Fading Scars

This is an Alternate Universe fic set perhaps a day or two after Orochimaru’s retreat from Konoha. A lot of liberties were taken from that point on in terms of time-line. This is also a very angsty (especially Naruto) and sexually graphic fic—just the way we like it!

This was written as a one-on-one RP, so the point of view of the story will change, usually with every paragraph. Scenes will also change abruptly and large periods of time will pass with little notice, though I’ll try to give some warning at the beginning of the chapter.

// = thoughts
* = emphasis

NOTE: This part of the fic backtracks a bit, going back to Naruto and friends when they return to Konoha after their mission going after Sasuke and Neiji.

Please read and enjoy!

Fading Scars
Chapter Fourteen:

Naruto stood with his returned group, fists tight at his side as they faced the assembled jounin, advisors, and their new Hokage. He could feel most of the eyes were on him, and only Iruka's were not boring into him with anger. //After all, they didn't know I was going. Well, maybe Kakashi did, but....// He glanced at his old teacher, but the man wasn't looking at him.

Tsunade, Fifth Hokage of Konoha, cleared her throat loudly, signaling the beginning of t heir proceedings. "Nara Shikamaru. As I was told, your mission wasn't to return empty handed." She leaned back lazily in her chair. "Your report?"

Shikamaru dropped to one knee in front of the woman with a slight grimace. "My team and I tracked Uchiha and Hyuuga west toward Sand," he related as precisely as he ever did. "We were able to catch up to them four days into our journey. We were able to convince them not to seek out Orochimaru, and from there...allowed them to continue north, into Earth Country."

Tsunade's eyes narrowed as a few of the surrounding jounin exchanged glances. "And that's all?"

"Yes, Sir."

Hyuuga stood from his seat, looking the group over critically. "'Allowed them?'" he repeated. "You were given specific orders." His eyes darted to Hinata and narrowed. "Neji was to be returned, by any means," he went on lowly. "*Any* means. You knew that well enough, Hinata."

Hinata ducked into her shoulders. "Father, I...."

"I take responsibility for it," Shikamaru interrupted her, cringing at his own words. "It was my idea to let them go. Getting either of them to return to Konoha would have been...impossible."

"I hardly understand why," Tsunade replied coolly, "when you were granted permission to kill them both if necessary."

Naruto stepped forward; no matter how many times Shikamaru had insisted on their way back, he wasn't about to let the others take the blame for him. "It wasn't his fault," he interrupted, flinching only slightly when the whole room turned their attention on him. "I was the one that let them go--it was my idea."

"That's funny," Tsunade snorted. "I don't seem to remember you even being assigned to this mission."

"Hokage-sama," Iruka attempted to intervene. "If I may--"

"Not now, Iruka." He fell grimly silent. "Now, Naruto. Why don't you tell us why it is you think Uchiha and Hyuuga aren't still on their way to Hidden Sound?"

"Because I know them," he replied smartly. //I'm not a kid anymore. I won't back down.// "They knew Orochimaru wouldn't help them, so we came up with something better."

"This is nonsense," Hyuuga spat angrily. He raised his hands in quick, complicated seals. "We'll just see--"

Naruto's fists clenched. //If Neji were here...he would be dead.// "It won't work," he said, smirking. "They're long gone by now. You can't hurt him anymore."

Hyuuga glared darkly, face twisting. "You little...." He started forward, raising a fist with the full intention of backhanding the smirk off the boy's face.

Hinata gasped softly, and in sudden fear she leapt upon her father's arm, halting him. "F-Father, please..." Trembling beneath the startled glares of the assembly, her voice lowered to a whisper. "Please, don't hurt him--Neji-kun or Naruto-kun. I know I...I was supposed to, but...it's not his fault…."

Hyuuga caught her with his free hand, pulling her off his arm. "You were given an order, daughter," he said lowly. "I trusted you to carry it out, as a member of this family." He pushed her aside, fully intending to take out his anger on Naruto again, but found the boy had moved.

Naruto caught Hinata easily, even if she had been in no real danger of falling. He supported her, pulling her away from the man. "You want to hit me, go ahead," he challenged. "But I wasn't about to let you hurt him anymore after all you've already done!"

