Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ The Reflection of Oneself ❯ Revelations ( Chapter 16 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

The Reflection of Oneself

Chapter 16: Revelations

Truth.

It is the light that separates us from the darkness of lies. Once enlightened, we are free to choose our next path, which comes the next test of our tolerance. The truth comes when one's soul searching has come to an end. No longer do we have to be mystified by things that our beyond our knowing, knowledgeable beyond our years.

It is the answers to all our questions.

But the truth can hurt. When deceit has been built for so long, knowing the legitimacy behind it can break down all the perfectly crafted walls. Although it may be better in the long run, there is no way to avoid the pain that comes with it.

To be perfectly enlightened, there are no more obstacles to structure our lives. Without those lies and half-truths, we are without motivation. We lack the drive to strive, to overcome our problems. So perhaps, the truth isn't such a good thing at all.

“Inari?”

Inari smiled mirthlessly. “So you do remember me.”

It had been just over thirteen years since he had the Uchiha last… since had last seen Naruto alive. He had been eight years old when had first met the raven-haired man, who had been twelve. The older boy had been aloof and as prickly as cactus, which had suited the younger boy's temperament at the time. But it hadn't been Uchiha Sasuke who had managed to work his way under young Inari's skin; rather it was his exuberant and sanguine teammate, one Uzumaki Naruto, who had changed everything.

Because of the blonde's fierce beliefs, he had single-handedly managed to beat down a broken, despondent child's pessimistic walls of protection and show him brighter side of cloudy day.

After that, Naruto had become in such a short time like the brother he had never had.

But only three and half months since the he had seen his honorary brother last, terrible news had traveled from Fire Country to his home in Wave. With bitter reminiscence, Inari could remember that day so sharply that it caused bile to rise in his throat.

He had been heading home that evening, exhausted from helping the adults with reconstruction of their ramshackle villager. With the money they had scavenged from Gatoh's base and what they begun to earn thanks to his grandfather's bridge, the village of Sui was bringing to look grand again. Since the depression was over, it was only natural that they reflect their inner joy.

And Inari was happy - happier then he had been in long time, since beloved stepfather Kazai had been murdered. Things had certainly changed, and he knew that his father would be looking down proudly at him from heaven. Keeping that in his heart, Inari was determined to continue making his father proud of him. It had been, after all, because of Naruto that he was now embalmed with the hope that made people heroes.

That changed, however, the moment he entered the house he shared with his mother and grandfather. There was a silence in the air that sought to smother him its thickness. He had shuddered, knew that feeling because he had wished it would never return. Petrified, Inari had stood there, unable to move because he knew it the sensation that had permeated his home during Gatoh's reign of terror.

It was an air of despair.

Intuitively, Inari knew that someone had died.

He didn't even need to look at his mother, who was sitting at the table with a letter clutched in her hand, crying softly, to know that whoever had died had been close to them. And even if he had, her puffy eyes indication enough. So with tense trepidation, he wordless approached her, not sure whether he wanted to know what had happened or not. She had flinched when he placed a hand on her arm, her eyes rising to meet his own. They stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity before she let out a small sob and snatched him into a hug.

So he let her hold him until she found the composer to let him go. Trembling and hesitant, she had passed him the letter. He vaguely recognized the perfect writing to belong to Sakura, Naruto-niisan's other teammate - that pink haired harpy of a fangirl who crushed over emo-boy.

He could even remember the exact words in Sakura's letter too.

Dear Tsunami-san,

I wish that while writing to you, the first letter since our departure from Wave many months ago, that I had happier news to give you concerning the welfare of my team. Unfortunately, I regret to inform you of death of my teammate, Uzumaki Naruto, one week ago.

If that had been all she had had to say, Inari could have accepted that. He couldn't delude himself, since he knew that ninja lived dangerous lives and that Naruto-niisan was one of them. The fact that Naruto, the one who had given him the courage to fight back and carry on, was dead hurt a lot. As he had continued to read Sakura's letter, the pain only became worse.

Although I find myself questioning my better judgment, I have decided that you and your family are more then entitled to know exactly how he died - especially Inari, though it is your choice whether or not you tell him. The circumstances that lead to Naruto death, I regret, is partially my fault.

Eight days ago, our other teammate, Uchiha Sasuke, defected from Konoha. The reasons behind it are currently classified to civilians outside of Konohagakure no Sato, but I am sure that you will learn the whole story in the years to come. My fault in this matter is that I knew the aforementioned traitor planned to leave, but did nothing to stop him. I allowed my obsession with him to override my judgment as shinobi of my village - I had even dared commit treason myself, asking him to take me with him. He knocked my out instead.

