Warmth of a Cold Touch
Chapter Five
Caution: This is the writer’s first draft.
Rating: AdultPairing: Naruto/Haku; potential Naruto/Kimmimaro/Haku
Warnings: m/m, slash, language, fantasy, OOC, male pregnancy jutsu mentioned
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by Masashi Kishimoto. This disclaimer applies to all following chapters.
Chapter Five The wind was howling as it swept through the region, pressing against the building and battering the windows. Drops of rainwater fall on top of the kitchenette counter from the open window despite the netting. He ran a finger through several drops creating a tiny river. At that moment a bright shard of light lit up the glass plane. Lightening. The storm was horrible and it was gaining speed. Haku quickly finished dressing, ignoring Naruto’s grumbling about the hour and weather. The storm, vicious as it was, was perfect for training. After all, very few battles were fought during great weather. He double-checked his supplies as he stood at the apartment entrance. He hadn’t forgotten anything. “Come, Naruto.”
“Coming,” the other boy called before running to meet him. Haku turned and led the way out of the apartment and building until they reached the land that was densely populated with thick, tall, canopying trees. He couldn’t help the smile that stretched across his face. This land belonged to his master and none could take that from Naruto. He’d made sure of that. Three and a half hours later, Haku collapsed on the cold, wet ground. Gods, Naruto was a stamina fiend. He kept going past the point an elite level jounin like Zabuza would have given up. After practicing with Naruto for almost a month, Haku could already feel a change in his own abilities. Teaching Naruto taijutsu made him more aware of his own actions and resulted in more precise movements. His actions were faster, more streamlined. The best part about working with Naruto was the jump in his chakra levels. Chakra capacity was very similar to a muscle. The more you worked it out the stronger and larger it became. Just like a muscle, genetics and age also determined just how much it could grow. Haku thought he reached the his personal max because he could keep up with Master Zabuza. Naruto proved he hadn’t. Two to two and a half hours of intense fighting was his max when with Master Zabuza, but now he could go three and half with Naruto, and the blonde used, on average, more chakra than his former master. Haku couldn’t keep up with him. Hell, he doubted anyone but another demon vessel could keep up with him, but Haku wasn’t an embarrassment.
He sat up. His abdomen ached so it took him a little while to do it. He ignored the grinning face of his companion.
“Tired, Haku-chan?”
He threw a senbon at Naruto. The blond easily ducked it. He was getting more than enough practice at it.
Exhausted as he was, Haku swept through the hand signs for his favored blackout jutsu. He felt the pulse of chakra run across them and sweep across a radius of ten meters.
Haku glanced at his partner’s red, sweaty, smiling face and took the plunge. “Naruto-kun, I have not been totally honest.”
“About?”
He bit his bottom lip, trying to think of the words to say. “I didn’t tell you about all of the scrolls I had.”
Naruto didn’t respond to his statement for a minute. Haku waited it out, feeling his heart race increase as the silence continued.
“Okay. I think I understand. You didn’t know me that well then so you didn’t know if I was going to keep your secret.”
“Yes.”
Long moments stretched between them as Haku tried to formulate the words in his mind to put the information in the best light. He’d come to know Naruto well during these few weeks and he was unlike any other shinobi Haku had come across. Naruto was painfully honest and straightforward. He was trying to darken, or at least grey these white attributes but it was a slow process.
He worried Naruto wouldn’t be able to see the benefit of his actions.
“Haku, whatever it is, I won’t get mad.”
“You shouldn’t say that. I could have done something truly heinous,” he muttered.
Naruto flashed him a cheeky grin. “Of course, you would do something horrific, ‘Mr. I will kill my heart to kill you’,” he replied referring to Haku’s distaste to killing him and Sasuke during the Wave mission.
What Naruto didn’t understand was that Haku would have had no trouble killing Sasuke if he wasn’t an Uchiha as the Leaf would have hunted him and Master Zabuza down. The brunet didn’t have any qualms about shedding someone’s blood. He’d done it before.
He loathed the thought of killing Naruto because after their meeting in the clearing he already started to consider the blond a friend or at the very least someone he could befriend.
“I stole Gato’s money.” He said the words quickly and loudly, knowing if he didn’t get them out as soon as possible, he wouldn’t say them at all.
It took Naruto a moment to process the words, or at least to reply.
“You stole Gato’s money?”
“Yes.”
Haku waited for the condemnation from Naruto, whom still didn’t understand why he needed to kill a shinobi after his lifeblood. It didn’t come.
Laughter.
