Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Because You Never Knew ❯ Part 4 ( Chapter 4 )

Gomen nasai minna! I really had troubles with this fic. I couldn't figure out how to bring Haku in to the picture without making it sound so corny and magical. But now that I have a slight and quite firm idea of how he would come in to this story, I can safely say I am in `working-mode' for this story. I'm very, very story for keeping all of you waiting.

If you have any suggestions on how I can bring back Haku without making the story a complete AU, then by all means, give me some! I would be very glad to listen to ideas of other people and their imaginative thinking.

Anyway, a million thanks to all the reviewers who reviewed this story! Every time I see a new review, I rack my brains to come up with something quick so that I can finish this fic. Thank you so much all of you!

I dedicate this chapter to Dragon101. If it weren't for your review, that somehow got plastered in to my mind and kept ringing REALLY loud every time I opened my fic folder, I would have NEVER typed this chapter out - or bash my head to find a solution. This chapter goes to you!

BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNEW 4

"We're here." Jiraiya announced, looking up at the gates of Konoha. "Good to be home, ne?" Jiraiya turned to find a twenty-year old young man staring at the gates blankly, lips set in a taut line of seriousness, eyes narrowed slightly as if he were frowning. But Jiraiya knew that this was not so. Then again, he didn't know what kind of feelings Naruto was currently feeling. Anger? Annoyance? Sadness? Grief? Guilt? Happiness? It could have been anything, but Naruto merely gave him a nod and waited for him to lead the way.

Jiraiya would be lying his pants off if he said that Naruto hadn't changed. Naruto had changed dramatically and he was becoming more and more concerned. Naruto was never like this until he hit the age of nineteen. Till then, he was usually his happy go lucky self, always smiling and always laughing at jokes, heck he even pulled pranks on Jiraiya faster than anyone can say ramen. But after that incident -

The gates of Konoha groaned open and a female shinobi greeted them with a bow. "The Hokage is expecting you, Jiraiya-sama." She turned to Naruto and blinked, eyes widening. Naruto turned to look at her, eyes still carefully masked of any emotion and gave her a nod in greeting. The female ninja gave a little blush before ushering them into the village. She gave them another welcome back comment and gave Naruto a shy smile. Naruto merely looked at her and acknowledged her greeting by giving her another nod.

"Let's go." Jiraiya said and they both jumped on the nearest roof and made their way to the Hokage's office.

The door was already open when they reached Tsunade's office. She was pouring some drinks in to a glass when they stepped in to the empty office. "Welcome back," she said with her back turned to them. She motioned with her hand for them to take a seat. "I am assuming your trip was an uneventful one?"

"We came fast. Didn't want any troubles." Jiraiya said.

Tsunade turned her honey colored eyes to Naruto and a light sigh of sadness and a little bit of guilt flooded her. "Hello Naruto. How have you been?"

"I'm fine, thank you. And yourself?" He answered, voice deep and at the same time soft. It was no longer the squeaky and loud voice that the entire village knew, but was instead had a rather quiet and withdrawn tone.

"I've seen better days. Hokage work is too much." Tsunade waited for Naruto to rebuke her for saying such a thing about being a Hokage but she got none. Instead, she only recieved a slight nod from Naruto as a reply.

"It is part of the job I guess." He said, blue eyes staring directly in to her honey colored ones, piercing and burning. The gaze was so intense that Tsunade had to look away.

Jiraiya gave Tsunade a look that only she understood. She gave Naruto a smile and patted his shoulder before enveloping him in a hug and placing a kiss on his cheek. "You must be very tired. Iruka knows you are coming today and he took care of your apartment while you were gone. He's probably waiting for you back at your place. Get some rest, Naruto. We'll talk tomorrow when you're well rested and refreshed, hmm?"

"All right." Naruto said, standing up and picking up his travelling bag. He hoisted it onto his shoulder and gave Jiraiya a nod. He then looked at Tsunade and his lips curved in to a very, very small smile. That little lift at the corner of his lips made all the difference in the world to Tsunade. For a fleeting moment, Naruto looked younger, like he had a good life and had no troubles. Then it was gone. "It's good to see you again, baa-san." In a puff of smoke, Naruto was gone.

