suddenly being glared at through the gate made him feel like he was caged up again. He had been locked in a actual cage before being looked at just like that. Then there was his home, it was his, away from the orphanage but it was still a cage. Being watched, guarded like some monster he didn't think he was.
"What are you looking at?" He yelled standing up realising the water was half way up his leg
The eyes moved higher and Naruto couldn't help but back up, sharp teeth gleaming at him. The further back he went he saw it was a fox. And it was in the cage, not Naruto. His fear and anger vanished replaced by sadness as he saw the chain around the foxes neck.
"Why are you in a chains?" He asked
"Because I'm Dangerous" He snarled out and it made Naruto laugh, he sensed it was probably dangerous but apparently so was he
"More than me?" He asked sitting down in the water and crossing his legs not really caring he was submerged in the water up to his waist.
"Definetely" he huffed out laying back down putting his head on his paws
"What makes you so scary?" He asked
"I'm strong"
"I'm not! But I'm still dangerous"
The fox sighed and turned its head away. Naruto guessed he didn't want to talk. He understood that being locked in a cage does that to you. So he stood up and walked to the doors, the bars were so wide he could just walk through, so he did just that. Climbing up the chain looking for some kind of lock. Only to cry out in terror when the fox lifted its head and taking hold of the chain. Naruto was up really high at eye level with the beast.
"What are you doing?" He asked and Naruto frowned
"I was looking for some sort of lock" he said "It's bad enough you are locked up this seems like too much" he said tapping the chain trying not to cry. This seemed surprise him as he looked at the boy eyes unblinking.
"You'd take the chains off?" He asked
Naruto nodded
"Do you know who I am?" He asked and Naruto shook his head
"Nobody talks to me except to shout. So I won't know you if you're somebody" he said
"They told you nothing" he said
Naruto figured it was safe to keep going so he climbed up further hoping there would be some kind of lock and he could see what kind of key he would need to take them off.
"Hey where are we? And how come you can talk? Are you a Ninja Fox?" He asked as he climbed reaching the neck
"I'm not a ninja fox, but I can use Chakra" he answered and Naruto beamed as he looked to the Foxes ear that was bigger than him
"Really? That's so cool! I want to be a ninja! I'm not strong though and I don't think they'd let me" he pouted
"Then teach yourself" the fox said letting the chain fall
"I don't think I have any chakra" Naruto said working his way over the chains
"You have plenty" he said and Naruto grinned
"Cool!" He stood up in a fighting pose "I'll be the best ninja ever! Fighting bad guys and helping..." he trailed off and stood up straight "just helping" he said and the fox didn't react
"They hurt you a lot, the villagers"
"Yeah, they say I'm a demon and should die and if I go near them or kids my age I get yelled at or hit"
"You don't have to fight for them. You just have to fight for yourself" he said and Naruto frowned
"Aren't ninja supposed to help their people?" He asked and the fox laughed making Naruto have to crouch to hold onto the chains.
"Those ninja weren't treated like you" he said and Naruto nodded believing that was probably true. "Look out for yourself and you'll be fine. Get stronger that's all you need"
"What about you? You're strong and look what they did to you" he said innocently but the fox growled and didn't speak for a bit. Naruto kept moving and by the base of the foxes skull he saw a carving on the metal. Putting his finger to it the chains glowed so bright Naruto had to step back and cover his eyes. When he opened them again the chains were gone.
"Hey I did it!" He yelled lifting his arms up
"Do you have any idea what they did?" Asked the fox "of course you didn't" he added
"What?"
"They stopped me from bothering you until you were older" he said
"Me? Why would you bother me?" Naruto asked looking around wondering how he was going to get down.
"Well, we are inside you" he said and Naruto was confused. You couldn't be inside someone. That made no sense.
"You're inside me?" He asked even more confused. This fox was a giant he didn't understand how that made no sense either.
"Yes"
"Why?"
