A/N: I present my first ever attempt at writing. It is not canon compliant and will be AU since I will be manipulating the timeline as i wish. English is not my first language. Constructive criticism is welcomed but don't be rude. I am writing for fun and hope you enjoy as well.
I don't own Naruto and never will.
"Emphasis"
'Characters thinking'
a simple narration
"Characters speaking"
If you have any confusion, feel free to ask.
Without further ado, let's continue. Enjoy.
CHAPTER 21: Intriguing
The streets outside the Hokage tower are crowded, which is to be expected at midmorning on a weekend. Habit has Minato immediately sensing for his team's chakra. Turning in their direction towards the Uchiha district, he slips out of the mass of people even as they part waving at him.
Sensing the Hirashin seal in the Uchiha district he lands near Fugaku's house ready to head inside as per the mission parameters of babysitting little Itachi-kun, but senses that his team is outside with Itachi-kun and what appears to be Orochimaru-sama's chakra and one unknown (having huge reserves)
'huh, i am curious to know what they are taking about with Orochimaru-sama and that person with such large chakra reserves' he thinks inwardly and proceed to shunshin to his team's location.
Minato is used to over the top reaction by his comrades when he appears silently beside them. A flinch is very normal. What is not normal is however the inflection in Orochimaru-sama's voice when he called "brat" which Minato happened to hear.
a warning? a threat? is Minato assuming things when he thinks that one word contains an undertone of concern? if it is then is directed to Minato or that child with the same shade of blond hair as his own, who has her head bowed. (is Orochimaru-sama putting pressure on her head or she doing it on her own?)
While inwardly thinking and cataloguing every gesture Minato hears an unfamiliar voice.
"Which squad?" everyone straightened at that voice. The voice that came from a little girl who looks no older than 5, but the command in her voice was unmistakable. A voice so carefully controlled that no one can infer what the owner is actually feeling inside. A voice Naruto had learned to imitate from Sai or rather was forced to imitate because there was no option left (or was there no emotion felt?) when the news of squad upon squads containing hundreds of shinobi were reported as KIA or MIA. (Killed-in-action, missing-in-action)
She got used to it, using such a voice that is. Whenever her dad came to her makeshift office, she knew he was there to console her, (to encourage her not to give up and keep moving forward) so her command came out naturally, demanding him to report the names of the people who she had personally sent to their deaths)
So, she looked up opening her mouth again because there was no answer. She was only able to catch a glimpse before she was met with resistance and was forced to bow her head again. But that millisecond of eye contact was enough for her to notice the absence of black sclera in his eyes, the bemused look and the lack of any warmth, love, and recognition whatsoever.
Reality was awashed with ice cold water-
It was as if the universe was mocking her, because her father, her dead father was alive and standing practically within arm's reach and she can do nothing but gulp as if the nature was running out of oxygen.
His golden spiked hair glistened like pristinely woven gold as it reflected under the direct sunlight. His proximity was almost insulting.
It appeared as though taking a single step will shatter the illusion, so subconsciously she was unable to move, to form coherent thought, so she just stood there thinking of staring into those eyes that were once similar to hers and did not dare to even twitch since he was giving her his attention. But he was not her father, was he? Her real dad had passed away (or rather sealed away when the enemies thought of a way to use his reanimated corpse, or was it just due to Orochimaru's passing?) Therefore, the person standing here is just an immaculate imitation where the only flaw will be the emotions that she can garner from watching those cobalt orbs, of what this imitation's eyes can convey.
But, But, But (why is there always a but?)
But surely, he's still alive?
because Kurama and others had made her turn around. They had travelled back in time, right? becuase everything she ever held dear to her had vanished, so she returned to... when?
how old was she?
Where did she go?
Her house was empty (did she even check her house? Did she even own a house?)
Her Konoha wasn't here, It can never be here can it? She didn't belong in this Konoha at this moment.
This was not her home at all. (home is where the heart is, Ero-sanin has taught her that, and her heart is lost in another world in another time, because all she feels is empty, the sort of emptiness where hundreds of ghosts haunt and curse at her)
….
Orochimaru's eyes widen because this is a really bad time (and oh sage this girl needs to mourn). He can sense the weight of command in her voice and the increasing pressure of her chakra, that he knows with absolute certainty that those chakra absorption seal, that he had put on her, will not work if things keep on going like this. They need to get out of here and fast before she blankets the area with her huge reserves (well at least he has the confirmation of how this child could command the allied shinobi forces because even he, himself had straightened up a bit at her voice)
He tightened his hold on her head when he felt her head almost look up. (he is not aware that she was able to manage a glimpse of her so called father in this time) and holds her there so that she does not move from that position.
