Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Tomorrow That Never Comes ❯ Chapter 14: Seein' Red ( Chapter 14 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Xander B 
Anime/Manga: Naruto Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Drama / Action / Shounen | Type: Yaoi | Uploaded On: 06.10.2008 | Updated On: 07.10.2008 | Pages: 1 | Words: 1.7K | Visits: 471 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: Naruto Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Drama / Action / Shounen | Type: Yaoi | Uploaded On: 06.10.2008 | Updated On: 07.10.2008 | Pages: 1 | Words: 1.7K | Visits: 471 | Status: Completed
Tomorrow That Never Comes
Warnings: Swearing, angst, OOCness, slight violence, MAJOR SPOILERS from chapters 395 on, etc...
~How can you ask for forgiveness?So now you think that your crimes are victimless?I know you and your sinsYour retributionsSo how will you lay your penance down?We all pay in timeSo how will you clear you conscienceWhen your clock unwinds?I've heard enough of your forked tongueHow do you know when the cuts are deep enough?I know you like your stabsYour preemptive attacksBut how will you hold your demons down?~
- “Little Bombs” by Dashboard Confessionals
Chapter 14: Seein' Red
The first few weeks with Aki were hell, but we survived, Naruto and I. Thank God Haru is a heavy sleeper. She's been doing so well at the academy. Aki has grown so much in the last few months and her eyes have not changed. They're still the amethyst color with the Sharingan. She's the first female and the youngest person to ever show it in the history of the Uchiha Clan and I don't know exactly what it means. Perhaps, Naruto and I are starting a new clan, with a new bloodline limit. Even Tsunade doesn't know what all of it means. I guess it means that we'll all just have to wait until Aki is old enough to put it to use.
Naruto and I are on our way to pick up Haru from the Academy. It's a beautiful March day; warm enough even for just sweaters and the sun is shining brightly in the sky. Aki is held securely in my arms; her tiny platinum pigtails tickling my neck and chin as she gurgles at the passing birds, her chubby arms reaching for them playfully. Naruto smiles at the two of us as he walks next to me. I grin. It seems that things are perfect, so perfect in fact, that I am becoming uneasy. Something must be lurking in the shadows, waiting to shatter this peace.
We reach the Academy shortly and wait as the children file out. After several minutes, there is still no sign of our daughter. Fearing that she may have gotten into some trouble today, Naruto and I make our way inside. Iruka greets us with a large smile which quickly falls with the worry I am sure is written clearly on our faces.
“Iruka, where's Haru? We came to pick her up.” Naruto asks, his voice gaining pitch as he realizes that she is not with her teacher. Iruka looks completely confused.
“Haru? She didn't attend class today. I got a call this morning from Sasuke, or at least I thought it was Sasuke saying that she was ill. I was just going to ask you how she was feeling when you walked in.” He explains, his eyes becoming filled with worry as well. Naruto looks at me, fear apparent on his face and we are moving before I have a chance to blink.
I hold Aki tightly to my chest and she whines slightly at being squished, but she doesn't cry. It seems as if she senses the seriousness of the situation. Naruto and I rush back to the compound, frantic to find Haru. Who could have taken her? The council?
My question is soon to be answered. As we step into our shared home, the door left unlocked as always, we don't even remove our shoes before moving into the kitchen. I stop abruptly in my tracks, Naruto banging into me from behind since he hadn't been expecting me to stop in the doorway. “Sasuke, what is it?” He asks before peering around me. He gasps.
“Hello little brother.” The voice sends shivers down my spine as memories flash within my mind. I close my eyes, willing it not to be real, but when I open them, the scene remains the same.
There in the middle of the kitchen sits Itachi, Haru sitting happily on his knee. He has an arm around her tiny waist and he smiles at us. I feel as though I might be sick or cry or collapse, perhaps even all three. Haru smiles.
“Tou-san, how come you never told me that you had a brother?” She asks innocently; she doesn't know that she could be in danger. I want to plead with my brother, beg him not to hurt her. Aki squirms in my arms and Naruto reaches to take her from me. I let him, shock making my arms compliant.
“Itachi. What are you doing here?” I ask, my voice quivering just the slightest. I am not sure which is worse, the anger or the fear.
“I've come to make things right. I didn't know you had started the clan again.” He replies, gesturing to Haru with his unoccupied hand. He doesn't move his head, his coal-colored eyes trained on me. I swallow reflexively.
“I thought you were dead. Itachi, please...” I trail off quietly. I could feel my body shaking uncontrollably. Naruto stood still, shushing Aki as he bounced her in his arms, tears pooling in his eyes.
“Please what brother?” Itachi doesn't move at all, Haru hugging him, her tiny arms around his neck.
“Don't hurt her.” I whisper.
“Don't worry Tou-san, Oji-san can't see anymore. See?” Haru says as she waves a hand in front of Itachi's face in demonstration. Realization dawns on me. Itachi is blind. The Sharingan had ruined his eyes.
“You- You're really blind?” I ask. Itachi bows his head.
