Categories > Anime/Manga > Naruto > Innocence From Ashes
Innocence From Ashes
Chapter 14
When the girl had stammered out his name, Naruto had felt a frisson of recognition. He’d never been alone before, and here, perhaps, was someone that would help him find his missing family. Not to mention, she held in her left hand a rather large basket, and the aroma of something insanely delicious wafted out.
“Hi!” He chirped welcomingly, nostrils quivering. He’d had nothing to eat since a light snack before they had gained the river, and he was very hungry. Hunger, like loneliness, was something new to him.
“Moegi, dammit, where are you?” A young male voice came from the bank of trees that separated them from Konoha. “I’m tired, and we’ve been working on repairs for forever. Can we please stop and eat now?”
The girl, Moegi, was still frozen in shock, unable to answer. And when Konohamaru finally shook off the last tendril of dripping vine, he understood why.
“Naruto-niisan!” And then he was confused. He’d seen this boy just yesterday, even if it seemed a lifetime ago, and he’d been much smaller and younger. However, like then, Konohamaru recognized his most precious person immediately. It also didn’t hurt that Naruto now looked exactly the same age as he’d been when Sasuke had stolen him seven years ago. It was like those terrible years had never happened.
Naruto laughed sheepishly, reaching up to scratch the back of his head in such a trademark gesture both boy and girl almost burst into tears.
“Hey, I remember you. You were with those people yesterday, weren’t you?”
That clinched it! Obviously the Kyuubi magic that had brought this wondrous creature back from the dead was still at work. Konohamaru nodded slowly, his brain squirming in his skull for something to say. Needless to say, Sakura, apparently completely recovered from the mental instability that had plagued her since she watched Naruto die, and Hinata, now frighteningly forceful, had cornered him the previous day and almost flagellated him for bringing up the blonde man’s death.
But god, how he loved him, had missed him, and dreamt of bringing him home, and now, here he was, blonde and bright and god, so alive, less than two miles from Konoha itself. In fact, just beyond the trees was Udon’s old farmhouse, and though that particular boy was still out on the east side of town with his repair team, the two of them practically lived with Udon’s family.
Which was why they were here, now, taking what they believed was a much deserved rest from their own repair team on the north side of town. Moegi, as in love with Konohamaru as Sakura used to be with Sasuke, had made sure to be on the same team with him.
The loud and ferocious growling of Naruto’s stomach broke the tense moment, and Moegi gave a high nervous giggle. She’d been so terribly afraid that a move or a word would send this obviously wild boy back into hiding, and that would break her Konohamaru’s heart. Not to mention, no matter what, this boy before her was Boss! And he was here, now, and she would cement his appearance with food. Always worked with Naruto before. A ludicrous notion of luring Naruto back to Konoha with a trail of food assaulted her mind, and she giggled again, more easily this time.
“Well,” she said, deciding one patch of moist ground was as good as another, “let’s eat!”
Her words jarred her boyfriend from his mental labors, and he nodded, snapping the red and white checked blanket over his arm out, and spreading it over the ground. And he was suddenly blinded by an idea.
Ramen.
Sweet ramen. Salty, tasty, the nectar of the gods. If there was one thing Naruto had drilled into Konohamaru’s head, it was of the importance and deification of Ichiraku’s ramen. And Konohamaru was a devout follower of that religion. And Moegi, unknown to Konohamaru, had taken note of this long before Naruto had been abducted, and never failed to have some on hand to tempt the boy she had decided would soon be her husband. And because she’d wanted to lure him into the woods, she bought some just a half hour ago, safely ensconced in it’s trademark box.
Grinning slyly, Konohamaru brought that out from the basket as Naruto folded his legs agreeably and sat down. And watched as those cerulean eyes spied the distinctive white and red carton and widened.
Nose quivering once more, Naruto decided he’d never smelled something so heavenly. Well, except for Sasuke, and though he loved to drink deeply of Sasuke, this was something altogether different. It flirted with his nostrils, the steam rising from the now open box dancing on the evening air, forming a dainty hand to caress his nose and beckon him towards the glories that lay inside. And Naruto was hooked. He licked his lips slowly, inching closer.
“Want some?” Moegi’s almost as dainty hands brought out a bowl and slowly offered it to him.
Naruto’s eyes dilated, telescoping in on that white gleaming bowl filled with broth and noodles and bits of meat and vegetables. It was an arousing sight, and his taste buds sharpened and moistened. It was as if his mouth was getting ready to make love, and Naruto was all for that.
“Thanks!” He yelped, grabbing the bowl, ignoring the heat in his hands, and proceeded to upend it into his mouth.