Due to Sasuke's desertion, the Hokage dispatched a team of four genin and one chuunin to bring him back - Naruto included. Although we had our hopes, the mission was disastrous. Against extreme odds, they faced off against five foreign ninja intent on helping Sasuke reach his destination. Although four of our allies came to their aid, two of five were gravely injured, and it is still uncertain as to if they will survive.

Naruto is, as of yet, the only casualty. His death - murder - I hate to admit, was at the hands of Sasuke himself…

That was the day that Inari had vowed to kill Uchiha Sasuke.

In his anguish and in his anger, he began to plot his revenge. The fact that he was only eight and had no experience as a ninja in comparison to Sasuke, who was four years older and had been training to becoming a ninja before he could walk, Inari knew that he would need to become a ninja himself in order to have any chance at avenging his big brother.

For the first three and half years, he trained in secret. Having garnered all the information he could on various fighting styles and whatnot, Inari pushed himself to his limits while keeping in his heart what he held precious. The madness of Uchiha Sasuke was legendary and he was determined not become like the man he hated.

Then the year he turned twelve; his luck suddenly soared when he met retired shinobi named Hamaguri Shinju. The older man had sympathized with his tale, agreeing to take him as an apprentice if only Inari promised use the talents he would gain for the protection of the people and when it came to his revenge, to wait for the Uchiha to come to him.

And now he had come.

“Cat got your tongue Uchiha?” he taunted. “After have heard about all your `exploits', I'm rather disappointed. But then that makes this a whole lot easier for me now, doesn't it?”

Sasuke remained in indifferent. “You've grown a spine, I see.”

Inari felt his hackles rise.

“Of course. I grew up a long time ago. I had to grow up fast, because if I was ever going to have my chance of avenging Naruto-niisan, there was no room for childish indulgences.”

“That changes nothing.”

“I am a ninja now!”

The older man frowned; crossing his arms and Inari felt himself be penetrated with a gaze that was reserved for parents when reprimanding a naughty child.

“Shinobi or not Inari, you are only chuunin and most then likely, a green on at that. You are undoubtedly on sabbatical. Not only are you visiting your mother and grandfather, but you are also to participate in tonight's festival as well. Rest assured, if you were to engage me in battle, you would surely die.”

“I was apprenticed by Hamaguri Shinjuu!”

His enemy paused, cocking his head to the side. “Formidable. I commend you, since few are lucky enough to trained by a hero of Sea Country. Need I remind you, I have spent the last twelve years training under the Snake Sannin, Orochimaru? Now if you don't mind, I have to be finding someone before he gets himself into trouble.”

Inari growled, firing a round of crossbow bolts at the Uchiha in quick secession.

“You aren't going anywhere!”

Sasuke dodged all of them, even going as far to catch two in each hand. Spinning around to face him once more, and then raven-haired man lashed out by sending the bolts flying back at him. Relying on his reflexes, Inari dodged as well, but was unlucky with the last when he felt bitter pain is it sunk deeply into his right shoulder, just missing his collarbone by inches.

He stared down at it for a moment, and then with a howl, he ripped it out.

“That was your warning.” the Uchiha replied. “Do you still with to engage me so foolishly. I doubt Naruto would want you to get yourself killed.”

“What would you know, bastard!? You killed Naruto-niisan!”

And throwing caution to the wind, he attacked.

-.ooOoo.-

“Suiton: Tsuyoi Tsunami!”

Sasuke leapt back as great tidal wave rose up from the nearby shore and sought to crush him under its weight. But instead of dissipating when it crashed, the wave rose back up and sought to crush him again. This forced him to keep running while the wave kept lashing out, always seeking to consume the older nin. Pausing in mid leap, he gazed at Inari, and noticed that the boy was standing perfectly rigid.

Realizing what Inari was doing, he countered the coming attack with a jutsu of his own.

“Katon: Kaganami Toba Tate!”

This time Sasuke allowed the wave to strike home, but not before he protected himself with a shield of fire that coiled around him like a snake. When the two jutsu met, they canceled each other out, but not before giving the Uchiha within a minor steam burn.

Talking about steam, Inari was steamed. The kid actually had a rather indignant look upon his face. It was also most as if he had been expecting him to sit back and take it, but no Uchiha had ever done that. Assuming a loose stance, he motioned for the boy come at him, an offering the younger, inexperience, rage driven shinobi couldn't resist.

As soon as Inari was within two feet of him, Sasuke hands blurred in a few precisely seals. “Katon: Kemuri Kyuunyuu Moya!”