Tsunade clenched her shaking hands into fists. It felt good to hear the nickname that she longed to hear in Naruto's absence from the village. "What happened Jiraiya? What happened to him?"

Jiraiya stood up and walked towards the window, glaring at the evening sky. "Akatsuki is active again."

Xxx

Naruto jumped from roof to roof, making the guards on duty turn heads and look upon his moving figure. Naruto was in no hurry to get home just yet. If Iruka was indeed waiting for him, then he didn't really need to get there as fast as possible. He did not know how to react when he saw the smiling face of his former sensei or how he would answer the barrage of questions that Iruka would definitely shower him with. He did not know how he'd react to his babying. He did not know how long he would be able to keep a straight face. Naruto lived in a constant paranoia that what he said would actually come true.

Before he knew it, he reached his doorstep. It was the same wooden door only it was now painted white instead of the teal green it once was. The entire building was renovated and repaired. Naruto didn't really care. He took out his key and unlocked the door, stepping into the dimly lit living room. Everything was sparkling clean and he knew Iruka must have done this. One thing about Iruka Naruto remembered very clearly was that he was a neat freak. He set his heavy travelling bag by the door and kicked his sandals off, climbing the single step and walking across the parquet floor. His eyes scanned his surroundings and took note that Iruka had been taking care of his plants too.

A smile began to pull at his lips and then he felt it. The familiar and comforting presence of his sensei standing behind him, in a rage of emotions, silent but loud. The smile quickly came off his lips and he turned to face the waiting teacher. Upon looking at the familiar face, the feather duster ponytail, the scarred nose, and the glistening eyes with tears threatening to spill, Naruto couldn't help but feel fear creep up in him. The paranoia he lived in everyday came at him full blast and it took all his might to try to look composed because he was starting to panic in his head. Warning bells of `leave now' were sounding loudly in the hollows of his mind.

"Naruto." Iruka spoke, stepping up towards the frozen young man. "Welcome home." Naruto trembled. He wanted this. He wanted to feel the caring presence of his teacher but he couldn't. Everything around him was starting to twist and swirl into black and then he saw him with his bleeding red eyes and shadow-covered face. "Naruto?"

One day, you will have to make a decision. To sacrifice your loved ones or to give yourself up to me. And that time, Naruto, is not very far off. Just you wait and see. You will hate living and you will hate dreaming. And you will remember what I said and you will just run. Run like a coward and put shame to your father's grave.

And carry the guilt of not protecting those you care for the most.

Naruto looked up to answer Iruka, and almost immediately, he felt a longing so deep to just reach out and hug his former teacher or maybe even jump on his back like he used to years ago. He clenched his fists and closed his eyes, images of his past memory flashing before his closed lids - Iruka patting his back when he choked on his ramen, Iruka ruffling his hair, Iruka carrying him on his back when he fell asleep after training, Iruka whacking him on the head during classes before he became a genin, Iruka brining him a birthday cake, Iruka handing him New Year's parcels and treats and more. His chest began to ache with the feeling that he had suppressed ever since he -

Iruka's worried voice cut through his reminiscing like a hot knife. "Naruto? Are you all right?" Naruto did not move from his spot. Since he left, he had missed Iruka the most. Iruka was the only person who gave him his undivided attention and care and devoted all his free time to him, even if it meant helping him train. Iruka was always there for him. Iruka cared for him. And it frightened Naruto to no end that if anything should happen, Iruka would be the first to become his enemy's target. Iruka would be the first to die.

"S-Sorry." He mumbled, then he lifted his chin up and looked at Iruka, eyes filled with longing to feel the brotherly air around him once more. For the first time in a long time, he felt sadness consume him so deeply. Just the thought of losing his teacher made him feel like falling in to an unending black pit of paranoia.

"Oh Naruto." Iruka sighed and approached him in three long strides, wrapping his arms around Naruto and pulling him in for a hug. "Don't be sorry. I don't think less of you or anything!" A slight chuckle escaped Iruka's throat. "I'm just so happy to see you again!"

