Promises Remembered

Part 2 Chapter 19

Part 2 Chapter 19

Kazuki

Together, at last

Kazuki's hands gripped his knees, his head hanging as he panted heavily. They'd been sparring for the last few hours and it was a warm day. His mother had left four days ago, his dad following to make sure nothing went wrong. But he still wasn't back. He knew his dad would need time to be sad by himself before he could be normal for him. But Kazuki didn't need him to be normal. He just needed him to be there. They could be sad together.

All he really wanted to do was lay in bed and sulk. Unfortunately, Naruto would hear none of it. He had dropped by every morning, enjoying Mebuki's breakfast before dragging him off to do something all day. 'To distract him.'

He wasn't distracted. He was just tired. If his dad didn't come back soon, Naruto would probably be frog marching him to meet his Genin team the next morning. Not that he couldn't get there himself.

"You're definitely your dad's son. You're brilliant at taijutsu, Kazuki."

Scoffing, he stood straight and gave Naruto an annoyed glare. "Well, I've been practicing since I was three."

Naruto shrugged and stood from where he'd let Kazuki throw him. "It shows. Let's take a lunch break."

"Fine."

They grabbed their things and started back to the village. "How about Ichiraku today? My treat."

Kazuki rolled his eyes. "We had that yesterday, Nii-san." Naruto laughed, but it sounded forced. Remembering he wasn't the only one that needed distracting, Kazuki sighed and elbowed him in the ribs. "You're lucky I like ramen so much, too."

This time, the laugh sounded a little more genuine. "I'm glad to know I've rubbed off on you. After we eat we can—"

"Naruto-kun!"

Both shinobi froze, Naruto gasping audibly before jerking around to face her. "Hinata-chan!

Great. Now he'd be the awkward third wheel. Trying not to let his frustration show on his face, Kazuki glanced up at Naruto... only to find him frozen in place, hardly breathing as he waited for his girlfriend and—he now saw—Sasuke to cross the training grounds.

"Nii-san?"

He didn't answer. Frowning, Kazuki looked back to find Hinata and Sasuke were much closer. Hinata wore the biggest, most beautiful smile he'd ever seen on her face. It reminded him of her sister and made Kazuki blush. Beside him, Naruto let out an exuberant 'whoop' and ran to meet her, catching her up in a hug.

What the heck?

There was some brief exchange Kazuki was too far away to hear before they were running back to him hand in hand. Sasuke followed at a more sedate pace. "Kazuki-chan!"

There were tears in Naruto's eyes, but he was smiling brightly.

"What?"

"It's Sakura. She survived the time travel jutsu." Naruto grabbed his shoulders, looking seriously down into his face when he didn't react. How could he? He didn't understand. "She came back, Kazuki. Your mother came back."

Tears welled up in a sudden rush, his breath catching hard. "What? My... mom? She's... She's not dead?"

He shook his head. "No. She came back to you, kid."

The tears fell unchecked and Kazuki felt like his entire world had shifted. His mother was alive. It didn't seem possible. But Naruto wouldn't lie to him. He had to see her. "Where is she?"