Taking a deep breath, the raven-haired man exhaled thick clouds vaporous smoke directly into his young attacker's face. Covering a fifty-yard radius, the smoke was it was like being smothered by a heavy blanket or being trapped inside a burning building with no way out. At its center, its creator stood with a vent of fresh, unaffected the burning fumes. And although he couldn't see him, Sasuke could hear Inari coughing and hacking, unable to find his way as he tried to flee suffocating haze.

“D-damn y-you to hell, Uchiha!” the boy shouted, choking on the bitter aroma.

Sasuke crossed his arms. “I warned you Inari, but you didn't listen. Will you give up this foolery or will I guess I have to teach you not to toy with me?”

“What? Y-you going to k-kill me too?”

Even though Inari's coughing had turned into weak wheezes, his voice was still stubborn and cocksure. Inwardly growling, the older man wanting nothing more then to deck the cocky brat upside the head, loathing to remember that he had been exactly the same at one time.

“No,” he replied tersely. “I didn't have that in mind but you are seriously making me reconsider the option.”

Forming a few seals, he allowed himself sink into the ground. As he vanished, the smoke dissipated and left the boy hacking his scalded lungs raw. Although he wasn't very good with Doton techniques, Doton: ShinjÅ« Zanshu no Jutsu was only D-rank. Do to that fact, it was one of his favorite techniques for sneaking up on people.

He had learned that the hard way during his genin test with Kakashi…

Above him, Inari had scrambled back to his feet and was fanning the last wisps of smoke out of face, searching for the now `missing' Uchiha. And with each breath he took, he winced.

“D-damn you Uchiha! W-where the h-hell are y-you!?” ” he yelled… or tried to yell, a hand on his burnt throat. “Come o-out and f-fight like m-man you c-coward!”

Deciding to oblige the boy, Sasuke came up underneath him and latched onto his feet. Seconds later, Inari let out a gasping yelp as he was pulled deeply into the earth, leaving only his neck sticking out. Rising back out of the ground, Sasuke stood before trapped youth, his arms crossed.

“Is that all you have?”

“F-fuck you!”

A dark eyebrow arched. “And still vaguer too…”

“Urusai! You d-don't k-know anything, b-bastard!”

“Whatever.” Sasuke turned, leaving the boy neck deep in the ground.

“Doshaburi!”

He whipped around; surprised that Inari was capable of sealless jutsus. Still coughing, the younger man smirked at him as thick roiling rain clouds appeared in the night sky above them and opened, furiously releasing their contents. The Uchiha leapt back, performing a pair of back flips that took him a good twenty - twenty-five feet away from Inari before the rain itself forced him to bow under the pressure.

It seemed to weigh a ton, pressing the raven-haired man down onto the muddy soil and was soaked to the bone. It would be good to know a few Raiton jutsus at times like these, if you knew the backlash of electricity would electrocute yourself as well. Raising his head, he watched as brown haired youth slowly wriggled out of his now muddy prison. Slicked with snotty soil, Inari pulled himself out of the whole and sat for a few moments, allowing the torrents of rain to wash him clean.

Sasuke forced himself to stand, to move, though his movements were sluggish due to the force of the rain upon him. Then Inari stood, and he moved unencumbered. The boy was upon his in an instant, striking out with a fighting style that the Uchiha recognized to be the Himatsuken. Inari was using his chakra to send him spinning, the Sharingan doing little to help. His eyes, at least, slowed down the younger man enough that Sasuke was allowed to maneuver blocks and counterstrikes at the right times, keeping most of the hits from striking home.

They dueled in the rain for what seemed like hours, though it was only a matter of minutes. The ground beneath their feet had become swampy, causing a few slip-ups every now and then. When it became clear that it was either now or never, the raven haired young man lashed out and gabbing Inari by the left forearm, bent it back and brought his other hand up against it so hard that the boy's elbow snapped.

A cry of pain rang out through the rain. Seconds later, it stopped.

Panting, Sasuke stood tall. He looked like a wraith with his hair hanging limp and wet, utterly drenched and muddy, but he was no less an imposing figure. He did so, Inari was busy scrambling away, cradling his abused arm close to him. Although it couldn't be seen, his elbow was so grossly dislocated.

“Are you ready to stop now?”

As Sasuke watched, he could see Inari bristling and knew that the boy was having trouble holding back his raging emotions. It was same way he had been when faced with Itachi for the first time after the slaughter of their clan.

