Categories > Anime/Manga > Naruto > Innocence From Ashes
Chapter 19
0 reviewsNaruto wakens, Sasuke fears his reactions to the restored memories from Sound, and a tearful reunion is had by all.
0Unrated
Innocence From Ashes
Chapter 19
In the twelve hours that Naruto and Sasuke had been in residence in the new Uzumaki compound, the ‘girls and guys’ had been very busy indeed. Well, except for Shikamaru, who would rather die than lose his reputation for laziness. The others laughed good naturedly at this, and were content to let him sit and watch the clouds through the now sparkling clean windows, occasionally pointing out that this or that had been missed.
None of them had even poked a nose into the master bedroom since they had arrived. With a red fox the size of a great dane sprawled across the closed door, especially when that fox used to be Kyuubi no Kitsune, Demon Lord extraordinaire, no one dared. Occasionally Moegi, who was a brazen in her own way as Naruto, darted close, and dropped a great basket of food before scampering off as if her life depended on it.
Kyuubi was bored in this place. Bored and disappointed. This was not the life he intended for his kit and cub. Yet, here they were after all his efforts. Thus, he played his part accordingly. The downstairs was cleaned, as were the floors above the second, where the bedrooms lay, even the attics and basements. A dozen people could accomplish a great deal in half a day apparently. However, he would not allow them to clean this floor. When they arrived with cleaning tools, he growled and snarled, and pretended to leap with slavering jaws. And they scattered with cries of dismay. He settled back down before the door and snickered a long time. Yes, the great fox would take his little pleasures where he could find them.
And the two times Moegi had arrived with food, he’d taken a half hearted swipe in her direction. She’d responded beautifully, with fearful cries and leaping away. But at the head of the stairs, she would turn around and give him a wet raspberry before vanishing down them.
This vastly irritated Kyuubi. Obviously his reputation was failing if that little slip of a girl dared that. She should have been wetting her pants in terror. But then again, the times Naruto appeared in his own mind in front of his cage, that brazen little soul never quailed, never soiled himself. With a sniff, he decided he’d let this insubordination pass.
Thus, the last of the day had passed, and most of the night. And the humans stirred again, and began to make all sorts of rackets anew. Then his ears pricked up. There was a very different sort of stirring in the bedroom. He waited for a very long time, then got up and slipped past the sliding door. His kit, his prince, was finally awake.
****************
Sakura yawned mightily as she dragged herself from the warm nest of blankets on the couch. She would not leave this place until she’d seen Naruto himself. Though there were others like her, the Hokage had finally sent most of them home a couple of hours ago. The cleaning was done after all. Or rather, all the cleaning they were allowed to do.
Schlepping into the kitchen, she was surprised to see Iruka there. The chuunin had not slept since Kyuubi cast his spell on him in the little dell. He was waiting for Naruto too. Together in a companionable silence, they began to prepare breakfast.
“The Hokage is still here,” Iruka said softly, as the last of the bacon was laid on paper to drain. “She says Naruto should awaken soon.”
“She’s monitoring his chakra, is she?” Sakura answered back with a pleased smile. Of course Tsunade would have all her attention bent towards Naruto. “It will be good if breakfast is still warm. I hope he wakes up soon!” Tears filmed her eyes.
Naruto was here, in Konoha, right now. Her heart ached at the terrible welcoming committee that had met him early yesterday evening. But he was here, at least, and hadn’t run away. Her heart was awash in conflicting emotions.
Suddenly, Iruka’s arms were around her, stroking her back comforting as he leaned his brow against hers, his own eyes blurred with tears. He understood her state of mind perfectly.
Joy and grief. Naruto was alive, alive and unharmed, despite the events of yesterday. But he remembered everything. Every sordid little detail. Would he wake and still be Naruto? Would he wake at all? Sakura remembered the tearing pain when she looked into his eyes just before he died. Would Naruto want to be alive again? He hadn’t then.
Hope and despair. Naruto was here and he could be Hokage if he wanted, but would he stay? After all that had happened yesterday, all that happened in Sound, all that had happened in Konoha… how could he want to?
And finally, acceptance settled wearily upon them. What would be, would be. They were just grateful to have him here, now. They would have to hope for the best.
Meanwhile, in the darkened formal living room, Tsunade had scooted a comfortable chair to where she could watch the gardens. It was still dark, but streaks of glorious pink and purple, and hints of gold and silver peeped against the underbelly of the thin clouds that streamed silently across the dawning sky.
