Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Shattered ❯ Truths ( Chapter 16 )

Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto. If I did there would be a naked Kakashi in every other scene.

 

Chapter 16: Truths

 

 

 

 

Tsunade didn't need to tell Kakashi and Sasuke twice. As soon as she was done giving them instructions they were gone. The two of them traveled alone. Sakura, her medical nin, and Shino would have to catch up later. Tsunade told them she was going to send Shikamaru to the Sand to gather information there.

 

Even though the two of them covered a lot of land, they were forced to camp out for the night. With all that was going on night travel was dangerous. Even though they both wanted to keep going, they stopped. Sleep was light and uneasy that night. As soon as they heard bird a chirping that morning they were off again. They arrived in the Tea Country before noon.

 

When they arrived the village was full of activity. There were people repairing roofs, fences, streets, landscaping, everything. Everyone was pitching in and helping. From what Kakashi could tell there were few injuries. Sending two medical nins was going to be too much. As they walked they looked for Idate. Sasuke spotted him first. Idate was shirtless and on a roof. The pair approached the house.

 

“Idate-san.”

 

Idate looked up at the sound of Kakashi's voice. He looks relieved to see them. As he climbed down from the roof, Kakashi could see that even after one day the attack was already wearing Idate down.

 

“Kakashi-san, Sasuke. I'm glad you're here.” Idate started to lead them toward the Wasabi compound.

 

“Where are Naruto and Hinata?” Sasuke desperately wanted to see Naruto, not that he would let anyone know. He wanted to strangle the idiot for worrying everyone. But when Idate stopped walking Sasuke got worried.

 

“Let's go somewhere private.”

 

Unbeknownst to Kakashi and Sasuke, Idate led them to the house Naruto was staying at. But he didn't tell them that. When they walked in he led them to the living room. Idate waited until everyone was sitting down before saying anything.

 

“Where should I begin?”

 

Kakashi took the initiative. Although he wasn't going to interrogate Idate, he needed to get as much information out of him as possible. “When did the Sound nins attack?”

 

“We were in the middle of our festival, so about midday. They came in from the park. A few made it to the village, that's why some of the houses are destroyed. Hinata helped the villagers escape to the caves.”

 

Idate paused, once again not sure how to continue. As the pause draged on Sasuke became impatient. “What about Naruto?”

 

“He stayed in the park and held them back. The nins who were in the village left when they sensed him. I got a few men and went to help him. He was injured when I got there. He asked me to leave, but I didn't. He created some clones and had them carry us away. We went to the cave and Hinata left. We waited a long time for some sign. We finally came out when we saw Hinata in the ocean washing Naruto.”

 

Kakashi took a moment to dissect what Idate had said. “What happened during the time you left and saw Hinata in the ocean?”

 

“I don't know. They won't tell us. All I know is that we felt a huge surge of power and the clearing where I last saw Naruto fight is burned and the bodies are gone.”

 

Both Sasuke and Kakashi knew that Naruto and Hinata disposed of the bodies. There was no point in asking Idate anymore questions since he didn't know the important details. “Where are Naruto and Hinata?”

 

Idate sighed heavily and ran a hand through his hair. This is where things got complicated. “Hinata is at the beach. She hasn't come to see Naruto. She only enters the village to eat, and that's only after we force her. Naruto is down the hall, last room.”

 

Without saying a word Sasuke got up and walked toward the hallway. When he opened the door the room was dark, even though it was sunny outside. Naruto was sitting on the bed with his back against the headboard. He has no shirt on, and loose pajama pants on. His long hair was covering his face and he was looking down.

 

Sasuke closed the door behind him as he walked in. He sat on the edge of the bed at an angle so he was face to face with Naruto. He noticed that Naruto hadn't moved or acknowledged his presence.

 

“Where is your injury?”

 

Wordlessly Naruto pulled his pant leg up and shifted so that Sasuke could see his calf. Sasuke could see the wound was healing slower than usual, meaning Naruto must be short on chakra. After a few moments, Naruto lowered the pant leg and drew his knees to his chest. He wrapped his arms loosely around his legs.

 

Sasuke was getting increasingly frustrated. This is not the Naruto he knew. No matter how hard a mission may have been, Naruto always said something. But this time he was completely silent and that scared Sasuke. Sasuke was about to say something when Kakashi opened the door and walked in with Idate right behind him. Kakashi took a moment to study Naruto.

 

“Has he eaten?”

 

“Yes. I bring him his meals.”

 

“Was Hinata injured?”

