The Uchiha Family
The week passed by quickly.
Naruto had been unable to stay calm for the entirety of it. The thought of seeing Sasuke at the end of the week had his head in the clouds. When the day finally arrived Naruto’s head couldn't have been further up in the sky. At this point he wasn't seeing clouds anymore; he was seeing stars.
"Make sure to take small steps. These geta are slightly higher than the ones I had you wear last time." Haku explained as he looked Naruto over. It had taken three full hours to get Naruto ready. From taking a rikshaw into town just to get Naruto’s hair ironed and then ringing up a seamstress to come over to fix a hem on Naruto’s new kimono it was a miracle that Naruto was ready at all.
Naruto let out a shaky breath. He couldn't focus on what his mother was saying. He was far too excited. Today was finally the day he was going to see Sasuke!
"Naruto are you listening?" Haku flicked the dangling flowers of the kanzashi in Naruto’s hair to get his attention.
"Yes, sorry mother!" Naruto finally responded.
Haku sighed. "You need to stop daydreaming, little duck."
"I know, sorry." Naruto agreed wholeheartedly with his mother. He had been daydreaming all week but he couldn't help him self when it came to Sasuke.
"Hey, you look really good Chibi." Zabuza announced entering the room. He gave Naruto a cheesy smile and a thumbs up.
"Thank you, Zabuza-san!" Naruto beamed.
"You're late! I told you to be here at noon it's already two in the afternoon!" Haku complained to his alpha. "What took you so long?"
"Sorry, I had to pick up Shikamaru. He was in a difficult situation and couldn’t come on his own."
"Shikamaru? Where is he?" Haku craned his head around Zabuza’s tall frame to see if the boy was behind him.
"I told him to wait outside. I didn't think you'd appreciate it if I had an unmated alpha in here."
"Oh, good thinking." Haku calmed down instantly, "anyways I guess your timing could've been worse, I just put the finishing touches on Naruto."
"He looks beautiful but don't you think you overdid it? It's a lunch not a dinner with the emperor."
Naruto was dressed in a beautiful furisode kimono. It was orange and had a light blue obi with gold undertones. The kimono color matched the orange blossoms in Naruto’s hair while the obi matched the shining jade stones of his kanzashi. He looked like a fresh breath of spring air.
"I didn’t overdo it! This is the Uchiha family. As much as I hate Itachi his family is the top of the top. Naruto can not look unseemly! There will be all types of influential guests there. Maybe even the emperor will show his face." Haku ranted. "Now let's get going, if we show up late it will not be good for Naruto’s reputation!"
Once they were outside Naruto got to meet the mysterious Shikamaru person Zabuza and Haku had been talking about. He turned out to be a boy who looked no older than Naruto. He had a head of unruly brown hair, which he attempted to control by pulling it into a sloppy looking ponytail. He was dressed in simple clothes and he had a bored expression on his face that seemed to never go away. He also had a weird scent that was making Naruto want to plug his nose.
"This is Shikamaru. He's going to be shadowing you at the Uchiha lunch." Zabuza introduced the boy to Naruto.
Naruto was confused. How was such an apathetic looking boy going to protect him from a powerful man like Itachi?
"I can see that you're confused. Shikamaru's appearance may be off-putting but trust me he's fully capable of taking care of you. He's one of the best assassins in eastern Japan. If anything happens he should be able to help you." Zabuza explained.
"You don't have to worry about anything. I will be watching you from a distance. No one will know I am watching over you. I'll be like a protective shadow." Shikamaru added in an unenthusiastic tone.
"I am deeply grateful, Shikamaru-san." Naruto bowed in thanks. He didn't want to be rude just because he was off putting. He was grateful that this boy he had never met would take the time out of his day just to protect him.
Once the introductions were out of the way Zabuza left. He couldn't attend the party due to some business he needed to adhere to.
Naruto and Haku boarded a rikshaw while Shikamaru boarded a separate one. Naruto had no clue where the Uchiha palace was located so he had no idea how long the ride would be.
"Where do the Uchiha’s live, mother?" Naruto asked. The curiosity got the better of him.