"That's enough!" Tsunade snapped, sending Hiashi a glare. "Naruto and Hinata-san are not the ones with responsibility for this mission. My only interest is the officer in charge."

Shikamaru gulped, risking a glance at her. //Geez…what a mess I'm in.// "Yes, Hokage-sama."

"As for the rest of you." Tsunade relaxed once more. "Being still genin, I'll defer to the judgment of your masters." She glanced to the side. "Kakashi, Kurenai…you're allowed to deal with your students as you wish."

Kakashi scratched the back of his neck. "Actually...I was told recently by Iruka-sensei that I've been rejected as Naruto's teacher. I don't have the right to punish him."

Naruto faced Tsunade as Hyuuga reluctantly retreated, his chest clenching. "If you want to punish anyone, it should be me. I heard they were leaving and I went with them on my own. I wouldn't let Shikamaru or Hinata kill them." He moved closer, standing just ahead of Shikamaru's shoulder. //I don't want my friends hurt anymore.// His eyes darted to Kakashi. //I'll do it on my own, if I have to.//

Tsunade's lip twitched. "From all I've heard of you, I never would have expected you to be a pacifist," she remarked. "But don't worry about your friend--there will be much consideration given before any punishment is passed, whatever that may be." She frowned. "But in the meantime, you are still a genin. Even if you don't want Kakashi as your group leader anymore, someone has to take responsibility for you."

Someone cleared their throat loudly at the back of the room, and the jounin parted with surprise to reveal the tall figure of Jiraiya. "You're very right," he declared with arms crossed. "Genin wandering around master-less--can't have that, can we?"

Naruto glanced over his shoulder, and he blanched. "Gah, not the Pervert Hermit," he muttered. //Just what I need; this idiot teaching me.// He snorted and turned away. "I think I'd rather be punished," he muttered darkly.

Jiraiya chuckled as he stepped forward, setting a hand on Naruto's head so that he wouldn't easily be able to get away. "Don't worry about this ungrateful little tadpole," he told Tsunade. "There are more important things than just a couple of runaway kids, right? No need to go too hard on the young."

Tsunade made a face, but she relented. "You're all dismissed," she said abruptly. "Kurenai, tend to your students. Shikamaru-kun and I are going to have a little talk in private."

Shikamaru gulped again, but he stood, trying not to look quite so grim. "Um...okay."

Tsunade waved her hand. "The rest of you, go do something useful."

Naruto caught Shikamaru before he could leave, meeting his eyes worriedly. //I don't want him to get in trouble, but....// "You…gonna be around later?" he asked, tone low so he wouldn't be overheard.

"Yeah." Shikamaru smirked grimly. "Maybe headless by then, but I'll seeya. Don't worry about me."

Jiraiya gave Naruto a little tug to get him moving. "C'mon, shrimp," he coaxed. "I gotta have a word with you."

Groaning, Naruto waved at Hinata and Kiba as he was pulled away. Once out of the room, he ducked out of the older ninja's grip. "You don't need to drag me," he muttered. "I can walk fine."

"All right, all right." Jiraiya glanced behind them, and wasn't surprised to see Kakashi and Iruka hovering nearby. "Just thought you might need some rescuing from that pair." He tilted his head back in indication. "Feel like talking to them?"

He crossed his arms, though...he wouldn't have minded seeing Iruka. To maybe...have someone tell him he'd done the right thing. Naruto shrugged. "They can yell at me if they want," he replied. "It won't change anything." He looked up, meeting Iruka's eyes a moment. //Sensei, I....//

Iruka straightened when he realized Naruto was watching. He smiled, and offered a slight wave. //Naruto....//

Jiraiya watched the pair, and at last shrugged. "Whatever you want," he said. "But I'm gonna be looking for you tomorrow, got that? I think you'll be interested to hear what I got t' say."

"Fine fine." He stepped away from Jiraiya, arms tightening as the other two approached. //I can handle this. Iruka and Kakashi....// Naruto's gaze darted away, and despite his convictions he was suddenly worried.

