Chapter Text
The last few days have been long every morning we’re up at the crack of dawn just to hit grind stone again. Since Sakura already completed the tree climbing exercise she has been guarding Tazuna at the bridge while Sasuke has been trying to get to the top. I have popped in a few times to watch his progress and he is close I don’t know why but I find it oddly satisfying to see him struggle at it. As for me though let’s just say things have been rough. Kakashi taught me this new jutsu that has devastating results unfortunately it takes a lot of control to use.
I shook my head and then stood up and looked forward to a large tree that was about eight feet from me. I placed myself in a lose battle stance and held my left arm out to the side and started to make the necessary hand signs. Once I felt the sparks through my finger tips I charged towards the tree with pure determination on my face. Once I was close I moved my hand in front of me and whispered raiton kiran (lightning style lightning blade) and the blade of lighting clashed with the tree and then I looked up and noticed the tree starting to tumble down towards the ground. I jumped out of the way so I wouldn’t get hit and heard the loud crash behind me. I looked around and saw the tree on the ground I smirked at the sight of it and told myself jutsu learnt. Once I finished gathering my stuff I turned around and started walking towards where Sasuke was training thinking that maybe I could give him some pointers or at least see if he was still standing.
Once I arrived I looked up to see Sasuke running up the tree with what looked like to be an angry look on his face. I tilted my head in wonder he was climbing so high and I knew at this pace he would complete the training within the next few days. Once Sasuke was safely on the ground again I called out to him, “hey Sauske”. He turned and looked at me with a surprised look in his eyes “what do you want Naru”. He started calling me that a few days ago I think it was a slip of the tongue but somehow it stuck so I never questioned it. “Do you want to eat lunch with me I brought some” I lifted up a small basket that I was carrying to prove my point. Sasuke then looked back up at the tree before he shrugged and walked over to me and he did his little hn thing again and sat down. I shook my head never understanding why he had to do that but oh well no use worrying about it. We both sat down against a shaded tree then I opened my basket and pulled out some rice balls and passed one too Sasuke. We sat in silence for a while just eating and listening to the sounds of the forest I have to admit this was probably the most peaceful moment I have ever had in my life. With that thought a frown makes its way to my face. I closed my eyes and I was able to see flashes of my life the pain and loneliness it was suffocating. “Hey you okay”? My eyes snapped open and I turned my head towards Sasuke, I placed a small smile on my face then spoke, “Yea I’m fine just thinking about things nothing you need to worry about”. I saw him nod his head then he looked away from me and took another bite of his rice ball. I took a breath then I asked “The one you want to kill is your brother right”? Sasuke snapped his head towards me with rage burning in his eyes “How do you know that”! he yelled out at me and it startled me for a second then I straightened up and spoke back with a hard tone in my voice, “I know he was the one that attacked your clan I just wanted to know what’s going on in your mind but apparently I shouldn’t have asked”. Sasuke just watched me for a few minutes almost as if he was looking for something then he just scoffed and looked away from me. It annoyed me to see him dismiss me like that so I packed up my stuff and just started to walk away with the thought that was the last time I try to care.
After sometime walking through the forest and blasting more trees down with the new jutsu Kakashi taught me I made my way back to Tazuna’s house. With the orange red shine of the sky I realised it was close to dinner time and I wanted to tell Kakashi I completed his jutsu. “Hey kit someone’s following you” I stopped and moved my hand close to my weapon pouch to grab a kunai. “Can you tell where they are Kuruma”? I slowly started to walk again but this time I was on high alert “Their a few feet away from left hand side on a tree branch”. As soon as got that I pulled my kunai out and threw it in that direction and I heard the sound of metal clashing. I turned my body around so I could face that direction and had a lose battle stance ready to fight only to hear laughter. “Who’s there show yourself” I called out only to be surprised to see madara standing on the branch with my kunai in his hand. His long white hair was in view this time and I could see his older face instead of that annoying mask that he wore before. I was shocked to say the least I knew he had to be an elderly man from the history books and from what Kuruma has told me about him. But seeing his face without a mask he has to be in his eighties maybe older and can move like a young jonin. If I’m being honest it was intimidating.
“It’s been a while since we last saw each other Naruko so I thought I would drop by and see how you’ve been since we last met”. The way he looked at me when he spoke sent chills down my spine I wasn’t sure why but this man had a scary look in his eyes. I swallowed then spoke “I’m okay but I have a feeling this is more than a social call”. Madara smiled at me then he jumped down from the tree he was standing on then moved closer to me. “Kit” I heard the nervous tone in Kuruma’s voice in my head my body tensed with my hand still hovering over my weapon pouch. “Kuruma I know this is bad but I do want to hear him out and I know you do as well”. “What do you really want Madara” he smirked then leaned closer to me and spoke in a soft voice “I want you to come with me I saw your look the last time we talked I know you remembered what that village has done for you”. I looked away and grimaced knowing he was right ever since he brought up the offer to leave I couldn’t help but think on what was keeping me there. I closed my eyes and on repeat I was able to hear the voices “monster”, “demon”, “why won’t you die”. With those words blaring through my mind I couldn’t help but feel the rage burn through me. A hand was placed on my shoulder and I was pulled out of my thoughts and my eyes snapped to Madara’s “they never cared about you and they would sooner see you dead then as an ally so why do you stay”? Once Madara finished speaking I moved a little away from him then took a deep breath then turned back to him and looked him in the eyes as a spoke, “why me”? I shrugged then spoke again “you’re an uchiha so why do you want me why not drag Sasuke or go after his brother”? Madara nodded his head in thought then looked at me with a very small smile on his face, “you remind me of how I use to be when I was a child”. I stared at him in confusion “really” I asked he nodded at me then he said “I thought that I could protect the ones I cared about I thought about peace and no war but when I needed my clan they turned their backs on me to follow someone else and at first I was able to sympathize but after my brother died and I took his eyes they branded me as a traitor and a murderer so I left”. Madara moved closer to me with a sad look in his eyes “I was betrayed by the ones who I have fought with for years the clan I put my life on the line only for them to walk away and join the senju clan and look where that got them”. I held onto my arm then looked away from him. I understood where he was coming from and I was almost certain that if I stayed with this village I would more than likely end up dead or worse. With those thoughts running through my head I knew what I was going to do but I knew I couldn’t leave now since kakashi would be on my tail instantly and I personally wanted to save this place with a new resolve I turned to madara again to tell him my plan. “Let me finish this mission and I should have my answer for you by then just let me think about this a little more”. Madara nodded his head, “that sounds reasonable I’ll be by the bridge by the end of the week if you come to that location after your mission we’ll leave if not then I’ll leave without you”. I accepted then turned to start walking back to the village when I turned back to say bye Madara was gone.