 

At the mention of her name, Naruto pulled his legs closer. The movement didn't go unnoticed by Sasuke or Kakashi.

 

“No, she wasn't injured.”

 

The room remained silent. Idate sensed that Kakashi has no more questions for him, so he left. Kakashi stayed in the room a little longer, but left only when Sasuke gave him a pointed stare.

 

As soon as Kakashi shut the door Sasuke turned his attention back to Naruto.

 

“How are you and Hinata doing?”

 

Once again Sasuke's question is answered with silence. Without hesitation Sasuke jumped up on the bed and grabbed Naruto by his shoulders.

 

“Say something, anything. Tell me to go away! Call me a bastard! Come on dobe say something!”

 

“She hasn't come to see me since it happened.” If Sasuke breathed any louder he wouldn't have been able to hear Naruto.

 

“Why? Naruto what happened out there?”

 

“I tore them to shreds. I thought they had killed her so I ripped them to pieces with my hands.” Sasuke stared down at Naruto completely speechless. He watched as Naruto raised his hands and stared at them. “There was so much blood. She was so scared. I don't blame her for avoiding me though.”

 

“That's no excuse. I know what you did, but I'm not avoiding you, nor will I ever.”

 

“You weren't there though. You didn't see it.”

 

“I don't have to see it. Naruto, you could have ripped their hearts out and eaten them and I still wouldn't care.” Sasuke waited for Naruto to say something or do something. But Naruto just sat there. So instead of trying to talk some sense into Naruto, Sasuke got up and stormed out of the house. He heard Kakashi and Idate calling out to him but he ignores them.

 

It doesn't take Sasuke very long to find Hinata on the beach. She was just sitting on the shore with her knees to her chest looking out onto the water. For a split second he felt sorry for her, but only for a second. He walked up to her and stood next to her.

 

“How could you?”

 

Hinata continued to look out at the water, but he knew she can probably see the look on his face. “I can see you want to hit me. Go ahead, but it won't fix anything.” She spoke softly, which only fueled Sasuke's anger even more.

 

“Do you even know what you're doing to him?”

 

“Yes, and I hate myself for it.”

 

By this point Sasuke was beside himself with anger. He could feel his Sharingan trying to activate due to the sheer force of his anger. The only thing keeping him from beating the crap out of her was Naruto. “Why won't you go!?”

 

Hinata seemed oblivious to the anger rolling off of Sasuke. But she knew he was mad. Hell the sand knew he was mad. “Because I don't know what to say. I'm not going to leave him, I love him too much for that. I'm just scared and confused about what to do.”

 

Losing his composure, Sasuke began to openly yell at Hinata. “What the hell are you talking about!? You obviously have no idea what he's go—“

 

Hinata was standing before him so suddenly that the shock left him speechless. As he looked at her he could see she was upset. He could see tears in her eyes as well. “Don't you dare say I know nothing. I may not have the kind of relationship you do with him, but don't assume you know anything about my relationship with him. I know what I'm doing hurts him and it kills me. But I'm scared I'll go in there and say the wrong thing and make it worse.” Hinata was now openly crying. Sasuke was completely taken aback by this. He was never good with emotions, much less the emotions of someone he wasn't really all that close too. But he stood there and listened to her. “I'm scared, not of him, but of what he's capable of doing. He killed those men because of me. He thought I was dead so he killed them. He's the perfect ninja with power beyond me and it scares me that I can't help him. I can't help him get over his guilt because of me. Everything he's going through is because of me. So don't you dare tell me I don't know what I'm doing to him.”

 

Sasuke didn't get a chance to say anything to her because as soon as she was done she walked right past him. He turned and watched her walk down the beach. It wasn't until she was just a small speck that he turned to walk back to the village. Yet when he turned he saw that Kakashi was standing a few feet away looking rather bored. Sasuke knew better than to think that Kakashi was bored. But Sasuke wasn't in the mood to talk to Kakashi so he just kept walking toward the village.

 

“Women are complicated creatures. Sasuke go help Idate and keep a look out for Sakura, she should be getting here soon.”

 

Sasuke grunted and stormed off even more frustrated than before.

 

 

After Sasuke left, Idate brought Naruto some food to eat. Naruto ate the food slowly. He found that if he ate too quickly his stomach would get upset. When he was finally done he put the empty dishes on the small nightstand. He was about to lie down and sleep when Kakashi walked in and sat down at the foot of the bed. By his demeanor Naruto knew that Kakashi was going to be serious.