She’d planned to spend the past twelve hours in intense industry, but Shizune had double-crossed her, the brat. The sake she’d given her mistress had been laced with a sleeping potion. Ten hours later, Tsunade had woken in her bedroom, feeling like lead, and had been furious.
But then all the thoughts and doubts and what ifs had assaulted her mind, and she’d been driven from her home, to here. To where Naruto, and the future lay. And so here she was, in the old Uchiha districts restored living room, staring at the waking world, and trembling softly.
When Naruto had changed, had towered over the village, had begun to kill, she’d stared up into his blue eyes, and knew. This was no Kyuubi-overcome boy. This was Naruto through and through. This was Naruto, the Nine Tailed Demon.
Things had moved too quickly for much rational thought then. It was quickly and mercifully over, thanks astonishingly enough, to Kyuubi himself. He’d called Naruto back from the bloodlust of vengeance. He and Sasuke.
What irony… the dreaded demon and the traitor, saving Konoha from its own light turned to darkness. It made Tsunade want to weep at the perversions of fate.
But now, once more awake and in possession of a calm and somewhat untouched city, she’d come to think of something else.
What if Kyuubi and Sasuke hadn’t called him back? What if they had, and Naruto hadn’t listened? It was twenty two years ago, all over again. And this time, it would have been Tsunade calling on Shinigami, and dying to save this wretched place that didn’t deserve such a sacrifice. It would have been her sealing, not Kyuubi, but Naruto, into the belly of yet another innocent life that would be ruined forever. And the cycle would begin anew.
The first time she thought of it, an hour ago in her own home, she’d become violently ill, heaving up the contents of a long empty stomach. She’d retched and sobbed all at once at the horror of what could have been. But thinking of it now, she was a little more in possession of herself. It hadn’t happened. She was still alive, as was Naruto. And Naruto was sleeping in a bed just above her head.
It hadn’t happened. It hadn’t happened.
Tsunade leaned forward and buried her face in her hands to stem another weeping fit. But as she sat there silently and rocked to and fro, she remembered even earlier yesterday. Standing yet again before her storm broken windows, and had seen those impossibly blue eyes staring at her from a far distance, from the top of a tree not far from Konoha proper.
She’d almost fell out of her window when he turned away and climbed back down, as she’d leapt forward. Only Shizune’s quick reactions had saved her from plunging head first out her window.
Naruto was Konoha’s light, Konoha’s miracle. He could get through all this. He wasn’t alone, he was surrounded by those who loved him. Surely he remembered that in yesterday’s deluge of memories. He had to. He just had to. She rocked a little harder, to keep form thinking of what would be if he didn’t.
She was so lost in her apprehension and misery, that she heard the padding of bare feet moving towards her, and dully thought of Sakura. She should eat. She surely should. It had been three full days now. Yet she wasn’t hungry. But she smelled bacon, eggs and potatoes. She should eat, even if nausea was still rampant through her body at all the what-ifs. She really should eat, she should…
“Baa-chan.”
Tsunade almost swallowed her tongue as she whirled around, almost falling out of her chair. Only one person dared to call her that.
And there he stood, dressed in a beautifully ridiculous orange shirt and black pants. He smiled hesitantly at her. “Hi…”
“Naruto! Baka!” And she drug him into her arms, smothering him in her monstrous bosom, almost crushing him in her relief and joy.
Kyuubi tensed and made to jump forward and rescue his kit, but Sasuke laid a calming hand on his bristling neck. “He’s fine.”
And Tsunade was sobbing noisily, scolding him, welcoming him, loving him so much.
Naruto finally clawed his way out of pillowy flesh and choked and wheezed. Then he settled down to lie on the floor with his Hokage, his Baa-chan and let her cry and bitch and moan and laugh and pet his hair with trembling hands. Tears were leaking from his closed eyes. God, he’d missed her so much!
Sakura stood in the doorway from the dining room, hands clenched below her chin, eyes wet and leaking, as she sniffled softly. Iruka was frozen beside her for an instant, then he was scrambling over to fall heavily to his knees beside them.
When hands tried to take her precious Naruto away, Tsunade almost lashed out with all her horrific strength, until she saw who it was. If Tsunade felt like his mother, Iruka felt like his father. She let him go reluctantly.
And once again Naruto was crushed in someone’s arms. Iruka was crying now too, quietly but no less wrenching.
“Naruto… my god. Naruto…” And Naruto let himself be held in those strong and hard arms, against that strong and flat chest, and be stroked and nuzzled.