He lifted his head and stared at Naruto in surprise. Painfully, pure-hearted Naruto was laughing at the thought of him stealing Gato’s money. It didn’t add up. “I don’t understand. Why are you laughing?”
Naruto replied between chuckles. “Billionaire Gato cared more about money than people, and in death he’s broke cause you took it all.”
He supposed if you looked at it like that, it was ironic and funny.
“True. And as my master that money belongs to you.”
Naruto’s chuckles ended abruptly. “What?” he yelled.
Haku turned and grasped Naruto’s hands in between his. He held the blond’s blue-eyed gaze. “Whether you like it or not, you can not deny that I am your vassal and you are Head of the Uzumaki Clan. Everything I am, everything I own is yours.”
“But that’s –“
“No, Naruto. Legally, socially, however you want to say it, I belong to you.” Haku needed Naruto to accept this. As a clan leader, Naruto needed to understand that he was responsible for each and every member. Naruto’s allegiance was to the Leaf first, both as a shinobi and as the head of the clan. The other side of the coin was that as the clan leader, Haku’s allegiance was supposed to be to him first, the village second. Haku needed him to understand the intricacies of his position.
“I know, I know. I haven’t forgotten my lesson.” He paused and looked down. “I just want you to know that things aren’t that way between us. Not really.”
“I understand.” He smiled. “And they aren’t. You’re my friend first, my master second.”
“Pardon?”
Naruto flashed him a swift smile. “Always so polite,” he muttered. Then louder. “Just how much money did Gato have?”
“Haku blushed. “After I gave back Wave’s property, there was 1.5 billion Ryo in money, legal property, businesses and stocks.”
“1.5 billion?”
“Yes.”
“Wow! Gato sure had a lot of money.”
“Yes. On top of that there is about 2.1 billion in illegal businesses.”
“Oh my gods!” Naruto exclaimed, looking a little green at the thought of all that money. “Why would he do that to Wave if he had so much?” He asked. Haku wasn’t sure if it was an actual question or just the blond thinking out loud but he answered anyway. “He was greedy.”
Naruto seemed to consider it for a moment. “You’re right…of course.”
“I’m always right,” Haku stated with a cheeky smile.
The blond sat up just a little straighter. “Enjoy it while it lasts. Soon I’ll be the one who is right, the person telling you what to do.”
Something dark and needy snaked down Haku’s spine at Naruto’s words. It brought to mind the need Master Zabuza fulfilled. He laughed it off. “I can’t wait.”
“Oh, Haku, when and how did you steal Gato’s money?”
Haku blushed. “After you and Kakashi helped me to bury Master Zabuza, I was very…angry. Even though Gato was dead at my Master’s hands I still wanted revenge…so that night I put the nerves around my wound to sleep and took a special medicine Master Zabuza had for extreme situations and went to his hideout. How? The man was a fool with a simple password: money matters. One word. All caps.”
Naruto stared at him for a moment in disbelief. Then he lay on the ground and laughed. No matter what Haku said, he couldn’t get the blond to stop laughing at him. After some time he too found the situation hilarious.
It was a little after 0800 hours. To be exact it was 0814. Koharu was late. Hiruzen wondered if he would be lucky enough to find that she cancelled the meeting and his latest secretary just hadn’t informed him of the change.