“You, you - ”

“I don't have time for this…”

“Fuck you! You killed my nii-san and promised him that I'd make you pay! I didn't care what I had to learn or what I had to do, but I would do it if I knew I'd have a chance to kill you one day! I won't it all be for nothing just because I didn't train hard enough!”

That was when the normally stoic man's resolve finally snapped.

“It is the skills that make the ninja, Inari, it's the spirit!”

Inari filched reflexively, backing away as Sasuke took a menacing step forward.

“It was never about how much you learned or how much you achieved - Naruto taught me that! Konoha hailed me as a genius, but it was never enough. Back then, everything that wasn't related to my goal of killing my brother was trivial - nuisances that only served to get in my way. Don't you see?! I allowed my heart to be blackened be so that I wouldn't have to feel the pain. I closed myself off so that no one would ever be able to hurt me again. It's taken me nearly fifteen years to come to terms with the fact that I was wrong! Wrong, damn you! And the thing I hate more then being wrong is admitting that I was wrong. Naruto tried to help me, but I pushed him away because I didn't want him to get hurt because of me. In the end, he got hurt because me - because he cared about me! And you think I don't regret doing what I did? Naruto was my best friend; I only realized what I had once it was too late, and by then, it was already gone. I killed my best friend and I would gladly go to hell to pay for my sins!”

It was easy to see that Inari was stunned by the emotional outburst. He stood there for a moment, then his features hardened and he launched himself back into action.

“Then die!”

However…

“Sasuke-sensei! Tayuya-oneesama's got herself drunk as a skunk again and is causing a riot at the local bar. If you don't hurry, she might castrate someone!”

Unfortunately for the misguided youth before him, their fight had been ultimately interrupted, this time for the good. Sasuke didn't know whether to be thankful or not that Nanikato had arrived when he did. Deciding not to debate the thought any longer, he settled on a smirk.

“Were they hitting on her?”

“Yes.”

“Then let her castrate them. Any man desperate enough for that doesn't deserve the privilege to procreate.”

Nanikato scowled.

“That wasn't very nice.”

He allowed himself to laugh. “To who? The men or Tayuya?”

Turning back to his would be attacker; his smirk only grew at the look on Inari's face. It was almost worth it. The younger man's eyes had enlarged anime style and his jaw hung unhinged upon the ground. And although Sasuke felt undoubtedly guilty, since the boy had seen Naruto as his hero/older brother, nothing could beat the floundered expression on the younger man's face, as he stood frozen in mid lunge, the perfect intimation of a fish as he stared at the blonde haired boy whom had suddenly appeared in front of him.

Seconds later, he fainted.

The Uchiha sighed exasperated, rolling his eyes. For a moment he stood there, debating on whether or not her should just leave the unconscious younger man. But his conscience told him that if Naruto were here, the blonde wouldn't have left Inari. It didn't take a genius to know that Naruto would have wanted him to do the same.

Grumbling, Sasuke bent and hefted Inari's cumbersome deadweight over his shoulder. Turning back to the other blonde, he motioned for the boy to follow.

“Come on Nanikato. Lets go save those unfortunate men from being slaughtered by Tayuya, then take this burden,” he gestured to Inari. “Home.”

“Do you even know where he lives?” Nanikato asked skeptically.

“Of course.” Sasuke replied wistfully. “I remember like it were yesterday…”

-.ooOoo.-

Two Hours Later:

Tayuya cracked an eye and peered around her. Where was she? She didn't recognize the room she was in, which was bare only for a window that cast in a silvery light, the futon she had been sleeping upon and the cover that had slung over her.

Glancing about, she spotted a glass over water next to her bed and snatched it up. After a quick sniff, she cocked back her head and drank it in one gulp. She gagged, realizing that someone had `polluted' it with hangover tonic. Rubbing her tongue with the cover, she slipped off the futon and stumbled towards the door.

Stepping out, she found herself in a long hallway, a dim light shinning from the far end. Moving towards the light, Tayuya stumbled semi-drunkenly towards a flight of stares that led down into an open living room/dinning room. It was then that she realized where she was. The Uchiha had spoke on the house that his team's first client had lived in. although extensively remodeled; it looked exactly how he had described it.

“Tayuya-oneesama!”

The red haired woman yelped as she lost her footing due to a certain blonde, and finished her decent of the stairs on her ass. At the bottom of stairs, Nanikato was grinning sheepishly at her.

“Gomen. I'm really - ”

She bopped him over the head.

“Shut it gaki! My head hurts!”

He leered at her. “Then you shouldn't drink so much Count Drunkula!”