“Iruka-sensei,” he whispered, stricken and floored. He was the Ninetails now! The force that killed Iruka’s parents so long ago, now resided directly in him. There was no Kyuubi to cushion that blow now. No, it was all in him.
Iruka had to know that, but he obviously didn’t care. Because he was hugging Naruto so tightly, and crying and landing sloppy paternal kisses in his golden hair.
And then it was Sakura’s turn to take, and Iruka’s to give, and Naruto was smothered anew. This time the arms were hard and strong, the chest firm but not flat, and once more, he couldn’t breathe.
“Don’t you ever die on me again, baka,” the kunoichi was moaning. “Don’t you ever do that again. I’ll kill you myself. Please, Naruto, please, don’t do that again.”
Fingers tangled in pink locks, more kisses were bestowed, and then finally, Naruto struggled free, panting, teary eyed, and suddenly exhausted from the emotional storm that had swept this once so long empty chamber.
And Sasuke stood there, and watched all the love flowing over his dobe, and was both happy for Naruto, and excessively jealous. And, if truth be known, a little envious. Oh, he did not begrudge his Naruto one jot of the love and tearful affection now being lavished on the blonde. But once, such would have been lavished on him. It hurt to know he wasn’t welcomed by his mate’s family. The family that could have been his had he been less arrogant, less selfish, less destructive.
And Naruto turned in the circle of his precious people, and was not content. He held out his hand to his mate. “Sasuke… teme… koi…” he said softly.
The others stiffened. But Naruto only smiled brighter. “He’s my mate. He’s my other half. He’s my reason for being. He is part of me.”
And they understood. They might not like it, but they did understand.
Under the compulsion of those sky blue eyes, Sasuke stumbled forward, and was drawn into the tangle of bodies. Drawn in and held tight by the only one he really cared about.
The others were stiff and awkward at first, but then the love and contentment radiating from Naruto began to permeate them all, and they relaxed against the Uchiha as well, and the five of them sat there, holding each other, weeping softly, and feeling hearts knit and mend at long last. They had finally, at long last, come home.
Kyuubi gave bored yawn and settled down to wait. Well, he’d made the choice once to allow someone his kit needed to be happy. He could do it again. He would let them live. This time, anyway. But god help any human that dared to hurt or wound his princes. He was still Kyuubi, still a demon. He would just have to work a little harder to maintain his vicious reputation.
He looked forward to it.
Chapter 19
In the twelve hours that Naruto and Sasuke had been in residence in the new Uzumaki compound, the ‘girls and guys’ had been very busy indeed. Well, except for Shikamaru, who would rather die than lose his reputation for laziness. The others laughed good naturedly at this, and were content to let him sit and watch the clouds through the now sparkling clean windows, occasionally pointing out that this or that had been missed.
None of them had even poked a nose into the master bedroom since they had arrived. With a red fox the size of a great dane sprawled across the closed door, especially when that fox used to be Kyuubi no Kitsune, Demon Lord extraordinaire, no one dared. Occasionally Moegi, who was a brazen in her own way as Naruto, darted close, and dropped a great basket of food before scampering off as if her life depended on it.
Kyuubi was bored in this place. Bored and disappointed. This was not the life he intended for his kit and cub. Yet, here they were after all his efforts. Thus, he played his part accordingly. The downstairs was cleaned, as were the floors above the second, where the bedrooms lay, even the attics and basements. A dozen people could accomplish a great deal in half a day apparently. However, he would not allow them to clean this floor. When they arrived with cleaning tools, he growled and snarled, and pretended to leap with slavering jaws. And they scattered with cries of dismay. He settled back down before the door and snickered a long time. Yes, the great fox would take his little pleasures where he could find them.
And the two times Moegi had arrived with food, he’d taken a half hearted swipe in her direction. She’d responded beautifully, with fearful cries and leaping away. But at the head of the stairs, she would turn around and give him a wet raspberry before vanishing down them.
This vastly irritated Kyuubi. Obviously his reputation was failing if that little slip of a girl dared that. She should have been wetting her pants in terror. But then again, the times Naruto appeared in his own mind in front of his cage, that brazen little soul never quailed, never soiled himself. With a sniff, he decided he’d let this insubordination pass.
Thus, the last of the day had passed, and most of the night. And the humans stirred again, and began to make all sorts of rackets anew. Then his ears pricked up. There was a very different sort of stirring in the bedroom. He waited for a very long time, then got up and slipped past the sliding door. His kit, his prince, was finally awake.