He really does not know how to handle such a situation. If it was one of his subordinates, he could have easily handled them, but not Naruto, for one she is still in a child's body with too much chakra and almost no control over it and second her mind is too far gone with the consecutives shock she has suffered since she has entered the village.
'Should i just pick her up and shunshin back to the apartment?' First, he has to answer her question because any other course will lead to Minato becoming curious and curiosity risks exposure, which they obviously did not want.
"Uzunami Hina, this is Squad 7, or more commonly known as Team Minato. Orochimaru reported tersely and looked at her bowed head. He slowly decreased the pressure on her head and was intensely relieved when she did not try to look up again.
"Know your manners my future apprentisssssss" He said in a tone to snap her back to reality from her war-riddled mind, because he knows that this accent riles her up. Because she had stated trembling imperceptibly, and he could only feel it because he was touching her –
While Naruto felt as though something was on the verge of breaking within her because something inside trembled and creaked under pressure and anxiety. Darkness emerged from the depths of her spirit and crept along the boundaries of her eyesight for the reason that-
She doesn't belong here, she shouldn't be here, she can't stay here, she was searching for nearest hirashin marker to teleport when-
"Nwee-san, Itachi knows how twwo shoo awaey hurt from Owie, do you wan -elp?" A toddler tugging on her pant said while tilting his head, his bangs falling to the left due to gravity, lacking the familiar stress lines that he will have in the future.
A jolt of something so raw and pure went into her heart that she did not realize that the heat behind her eyes had receded a bit, that her heart rate had slowed down a bit, making her breathe a bit easier, a bit more deeply.
A reach for help, a hand held out, so small compared to others who have tried before. The words so innocent that it may as well have broken a dam of suppressed pain, a pain so unbearable that she fell on her knees in front of a clan-killer, of a future hero, of the shadow hokage that was never acknowledged.
The girl inhaled deeply, and the scent brought with it the smell of mint and snakes, of pine and sandalwood (Kakashi-sensei), of fire and rose (ash and wood and blood was missing from that person), of water and lily (she knew now that Kakashi-sensei was right when he said Rin always smelled of lilies), of sunlight and sunflower and ramen (dad, she choked up)-
she took one more deep breath and ignored all the other scents and focused on the the toddler in front of her. (the smell of babies lingered on him and Naruto found it extremely calming) The words that were uttered by this precious, precious person may not mean much for others, but she knew, she always knew that Itachi Uchiha was kind to a fault, where he would reach out to help a complete stranger even when he, himself is not acquainted with the same world of pain, war and death that he has to suffer in the future.
(No, Naruto shook her head inwardly, not that future, if she has a say in it, this precious child will never suffer that terrible nightmarish future. She will make it so that he can live peacefully with Sas-)
She smiles and it is a weak, trembling imitation of her usual bright cheer (of how it was supposed to be), but it doesn't lack the wonder and awe (and a feeling of worship?) she always used to have when something pleasant had happened to her on her worst days.
"Please help me Itachi-kun," She pleads for the first time in years to a mere toddler who will one day sacrifice his everything to retain the peace so that others don't suffer, whose love burns so bright that it holds the capacity to burn the world, but who only wants to protect and did not know how to go about it, who was shown the wrong way, the darkness that the world holds and was backed into a corner at every turn, who was lauded as a genius but quickly became a monster while being a pacifist that destroyed himself in the process)
"and it hurts a lot in here" She moves her right hand over her heart and stretches out her other hand parallel to the ground towards the Uchiha heir.
The toddler does not hesitate for even a second and places his hand over the hand above her heart and closes his eyes (he does not notice the slight flinch Naruto had when he touched her hand and moved into her personal space.)
"Pain pain, fly away,
leave nwee-san alone for another day,
Itachi prays, that you never come back
and his blessing stays"
Her breath hitches and she would have fallen to the ground if not for her ninja training when Itachi hugged her suddenly. (a very tight hug for a kid of one or two year old)
"Nwee-san is it better yet? Kaa-san always do this for Itachi, so itz ma firs twime doin to someone less" When he didn't get any reply, he loosened his hold to peek at her face for any sign of hurt but was suddenly hugged back just as tightly and heard-
"yes, yes it is a lot better, Thank you so much Itachi-kun" She whispers hoarsely and chuckles a little because of his lisp and
"it is not called 'someone less' Itachi-kun but 'someone else.' Okay?" She teaches him in the same way that his mother teaches him. Itachi thinks that he would like this Nwee-san to play with him because she is so warm and he feels comfortable and safe in her arms, so he snuggles a bit deeper in her embrace subconsciously.
