Promises Kept

A/N: Sorry to say I’m still having trouble believing how popular this story has become. 323 hits, 12 reviews and 5 +++++ votes in only four days are FAR more then I ever expected. So I feel compelled to once again say thank you to everyone for your continued support, he really does mean more then you know.

Now that that’s over with. (Sorry trying not to be too sappy here) The results of the poll now stand as this:

5 votes for Teme Sasuke
4 votes for the teams to remain the same
1 vote for the teams to be changed up
5 votes for Haku to live
3 votes for Haku to remain Male
2 votes for Hake to be a Female

The way the votes are shaping up looks like Haku will be joining the cast and Sasuke will still be a Bastard. Works for me… hehe I’m already getting several sweet ideas for how the changes are going to work out.

Remember if you haven’t submitted your vote yet there’s still time. I’ve got about two more chapters after this one before the Teams and Sasuke will come into play and then I figure maybe two or three more chapters before Haku enters the picture. Since I’m trying to slow things down to one chapter a day that should give those that haven’t voted a couple more days before the Sasuke and Team Polls are closed and about four or five days before I close the Haku Polls.

Oh, before I forget to answer HumanInfiltraror’s question I’m going with the original series on this one. That means that only those closest to Naruto’s parents know who the father really is. In the series as in this story that information is being kept an extremely guarded secret for obvious reasons (The fourth’s many enemies being the most important). As for who in the story actually know they are of course Raven, Kakashi, the Hokage, Tsunade and Jiraiya. As for Ryo, Suka, Shibi, Chouza, Tsume, Shikaku and Inoichi well…while they were friends of the Fourth and honored his wishes by not hating Naruto, even they don’t know that the Fourth ever had a child.

Now I know you all have to be wondering if Raven is going to tell all of this to Naruto and the answer is yes. However Raven is not going to tell Naruto for several more years since the danger to the boy’s life is still to great at the moment. I figure that around the point of the time skip, which is the time I’m going to have Naruto start merging with Kyuubi will be the best time for Naruto to learn the truth since it’ll be about this point that he’s strong enough to protect himself from his father’s enemies should they still be around. Haven’t decided that one yet, but that’ll be Raven’s reasoning in the story.

Okay I’ve taken up enough of your time so now back to our story.

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As Raven stood in front of the Head stone he couldn’t help but feel the same familiar pain he has been experiencing since his return to the village he has come to call his home. “It’s still hard to believe that it’s been nearly six years since we last spoke,” he says to the man buried in the grave below him. “I know that your soul no longer in habit’s the bones buried here and that with your sacrifice it was lost, forever keeping you from ever being reunited with her.” Raven kneels on the ground as he focuses his chakra into his right palm before laying the hand on the ground in front of him. In but a few seconds the once barren patch of earth that marked the grave of his closest friend is covered by a lush green blanket of freshly grown grass with a patch of sunflowers, the same brilliant yellow of the dead man’s hair, at the base of the tombstone.

“I have never admitted this to anyone,” he tells his fallen friend, “But I cried the night I learned of your death and cursed Kami that you had to be the one to perish that night. I can’t help but feel that if I had been here when Kyuubi attacked that I might some how have been able to spare you and your family the pain that was to follow.” For the first time since that night Raven’s eyes begin to fill with tears as he fights back the torrent of pain that threatens to over whelm him.

“I know that the highest honor any shinobi can obtain is to fall in battle while protecting those most precious to him but that knowledge provides little comfort when I see what has been done to your son.” A single tear begins to slowly make its way down his cheek as he looks over to the grave not more then five yards from where he is currently kneeling. It is the same grave he had visited not more then ten minutes prior to his arrival to his current location. “You three deserved the right to be a family,” he says as he stands up to leave. “And though that chance has been forever taken away I vow that your son will know what it is to have the family that was stolen from him upon his birth and what it is to be loved.” Raven dusts off his knees before turning to leave only to pause for a moment before speaking one last time. “I will not be returning until he his old enough to know the truth of his origins,” he tells both of them, “When that day comes I shall return with him so that he can get to know the both of you.” With that Raven walks out of the cemetery and towards his next destination of the day.