Oh, shit, oh god, it was so good! Sooooo goooooood…. Tasty and salty and delicious and scrumptious… noodles slithered down his throat and there was a wild party in his mouth. Naruto’s right foot twitched, as if he wanted to stamp the ground, and still he swallowed more. Then…disaster struck!
The bowl… it was empty! It was gone! All that heavenly ambrosia… gone forever. Naruto wanted to cry.
Konohamaru and Moegi had been frozen to the spot by this amazing display of gluttony. Even for the Naruto they had once known, it was spectacular. In the less than sixty seconds it had taken for the other boy to empty the trademark huge bowl of ramen, he’d moaned and hummed and growled and mewled, and yet, never took a single breath. He’d literally inhaled the entire bowl. They were utterly transfixed, chopsticks still unbroken in Konohamaru’s hand.
Then the white bowl was sliding from limp fingers, and Naruto turned towards them, his blue eyes huge, sheened with tears, stricken as if he’d lost something very precious to him. He looked as if his heart would break.
“More?” The blond haired creature whimpered like a crushed puppy.
Wordlessly, Konohamaru handed him the last bowl.
This time, Naruto took his time. A minute and a half… tops.
Instead of swallowing the bowl whole, he took joy in slurping up the long noodles, sucking them into his mouth so quickly they whipped around in the air with a faint whistling sound, slinging droplets of broth until he realized he was loosing something precious. He did slow down minutely… can’t waste this wondrous food! But it was still gone in no time flat, and even as Naruto was crunching the last of the carrots, he was eying the dots of broth lingering on Konohamaru’s and Moegi’s shell shocked faces. He twitched, and the other two thought for sure they would be pinned and licked clean, such was the evident intent in the blonde’s eyes.
Naruto stopped eying them long enough to lick the bowl dry, and then dropped it. Once more the other two were the recipients of his intense regard, and he leaned forward, one hand on the blanket, and made as if to crawl towards them.
Then he froze. His eyes widened, and began to sparkle lustrously. He leapt up, having forgotten his two new companions, the food of the gods on their faces not withstanding, and began to run towards the river.
The two jumped up in dismay. “Come back!” they cried desperately. No, he was leaving, going away again. “Naruto, come back! We’ll get more! As much as you want! I swear! Come back!”
But Naruto didn’t go far.
Sasuke, looking like he’d been drug right along the river bottom, spattered with mud and bits of leaf and bracken clinging to him, exploded from the shrubbery at the edge of the river. “Naruto!”
“Sasuke!” Naruto caroled joyously, flinging himself into his mate’s arms, weeping with happy relief. At last! At last!
They went down under Naruto’s weight in a tangle of limbs, kissing frantically, hands roaming each other in greeting and the need to ensure each other that neither had taken any harm.
Konohamaru growled. How he hated the Uchiha! But Moegi laid a calming hand on his arm.
“Don’t,” she whispered softly. “Did you see his face? How happy he was to see him? Please, if you try to fight the Uchiha, we will lose him forever.”
Moegi made it her business to know anything and everything that concerned Konohamaru. She’d been the first to greet the returning delegates yesterday, and had been silently and unobtrusively on hand to hear the reports. Even the ones not privy to Konohamaru himself.
She had mixed feelings for Sasuke Uchiha. She’d never really had much to do with him. The closest and most intimately she’d gotten with him was the report at the forest of death just before the Chuunin exams so many years ago. Since then, she’d only caught glimpses of him. Privately she wondered how something so dark and dour and downright unpleasant could catch the attention of their bright and cheerful leader. But Naruto was her second most beloved person, and Sasuke had been his most precious person, and so she’d been prepared to accept him into the circle of their lives once Naruto brought him back. But then the Uchiha had stolen him, and Moegi thought she would hate him until the day she died. And, having heard what she had yesterday, there was a very large part of her that always would.
But having been an orphan like Naruto, like Sasuke, and dedicating her life to being Konohamaru’s most valued subordinate, and later his wife, she had learned easily what both the blonde and his devoted follower had difficulty with. Look underneath the underneath.
And seeing Naruto and Sasuke now, locked in each others arms, kissing, and touching and looking at each other with such heartfelt devotion, she was moved. Naruto was as obsessed with the Uchiha as ever, and Sasuke was different now, that much was obvious. The Uchiha knew they were there, she could feel his attention upon them even as he practically made love to the blonde in his arms. Knew they were there, and didn’t care that he was revealing his soft and vulnerable underbelly; Naruto.
The old Sasuke would have killed anyone in watching distance rather than admit something like that.
And the menacing waves that rolled off the dark haired boy were simply those of possessive concern. It was obvious that the boy in the Uchiha’s arms was the most important, most beloved, most precious thing in the world to him, and he would kill to protect it.