Four sharps knocks against his door cut off the thought. It seemed the woman was just running a little behind schedule. He ended the jutsu on the orb in his hand and watched as the small image of Naruto and Haku resting on the ground after sparring faded away until white fog filled the glass. It was now his only method of keeping track of Naruto now that the observation seals in his apartment were blacked out. He considered sending a ninja to replace it, but was worried about the apartment building’s security. He knew Naruto was lax about things like that, but he doubted his vassal would overlook such an issue. He placed globe back in the top drawer on the right and called out, “Enter.” Koharu strode into the room, lips tight, and face in a grimace. He barely restrained the sigh he wanted to release at the sight of her clear displeasure. It was going to be a long meeting. Thankfully, he had to speak with the Principal of the Ninja Academy at 0900 hours. Though his secretary was new, the chunin had the good sense to make sure that he had appointments scheduled no later than an hour after an Elder meeting. After all, it would be rude of the Elders and Hokage if he didn’t meeting with someone he promised to see because he was still talking to them. “This can not stand!” Koharu bit out as she strode through the room. She stopped just before one of the two chairs placed across from his desk. He leaned back and looked at the woman, surprise evident on his face. Normally, Koharu started a discussion by weaving around the issue, making statements that alluded to the problem without giving him enough to really know what was wrong. Then after fifteen minutes of useless talk she would tell him what was really at issue. This was something very different. “What are you talking about, Koharu? What can’t stand?” “Uzumaki’s clan status.” “The Uzumaki have been a clan for a long time now. You should know this, Koharu. After all, your family has history with the clan.” Scandalous history at that. Her great uncle angered the Uzumaki when he took one of their young females against her will. The family never did find his body. Uzumaki justice was swift and almost always resulted in the obliteration of what the attacker loved best. It seemed her great-uncle loved himself most of all. She blanched, and then almost as quickly as the color left her face it returned and with a vengeance. She turned so red it appeared a shade away from purple. “That may be so, but the Uzumaki were never a clan of Leaf.” “Until now.” “The paperwork was finalized four days ago. Just yesterday Uzumaki received his land grant. The probationary period has not ended. His status will not be final for six months. Until then you can revoke it,” she plowed on. “There has never been a case of a clan’s status being revoked before the probation was over.” “There is always a first time.”“You forget yourself, Koharu. I can not revoke it without just cause.” He saw the slight shudder than went through her shoulders and down her body. She was barely keeping a hold on her rage. He knew she and her family had history with both the Uzumaki clan and the Namikaze family. He wondered when this became personal or if it was always personal and he just never noticed. Of all the Elders, she was the one least likely to allow her personal feelings to cloud an issue. Seems, there is a first time for everything. “Repeal it,” she bit out. He sighed. “Legally, I can not.” He thought about, considered it, and had even been preparing to reject the application. He didn’t want to grant Naruto clan status, while it would afford him and his vassal a number of protections, it would bring to light secrets he kept buried for years. He also wasn’t pleased with the thought of Naruto starting a clan under his mother’s last name. The Uzumaki name held a lot of weight throughout the Elemental Countries, but nothing brought abject fear to the mind of the masses like Namikaze. The Namikaze had always been a strong ninja family, but that was all they were: a family. The name had no real political capital until Minato Namikaze, better known as the Fourth Hokage, decimated Stone’s forces. Leaf could have gained a lot if Namikaze was reborn a clan. Sarutobi was going to deny the application and explain to Naruto that he didn’t believe he was ready to be a clan leader as he was too young and inexperienced. This would have given him time to train Naruto and explain who and what he was to Leaf. Hiruzen had no problems with making Naruto the leader of a clan, as long as that clan was Namikaze and he was trained in the spirit of the Leaf as he’d trained the Sannin and Jirayai had trained his father. Now, all his plans were useless. Homura and Danzo tied his hands. One of the men, Danzo he suspected, expedited a copy of the application to the High Court of Fire Country. The Court was the one who actually granted Naruto clan status. All he did was rubber stamp it. “You think I wouldn’t if I could? He was granted the privilege by the High Court of Fire. I can not undo it without concrete proof of treasonous acts against Leaf and/or Fire.” “Provide proof!” He laughed. “Yes, like you three were able to provide and present proof of the Uchiha’s traitorous actions to the High Court. Even that would not have been enough to convict them, after all it was just talk, and you three knew it. That is why you had Itachi do your dirty work. It is also why, despite your grumbling, Sasuke Uchiha is still head of the Uchiha clan of two. The Fire Daimyo and Court are very clear about clan rules. As long as the High Court or Daimyo has not found the clan guilty of treasonous acts, the clan will continue to retain their protected status.” She dropped heavily into the closest seat like a stone released. “There is nothing to be done?” “No, there is nothing to be done,” he replied. She stood and headed back to the door without saying anything more. When she reached the exit and just before she could open the door, he called out,” Don’t forget Koharu that the Uzumaki clan has all of the privileges and rights that come with the title, including those against intruders and all who wish to harm them on and off their land.” “I am well aware of that, Lord Hokage. I would never harm one of our clans.”
His lips flattened at the iciness of her words. Her tone was just a little too cold, her rage a little too clear. “Just a friendly warning, Koharu. It’s just a friendly warning.”
Iruka wove his wave through the crowds that filled the streets of Leaf. It was a beautiful summer day. The sky was a mesmerizing medium blue and filled with white fluffy clouds and a bright yellow sun. It was a sharp difference from how it appeared this morning when the storm was raging. Few could ignore the allure of the lovely weather and so many were outside exercising or sparring, shopping or meeting with friends.
