The Turning Away

Hi all, sorry to be so late with this, I sent it to my beta almost two months ago, and have not heard from her since then. I am not sure what has happened so I will publish this now and hope that she is okay. So this again is unbeta’ed like the rest of the story…. So I hope you enjoy and sorry if there are any glaring mistakes. Still enjoy and beware the cliff at the end of this bit…(runs away without looking back)

The Turning Away continued…
By Fyrbyrd


He almost felt like a ninja again. Jumping from tree to tree as he followed a lead he had gained in the village. Tsunade had been successful in suppressing the urge for a time, but it would not last forever. If he were to have it removed he had to find Kabuto. The man had not been seen since Orochimaru’s lair had been taken, nothing had been heard about him either. Kakashi was following a lead on spectacled white/silver haired man and that was all he had.

Eventually he found himself in a high mountain village where most of the people scratched out a meager living on the edge of poverty. They were a hard lot, not kind to strangers, but if there were money to be made they would do anything for it. It was here that Kakashi found a trace of Kabuto, even though the man was gone. Everyone he spoke too remembered him, not kindly either; he hid himself so they could not see what he looked like.

“What of the child?” asked Kakashi, not for the first time and he got the same answer.

“What child, he came alone.”

Kakashi was torn then, it appeared Kabuto had left his daughter somewhere. Was she safe wherever it was? Should he try to find her, or go on after Kabuto who held the only cure he might have for his affliction, an affliction which was now beginning to make itself know to him again. It had taken a couple of months to get this far and he had been warned it might wear off.

He sat outside the tiny village and tried to decide what he should do. He was not sure how long it would take to find where Kabuto headed next, and with the need starting to wear at him, he either needed Kabuto to reverse it, or to go home and have Tsunade do something about it again. And then of course, there was the matter of the child. There were villages between where he was and where he last knew Kabuto had the girl with him. He had learned that Kabuto had named her Kaori. He liked that name. His daughter.

He turned back the way he had come. She was back there somewhere, alone. Why had Kabuto abandoned her? He stood. Damn it, he needed a cure for this… but if he found her he could take her home, impose on Iruka yet again… He sighed and headed off back the way he had come his mind made up. He would find Kaori first.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Whoa Iruka, what is that smell?”

Iruka turned his fingers pinching his nose as he held out a very soiled diaper and moved to shove it in a bin that had ‘Watari’s Diaper Service’ on it.

“Oh Naruto, you’re back.”

“Yeah and this time for good.” He eyed the small child on the changing table. “More strays.”

“Kind of,” answered Iruka as he returned to cleaning the baby’s bottom and wrapping him up in another cloth diaper.

“Not yours this time?”

“No, not this time,” he finished clothing the baby then put him down in his crib. The child went back to sleep. “Wow, look at you. All grown up.”

“Yep.” Naruto came closer and saw that there were two cribs with identical babes in them.

“Twins?”

“Yeah, they are three months old.”

“Their parents?”

“Both of Konoha thought the father hasn’t been here for some time and their mother… Away on a mission.”

“On a mission! Why would Granny Tsunade sent her on a mission when they are this young.”

“She didn’t, but the mother is on a mission all the same.”

“After the father?”

“No, after someone who can help them with an affliction they have.”

“Oh, can’t Tsunade, Shizune or Sakura help?”

Iruka sadly shook his head.

“Iruka, I heard a rumor that Kakashi has been found and he was back in the village. Is it true?”

“Kakashi was found, but he isn’t in the village.”

Naruto sighed as if relieved. “Was he okay? Has Orochimaru done anything to him?”

Iruka sat down heavily, he had hoped he would not have to have this conversation with anyone let alone Naruto. And he knew that there was a lot he was not at liberty to say either. “He wasn’t treated well Naruto, being a prisoner for so long affects anyone. He wanted to go, so Lady Tsunade let him.”

“But he’ll be back right. Where has he gone?”

“He’ll be back. I believe that Naruto and he’s after Kabuto right now.”

“Kabuto. Why?”

“That’s not for me to say.”

“Oh right.”

They were interrupted when a door opened and a little boy came rushing in and straight to Iruka.

“Hey papa.”

“That’s Masashi?”

“Kids do grow Naruto.” Naruto looked at the little brown haired boy who was wiping his eyes from his nap while clinging to his father’s knee. Iruka reached down and lifted the boy onto his lap. “He’s a big boy now.”

“I help daddy look after Mino and Bito,” grinned the boy.

“Mino, Bito?”

“The babies Naruto, Minato and Obito.”