"Because people hate me"
"Because you're strong" Naruto said and the fox lay down. Naruto jumped down to his paw and down to the floor his feet splashing in the water.
"So what I did was a bad thing?" He asked moving round to the foxes face.
"Not for me"
Naruto giggled at that. He guessed not
"So this cage keeps us both caged then?" He asked putting his hands on his hips and turning to look at the bars
"Not you. You can leave whenever you want to" he said his tone was almost sad. And it was a feeling he knew too.
"We are stuck together. Your in here, I'm out there. Just different cages" he said looking back to the fox to see he was smiling.
"I'll let you go" he said the foxes eyes snapped open his pupils dilating.
"Do not mess with me brat" he warned and Naruto only smiled
"You don't seem so bad to me. People are just scared of you. I think you just want to be accepted like me" he ran out the bars and looked at the gate. Up high very high was a peice of paper with something written that Naruto didn't understand
"You don't have the key" The fox grumbled and Naruto nodded
"And I'm too small" he pouted "Guess I need to learn how they run up walls" he smiled "then get the key, do you know where it is?"
"They told you nothing. Not one warning was given to you" he sounded annoyed and Naruto didn't understand why. Like he was trying to decide something "if you let me go, you will die" he finally said and Naruto didn't move, he didn't react. If he frees the fox he dies?
"That's okay" he shrugged he didn't mind, maybe if he died his pain would stop, and he'd find his parents. People who loved him and wanted him to be there.
"Do you know what that means?" He asked
"I'll be gone. I know what it means people die all the time" he shrugged looking back up at the paper "You're bigger and stronger than me. You have a chance to be free. I don't. So?"
"So?"
"Do you know where the key is?"
"No. I didn't see after a few days of being sealed in this place. Or before you broke the chains. Now i can hear what's happening outside" he said Naruto didn't want to think about that. He felt his swollen eye and his clothes were still ruined so he was probably still hurting out there.
"Okay, guess I will have to look"
"Or wait for the seal to weaken enough for me to break it"
"That works too. What's your name?" He asked and the fox didn't respond.
Voices came from somewhere and Naruto felt sick. He was waking up. Before the room dissapeared he heard the fox speak.
"Kurama. My name is Kurama"
Waking up was painful and he cried out and then more when his movements had him hurt more.
"Dad! Lord Hokage!!" A voice shouted and Naruto opened his eyes to see the mini Mr Nara. He scooched back cloing his eyes tight despite the pain because he didn't want have that look again.
"How are you feeling?" The boy asked he didn't sound mad or unkind and it had Naruto opening his eyes and feeling weird because the boy looked worried.
"It hurts" he said looking around to see he was home. The Hokage and Mr Nara came in and Naruto pushed himself up. His ribs and head weren't too bad now but his leg was throbbing in pain.
"Glad to see you awake" the old man said from the door.
"I'm sorry" He looked at his legs knowing he caused trouble for him. He didn't come to see him much because he was busy and now he had to come and deal with his injuries again.
"No bother" he said softly
"I'm sorry for the trouble Mr Nara" he said bowing his head
"It has been a while since I put people in their place. No trouble for me" he smirked and the way he said it had Naruto shivering. Mr Nara enjoyed it, he realised and for the first time questioned just how he got such gnarly scars on his face.
"You sensed that too?" The boy asked smirking. Naruto just nodded.
"Naruto?" The old man called having Naruto look to him "once you're up to it Shikaku has agreed to take you to the Nara compound while your leg heals"
Naruto shook his head. Mr Nara had been nice, but if he stayed around him too long that could quickly change. People got sick of him quickly. He would rather stay home alone.
"Don't worry, you can share my room" the boy assured him but that didn't make him feel better either. Kids were worse. Too many times had he been told they wanted to be friends only to be tricked.
"Come now, Naruto. You can't stay here with a broke leg alone. I can't come every day to watch you.
"You'll heal faster now. Go" Kurama spoke causing Naruto to tense. When the others didn't respond he then believed it was true. He had a giant fox inside him. Naruto picked at his nail and nodded.