She hit him over the head again. Once that was done, she turned to the table were Sasuke and two older adults were sitting. One was a woman with long, dark hair that was beginning to gray. She looked to be about forty or so. The other was an old man who looked to be in his early seventies. They were Tsunami and Tazuna, if she remembered correctly. Sasuke's first clients.

The trio was tense, each one staring at each other out of the corner of their eyes, as if waiting for something to attack. There other eyes, however, were now trained on her. Gazing around, her gaze traveled to the couch, where a young man of about twenty lay sleep, his left arm looking rather purple. And this would have to be Inari, Tsunami's son.

“I'm so glad your awake onee-sama.” Nanikato gibbered. “They been so silent for that last two hours and as much as I like peace and quiet, this is crazy.” he pointed an accusatory finger at the older pair. “And they keep looking at me funny, but won't say a word! Not ever Sasuke-sensei will!”

`If only you knew gaki, if only you knew.' she though, yawned then finally said out loud “So what am I suppose to do about it? Have you ever tried to bake up the Uchiha when he's having a staring contest? You haven't, have you?”

“Tayuya, Nanikato…” It was Sasuke speaking, his voice strained. “Would you please clam down?”

The redhead whirled on him. “And what is this about?” she snapped.

Sasuke didn't answer, but a groan from the coach did.

All eyes turned to where the boy, who had been passed out when she came down, was laying. He groaned again, rolling over onto his wounded arm and yelped. He sat bolt upright, clutching his arm and then his head.

Tayuya watched as he looked around wearily, he gazing finally landing on his mother without paying anyone else any heed.

“Kaa-san… I had the weirdest dream. I swear I thought I saw Naruto-niisan alive.”

Then there was silence.

Then to everyone surprise, Nanikato exploded into excited babble.

“You knew Naruto-niisan?!” he gasped. “When he was alive!? Oh Kami! I didn't think that I would was ever going to meet anyone who knew him! What like!? Tell me please!?”

Silence redoubled for a moment, then Sasuke's chair clattered with a bang to the ground.

“H-how do y-you…” he stuttered, face pale.

Nanikato looked at him, beaming. “How do I know nii-san?” he asked. “Well he was my guardian angel, of course. He protected me all my life till by my bloodline kicked in - actually, he gave it too me as a parting. Did you know Naruto-niisan too? He told me that I had had eight brothers too, but they had died. Can you tell me what happened to them? Or maybe about my family? Kabuto-san wouldn't tell me anything when I asked…”

Tayuya gaze switched between the Uchiha, who had long lost all the blood in his face, and the boy who had just woken up, who's jaw was hanging comically slack.

“What?” the blonde asked, staring at Sasuke's ashen face.

And then there was more silence.

“I… think you should come with me.” the raven-haired man said, his voice no louder then a whisper. “I have something I… need to tell you.”

And she watched as Sasuke led the confused blonde out of dinning room and in the kitchen. Deciding that they were going to be awhile, the young woman sat down at the table. It only served as trading places with the Uchiha, as now the three strangers were now staring at her, and she was staring at them.

“Yeah?” she asked. “You got something to say or you just going to fucking stare at me?”

The two men bristled, but refrained from speaking a word, as the woman's lips became a thin line.

“I don't like vulgar speech used in my house, thank you,” she said, her voice just as strained as Sasuke's had been.

“So? I've always fucking spoke like this. Throws the bastards off and keeps the dipshits from talking back, `cause really now, who wants some violent bitch shoving something nice and hard up your ass? It doesn't really matter if they are men or women - if they piss me off, they pay. As for this being your house, I don't really fuck'n give a damn. I'd rather be not be here, but I kinda have my otouto to look out for and the Uchiha currently has him indisposed.”

She sat back with a smirk, her boots on the table as they continued to stare at her, but this time with weary fear. It was one of the perks of not only being a S-rank shinobi, but one tough cookie as well.

She was about to say more when suddenly the kitchen door opened with a bang, causing everyone to jump as Nanikato burst out. The redhead stood only to, to her surprise, be bowled over by the twelve year old as he shot past like a bat out of hell. Regaining her baring, the flute wielder stood in time to hear the door bang open and then slam closed again. She stood there a moment, blinking, unable to comprehend what had just happened before it clicked.

Growling, she stormed towards the kitchen and threw open the door, preparing to yell at the Uchiha when she stopped short. Slumped over the kitchen sink, was Sasuke. His head bowed, his hands covering his face. She remained rooted to the spot for only a moment before she whirled around and left the room as quickly as she had came. But before she had left, he had heard something. A soft sobbing muffled only by hands.