 

“How are you feeling physically?”

 

“Strange actually.” Naruto didn't want to play the vague game with Kakashi. Their conversations were usually full with innuendos. No matter how serious the topic was neither one of them ever straight out said what was on their mind, they would just dance around the issue. It was a game to them; see who can say the most without actually saying it. But this time Naruto didn't want to play.

 

“How so?”

 

“How can I put this? After waking up I felt like I had more power at my disposal. I know it's because I let the Kyuubi take over. But I haven't started changing physically.”

 

“You think you will?”

 

“I hope not. But when the Kyuubi takes over I do. I know you haven't seen it, but my nails get long and sharp, I run on all fours. I've been told my eyes go red and cat like. The marks on my face also get darker and larger.”

 

“You basically look like the animal.” Kakashi instantly regretted putting it that way when Naruto flinched. “Sorry I should have used different terminology.”

 

“Ero-sennin told me that the seal allows me to tap into the other chakra. But that eventually I might merge with it and completely take it over.”

 

“You scared of that?” Naruto had to think about the question before he answered it. No longer having the Kyuubi within him meant that the Akatsuki would leave him alone, which was a good thing. But then again absorbing the Kyuubi meant that many in the village might start seeing him as a demon, or half-demon. Ignoring what others might think of him, Naruto thought about how he felt over the whole thing. There was one emotion he kept coming back to no matter how he looked at it, and it was fear.

 

“I don't know if I'll change or how long the whole process will take. I also don't know if using the chakra accelerates the process. If I grow old and still have the Kyuubi intact within me, that would be great.”

 

“Don't worry too much. Sakura is coming and she can check you over if you want.”

 

Naruto instantly felt better. If Kakashi didn't make a big deal out of the whole thing that meant everything was going to be okay. He knew that Kakashi's laid-back attitude hid his bluntness well. But that was one of the good things about Kakashi; in serious situations he would tell you exactly what he thought without pulling any punches.

 

Kakashi stayed with Naruto for a while. They comfortably fell back into their vague game. Although what Naruto told him worried him a bit, Kakashi was more worried about Naruto's emotional state than his physical one. He knew Hinata needed to come see Naruto, but after hearing what she told Sasuke he decided to wait and see what she did. As they talked Naruto stood up and reached to grab the dishes on the nightstand. Kakashi stopped him and grabbed the dishes himself, smiling the entire time.

 

“Fine, I'll go to the bathroom instead.”

 

They both walked out of the bedroom, but turned in opposite directions once in the hall. Kakashi was about to start washing the dishes when Sasuke walked in.

 

“Kakashi, Sakura's here.”

 

The words were barely out of his mouth when he was roughly pushed aside by a near frantic Sakura. Behind her Kakashi could see one of her medical nins and Shino.

 

“Sorry we weren't here sooner. We had to camp out last night.”

 

“Don't worry, we did as well.” Kakashi smiled at her hoping to calm her down.

 

“Where is he?” Unfortunately he failed in calming her. “Sasuke said he was injured.”

 

Kakashi never got a chance to answer because Naruto beat him to it.

 

“Sakura?”

 

Sakura turned at the sound of her name to see Naruto standing at the mouth of the hallway. She quickly glanced over his body and saw that he didn't have any obvious injuries. Satisfied that he wasn't near death she ran to him.

 

“Oh god Naruto. I was so worried about you.” She cried on his shoulder for a few moments. Suddenly she pushed him back and punched him, sending Naruto to the floor. “Are you an idiot taking on fifty nins by yourself!?”

 

Naruto reached up and touched his cheek. Looking at Sakura he saw that she was still crying.

 

“Sorry Sakura.”

 

“Ma ma, don't hurt an injured man Sakura.”

 

With help from Sasuke, Naruto was able to get up. As he was getting up Sakura turned and told the medic nin to go to the village and see if anyone was hurt. Once the nin was gone everyone moved toward the kitchen table.

 

As Shino went to sit down he paused and looked to Sasuke, Kakashi and Naruto. “Where's Hinata?”

 

Naruto froze upon hearing her name. Sasuke immediately answered that she was at the beach. Shino decided not to press the issue upon seeing Naruto's reaction to her name.

 

“So Sakura, did the Hokage send you with news?” Kakashi was once again in his serious mode. Naruto silently thanked him for diverting the attention to some other topic.

 

“She sent Shikamaru to the Sand to see if they could get some information. But other than that we know nothing.”