The boy had introduced himself as Shikamaru. He was the same age as Naruto but seemed older and he could use chakra. Naruto had yet to talk. Which left the room in silence as the other boy didn't seem to be much of a talker. After a bit the boy sat up from his bed above him
"I can practically hear you brain working" he said grumpy and Naruto gasped and tensed waiting for the horrible words or pains from a fist.
"Sorry" He whispered curling up there was a tired sigh came from above him
"Want to talk about it?" He asked causing Naruto to blink at the door. He was under the bed because it was where he felt safest. A head popped into his view and he scuttled back wincing at the weight on his leg as he pushed back. He didn't look angry or annoyed. Naruto shook his head quickly people didn't want to hear him, they didn't want to see him. Even if Mr Nara was nice to him and invited him into his house it didn't mean Shikamaru or his mum wanted him here.
"You'll be fully healed by morning" Kurama said and Naruto wondered if just thinking would be enough to talk back "yes"
"Why would I heal so quickly now?" He asked
"I have more access now" he said simply
A hand waved in front of him and his eyes focused on the boy who at some point had come to lay on the floor and look to Naruto under the bed
"What happened was horrible. Are you sure you don't want to talk about it?" He looked sincere but Naruto had fallen for that more with people his age than anyone else.
"Nothing I haven't dealt with before" he said quietly and was confused by the look of horror on the boys face.
"That's happened before?" He asked his voice barely above a whisper. Naruto just nodded "but you are only five" he said and Naruto didn't understand his meaning. Why would his age have anything to do withthe way they treated him? The boy frowned and Naruto only looked at him with a blank expression.
"Why do you sleep under the bed?" He asked and again had no answer. Naruto knew it was a little odd to be afraid of a kid but not a fox that claimed he was dangerous. But it had never done anything to him, whereas people... they had done a lot. "Are you scared? If so you don't need to be" again he sounded sincere and Naruto wanted to believe him, but it was always the same
"Do you like books?" Naruto shook his head. He couldn't read. Nobody took the time to help him with it. "But they're books" the boy said in confusion. As if this was the strangest thing he had ever heard "they have information to learn, or stories of other worlds and action, some have romance, some make you sad. They have infinite worlds to get lost in" he said and Naruto felt his curiosity wake up. He wanted to know more but he still wasn't going to ask, just hope he would go on.
"My favourite is non-fiction" he shrugged and Naruto frowned he didn't know what that meant and the boy smiled "books on real things like history, or animals and stuff" he said "some fiction - made up stories- are good too" he shrugged but Naruto could tell that they held no interest for him "a lot of our history has enough action to keep you interested anyway"
Naruto felt himself slowly relax as the boy kept going and telling him about the Hokage of the village and what they had done. When he mentioned the Fourth Hokage and how he saved the village from the rampaging nine tailed fox that he had killed, Naruto was no longer relaxed. Did his fox have nine Tails? He didn't look that close. Apparently the books tell them he appeared in the middle if the village and started destroying buildings and many people had died.
"Is that true?"
"Yes and no" the fox answered and Naruto had more questions. Shikamaru stopped and looked at him
"What is it?" He asked "Lord Fourth killed it, you don't have to worry" he reassured the blood boy. But that wasn't true. He was inside him. Was this why people treated him like a monster?
"Some facts are wrong. But that's the basics of it"
"What does he have wrong?"
"Well, I didn't appear from nowhere, I was already in the village. I didn't choose to hurt the village, though I may have if I was given the choice. And he sealed me in you which took his life" Kurama explained and Naruto appreciated the honesty. He assumed it was honest because why admit to wanting to hurt the village. Why did he want to? "They sealed me away for almost a century. I was free, and immediately was put inside a little lump of flesh with tighter bounds than I'd ever had before. Not to mention I was torn in half" he growled ferociously inside Naruto. He was very angry, he sensed the hate coming from him. If he freed him like he said he might hurt the village.
