Shadows of the Past
folder
Naruto › General
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
14
Views:
1,160
Reviews:
8
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Naruto › General
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
14
Views:
1,160
Reviews:
8
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
A Brother's Pain
Over the next couple of months they continue to train and improve not only their individual skills but also their teamwork.
Siefer’s initial refusal to cooperate with Squall slowly began to fade thanks largely to regular smacks to the head and threats of further bodily harm from Rinoa.
In its place grew a sort of friendly rivalry of one-ups-man-ship as they continually tried to out do the other. This in turn led to a growing respect between the two boys that showed sings of leading to a real friendship.
==============================
On the first day of the their third month together as a team Raven is called to the Hokage’s office for a status report. Standing in front of Tsunade Raven gives his report on his team’s progress to the Hokage.
After looking over the written copy before her she finally looks up at him. “While I’m pleased with the progress your team has made I’m concerned that they haven’t had a single mission yet,” she tells him. “As you know the Chunin Exams begin in a week and each team must complete a minimum of eight missions to qualify.”
“I am aware that my team will not qualify for the exams this time,” Raven tells her. “However, I felt that improving their teamwork was more important then allowing them to participate in the Exams. In all honesty Hokage-sama if they can’t work together then they’ll never be ready to lead their own teams once they do become Chunin.”
She gives him a knowing smile as she leans back in her chair. “Fei-san was right about you,” she says. “You were perfect for this team,” she tells him. “I am confident that under your guidance they will become excellent shinobi.” She hands him a file before looking at some other papers on her desk.
“Since your team will not be participating in the exams I expect them to help pick up some of the slack left by those that are. Starting tomorrow you will begin accepting missions,” she tells him leaving no room for arguments.
==============================
That evening as Raven returns home from his date with Hinata he finds the lights in Koga’s quarters are on. ‘He must have just got back.’ Deviating from his original course he walks over and knocks on his brother’s door.
Koga answers a few moments later in just his pants and sandals. Raven notices the bandages around his brother’s ribs but makes no comment as the Hiroku heir moves aside allowing his youngest sibling to enter. “How are things with the new team going?” He asks closing the door behind them.
“They’re going well,” Raven tells him as he takes a seat on the couch in the sitting room. “Siefer’s head is finally starting to return to its original size now that he’s stopped arguing with Squall in front of Rinoa’” he laughs. Raven had told Koga about his new team and how Rinoa usually got Siefer to cooperate by raising knots on the back of the boy’s head.
“That’s good to hear,” Koga says pouring them each a cup of sake. “And how are things between you and Hinata?”
Raven blushes slightly as a smile crosses his lips. “They are progressing nicely,” he tells the older man. “I haven’t been able to meet her for lunch in awhile but I still make sure to end training in time for us to catch an early dinner.”
“That’s good,” Koga says slightly distracted. “You should always make time to be with the ones you love.” He downs his sake in one shot before pouring himself another.
“You still miss them don’t you?” Raven asks his brother. Koga only nods before downing another drink. “It’s been almost five years,” he reminds them both as he takes a sip from his own cup. “There was nothing you could have done.”
“I could have made her quit,” Koga nearly yells. “You made Hinata quit taking missions,” he says forgoing the cup and drinking straight from the bottle.
“I only suggested that she pursue another line of work,” Raven reminds him. “And you know Raya never would have agreed to it, being an ANBU meant too much to her,” he tells him.
“So I had to lose them both?” His brother demands. “It’s not fair Raven, they should be here with me.”
“I know,” Raven admits looking into his half finished cup. He remembers the woman his brother loved as much has he himself loves Hinata and how she and their unborn child were taken from Koga. What had been a routine scouting mission turned out to be an ambush that nearly cost Koga and Kimiko their lives.
He and Kimiko had spent months trying to get their older brother to stop blaming himself for the loss of what was to have been his own family. After that Koga took on the most dangerous missions he could get in hopes of dying in battle so that he could be reunited with those he had lost.
It was only after the Third Hokage had forced the suicidal ANBU Captain to take a leave of absence that Raven, Fei, Kimiko, Jade and Sapphire had been able to help their clan’s distraught heir come to grips with his loss and remind him that he still had family that both loved and needed him.
“Listen I’m not here to dredge up old wounds,” Raven tells his brother trying to change the subject before the pain lingers too long. “I came by wondering if you still had any of your old uniforms I could give Siefer so he blends in with the team better.”
“Yeah sure.” Koga replies forcing a smile. “Can’t have my clone attracting too much attention from the others now can we?”
“I never should have told you about that,” Raven laughs as they go into Koga’s room. Raven still has trouble with the fact that his siblings’ quarters are larger then his, especially Koga’s. ‘Compared to his room I sleep in a damn closet.’
Raven thanks his brother for the clothes before continuing on to his depressingly smaller quarters to prepare for the next day’s mission. ‘Damn it sucks being the baby of the family.’ As he lays down to go to sleep something occurs to him. In the time since he and Hinata have been courting he never realized until now that their first child will be his clan’s heir.
Since Raya’s death Koga has all but become a monk and Kimiko’s never-ending string of lovers and failed relationships still hasn’t produced a viable mate. “I can just imagine father’s reaction when he realizes that a Hyuga will give birth to his first grandchild,” he laughs to himself as he imagines his father’s outrage. That thought causes him to smile as he finally drifts off to sleep.
