Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Mended Hearts ❯ Reconciliation ( Chapter 11 )

 

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.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Chapter 11: Reconciliation (Full Version)~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

He did not know how much time had passed. The cell that he and his former student were kept in had no windows, and the room outside the cell was windowless as well. Kakashi knew, however, that at least two months had passed since their capture, and that the Godaime would surely send someone to investigate.

 

The door swung open and one of the new Sound Four dragged into the room a battered figure that he recognized as the Oinin Karasu. The Huntress was dragged over to the wall and chained next to the unconscious Sasuke.

 

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

 

He was not a medic-nin, but he could see it in her eyes. Karasu, who had constantly put herself forward to divert the Sound Four's attention away from Sasuke and himself was dying. The torture and daily rape was getting to her, and she had been pushed far beyond the limits of her endurance.

 

“Why?” was all he could say, the last time she had regained consiousness.

 

“Because he would be unhappy if you were dead,” was the only reply.

 

Both Sasuke and Kakashi had pressed further for answers, such as who he was. But Karasu never answered. Even so, Kakashi had a vague suspicion as to who he was, but with no proof, he did not allow himself to get his hopes up.

 

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

 

He turned his eyes away and tried to block out the sounds of the screaming and the scent of burning flesh as the female member of the Sound Four tortured his former student. He tried not to hear the cracking of the whip through the air and the sickening sound of leather against flesh or the tormented screaming as they peeled the skin off the Uchiha's body. He did not want to see his former student in torment, did not want to see the pain and the weakness in his eyes.

 

Karasu had been taken out several days before, and they had not bothered to bring her back. As the Sound Four had turned their attention toward the two Sharingan users, Kakashi could only deduce that either Karasu was too far gone to provide much entertainment for the Sound Four, or that she was dead. He hoped it was the latter, as it meant that his superior was free of her pain and torment.

 

Then he wondered if Naruto would be one of the Hunters that would be sent to either execute or liberate them to protect Konoha's secrets.

 

He felt a vague twinge of pain in his chest that was not from the pain of torture by the hands of the Sound Four.

 

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

 

He found that it was his turn to provide entertainment for the Sound Four. Kakashi had been expecting it, and so, he was not at all surprised when he woke up to find himself strapped to the metal table on which Karasu had lain many times before in the past.

 

They raped him. They raped him on that table in front of Karasu and Sasuke as they had done to Karasu before Sasuke and himself. Then they cut him, shallow cuts into which they rubbed some sort of substance that irritated the injuries. Then they proceeded to skin him and burn him, then they set to work raping him again.

 

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

 

Karasu was dead. Kakashi and Sasuke had seen the Sound Four disembowel and skin her alive before their very eyes. She had not made a sound throughout the entire ordeal although she was conscious through it all. Kakashi wasn't quite sure whether it was courage, hunger or exhaustion that played a part in her silence, though he suspected that it was a mix of all three.

 

The Sound Four then took the body out of the chamber. Where they were going, he didn't know, and at that point, neither did he care. He could hear the sounds of a battle outside the door, could sense a powerful chakra flaring before being immediately pulled back under control. He could hear the sounds of corpses hitting the floor, of metal against metal, and of blood splashing from delicate veins and out onto the surroundings. Then he heard the roar of fire, and the scent of burnt flesh drifted through the cracks around the door.

 

Hunter… He thought. The Godaime has sent Hunters for us…

 

Mismatched eyes turned toward his unconscious student pensively.

 

Were the Hunters sent to liberate them, or to execute them? Was Naruto with them?

 

He didn't know…

 

A brief flare of hope rose in his chest.

 

Perhaps he would get a chance to see him again…

 

His thoughts drifted away as he sank into a haze of pain and darkness, falling into the warm embrace of unconsciousness where there were no regrets, no pain, and no uncomfortable thoughts. He sank into oblivion, with hope in his heart for the first time since the beginning of their captivity…

 

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

 

It was the flaring of a familiar chakra that brought him to the edge of consciousness. He could feel the dark, cold, malicious chakra of his opponent, and fear and worry drew him fully into the world on consciousness.

 

Naruto was facing Orochimaru alone.

 

The worry was replaced by confusion as Naruto's chakra was replaced by a strange, otherworldly chakra.

 

Moments later, Orochimaru's chakra was snuffed out, and the otherworldly chakra vanished, leaving Naruto's chakra behind with three faint chakra sources.

 

Kakashi could sense Naruto drawing closer to the door, and he squeezed his eyes shut praying fervently that the blonde would not open the door.

 

His prayers were not answered, and the denial, shock and horror in Naruto's chakra was like a slap in the face. Moments ticked by as silence filled the room, broken only by the Hunter's harsh breathing.

 

Kakashi knew that he couldn't take much more of this. He had to do something… Anything, if it would sooth away the blonde's horror.

 

Slowly, he opened his eyes, and painfully, he turned his face toward the Hunter and smiled.

 

“Yo.”

 

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

 

The single syllable in the familiar voice, hoarse from either screaming or disuse snapped Zeiguwa from his stupor.