"Are you sure he killed him?" Naruto asked softly and the young boy looked confused
"Lord Third was there he saw it"
This made Naruto unexpectedly angry. He had asked the old man lots about his mum and dad and if he was there he must of known. He had to. And Naruto knew he lied about the fox so what else did he lie about? Naruto nodded not wanting to upset the boy by calling the old man a liar. He had lots of questions but nobody to really ask.
"Want to see the book on it?" Shikamaru asked Naruto only shook his head, it would do him no good. Shikamaru frowned and looked him over like he was peicing him together
"Naruto?" He said gently and waited for Naruto to look him in the eyes "can you not read?"
Naruto curled up tighter pressing his lips together if he said no he'd get teased, I'd he lied he would get tested and then books would get thrown at him.
"Want me to teach you?" The Nara asked and Naruto only stare at him in surprise. He slowly straightened out and pulled himself closer to the edge of the bed. Shikamaru smiled and got up turning a lamp and bringing over paper and pens and a book.
"Can you write?" He asked softly laying down on his stomach opposite Naruto who was mirroring him with his head and shoulder out from the safety of the bed. He shook his head "your name?" he shook his head again and Shikamaru only nodded and wrote down what Naruto assumed was his name. He turned the page and smiled at him and Naruto looked at it in wonder, he'd never need his name in writing before
"That's your name" he said softly and handed Naruto the pen "Why don't you try to copy it"
Hesitantly Naruto took the foreign object trying to hold it the way Shikamaru had and tried to copy the lines.
By time the sun had come up both boys were asleep on the floor paper scattered everywhere and Naruto still mostly under the bed still grasping a pen. That was how Shikaku found them.
Naruto's leg healed the next day as Kurama had said but Naruto still remained at the Nara compound for at least three months. Shikamaru has spent every day teaching him the alphabet, sounds. He even read him stories which made Naruto happy. Other than the reading and writing Naruto still never talked, he didn't ask for anything or complain he just did as he was told and agreed. They were nice people and he wondered if this was how his own family would have treated him if he hadn't been made to have a demon fox inside him. Today was his last day in the Nara compound and Shikamaru had asked if Naruto could just stay forever. Naruto now believed he didn't want to hurt him, but he still couldn't bring himself to shake the fear that one day he will turn on him.
He sat in the back yard alone as the small Nara family had to go to a clan meeting. Closing his eyes he entered the foxes prison.
He'd learned the truth from the fox. His parents, his birth, the man who ruined so many lives. Even that Kurama had tried to kill him. He didn't take any negative feeling to that, everyone he came into contact with had tried to harm him in some way before the Nara's and the two ANBU. Dog and Crow. Though he hadn't seen them since before the last attack.
"Kurama?" He called entering the cage and the fox opened his eye and looked at him. He hadn't asked since telling Naruto the truth if the boy still planned to free him.
"What?"
"I don't think I will ever find the key for this lock. But..."
"You don't want to free me" he nodded and Naruto shook his head big blue eyes looking to him. A picture of innocence "you still want to let me go knowing what I had done?"
"It wasn't your fault. I would hope you wouldn't hurt the village" he said if the Nara were this kind he could only think the rest of the village was too... but they were scared he realised "but I know that might not happen. So can I ask you to do one thing?" He asked and when the fox nodded slightly he took a deep breath "Don't hurt them, the Nara's, please?" He begged even clasping his little hands together "they haven't treated me like others and I don't want you to hurt them when you are free"
"You say that like you are sure I will be" he snorted and Naruto looked at his feet, submerged in the water.