 

Kakashi digested the information for a moment before turning his attention to Naruto. “Naruto, did any of the nins say anything to you?”

 

“If you're referring to information about why they attacked, then no. But they did know who I was.”

 

Sasuke scoffed at Naruto's answer, drawing attention to himself. “Well you are pretty well known Naruto.”

 

Naruto spoke as he shook his head, “No I meant they knew.” Naruto wanted to be vague since Shino was in the room. He hoped that all his former teammates would pick up on the hint.

 

Sakura instantly became worried. “Do you think Kabuto sent them?”

 

Although she didn't direct her question at anyone in particular, Kakashi answered it for her. “I don't know. The Tea shouldn't interest Kabuto. They pose no threat, and he would gain nothing by invading.”

 

“Do you think they did it to provoke us?” Shino's voice didn't betray his anxiety over the whole thing. He didn't like the fact that the Sound attacked the Tea, or that Hinata was here when it happened. He also didn't like how the Sound apparently knew some secret about Naruto that as it seemed to him no one was supposed to know.

 

“They knew Naruto was here, so what better way to provoke Konoha then to attack someone with friends in high places and the next head of a clan.” Sasuke was now leaning forward with his elbows rested on the table. The more he thought about why the Sound would attack, the more confused he became. Attacking the Sound was not something Kabuto would do. Kabuto liked to get in through the back door, take what he wanted and leave before anyone knew he was there.

 

Unlike Sasuke, Naruto wasn't thinking about how out of character the attack was for the Sound. He was just frustrated that they couldn't figure the whole thing out. “But why would they want the Leaf to attack them?”

 

“Revenge.”

 

Everyone at the table turned to see Hinata standing in the doorway. Although everyone is looking at her, she was looking at only one person: Naruto. Sakura and Shino instantly picked up on the uncomfortable vibe between the two. Hinata walked toward the table and instead of sitting next to Naruto, she sat next to Shino.

 

“Please explain Hinata.” Kakashi knew that the faster he got his answers the faster Naruto and Hinata could work out their problems.

 

“That rogue nin that has been around Konoha lately, I had a feeling that I had seen him before. After the attack I spent a lot of time thinking and he kept coming to mind.” She paused and looked at Shino. “Remember how I told you that during the second part of the chuunin exam a strange nin interfered with our battle?”

 

“Yes I remember.” On the assumption that no one else knows the story Shino takes it upon himself to inform everyone. “Hinata, Kiba and Choji were fighting a team and this nin in all black joined in the fight. He wasn't from the other team though.”

 

Hinata turned back to face the group, except she kept her gaze on the tabletop. “He was fighting against both sides. I was in the middle of my fight when I sensed him coming. So while holding kunai I spun and hit him.”

 

Kakashi instantly knew what Hinata was trying to imply. “You took his arm.” With that everyone at the table suddenly knew who Hinata was talking about. One armed nins are rare.

 

“I wasn't sure. There was a lot of blood, but no arm. But since his team knew something about healing it could have been removed afterward.”

 

“Why didn't you say anything before? You shouldn't withhold information, especially when it's something as important as this.” Sasuke, Sakura and Naruto could tell my Kakashi's tone that he was in full jounin mode. It was rare for Kakashi to take that tone, but when he did it only meant trouble.

 

“I just realized today. But it's all speculation. I never saw the nin's face since he was covered.”

 

Without looking at Hinata, Naruto said, “It had to be him. The question is would Kabuto break the deal with the Leaf over revenge?”

 

This time no one answered the question.

 

 

Roiyaru entered the Sound compound hoping that no one would notice him. As he walked through the long dark hallways, his anxiety started to disappear when no one confronted him. As he turned a corner he sees Ryo and Hibiki standing next his room. When they see him, Ryo is instantly running up to him.

 

“Where have you been?'

 

“Out.”

 

“Out where Yaru-kun?”

 

“Just out.” Roiyaru pushed past Ryo and went to open the door to his room. He stoped when Ryo started talking again.

 

“Kabuto-sensei said we're short 50 men. Do you happen to know what happened to them?'

 

“No, I don't.”

 

Without another word Ryo walked away and Roiyaru walked into his room. As Roiyaru began to shut his door though Hibiki pushed it open and walked in.

 

“Hibiki what the hell do you think you're doing?”

 

Hibiki shuts the door behind him and punched Roiyaru without warning. The entire time Hibiki kept his face void of emotion. “I don't care if you lie to me or Kabuto-sensei. What I do care is when you lie to Ryo. We know you went somewhere with those missing nins, it's only a matter of time before we learn where.”

