Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ A Mother's Son ❯ Arguments ( Chapter 3 )

“I come bearing gifts!”

Sakura looked up from her seat at the kitchen table to see Naruto swing in, Daisuke in tow, with a sparkled bag in his other hand. He put Daisuke down, and the boy ran to his mother. His face was shining with glee. “Mommy! Look what we got you!” he said excitedly, pulling at all the clothes he could reach. Sakura smiled down at him.

“What is it?” she asked. Naruto plopped the purple bag on the table in front of her, then sat opposite to her. Sakura pulled the bag towards her, throwing the tissue paper away. Dai caught it clumsily, twirling and laughing. When Sakura pulled her present out, he stopped to watch.

Sakura lifted a small wooden box carefully from the bag. It was hand carved, and when she opened it, lined with velvet, and inside lay a brand new set of daggers and throwing stars. Sakura thought of her old, unsharpened set and smiled. She had been meaning to update her equipment, but had never gotten around to it. She picked up one of the blades, examining its balance. She was impressed. They were very well made.

“Thanks,” Sakura said, scooping her son up in a hug, and sending Naruto a look full of gratitude. “You two losers always know how to cheer me up.” She said happily. Sakura put Daisuke down and picked the box up again. She went into her room, and sighed to herself, before opening the small closet. There, hanging towards the back, were all her things from her days in Team 7. Her headband, wrapped in newspaper, was tucked in the bottom of the rucksack that sat beneath her clothes. She reached for the bag before a voice interrupted her.

“I hope you're not just gonna put them away, and never think of them again.”

Sakura whirled around to see Naruto standing behind her. She shrugged. “You know I like them. But I can't use them. I'm not a part of that world anymore.”

Naruto sighed heavily. “Why not?” he asked her. “You were one of the best.”

“We were all the best. You were the best, Sasuke was the best, I was the best. We were so good that best stopped meaning anything important. And you know why.” Sakura shot back, turning away from him to zip up the bag in her hands. She heard him sigh again, and fought the rising irritation inside her. If he's got something to say, why doesn't he fucking say it? She thought angrily, violently puling on the zipper.

“I know why you stopped while you were pregnant. I dunno why, three years later, you're still avoiding what you love doing.” Naruto said and Sakura rolled her eyes to herself, still not facing him. Of course, insight from Naruto, just what I need.

“Who says I love it?” Sakura replied, turning towards Naruto and leaning against the wall.

“I do,” Sakura harrumphed in disbelief. “I've seen the look on your face after a fight. Protecting the village is the thing you've aspired for since you were a kid. You worked hard to become the ninja you are. You shouldn't give that up.”

“We've both made sacrifices.” Sakura reminded him. “For Dai. I…stopped my training, I became a mother. You…god, Naruto…your dream was to be Hokage! How can you tell me that I've given up what I love? You're the one who should be doing this!”

Naruto nodded. “I knew what I was doing when I dropped out. I've got a different job now. I keep this family on its feet. I'm not saying I don't miss it, but I'm ready to wait for my dreams.” He said finally.

“Oh, so what?” Sakura said, feeling anger bubble within her. “You bring in the cash, so you can tell me what to do?”

Naruto rolled his eyes. “You know that's not it,” he replied. “I just want what's best for you!” Naruto couldn't understand why she was fighting him so hard. He knew that he was right; she knew that he was right, so why wouldn't she just admit it?

“You're not my father!”

Naruto was spared from answering, as Daisuke walked into the room. “Mommy!” he cried. “Peoples at the door!” he said excitedly. Glaring at Naruto one last time, Sakura took her son's hands and followed him into the kitchen. As she left the room, Naruto pinched the bridge of his nose, moving to collapse on his bed. He lay quietly, looking up at the ceiling, listening to the muffled, indistinct voices in the next room. He followed the patterned whorls of the plaster above him, trying not to brood.

He was unsuccessful.

Ugh…what is her problem? It's not like I'm trying to kick her out, or shave her head, or something else horrible. I'm only asking that she do something she enjoys. She was one of the best in the class; I know the village would love to have her back, doing missions. And it's not like she couldn't see Daisuke, or stay here. The Hokage would give her more local assignments, knowing her situation. I just don't get why she's so reluctant. Or so defensive. That doesn't make any sense either.

