Bloodlines

Chapter 12
Time moves onward, Innocence fades


It seemed like every time Naruto found himself confronted by Sasuke, he had a million words running through his head, but found himself unable to do more than stare. Like a mouse that has caught sight of a hawk, frozen and wordless. Sasuke seemed less surprised, dark eyes unreadable as always, but the mini version next to him beamed like a ray of light and bounced across the clearing into his father’s arms.

“You’re here! I knew you would come and try to find me!”

Distracted, Naruto pulled Haku in a tight hug. Other than being filthier than usual, he seemed fine.

“You scared the living crap outta me kid! Thought I was gonna have to go a kick some serious butt.”

“Itachi set a trap. He didn’t expect the bait to free itself however.” Sasuke said.

Naruto pulled his son closer at the thought of his child being so close to a man that Naruto wasn’t sure he himself could have beaten.

“It’s ok dad, I’m not hurt. He wasn’t very nice though, look at Mr. Stripes!” He held the ragged remains of his stuff cat up.

“You can fix him, right?”

“Yeah, kiddo, I’m sure I can find someone who can fix ‘em.”

Standing, he faced the still motionless Sasuke. Between them, their common link stood craning his head back and forth between them. Little black brows furrowed.

“I thought you guys were friends! Aren’t you gonna hug?”

Naruto felt the muscles in his stomach clench. Sasuke had turned from motionless to feral. The hawk was about to take flight.

“Sasuke!” It was more of a broken yelp than a name. Sasuke’s hands had curled at his side.

“Don’t try and keep me here Naruto.” Sasuske growled. “I have business yet to tend too.”

“You have business here!”

“Itachi would have killed him, he wouldn’t have hesitated to use Haku to catch you and then he would have killed him.”

“This is your home! There are people here waiting for you that need you!” Naruto’s hand cupped Haku’s head close as the child stared up at him in confusion.

Still, Sasuke turned, back facing them.

“As long as Itachi lives, I have no other purpose.”

“And after, if you kill him?” Naruto asked softly.

The eye that turned back to them was red.

“After doesn’t matter.”

A familiar blackness fell.

Later, back in Konoha Hospital, Haku sat on the bed and watched his father growl and rant and say bad words. Sakura had her hands clapped over his ears , but he had heard his father curse and yell before.

In his arms, a now whole, if somewhat patched Mr. Stripes sat. Lee it seemed was quite the hand with sewing. He had fixed it while Haku watched, waiting for his father to wake.

“I thought they were friends. So why is Dad so mad?” Haku asked, looking up at Sakura from between her cupped hands.

“Eh. Well . . . they are . . . it’s complicated Haku-kun.” She replied, finally letting his ears go. Haku sighed. Grownups never wanted to tell him anything.

“Is he mad cuz Sasuke-san didn’t come back to the village with us?”

Sakura hugged him close, and he felt her cheek press against the top of his head.

“He’s not mad, just frustrated. Sometimes people you love do things you don’t like, and it’s hard to understand why.”

This really didn’t clarify things much, but Haku knew asking more questions was pointless. Instead he watched silently as his father finally calmed, blue eyes turned blindly towards the window.


Naruto tucked Haku in, the patched cat under the tiny boy’s arm. His lizard friend had been put into its cage and was sunning happily on its heated rock.

“Can you leave my lamp on?”Haku had asked, eyes slightly haunted. Feeling a stab of pain, Naruto knew then that his son’s precious innocence was already slipping away. In a year’s time, he would be starting school. He would learn the skills to kill. He would become a ninja, just like his parents.

Kissing Haku’s brow and wishing for a magic scroll that could stop time forever he returned to the living room, where Sakura and Sai sat, conversing quietly.

Iruka had been by earlier with apologies and to look Haku over for himself. Kakashi had pulled Naruto aside, and warned him that Itachi was now a threat to both Haku and Naruto.

“It’s best that you let me start some advanced training with him. A child with his bloodline is a time bomb without his clan here to aid him. He’s vulnerable now because of who he is, and clear bait for two very desirable people.”

He had wanted to protest, Haku was just five. Yes, he was an incredibly smart and talented for a five year old, but still, just a baby! Naruto had spent his time at that age running around and making a menace of himself to his caretakers.

But Kakashi had already been training to be a full ninja at Haku’s age, Sasuke’s clan had been training him since he could walk. Neji had already been learning the art of the gentle fist. Genius shinobi didn’t get to be just kids.

Kakashi’s hard eyes had said more than words. If he wanted Haku to stay alive, he needed training to protect himself when others could not.

“Don’t worry Naruto. Every ninja in the village will be looking out for Haku. Itachi won’t get another chance.” Sakura said fiercely. Sai nodded, smiling his usual cheshire smile.

“Thanks guys.” He said, smiling wearily. But it warmed him to know, that even should Naruto not be there, Haku would never be alone.

Shizune stood nervously as Tsunade perused the scroll that had just been delivered via hawk from Suna. From the look on the Hokage’s face, it wasn’t pleasant news.

“I can’t believe it. He must be joking.” Tsunade growled.

Shizune cast a worried eye to the large glass windows. They had just been replaced last week; she was hoping they could make it at least to the end of the month before the Hokage tossed another object/person out of them again.

“Ah. . . Tsunade sama?”

The Hokage tossed the scroll onto the desk, and pulled out a flask, much to Shizine’s disapproval.

“Nothing with that brat can ever go smoothly. Damn it.” She took a swig, then glared at the offending missive.

“It seems that the Kazekage has put in his own claim against the Hyuuga clan. He wants Naruto to produce him an heir to start his own clan bloodline. And apparently to be a huge pain in my ass.”

Shizune stared, noticing the hawk that had brought the message was still perched nearby. The Kazekage it seemed wanted a reply ASAP.

With a sigh, Shizune readied herself for the storm ahead.