Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ A Life for a Life ❯ Drunken Sorrow ( Chapter 26 )

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

I do not own Naruto

Caliko…I do not think Sasuke is mean or cruel. He is just determined in what he desires. It's the way he goes about it that is wrong…

Chapter 26

Arashi runs as the image of his son slamming the door in his face hits him over and over again. His emotions running wild with pain and heartache, he just needs to get away. Unaware of the attention he is bringing himself, the hooded figure that is the fourth starts to glow yellow.

His feet running towards the Hokage tower, he doesn't realize that he is giving away his very presence, until he feels himself pulled to the side by the ANBU Wolf.

“If you are going to use that skill Yondaime-sama, at least do it from where no one can see you.”

Startled for a moment, by the other man's statement, Arashi listens as villagers begin to speak…and he doesn't like what he hears.

Did you see that? It's the ghost of the Yellow Flash!

Really?!

Maybe he's come to get rid of that demon for us!

That would be great! The Yondaime taking vengeance on the thing that took his life!

Silent as insult after insult is said about the boy he loves so much, Arashi looks to Wolf. Despite actually showing his pity, Arashi can feel the ANBU's sorrow.

“Is it always like this for him?”

Silence is his only answer, as the ANBU just gazes at him. The urge to swing or to do something is strong within Arashi, but he holds it in check. Turning around he runs again this time as his hidden guard disappears.

Now approaching the Hokage tower, Arashi enters the building. Others backing away as they see the hooded man once more, it is Shizune who gasps in sorrow as she sees the pain on his face.

Gathering him into her arms, the brunette gives him a hug of comfort which he accepts. Entering the offices alongside her, Tsunade looks up to see the sad face of her old friend…

Remaining quiet as he sits down, Tsunade sends Shizune away, the younger woman understanding why. She quietly exits as the blonde woman reaches deep into a drawer to pull out a bottle of sake and two glasses.

“One shot or two to start with?”

“How about a two shout doubled?” Arashi replies as Tsunade's eyes widen.

“That bad?” The woman says gently. Her eyes staring at him with sadness, as she pours their drinks, handing a glass to Arashi, she watches him down in it less then a minute. “I take that as a yes. Want to tell me about it?”

“My son…he hates me…” Arashi whispered as he took the bottle from the blonde woman and poured himself another. Tsunade looks at him with a mixture of sorrow and disbelief. Her eyes softening a moment later, she looks at her predecessor with a gentle smile.

“Naruto doesn't have the ability to hate, I believe anywhere, in his body Arashi.”

“You didn't see that look he gave me…” The blonde haired man murmurs. “It hurt…”

“It was because he's scared of you….”

Both Hokages turn around to find the Copy ninja leaning back against a wall by an open window. The silvery-haired man approaches and falls into a char next to the Hokage. As Tsunade offers him a shot, with an extra glass she has pulled out he nods his head in acceptance.

“What do you mean…he's scared of me?” Arashi asks slowly, afraid of the answer.

Gazing at the other two as Tsunade hands him his glass, Kakashi takes it in one gulp. Before he says one name….

“Sasuke…”

Understanding, dawning in Tsunade's eyes, she looks to Arashi with a kind smile. “You need to find a way to reassure him Arashi. Not right now…but later.” The blonde woman replied softly.

“But I don't understand, what is he afraid of? And what does it have to do with….” As realization hits, Arashi remembers words he had overheard Iruka tell him as well as others.

To Naruto…Sasuke was his first friend and more to the point they had formed a bond of brotherhood somehow with all their fighting.

“He's afraid if he gets to know me I will betray him….” Arashi whispers. “But I'm his father doesn't he realize I won't do that to him!”

“The fox Arashi…the fox…” Tsunade murmurs quietly. “Kakashi…I am betting will vouch for me when I say that am I not right?”

Nodding his head the copy ninja looks over at his former teacher with a pained and sad expression in his gaze. Not really wanting to say anything, the Fifth instinctively knows what he is referring to, as one who sees said youth as her brother of sorts.

