Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Mended Hearts ❯ Return ( Chapter 5 )

 

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. I wish I did, but I don't.

 

Summary: AU Naruto hides many secrets from Konohagakure no Sato. As time continues, Naruto's precious people learn the hard way that many secrets are best left untouched, and that Naruto is not at all what they believed.

 

A/N: The main pairing as many of you should already know is KakaNaru. That will not change. But other pairings will be essential to the continued development of this story. Please feel free to give your opinion. I will accept Yuri, Yaoi, and Het pairings.

 

Thanks to all of the readers for the wonderful reviews. I'm very glad that you're enjoying the story so far, and I hope that you continue to enjoy this story as time goes on. I do accept flames, praises, constructive criticism, so please don't hesitate to give your opinion. Your reviews allow me to know what to change and what should stay the same. It would be incredibly sad to loose a reader because the reader who was enjoying the fic did not say anything, and was offended by something I put into the story.

 

Anyway, enough of my ramblings. On with the Fic!!!

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Chapter 5: Return~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Tired cerulean eyes surveyed the village from behind the white porcelain mask of a Hunter. His uniform was disheveled from the long journey, and the silver light of the moon reflected off the uncovered golden hair, which had grown slightly longer in the past year. He stood on the edge of the Hokage Monument, on the head of the Fourth, his arms crossed over his chest, his armguards glinting in the moonlight.

 

“Konohagakure… It hasn't changed one bit…”

 

He turned and vanished into the shadows of the forest as the sun rose…

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Iruka entered the apartment, placing the keys gently on the table. He looked around; unsurprised to see the numerous plants in various parts of the apartment, and that nothing had been disturbed since his last visit a week ago.

 

He paused at the two pictures on a shelf tucked away in the corner at the far side of the room. One was of Cell 7, with Naruto grinning on the left, Sasuke glaring on the right, Sakura between the two boys, and Kakashi behind them, leaning forward with his hands on top of both boys' heads. Each member of Team 7 had a copy of that picture. The second was a picture of Naruto with his arms flung around Iruka's neck, laughing over his shoulder at the camera as they sat at the Ichiraku's Ramen.

 

“Why did you leave Naruto?” he whispered to the empty apartment. “Where did you go?”

 

There was no answer. And he didn't expect one…

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Hokage-sama?”

 

Tsunade looked up from her breakfast as one of her servants walked in. “What is it?”

 

“An Oinin is waiting to see you outside.”

 

“An Oinin?”

 

“Aa. I believe it is Zeiguwa-san.”

 

Tsunade's eyes brightened. “Send him in at once!”

 

“Hai, Hokage-sama.”

 

A few minutes later, a familiar masked figure stepped into the room, and he dropped to one knee, his head bowed in respect. “Hokage-sama, I have returned.”

 

“Naruto!” Tsunade pulled the boy into a hug. “I've missed you so much!”

 

“Gak! Obaa-san!!! Gerroffa me!!! I can't breathe!!!”

 

Tsunade released the boy and smiled. “I'm so happy to see you .”

 

Naruto smiled. “Me too, It's been a long trip, and I'm a bit tired. I'll drop by with my latest report in the afternoon.”

 

Tsunade nodded. “Ok.” She smiled as Naruto moved toward the window. “Oh, and Naruto?”

 

Naruto paused and looked over his shoulder. “Hmm?”

 

“Welcome home.”

 

“It's good to be home.”

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Kakashi sighed for the thousandth time as he and Team 7 walked to the missions office. Ever since Naruto left last year, Sasuke and Sakura had refused point blank to take the chunin exams without him every time they came up. And Sai was not at all a good replacement for Naruto, who had constantly brightened the day. His complaining during the D ranked missions were more habitual than anything, and Team 7 normally scolded him with affection, something that was as much a habit as Sakura screaming “You're late!” and “Uso!” at him after his lame excuses for his tardiness.

 

The four entered the missions office and Kakashi's shoulders tensed at the sight of Zeiguwa standing protectively behind the Godaime, his arms crossed. Wasn't he one of the nin we swapped to maintain the peace treaty with Iwa? He wondered. Has one year really passed by so quickly?

 

“Team 7,” Kakashi said drolly, flipping a page in his book, “reporting for duty.”