Naruto looks up when she realizes that her surroundings have gone very, very silent, just in time to catch awe on Kakashi-sensei and Obito's face. She looks at Rin and catches her smiling and Orochimaru with that perpetual haughty look although from his chakra she can glean that he is feeling relieved (why relieved though? Was he panicking or something?) and reluctantly looks at her to meet the same blue eyes that she used to have some time at the starting of war, when there was still hope, when willpower alone could do wonders when everything, and everyone was not lost, when her world was not erased. She avoids looking at those eyes again, instead she locks her eyes with too innocent obsidian eyes, and knows from deep within her heart that Obito is suffering from the same loneliness and pain she used to have in her childhood. She knows that he is treated as a pariah within his own family, and lives with his grandmother that forgets her grandson too easily. His eyes reflect emotions that no child ready for a war should have. (Well, the less said about Kakashi sensei the better)
A timid smile blooms on Obito's face accompanied by a shy wave with eyes brimming with concern, (she will never be able to harm him, she has to change her plans, a calculating look passes in her eyes, not missed by Orochimaru)
"You might not remember me but i am-"
"Obito Uchiha," she finishes with her voice still scratchy "I know, our Future Hokage" she says sincerely and gets a startle and a full-blown blush (and oh sage he is so cute, curse those good looking Uchiha genes) completed with a look full of wonder and pleasant surprise.
She smiles at him and rests her chin on Itachi's little head to continue when a sound of someone clearing their throat is heard, she does not break her eye contact with Obito.
"You know my student, but you haven't introduced yourself young lady, So who might you be? hm?" She reluctantly looks at the man who imitates her father and tightens her hold on Itachi. (Because there is no black sclera that she is used to seeing on her father, there is no recognition, there is no-
"hah" Naruto sighs and feels Itachi wriggle in her arms and loosens her hold. She can't help but smile instinctively when Itachi's big and pure eyes peer up at her from her embrace and his cute voice when he asks-
"Nwee-san that mishter is right! What ish your nwame?"
Naruto slides the bang covering Itachi's forehead behind his ear and sets her forehead upon his little one.
She did not care for the eyes that were observing her because she was so used to them, plus for her right now, Itachi was the sole source of light in a cave that she thought she was lost in.
"My name is Uzunami Hina, little one" saying so Naruto smiles at her saviour hoping that the love she feels for him reaches his little heart. As if her hope had been answered, Itachi's smile widens (she is not aware that her chakra has conveyed her feelings to Itachi and everyone present, even if Itachi is not old enough to sense, but he is basking in the warmth that he can feel radiating from the beautiful Nee-san)
Naruto closes her eyes, snuggles to Itachi and after a second looks at every member of team 7 one by one, ending own Minato's very own blue eyes. (Is it the angle of light that has made her eyes somewhat lighter in shade? Kakashi and Obito thought simultaneously?)
"Uzunami Hina, academy student, future apprentice to Orochimaru of the Sanin, pleasure to meet you" she repeats her introduction to the team and watches how Minato's hand fall from Obito's shoulder as Obito steps towards her.
She feels nothing watching that ease of touch (oh she feels something, But holding Itachi is doing wonders for her mental health) and a new resolve is taking shape inside her, the pressure on that something is also reduced, no longer is it on the verge of snapping.
A resolve of not letting this child in her arms end up with a world of suffering, a resolve to protect him for as long as she can, a resolve to give him a better future, and a resolve to make his counterpart's dream her own (well that is nothing new, since she was striving for peace anyway, but now she has something to protect, because she knows that Naruto Uzumaki is the strongest when she has something to protect)
"I don't think it's a pleasure, looking at her reaction" she heard Obito mutter but he quickly shut up courtesy of Rin Nohara elbowing him in the ribs.
"I am Rin Nohara, future medic of team 7. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance" Rin also steps forwards.
When the third member does not follow the pattern, Minato sighs and steps forwards himself.
"I am Minato Namikaze, Jounin Leader of Team 7, and this here" he puts his hand on Kakashi-sensei's head introducing him as well "is Kakashi Hatake, a chunin, pleasure to meet you too."
