Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ A Life for a Life ❯ Confirmational reflection ( Chapter 3 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

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I don't own Naruto…

Chapter 3

Sakura was thoughtful, as she headed toward Arashi's room. It has been two weeks since; Ino has revealed that revelation to her. And both girls were initiated into a secret, that they both vowed to keep, to protect their friend.

It explained so much about their mutual friend and their childhood concerning him. She was letting herself get distracted. Still reflecting on it, both she and Ino both after they were done, that day, had went to the Hokage with a lot of questions. Questions that the elder woman was highly reluctant to answer….

Flashback…

“Sensei…what did he mean by sealing the Fox demon within his own son!” Sakura asked as she all but slammed her fist in into Tsunade's desk. Ino beside her looking irritated and curious as well, the elder woman sighed.

“Close the door.”

“Sensei?”

“JUST DO IT!”

Ino moves and shuts the door quietly. Tsunade nods her head and beckons the two girls closer to her and Shizune. Both women look at one another carefully and then Shizune begins to speak.

“What you are about to be told, by law is not to be spoken to anyone else in your generation or the next if you can help it. This is an S-Class secret girls. One that will mean your deaths if spoken.”

Both Sakura and Ino look at one another. Then taking deep breaths they look at their teacher with curiosity.

“Tell us…” Ino replied with determination.

As the Fifth folds her hands underneath her chin, the woman sighs softly. “You girls know about the Fox demon right? The one the Fourth beat and killed according to the history books.”

“Yes. It was at the cost of his life. What he did used his all his chakra.” Sakura stated. Being the smart girl that she was she had excelled in all classes at the academy. Ino nodding her head in agreement as she to remembers the class, the girls are stunned as Tsunade bends down to look at the desk and shakes her head sadly.

“Well up till now only part of that had been right girls. And now thanks to you guys…the other is wrong as well…”

Confused, Ino looks at their teacher with respect and questions in her eyes as does Sakura. “What do you mean Sensei?”

“The Fox demon was never destroyed. In fact it still lives here in Konoha.” Tsunade replied. “He was sealed inside a newborn child that night 17 years ago.”

“Never…destroyed…?” Sakura muttered as she sat down.

“Here in Konoha…” Ino murmured. Her surprise evident on her face, both girls are stunned as they realize what she had said. “Wait…17 years old…you mean one of our classmates?”

“Yes…” Tsunade said reluctantly as she looked out the window. “The law was passed to forbid the people from telling all of you so that child would have a chance at a normal life.”

“A chance at a normal life…?”

“Yes other then the demon being inside him, it was also a matter of who the child's father was…and you girls by the history books know who that was. That part is right.”

“The Fourth…”

“Yes…the Fourth sealed the demon inside the body of his own son.”

Watching as Tsunade grows silent; Shizune takes over at the desk, as she understands the elder woman's reluctance. Her need is to protect a boy, who is not here to defend himself, from a secret that could destroy his life.

Watching as the girls eyes whirl with information that is being processed, Shizune remains silent as a dawning light appears before them. “Sister Shizune…”

“Yes Sakura…?”

“What was the Fourth's name…?”

“Arashi Uzamaki Kazama…” Tsunade replied instead. “He's Naruto's father.”

Both girls had just sat or stood for what seemed like the longest time. Their friend…the number one most idiotic moronic ninja, that Konoha had ever produced…was the Fourth's son?

And that he was also the one holding within his own body…a demon?

“Surprised…?” Shizune says softly. Her own eyes mirrored theirs once, when she had met Tsunade a long time ago. The woman was full of frustration and despair at things she could not do. Nor was allowed to do at the time….

“Yes…” Ino whispered dumbly. Sakura just looks at the fourth with a stunned expression. “Naruto…does he know?”

“About the demon or about his father?” Shizune quietly asks.

“Both…” The girls respond in unison.

“The demon, yes…who his father was…or should I say is?” Shizune replied. “No…”

Flashback ends…

Shaking her head free of those thoughts, Sakura got prepared to avoid answering questions. One order of the Hokage's that neither she nor Ino liked was that they were not to answer his questions at all about Naruto.

To both girls, that seemed highly unfair and unreasonable. Even if he was gone at this moment, not due for another month from his training with Jiriaya, at least their patient deserved some peace.

But Tsunade had made a point…she had brought up Orichamaru's summoning of the First and the Second…

He may claim to be who he was, but to protect not only Naruto but all of Konoha. They were to wait. Because there was still one person alive who could confirm the man's identity.

Jiriaya…

Everything was so confusing…

She had honestly thought about it, and could understand the reasoning behind the decision. But the man was heartbroken every time eh asked about Naruto, and receiving no answer in reply.

To hear of how the village has treated him…and the subsequent beating he took three years ago…at the hands of their friend…

Shaking her head firmly so as to not think about the past at this moment…she runs towards the hospital room where her patient awaits.

Today was the day that by order of the Hokage, she and Ino were supposed to take off the bandages around the guys head and arms. According to the charts, when he had been found, what charkra he had left was escaping though his skin and he had so little left, the doctors had placed special bandages on his body to keep what was left in.

