Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ The Life of a Kunoichi ❯ ~Father and Son Reunited~ ( Chapter 21 )

Chapter 21

 

~Father and son Reunited~

 

 

 

~Konoha around the same time Phoenix and Haru are attacked~

 

Sakura smiled as she quietly walked out of the room from laying a sleeping Kenchi down for a nap. No sooner did she close the door did he let out a piercing scream, one that would make you think he had been stabbed. Rushing back in and scooping him up Sakura tried to rock him, whispering and cooing to him in his ear. Nothing worked he cried till he was blue in the face. Finally she could hear a knock at her door. Rushing to the door Sakura could have cried at the sight of Ino standing before her. “Ino! Thank Kami, I don't know what's wrong he just started crying and I can't get him to stop.” Ino held her hands out to take the baby from her, she held him close to her heart and rocked him gently. Looking up to Sakura she spoke, “Lady Hokage wants to see you.” Nodding Sakura gathered some of Kenchi's things and followed Ino with a now hiccupping Kenchi to the Hokage's office.

 

Entering the office, they were greeted by not only the Hokage but also Sai and Captain Yamato. “Sakura, we received word from Suna. Phoenix was badly injured and taken. Haru is in critical condition. I am sending team Kakashi out to help with the recovery of Phoenix.” Sakura nodded as she let the information she just received sink in, shaking her head she asked her question, “Master I have a request.” “What is it?” Swallowing the lump in her throat she preceded, “I want to take Kenchi back with me. I think he needs to at least be with Kankuro.” Lady Tsunade shook her head, “I understand. Team Kakashi will leave immediately. I will send word ahead that you are on your way.” “Allow me to accompany them as well.” Turning to the new voice, Tsunade smiled slightly, “Jiraiya.”

 

~Suna 3 days later~

 

Shikamaru sat in the chair in the small room, waiting. She hasn't woken up once since that day he thought. Reaching down he took her small hand in his and ran the pad of his thump across the top. Smiling softly he spoke to her, just like he did everyday, “Haru Kenchi will be arriving soon. Sakura is bringing him here. You have to get up he's gonna wanna see his aunt.” Sighing he heard the door creak open, turning around he smiled at Temari, who meekly smiled back. “Anything?” she asked. Shikamaru shook his head in the negative. Walking in, she sat down on the edge of the bed and stroked Haru's other hand. “You need to eat something please I will sit with her.” Shikamaru pondered for a minute then his stomach growled. Temari giggled, “see you haven't eaten in days. Go you will be the first person I yell for.” Shikamaru smiled then stood bending down to kiss Haru lightly on the lips, “I won't be long.” Temari nodded.

 

“She's been like that since I brought her here.” Looking in the cell the two men clouded in black watched as the body, which was laid on a pallet in the corner of the cell, was emitting red chakra. The chakra was protecting the body of the young women from any outside force. “I can't get within five feet of her the chakra is hot, like fire.” “Hn, just what we expected, its healing her.” The two stood for a moment longer before turning away and leaving closing the door to the hallway behind them.

 

Nixey…

 

Who's calling me? Katur is that you?

 

Hey wench.

 

Katur I thought I….

 

You think I would let you die?

 

….Ahh HARU!..Katur what happened to my sister?

 

I don't know. When I returned to you,you were on the verge of death. I focused on healing you, nothing else. Now get some sleep.

 

Katur….thank you.

 

Hn.Sleep wench your still not healed completely.

 

Phoenix opened her eyes for the first time in days. She opened them to nothing but darkness she could see a small amount of light filtering in from outside the other door.

Looking around, but unable to move, she closed her eyes once more. Before succumbing to sleep her mind drifted off, miles away from where she lay, Suna. Behind her closed eyes she could see her lover and his smirk, her son blowing spit bubbles, and her sister alive and well smiling and waving to her. Smiling softly a single tear fell from the corner of her eye.