“But he accepted it! I heard him with my own ears! He knew the reasons and accepted it.”

“Arashi there is acceptance…and then there is acceptance. He may understand, but you must remember…Konoha did not treat him well in the beginning because of the Kyuubi within him. You were the one who put it there…to Naruto you in a sense betrayed him just like Sasuke did.” Tsunade said gently. Having stood up to hug Arashi from behind as she words this as gently as possible, she nods to Kakashi to be ready just in case…

But instead the Copy Ninja is not needed as the words Tsunade says flows through Arashi's mind and stays there. The tears are once again returning as the meaning soaks through. His heart hurts at the thought of the youth wanting nothing to do with him.

“I suppose he doesn't want me around…” Arashi choked out as instead of pouring the sake, he drinks it straight from the bottle. “I mean my betrayal must hurt worse…I, his own father put the demon in him that ruined his life!”

“Arashi…it may hurt him, but so did Sasuke's leaving. And you know from what we have told you Naruto is determined to get his friend back. Naruto is determined to make Sasuke come home.” Tsunade says as she comforts him. “Can you not believe that some part of Naruto wants you in his life? He has had plenty of times to chase you away did he not?”

“Yes…he has.”

“If Naruto truly did not want you around Arashi, he would let you know as he had let others know. Just be patient with Naruto…” Tsunade gently states with a smile. “Just right now he has years of anger against you. I was afraid when he burst, that he would do something far worse.”

“What do you mean?”

“His emotions are tied into releasing the Fox's power Arashi-sensei. If Naruto had truly hated you and considered you his enemy, you would not even be alive.” Kakashi answers warmly, much to the embarrassed expression of the Fifth.

“Despite Kakashi's ways of saying it, Arashi, he is right. Naruto is the type to fight back against things he hates. The fact that he hasn't fought you or anything, believe in that. A part of Naruto does want you in his life Arashi. There is a little boy somewhere in there that needs his father….”

Taking another swig from the bottle, Arashi looks at the woman with a quiet forlorn hope. “I hope you are right…god I hope…”

Six hours later…

Kakashi smiled gently, as he picked up a passed out Arashi. Tsunade was sleeping at her desk and the only reason being both were like this. Is that his former sensei needed to get drunk.

Although highly unlike himself, Kakashi could understand why Arashi did so. He needed to forget about the pain.

So as he managed to get the other man over his shoulders, the ninja stealthily left the tower as quiet as he possibly could. Knowing Arashi had been offered his former home before to move back into, Kakashi had a better idea at the moment.

Moving down the street, the few villagers out at about this late at night looked at him with a puzzled expression. After all he did have someone thrown over his shoulders. Still it was none of their business….

Approaching the house that both men had been at earlier, Kakashi knocked it loudly to awaken its occupant.

As the blonde youth opens the door, sleepily, Kakashi heads straight for the couch to place his load upon it.

“Kakashi-sensei! What the hell is he doing here?”

“He doesn't really have a place to stay Naruto.” The Ninja says quietly. “And I don't have any room. My apartment is a little smaller then your.”

“But what about the hospital he's been there all this time.”

“Another patient needs it…”

“Anyway it's just for right now Naruto. Let him stay…” The ninja hastily says with a smile as he disappears. “BYE!”

“Kakashi wait! Find some place else!”

Growling in irritation, as the Ninja had left as fast as he whirled in, Naruto looks at the person upon the couch. Prepared to ignore him and go to bed, he can't help but feel the cool air and watch as the other man shivers a little bit.

Feeling guilty despite his animosity at the moment towards his father…Naruto has a silent debate within himself over what he should do.

Getting what he needs off his bed before he regrets it. He grabs a pillow and a blanket. Arranging it so that the older man has his head is on top and the blanket covers him. Naruto goes back to his room to sleep.

Although he does not want him here…he will not deny him a pillow and a blanket….