Naruto nodded and looked at all three children. “This white streak in their hair, it a new thing to the village?”

Iruka’s eyes widened. “Ah no. It just so happens that these three have it.”

“Weird,” said Naruto.

Iruka just nodded, then to Masashi, “You hungry?”

“Yes papa.”

“You stay here with Naruto and I’ll get you something.”

Masashi jumped off his father’s lap and walked over to Naruto. “Papa’s told me bout you.”

“Oh really?”

“You’re my Unca.”

“Uncle?”

“Yes, Uncle Naruto, knucklehead Ninja.”

Naruto laughed, “Yeah, I’ve been called that.”

“Can you summon frogs?”

“Toads, I can.”

“Will ya show me?”

“Ah, we’ll see, better not here with the babies and all.”

“Papa loves Mino and Obio like me.”

“I’m sure he does.”

“He loves you too.”

Naruto smiled and nodded. Oh it was so good to be home.

Iruka came from the kitchen carrying a tray with fruit and treats for Masashi as well as a glass of milk for him, and two glasses of lemonade. He called Masashi to the table then handed Naruto one of the lemonades.

“So you’ve been telling him about me.”

“You are a part of the family, aren’t you?”

“Oh of course.”

“So I tell him about you.”

“He wants me to show him a summon.”

“Really?” Iruka looked to his son who nodded as well as Naruto.

“Well, not in the house. It’s good to have the babies sleeping. They’re good, but to have them both squalling together…!”

“Shouldn’t we be whispering?” said Naruto.

“No, they’re okay, they can sleep through normal conversation this young, just don’t go too loud.”

“Obito just went off after I changed him, they’ll sleep for a bit till its feeding time, and then we go for a walk.”

“How can you tell them apart?”

“That white streak you mentioned. Minato has it on the right and Obito the left.”

Naruto got up and peered at them then nodded when he saw it in their black hair.

“And I’m in the middle,” said Masashi.

“So you are.”

“So how’s Jiraiya?”

“He’s gone off again after seeing Granny Tsunade.”

Iruka looked pained, “Naruto you mustn’t call her that.”

“Why not?”

“She’s the Hokage.”

Naruto shrugged. “Anyway Jiraiya’s gone off somewhere and I’m to be placed in a team.”

“A team, really?”

“Yeah, it’s been awhile. I wish Kakashi was here though.”

“He’ll be back, I’m sure of it.”

“So will you stay with us for a while, you can walk with us.”

“Sure,” said Naruto happily.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

A few days later Naruto was called to Lady Tsunade office. There he found Sakura and two other people also waiting.

“Naruto, I want you to meet your new Team. Team Yamato.” Yamato moved forward and slightly bowed his head. “Along with Sakura is Sai. And I have a mission for you.”

“Wow, that’s great, a Mission,” smiled Naruto.

“I leave them to you Yamato, and if you hear anything about the other problem we discussed…”

He nodded and they turned to leave her office. Yamato took them to a quiet place so they could discuss their mission. “We have been assigned some surveillance on a suspected slavery ring. They are after children and we must put a stop to this.”

“Children?” asked Naruto.

“With the pressure of a possible war coming, some are using child labor to get things done,” answered Yamato. “Get your gear together and meet me at the gates in one hour.”

They all nodded and hurried off.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kakashi made his way slowly through village after village and found the same in every one. Poverty and a lack of children. The villagers did not want to speak with him, often chasing him off with sticks and rocks, completely unafraid that he was a ninja. What more could her do to them when they had nothing left. He learned though that their children had either been sold or stolen. He knew this because he had come across the slaver’s camp, it disgusted him that there was nothing he could do alone. Oh he might have been able to take them all out in the past, but with the need gnawing at him once again, he knew he had no chance. He had however, filed away the information and was sure to tell Tsunade when he got home and have people on it as quickly as possible. The only thing he did do was make sure Kaori was not amongst the children, which he was pretty sure she was not, so he turned away and continued his search.

With the slavers operating in the area he did not want to take a chance of her being taken by them.

Not long afterwards he came to a walled village where the people were a little more prosperous. He was cloaked as he walked through the streets, but this time the in habitants did not look at him fearfully like the other villagers had. He was just another traveler. He stopped at an inn and made some inquiries.

“I am searching foe my… younger brother, he is traveling with his small daughter. He’s ill and I need to find him.”

“You don’t seem too well yourself,” said the inn keeper.

“A family thing, only he’s worse off than me, and his daughter might be in danger as there are some angry…creditors… after him.”

