To Go Back

Vengeance Withdrawn

Naruto walked downstairs, Henge released, and Zabuza kneeled before him. The blond nin smiled softly.

"I assume you are checking in?"

"Yeah."

"On Haku."

The ex-Kiri nin shifted, almost embarrassedly. 

"Yeah. How is he?"

"Fine. He has found a friend in Sasuke and Sakura isn't bothering him. Haku isn't going easy on them in training. In two days, I'll have my clone order the thug to attack the bridge. I hope you are doing your job?"

Zabuza looked up. "Yeah, of course."

A soft thump was heard as the front door closed. A tired Kakashi walked over to Naruto, pressing a kiss to the blonds' cheek through his mask. Naruto smiled.

"Go get some sleep 'Kashi, I'll wake you in a bit and fill you in."

The silver haired nin nodded, and trudged up the stairs. Naruto turned back to Zabuza. "You can go. Be ready. I can't reveal all of my power and can only go as high as chunin level as to not arouse suspicion. So your help may be needed."

Zabuza nodded and vanished. Naruto sighed. A soft smile graced his lips as he remembered the conversation the two boys had last night.

"So, is it true? Are you the last of your clan?" Sasuke's voice was soft, and his eyes full of painful memories.

"Yes. When I was younger, My father found out about our bloodline, and killed my mother. In self defense, when he came to kill me, I unconsciously used my bloodline and killed him."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It's not your fault. And I found Zabuza-sama, so I wasn't alone. He took care of me, and stopped me from doing a lot of bad things."

"Oh..." Sasuke pulled his shorts up, revealing criss crossed scars, layered up over the years. It was obvious he hadn't done it in a while, they had begun to fade, and were years old.

Haku shrugged off his Kimono top, revealing similar scars along his upper arms, and a thinner scar that got wider and more rough, as though the weapon was recklessly jerked from him.

Sasuke stared at the jagged scar, before looking down at his own. "When I was eight, my Older brother, Itachi Killed my entire clan. He told me.... He told me that I should hate him, and to get the same eyes as him. Then, a few weeks ago, Naruto told me... that I shouldn't try and kill him. That then I'd be doing what he wanted."

"I believe Naruto-kun is right. Revenge is not good. You don't have to kill him to feel better, or to avenge your clan. Just, let it go, move on, and you'll prove yourself to be stronger than you ever could by killing your brother."  Haku's voice was soft, and from hs vantage point, Naruto could see tears rolling down Sasuke's cheeks.

"You're right. But how!? How can I move on, when all I know is training to kill him!?" Sasuke's voice rose, and Haku suddenly wrapped his arms around the raven.

"You'll get through it. Find someone to care for, to protect, to ground yourself."

Sasuke sunk into the touch, and he sighed shakily. "I'll try."

Naruto sighed. Haku was helping Sasuke immensely. The blond went out, planning to train, when the front door was broken down. He lept back, eyes sharp, as he seemed to be back in the war.

The door was broken in, And Naruto was heavily in battle with a reincarnated Kimmimaro. Naruto had to protect-

Blood flowed from the now dying thugs neck and Naruto desperately fought off the memories.

"EVERYONE UP!" Naruto flashed upstairs and saw Haku guarding the bridge builder and his family.

"Haku, keep them safe."

"Aniki!"

Naruto spun and flung a kunai into a thug that had tried to sneak up on him. Naruto turned back to Haku.

 "This wasn't supposed to happen today!" Naruto flashed upstairs. Sasuke looked alert, and was waking Sakura. Her reflexes were still slow and underdeveloped. Kakashi appeared next to him. 

"Planned?"

"No. Sakura wake up! We're under attack!" Naruto could sense thugs surrounding the house, their weak chakra flickering with excitement.

"Kakashi."

"Hai!" Kakashi vanished, and screams could be heard outside. Blood splashed the window, and Naruto placed a hand on Sasuke's shoulder, worried.

Sasuke nodded. thundering footsteps were heard, and Sasuke flung shuriken at the doorway just as several thugs barged in. Sakura was awake now, and had joined them, Kunai raised.

Naruto gasped as he felt a familiar chakra begin to flicker out. "No!" He turned to Sasuke and Sakura.

"Now is no time for slacking! I'm leaving a clone but I need to go somewhere. Don't die!"

Naruto created a clone and vanished, henge melting off as he shot toward Uzushio.

'Please.  Hold on..... Shisui.