 

Shikamaru returned from his meal, but before entering the room he couldn't help but stop and listen in on the conversation. “Hey you come on you need to get up. There are a lot of people here that want you to get better.” Temari sniffed as she wiped the small tears that were sneaking past her lids. Moving a piece of stray hair away from Haru's face she tucked it behind her ear. Leaning down she gently kissed her forehead, pulling back to speak once more, “Haru please, we can't loose you too. Ryu is beside himself, and so is Kankuro. Not to mention Shika, he hasn't left your side. Phoenix is alive I just know it, and I know you want to save her, right?” Temari closed her eyes and went to stand up when Haru tightened her grip on her hand. Temari immediately bent down and called to hre, “Haru. Haru can you hear me, squeeze my hand again.” This time Shikamaru was bent over her leaning in close to her ear, “Haru Haru wake up, please.” Opening her eyes slightly she could see Shikamaru and Temari, who now had relief plastered over both of their faces. Fluttering her eyes she tried to sit up, but Shikamaru gently placed a hand on her shoulder. “Don't push it.” She laid her head down and looked back up to Shikamaru, Temari gone to retrieve everyone else. “What happened?” she asked softly. Shikamaru's face fell as he began to tell her what they knew, which unfortunately wasn't much. Soon her room was filled with smiling faces and soon she couldn't help but smile as well. Shikamaru helped her to sit up, so now her back was resting against the wall. Haru looked around the room and noticed that one person was missing, one very important person. Shikamaru caught the confused look on her face and before he could speak her face turned to one of shock and horror. Turning to him she grabbed a hold of his shirt fisting it in her small hands, “where's Phoenix?” frantically searching his face, he closed his eyes as he spoke, “we don't know. When we got to you her body was gone.” Haru sat back and mentally searched, trying to remember anything from that moment. It hit her like a freight train, “Manzo.” Ryu was now practically on the bed with her, “what did you say?” he said as he looked his sister in the eyes. “Manzo, he was the one that attacked us and I know he took her. He worked for rain, but he said that his boss wanted Phoenix.” Ryu sat back thought and confusion showing on his face. “Who is Manzo?” Naruto asked. “Manzo, he was my father's advisor. They were best friends, but Manzo started to change and father threw him out of the village. His mind was being corrupted by someone and father didn't want him around the village for fear he may try to take over.” Kankuro moved to the bed now, “did he say who he worked for?” Haru sat back and tried to think, “yes. He said that he worked for Akatsuki.” Everyone immediately looked back at Gaara. Gaara looked up from his spot on the floor, “they want to extract her demon.” “But why? He's not one of the tailed beasts?” Ryu shouted. It was Jiraiya who spoke next. “It doesn't matter if it's a tailed beast or not.” “Pervy sage?” Naruto questioned, “why are you here?” Crossing his arms over his chest, “I came to help, idiot.” Soon Sakura and Sai made it into the room, Kenchi in her arms. As soon as Kankuro saw his son he scooped him out of her grasp, smiling down at him. Kenchi reached his hands up to grab at his dad's face, smiling and giggling. Sitting down in the chair next to Haru's bed Kenchi was soon surrounded by his true aunts and uncles, each one leaning in to kiss him on the head. The room soon became quiet once more, everyone lost in their thoughts of the problem at hand.

 

“mama.” Kankuro's eyes widened at the sound of his son speaking his first word. Smiling up to his dad Kenchi tried to catch the tears that ran down his father's face. Pulling his son to him Kankuro whispered, “I'm sorry son.” Pulling him back to look into his son's smiling face, “I promise I'm bringing your mama home.”

 

Opening her eyes to the light that flooded into her room, she tsked at the figure standing before her, “Itachi.” Itachi smiled as he approached the door to her cell, “hello pet. I have a proposition for you.” Tilting her head to the side she questioned her capture, “what are you talking about?” “You work for me, and I'll spare the lives of those you cherish most.” Straitening herself she narrowed her eyes towards Itachi, “and if I don't?” closing his eyes, he slowly opened them to reveal his working sharingan, “I'll show you.” Soon the halls of the hidden hideout were filled with the screams of the konuchi.

 

Shivering on the floor of her cell she hugged her body tight, tears streaming down her face. “No..” she repeated the word like a mantra. Leaving her on the floor Itachi left the room, walking back into the room full of his other comrades, “geesh Itachi, trying to scare her to death.” Kisame joked. Itachi sat down in the chair and looked back to his partner with his now black eyes, “she needed to see why she had no choice in the matter.” “Are you sure you can trust her?” Manzo asked. “Yes. She will not disobey. She has seen what will happen if she does.” “The she will be left to you, Itachi you know what to do.” Pein instructed.