“I have lost my sight, my power, my family. I am eternally alone with no purpose. I was forced to kill my own family, our whole clan. I was sent as a spy by the council and I had discovered the conspiracies of our father and the elders of our clan. They'd planned to overthrow the Hokage, to take over Konoha. It was my mission to annihilate them and to become the traitor, the scapegoat to save the name of Uchiha from further shame. The council placed the burden on my shoulders.” He speaks softly, not raising his head. I stare at him. He seems a broken man. He's not lying. How can what he says be true? I want to scream. All of this time I had spent hating him for a crime he had no choice but commit. How could the council have asked him to do what had been done? How had they been able to ask him to slaughter the ones who shared his blood? How could they have left me with no family, allowing me to hate the only brother I'd ever had, the only family I had left?
Hatred filled me, but not hatred for the sad man before me but for the members of the council who left me filled with hate for my brother and condemned him for a sin the asked him to commit. I hated them more than I had ever hated anyone before. I grit my teeth, words escaping me.
“Do you pity me brother?” Itachi asks, his voice quiet with shame. I shook in my place by the door and breathed deeply to get control of myself.
“No. I don't pity you Aniki, I forgive you.” I reply, my voice filled with raw emotion. From next to me I hear Naruto gasp.
“Sasuke, are you sure?” He asks me, unsure if he should believe what I've said. I nod.
“He's telling the truth. He has nothing left to lose. To lie would be pointless.” I say in explanation. Naruto nods in silence. Itachi's face is a mask of shock. He hadn't been expecting such an answer from me. Haru hugs him tighter and slowly, very slowly his arms come up to return the embrace.
“You forgive me?” He asks incredulously as Haru climbs down from his lap and moves to hug my legs happily.
Naruto steps forward slowly coming to stand before my older brother. “Itachi, would you like to meet your other niece?” he asks, Aki squirming in his arms.
“There are two of them?” Itachi inquires quietly. I smile silently to myself. It must have been so long since Itachi had been anywhere near children that he could play with and hold.
“Yes, her name is Aki. Would you like to hold her?” Naruto replies as he holds Aki out towards Itachi. Itachi's arms instinctively reach out to receive her. He cradles her carefully within his arms as though he's afraid he might break her. Naruto watches over them and I move to stand next to him, watching my brother hold my baby. Haru holds my hand as we wait for Itachi to speak.
Aki giggles and smile in his arms and he lifts her to his face, a smile pulling at his lips, a real smile. Aki reaches out her hands and places them over Itachi's eyes, staring at him and gurgling happily. When Itachi opens his eyes again, he jumps slightly as his eyes meet my daughter's. I don't understand the surprise that's etched on his face.
“I can see...” he whispers, staring wide-eyed at my baby.
TBC...
Yes, I am alive. I know you've been waiting forever for this update, so I know it is short like all the others, but I hope to be able to update again soon. I hope you all enjoyed the chapter and I know it is a cliffy, but I'll give you more later. Review please. You know I love hearing what you all have to say.
Angel
Warnings: Swearing, angst, OOCness, slight violence, MAJOR SPOILERS from chapters 395 on, etc...
~How can you ask for forgiveness?So now you think that your crimes are victimless?I know you and your sinsYour retributionsSo how will you lay your penance down?We all pay in timeSo how will you clear you conscienceWhen your clock unwinds?I've heard enough of your forked tongueHow do you know when the cuts are deep enough?I know you like your stabsYour preemptive attacksBut how will you hold your demons down?~
- “Little Bombs” by Dashboard Confessionals
Chapter 14: Seein' Red
The first few weeks with Aki were hell, but we survived, Naruto and I. Thank God Haru is a heavy sleeper. She's been doing so well at the academy. Aki has grown so much in the last few months and her eyes have not changed. They're still the amethyst color with the Sharingan. She's the first female and the youngest person to ever show it in the history of the Uchiha Clan and I don't know exactly what it means. Perhaps, Naruto and I are starting a new clan, with a new bloodline limit. Even Tsunade doesn't know what all of it means. I guess it means that we'll all just have to wait until Aki is old enough to put it to use.
Naruto and I are on our way to pick up Haru from the Academy. It's a beautiful March day; warm enough even for just sweaters and the sun is shining brightly in the sky. Aki is held securely in my arms; her tiny platinum pigtails tickling my neck and chin as she gurgles at the passing birds, her chubby arms reaching for them playfully. Naruto smiles at the two of us as he walks next to me. I grin. It seems that things are perfect, so perfect in fact, that I am becoming uneasy. Something must be lurking in the shadows, waiting to shatter this peace.
We reach the Academy shortly and wait as the children file out. After several minutes, there is still no sign of our daughter. Fearing that she may have gotten into some trouble today, Naruto and I make our way inside. Iruka greets us with a large smile which quickly falls with the worry I am sure is written clearly on our faces.
“Iruka, where's Haru? We came to pick her up.” Naruto asks, his voice gaining pitch as he realizes that she is not with her teacher. Iruka looks completely confused.
“Haru? She didn't attend class today. I got a call this morning from Sasuke, or at least I thought it was Sasuke saying that she was ill. I was just going to ask you how she was feeling when you walked in.” He explains, his eyes becoming filled with worry as well. Naruto looks at me, fear apparent on his face and we are moving before I have a chance to blink.