 

Naruto sweatdropped behind his mask and shook his head slightly. That man… He never changes…

 

As Tsunade gave Team 7 their mission, Naruto allowed his eyes to sweep over the team. Tsunade said that they refused to take the chunin exams without me, and so out of the entire Rookie 9, only those two are still genin. That boy with them should be Sai, a member of ROOT, a highly radical division of the ANBU. In which case, I'm guessing that Yamato must substitute whenever Kakashi is away on a mission, which I heard is fairly often, not that I'm surprised.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Naruto collapsed on the couch, pulling off his mask and placing it haphazardly on the glass table with his weapons. He tilted his head back, throwing an arm over his face tiredly. The sound of a key in the lock and the door opening drew him to full awareness. He was on his feet instantly, his kodachi drawn. He vanished into the shadows just as the intruder stepped into the apartment.

 

Iruka entered the apartment cautiously, having sensed a powerful aura inside. It seemed to be seeped with exhaustion, but the chunin had no intention of thinking he was in the clear. The moment the lock clicked, the chakra inside the apartment rippled and vanished. The chunin opened the door and entered cautiously.

 

The windows were open and on the glass table, he noticed the shuriken pouch and kunai holster as well as a mask, and two kodachi sheaths, once of which was empty.

 

Wait a minute… A mask and an empty kodachi sheath?

 

A soft sigh came from above and Iruka leapt backwards, flipping over the couch and pulling out a kunai as a figure dropped from the ceiling. It took a few seconds as his mind processed what he was seeing, and his eyes were drawn to the tattoo on the figure's shoulder.

 

“Naruto?” he breathed as a soft breeze from the nearby window ruffled golden locks while the dim moonlight gave the pale face and cerulean eyes an ethereal look.

 

“Taidaima, Iruka-sensei,” Naruto murmured, rising slowly from his crouched position on the floor.

 

“Naruto!” Iruka vaulted over the couch and grabbed his favorite pupil into a hug, carefully avoiding the blade still in the adolescent's hand. Suddenly, Naruto found himself being alternately hugged and throttled at the same time. “Where on earth have you been? I've been worried sick! Why didn't you write? Did you eat properly? Why did you leave without saying a word? You moron! I could kill you!”

 

Naruto groaned, “Iruka-sensei… You're killing me!”

 

“God, Naruto!” Iruka pulled the boy into a firm hug. “Why couldn't you at least have written? Do you have any idea how worried I've been?”

 

“You could have always asked Tsunade,” Naruto said. “I've sent my mission report to her every week like I was ordered.”

 

“Mission?” Iruka grabbed the boy by the shoulders to look into his eyes. “That's why you left? For a mission?”

 

Naruto nodded.

 

“Couldn't you have told us!”

 

“I couldn't!' Naruto snapped. “It was important to the safety of a village, and it's not everyday that the Hokage entrusts a genin with an S-class mission into hostile territory for the sake of a treaty!”

 

“Treaty?” Iruka frowned. Understanding dawned. “Oh my god… You were one of the nin that were sent to take the place of the Iwa-nin who were coming to Konoha.”

 

Naruto nodded. Iruka ran a hand over his face. “And what about that mark? Last I saw, you were a genin, and then you come back a Hunter-nin?”

 

Naruto picked up the mask and placed it over his face before turning to Iruka, who suddenly found himself unable to breathe as his senses went haywire at the amount of chakra and killing intent being released.

 

“Look familiar?” Naruto said, his cold, monotone voice slightly muffled by the mask.

 

“Zeiguwa…” Iruka collapsed onto the couch.

 

Naruto suppressed his chakra and blocked his killing intent and placed the mask and kodachi on the table and knelt in front of the chunin, taking his hands into his own. “Iruka-sensei… I'm still the same Naruto I have always been. It's just that once my metaphysical mask is on, I become a little less hyper and a little more deadly.”

 

Iruka smiled shakily. “I guess now I have to worry about you not taking care of yourself instead of worrying about you getting killed during those silly missions outside the village.”

 

Naruto's eyes darkened and his head tilted downward so his bangs hid his eyes. He let go of Iruka's hands and stood up. “Aa.”

 

Recognizing what was wrong; Iruka stood up and pulled the teen into a hug. “I'll always be here for you, Naruto, Hunter-nin or not, I'll always be here for you.”

 

Naruto buried his face into Iruka's chest and returned the embrace.

 

“Come on,” Iruka smiled, “It's still early. I'm pretty sure that Ichiraku's is still open.”