==============================
A/N: This chapter was a bit tricky to write since it touched on such a painful subject matter. Raven and Koga will not have anymore talks like this in the rest of the story but Raven will recall previous conversations with his older brother as the series progresses.
Siefer’s initial refusal to cooperate with Squall slowly began to fade thanks largely to regular smacks to the head and threats of further bodily harm from Rinoa.
In its place grew a sort of friendly rivalry of one-ups-man-ship as they continually tried to out do the other. This in turn led to a growing respect between the two boys that showed sings of leading to a real friendship.
==============================
On the first day of the their third month together as a team Raven is called to the Hokage’s office for a status report. Standing in front of Tsunade Raven gives his report on his team’s progress to the Hokage.
After looking over the written copy before her she finally looks up at him. “While I’m pleased with the progress your team has made I’m concerned that they haven’t had a single mission yet,” she tells him. “As you know the Chunin Exams begin in a week and each team must complete a minimum of eight missions to qualify.”
“I am aware that my team will not qualify for the exams this time,” Raven tells her. “However, I felt that improving their teamwork was more important then allowing them to participate in the Exams. In all honesty Hokage-sama if they can’t work together then they’ll never be ready to lead their own teams once they do become Chunin.”
She gives him a knowing smile as she leans back in her chair. “Fei-san was right about you,” she says. “You were perfect for this team,” she tells him. “I am confident that under your guidance they will become excellent shinobi.” She hands him a file before looking at some other papers on her desk.
“Since your team will not be participating in the exams I expect them to help pick up some of the slack left by those that are. Starting tomorrow you will begin accepting missions,” she tells him leaving no room for arguments.
==============================
That evening as Raven returns home from his date with Hinata he finds the lights in Koga’s quarters are on. ‘He must have just got back.’ Deviating from his original course he walks over and knocks on his brother’s door.
Koga answers a few moments later in just his pants and sandals. Raven notices the bandages around his brother’s ribs but makes no comment as the Hiroku heir moves aside allowing his youngest sibling to enter. “How are things with the new team going?” He asks closing the door behind them.
“They’re going well,” Raven tells him as he takes a seat on the couch in the sitting room. “Siefer’s head is finally starting to return to its original size now that he’s stopped arguing with Squall in front of Rinoa’” he laughs. Raven had told Koga about his new team and how Rinoa usually got Siefer to cooperate by raising knots on the back of the boy’s head.
“That’s good to hear,” Koga says pouring them each a cup of sake. “And how are things between you and Hinata?”
Raven blushes slightly as a smile crosses his lips. “They are progressing nicely,” he tells the older man. “I haven’t been able to meet her for lunch in awhile but I still make sure to end training in time for us to catch an early dinner.”
“That’s good,” Koga says slightly distracted. “You should always make time to be with the ones you love.” He downs his sake in one shot before pouring himself another.
“You still miss them don’t you?” Raven asks his brother. Koga only nods before downing another drink. “It’s been almost five years,” he reminds them both as he takes a sip from his own cup. “There was nothing you could have done.”
“I could have made her quit,” Koga nearly yells. “You made Hinata quit taking missions,” he says forgoing the cup and drinking straight from the bottle.
“I only suggested that she pursue another line of work,” Raven reminds him. “And you know Raya never would have agreed to it, being an ANBU meant too much to her,” he tells him.
“So I had to lose them both?” His brother demands. “It’s not fair Raven, they should be here with me.”
“I know,” Raven admits looking into his half finished cup. He remembers the woman his brother loved as much has he himself loves Hinata and how she and their unborn child were taken from Koga. What had been a routine scouting mission turned out to be an ambush that nearly cost Koga and Kimiko their lives.
He and Kimiko had spent months trying to get their older brother to stop blaming himself for the loss of what was to have been his own family. After that Koga took on the most dangerous missions he could get in hopes of dying in battle so that he could be reunited with those he had lost.
It was only after the Third Hokage had forced the suicidal ANBU Captain to take a leave of absence that Raven, Fei, Kimiko, Jade and Sapphire had been able to help their clan’s distraught heir come to grips with his loss and remind him that he still had family that both loved and needed him.
“Listen I’m not here to dredge up old wounds,” Raven tells his brother trying to change the subject before the pain lingers too long. “I came by wondering if you still had any of your old uniforms I could give Siefer so he blends in with the team better.”
“Yeah sure.” Koga replies forcing a smile. “Can’t have my clone attracting too much attention from the others now can we?”
“I never should have told you about that,” Raven laughs as they go into Koga’s room. Raven still has trouble with the fact that his siblings’ quarters are larger then his, especially Koga’s. ‘Compared to his room I sleep in a damn closet.’
Raven thanks his brother for the clothes before continuing on to his depressingly smaller quarters to prepare for the next day’s mission. ‘Damn it sucks being the baby of the family.’ As he lays down to go to sleep something occurs to him. In the time since he and Hinata have been courting he never realized until now that their first child will be his clan’s heir.
Since Raya’s death Koga has all but become a monk and Kimiko’s never-ending string of lovers and failed relationships still hasn’t produced a viable mate. “I can just imagine father’s reaction when he realizes that a Hyuga will give birth to his first grandchild,” he laughs to himself as he imagines his father’s outrage. That thought causes him to smile as he finally drifts off to sleep.
==============================
A/N: This chapter was a bit tricky to write since it touched on such a painful subject matter. Raven and Koga will not have anymore talks like this in the rest of the story but Raven will recall previous conversations with his older brother as the series progresses.