Naruto bit his lower lip. And then suddenly it was all too much for him to bear. For years, he dared not cry in front of anyone for reasons in which his loneliness played a big part. Ever since he left, he lived a life like that of an S-ranked criminal, until once, just once, those who chased him finally reached him, only to mark his mind so deeply with an ever blooming fear that grew and grew over the years.

For the fist time ever, Naruto shut his eyes tightly and bit his lower lip hard enough to draw blood, all in hope of not having his tears escape his closed lids and to keep the sobs that was now wracking his whole frame from flowing out of his lips.

-XXX-

Jiraiya turned to look at Tsunade seriously. "He told him something. And I do not know what it is. Like I mentioned in my letters, Naruto was taken for exactly six hours and he was returned physically unharmed." Tsunade frowned. "But he was different since then. I have tried in more ways than one to know what happened in those six hours Itachi had his filthy hands on Naruto, but -"

Tsunade cursed under he breath. "He wouldn't tell you."

"No." Jiraiya turned to look at the Hokage mountain carvings once more. "But, his performance has improved drastically. If you ask me, he is the best person to go after Itachi. He stands a higher chance of killing the man than the other Uchiha."

"Seriously?" Tsunade looked at Jiraiya. "Alone?"

"Alone, yes. But I would rather he had someone else with him. He would make a fine hunter." Jiraiya turned to look at her. "He should be one."

"He can be one if he wants to be one." Tsunade rubbed her temples. "I will offer him the position."

"He will accept it." Jiraiya said.

"What makes you so sure?" Tsunade frowned.

"Because, that is what he's been training for ever since Itachi took him." Jiraiya merely smiled before turning around and looking at the horizon once more.

-XXX-

Naruto had surprised Iruka by breaking down completely before him. Naruto knew that Iruka had not been expecting him and had been extremely surprised. But he felt a comfort so strong that he had not felt in years. Now, as he lay there on his bed, watching the they sky from his window while Iruka prepared to leave for his classes that morning, he couldn't help but feel truly at home for the first time in a long time. He had berated himself for doubting the feeling of comfort that he'd get once he returned to Konoha, and now, he felt warm all over.

He heard the sound of someone knocking on his front door and it being opened. Then came a very flustered Iruka saying, "Ah! Godaime! I was not expecting you!"

Naruto felt a smile tug at his lips as he heard Iruka struggle to face the Hokage in his disheveled state. He was shirtless and had his hair down.

"No worries, Iruka. I just need to speak with Naruto." Tsunade said. Naruto closed his eyes as heard the door to his bedroom open. "I want you to serve Konoha as a hunter." She said, once she had closed the door behind her.

Direct, as usual. Naruto sat up from his bed, the covers falling to reveal his shirtless form. He turned his blue eyes at Tsunade and looked at her for a moment. "Jiraiya told you."

"He did." Naruto narrowed his eyes at Tsunade's words. "He also told me that you wouldn't tell him what happened." The look intensified. "Are you going to tell me?"

Naruto turned his head away to look at the window. "No."

"Just as I thought." Tsunade said, feeling a bit hurt, but she pushed it aside. "Do you accept the offer?"

"You know I will." Naruto answered, pushing the covers aside, and standing up.

Tsunade nodded and turned, reaching for the door knob. "Before you start, I just have one more question." Naruto flicked his eyes towards her. "How far are you willing to go for the village's safety?"

Naruto did not hesitate to answer. "I'd die for Konoha."

Tsunade nodded and turned the doorknob taking a step outside. "Come to my office tonight. You will get your first mission, and I will also brief you of how things are meant to be, now that you've accepted such a responsibility."

"I'll be there."

Then Tsunade was gone, and Naruto was filled with determination that he did not feel in a long time.

TBC

This is a short chapter, but I am a bit hazy for now. The next chapter should either be Naruto's first mission, or his thoughts about seeing old comrades or just plain conversations taking place with dear old Kakashi.

See you next time.