"Naruto." Iruka stepped forward, feeling just as anxious as Naruto looked for this conversation. "Welcome back," he said with a slight smile. "I'm glad you all came back unhurt." He was oddly relieved when Kakashi hung slightly back

He nodded, shifting his weight. "Yeah. We didn't really have any trouble--didn't even see anyone, besides Sasuke and Neji." Naruto glanced up and away quickly, expecting a reprimand at any moment. "Shikamaru...he was really good."

"Yes, I'm sure he was." //He certainly was composed, as much as anyone could expect him to be, in front of Tsunade.// Iruka reached out to set a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "And you, too, Naruto. I know...not everyone might agree, but I think you all made the right decision. If Sasuke-kun and Neji-kun are safe, that's good enough for me."

Naruto relaxed slightly, relieved that...at least one person agreed with him. "Yeah...." He raised his eyes to Iruka's. "I didn't know that she told them to kill Sasuke, too," he said quietly. "Did...they really want him dead instead with Orochimaru? It was really that bad?"

Iruka's expression sobered. "Yes, Naruto. It was really that bad." He glanced up as Kakashi at last came forward.

"You're really sure they're gone, aren't you?" Kakashi asked quietly, for a moment sounding genuinely concerned.

Naruto looked to him, tone equally as serious. "Sasuke may be a jerk," he muttered. "But he's never lied to me." His shoulders hunched. "I trust him and Neji. They didn't want to die. They just...want to be strong. To be free."

Kakashi hummed thoughtfully. "Then I guess it's for the best. The two of them can handle themselves." His eye thinned slightly. "You did okay, Naruto."

Iruka glanced at him questioning. "Was that all you wanted to say?"

Kakashi scratched the back of his head. "Well…."

//I did...okay.// Feeling wary, he faced the pair again. "What would you have done?" he asked suddenly of both of them. "If you guys had been sent instead of us, would you...." Naruto licked his lips. "Would you have killed them?"

"If it had been me," Kakashi admitted with a slight shrug, "I might have knocked them out cold and brought them back."

Iruka smiled humorlessly. "I think we'd both like to think we would have your courage, Naruto," he replied. "In making the right decision. I know it doesn't seem like it, but no one…." He winced slightly. "Well, almost no one wanted Konoha to lose any of its students."

Naruto snorted. "Almost." He thought of Hyuuga, of how carelessly he had formed the seal to kill his nephew. He could easily remember Neji, curled in the dirt, screaming....

He closed his eyes, shivering. "They just wanted a chance," he murmured. "They just...wanted to be stronger. There's nothing wrong with that...right? Being cursed...doesn't mean you should die."

"No," Iruka said quickly, squeezing Naruto's shoulder. "No, of course not. And you've given them the chance they needed. You should be very proud."

He shrugged. "You're the only one that thinks so, Iruka-sensei. Everyone else thinks I'm...." Naruto trailed off, falling quiet, but he quickly pulled himself back together. "Well, either way, I'm hungry," he went on with forced cheerfulness. "If you guys aren't gonna lecture me, I need to get something to eat."

Iruka sighed quietly, and reached into his jacket. "Here." He offered Naruto a pair of meal tickets to his favorite ramen booth. "Shikamaru-kun's going to need some food when Hokage-sama's through with him. Treat him for me, all right?"

Naruto grinned, accepting the tickets. "Thanks. I will." He paused as he glanced at Kakashi. //He...had been about to say something, before. I wonder what....//

Kakashi straightened subtly when Naruto's gaze fell on him. "Um...." He shoved his hands in his pockets. "You're really sure?" he asked, uncommonly reserved. "About me not being your teacher from now on."

He shrugged. "I guess it would depend," he replied, looking away. "Would you really teach me something? If I asked, would you show me what you taught Sasuke? But then--” Naruto tipped his head. "Would you say you would, and then not?" //Can I trust you, Kakashi? How can I, after everything?//

//Is that what this is all about?// "I can't teach you Chidori," he replied truthfully. "It only works with Sharingan. But I can teach you other jutsu that would be just as effective. If...you want me to."