****************
Sakura yawned mightily as she dragged herself from the warm nest of blankets on the couch. She would not leave this place until she’d seen Naruto himself. Though there were others like her, the Hokage had finally sent most of them home a couple of hours ago. The cleaning was done after all. Or rather, all the cleaning they were allowed to do.
Schlepping into the kitchen, she was surprised to see Iruka there. The chuunin had not slept since Kyuubi cast his spell on him in the little dell. He was waiting for Naruto too. Together in a companionable silence, they began to prepare breakfast.
“The Hokage is still here,” Iruka said softly, as the last of the bacon was laid on paper to drain. “She says Naruto should awaken soon.”
“She’s monitoring his chakra, is she?” Sakura answered back with a pleased smile. Of course Tsunade would have all her attention bent towards Naruto. “It will be good if breakfast is still warm. I hope he wakes up soon!” Tears filmed her eyes.
Naruto was here, in Konoha, right now. Her heart ached at the terrible welcoming committee that had met him early yesterday evening. But he was here, at least, and hadn’t run away. Her heart was awash in conflicting emotions.
Suddenly, Iruka’s arms were around her, stroking her back comforting as he leaned his brow against hers, his own eyes blurred with tears. He understood her state of mind perfectly.
Joy and grief. Naruto was alive, alive and unharmed, despite the events of yesterday. But he remembered everything. Every sordid little detail. Would he wake and still be Naruto? Would he wake at all? Sakura remembered the tearing pain when she looked into his eyes just before he died. Would Naruto want to be alive again? He hadn’t then.
Hope and despair. Naruto was here and he could be Hokage if he wanted, but would he stay? After all that had happened yesterday, all that happened in Sound, all that had happened in Konoha… how could he want to?
And finally, acceptance settled wearily upon them. What would be, would be. They were just grateful to have him here, now. They would have to hope for the best.
Meanwhile, in the darkened formal living room, Tsunade had scooted a comfortable chair to where she could watch the gardens. It was still dark, but streaks of glorious pink and purple, and hints of gold and silver peeped against the underbelly of the thin clouds that streamed silently across the dawning sky.
She’d planned to spend the past twelve hours in intense industry, but Shizune had double-crossed her, the brat. The sake she’d given her mistress had been laced with a sleeping potion. Ten hours later, Tsunade had woken in her bedroom, feeling like lead, and had been furious.
But then all the thoughts and doubts and what ifs had assaulted her mind, and she’d been driven from her home, to here. To where Naruto, and the future lay. And so here she was, in the old Uchiha districts restored living room, staring at the waking world, and trembling softly.
When Naruto had changed, had towered over the village, had begun to kill, she’d stared up into his blue eyes, and knew. This was no Kyuubi-overcome boy. This was Naruto through and through. This was Naruto, the Nine Tailed Demon.
Things had moved too quickly for much rational thought then. It was quickly and mercifully over, thanks astonishingly enough, to Kyuubi himself. He’d called Naruto back from the bloodlust of vengeance. He and Sasuke.
What irony… the dreaded demon and the traitor, saving Konoha from its own light turned to darkness. It made Tsunade want to weep at the perversions of fate.
But now, once more awake and in possession of a calm and somewhat untouched city, she’d come to think of something else.
What if Kyuubi and Sasuke hadn’t called him back? What if they had, and Naruto hadn’t listened? It was twenty two years ago, all over again. And this time, it would have been Tsunade calling on Shinigami, and dying to save this wretched place that didn’t deserve such a sacrifice. It would have been her sealing, not Kyuubi, but Naruto, into the belly of yet another innocent life that would be ruined forever. And the cycle would begin anew.
The first time she thought of it, an hour ago in her own home, she’d become violently ill, heaving up the contents of a long empty stomach. She’d retched and sobbed all at once at the horror of what could have been. But thinking of it now, she was a little more in possession of herself. It hadn’t happened. She was still alive, as was Naruto. And Naruto was sleeping in a bed just above her head.
It hadn’t happened. It hadn’t happened.
Tsunade leaned forward and buried her face in her hands to stem another weeping fit. But as she sat there silently and rocked to and fro, she remembered even earlier yesterday. Standing yet again before her storm broken windows, and had seen those impossibly blue eyes staring at her from a far distance, from the top of a tree not far from Konoha proper.
She’d almost fell out of her window when he turned away and climbed back down, as she’d leapt forward. Only Shizune’s quick reactions had saved her from plunging head first out her window.