Til it restored itself naturally…

Running some tests, these past couple of weeks, it had revealed that although far, from records that the Yondaime could hold. It was enough that his body would be able to survive naturally again.

So both she and Ino were eager to see, the features hidden beneath those bandages.

Entering the room finally, Ino was practically dancing in anticipation as their patient just looked on with amusement. The two young women had succeeded in bonding with him.

“Ino what in the world are you doing?”

“Waiting for your sorry behind, forehead-girl or were you hanging out with Kakashi-sensei again?” The blonde quipped in humor as the pink haired girl growled.

“Watch it Ino-pig”

Laughing in amusement, he realizes that as much as he wishes to know what is going on with his son. The girls can not answer. But yet something he just realized is bothering him. Having made friends with these young women, Arashi questions them both…

“You said Kakashi-sensei right?”

“Hai?” Both girls respond with a puzzled expression. “He was Sakura's first instructor when she became a genin.” Ino stated with a curious gaze.

“That can't be possible. Kakashi is only 14 years old…” Arashi repeated although he beamed with pride at the thought of his former student teaching this vibrant young lady control. “I should know. I was the one who taught him.”

Both girls looking at one another, he could see flashes of thought crossing their mind. “Sakura…” Ino whispered. “Come outside with me.”

Nodding her head, the two girls leave the room and close the door till nothing but a sliver is between it and the wall. From the emotions rolling off the girls, he could barely hear the argument that they were having quietly in the hall.

We can't tell him Ino!

He's asking about Kakashi-sensei, Sakura!

Ino, think about it! He thinks it has only been a few years since the incident with the fox!

So…it has nothing to do with Kakashi-sensei Sakura!

Grrrrr! Yes it does Ino! He is 31years old! Not 14as Arashi-santhinks!

Hearing those last comments, Arashi pales. Kakashi…is 31?

What the hell is happening?

Straining to hear more, both girls have finally stopped. Watching as they come back in, the two girls, look confused and lost at what to say.

“You don't have to say anything.” He whispered. The girls are startled and confused by this comment. Pointing to his ears as he had regained some use in his arms, which although not as strong, he was able to use for basic things. “Despite contrary to belief, I wasn't made Hokage for lack of any ability. Mental or Physical…”

Looking guilty, the girls approach him together.

“Gomen Nasai Arashi-san”

“It is all right…” He replies with a kind of fake happiness in his voice. “17 years huh…?”

Nodding their heads weakly, the two girls could see the pain in his eyes. Pain that they wished they never inflicted. “So he would be a young man now…” Arashi murmured. Shaking his head free of those thoughts, as he could see sense the sadness in his two new found friends' chakras, Arashi looks at them with a question.

“Well, are you two going to take these bandages off me or what?”

Looking sheepish, Sakura hurries to the other side as Ino remains where she is. Both girls nodding their head, they start their jutsus. Their power flowing through out their body and into their hands, both girls release the seal placed on these bandages once done. His whole body glowing blue for but a moment, it switches to green in a second signaling that they were done.

“Okay...now that the seal is removed.” Chirps a delighted pink-haired ninja, both girls give a gleeful giggle as they each bring out a pair of scissors. Approaching him now and starting from his arms and fingers, the two girls are gentle, and with a couple of snips in the right places, they free enough of the white cloth to begin unwrapping.

Slow and steady, the two girls work and eventually flesh and bone hands…pale skin, thin and yet a little fleshed out appears. After all it has been ages since he has eaten any real food.

More flesh is revealed as his lower and then upper arms are freed. Grabbing the scissors once more, the two girls snip at the bandages to separate what they have released so far.

Handing hers over to Ino, who places the cloth in a chair behind her, Sakura nods her head for Ino to begin at the bandages around his head.

“Arashi-san, please bend forward a little bit.”

Understanding what they wish to do, he struggles for a moment, and leans his head forward. Careful as to not dig to deep or anything with the scissors, the young blonde does a few snips here and there at the base of his neck. Freeing a swath of cloth, the blonde moves it into her fist and circles it around to hand to her friend.

For the first time, in what is apparently years, Arashi feels cool air upon his flesh. Shivering a little bit, the girls pause to make sure he is ok. But gesturing for them to continue the two girls begin to move again.

Soon his mouth is cleared, and although he winces slightly in pain, he can't help but move it a little bit in relief. Matted closely to his head though are dark golden strands of hair around his chin and lips. But as more, slowly gets unwrapped, Arashi is puzzled as his two new found friends auras go from one of sadness mixed with need, turns to one of amazement and surprise….

Because as his nose…then his eyes are unwrapped, the two girls just stop and stare for a moment.

“Ino…”

“I know Sakura I know…”

As they finish unwrapping his head from the bandages, the two girls just fall into the chairs beside them. Ino not caring that hers is lumpy in the least, she just stares at the sight before her. Looking at the man in the bed, who has a puzzled expression at the fact they had stopped….

“Sink me…” Is all both girls said as they stared at what could only be an older version of their friend Naruto.