 

“Kakashi!”

 

He stumbled to his feet, ripped off his mask, tossing it aside as he ran into the room, heedless of the horrible stench.

 

“Kakashi…”

 

His hands shook as he worked at the straps holding down the jounin. He wasn't aware of the tears on his face until he freed one of Kakshi's hands, and the silver haired jounin painfully and slowly lifted his freed hand and gently brushed the tears away. Zeiguwa grasped the jounin's hand in his, and brushed his lips over the heel of Kakashi's palm before laying Kakashi's hand gently back on the table.

 

Somehow, the jounin's touch had reassured him, and the Hunter's fingers were swift and sure as he undid the straps restraining the jounin. Kakashi pushed himself painfully into a sitting position as Zeiguwa moved to undo the straps on his ankles.

 

“Naruto…”

 

Kakashi's eyes drank in the sight of the Hunter, the beautiful cerulean eyes, shimmering with tears, a spark of grief and sorrow in them. The years had been kind to the boy, his face, once slightly chubby with baby fat had become lean and his expressive eyes had narrowed. The once short and spiky hair had grown to brush the tops of his shoulders, and was pulled back into a ponytail.

 

Kakashi reached out after his ankles were free as the Hunter moved away, and gripped the Hunter's wrist, effectively stopping his movements. Cerulean eyes met mismatched dark eyes and despite the pain of his injuries, Kakashi pulled the Hunter toward him, capturing his lips in a bruising kiss.

 

The jounin tangled his fingers in golden locks as Zeiguwa… no, as Naruto relaxed into the kiss and wrapped his arms around Kakashi's neck. The world melted away, and all that mattered was the warmth of Kakashi's body pressed against his, and the feeling of the jounin's fingers in his hair.

 

A groan of pain from a slowly wakening Sasuke jerked both ninja back into reality, and Naruto flung himself away from Kakashi, his eyes wide in shock.

 

For Kakashi, the shocked and slightly fearful look in the blonde's eyes was like a punch in the gut.

 

“Naruto…” Kakashi said softly, reaching for the blonde.

 

The blonde leapt for the door, grabbed his mask, and slipped it over his face. The cool porcelain against his skin calmed him, and he brought his tumultuous chakra back under control as a veil dropped in his mind, separating Naruto from Zeiguwa, pushing the Hunter into the forefront of his mind.

 

Kakashi felt a sinking sensation in his stomach as the Hunter rose calmly and gracefully from the floor, lightly adjusting the mask over his features. His presence changed from warm and gentle into cool authority, and his chakra became an icy thin line.

 

From his place against the wall, Sasuke watched as the Hunter walked away from the room, his entire posture calm and uncaring. Onyx eyes turned toward his superior and he felt shock run through him. He recognized those eyes, he had seen them once, seven to eight years ago when he had foolishly left Konoha for power, leaving behind a devastated Sakura.

 

He loves him… the Uchiha thought, startled. Kakashi-sensei is in love with a Hunter who either does not return the feeling, or is too afraid to admit to sharing the same feelings.

 

Sasuke shifted and hissed quietly in pain as his raw back scraped against rough stone. Kakashi, grateful for the distraction, turned toward his former student, his face cleared of all emotion.

 

“How are you feeling?” he asked.

 

“Like someone just skinned me alive,” was the dry answer.

 

Kakashi's lips twitched slightly at the sardonic reply. “Ah, that would be how you feel, considering…”

 

“Question,” Sasuke said, “What is your relationship with that Hunter?”

 

Kakashi's eyes became guarded. “There is no relationship,” the jounin said coolly, “he made that abundantly clear the last time we saw one another face to face, or face to mask, I should say.”

 

“There is no room in a Hunter's life for such things as love,” Zeiguwa said calmly from the doorway, a bundle in his hands. “If a Hunter must love, then we will love the village that we serve. That is the way of the Hunter.”

 

The Hunter placed the bundle of bandages and the spare clothes on the table and moved toward the Uchiha. Silence filled the cell as the Hunter released the Sharingan wielder and tended to both ANBU's wounds. He shook his head tiredly when he realized that a majority of their wounds were infected.

 

“We'll have to reopen most of your injuries in order to clean out the infection,” Zeiguwa said, his voice tired, “And if your wounds aren't yet, then they are most certainly on their way toward being infected.” He pulled out a kunai and flung a katon jutsu at it to sterilize the blade.

 

Sasuke rolled his eyes. “Well that makes us both feel better.”

 

Zeiguwa chuckled, “Hunter-nin may have understanding of the human anatomy, but we're not medics. We really don't have much need for good bedside manners.”

 

The true meaning behind his words didn't go unnoticed by the two ANBU.

 

“Bear with me, this is going to hurt.”