“Like you huh? I believe Kazuma and his wife took in a little girl recently, had silver hair.”

“That must be her, where can I find her?”

Kakashi was given directions to a bake house further in the town and he hurried there. He wanted to get out of town as quickly as he could. His body was telling him to stay at the inn and look for someone to help him relieve the ache within him.

He found the bake house and went inside. A nice older man stood at the counter. “How can I serve you?”

“Are you Kazuma? I was told you might have taken in my niece Kaori.” Said Kakashi taking the cloak’s hood of his head revealing his silver hair.

“Oh, really. He never said anything about having a brother.”

“Why did he leave her here? I know he’s on the run, but why did he… abandon her?”

“She’s getting rather lively now, wanting to walk and play. Your brother is ill you know.”

“I know, I am too, but not as badly as he. I wanted to find them bring them home so we could be treated together,” lied Kakashi. “But if Kaori is here…”

“You want to take her home?”

“Yes, if I could, back to Konoha.”

Kazuma seemed to look at his eye-patch covered eye and his tattered clothing. “What have the two of you been up to get into such bad condition.”

“Kabuto was in bad condition?”

“He kept himself closely covered, much more so than you. He had the shakes though, like you.”

Kakashi knew he was shaking a little, his problem making it so.

“It will get worse,” said Kakashi.

“I’m sorry. Will the girl get it too?”

“Maybe,” said Kakashi in hopes of prodding the man into giving her to him.

“Wait here, I must speak with my wife.”

Kazuma disappeared, coming back later with his wife who was holding the child. Kaori.

Kakashi stared at his daughter; he definitely had his hair, though it went down her back like Kabuto’s.

She saw him and said, “Papa.”

The woman nodded to herself and approached Kakashi offering him the child. “She calls you family, that’s good enough for me. I’ll get you some food for your journey. And some things for her too.”

Kakashi accepted his daughter and she looked him in his eye. This was the firs time he had touched her. “Kaori.”

She shoved the doll which looked a little like a scarecrow into her mouth as she looked back at the old man.

“Her father looked exhausted when he got here, and a little crazed. We tried to help him; all he said was for us to look after her, that he couldn’t anymore. So we did.”

“Said he’d be back, but I doubted that,” the old lady added.

“I will take her home before I go looking for him again.”

The old lady handed him and bundle and Kakashi turned to go, Kaori waving to her temporary caretakers. Kakashi hurried from the village, he wanted to get back to Konoha as fast as possible, and it was getting harder to stop himself seeking out male company. Now that he had Kaori he wanted her safe as well.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Team Yamato had gather a lot of information on the slaving ring, they were definitely in the area, taking or buying children, however, needing supplies Naruto was chosen to get some in a large village east of their current campsite. So he headed off to do just that.

Naruto saw a man covered in a dark cloak moving away from the village, in his arms a child. There was something about the man that made him stop and decide to challenge him.

“You there stop, put the child down.”

The cloaked man stopped and did as he was asked. Then he turned to see who was approaching him. “Naruto?” He let the cloak slide from his face.

“Sensei! What are you doing here; I thought you were looking for Kabuto?” Naruto moved towards Kakashi.

Kakashi put his hand up, trying to warn Naruto off, “No, don’t come near me, keep away.”

Naruto stopped, “What’s wrong? Do you have an illness or something?”

“Yes, something. That’s why I’m looking for Kabuto. He gave it to me.”

“Then why are you here? What’s that girl got to do with it?”

“She’s ah…Kabuto’s daughter.”

“Daughter! How did he get a daughter?”

“By raping the mother, what do you think,” Kakashi said harshly.

Naruto only remembered then where Kakashi had been imprisoned. He would know what things Kabuto had gotten up to there. “Is he here too?”

“No, he left the girl here. He knew he was being hunted and he couldn’t run with the girl anymore. Still he left her with people he believed would look after her, saying he would return for her one day.”

Naruto looked at the little silver haired girl; she could easily pass for Kakashi’s child. “Is that why you got to her, to help you find Kabuto? We heard there are child slavers around here, Yamato’s gone ahead with Sakura and Sai to where they think the slavers are camped.”

“North of here, yes. I saw it.”

“You saw it, why didn’t you—“

“Do something? I would have loved to Naruto, but I’m… a little incapacitated at the moment.”

Naruto moved closer again, “Can I help.”

“NO!” shouted Kakashi startling the girl who began to cry.