I hold Aki tightly to my chest and she whines slightly at being squished, but she doesn't cry. It seems as if she senses the seriousness of the situation. Naruto and I rush back to the compound, frantic to find Haru. Who could have taken her? The council?
My question is soon to be answered. As we step into our shared home, the door left unlocked as always, we don't even remove our shoes before moving into the kitchen. I stop abruptly in my tracks, Naruto banging into me from behind since he hadn't been expecting me to stop in the doorway. “Sasuke, what is it?” He asks before peering around me. He gasps.
“Hello little brother.” The voice sends shivers down my spine as memories flash within my mind. I close my eyes, willing it not to be real, but when I open them, the scene remains the same.
There in the middle of the kitchen sits Itachi, Haru sitting happily on his knee. He has an arm around her tiny waist and he smiles at us. I feel as though I might be sick or cry or collapse, perhaps even all three. Haru smiles.
“Tou-san, how come you never told me that you had a brother?” She asks innocently; she doesn't know that she could be in danger. I want to plead with my brother, beg him not to hurt her. Aki squirms in my arms and Naruto reaches to take her from me. I let him, shock making my arms compliant.
“Itachi. What are you doing here?” I ask, my voice quivering just the slightest. I am not sure which is worse, the anger or the fear.
“I've come to make things right. I didn't know you had started the clan again.” He replies, gesturing to Haru with his unoccupied hand. He doesn't move his head, his coal-colored eyes trained on me. I swallow reflexively.
“I thought you were dead. Itachi, please...” I trail off quietly. I could feel my body shaking uncontrollably. Naruto stood still, shushing Aki as he bounced her in his arms, tears pooling in his eyes.
“Please what brother?” Itachi doesn't move at all, Haru hugging him, her tiny arms around his neck.
“Don't hurt her.” I whisper.
“Don't worry Tou-san, Oji-san can't see anymore. See?” Haru says as she waves a hand in front of Itachi's face in demonstration. Realization dawns on me. Itachi is blind. The Sharingan had ruined his eyes.
“You- You're really blind?” I ask. Itachi bows his head.
“I have lost my sight, my power, my family. I am eternally alone with no purpose. I was forced to kill my own family, our whole clan. I was sent as a spy by the council and I had discovered the conspiracies of our father and the elders of our clan. They'd planned to overthrow the Hokage, to take over Konoha. It was my mission to annihilate them and to become the traitor, the scapegoat to save the name of Uchiha from further shame. The council placed the burden on my shoulders.” He speaks softly, not raising his head. I stare at him. He seems a broken man. He's not lying. How can what he says be true? I want to scream. All of this time I had spent hating him for a crime he had no choice but commit. How could the council have asked him to do what had been done? How had they been able to ask him to slaughter the ones who shared his blood? How could they have left me with no family, allowing me to hate the only brother I'd ever had, the only family I had left?
Hatred filled me, but not hatred for the sad man before me but for the members of the council who left me filled with hate for my brother and condemned him for a sin the asked him to commit. I hated them more than I had ever hated anyone before. I grit my teeth, words escaping me.
“Do you pity me brother?” Itachi asks, his voice quiet with shame. I shook in my place by the door and breathed deeply to get control of myself.
“No. I don't pity you Aniki, I forgive you.” I reply, my voice filled with raw emotion. From next to me I hear Naruto gasp.
“Sasuke, are you sure?” He asks me, unsure if he should believe what I've said. I nod.
“He's telling the truth. He has nothing left to lose. To lie would be pointless.” I say in explanation. Naruto nods in silence. Itachi's face is a mask of shock. He hadn't been expecting such an answer from me. Haru hugs him tighter and slowly, very slowly his arms come up to return the embrace.
“You forgive me?” He asks incredulously as Haru climbs down from his lap and moves to hug my legs happily.
Naruto steps forward slowly coming to stand before my older brother. “Itachi, would you like to meet your other niece?” he asks, Aki squirming in his arms.
“There are two of them?” Itachi inquires quietly. I smile silently to myself. It must have been so long since Itachi had been anywhere near children that he could play with and hold.
“Yes, her name is Aki. Would you like to hold her?” Naruto replies as he holds Aki out towards Itachi. Itachi's arms instinctively reach out to receive her. He cradles her carefully within his arms as though he's afraid he might break her. Naruto watches over them and I move to stand next to him, watching my brother hold my baby. Haru holds my hand as we wait for Itachi to speak.
Aki giggles and smile in his arms and he lifts her to his face, a smile pulling at his lips, a real smile. Aki reaches out her hands and places them over Itachi's eyes, staring at him and gurgling happily. When Itachi opens his eyes again, he jumps slightly as his eyes meet my daughter's. I don't understand the surprise that's etched on his face.
“I can see...” he whispers, staring wide-eyed at my baby.
TBC...
Yes, I am alive. I know you've been waiting forever for this update, so I know it is short like all the others, but I hope to be able to update again soon. I hope you all enjoyed the chapter and I know it is a cliffy, but I'll give you more later. Review please. You know I love hearing what you all have to say.
Angel