"You said it would weaken as I get older, the seal. We just have to wait and then try to break it by force when you think you can"
The fox looked like he almost smiled
"Fine, brat. I won't hurt the boy and his parents" he turned his head away "I won't promise the same for the villagers" he huffed and Naruto giggled
"Thank you Kurama" he bowed and left the mindscape. When he opened his eyes a scream ripped out of his throat at Shikamaru so close
"Where do you go when you do that?" He asked pouting and Naruto frowned confused
"Go?" He asked
"You never hear us when you do it. Like you have left your body or something"
Naruto paled and shook his head
"That's silly" he said. He was almost right Naruto thought and forgot that Shikamaru saw more than anyone their age. Even him. He didn't want to go. He'd come to really care for Shikamaru and his dad. But he knew this meeting was about him. And how the other Nara weren't comfortable with him being in the compound. He had been working with Kurama in the mindscape learning jutsu. He'd practice outside when the Nara family left him to do their daily things. He knew he couldn't go back to his cage now. If he couldn't stay here he and Kurama planned to leave. Sneak out the village and find somewhere far. He wanted to tell Shikamaru the truth. Looking around he considered it.
"What happened?" He asked instead Shikamaru looked at his legs his mouth pulling down sad.
"You'll be taken home today" he pouted and Naruto nodded
"That's okay, it makes sense"
"No it doesn't. I don't get what they have against you, you are nice. I don't see anything scary about you" Shimamaru frowned. Naruto sighed and made up his mind
"Can you take me into the forest again?" He asked which surprised Shikamaru and Naruto couldn't blame him. He never asked for things. He nodded holding out his hand and took it.
"If he reacts badly in there you could die" Kurama warned and Naruto halted because he didn't think of that. He shook his head and smiled shyly
"The other forest, near that river you took me once?" He asked Shikamaru grinned and nodded turning to the back gate and ran them through the compound using shadows to go over building and the wall. Naruto thought it was so cool. The jutsu Shikamaru had special to his family.
When they made it they sat on the stones just before the riverbed and Naruto started to feel sick.
"Tell me" Shikamaru said smiling kindly at Naruto.
"You asked if I know why they don't like me" Naruto said and the boy nodded frowning "I know why" He sagged and Shikamaru turned to face him he took a deep breath not wanting to see his only friend turn from nice to scared and hateful. "The Hokage didn't kill the fox. He sealed him inside me" Naruto said looking to Shikamaru from the corner of his eye, he just looked at him frowning as if he thought he was an idiot. Seeing no bad signs he carried on and told him everything he knew. And ended with he was going to run away soon. Deciding saying today would be bad if the boy decided to tell a grown up. After the silence became too much Naruto looked at him and saw his face angry but tears falling down his cheeks. Worried he was scared and hiding it Naruto rushed to reassure him.
"You don't have to worry. I can't hurt you and he is locked up tight inside" but Shikamaru shook his head he reached up taking off the necklace he wore with his clans symbol on it and took out one of his earrings. After hesitating he took Naruto's hand touching him for the first time and put them in his palm and closing them over.
"I won't tell anyone" he said blinking rapidly and Naruto felt his heart pound in his chest "and I still want to be your friend. It hasn't changed that. It's a stupid reason to treat you so horribly" he bit his lower lip and Naruto couldn't speak. Before he could collect his scattered thoughts and feelings Shikamaru had leapt forward hard hugged him tight. It was desperate and caring something Naruto had never felt. For while Naruto could do nothing but sit there tense and waiting for pain. When none came he was just confused. Nobody had ever hugged him before. Nobody with a face he could see. And then he was clinging to the boy crying hysterically. He was happy and sad and angry and a lot of other emotions he didn't understand. After some time had passed he sat back and looked to his palm.
"They aren't much. But you're my family and its only right you have a part of that" he said taking the necklace and putting it on the blonde. Naruto looked at it with wide shocked eyes. It had something inside it.
"They will help you when you need, and if you ever learn jutsu they will listen to you too" he shrugged and Naruto looked at the necklace and under the insignia black smoke moved underneath. Shaking his head, no shadows.