He was one of the latter. Iruka had two meetings with friends scheduled today, although he wasn’t sure if it was right to call either person a friend. He took a seat in the corner of the small café. He’d just settled onto the chair when a shadow passed over him. He looked up startled and then smiled at Genma Shiranui. “I wasn’t expecting you for another thirty minutes.” “Yeah, I arrived back in the village earlier than expected so I was free sooner than I thought I would originally be.”“How was the de-briefing?” “Tedious.” “And you’re mission report?”
“Long, but legible. I’ve learned my lesson, Iruka.” Iruka blushed. The last time Genma handed in a report, it had been so illegible, Iruka hadn’t been able to make heads or tails of it. He’d sent it back with a message to be redone. In an unusual fit of irritation Genma hadn’t complied. He and Iruka got into a argument. Angered Iruka hadn’t allowed the other man to touch him. That was two weeks ago, and a week ago the jounin went on a mission. “I’m sorry,” he apologized. The situation had gotten out of hand and although it was in the past, he felt he was mostly responsible for it. He should have just filed the damn report and forced the Intelligence Department to deal with it. Instead he’d stalled a blossoming relationship. He’d only slept with Genma once before the incident. He almost immediately regretted his reaction but he was too proud then to say he was sorry.
“Don’t apologize. Our fight wasn’t your fault. I knew better than to hand in something like that. Also, I shouldn’t have taken such offense when you asked me to re-write it.” He leaned forward and flashed Iruka a roguish grin. “Plus, absence makes the heart grow fonder and I can’t wait to get you home.” Iruka’s blush returned with force. “I…I won’t lie. I’m looking forward to…being with you, but it will have to wait until tonight.” Genma gave him a roguish grin. “Got plans with your other boyfriend?” Heat filled Iruka’s face, but the warmth was not from embarrassment or arousal, but anger. Apparently, Leaf’s rumor mill was working overtime. “No, I’ve had quite enough of Kakashi Hatake to last me a lifetime.” Genma reached across the table and grabbed one of his hands. When the other man touched him, Iruka realized he’d been clenching them into fists. He couldn’t help it. Although he tried to ignore Kakashi whenever they had to interact, the jounin had the ability to rile Iruka up every time they met. It didn’t help that silver-haired ninja had been questioning him a lot about his former students Naruto and Sasuke. It also didn’t help that he peppered his questions with flirtatious comments. “Hopefully, I’ve answered all his questions, not that I had that much information to give. No, actually I’m supposed to meet Naruto for lunch.” It was a sad truth to realize just how little he knew about his students. He supposed it was to be expected. After all, he was their teacher, not their friend or confident. Still, to find out that when it really came down to it, most of what he knew of his students was popular gossip hurt. Despite all the lunches and dinners he’d been forced into by Naruto, he knew very little about the boy’s life and circumstances outside the fact that he was the jailer of the Nine-Tails and the civilian population was cold to him. He came to realize he either hadn’t been listening when the child talked, or Iruka didn’t ask the right questions. Genma patted his hand, released it and leaned back in his chair. Iruka lifted his gaze, already missing the warmth of his touch. “My family is considering asking the Uzumaki clan for a meeting.” Iruka stared at him for a moment unsure his ears weren’t deceiving him. “What? Why?” he asked a little too loudly after he realized hadn’t misheard Genma. “Things are changing, Iruka. The very fact that there is a new clan in Leaf has shifted the village’s political dynamics. My family does not want to be left behind. There are very few clan heads willing to listen to ninja families. Most, like the Hyuuga, Inuzuka, and Aburame only vote for and promote rules and regulations that could benefit their clan. They rarely think of the rest of us: the shinobi families. The Uchiha are dead and Sasuke hasn’t taken up his clan responsibilities. He’s too focused on his revenge.” He snorted. “The Hyuuga don’t even listen to those who pay homage to them and whom they are supposed to protect.”
“And this is the chance to get your views heard.”
“Yes. I doubt my family is the only one who realizes this.”
“You’re early.”
But Homura was a ninja. He understood the importance of patience. He was willing to wait and strike at the best moment to ensure his grandson’s home was his own.
It was pouring hard when Kimmimaro arrived at his destination. His target was a young woman with blond hair that reached the middle of her back and amethyst eyes that tilted slightly at the outer corners. She was the lone doctor in a clinic that catered to the poor. It had four other employees, two men and two women, civilians and in their teens. They hoped to follow in her footsteps.