It was be the first time she had ever had ever seen him cry…

-.ooOoo.-

He ran blind, not knowing where his feet were taking him. It was like a haze hung over him, burning the fragile heart within his chest. Voices ran out in his mind, bringing forth tears that sought to strangle the life out of him. A sob rose unbidden from his throat, bursting free like a soap bubble being popped. But he was unable to hold it back and crying freely now, Nanikato collapsed next to the bridge the stretched across the sea, connecting Wave Country with Fire Country. He hugged his legs to him, his head bowed as he tried to block the memories of the events that had only minutes ago transpired.

He didn't want to believe what he know knew to be the truth. Swallowing, he swiped at his tears and tried to massage the lump out of his throat. With a hand over his weeping heart, the bitter memories of what had taken place between his sense and himself flooded his mind again.

- Flashback -

Teacher and student entered the kitchen in silence. Nanikato could feel the hairs on the back of his neck rising, his stomach doing acrobatics from the air of apprehension that hung over the little room like a smog.

“S-Sasuke-sensei… what is this about?” he asked, uncertain whether he should speak or not.

Sasuke didn't look at him, rather stared out the window above the kitchen sink.

“What has Kabuto told you about yourself?”

The blonde shook his head. “Nothing. What has this got to do with Naruto-niisan?”

“Everything.” Sasuke replied instantly, hands were clenching and unclenching, blood dripping from where his fingernails had bitten into his palm. “Have you ever wondered why you have no memories of a childhood? Why you only remember starting about a year ago?”

“I-I don't know. Amnesia maybe?”

“No, not amnesia. The thing is, you didn't even technically exist until then. You were growing to that point, like unborn babies do in their mother's wombs.”

“But that doesn't make any sense.” he protested.

“You know that Naruto is dead right?”

“Yes.”

“You know that you look like him right?”

“Yes.”

“Good, then I hope you will understand exactly what I am about to tell you. I did not know of your existence until the day you were `born'. You see, soon after Naruto died, Kabuto defiled his honor. He stole some of blood and used it in a series of experiments. You and eight others, your brothers, were the product of his insane mind. Although you and Naruto are two completely different people in mind and soul, you share the exact same genetic makeup. He… you… ”

Nanikato swallowed hard. “Y-yes…”

“You are Naruto's clone.”

His mind went blank for a moment.

Clone?

Copy…

“Y-you mean to tell me that I… he… I was created from him?”

Sasuke nodded slowly. “Exactly.”

But how did Sasuke-sensei know Naruto-niisan?

“The truth, Nanikato,” the raven-haired man finally said, his voice nothing more then a whisper, as if he knew what the blonde was thinking. “Is always the hardest thing to accept. I… I should have told you this when I first met you, but I didn't know how. Believe it or not, I was afraid of how you would react, but there is no backing out now. So let me tell you a story that is not for the faint of heart.”

The blonde shivered, watching his sensei as the man turned around to face him. He was shocked when the Uchiha looked down at him, and there were tears in his normally cold onyx eyes. The glassy droplets shimmered on his dark lashes for a moment, overflowing and then creating tiny rivers down the older man's pale cheeks.

“Twelve years ago, when I was the age that you are now, I did something so terrible that I will regret it for the rest of my life. I had a best friend once, one that I had taken for granted. You may have heard of this story, but you haven't heard the real version. You see... this friend of mine did everything in his power to keep me from save me from my own darkness. But I was fading and I didn't want to be saved. But that didn't stop him. No, he was as stubborn as a mule and no matter how much I struggled against him; he was willing to give up anything for me. H-he succeeded, but it cost him his life…”

Sasuke looked away again, his voice becoming thick with pain.

A pain that had never healed.

“I-I was one that took his life - I killed my best friend when he was only trying to save me. There hasn't been a day that's past when I don't wish that I could go back and change what happened. You can hate me now, if that is what you want. I can accept that - I'd deserve that. But if it wasn't for Naruto, you wouldn't be here.”

Nanikato blanched.

“Y-you mean that Naruto-niisan was your friend?” he gasped, his mind spinning.

Sasuke nodded.

Then he suddenly remembered something that Kabuto had told him long ago. He had told him that Sasuke-sensei had a hard time adjusting to him because he had looked like his best friend whom had died in his arms. But if the friend that had looked like him was Naruto-niisan and Naruto-niisan was…

“But then… you mean… you…”

“Yes - I killed Naruto.”

Nanikato stumbled away from the older, his blue eyes growing wide in horror. Tears threatened to fall as Sasuke reached a hand towards him, but he flinched away and ran.