"These are your shadows?" Naruto asked he couldn't give that up. He was about to decline
"Some of them. When we don't have our own some parent give their children this so they have some protection. My Dad and his dad were from war time. This was common" he shrugged "But I learnt my shadow jutsu a long time ago. These are mine but I can still use the shadow jutsu" he reassured the blonde and he looked at the earring blushing a little "I looked up the Uzumaki's. Usually partners did it but family too. They gave a peice of jewelery with Chakra in it so they felt connected and if they ever became low they had something to help get to safety"
Naruto looked at the small stud in awe. But wasn't giving him his shadows enough. "Everyday for the last month I have been putting chakra into it. For you"
Naruto didn't know what to say. He had nothing to give the boy. Frowning he put the stud in his pocket and zipped it securely.
"Give me your other" he said feeling his face heat up. "Is it the same as infusing chakra with weapons?" He asked and Shikamaru nodded as he took the stud out and placed it in Naruto's palm. He'd done this lots with Kurama. It makes any weapon more powerful which was something Naruto needed since he couldn't fight. Pouring chakra into his hand he concentrated it into the stud. After a minute Kurama told him to stop before he broke it. He had a lot more chakra than most people. He blinked and frowned why hadn't he told him that before? Having 'plenty' and a lot more than most isn't the same he thought.
"Did I put more than I should in?"
"Well let's just say he'll be able to do more than just run if he ever uses it" Kurama chuckled. Holding it out to Shikamaru he smiled awkwardly
"He said theres a lot in there. I hope you never have to use it" he said and stood up. Shikamaru quickly put the stud back in following Naruto up.
"You barely spoke, you never asked anything and never answered questions about you. Can't you tell me something?" Shikamaru asked.
This was true but not because he wanted to but because he didn't have answers.
"I like the night" he said "sometimes it's scary but people go home, and are sleeping and I get to walk around without worrying I will be hurt" that made Shikamaru look sad "the Nara forest is my favourite place to be. Its nice and the animals are cool and it's alive in a way the village isnt" he said and that had Shikamaru smiling widely
"You never did say what your favourite food was" he said and Naruto smiled widely
"Ramen from Ichiraku's. The owner sometimes gives me free bowls and it's the best thing I have ever eaten"
This seemed to satisfy Shikamaru and he nodded
"I'll miss you" he said putting his hands in his pockets
"Me too" Naruto whispered
"I'll stay here till it gets dark. That way they won't look for you until I come home alone" of course he knew Naruto would go today
"But it'll be dark, and in the forest"
"Idiot" Shikamaru sighed "shadows are where I am safest" he smirked and Naruto nodded they awkwardly stood there before Naruto turned and ran into the trees.
Naruto sensed unease inside, from the fox and he asked what was wrong.
"The first week I was sealed inside I could see what was happening. Mikoto Uchiha, she tried to take you in, she was your mothers good friend. And those two ANBU. One is your Dad's student and the other is her son"
Naruto frowned and didn't understand how he knew that
"They were assigned to your protection three days after they died. I saw it. Well the Uchiha was only a child but said he would be there when he became ANBU and I know Uchiha" he growled
"Why are you telling me this?" Naruto asked
"You should know everything before you forsake this place. Those three truly care about you. But orders are to never get close"
Naruto was starting to get angrier and angrier at the old man. And Kurama didn't hide his hatred for the Uchiha and here he was putting two of them in good light. So Naruto left a messy note to Dog on his table thanking Shikamaru for his lessons to make it well enough that he could thank Dog and tell him he had to go. Putting it under an empty Ramen cup he ran to the trees and toward the Uchiha compound. Was this a good idea he wondered what if they stopped him from running away? He was in a tree over the Uchiha compound hesitant to enter.
"You are not where you're supposed to be little one" a familiar smooth voice came and he smiled whirling around to see Crow but his smile vanished when he saw a teenager with black hair in a low loose ponytail so the top fell over his headband. He had black eyes and a blank look on his face. Fear came over him. Was this Crow? Crow was a lot smaller than Dog when he started so this made sense if Kurama was right.