 

Naruto pulled away and smiled. “Alight! Lemme change first, and we'll go get ramen and I'll tell you everything!”

 

Iruka couldn't help but laugh as he watched Naruto bound out of the room in excitement and anticipation. A deadly Oinin in a child's body… Naruto, how did you keep that naiveté and innocence after all that you have had to do?

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

The rumors were flying around of a certain blonde haired ninja with blue eyes. Of how he had grown, and how he handsome he had become.

 

The Rookie 9 and Team Gai had been going through Konoha with a fine toothed comb in hopes of finding their elusive friend, to no avail.

 

Only their jounin sensei that were a part of ANBU Squad 5 saw Naruto on a regular basis, though they were unaware of it.

 

Kakashi slipped inside the apartment, and looked around. The last time he had been here had been a year ago, when Naruto never showed up, and Team 7 had gone to find him, thinking he had simply overslept. They had entered the apartment, only to find it empty but for the two orange jumpsuits in the closet, and a bright orange jacket folded neatly on the bed.

 

He noticed the empty cup ramen containers along with boxes of juice and empty snack/power bar wrappers in the trash. A black jacket with orange shoulders and collar was slung over the back of the couch, and on the glass table in the living room was a blank scroll and stylus as well as weapon care materials. There was a still damp towel lying on the bed in the bedroom, and to his surprise, a jounin vest hung in the closet, and several ninjutsu scrolls were stacked neatly in a pile on the desk.

 

His eye curved in a smile. He really is back… Sakura and Sasuke will be ecstatic…

 

A near imperceptible ripple of chakra attracted Kakashi's attention, and he spun around to find himself face to face with an Oinin. A blood covered Oinin who had his arms crossed who had apparently just returned from a mission.

 

Zeiguwa to be precise.

 

“Aa… Zeiguwa-sama…” Kakashi said nervously, highly discomfited by the murderous aura the Oinin was radiating.

 

After years of working with the Hunter, Kakashi had become used to the young Hunter's murderous intent. He just never had it directed at him before.

 

“You are aware that breaking and entering is against the law, Kakashi?” Zeiguwa said.

 

“Aa… hehe… I heard that my wayward student had returned to Konoha, and I thought I would come and surprise him…”

 

Naruto raised an eyebrow, his incredulous expression hidden behind the mask. “In my experience, when one returns from a prolonged absence, one must report to the Hokage. Perhaps you will find him more quickly then, hmm?”

 

“Ah… Right, I'll just be going now…” Kakashi vanished in a plume of smoke.

 

“Hatake Kakashi… He is, if nothing else, a perceptive man… How much did he find out with a cursory look through the house?” Naruto wondered out loud, removing his mask. “Dammit, I have to be more careful. I can't be as lenient with my identity as I have with Iruka-sensei, and I don't know if I can bring myself to kill one of my precious people…”

 

“You don't have to if you don't want to,” a voice said behind him. “If they are as trustworthy as Umino-sensei, then they need not die. Or we could do it for you. You know we would do it if you ask.”

 

Naruto didn't turn and said calmly, “When did you get back, Ookami-san?”

 

“A while ago,” Ookami placed his hand on Naruto's shoulder and squeezed comfortingly. “Don't think on it too much, Naruto. In the end, what will come will come.” He paused, looking at his hand. “Aaaa… I haven't even gotten to my post yet and my hands are already covered in blood.”

 

Naruto chuckled, “That's because I just made a kill and haven't cleaned up yet.”

 

“Brat,” Ookami said affectionately. “Just don't leave obvious things like your weapons or your mask in the open. Other than that, the next person breaking in here will simply assume that they've broken into another jounin's home, eh?”

 

“Aa.”

 

Ookami walked to the window and paused. He turned around and said, “It goes against everything a Hunter exists for, but Naruto, you're still young. It is inadvisable to form connections, whether with other Hunters or non-Hunters, but remember, just because it's not advisable, doesn't mean it's forbidden. Shinobe tend to die young, even the most skilled of Hunters. Enjoy every moment you have with your precious people. Don't be afraid to form connections, otherwise, once that chance is lost, you will regret it forever. Don't hide behind your mask, Naruto. Don't spend the rest of your life living a lie.”

 

And then he was gone.

 

Naruto set the mask down on the table and vanished into the bathroom. The door closed behind him with a nearly inaudible click.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

 

CSA Version 7 Mended Hearts What Are You Hiding?