Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ A Life for a Life ❯ Understandings.... ( Chapter 7 )

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

I do not own Naruto…

Littleolmee…Their age? When you are in school are every single one of your classmates the same age? I was one of the youngest in my class when I was 12 years old and we had some 13 year olds in it. And it wasn't because they were held back or advanced a grade. It was simply because their birthdays fell at a certain point of the year.

Example….This is true and if you guys ever meet my mother she will tell you. When I was enrolled in Kindergarten I was 3 years old. And I know most of you, think that shouldn't be possible. It's for only 4-5 years olds right? By law where I live if the child's birthday falls before Sept 22 of that year, they can legally be enrolled in school as long as they turn at least 4 by that date. My birthday…is Sept 19.

Chapter 7

Having watched his son that afternoon fight, with tears of joy in his eyes, Arashi for the first time felt a measure of peace.

His son was happy…

He almost busted a gut laughing, giving away his presence as the two had finally figured out, how to get the bells they needed to from Kakashi. He applauded his son silently, as he overheard him explaining about the book weakness, that his former student had.

Watching them make that move leaping down on him…using the ending of one of his old Sensei's books to not only make Kakashi cover his ears. But close his eyes…

That was pure genius. Even Tsunade and Shizune were cracking up quietly at the whole situation as both teenagers landed lightly on their feet and silently took a bell each. But as they calm down and realize that the exercise was done. Tsunade looks to her fellow Sannin and brings him down, with a gesture.

“Arashi…it's time for you to go back, to your room.”

“No!” The younger man protested. “Let me talk to my son!”

Jiriaya who has already summoned the ANBU guard, who had followed the small group to the training grounds, gave orders to the wolf masked one who nodded his head in response. Turning around the older man placed him on his back as the former Hokage protests this treatment.

“Damnit! Let me see him!”

His voice gathering attention as it steadily grew louder, the Fifth nods at the ANBU who take Arashi back to his secured room at the hospital. But not before he screams once more….

“NARUTTTOOOO!!!!!!!!!!”

Coming forth, as Arashi is taken away, Tsunade, feels an ache in her heart as does Jiriaya. They agree with the sentiment Shizune expresses with all their heart.

“I hated doing that to him…”

“I will explain things when I go and see him later.” Whispered the Toad Hermit, but right now I need to talk to Kakashi.

As they approach Naruto and the others, the young boy looks puzzled as he gazes at their surroundings.

“What is it Naruto?”

“I thought I heard someone call my name. Was it just you guys?” The fox teen asked with a curious gaze in his blue eyes.

“Yeah it was just us brat!” Jiriaya chuckled. His own lie bothering him, but done to protect the image of a friend in this boy's eyes.

“Meh...maybe I was just hearing things.” Naruto quipped with his infectious smile. “Anyhow how did we do Baa-chan?”

Tsunade growls in anger, but is saved from sending the youth flying as Sakura slaps him upside the back of his head. “Be nice to Tsunade-sensei!”

“Sakura-chan!”

As the two teens start their friendly bickering back and forth again, Tsunade can't help but smile. “Well you both did good…quite good in fact. Kakashi what do you think?”

Looking at the older man with confusion, the two teens are startled as he begins to speak. “They worked well together and their skills have definitely improved.”

“What does that mean?” Naruto asks with a curious expression.

“It means you have passed the test.” Tsunade smiles as she gazes at the youth. “Naruto Uzamaki!”

“uhh….YES!”

“Sakura Haruno!”

“Yes, Sensei!” The pink haired girl responded.

“Together you two along with Kakashi will form Team Kakashi.”

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An hour later….

Back at the hospital, after the ANBU got him back into bed, the former Hokage was mad.

No not mad…downright FURIOUS!

After all these weeks, even though he understood. All these weeks of wanting to see his son, wanting to hear the littlest bit of information on how he was. Then to be so close to his son, so close to hugging him again. To touching the boy and making sure, he wasn't dreaming. To make sure he wasn't in some kind of hell!

Only to be dragged away…

He was not a happy camper…

Now seeing a familiar figure coming forth, although he knows better, Arashi lashes out in anger.

“Jiriaya you and the others better have a damn good reason, for what you did.”

Wincing at the hatred in his tone, the older hermit walks through the room and closes the door. His eyes looking thoughtful and understanding, he nods his head in response. “There are several reasons actually old friend. Several reasons…and none of them…you are going to like.”

“Then you better start talking.” Arashi replied with a deadly tone, causing his former teacher to shiver a little bit in fear.

“Let's start at the beginning then…” Jiriaya said sadly. “Kakashi filled in some things that he and Tsunade had told you right?”

Nodding his head, barely trying to keep from yelling, he allows the old hermit to continue. “It goes back a little further then that…to when you originally sealed the Kyuubi inside him. Naruto…has not had the childhood you wished him to have.”

“What?” Arashi stated. His surprise evident on his features, as that had been his wish for his son when he died. Listening now, to what Jiriaya knows, thanks to not only Naruto but, the man who has become a second father to the boy Iruka. Arashi pales in what could only be sadness…and despair.

“How could this be…my son is the only thing keeping it from killing people. And they treated him...like that?”

“Yes…but it started changing recently though and he has earned respect from a lot of the villagers.”

“How so…?” Arashi asks. His anger still there, but with a sense of understanding now; with news of the change for it is also news of his son.

