Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Returning ❯ An Old Letter ( Chapter 12 )

An Old Letter

 

Chapter 12

 

 

The letter was aged, it's edges worn and yellow, but it remained intact as Naruto opened it, hearing a distinct crackling sound.

“It's kind of hard to read.” Naruto said, glancing at Aza, waiting for an explanation.

Aza shrugged some what distantly, “It's been a while.”

Naruto's golden head dropped, and his shoulders sagged. “I guess it has.”

As Aza watched, she realized Naruto's eyes were transfixed on the first line, tears plopping onto the paper. He looked up, glancing first at Jiraiya, then at everyone else assembled. When at last his glance had come to Aza, he began to read,

“My son…I entrusted this letter to your mother on the night of my death. As I write this, I can feel myself growing weaker, but I feel compelled to leave you with something other than a demon trapped inside of you,”

Naruto paused to take a breath, then continued, “which is why I am writing this letter. When I decided that you would hold the Kyuubi, I did it with the intent of making you a hero, which I am sure you have become….You have to understand, this is very hard, leaving you. I never would have thought that things would turn out this way, that the happiest day in my life, the day of your birth, would be my final day of life. It almost seems like I am completing a cycle, life and death, all strung together…But that is beside the point. I have no idea how you look, nor what your name is, all I know is that you are my son, and along with Aza, I don't need another person to be happy, which is why I so willingly gave myself to death. I know that you must hate me, for leaving you with a monster, but you still have Aza, and that fool of a hermit, Jiraiya, as well the people of Konoha. I hope that Aza bares no ill-will towards me, or any grudge, but she knows that what I did is for the best. I won't live much longer, and I have to speak with your mother, so please, be a good child as you grow, and become a strong, respectable man, maybe even a leader like me? Love…” A tear fell onto the paper, “…your father…”

Naruto felt a hand on his shoulder. “He really did love you Naruto…” Aza whispered, bending down to look him in the eye, “He very truly did…” Folding the letter slowly, precisely, Naruto locked Aza in an even stare. “He did, I can tell…”

Aza smiled warmly, tears drying on her face, but her blood ran cold and what he said next.

“So why didn't you?”

With baleful eyes she watched as he stood, eyes covered by his sun blonde bangs. To one side, Sakura watched the exchange with a torn expression. Her heart felt searing sympathy towards both Naruto and Aza, leaving her to question which side was right.

Sasuke, however, did not. “Naruto, what's wrong with you?” Anger, so much like the anger he felt towards Itachi for ruining his life, yet so different, swelled up in him. “She came back to make peace, not debate over right or wrong!” He gestured towards Aza, who watched him in subtle awe, and growled, “You have one last chance at family! Right or wrong, she made her choice, but now she's choosing to come back!” He paused for a moment, looking down at his own feet, “My only family is the one I must destroy, but you don't have to destroy Aza!”

“But I'm no trying to-“ Naruto protested, before being cut off by Sasuke, “But you are destroying her! Every time you throw her mistake in her face, and challenge her sincerity, you cut her down! You're breaking her!”

Naruto glanced solemnly at Aza, who's eyes seemed so detached as she wept silently. “You're right Sasuke…But I can't forgive her.”

Aza's cries quieted, and she looked towards the ceiling, as if pleading to the Gods for just one more chance.

And in that instance, with Aza's skin so pale from greif and her hair so dark, an old buried memory resurfaced in the back of Sasuke's mind.

 

 

Kougasmate- oh my gods! I finally reviewed! I'm so sorry it took so long, but I'm failing a few classes, and finals are NEXT WEEK! AHHHHHH!!! Oh noes, I'm gonna fail! Anyways, what is Sasuke's old memory? You'll have to wait until I update, which I hope is soon. Well, toodles! Oh yeah, one more thing

 

REVIEW PLEASE!