Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Because You Never Knew ❯ Part 5 ( Chapter 5 )

Part five is OUT! A big thanks to b4k4_girl for beta-reading this for me!

Ah, now that WHY NOT is almost done, I can finally focus on this. This is going to be a rather long and draggy one because I intend to focus on the idea of HOW Naruto's life as a Hunter is going to be. Plus, with him and his … teammates … which you will find out soon, it's going to be rather interesting because I myself can't wait to type it out. Well, that sounded very conceited of me, but I really liked the idea of … nevermind! I don't want to spoil it for you.

Also, I've made an ART for this story, which is now undergoing coloring in Adobe Photoshop. You can view the rough work in my deviantart accound by accessing my profile page.

A big, big thank you to PHEOX and DRAGONSOUL! I've noted the ideas you've given me and will put BOTH of them in to use! Arigatou! How I am going to entwine two TOTALLY different idea is going to be a surprise! So, this chapter is for the both of you!

ENJOY!

BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNEW 5

Naruto showered and changed into fresh clothes and spent the rest of the day at home, fixing up hips things in to his closet and storing away old things he didn't need. Iruka had classes that day and had invited him for dinner at his place, which Naruto gladly accepted. If there was anyone in the whole village who Naruto trusted whole-heartedly, it was Iruka. Not that he didn't trust Jiraiya or Tsunade, but there was just something about Iruka that made him feel that he didn't have to hide anymore. He could cry, scream and destroy his own house, but Iruka would just hold him and smooth his hair, telling him it was okay to cry and that a man who showed his tears was braver than those who didn't.

Naruto waited till it was about seven in the evening, before dressing up and heading for Tsunade's office. It took him a whole minute flat to get there, and he found it quiet as a grave; save for a few ANBU guards he spotted quickly. He could feel their gazes burning into his back, but paid them no attention as he walked down the wooden-floored halls towards Tsunade's office.

He knocked on the door twice until he heard Tsunade give him a `come in' reply. When he entered, he found her alone, talking to Shizune, the little pet pig sitting on the floor, wrinkling her nose. Naruto noticed that the said pig had grown bigger and he could feel its beady eyes looking at him. He glared at it, a sneer forming on his lips, eyes darkening, and the little pig gave out a frightened squee and hid behind Shizune.

"Ah! Naruto! Come, come! Have a seat." Tsunade said, cheerfully.

"Good evening, Hokage-sama, Shizune-san." He replied bluntly but did not sit down.

"Ah, Naruto-kun! You've grown. It was as if it was only yesterday and you were but thirteen years old." Shizune patted his shoulder and smiled at him. Naruto looked at her blankly but nodded in response so as not to offend her. "Well, I'll leave you two now. Good night, Naruto-kun, Tsunade-sama." She picked up her little pig and left the room in a poof of chakra smoke.

Tsunade turned to look at Naruto who looked back. "Aren't you going to sit?"

"No thank you. I'll stand." Naruto said.

"This will take a while." Tsunade warned.

"Doesn't matter."

"Fine. As you like." Tsunade sighed and then looked at Naruto seriously. "Being a hunter means a lot of things. I'm sure Jiraiya already told you what they are since you're so into the idea of being one. But it also means your identity must be kept secret."

"I am aware of that." Naruto answered. "Jiraiya also told me that I will have to take up an odd job in the mornings so as not to be suspicious."

"Exactly. And I'm giving you the job of being my personal secretary." Naruto frowned at what Tsunade said. "At first, I considered you becoming a teacher in the academy, just like Iruka, but then, you know how the villagers are. They wouldn't want their children to be -"

"Exposed to the demon." Naruto said, face blunt and emotionless.

"Naruto, it's not that -"

"When do you want me to start?" Naruto asked, quickly changing the topic.

Tsunade felt hurt at this, but hid it well. "Tomorrow. You'll be assisting me in the mission room. You should be here by eight in the morning." Tsunade said. Naruto nodded. "There's another thing as well. You are aware that Hunters travel in trios right?"

"Yes."

"Well, for now, you will be doing missions alone." Tsunade said. Naruto's eyes glazed with sadness and this did not go unnoticed by Tsunade. "The reason you will be alone for now is because we are still waiting for the arrival of your partner."

Naruto looked up at her, eyes surprised and wide. "Partner? Not in threes?"

"No, not in threes." Tsunade shook her head, a smile on her lips. "The reason I'm assigning you in duos is because you two will be undertaking hunts for two villages." If possible, Naruto was more confused. "You are aware that we are have close ties with the Sand right?"

"Yes." Naruto said, frowning.

"Well, they now have a new Kazekage. She just became it a few months ago." Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Does the name Temari ring a bell?"

"Yes. She's Gaara's sister." Naruto said. "I don't understand."

"Well, Gaara is going to be working with us in a week. As a transfer shinobi." Naruto said nothing, since he did not know whether to feel annoyed or pleasantly surprised. "Gaara is going to be my partner?"

"Yes." Tsunade frowned. "Does it bother you?"

"No. I'm just surprised that such a thing is possible."

"We're in a close alliance with Sand, so such things are possible. Plus, Temari the Kazekage comes to me for advice in running the village."

"I see." Naruto nodded. "Fine with me. I have no problems."

"I will be assigning you missions that deal with criminals from the bingo-book once Gaara gets here. He'll be here in three days. For now, you can start with the measly ones. Here's your mission for tomorrow." Tsunade tossed Naruto a scroll, which he tucked away in his pocket. "Oh and here's your hunter mask and uniform. Unlike the ANBU units, hunters don't have a specific mark. Oh and your codename will be Aka-tsume. Congratulations! You now have two lives!"

Naruto accepted the package and gave Tsunade a respectful bow. "Thank you for your time. I'll see you tomorrow. Good night, Hokage-sama."