They were fools. Kimmimaro shifted the slightest bit. It allowed him to see his prey a little clearer. She stood less than fifteen meters away from him. Her hand lay above the fevered head of a young child. He couldn’t hear her words even though he used an enhancement jutsu on his eyes as the rain was coming down too hard, but he assumed she was speaking soothing words to the child, a young brunet girl. She stepped away from the child and grabbed a few items from the bedside table. A needle, a long piece of rubber and gloves. He watched her take the little girl’s blood and just as she removed the syringe from the child’s flesh, the door opened and one of the male assistants entered the room. The girl was silently crying. He placated her, made an utterly ridiculous face and handed her some sweets. Kimmimaro turned away. He saw all he needed to see. He would be back later tonight. He and the good doctor needed to have a private discussion. Four hours later, as one day was ending and another way beginning, Kimmimaro silently made his way down the empty, dirt path that lead to the clinic. He picked the lock easily, walked through the reception and general medical areas, and even bypassed the portion sectioned off to be the blonde’s onsite apartment. According to his Intel she didn’t actually sleep there. It was all for show. He reached the basement. The air was sharp, thick with antiseptic and that cloying clean that could only come from a medical institution. It was where they stored the supplies. Kimmimaro stood in front of the back wall. It was cluttered with large, heavy boxes filled with extra medical instruments and the cutting edge technology the clinic was gifted with thanks to the blonde’s connections. She had painted quite the picture of herself to the public. He almost smiled as he pulled out his scroll. It contained an intricate unlocking seal. He retained it from one of the good doctor’s actual apprentices three months ago. After he tortured her for information and before he killed the purple haired woman. He unrolled the parchment and placed it against the fifth box counting from right to left on the third row. Then he applied a little bit of chakra and took a half-step back. The wall glowed chakra-blue for exactly three seconds before fading away to reveal a wide corridor with fire-lit scones upon the wall. He stepped into it. The pathway was less than fifty meters long and declined to lead to a simple white door. The color and sight of the exit was a little jarring and quite eerie, even to his stoic senses. Not for the first time he thought of just how sick the doctor was. He turned the knob and pushed it open. The room was bright white and painfully clinical. It was nothing like Orichimaru’s shady underground laboratoriess. On the left and right walls stood large cages. In them were children who appeared to be as young as one and as old as seven. He swallowed thickly. Kimmimaro reminded himself of why he was there and forced himself to move deeper into the room. He had a mission and he would not allow the sight of a young child’s eyed hollowed of all emotion by pain to dissuade him. He had a perfect record and planned to keep it. “Damn it, Kagome. Where have you been? Do you have any idea how hard it is to keep these beasts under control when it’s just me?” the blonde called out. Kimmimaro followed the source of the voice to find the doctor leaning over a child with bright silver hair. Some of the strands were stained red with his blood. The child’s eyes were closed. He appeared to asleep. Kimmimaro counted it as a blessing. At least he would not have collateral damage. “I am not Kagome and would appreciate it if you stepped away from the child.”The woman spun around scalpel in hand. At the sight of Kimmimaro her mouth opened and she took an unconscious step back, bumping into the table. “What…how…why?” she stuttered. Kimmimaro looked at her appraisingly, trying to figure out which answer would aid his mission the most. He went for the truth. “I come seeking information. I was able to enter your secret clinic because your assistant provided the information. Kagome is dead. I killed her. I will kill you. The only question is just how tortuous your last few moments will be.” He paused and tried to remember her last question. “And why? Because I can.”
Whoohoo! I’ve finally introduced Kimmimaro. I won’t lie. I love this character. He is so bad ass and was oddly enough easy to write. I’ve already gotten most of the next chapter complete, and have actually started the chapter after that. I can’t wait to give you guys a better look at my Kimmi!
To Threesome or not: That is still the question so if you have an opinion and have not voiced it or just want to add your vote let me know. I have read each and every review. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for taking the time to write them and send them out. I know you’ve got better things to do so super thanks. Your responses have been helpful. At least one reader has commented that he/she was reading my story with the mental image of Haku as a girl and a threesome with Kimmi would ruin that. I am going to assume this person is not the only one. I really appreciate the fact that someone who doesn’t want to read slash chose to read this story, but I want to warn you that you might want to strongly consider cutting your loses. I would hate to have you invest time reading this and then find out its not the kind of story you want to continue. (I hate to start an awesome fic and then find its Harry/Ginny. Don’t want to do something similar to you). For example, I plan on the love scenes being graphic. While I will give borders and advance warning on the sex scenes (I hate stumbling on something graphic I hate such as an abuse scene), there will be intimacy among the characters that will not be bordered that might make you uncomfortable. But it’s just a warning.