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Raven made his way through the streets of Konoha until he found what he was looking for. Standing outside the restaurant he smiles as he watches one of the patrons sitting in a booth across from the window smoking a cigarette while waiting for his order. The man’s dark beard and spiky hair give him the appearance of being a younger slightly larger version of the Third. Deciding that he as observed the man long enough Raven enters the restaurant and silently walks up behind the man shaking his head.

“What is it about the Sarutobi males that compels them to smoke?” Raven asks causing the man to turn around quickly. Raven laughs at the man’s slack jawed face as he takes the cigarette out of the man’s mouth before taking a drag himself. “I mean honestly there most be some genetic or psychological reason be hind it, right runt?” he asks after exhaling a cloud of smoke.

“You tell me Niisan,” the man replies taking out another cigarette from his pack. “You were adopted yet you still smoke,” he tells Raven, “So I guess that makes it psychological.”

“I guess,” Raven laughs before taking another drag. “I heard you made Jounin, congratulations,” Raven says as he reaches into his coat and pulls out a rolled up piece of cloth. “I got you something,” he says handing the bundle to the man.

The man takes the bundle and opens it to reveal a pair of fighting knives with holes in the handles for his fingers and a razor sharp edge the travels over the knuckles connecting to the single edged blade. “Sweet…” he says giving them a few experimental swings. “This will come in handy on my trip.”

Raven sighs as he hears his adopted brother mention his up coming trip. “So you’re really going to do it aren’t you Asuma?”

“I’ve put it off too long Niisan,” Asuma answers. “Konoha’s back on her feet and I’ve already been a Jounin for almost a year,” he tells his eldest brother. “I can’t think of a better time to do it.”

“Does tousan know?” Raven asks only to receive a nod. “Just be sure you’re doing this for the right reason runt. Don’t do this cause of me and the old man alright.”

“I know what you’re trying to do Raven-kun,” Asuma says putting the knives away. “I’m tired of being in your shadows,” he tells him. “I’m not you two and it’s time the world knew that,” he almost yells. “And I’m not going to be some dumb sacrificial lamb for the council either.”

“After all this time you still haven’t figured it out have you?” Raven asks rhetorically. “Remember when we used to play Shougi as children?” Asuma gives him a weird look but nods anyways. “I used look at the board and could sometimes almost picture the shinobi of this village as the different pieces,” Raven tells him. “I always saw myself as the rook, always moving in a straight path and always defending the King.”

“And what was I?” Asuma asks.

“At the time it was hard to tell,” Raven answers. “Some days I’d see you as the Queen, some days the Knight and other days either the Bishop or a Pawn.”

“Never the King,” Asuma says almost as if pained by Raven’s words. “Never the Hokage.”

“The Hokage’s not the King baka,” Raven laughs. “The Hokage’s the Queen,” he says as if that would explain everything.

“I don’t follow.” Asuma says. “I though the Hokage would be the most important piece.”

“Wrong again runt,” Raven chuckles taking a final drag from his cigarette before putting it out in the ashtray. “The Hokage’s the most powerful piece, not the most important.” Raven pulls out his own pack before tapping out two cigarettes. He takes one and offers the other to Asuma before continuing. “Remember even the Queen can be sacrificed to save the King, hell every other piece on board can be sacrificed as long as the King survives the game’s not over. But if the King falls you lose.”

“So then who is the King?” Asuma asks getting tired of his Niisan’s little game.

“Look outside and tell me what you see?” Raven sighs as he takes another drag.

Asuma looks out the window but all he sees are some children playing in the streets and a few civilians walking through the restaurant area looking for a place to eat. “All I see are a few kids and some civilians,” he answers. “What am I supposed to be looking for?”

“You’ve already seen the King but you just don’t realize it yet,” Raven tells him before he gets up to leave. “I’ve got to get home and fix lunch for Naruto,” Raven tells Asuma. “If I don’t see you before you leave then good luck. Until then think about what I’ve said and think about who and what can be sacrificed without losing the game.”

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A/N: I know a little short but I really couldn’t think of anything else to do without either giving too much away or running into the next chapter. So what did you all think of Raven and Asuma’s little heart to heart? And yes Asuma is going to be leaving Konoha for a little while but he’ll be back before Naruto and the others Graduate. Remember that in the series he left Konoha after some type of falling out with the Third and became one of the 12 Elite Guardians before returning just before the start of the series.

Once again remember to R&R and cast your votes.

Until next time,
~Raven~