Naruto
Petals in the Wind
Chapter V
With Zabuza and Haku dead Kakashi put his hitai-ate back over his left eye and turned to his squad. "Good job everyone, now let's get Tazuna-san home."
"Sensei, I don't think we've seen the last of Gato. If what Tazuna-san said was true then he will most likely send more shinobi after us." Naruto said with concern in his voice.
"I know." Kakashi said looking ahead of the team.
Kakashi didn't want to show it but using his Sharingan put strain on his chakra and body. Sasuke on the other hand knew just how taxing an implanted Sharingan was for a non-Uchiha, hell even an Uchiha was taxed by overusing the Sharingan.
"Let's get going." Kakashi said.
As Kakashi took a step forward he dropped to one knee then to the ground completely. Neji rushed over to Kakashi and activated his Byakugan and did a basic medical scan with his eyes.
"Kakashi-sensei is fine, just exhausted. He has mild chakra exhaustion." Neji explained.
"One of us is going to have to carry him then." Naruto said plainly.
"I'll do it." Sasuke volunteered.
"Tazuna-san, how far is your home?" Naruto asked.
"Not far now, about a mile away now." Tazuna said.
About half an hour later Team Seven and Tazuna arrived at his home and walked inside. In the kitchen was a young woman going about cooking presumably dinner given the time of day it was.
"Oh Tou-san you're home Inari will be happy." The young woman greeted the party.
"I wouldn't be, if not for these ninja here." Tazuna said with a chuckle.
Just then the door opened again and a young child walked in and walked past team seven.
"Inari you're back say hello to the ninja that protected your grandfather." the young woman said.
"You're all going to die." Inari said.
"Death is inevitable, kid even more so for ninja but don't wish death on people." Naruto said.
"No one can stop Gato." Inari said as if he truly believed what he said.
"Kid if that's what you believe fine but don't force your beliefs on others." Naruto said. "I'm guessing you had something bad happen to you since Gato arrived in Nami. But you know what, you're not the only one who's had a hard life. You have a mother that loves you, a grandfather trying to build you a better life. So you had something bad happen to you, are you just going to give up and let that bad thing control your life. I know someone in my village that had his whole clan and family killed by his own brother. I also know someone who has never known anything but hatred directed at him. So you can sit there and cry all you want but don't for one second think you're the only one who's had it hard."
Naruto then turned on his heel and walked out of the house without even a second thought or look back. Neji and Sasuke looked at each other and nodded before setting Kakashi in a chair and headed for the door to go after Naruto. However, Kakashi spoke up.
"Let him be you two he needs time to himself." Kakashi said. "Inari I don't doubt you've had something bad happen to you but to Naruto crying over it and having a negative outlook on life is an insult. Naruto lost both his parents on the day of his birth, his mother died in childbirth and his father to a demon attack on the village when. All his life he's had people look down on him and shun him. To the people of our village he is a reminder of everyone the village lost to the demon. In fact many believe him to be the demon in human form."
"Naruto might seem happy and carefree but that's just a mask to keep people from seeing how he really feels. You see if he gives in and shows his vulnerable side that he tries to hide so others don't worry because if all those that put him down, all those that shun him, all those that hurt him, see how vulnerable Naruto really is they all win and they know it." Sasuke explained to Inari.
"Naruto is strong but everyone has vulnerabilities, remember that." Neji said.
In the town district of Nami Naruto was walking the streets trying to clear his head and what he saw hurt him. It hurt because he knew how it felt to not know where your next meal was coming from. It sickened him. Naruto would find Gato and end him for good.
Then it happened a thug was trying to take advantage of a young woman in the streets. Naruto's blood began to boil and his vision went red and the next thing he knew his hand was sticking out of the thugs chest, his blood coating the young woman and Naruto's arm. The young woman ran off in fear and Naruto pulled his arm out of the thug's chest cavity. Naruto was enveloped in a sinister chakra, his vision red, and all he wanted was to kill Gato and his henchmen.
Several more thugs appeared, apparently angered by Naruto's merciless killing of their friend. Naruto turned toward them and rushed them. In under five seconds Naruto slit each of their throats letting their blood spray out of their veins coating himself and the streets. Naruto ran off in search of Gato's base all the while his anger fueled the Kyubi's chakra that engulfed him.
Dawn came and there had been no sign of Naruto back at Tazuna's House, however in the village of Nami there were plenty of signs he had been there. The streets were littered with the bodies of Gato's thugs leading up to a mansion-like building and in the building more carnage was inside leading to an office room and in the room was Naruto still engulfed in red chakra and a cowering Gato.
Slowly Naruto walked over to Gato then without a second thought snapped the man's neck. This is what Kakashi walked in on, Kakashi saw Naruto covered in blood with the body of Gato hanging in Naruto's grip. Kakashi walked over to Naruto and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Naruto, you need to calm down." Kakashi said in a firm voice.
Naruto looked behind him to see Kakashi standing there, his eyes a blood red instead of their normal blue color.
"Kakashi-sensei? What are you doing here?" Naruto asked as his eyes began to return to normal and the sinister red chakra subside.
"I could ask you the same thing." Kakashi replied.
Naruto looked around him at everything he did, then he felt the weight of his blood soaked clothes and he knew he had killed countless people.
"Am I nothing more than a monster?" Naruto asked.
"No Naruto, you're not a monster. Yes you killed countless thugs and mercenaries all under Gato's command. But you did it to protect Nami, you aren't a weapon or monster, Naruto you're a person." Kakashi answered. "Come on, let's get out of here."
Back at Tazuna's, Kakashi and Naruto walked through the door. Neji and Sasuke were waiting for them in the kitchen with worried expressions on their faces. When they saw the state Naruto was in they instantly knew what happened. Neji walked over to his friend and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Naruto, we're here for you whenever you need us." Neji said.
"Thanks guys but this is something I have to deal with on my own. I have to learn to live with the Kyubi inside me and learn how to not let it take control of me." Naruto said.
"You're not alone Naruto, we'll help you every step of the way." Sasuke said.
"Now go get cleaned up Naruto." Kakashi said with a smirk hidden under his mask.
A/N: Hey everyone Azrael here with the next chapter of Petals in the Wind. I hope you all liked this chapter. It was a bit darker than canon and we saw Naruto's struggle with his emotions. Naruto will always have to watch his emotions due to the fact that if he loses control of them then Kurama will take over, at least until Naruto and Kurama become closer anyway. Anyway, that's a wrap from me until next time Ja~ne.