And Moegi could live with that.
Chapter 14
When the girl had stammered out his name, Naruto had felt a frisson of recognition. He’d never been alone before, and here, perhaps, was someone that would help him find his missing family. Not to mention, she held in her left hand a rather large basket, and the aroma of something insanely delicious wafted out.
“Hi!” He chirped welcomingly, nostrils quivering. He’d had nothing to eat since a light snack before they had gained the river, and he was very hungry. Hunger, like loneliness, was something new to him.
“Moegi, dammit, where are you?” A young male voice came from the bank of trees that separated them from Konoha. “I’m tired, and we’ve been working on repairs for forever. Can we please stop and eat now?”
The girl, Moegi, was still frozen in shock, unable to answer. And when Konohamaru finally shook off the last tendril of dripping vine, he understood why.
“Naruto-niisan!” And then he was confused. He’d seen this boy just yesterday, even if it seemed a lifetime ago, and he’d been much smaller and younger. However, like then, Konohamaru recognized his most precious person immediately. It also didn’t hurt that Naruto now looked exactly the same age as he’d been when Sasuke had stolen him seven years ago. It was like those terrible years had never happened.
Naruto laughed sheepishly, reaching up to scratch the back of his head in such a trademark gesture both boy and girl almost burst into tears.
“Hey, I remember you. You were with those people yesterday, weren’t you?”
That clinched it! Obviously the Kyuubi magic that had brought this wondrous creature back from the dead was still at work. Konohamaru nodded slowly, his brain squirming in his skull for something to say. Needless to say, Sakura, apparently completely recovered from the mental instability that had plagued her since she watched Naruto die, and Hinata, now frighteningly forceful, had cornered him the previous day and almost flagellated him for bringing up the blonde man’s death.
But god, how he loved him, had missed him, and dreamt of bringing him home, and now, here he was, blonde and bright and god, so alive, less than two miles from Konoha itself. In fact, just beyond the trees was Udon’s old farmhouse, and though that particular boy was still out on the east side of town with his repair team, the two of them practically lived with Udon’s family.
Which was why they were here, now, taking what they believed was a much deserved rest from their own repair team on the north side of town. Moegi, as in love with Konohamaru as Sakura used to be with Sasuke, had made sure to be on the same team with him.
The loud and ferocious growling of Naruto’s stomach broke the tense moment, and Moegi gave a high nervous giggle. She’d been so terribly afraid that a move or a word would send this obviously wild boy back into hiding, and that would break her Konohamaru’s heart. Not to mention, no matter what, this boy before her was Boss! And he was here, now, and she would cement his appearance with food. Always worked with Naruto before. A ludicrous notion of luring Naruto back to Konoha with a trail of food assaulted her mind, and she giggled again, more easily this time.
“Well,” she said, deciding one patch of moist ground was as good as another, “let’s eat!”
Her words jarred her boyfriend from his mental labors, and he nodded, snapping the red and white checked blanket over his arm out, and spreading it over the ground. And he was suddenly blinded by an idea.
Ramen.
Sweet ramen. Salty, tasty, the nectar of the gods. If there was one thing Naruto had drilled into Konohamaru’s head, it was of the importance and deification of Ichiraku’s ramen. And Konohamaru was a devout follower of that religion. And Moegi, unknown to Konohamaru, had taken note of this long before Naruto had been abducted, and never failed to have some on hand to tempt the boy she had decided would soon be her husband. And because she’d wanted to lure him into the woods, she bought some just a half hour ago, safely ensconced in it’s trademark box.
Grinning slyly, Konohamaru brought that out from the basket as Naruto folded his legs agreeably and sat down. And watched as those cerulean eyes spied the distinctive white and red carton and widened.
Nose quivering once more, Naruto decided he’d never smelled something so heavenly. Well, except for Sasuke, and though he loved to drink deeply of Sasuke, this was something altogether different. It flirted with his nostrils, the steam rising from the now open box dancing on the evening air, forming a dainty hand to caress his nose and beckon him towards the glories that lay inside. And Naruto was hooked. He licked his lips slowly, inching closer.
“Want some?” Moegi’s almost as dainty hands brought out a bowl and slowly offered it to him.
Naruto’s eyes dilated, telescoping in on that white gleaming bowl filled with broth and noodles and bits of meat and vegetables. It was an arousing sight, and his taste buds sharpened and moistened. It was as if his mouth was getting ready to make love, and Naruto was all for that.
“Thanks!” He yelped, grabbing the bowl, ignoring the heat in his hands, and proceeded to upend it into his mouth.