Naruto was Konoha’s light, Konoha’s miracle. He could get through all this. He wasn’t alone, he was surrounded by those who loved him. Surely he remembered that in yesterday’s deluge of memories. He had to. He just had to. She rocked a little harder, to keep form thinking of what would be if he didn’t.
She was so lost in her apprehension and misery, that she heard the padding of bare feet moving towards her, and dully thought of Sakura. She should eat. She surely should. It had been three full days now. Yet she wasn’t hungry. But she smelled bacon, eggs and potatoes. She should eat, even if nausea was still rampant through her body at all the what-ifs. She really should eat, she should…
“Baa-chan.”
Tsunade almost swallowed her tongue as she whirled around, almost falling out of her chair. Only one person dared to call her that.
And there he stood, dressed in a beautifully ridiculous orange shirt and black pants. He smiled hesitantly at her. “Hi…”
“Naruto! Baka!” And she drug him into her arms, smothering him in her monstrous bosom, almost crushing him in her relief and joy.
Kyuubi tensed and made to jump forward and rescue his kit, but Sasuke laid a calming hand on his bristling neck. “He’s fine.”
And Tsunade was sobbing noisily, scolding him, welcoming him, loving him so much.
Naruto finally clawed his way out of pillowy flesh and choked and wheezed. Then he settled down to lie on the floor with his Hokage, his Baa-chan and let her cry and bitch and moan and laugh and pet his hair with trembling hands. Tears were leaking from his closed eyes. God, he’d missed her so much!
Sakura stood in the doorway from the dining room, hands clenched below her chin, eyes wet and leaking, as she sniffled softly. Iruka was frozen beside her for an instant, then he was scrambling over to fall heavily to his knees beside them.
When hands tried to take her precious Naruto away, Tsunade almost lashed out with all her horrific strength, until she saw who it was. If Tsunade felt like his mother, Iruka felt like his father. She let him go reluctantly.
And once again Naruto was crushed in someone’s arms. Iruka was crying now too, quietly but no less wrenching.
“Naruto… my god. Naruto…” And Naruto let himself be held in those strong and hard arms, against that strong and flat chest, and be stroked and nuzzled.
“Iruka-sensei,” he whispered, stricken and floored. He was the Ninetails now! The force that killed Iruka’s parents so long ago, now resided directly in him. There was no Kyuubi to cushion that blow now. No, it was all in him.
Iruka had to know that, but he obviously didn’t care. Because he was hugging Naruto so tightly, and crying and landing sloppy paternal kisses in his golden hair.
And then it was Sakura’s turn to take, and Iruka’s to give, and Naruto was smothered anew. This time the arms were hard and strong, the chest firm but not flat, and once more, he couldn’t breathe.
“Don’t you ever die on me again, baka,” the kunoichi was moaning. “Don’t you ever do that again. I’ll kill you myself. Please, Naruto, please, don’t do that again.”
Fingers tangled in pink locks, more kisses were bestowed, and then finally, Naruto struggled free, panting, teary eyed, and suddenly exhausted from the emotional storm that had swept this once so long empty chamber.
And Sasuke stood there, and watched all the love flowing over his dobe, and was both happy for Naruto, and excessively jealous. And, if truth be known, a little envious. Oh, he did not begrudge his Naruto one jot of the love and tearful affection now being lavished on the blonde. But once, such would have been lavished on him. It hurt to know he wasn’t welcomed by his mate’s family. The family that could have been his had he been less arrogant, less selfish, less destructive.
And Naruto turned in the circle of his precious people, and was not content. He held out his hand to his mate. “Sasuke… teme… koi…” he said softly.
The others stiffened. But Naruto only smiled brighter. “He’s my mate. He’s my other half. He’s my reason for being. He is part of me.”
And they understood. They might not like it, but they did understand.
Under the compulsion of those sky blue eyes, Sasuke stumbled forward, and was drawn into the tangle of bodies. Drawn in and held tight by the only one he really cared about.
The others were stiff and awkward at first, but then the love and contentment radiating from Naruto began to permeate them all, and they relaxed against the Uchiha as well, and the five of them sat there, holding each other, weeping softly, and feeling hearts knit and mend at long last. They had finally, at long last, come home.
Kyuubi gave bored yawn and settled down to wait. Well, he’d made the choice once to allow someone his kit needed to be happy. He could do it again. He would let them live. This time, anyway. But god help any human that dared to hurt or wound his princes. He was still Kyuubi, still a demon. He would just have to work a little harder to maintain his vicious reputation.
He looked forward to it.
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