Naruto looked away. //That's not the answer I wanted to hear.// He found himself facing the mountainside, staring up at the faces of the past Hokage's. Soon, someone would start carving the Fifth's image up there as well. "I don't have time," he murmured, "to spend worrying about whether or not you're going to lie to me again. So...maybe not now."

Kakashi started to speak, but Iruka took his arm, urging him to stay quiet. "Take some time to think about it," he told Naruto gently. "Kakashi-sensei and I will here for you, if you need us. All right?"

He nodded. "I know." Naruto lowered his head from the gazes of the Hokage's. "I...appreciate it." His fingers curled. "I'm gonna change before I find Shikamaru," he decided suddenly, spinning away. "I'll see you later!" Waving over his shoulder, he ran for his home.

Kakashi sighed as Iruka's hand slipped from his arm. "Maybe I should never have been a teacher," he murmured, watching Naruto leave. "Maybe…."

"Not that easy, is it?" Iruka replied with a smile. "But don't worry about Naruto--he'll be all right." He gave Kakashi a tug. "Come on. I'll buy you a drink."

"Yeah, okay." Kakashi allowed the other to lead him down the street, suddenly looking forward to it.

---

Nearly a month later, Naruto was wandering around the various training areas in Konoha, searching. He glanced down at his left hand--it was trembling again. //Even after mastering that pervert's move, my hand hasn't completely recovered yet.// Naruto frowned. //But it will soon.//

It was then he heard a familiar voice, shouting, echoed by the sound of limbs on wood. Brightening, Naruto hurried ahead, and finally found the boy he'd been looking for. "Hey! Hey, Lee!"

Lee glanced back, not pausing in his exercise as he repeated struck his already well-worn tree with his healing leg. //334…335…336….// "Hey, Naruto-kun. What brings you here?"

Naruto stopped just behind Lee, watching with wide eyes. //He really is strong....// He grinned eagerly. "I wanna talk to you, when you have a moment." //Though he looks like he's been at it for a while.//

"Talk?" //338…339….// "Well, if it's important I can take a break. 340." Breathing hard, Lee halted and stepped away from the tree. But his leg gave out abruptly, and he dropped onto his butt in the grass. He blinked. "Damn."

Naruto moved closer, spotting a canteen on the ground and bringing it with him. He dropped down with Lee and offered the water. "I can't believe you're already working with it like that," he said with admiration. "After what happened."

"It's the only way to make it strong again," Lee replied instantly, pausing to take a long drink of the water. He sighed. "So? What did you want to talk to me about?"

"Well...." He took a deep breath. //He'll agree. He'll have to agree.// Naruto faced him eagerly. "See, I was thinking. Neji is gone now, right? Him and Sasuke. And Tenten-san and Sakura-chan both decided not to go for chuunin again. So I had this idea, right?" He leaned closer. "You and me. We make our own group."

Lee sat up a little taller. "Really?” he asked, already brightening. "You and me? You mean it? You...want to be in my group?"

"Of course!" Naruto exclaimed, already relieved that Lee seemed excited by the idea. "You're super strong, and we could work real well together, don't you think? And, well...." He faltered, just for a moment. "I mean, if you want me, and if you think Guy-sensei will have me...."

"Of course!" Lee declared. "Guy-sensei would accept any determined student, any wandering soul! He'd be thrilled to take you as a student!" He faltered abruptly. "But to enter chuunin...we'd still need one more, right?"

Nodding, Naruto shifted a bit closer, expression sobering. "That's the next part of my idea," he replied. "But...that's gonna be the tricky part, because we need someone just as strong as us, right?" His fingers curled. "That Orochimaru is coming back, and if what the Pervert told me is true, there's someone even stronger than him that may try to destroy Konoha as well. So we need to be ready."

Lee leaned in excitedly. "Someone as strong as us," he repeated, eyes wide and nearly breathless. "Someone who could...but another genin?" He nearly shook with anticipation. "Do you really know someone like that?"

He nodded again. "Yeah, and so do you." He licked his lips. "I know it sounds crazy, but I want to find that Gaara guy."