“I hate you.”

- End Flashback -

None of it seemed possible, though in his heart he knew it was true. He, Kyuuzano Nanikato, was a clone, a replica, a duplicate, a copy, a double…

A fraud.

Was he really just Naruto-niisan's shadow? He might have his own soul, but what did that make him? Kabuto-san had created him from the blood of a boy that had died - his brother! Why hadn't nii-san told him that when he first met him, before he had gone to heaven? It didn't seem fair at all. Why - how could Naruto-niisan do something like that to him!?

And Sasuke-sensei… sensei had been the one the to kill him.

“What are you doing out here all by yourself so late? You could catch a cold you know.”

Nanikato gasped, looking up in shock to find himself staring at one of the prettiest girls he had ever seen. Or was she a boy? Some nagging sensation in the back of mind told him it was the latter. Looking up, he could also see that the boy before him was also shocked, as though he couldn't be there.

“N-Naruto-kun?”

The blonde recoiled as if struck, looking away.

“Gomen!” the boy said, kneeling beside him and placing a pale hand on his shoulder. “I didn't mean to offend you, but - ”

He shivered, sensing that there was something odd about that touch. This stranger, he suddenly realized, was dead! Like Tanabata-hime, he was ghost. Eyes wide, he could barely believe it. While had seen lots of ghosts in Oto, Tanabata-hime had possessed the strongest spiritual presence, as the others were slowly fading toward moving on. This boy was like her.

“But I look like my nii-san. Its not your fault.”

The stranger's soulful brown eyes widened. “I didn't know that Naruto-kun had a brother.”

Nanikato gritted his teeth, forcing his emotions back. “He didn't.”

“Ano? Please explain?”

It was then that really began to understand what was happen. That this ghost had known Naruto-niisan when he was alive!

“Your name. Please tell me your name first.”

“My name? Its Haku.”

He smiled softly. “Arigatou. Mine is Nanikato.”

And with a tired sigh, he began to tell Haku his story. He didn't embellish anything, reciting everything he knew to be true and factual. He told Haku about what happened to Naruto and what Kabuto-san had done to him - all of what Sasuke-sensei had just told him. He told him about how he had been raised as a shinobi of Otogakure, how his sensei was Uchiha Sasuke, about his powers and about Tanabata-hime.

From there, he spoke about meeting Naruto and how he learned that he had had eight brothers that had died. As he described his feelings of utter aloneness and his struggle with his self-identity, he slowly moved on to how he met Tayuya-oneesama, how he Orochimaru's curse seal and how Sasuke decided to get them out of Oto.

It was when he finally got to the point where he told Haku about who and what he was, that Nanikato began to cry again.

“Hush, hush. Its alright.” Haku sympathized, patting him on the back. “I may not have know Naruto-kun for very long, but I do know that he wouldn't want you to feeling this way. I don't know what circumstance in why he didn't tell you the truth, but I do know what it like to be dead. We have rule when it comes to who we can effect and how we are allowed to affect them. It mustn't have been his place to tell you.”

The blonde sniffed. “So… how did you meet nii-san?”

The beautiful boy laughed softly.

“I met Naruto-kun during Wave Country's Great Depression. There was a tyrant known as Gatoh that ruled this nation and made life for the people miserable. The bridge that lies behind you was going to change that. Gatoh didn't want that, so he hired assassins to kill the man who was building it, my master Zabuza and I being two of them. Because of this, your nii-san and his genin team, which included your sensei, was hired to protect him. I met Naruto-kun in disguise, hoping to learn he and team's weaknesses for the sake for my mission. In the end we fought and I died protecting my master from his sensei. Zabuza-sama did avenge me, killing Gatoh and freeing the people of Wave from his tyranny. But it was because of your nii-san that the people of this village found the courage to fight back as well. Look.”

Haku gestured to something that behind his head, and Nanikato turned to see what it was. Eyes widening, the blonde read in the darkness the inscription that was emblazoned upon a large metal plaque fastened to the stone side, a monument for all to see.

The Great Naruto Bridge

In dedication to a hero that gave hope

back to the people

“Sugoi…”

“Yes. Your nii-san was a hero. To him, everyone was precious. It didn't matter if he didn't know them or if they had hurt or if they were the enemy. He was willing to give people second chances and he was willing to protect those he cares about with his life. In my opinion, that is the greatest kind of hero.”

Nanikato chuckled softly. “Arigatou Haku-nii.”