Naruto turned to leave and as he did so, Tsunade felt sadness wash over her. "Naruto, wait!" Naruto stopped and turned to look at her but was surprised when he found himself enveloped in a tight hug. His eyes widened but he didn't stop Tsunade. "Naruto, be careful from now on."

When she let go, Naruto gave her a long look before a small hint of a smile graced his lips and then he was gone.

XXX

Naruto knew that being the Hokage's secretary and filing mission reports was going to be boring. However, he did not expect his first day to be rather interesting in a twisted sort of way.

He was busy writing down notes and stacking folders when the first few jounins entered to submit their mission reports. "Thank you for your report. Here's your new mission assigned by the Hokage."

Naruto looked up when the person did not take the mission scroll from his hand. He came face to face with a familiar face that he did not know whether to hate or love or miss. Kakashi stared blankly at him, mouth agape under his mask and hands suddenly trembling. Behind him were equally surprised other jounins like Sasuke, Shikamaru and Lee.

"Naruto-kun!" Lee cried out and gave him an energetic hug and head-noggin' all the while, Naruto winced since his now short hair was being ruffled. "Good to see you! You're finally back! Wait till Gai-sensei hears this! How have you been? When did you arrive? How come you never came over? I must insist you come join me for lunch! It's been a long time! Naruto, my good friend, how have you been?"

"I've been all right. I came last night. I didn't come over because it has been a tiring trip. Lunch would be great. I've been fine." Naruto answered and offered Lee a small smile. Lee was not fazed by Naruto's change, because somehow, he expected it.

"Ah, reunions are so troublesome. Good to see you, Naruto." Shikamaru said, giving him a lazy grin.

"Same goes here, Shikamaru." Naruto said, giving him a polite nod. Naruto flicked his gaze to Sasuke and Kakashi. For a moment, seeing the two of them standing side by side, Naruto felt bitter hatred grow in him. He remembered how Kakashi paid Sasuke more attention and never even so much as glanced in his direction. Sasuke actually stepped back, seeing the dark look cross Naruto's features, whereas Kakashi merely stared in utter bewilderment. Naruto masked his raging emotions and told himself that this was his former teacher and former teammate and he should be polite. "Uchiha-san, Hatake-san, pleasant to see you again."

Lee frowned at the formality but said nothing. Shikamaru studied Naruto's face then flicked his eyes to Kakashi and Sasuke and quickly came up with the same conclusion Iruka had.

"N-Naruto!" Sasuke finally blurted out, before his lips curved to smirk. "Finally decided to come home, huh?"

Naruto gritted his teeth and forced a smile, only it came out as a sneer. "Yes. Surprising isn't it?" The sneer carried so much malice that Sasuke's smirk was completely wiped off his face. Naruto turned his eyes to Kakashi, and sat back on his chair, taking the folders from Shikamaru, Sasuke and Lee and stamping them before checking a list and handing them their assigned scrolls. "So, Hatake-san. How have you been? Pleasant, I assume?"

Lee frowned even more at the hidden meaning under Naruto's words and tone, and gave him a disapproving look. No matter how angry Naruto was at Kakashi, he was still an older person and deserved some respect. But Lee knew what went on between team seven and their teacher. He spent years listening to Gai blurt out his worry over his rival and friend whenever the name Naruto came up in any conversation. Lee also knew and saw that Kakashi was feeling guilty for how he treated Naruto.

But Naruto didn't know that.

"You could say that." Kakashi answered. Lee took his cue and ushered Shikamaru and Sasuke out of the mission room leaving Kakashi and Naruto alone.

"Lunch is on me! Don't forget at two! I'll come by okay?" Lee called out from the door.

Naruto gave Lee a small smile and nodded. "Sure! I'd be honored." Once the mission room door slid shut, leaving Naruto and Kakashi alone, Naruto turned his stormy sky blue eyes at Kakashi and the small smile on his lips turned into a sneer. "Here's your new mission, Hatake-san."

Kakashi took the scroll without complaint. "Naruto, we need to talk."

"About what?" Naruto asked, sorting out the folders and making random checks and numbers on them. When Kakashi gave no reply, Naruto looked up at him blankly.

"What happened to you? Why are you like this?" Kakashi asked, not liking the serious Naruto before him. "Where's the cheerful and happy Naruto of before?"

"I have no clue what you're talking about, Hatake-san."

Kakashi slammed his fists on the table, rattling the contents of it. Naruto was unfazed by it. "Don't call me that!" Kakashi snapped.

Naruto stood up and glared at him. "You're no longer my teacher Hatake-san." He then smirked. "I don't think you ever were in the first place." Kakashi stepped back, feeling desperate and suffocated, and swallowed the lump growing in his throat. "Hokage-sama wants you to undertake that mission as soon as possible. She said you may have three companions of your choice to go with you."

"I'm sorry." Kakashi whispered.

"She also left you a message, saying that your last mission's report is still overdue." Naruto added, stamping a folder and adding it to the mucked-up pile beside him.

"Are you listening to me?" Kakashi demanded.

"No, I'm not!" Naruto snapped back. "I have a lot of work to do, Hatake-san. If there is something you want to say, it can wait till later!"

"I've waited for years." Kakashi said. "I've waited for years to apologize." Naruto said nothing. "Do I mean nothing to you?"

Naruto froze in his movements for a few seconds then looked up at him. "Did I ever mean anything to you?" Kakashi only looked at him sadly and guiltily as he watched Naruto's eyes storm even more. In it, he saw the sadness and years of loneliness that he knew was there, but never really paid it any attention. "Did I?" Naruto asked again.

For the first time in decades, Kakashi felt like slumping on the ground and crying his guilt out.

TBC