“For starters, he defeated Gaara of the Sand at the Chuunin exams 3 years ago.” Jiriaya chuckled.

Startled by his comment, Arashi remembers what Kakashi had told him a few days ago and beams with pride. “My son did that?”

“Yes…and indirectly because of that we have an alliance with Sand through the Kazekage. Who ironically is the same kid, he had defeated.” Jiriaya replied. “But what you should know though Arashi…is that Gaara is the one tailed vessel.”

“I see…tell me what else has been going on…”

“I don't know if I should…” The elder man responded. “What I have to tell you now you will not like.”

Somehow as the serious, but sad tone enters his former teacher's voice, Arashi fights the urge to shiver in fear. “Tell me anyhow.”

Sighing as what he is about to speak will probably hurt Arashi more…, he begins with something Kakashi had related. “Your former student told you about the Uchiha clan right?”

“Yes.”

“When Kakashi had found a team, that could pass his test, there were three on it. One was of your medics Sakura. Another was your son…and the last was the surviving Uchiha. Sasuke… Kakashi trained all three of them, and they were promising to be among the best. But then Orichamaru came…”

“That snake headed bastard is still alive!”

“Yes…and he did something to the Uchiha boy during the Chuunin exams in the beginning. He placed curse seal on him…promising that through that they boy would find the power he needed to avenge his family on his brother.”

His fists clenching to the point his knuckles were white; Arashi continues to listen as his ex-teacher speaks. “Sasuke went to him a month or so after the incident with the Sand, five genins were the ones sent out after him to get him back. Three of them almost didn't come back alive.”

“Which ones…”

“Arashi…”

“Damnit tell me WHICH ONES!”

“Hyuuga, Akimichi, Nara, Inuzuka and your son…” Jiriaya said quietly. “Naruto according to what he told me months later after he had a nightmare…had to fight his first and best friend. Someone whom he thought of as his brother…Sasuke Uchiha…. When Kakashi found him…Naruto was almost dead. If it wasn't for the fox demon inside him….”

“My son would have been dead…” Arashi finishes sadly. His anger gone, he looks at his teacher with a mixture of sympathy and despair. “It must have been hard for you, hearing about that. It had to have been like history repeating itself…you and Orichamaru.”

“You remember…” Jiriaya smiled reluctantly.

“Yeah…I remember you telling me during the time I was trying to do the Rasengan.”

Gazing at his hands, Arashi releases the tight clench that they were in upon the blanket. His own eyes tearing up, He fights it as he tries to speak. “He was lucky though…he had you with him.”

“No…I came after it happened to get him for training these last three years. It was his friends and Tsunade that helped pull him out. It was their way of saying thanks…he gave them encouragement to live through their fights against Ninja far above their level. Still those boys were lucky, that the Sand ninjas came to help them when they did. Or else none of those boys including Naruto would have come back alive.”

Letting the weight of that heavy fact seem through Arashi, Jiriaya takes a deep breath as things are about to take a turn for the worse.

“There are other things now happening…there are two reasons why I took your son and trained him for these last few years. One is your son's own promise to himself…the other is one I had made in promise to you.”

Confused at his words, Arashi is listening as Jiriaya tells him about Akatsuki, and their mission to obtain all nine of the tailed beasts.

“So it means they will be coming for Naruto.”

“I believe so…but I don't think will succeed in it until the get the other 8. From what my sources tell me they have succeeded in at least obtaining 4 of them. It won't be long before they come after Naruto.”

“I see…is that all?”

“No…Naruto insists on going after the Uchiha boy.”

“What?” Arashi stated with a surprised and disapproving tone.

“You heard me, your son still intends to go after his best friend and bring him back home.” Jiriaya chuckles amusedly. “In a way it is because of you….”

Surprised by the warmth in his former teacher's tone especially after what could only be a news nightmare. The Fourth looks at the hermit with a questioning gaze.

“Even though he doesn't know that you are his father. You give him mixed emotions. On one hand he hates you, for sealing the demon within him. But he understands why it was done…but on the other hand he also admires you or to put it a better way he idolizes you. He has set you as his example and intends to get stronger…hell he wants to surpass you and become a Hokage himself…”

Grinning as a father would, the next news is what makes the night end on a note, which he would rather forget.

“That's why me and Tsunade agreed to not let you two meet as of yet. Although Shizune spoke out against this agreement…until she remembered Naruto's worship of you.”

“What!”

“Arashi think about it. Think about what I just told you. Then look around at where you are. Can you sit there and honestly tell me, you would want to see your son like you are now? Weak and depending on others?”

Gazing at his surroundings, and his weak body, the former Hokage realizes what his ex-teacher is trying to say. And as much as his heart breaks with what he is about to speak. He knows that it will also serve to make him work harder then ever, to get back to some semblance of power…

“No...& #8221;

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All right I have to say something. Some of you have been asking me about the age. In this chapter I answered it in the reason stated. Just because in a story that all the kids are 15-16 years old doesn't necessarily mean they all are. Some could be 15, some could be 16, or in this case also 17.

I gave my reason, but instead I end up getting a couple of reviews on sites where I post this from people with PATRONIZING tones not to mention emails telling me to quit, because I didn't follow the CANON! Guys this is a story! I am not writing a script for the ACTUAL SHOW!

If you do not like the fact that some things are different then don't read it. Don't send me email telling me how to write it. Don't tell me I have to do this or else. I don't mind when a person asks me…I do mind when a person tries to tell me.