The brunette spirit blushed crimson, which the blonde didn't think was possible for a ghost. “So tell me Nanikato-kun, do you have a precious person? Someone that you would be willing to protect with you life?”

The blonde fell silent. A precious person? Did he really have one of those? Laughing inwardly, he realized that he already did.

In fact, he had two.

The first was Sasuke-sensei. Did he really hate him like he had say back the house? No, not really. It was strange; since the older man cared about him not just because he looked he looked like Naruto-niisan and was trying to atone for past sins, but because he had grown beyond his own fears and come to care for the boy like a brother or a father would. Although things had been rough at the start, Uchiha Sasuke had earned a place in his heart and he was sure that Naruto would have proud.

The other was Tayuya-oneesama. Although the red-haired woman was as fowl and brutal as ten men, she become the older sister that he didn't have. While she never really struck him as someone that cared for others, like she described her time as one of the Sound Four, she had made an exception when it came to him. That very thought warmed his heart.

“Yes, I have precious people.” Nanikato smiled. Sasuke-sensei and Tayuya-oneesama were his family - his precious people.

Then Nanikato began to ponder something, rubbing his right wrist thoughtfully.

“Hey Haku-nii, would mind if I asked you something?”

“Haku nii-san, I was wondering something.”

Haku blinked. “Sure. What is it?”

“Well I have this summoning contract that allows me to summon ghosts…”

-.ooOoo.-

In the Forest:

Ever since Nanikato had run away from him in the kitchen at Tazuna and Tsunami's house, Sasuke had left Tayuya there and began to wander. His wandering had taken him away from the village and into the forest, the same one that Team Seven had trained in all those years ago.

He laughed softly, admiring the trees that sported the scared bark in middle the small grove where they had practiced tree climbing for the first time. There was even a few rusty kunai embedded in them, icons of an era past, marking the progress of a couple of kids. This place was… sacred. As he stood there, he could still here their voices - Naruto complaining, Sakura fawning and himself brooding.

It was almost as he had stepped into the past and was experiencing it all over again.

Reaching out, he touched the marks on a certain tree. If he remembered correctly, this was the tree that Naruto had butchered during that dreaded day of chakra control practice. Just being here made it feel like all of it had happened only yesterday and not more then twelve years ago.

Turning his back and leaning against the tree, he allowed himself to slide till he was sitting at its base. Think of Naruto had its good sides and its bad sides. Right now, its bad side was thinking of Nanikato. The boy had looked so hurt when he had run off like that. As much as he wanted to follow, his better judgment had told him let the boy go. If Nanikato decided to forgive him, it would be by his own choosing.

“Naruto, I know you weren't the brightest crayon in the box, but you did know how to get yourself out of messes like this. Damn, I don't know what to do.” he sighed, leaning his head back against the tree so that he could look through the canopy and at the stars. “Please… tell me what I should do.”

And unbeknownst to him, he was being watched. There was no ill intent directed at him as a solitary figure with a monstrous sword strapped to his back, unseen by normal human eyes, smiled.

`Perhaps there is hope for you yet Uchiha.'

-.ooOoo.-

Translations/Original Jutsus:

Hamaguri - Clam

Shinju - Pearl

Suiton: Tsuyoi Tsunami/Water Release: Mighty Tidal Wave - upper C-rank ninjutsu. This technique creates a massive wave that is semi-sentient, link to the mind of its creator. If the attack misses, the wave can reform and attack again until it is either destroyed or the user runs out of chakra.

Katon: Kaganami Toba Tate/Fire Release: Inferno Coil Shield - mid to upper B-rank ninjutsu. This technique creates hellfire in the form of a large coiled shield. It coils around the one its intended to protect and it able to block all forms of elemental attacks up to A-rank.

Katon: Kemuri Kyuunyuu Moya/Fire Release: Smoke Inhalation Haze - lower C-rank ninjutsu. This technique creates a vast haze of smoke much like the mists created by Kirigakure no Jutsu. The smoke, so thick and harsh, slowly causing first degree burns within the throat and lungs of those who inhale its fumes.

Doshaburi/Downpour - mid to upper C-rank ninjutsu. This technique creates a massive rainstorm without the use of seals and is used to temporally blind and slowdown one's opponent. Although it was initially created in Rain Country, it is frequently used by all shinobi of the water-based nations.

Himatsuken/Splash Fist - upper C-rank to lower B-rank taijutsu. This fighting style focuses, much like the Hyuuga's Gentle Fist, to force out blasts of chakra. The blasts of chakra are issued from one hand, allowing its user to throw their opponent off balance while the other hand homes in for a devastating blow, if placed right.