Oh, shit, oh god, it was so good! Sooooo goooooood…. Tasty and salty and delicious and scrumptious… noodles slithered down his throat and there was a wild party in his mouth. Naruto’s right foot twitched, as if he wanted to stamp the ground, and still he swallowed more. Then…disaster struck!
The bowl… it was empty! It was gone! All that heavenly ambrosia… gone forever. Naruto wanted to cry.
Konohamaru and Moegi had been frozen to the spot by this amazing display of gluttony. Even for the Naruto they had once known, it was spectacular. In the less than sixty seconds it had taken for the other boy to empty the trademark huge bowl of ramen, he’d moaned and hummed and growled and mewled, and yet, never took a single breath. He’d literally inhaled the entire bowl. They were utterly transfixed, chopsticks still unbroken in Konohamaru’s hand.
Then the white bowl was sliding from limp fingers, and Naruto turned towards them, his blue eyes huge, sheened with tears, stricken as if he’d lost something very precious to him. He looked as if his heart would break.
“More?” The blond haired creature whimpered like a crushed puppy.
Wordlessly, Konohamaru handed him the last bowl.
This time, Naruto took his time. A minute and a half… tops.
Instead of swallowing the bowl whole, he took joy in slurping up the long noodles, sucking them into his mouth so quickly they whipped around in the air with a faint whistling sound, slinging droplets of broth until he realized he was loosing something precious. He did slow down minutely… can’t waste this wondrous food! But it was still gone in no time flat, and even as Naruto was crunching the last of the carrots, he was eying the dots of broth lingering on Konohamaru’s and Moegi’s shell shocked faces. He twitched, and the other two thought for sure they would be pinned and licked clean, such was the evident intent in the blonde’s eyes.
Naruto stopped eying them long enough to lick the bowl dry, and then dropped it. Once more the other two were the recipients of his intense regard, and he leaned forward, one hand on the blanket, and made as if to crawl towards them.
Then he froze. His eyes widened, and began to sparkle lustrously. He leapt up, having forgotten his two new companions, the food of the gods on their faces not withstanding, and began to run towards the river.
The two jumped up in dismay. “Come back!” they cried desperately. No, he was leaving, going away again. “Naruto, come back! We’ll get more! As much as you want! I swear! Come back!”
But Naruto didn’t go far.
Sasuke, looking like he’d been drug right along the river bottom, spattered with mud and bits of leaf and bracken clinging to him, exploded from the shrubbery at the edge of the river. “Naruto!”
“Sasuke!” Naruto caroled joyously, flinging himself into his mate’s arms, weeping with happy relief. At last! At last!
They went down under Naruto’s weight in a tangle of limbs, kissing frantically, hands roaming each other in greeting and the need to ensure each other that neither had taken any harm.
Konohamaru growled. How he hated the Uchiha! But Moegi laid a calming hand on his arm.
“Don’t,” she whispered softly. “Did you see his face? How happy he was to see him? Please, if you try to fight the Uchiha, we will lose him forever.”
Moegi made it her business to know anything and everything that concerned Konohamaru. She’d been the first to greet the returning delegates yesterday, and had been silently and unobtrusively on hand to hear the reports. Even the ones not privy to Konohamaru himself.
She had mixed feelings for Sasuke Uchiha. She’d never really had much to do with him. The closest and most intimately she’d gotten with him was the report at the forest of death just before the Chuunin exams so many years ago. Since then, she’d only caught glimpses of him. Privately she wondered how something so dark and dour and downright unpleasant could catch the attention of their bright and cheerful leader. But Naruto was her second most beloved person, and Sasuke had been his most precious person, and so she’d been prepared to accept him into the circle of their lives once Naruto brought him back. But then the Uchiha had stolen him, and Moegi thought she would hate him until the day she died. And, having heard what she had yesterday, there was a very large part of her that always would.
But having been an orphan like Naruto, like Sasuke, and dedicating her life to being Konohamaru’s most valued subordinate, and later his wife, she had learned easily what both the blonde and his devoted follower had difficulty with. Look underneath the underneath.
And seeing Naruto and Sasuke now, locked in each others arms, kissing, and touching and looking at each other with such heartfelt devotion, she was moved. Naruto was as obsessed with the Uchiha as ever, and Sasuke was different now, that much was obvious. The Uchiha knew they were there, she could feel his attention upon them even as he practically made love to the blonde in his arms. Knew they were there, and didn’t care that he was revealing his soft and vulnerable underbelly; Naruto.
The old Sasuke would have killed anyone in watching distance rather than admit something like that.
And the menacing waves that rolled off the dark haired boy were simply those of possessive concern. It was obvious that the boy in the Uchiha’s arms was the most important, most beloved, most precious thing in the world to him, and he would kill to protect it.
And Moegi could live with that.
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