The Family I've Always wanted

Seven

"Well, at least the rain has finally eased up." Kiba murmured, It was an irritating time for the four of them.....five including Akamaru. They were getting beat down by rain and the foul smell of decomposed bodies filled the air.

"Let's get moving, we need to get out of here." Shikamaru pushed himself up from the dry patch of ground he was sitting on. He led them through the ghost town, quietly paying his respects as they passed the decayed bodies.

"Excuse me!! Help! Help!"

Naruto turned his head to see a frantic boy running towards them. Tears running down his face and snot dripping from his nose. He had to be at least 5 to 6 years old.

Sasuke pulled his sword from his back. He kept to his side as he eyed the young child."It might be a setup, keep your guard up Naruto."

Naruto scoffed at the words Sasuke uttered. He stooped down low to the boy so he could be on his level."Hey, what's wrong?"

The little boy began to wipe his nose with his arm sleeve. He looked up at Naruto with his big brown pleading eyes. "I need help, my mom is really sick and she might die." He began to tug on Naruto's shirt leading him into the direction.

"This isn't a part of the mission Naruto, just get rid of him and let's go." Sasuke wasn't buying any of it. Naruto was too gullible to see through this child's eyes.

"Yah! Sasuke what makes you think he's lying." Naruto shot Sasuke a glare from hell. As much as he loved his best friend he had a lot to learn about kids.

"I don't know Naruto, Sasuke might be right for once, what if it is a setup?" Kiba eyeballed the kid. He also got eye level with the child.

"No! Please! I'm not, I'll give you anything just please come." The child threw himself into Naruto's arms sobbing.

"Come on Shikamaru, what if this was Shikadai? Would you want us to leave him?"

"Naruto stop letting your emotions get the best of you, we need to leave now, who knows what this damn village has up their sleeves!" Sasuke pulled Naruto up from the ground, snatching the little boy away from tossing him away on the ground.

He landed on the ground with a hard thud."Don't hurt me! He screamed out. He curled into a ball on the dirt ground.

"Leave him alone Sasuke.......we'll follow the boy and if it's a set of then Naruto I'll have your ass." Shikamaru walked to the boy helping him off the ground. He nodded for the boy to show him the way to his so-called sick mother.

"Follow me it's not a long walk."

The walk they took was to the other side of the village. This side seemed more serve but less dead bodies. They all noticed that the child would pick up scraps of food as he walked. He stuffed them inside his shirt not daring to drop any of it. Seeing the boy pick up scraps of food reminded Naruto if his childhood days. He forced down his sadness and keep up with the others. The group arrived at a small cottage home. The damage on the outside was quite severe, especially the big hole in the roof.

"Who else lives here?," Kiba asked.

"Just me and my mom, come on I'll show you her." Naruto and Shikamaru walked with the little boy while Kiba and Sasuke stayed at guard. The house was on its last limb, the wood of the floor was so moldy that when pressure was applied it caved.

"What's your name?" Naruto asked.

"My name is Kato and this is my mom Akane." Kato pointed to his sleeping mother. The woman was lying on a blanket and another covering her. He ran over to the open hole in the house gathering water from the rain then awoke his mother.