For a moment, Lee thought he'd heard wrong. But watching Naruto, and the serious gleam in his eyes…. He went pale as he slowly leaned back. "Gaara," he repeated. His eyes narrowed. "Are you serious?"

"Yes. He...." Naruto took a deep breath. "He's not evil--I don't even think he's that bad of a guy. When I fou--" He stopped, biting his lip. //No one knows it was me that fought him. About Shukaku....//

Lee turned his head away as he tried to make himself consider Naruto's suggestion with the objectivity it deserved. "Do you really think he'd help us?" he asked quietly. "He's a ninja of Hidden Sand. And…he has a group…."

Naruto shook his head. "I don't know. But he was being used by Sand, and by Orochimaru. And...." //I have to tell him. I just have to be honest.// Naruto turned to face Lee squarely, hands on his knees. "Listen. Gaara's not quite normal. When he was born...the Sand people put the spirit of a Youma in him, so he could be something like a weapon for them. All he cares about is proving himself, prove that he's really alive or something, because before you fought him, I don't think he's ever been hurt before."

"Never...?" Lee frowned. //I wasn't really that great, was I? To have been the only person who's ever hurt him....// "I...don't know, Naruto." The memory of their fight, of watching the sand crawling over him while being helpless to stop it…. He swallowed hard. "I don't know if I can fight alongside a ninja like that."

"I know." Naruto lowered his head. "I know, but...." His fingers curled tightly. //Maybe this won't work?// "I have to try, Lee, and I don't think I can go after him alone. He's.... We're the same, him and I," he finally admitted. "We're exactly the same, except that I had people that finally acknowledged me. I don't think he's ever had that."

Lee risked a glance at him, then away again. "You know...Guy-sensei's been telling me I can't hate him," he said softly. "And...I don't, not really. We were both just...doing what we had to. I'm the only one to blame for what...." The fingers of his recently healed hand clenched. "But that doesn't mean I trust him." //I'm…still afraid of him, I think…deep down.// "Do you really think he'd fight for us?"

Naruto shrugged. "I don't know, but...." He looked up. "Lee, it wasn't your fault, what happened. It wasn't anyone's fault. You know that, right?"

"It's..." Lee gulped faintly, and drew himself back up. "He did what he had to do to win," he said, as he'd told himself many times by now. "I wouldn't have given up if it had been less, so...it is my fault. For not being strong enough to beat him."

//That's not right.// "Lee, didn't you hear me? Gaara is possessed by a Youma--that sand of his is part of it. No one could have beaten him--not even Guy-sensei, or Kakashi-sensei, or anyone else there that day."

"Somebody did," Lee replied immediately, his hands clenching against the grass. "They say it was Sasuke-kun, but...I don't believe that. But someone stronger than me was able to beat him."

Naruto fell silent, head lowered. "You're right," he murmured. "Somebody did." After a moment of thought, he pushed to his feet. "I want to show you something. Will you come with me for a bit?"

"Show me...?" Lee stood slowly, watching him. "What is it?"

"Just come on." Naruto took to the trees, heading for the mountain of the Hokages. He took a few short cuts to reach the top, pausing now and again to be sure Lee was keeping up with him. Finally they stood at the peak, looking out over the town.

"Down there." Naruto pointed out beyond the village, to the forest. From so high up, they could easily see the damage done barely two months before, the holes in the tree canopy where Shukaku had battled.

Lee stared, his eyes wide as he viewed the landscape. "Is that...where they fought?" Fists tight he turned to Naruto. "It really wasn't Sasuke-kun, right? There's no way he could have done something like that. Right?"

Naruto nodded. "Sasuke went after him. Sakura-chan, Shikamaru and I followed, but Shikamaru stayed behind to stop the ninjas following us. Sasuke tried to fight Gaara, but...he changed." Naruto shivered faintly. "The sand changed him into some creature, and Sasuke couldn't fight him." He took a deep breath. "So I did."

Lee stared at him blankly. "You?" he echoed, dumbstruck. A shiver went through him. //First he beat Hyuuga Neji, and now....// "How?"