After some time walking through the forest I made it back to the village I placed my hands behind my back and I looked up at the sky. “I wonder If Sasuke made it back”. I shook my head and just kept walking to Tazuna’s house I should get some food then maybe try and get some sleep I thought to myself then I heard something that made me pause. “l-let me go” I turned my head around to find the source of the noise, “please just leave me alone” my body straightened as I moved towards the voice. Once I got towards an alley my blood boiled at the sight, 3 large men were standing around a young woman she looked to be holding her arm in pain with her back against the wall. I could hear Kuruma growling in my head so I knew he was angry as I was. I moved towards them and growled out “let her go you ugly bastards”! The men turned around to face me and by the sneers on their faces it seems they didn’t like what I said heh dumbasses. “Well look at this boy’s this bitch seems to think she’s some sort of hero” for some reason that made them laugh it doesn’t matter they’ll pay one way or another. I took a defensive stance and got myself ready I looked to the woman behind them and saw the fear in her eye’s though I wasn’t sure if she was scared for me or herself. I shook my head I had to focus then I jumped towards them while the men looked cocky and pushed up with a snap kick to the man on the left. Once he fell to the ground in a heap the other men got nervous, “one down two to go”. They tensed up and then quickly moved towards their swords on their hips “I’m going to cut you into pieces you little shit”! I rolled my eyes then I disappeared in a burst of speed and then appeared behind the middle and slashed my kunai through his throat. Then I jumped back to avoid a slash to my head then placed my kunai infront of my face to block a strike. While he was pushing his blade against mine I used his momentum against him and moved to the right and he tumbled past me. While he was falling I slashed my kunai against his neck and killed him. I turned around to the other man who I knocked down and saw that he was slowly getting back up. I threw my kunai at the man and pinned his hand into the concrete while he screamed in pain I turned to the young woman and asked, “Are you able to make it home safe”? She nodded then she turned around and with a weak voice she said “thank you” then she took off down the alley and left.
I looked up at the sky and noticed how late it was so I pulled out a scroll a sealed the bodies inside and moved towards tazuna’s. “Kit you do know that one guy is still alive right”? I smirked a little “yea I know how else you think I’m going to find out what’s really going on in this village”. I heard a snort in my head “besides there is one jutsu that I wanted to try and this idiot seems like the perfect test dummy to try it on doesn’t he Kuruma”? He laughed then with a teasing voice “oh kit it’s never a dull moment with you is it, hopefully this idiot knows something worthwhile”. I nodded my head then tucked the scroll inside my ninja pouch and walked up the side street to see the house come into view.
I pushed open the door and took my sandals off and placed them neatly by the door then moved towards the kitchen where I was able to hear voices coming from. Once I stepped through the threshold I saw that everyone was seated around the table including Sasuke though he looked like he went through hell before coming here. “Ah Naruko nice of you to join us what took you so long”? I looked towards Kakashi and I tilted my head in thought then said “sorry Kakashi I got lost on the road of life”. Kakashi gave an eye smile then he turned towards Sasuke and Sakura with the same smile saying something about his philosophy was catching on or something. I shook my head and moved towards the open seat around the table and sat down.
Dinner was served and Sasuke was wolfing it down as if he hasn’t eaten in weeks meanwhile Sakura took tentive bites almost as if she was giving the illusion she was eating and that annoyed me. I rolled my eyes and gave Tsunami a smile “this is very delicious thank you very much”. Tsunami smiled with a light blush on her face, “you’re very welcome, it’s the least I could do since you’re protecting my father and all”. I was about to reply when I heard a slam of utensils hit the table. We turned to see a young boy sitting there with a scowl on his face. “Inari”! Tsunami cried out only for him to ignore her with his own cry. What’s the point if they’re just going to die”? I scowled back “hey kid don’t know if you noticed but I’m a ninja I’m not going to die so easy”. Inari looked at me with a deeper scowl than before a bit back “what the hell would you know huh everything about you screams weak you’re not from this country you don’t know what it means to suffer or what pain is the strong live and the weak die and I can see you getting yourself killed in this fight your just a pathetic weakling”. Those next few moments were tense so quiet that you could hear a pin drop from across the village. I scrapped my chair back as I stood up and with my fists clenched a snarled out,” shut up you brat look at you crying like some sorry little victim you say I’m weak take a look in the mirror because the only weak person I see is you. Grow up”! I moved away from the table and started to make my way to the door only to hear Sakura saying that I should apologize I glared at her, “don’t even get me started on you dead weight”. I turned and slammed the door behind and I walked out into the night with only one thought in my head I need something to destroy.