Inferno (A Naruto Fanfic Book 4)

Chapter 6

Chihiro stretched and yawned, and I smiled at her. "You should sleep."

She smiled back. "You should too."

I shook my head. "Not sleepy, go. I'll be here when you wake up."

She nodded and padded off to her bedroom. Minato gave me a long look. "I still see you as my daughter, you know."

I nodded. "I would imagine so."

He looked at me sadly. "You don't feel that way?"

I sighed. "I do... but as you can imagine, I'm the rebellious one who always gave you a hard time. Also, it's weird when I've met the founders of this village and your parents long before you were born..."

He thought for a moment. "How old are you?"

I smirked at him. "Guess."

He sat back. "Over 100."

I laughed. "That's true, but I am older than the shinobi by how much I'm not sure. This body is 16, though, and it will be the last if I have anything to say about it."

He looked at me curiously. "Why?"

I lowered my gaze. "This whole ritual is wrong. My soul is extracted from this body placed in an infant at 16. If I don't go to a body like this one, I take over the body I'm in. This body comes from my descendants, so if I choose to have children, I basically have them or their children seal away that soul so the body can be preserved. I imagine it's for a long while because this ritual hasn't been performed for at least 5 generations."

He looked at me. "Why a descendant?"

I looked at my hands and let chakra flow freely around them. "They're the only ones who aren't hurt by my chakra. That night when I lost control... I hurt Chihiro. That was when I accepted that I needed to leave her body."

I looked up at Minato. "The same can happen to Naruto if he ever loses control. Kurama's chakra can harm him, unlike mine, though... he'll heal quickly, but every time, it takes its toll."

Minato averted his gaze. "How do I tell him?"

I smiled. "I'll tell him and show him... he has to either control the Nine Tails or befriend him."

Minato frowned. "Kushina..."

I smiled at her memory. "Never used him, just as I don't. But they had an understanding. You should rest, Minato. I can't imagine you've had much over the last month."

He nodded and left as I pulled my knees to my chest. Itachi sat beside me. "You should sleep too. You used a lot of chakra today."

I stared at nothing. "I'll sleep when I can..."

I felt him watching me. "Why don't you want to?"

I met his gaze. "Because I'm not safe from my own mind."

His eyes widened. "What..."

I lowered my gaze. "I've had a lot of experiences... not all pleasant. I haven't come to terms with it all yet. I don't dream if I pass out from exhaustion, but to just sleep... I relive them all."

He thought for a moment, then stood and held out his hand. I looked at him curiously but took it. He led me out of the house into the cool night air. I took a deep breath and watched the stars through the canopy.

I was mildly aware that we were going towards the village but didn't comment. I had missed the feeling of his hand holding mine but couldn't bring myself to tell him. I looked at the apartments with a questioning gaze.

He guided me into his apartment and went to the kitchen. I slid onto a barstool and watched him. He made some tea and handed it to me. I smelled the chamomile and smirked at him, setting it down. "Sleeping tea?"

He nodded and took a sip. "It helps."

I frowned and looked down at it. "You could've made this at Minato's."

He shrugged. "I could have." I continued to stare at the cup, and he moved beside me. "I won't hurt you."

I looked up at him. "I know..." I hesitantly took a sip. "You added honey." He smiled slightly and nodded. We sat in silence until we finished. "Why don't you hate me, Itachi?"

He looked at me curiously and then swiveled to face me. "Why would I hate you?"

I was looking down at my empty cup. "I've hurt you... broken your heart countless times."

He took my hand in his. "It was to protect me... even from myself."

I couldn't meet his gaze. "I wouldn't blame you."

He took my chin in his hand. "I can't hate you."

I searched his eyes. "You should." He shook his head and placed his forehead on mine. "But..."

He smirked. "Breathe." I hadn't realized I'd stopped breathing and tried to move away from him, but he held firm. "I don't hate you." He backed away, and I dragged in a breath.

He chuckled and led me to the bedroom. It was just as bare as the rest of the apartment. He pulled out a t-shirt and threw it to me. "I don't have any shorts that'll fit you."

I looked around the room. "Where will you sleep?" He gestured to the floor and left the room. I stood contemplating before quickly putting on the shirt, leaving my leggings on. Then, I went out and sat on the couch.

He looked at me curiously. "Sleep on the bed." I frowned, and he pulled me up, looking down at me. "Even if it's only for a little bit, some sleep is better than none." I averted my gaze, and he guided me back to the room and gathered blankets to sleep on the floor.

I sat on the bed and watched him, frowning. "You act like we haven't slept in the same bed before."

He stopped and looked at me. "Is that what you want?" I looked at him silent, and he came and leaned over me. "What do you want, Kunoichi?"

I averted my gaze. "It helps you sleep?"

He leaned closer. "I won't, if it would bother you."

I felt his breath on my face and fought to hold back a blush. "It doesn't." He smirked but didn't move. After I hadn't looked at him, he kissed my cheek and moved to the other side of the bed. I scowled at him, knowing I was blushing wildly. "Stupid Uchiha."

He chuckled and got under the covers. "Sleep." I laid down as far from him as I could manage and turned away from him. I could still feel his lips on my cheek as I closed my eyes. Stupid Uchiha...