"He's older but that's the kid" Kurama said and Naruto immediately relaxed
"Crow?" He asked and the teenager didn't react passed closing his eyes and sighing
"I knew talking to you was a mistake" he said softly and crouched down "What are you doing here?"
"I was looking for your Mum" he said honestly which causes Crow to blink down at him
"Excuse me?" He asked
"I heard something and I wanted to ask her... if she wouldn't be angry about speaking to me"
"She would be thrilled actually. Been asking for a long time" he said tilting his head "I am under strict orders not to introduce you though" he said and Naruto nodded the raven looked down into the compound and then nodded to Naruto and dissapesred
"Sasuke" he heard Crow call and looked down to see him behind a child with black hair and pale skin just like Crow's, who turned around smiling brightly
"Big brother!" He yelled running up and Crow scooped him up.
"What are you doing here?" He asked
"Mum asked me to pick up some flowers from Mrs Yamanaka." He said holding up a back with flowers sticking out.
"Alright, go straight home" he said placing the boy down.
"Aren't you coming home?" The smaller Uchiha asked pouting
"I have something to do, I'll be home later" he said and as he turned he looked directly at Naruto. Who grinned and jumped down to follow the other Uchiha. Crow was the best he thought
The house was as big as Shikamaru's and Naruto stood outside the door trying to get the courage to knock. He didn't ask about the dad. What if he didn't want Naruto near his family? Before he could run away he knocked loudly on the door. A few moments passed and the door opened to a woman who looked like Crow. She looked down and her mouth fell open. Tears came to her eyes as she looked down at Naruto
"Um... I'm sorry. I'm lo-" he cut off as the woman fell to her knees tears falling down her face as she put his face in her hands.
"It's so good to finally see you again Naruto" she whispered taking his hand and pulling him into the house. Closing the door quickly she hugged him. He was a little overwhelmed with the physical contact he had today but he didn't push away. This wasn't the same as the hug from Shikamaru this was... more gentle, full of warmth and happiness. Was this what they called a mothers hug? She sniffled and sat back onto her feet
"I'm sorry, that must have surprised you" she smiled and he shook his head holding the hem of his jacket.
"I'm sorry. I just wanted to see you" he said and she tilted her head and smiled lovingly at him. The way he'd seen parents smile at their children at the park
"Me? Dear how do you know me?" She asked and he chewed his lip
"I learned you were my mums friend. And that when she died you offered to adopt me" he said and her face fell
"Who told you that?" She asked
"I snuck into old man Hokages office" he lied and she smiled at him a little amused and worried "is that true?" He asked and she nodded
"Yes, she was a dear friend and I wanted to make sure her son was safe and happy" she looked guilty "I am sorry I couldn't. Are you all healed now?" She asked brushing her hand through his hair. He nodded looking at her knees
"I wanted to tell you something" he said and she nodded "I am going to be alright. I don't want you to worry about me" he said and she pouted
"Oh sweet boy, I will always worry" she smiled and he nodded. That made him sad he didn't want her to worry. She had given him something he never knew he had his whole life. Love. Paying her back by letting her worry didn't seem fair
"Thank you Mrs Uchiha" he bowed "I'm glad I learned the truth" he said and quickly kissed her cheek before turning and bolting put of the house.
The gate was open, as always and Naruto was in the back of a trailer of a trader who was leaving Konoha. Under a basket in the corner behind lots of other goods. When the guard climbed in Naruto froze and holding his breath hoping his pounding heart couldn't be heard. When he felt the trailer bounce and the words 'go ahead' he let his breath out. He stayed on the trailer for a long time. When the sun started to set he sat at the edge and wondered how it had gone for Shikamaru as he held the pendant with the shadows between his fingers. When he got to the next village he would find someone to put the stud in his ear. Having it in his pocket made him nervous.
"You'll always be on the run" Kurama said and Naruto nodded no orphanage would be safe he'd need to find someone to take him in or live in the forest somewhere.
Already though, he felt safer if a little sad he lost his first and only friend.