 

Roiyaru stared coldly at Hibiki before finally getting up. He walked over his small dresser. There was a mirror nailed to the wall above the dresser. On the dresser were a few weapons and one personal item; a picture of his team when they were ten and still scar free.

 

Roiyaru checked his face in the mirror only to see he had a bloody lip and small cut on the opposite side of his face where he hit the ground. He opened one of his drawers and pulled out a small medical kit. Opening the kit he pulled out a tube of cream medicine. He struggled with the tube as he tried to open it with one hand. When Hibiki walked over and tried to take it from him Roiyaru pulled it back and continued to struggle with it, but he only managed to drop it.

 

Silently Hibiki bent over to pick up the tube. Roiyaru watched Hibiki bent over, and it's at that moment that all his frustration boils over. He reached over grabbed the medical kit and threw it across the room.

 

“What would you have me do Hibiki? I used to be one of the best ninjas in the village. The pride and joy of Kabuto, his own private student. You know he used to tell me that I would succeed him, that I fit my name. But as soon as I lost my arm I was no longer needed. He doesn't even talk to me anymore. My career as a ninja is over.”

 

“That's not true.”

 

Even though Roiyaru couldn't see any emotion in Hibiki's face, he could tell by the tone of his voice that Hibiki was trying to sympathize with him. “Ryo spent the last year trying to teach me how to do one handed seals. In that one year all I've learned is how to do the most elementary jutsus. You've tried to teach me how to wield a sword with no avail. I can't even open a simple tube of cream without help!”

 

“Roiyaru…”

 

“Kabuto said so himself, the Sound must become strong. I'm no longer a part of that plan.”

 

“But you can benefit the Sound in so many other ways. You have amazing leadership skills and are a good military strategist.”

 

Roiyaru was about to reply when he heard Ryo's voice outside his door. He couldn't decipher what Ryo was saying, but he could tell that Ryo was in a panic. Seconds later the door flew open and Ryo was pushed aside. Kabuto walked in the room and went straight toward Roiyaru. As soon as Kabuto was within reach he slapped Roiyaru across the face.

 

“Are you insane?! Are you trying to bring the down the Sound?!”

 

“No.” Roiyaru couldn't remember Kabuto ever hitting him, much less yelling at him with such anger and animosity in his voice. It made him feel like a child, which only made him feel even more useless.

 

“Well it sure seems like it from that stunt you pulled. Oh yes I know what you did. You attacked the Tea, why?”

 

“Because the person who forced me out of your favor was there.” He was rewarded with another slap on the face.

 

“My shinobi aren't here to do your own private affairs.”

 

“My private affairs would have been taken care of had the demon of Konoha not been there.” Another slap, this time Kabuto split the other side of Roiyaru lip.

 

“Naruto-kun was there, you truly are an idiot.”

 

“Kabuto-sensei, but I -“

 

Kabuto slapped him again sending Roiyaru to the ground. “Don't address me so casually.”

 

As Kabuto threw his arm back to hit Roiyaru again, Ryo grabbed his arm and stopped him. “Stop sensei, please.”

 

Kabuto looked from Ryo to Roiyaru on the ground. “Being loyal toward me is not enough. You will pay for the trouble you have caused.” Kabuto pushed Ryo off and walked out of the room as if nothing had happened.

 

Ryo picked up Roiyaru from the ground, as Hibiki went to the other end of the room and picked up the items from the medical kit. Ryo maneuvered Roiyaru into a chair, shut the door to the bedroom and helped Hibiki with the remaining items from the medical items. The entire time no one made a single sound. As Ryo and Hibiki moved to tend to Roiyaru wounds, Roiyaru finally broke the silence.

 

“My time in the Sound has come to an end.”

 

 

Roiyaru - means loyal

 

 

Wow do I have a lot of dialogue in this chapter. Didn't mean for that to happen, but then again the talking kinda expressed what the person was feeling. Speaking of which I freakn' gave Hinata a whole senior thesis to tell Sasuke. Then again, when someone is pissed, hurt, sad and frustrated they do tend to say a lot in one breath.

 

Anywho I took a perspective in this chapter I hadn't taken before: Kakashi! WhooHOO!! If you hadn't figured it out already he's my fave.

 

So what does everyone think of Roiyaru? You gotta feel bad for the guy.

 

Okay so this chapter is kinda short, live with it. Got lots of school and laundry to do. I swear the next chapter won't be as short…………..maybe.