"Nwee-san, lemme also intodooce myshelf" the toddler in arms wriggled out of her hug.
She felt a bit disappointed with the loss of warmth but the answering smile in his introduction was worth it.
"I am the Uchihwa clan heir, Itachi Uchihwa, and I think your smile is very pwetty, just like kaa-san" he says smiling and turns to Orochimaru saying "and your hair ish also very pretty nee-san"
For a second there is Pindrop silence and the next-
"pfffff, hahahahaha," Naruto is the first one to lose control and laugh out loud followed with Obito and a giggling Rin, with Kakashi's lips twitching and Minato looking as if he can't decide whether to be horrified or amused at Itachi's comment.
And Orochimaru, well he just raised his brow, slid his hair back with his hand and waved it at Itachi-
"Child, you may address me as Orochimaru-sama, alright?" He scolds in a somewhat placid? Tone
"Yesh, Orchimau-chama" Itachi bows at him, and then turns to the last unknown person. (he knew the other 3 members of team 7 because they were babysitting him and had introduced themselves)
"My name is Itachi uchiwa, pleased to meet you" Itachi bowed in Minato's direction as well.
Naruto was still not over the fact that Itachi called Orochimaru "nee-san", still trembling with suppressed laughter, she stands up and dusts off her pants. She holds Orochimaru's hand and says-
"shall we go Orchimau-chama?" another bout of suppressed laughter and Orochimaru giver her very very unimpressed look.
"Sure, Child" Naruto stops laughing but the smile is still there on her face-
"So petty you are Orochimau-chama" Naruto continues her teasing and Minato watches Orochimaru's eyes getting narrower and smile getting sharper.
'no good will come from the person with that expression' Minato thinks inwardly and decides to intervene before the child loses her apprenticeship with one of the Sanin.
But before he had the chance to comment Obito unsurprisingly yelled-
"Hey don't make fun of Orochimaru-sama! Do you even know who he is? And how privileged you are to be his apprentice? And if you are an academy student, how were you able to do that?" Obito mumbles his last word looking a bit ashamed.
Naruto thinks of a reason why Obito will be ashamed, ignoring the first of his speech-
"You took Obito down in one move the day we arrived in the past, and he is already a genin whereas you are an academy student that is why he is ashamed of losing to you" Kurama comments in her mindscape and Naruto startles, because she did not expect him to answer. (well he was busy with keeping unwanted memories at bay and keeping his chakra under tight leash to prevent any panic attack but at the end it was useless as Itachi solved everything)
"Wellllll-" She looks at Orochimaru and tugs at his hand for some help but he betrays her by shaking her off and crossing his arms on his chest and merely raises an eyebrow, metaphorically throwing her under the jutsu. This whole exchange does not go unnoticed by anyone, except for maybe Obito so Naruto just glares at Orochimaru and sighs looking back at Obito-
"It was kind of a surprise attack right? If you would have been ready, I wouldn't have been able to take you, "a genin" down just like that ya'know!" She exclaims with a hand going at the back of her head and rubbing subconsciously and Kakashi's eyes sharpen where Minato also takes a deep breath at the similarity of the gesture.
Minato opens his mouth to enquire about this intriguing child but someone interrupts him again-
This time it is Orochimaru because he also saw that similarity of the gesture and Minato's suspicion and the Hatake's eyes. 'Oh no this would not do! We must kill that curiosity, right here and now, but I can't think of anything right now, let's just leave, since what she came here for is already done' he eyes Itachi while thinking as such and can't help but recall his previous comment. Orochimaru also sighs inwardly and thinks 'children are really a handful'
"Well, I have been training her Uchiha-kun!" he does not remember the name of Namikaze's other students as they were not important but he knew the brat had an Uchiha on his team, who was a weakling.
Obito was a little surprised when he was directly addressed by Orochimaru-sama himself. "Oh right." Obito replied in a little daze.
"Then" a very unexpected voice followed his dazed reply.
"Shall we spar?" Hatake stepped forward and asked his supposed apprentice.
TBC
A chapter you were all waiting for! So how was it? Was I able to convey what Naruto must be feeling properly? Was it any good? Did Orochimaru seem out of his character? And isn't Itachi just too cute? Well he is acting like that because he still is just a toddler, don't worry he will become mature as he grows.
If you have any doubts feel free to ask in the comments section! Take care and see you later! Ja ne!
Signing out
Yuki Race