A small crash in the kitchen broke Naruto from his thoughts. With speed telling of former glory, Naruto leapt from the bed, and was around the corner in an instant. When he entered the kitchen, he immediately fell to his knees, moving towards Sakura's limp body. The table was upturned, and broken dishes littered the ground. Naruto almost retched from the sight of all the blood. Sakura was drenched in it, but Naruto couldn't see her wound. Fearing the worst, he moved over to her and checked her pulse.

It was rapid, and weak, but there. Suddenly, Naruto remembered Daisuke. He whipped his head around, searching for the boy. “Dai!” he bellowed, the idea of a kidnapping crushing his heart. “Dai, please…where are you?” he begged, knowing the boy was gone. He looked back down at Sakura, who was cradled in his arms. He could see where the blood was coming from now. He pulled back the hem of her shirt, exposing a large gash. He could also see superficial cuts from the dishware line her arms. Naruto lifted his lover effortlessly and moved out of the kitchen, into the front yard. He stood, covered in her blood, yelling for help.

Neighbors popped out of doors, wondering at the commotion. “Please...somebody! Call a doctor!” he begged, and saw that several people all ran off in the same direction. “Somebody, bring Kakashi here!” another three men ran off and Naruto set Sakura on the grass lightly. His next door neighbor came and sat beside them.

“Here,” the man said, offering a wad of dishcloth. Naruto accepted it, using it to stem the flow of blood from Sakura's stomach. His mind was enveloped with panic, he couldn't think straight. People were crowding around him, and he looked at their shocked faces, blood smeared along his body.

“My son, has anyone seen my son?” he asked, and was dismayed by the shakes of their heads. “He's only three…and he's all alone!” Naruto could feel himself break down, and felt his vision tunnel. “He's all alone…” he whispered, before feeling himself let go of the dishrag, of Sakura. He fell backwards, knowing oblivion before he hit the ground. He lay next to Sakura, who was now being tended to by the kindly neighbor. Naruto's breathing slowed, and in his mind, all he could see was the scene inside his kitchen: Sakura laying there, broken, drenched in blood. It was an image he could not shake.

Kakashi rounded the corner, running at a full sprint, the Hokage not far behind him. Kakashi rounded the gate, coming to a dead stop when he saw his former team members lying in the grass, covered in blood. He would swear later that his heart had stopped beating. It was too horrible. He couldn't lose another team. He moved towards them quickly, looking to the man with Sakura.

“It's the girl who's hurt,” the man offered. “The boy brought her out, babbling about his son, then passed out, I can't seem to get this bleeding to stop, I hope you've brought a doctor.”

Kakashi looked at him blankly, then realization sunk in. “Yes, yes we did. The Hokage is here, he's as good as any doctor.” Looking around, Kakashi searched for Daisuke. There was not telltale shock of black hair anywhere in the crowd. “Was there a boy here? Daisuke?” he asked, but the man shook his head, handing off the job of tending Sakura to the Hokage, who had just arrived.

The Hokage knelt in the grass, ripping away the fabric of Sakura's shirt. Blood splattered his shock of white hair, but he ignored it. “What happened here?” he asked angrily. The people crowded around shook their heads in ignorance. One man stepped forward. He looked timid, unsure of himself.

“I heard the scream.” He offered. Kakashi was on him in a second.

“What else? Did you see anything? Hear anything else?”

“N-no, just a crash, a scream, and a kid crying. I figured they were just having another fight.”

Kakashi frowned. “Do they argue often?” he asked slowly.

“Sure, as much as the next. More and more lately.” A woman nearby said, holding her daughter close. “It's been getting worse. Sakura always comes over to my place after a fight. She always brings Dai, such a sweet boy.” Kakashi looked at her. She was almost thirty, by the looks of it, and plump. A down to earth woman.

“The boy, Daisuke, have you seen him? He asked her directly. He was distracted from her answer by a moan behind him. Kakashi looked to see Naruto start to stir. The boy rolled to look at Sakura before bolting up when he saw Kakashi.

“Daisuke?” Naruto asked, his voice low. Kakashi shook his head. He felt responsible for the horribly anguished looked that flicked across Naruto's face. The blonde rubbed a bloody hand wearily against his cheek, smearing the red liquid.