 

Kakashi hissed sharply as Zeiguwa pressed the red-hot blade against his back. The silver haired jounin grit his teeth against the pain as the Hunter quickly and efficiently drew several crisscross patterns over his torso, arms and legs, allowing tainted blood mixed with puss gush out from the fresh wounds. The Hunter allowed the wounds to bleed out the poison and the infection before pulling out a canister of creams and peroxide. He cleaned the wounds with quick and efficient movements, and wrapped up the wounds with the bandages. Zeiguwa left Kakashi to dress while he gave Sasuke the same treatment.

 

Once both ANBU were dressed, Zeiguwa led them out of the cell and summoned several Kage Bushin to carry the injured and unconscious Hunters out of the chamber.

 

“What happened?” Sasuke demanded once he saw the state the three elder Hunters were in.

 

“Nothing you should be worried about,” Zeiguwa answered calmly, “It has already been taken care of.”

 

“It is something to worry about!” Sasuke said, “Someone or something beat three Hunters into submission!”

 

Zeiguwa turned his head one eighths of an inch to the left and said calmly. “Orochimaru beat them into submission, and I did my duty as a Hunter. Happy?”

 

“But… They should be dead…”

 

“They would have been if I hadn't interfered.”

 

“How?” Kakashi asked. “How did you defeat Orochimaru? Even Jiraiya and Tsunade have trouble against him, so how did you defeat him?”

 

“Hi—mi—tsu…” Zeiguwa said lightly, waving a single gloved finger in the air.

 

Sasuke frowned, getting the feeling that the Hunter was laughing at them. Behind them, Kakashi smiled fondly at the Hunter's back.

 

Even as Zeiguwa, he is still the same old Naruto…

 

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

 

Tora had regained consciousness by the time they reached the border, and helped Zeiguwa by carrying Hagetake while he carried Kurohyou. They were met by Ookami and Mizuhebi near a cave where they had set up camp, leaving the recovered ANBU to rest. They paused for a day to allow the four Hunters and two ANBU to rest, before setting off for Konoha at a brisk pace.

 

The full moon had risen to its peak by the time the Hunters and ANBU were in sight of the village walls. It was then that Kakashi decided to throw caution to the wind. The ANBU were shocked when the silver haired jounin grabbed Zeiguwa's wrist and growled, “We have to talk.”

 

Zeiguwa studied the jounin and released an inaudible sigh. “Ookami, Tora, take Hagetake, Kurohyou, and the ANBU to the hospital. Mizuhebi, report to the Hokage, mission complete, I will be in to speak with Tsunade later.”

 

The Hunters nodded and they quickly vanished into the foliage of the forest.

 

“Well?” the Hunter said expectantly, “You wanted to talk, so talk.”

 

“Naruto…” Kakashi said softly, “Why do you feel that you have to run?”

 

“Who said I was running?”

 

“Naruto…”

 

“Uzumaki Naruto died the day I put on this mask!” Zeiguwa yelled, pulling out of the jounin's grasp. “Why can't you understand that?”

 

“I refuse to believe that!” Kakashi yelled. His eyes softened and his voice became gentle. “I refuse to believe that, because I know you, Naruto… I love you.”

 

Zeiguwa turned his back on Kakashi. “There is no room in a Hunter's life for love.”

 

Kakashi placed his hands on the Hunter's shoulders. “You can't lie to me,” Kakashi murmured, wrapping his arms around the Hunter's shoulders. He buried his face in the crook of Zeiguwa's neck. “Don't lie to me, Naruto.”

 

Zeiguwa said nothing, and Kakashi murmured, “Just once, stop thinking like a Hunter… I know you care… I've seen it in your eyes… Please, let us be Kakashi and Naruto… Just this once… Naruto…”

 

“It is forbidden…” the Hunter gasped as Kakashi trailed kisses along his neck.

 

The silver haired jounin pulled the mask off of the Hunter's face, revealing glazed blue eyes. “Naruto… Stop making excuses.”

 

“I…” Naruto didn't get a chance to protest before Kakashi had captured his lips in a kiss.

 

He ran his tongue along Naruto's lips, asking for entrance. Naruto hesitated for a moment, and closed his eyes and opened his mouth, allowing Kakashi to dart his tongue inside his warm cavern and tease him. His hands drifted down and under the blonde's shirt, caressing warm, smooth skin, and raking a nail over a nipple, and the blonde collapsed backward against Kakashi's chest and moaned softly.

 

Kakashi broke the kiss and nibbled at the blonde's neck as he undid the belt and the fly of Naruto's pants. Naruto's hand covered his, holding it still.

 

“Kakashi,” Naruto said, breathless, “stop.”

 

The jounin's movements stilled, and he pulled away. Kakashi felt his heart break.

 

“I'm sorry.”

 

Naruto watched as the jounin vanished into the darkness in the direction of the village.

 

“I'm sorry.”

 

He felt something inside of him break, and he fell to his knees, his face in his hands. A void opened inside of his heart, and his shoulders shook as years worth of unshed tears flowed from cerulean eyes.

 

“I'm sorry.”

 

He knelt alone in the forest, the moon's light casting silvery dappled shadows over his figure, as he watered the roots of the majestic ginko tree with his tears…

 

CSA Version 7 Mended Hearts What Are You Hiding?