one_long_mission | [Open] Intro

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[Open] Intro - Rudly Awakened

When he had woken up, it wasn't in his bed and it wasn't in the Uchiha Compound. The startled boy raced to his feet and nearly stumbled over the cliff-side -- that was there!? He froze then, having regained his balance as he started looking around. He would have woken up if he had been ambushed and kidnapped, he was sure. Unless it was Kakashi...

No, for an elaborate training mission it was too much work for him to do anything more than leave a note for him at home. And Naruto would have been too noisy... Where was he?

At the sound of footsteps approaching he tensed before quickly slipping up to a nearby tree and out of plain sight, watching carefully. He had to be careful, cautious now...

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"Of course not." She hugged him close, rubbing his back. "But... Sweetie... you didn't die did you?"

He mutely shook his head, pausing a moment to punch his other hand behind her back. Pain would wake him up, wouldn't it? So it really wasn't...

"You're really alive..."

She noticed and reached back with one hand to stop his efforts. "No no stop that. I'm not a genjutsu. And, well. I didn't expect to be alive considering I just died. That's... disorienting, but I -do- seem to have a heartbeat and the like. And you definitely didn't die? How old -are- you?"

She looked at him critically. "You can't be more than thirteen."

He only nodded when she had, a little flushed when she stopped his hands. After a beat he pulled back to look up at her, still clearly disbelieving but more in shock than anything else, "I just turned thirteen recently."

"I'd really like you to stop dodging the whole dead question sweetie, you're really worrying me." She moved her hand to his cheek and petted there gently, smiling at him. "Okay?"

"... I didn't die," He frowned then, glancing down and sighing a little, "I don't think I did. Not unless someone attacked me while I was asleep."

She relaxed and gave a relieved huff of air and reeled him back in. "Thank heavens! The entire dying them immediately sensing you think worried me. I'm glad you're still among the living.. which begs the question of how I am I think."

"I don't know that either," He quivered a little, glancing away from her. Because, now that she was there... Now that just made him feel a fresh wave of the guilt he'd been carrying for years.

"Oh... that's not a good face." She shook her head and turned his back to face her. "What's going through your head?"

"Because... That night, I stayed out too late... I couldn't protect you, or father. I was too weak," When he felt his chin getting tilted up he closed his eyes, trying and failing to turn away again.

Her eyes widened and she shook her head. "No! No, sweetheart, I deliberately made sure not to bring you back home when you were out late that night. I knew, okay? I was -relieved-. Don't blame yourself."

"I was still too late. I couldn't stop him," He shook and clenched his fists tightly, his head spinning as the memories all came rushing back, "I couldn't stand up to him. He only left me alive because I was too weak."

"No." Her tone turned stern, and she leaned in to meet his eyes. "I don't know what happened after I died but -no-. You were young and I never expected you to come save us. Not once."

"But you weren't expecting to die, either," He murmured softly, still feeling quite shaken at everything. When he re-opened his eyes, they were glassy and red once more with his heightened emotions, "I couldn't do anything even if I was there. He proved that that night."

She shook her head, hesitating visibly before she took a deep breath. She had to own up. "That's... not actually true. Baby... me and your father... we didn't fight."

If anything could have gotten his attention, it was that. His eyes snapped open and he stared at her, almost as wide-eyed as when he had simply seen her for the first time, "What?"

She loosened her hold a little and gently pushed his hair out of his face, looking very resolved. "There was no fight. We knew what was going on. He took a stand and we were proud of him for that, and it was all that was left to be done. I'm sorry that we left you alone sweetheart, I really really am."

He reached up to rest his hand over hers, staring unblinkingly before he shook his head, "That's not right. You never would have let him kill you! And..."

His head was spinning. They had let him? And they were proud? But why? Why would they be, when Itachi murdered not just them but most of the clan in cold blood...

"By then it was too late. He picked a side and it wasn't ours. I am -so sorry- baby. Don't feel guilty okay? It wasn't your fault. -None- of it was your fault."

"What are you talking about? What sides?"

She stilled at that and studied his face for a moment before dragging him into a tight hug. "Baby... Itachi really -did- manage to keep you out of it. I wasn't sure he could. He did the best he could, okay?"

"... You're not making any sense, Mother," He was still in her arms, resting his head against her chest before almost hesitantly hugging her again, "Is there something else about... About that night? Something I don't know?"

It hadn't even occurred to him, and the thought almost made him sick. Just the idea that something else was in play, that mother and father had let Itachi kill them... It made sense, but it didn't. And, for the first time since it had happened, he was questioning it.

"There was but..." She took a deep breath and shook her head. "Just know that it wasn't your fault okay? We all wanted to protect you, me, your father, your brother. We just... had different methods. So don't... I'm so sorry that this has hurt you so very badly baby."

He finally made to frown up at her, eyeing her critically, "He... He said he killed the clan to test his strength, but that isn't true. Not if what you said is. What aren't you telling me?"

"Things that would make you think the clan was full of idiots sweetie." She shook her head. "Let's leave it at that okay?"

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