“Sasuke!” Naruto shot out suddenly, remembering. “Sasuke did this! Has anybody seen him?”

Kakashi frowned again. “Naruto, I think you might've hit your head on the way down. Sasuke hasn't been around for almost three years.”

Naruto shook his head. “No, he's been here. Last few days, he been here, wanting to see Dai, wanting to see Sakura.”

Kakashi raised his eyebrows in doubt. “Uh…why?” he asked slowly.

“Cause of Daisuke!” Naruto said impatiently, kneeling next to Sakura again. “How is she?” he asked the Hokage. Kakashi furrowed his brows and scratched his head. What did Sasuke have to do with Naruto and Sakura's son? Unless…he wasn't Sakura's and Naruto's son. Unless…Dai was really Sasuke's son. It made the kind of sense that Kakashi hated most.

“I have stopped all the bleeding.” The Hokage answered Naruto. He looked at the boy sadly. He did not like to be the bearer of bad news to someone he liked so well. “But she has a head injury, likely from a fall. She will not wake up, not for many days.”

“What are you saying?” Naruto demanded. “She's in some kind of a coma?”

“I am saying, that if she does not wake within twenty four hours, it becomes less likely that she ever will.”

Naruto clenched his fists. “That's not good enough! She's healthy! This shouldn't be happening…not to her.” He paused, trying to fight back the lump in his throat. “She's so much better than this.”

Kakashi crouched next to Naruto, smoothing away some of Sakura's hair. Her face shone with sweat, her clothes were damp with blood. Kakashi nudged Naruto away and picked up his former student, walking into the house with her. Naruto and the Hokage followed. Naruto led Kakashi into his bedroom, and Kakashi set Sakura on the bed gently, trying to avoid the thick bandages.

“Where were you, when this happened?” the Hokage's voice from the kitchen asked. Naruto and Kakashi moved into the other room, which still looked like a war zone.

“I was in our room, spaced out. Everything was quiet, and then there was a crash, and then I came, and it was like this.” Naruto answered, righting table and avoiding the blood pool in the middle of the floor. “Oh god…I can't think…I can't feel. I need to find him. My son is out there, and he must be so scared.” Naruto felt as if he was going to cry, and sat heavily on the chair next to him.

“I have to find him, so that when she wakes up, she's not alone.” Naruto said quietly, looking up at Kakashi. The Hokage had left quietly, on his way to start a village wide alert.

“I can stay here, while you go.” Kakashi offered. Naruto nodded. He moved across the room, and Kakashi watched him. “Why didn't you tel me?” he asked finally. Naruto stopped in the middle of the room, his hands fumbling on the sirt he was holding. His jaw clenched.

“Couldn't” he said fiannly. “Sakura didn't want anyone to know.”

“Why?”

“She wanted Daisuke to have a proper family, without the stares a bastard child would get. God knows I understand that.” Naruto replied, moving again. Kakahi growled suddenly.

“You could have trusted me!”

“I do.” Naruto said. “But Sakura didn't want anyone to know. I'm sorry.”

“It's fine.” Kakashi finally said.

“Thanks.” He said shortly. He stood again, moving into his room. He pushed past Sakura's clothes, reaching into the farthest region of the closet. He pulled out a wrinkled duffel bag, dumping its contents on the floor. He sifted through the pile, finding his headband and weapons easily.

Looking through the chest of drawers, he found black track pants, and a black tee shirt, the one Sakura had worn the night before. He pulled both articles of clothing on, inhaling her scent.

“Are you sure you're ready for this?” Kakashi asked when Naruto emerged from his room again. “Maybe you should wait until tomorrow.”

“No. No waiting. The longer I wait, the less likely that I'll find him.” Naruto said. Kakashi nodded, mostly to himself, he had expected that.

“I'll be here, when you get back.” Kakashi said. “And don't you forget to come back.”

“I'm not coming back without Dai.” Naruto answered, tying the knot of his headband tightly.

He walked out the door, into the sunshine, which felt off. He felt as if the world should be as dark as he felt. He broke out into a run, moving towards the south wall of the village. He felt one thought burn inside his brain as he vaulted over fence after fence.

I'm not coming back, not without my son.