"Two things. First, that guy Jiraiya taught me how to summon frogs. So I called a really big one called Gamabunta." He pointed. "He did that, fighting with Shukaku. I had to transform him so he could have claws to fight with. But we had to beat Shukaku so...." Naruto hesitated again, hand pressing against his stomach.

"Shukaku…Gamabunta…?" Lee's brow furrowed as he tried to imagine it. //Naruto-kun summoned a frog large enough to cause damage like that…? It must have been such a fight....// He gulped. //Something I could never do.//

"I told you...we were the same." Naruto turned to face Lee, lifting up his shirt. It only took a bit of concentration, and the scars slid across his stomach. "This seal holds in the Nine Tails. I've had him in me since I was born, I think, and sometimes I can use his chakra." He watched the other anxiously. "That's how...I beat Gaara. Because we both had monsters in us."

Lee glanced at the markings, then lifted his head to the trees again. //Monsters…?// "I...don't really understand," he confessed. "But if that's true...." His shoulders drooped. "Why would you want someone like me on your team?"

"Because I trust you," Naruto replied. "And because you're strong by your own power. It's only because of the Nine Tails that I can do anything at all, and I want to work harder, so I don't have to depend on it like that. You're amazing just on your own. I...." He smiled, blushing faintly. "I really admire you."

"You...." Lee glanced at him warily, feeling a bit of warmth seep through him. It faltered quickly. "I'm only good at one thing. What good will that be against Orochimaru?" He sat down abruptly to rub at his shin--it was beginning to sting after all his exercise that day. //I can't even train like I used to. But….//

Lee took in a deep breath. "I'm still not sure about your Gaara idea. But if you really think I'll be any good to you, I'll come. Though...I don't think he'll be happy to see me, either."

"Either of us." Naruto sat as well. "You know, I heard a little about what Orochimaru wants from the Pervert." //When I finally got him to talk.// "He's a big fan of jutsus--he's trying to collect as many as he can. And I was thinking, if he depends on them that much, than the last thing he'd expect is someone who doesn't use them." He looked to Lee seriously. "I don't think he'll be able to simply fight someone. And you've already proven your speed can work around even Gaara's sand--I'd bet you could get around just about any jutsu, right?"

"Well, I don't know about that…" Lee said modestly, blushing a little. "Not any jutsu. But do you really think…." He licked his lips. "Do you really think I could fight someone like Orochimaru...?"

Naruto considered seriously. "I think, with a little more work, then definitely. But think of if we worked together," he reminded. "He summons snakes--I summon frogs. He tries to use weird jutsus, Gaara can protect us with his sand." Naruto grinned suddenly. "And while he's distracted--BAM!" He punched the air with enthusiasm. "You hop in there and kick his ass!"

Lee, by now thoroughly swept away by the image Naruto was granting him, sat up excitedly. "That...if we could really get Gaara, that might work." He frowned slightly. "Gaara...kun? Do you think?" he asked, scratching his cheek. //I wouldn't want to piss him off by being too familiar, but….// "Gaara-san...?"

Naruto laughed. "He might like that--I don't think anyone's ever really treated him that well, you know?" He shifted closer. "So so, are you saying you'll go with me? I want to do some more work before then, but what do you think?"

Lee hesitated when he realized exactly what he was agreeing to. He took a deep breath. "Yes. Yes, I will. I don't know what Guy-sensei will think, but it's a good chance for Konoha to make an ally...I hope."

"I think so, too. And...." He licked his lips. "I think Gaara will listen to me, and if I don't mess up, I think it will work out." Naruto jumped to his feet. "Will you ask Guy-sensei if he'll take me? We don't have to mention Gaara yet, but...I want to be sure he'll accept me."

"Didn't I say he would?" Lee assured, giving his leg one last shake before standing. "He'll be thrilled. He keeps saying how sad it is, that Neji and Tenten are gone…." He offered his hand. "Partners?"

Naruto took his hand, feeling something swell inside him. However close he had been with Sasuke and Sakura, to actually be called that.... "Partners," he echoed, voice thick. "Thanks, Lee."

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