Naruto moved to her instead, “Now look what you’ve done. Hey sweetie, it’s okay,” he said getting down on the ground with her. She let him pick her up and cuddle her to him. “She’d be better off with Iruka.”

“That’s where I was planning on taking her.”

“Because he has the other three?”

“Yes.”

“Will you at least come with me to talk to Yamato---“

“No. I can’t. I must go back now.”

“You’ll need to camp soon. Can’t you see she’s hungry?” Naruto was worried that Kakashi clearly did not want to see Yamato, and was he really shivering?

Kaori was fussing even in Naruto’s arms and Kakashi had to admit that he was tired, his problem tended to sap his strength. Yet to let Naruto close was dangerous enough. Still stopping before heading back would be better and he should be able to convince Naruto to get back to the mission he was on.

“A place with a little better shelter would be better,” suggested Naruto getting up with Kaori and walking off to find it. Kakashi followed slowly behind.

Naruto founds a spot and set about making a camp, when he wanted the supplies, Kakashi tossed them to him, but still kept his distance. He leaned against a tree many feet away watching as Naruto got everything together and soon had some food for the little girl to eat. It was only when he felt a nudge against him that he realized that he had dozed off and Naruto was standing over him with a bowl of hot food in his hands. Kakashi took it and watched as Naruto went back to where Kaori was yawning heavily. He watched as he helped her to snuggle into blankets and fall asleep. It was now dark and Naruto sat and ate himself.

“Wouldn’t it be better if you sat here by the fire? Maybe it might help with all that shaking you’re doing.”

Kakashi opened his eye and looked over at Naruto. “I’m not cold.”

“Then what is wrong with you, why are you avoiding me? Is it catching what you have?”

“It’s not catching… It’s just that…it’s not safe…”

“What’s not safe? I want to know how I can help you.”

“Only Kabuto can help me.”

“Can’t I do anything to relieve your… pain?”

Kakashi turned and looked at him, “Yes, just stay away from me. I appreciate your help with Kaori, but you are on a mission. You should return to it.”

“And how are you going to handle her. She’s already scared of you.”

“If I could handle you, I could handle her,” said Kakashi.

“Ha, ha very funny.” Then Naruto turned serious, “What happened to you in Orochimaru’s lair? What are you hiding from everyone?”

“Don’t ask that. All I can tell you is that I have to find Kabuto, only he can help me with this.”

“Did you…did you see Sasuke when you were there.”

Kakashi closed his eye, “Yes.”

There was silence for some time. Kakashi reliving memories he would rather not. He could not tell Naruto how coldly he had been treated by Sasuke.

On Naruto’s side he figured that it had not been on friendly terms, though he wanted to believe otherwise, Kakashi had remained a prisoner of Orochimaru and Kabuto had done something to Kakashi that was stopping him from returning to active service for the village.

Kakashi expected him to say more, but Naruto didn’t go on.

“You need to rest,” said Naruto and he leapt up into a tree.

Kakashi nodded and got up, glad that Naruto had moved away. He moved to near the girl and the fire Naruto had made. He looked down at the child who was sleeping peacefully. He was going to have to look after her until they got back to the village. His daughter.

“Sensei…Sensei,” he felt himself shaken and looked up to see Naruto standing above him. He jerked away. “Hey, you fell asleep.”

“I…Sorry. Move away will you.”

“You okay?” Naruto was concerned.

“Please Naruto I need you to back off.”

“But why? What’s wrong?”

Kakashi couldn’t move, he just looked up at Naruto wanting to grab a hold of him, make him touch him. He was aching with need, almost desperate enough… He closed his eye. “Please.”

Naruto backed off and landed on his backside near to Kakashi who seemed to be panting now. “You are getting worse.”

“I’m not; I just need you to back off. You are not helping me here.”

“But I want to help you.”

“Then get away from me!”

Kaori whimpered in her sleep and they both looked at her. Naruto moved to her and gently patted her head, she settled back to sleep.

“What is wrong with you? You can’t keep getting angry around her.”

“Then you take her. I need you to keep away from me.”

“I can’t do that. Explain to me what I’m doing to make you angry. I think AI should go and get the others and maybe they can help.”

In seconds Naruto was grabbed and was rolling away from the fire and the girl with Kakashi. They stopped with Kakashi on top exerting his weight on Naruto who looked up at him in shock.

“Damn it Naruto. Why did you have to keep on pushing,” said Kakashi panting.

“What? What are you doing?” Naruto was confused.

“Forgive me Naruto, but you should have left well enough alone,” Kakashi lowered his mouth down onto Naruto’s.

tbc…!

1