"They live in a city called Konohagakure. It's about two hours away so get comfortable, little duck."
Naruto had never heard of Konohagakure. It didn't matter though he was just excited to be going to where Sasuke was. He closed his eyes; the excitement bubbling in his stomach was too much. He decided to take a nap. He was more tired than he realized. Haku had woken him up at the crack of dawn to start getting ready. When he awoke a few hours later he didn't recognize the scenery around him. Were they even in Japan anymore?
"I was just about to wake you, little duck. We've arrived." Haku announced.
Naruto was awestruck. The houses were all wooden and huge with monstrous sized gates around them. The further the rikshaw went the bigger the houses got. Naruto wasn't even sure they could be called houses at this point. They were more like palaces! The palaces got bigger and bigger until finally they reached the end of the road. There at the end stood an austere stained black palace surrounded by a heavy wooden gate. There were two carved ravens perched on the gate, as the rikshaw neared closer Naruto noted that the raven’s eyes were made of two shiny rubies. They looked sinister, almost like they were alive and would attack you if provoked. Naruto didn't stare too long just in case they actually did magically come to life. Standing at the gate entrance were two men. When they saw the rikshaw they motioned for the driver to stop.
"What brings you to the Uchiha palace today?" One of the guards asked. He had brown hair and beady black eyes. He could've passed as the other guards twin they looked so similar.
"We're here for the lunch what do you think we're here for!" Haku said fiercely. "We were personally invited by Sasuke-san!"
The guards looked Haku and Naruto over. They exchanged a look then nodded to each other.
"Very well, please exit the rikshaw so we can search you."
Haku glared but still complied. "Come, little duck."
Naruto followed his mother out the rikshaw.
"Please stand with your arms and feet spread apart. We have to search you geishas before we let you in." The guard grinned sleazily.
"Why is this necessary!" Haku hissed.
"We can't let you in without an invitation."
"I told you we were personally invited by-"
The guard let out a booming laugh, "you can't expect us to believe in the words of a geisha!"
Haku rolled his eyes and spread his legs and arms. "Just do as they say or else they won't let us in." He whispered to Naruto.
Naruto nodded and stretched his legs as far as he could which wasn't far since his kimono was restricting him.
"That's it, listen like the good girls that you are," The guard licked his lips, "now let's see if either of you are hiding anything."
The guards started from the top, their fingers patted down the two omegas chest. Naruto squirmed; he didn't like how the men were looking at him and his mother or how their fingers were touching all over them.
"This ones scared." The guard patting Naruto down said to his fellow guard. He sounded delighted that Naruto was nervous.
"Yeah, she looks young she probably hasn't been touched by a man before." The guard smiled down at Naruto, "isn't that right, baby? Probably never even had a knot swell in you, huh?"
Naruto couldn't answer. He was paralyzed with fear. He didn't even know what the men were asking him!
"That can't be true. She's a geisha; these sluts sleep with alphas for money. She's used to men knotting her. Right, slut?" The guard squeezed Naruto’s ass.
Before Haku could destroy the man’s face with his fist a sharp kunai came out of nowhere and sliced the mans neck in half.
"What the fuck? Who threw that!" The other guard shouted as he whipped his head around to look for the assailant. Before he could crane his head in the opposite direction another kunai came flying and sliced his head clean off. Blood spurted out as he tumbled to the ground.
"Thank you, Shikamaru." Haku whispered.
Just as promised Shikamaru had been hiding in the shadows behind them. He was crouching in one of the many sakura trees that surrounded the palace.
Shikamaru bowed then retreated back into the shadows.
Naruto gasped. He had forgotten all about Shikamaru! He was definitely as skilled as Zabuza had said. It was amazing that Shikamaru had such deadly accuracy. He was sorry he had ever doubted his skills.
Naruto looked down at the bodies of the two guards. No doubt about it they were dead. He should've felt something like sadness or fear but looking at them lying headless on the ground he felt nothing but relief. The gross feeling the guards had made him feel was one he never wanted to feel again.
"Oh my what has happened here?!" A honeyed voice hollered. The voice in question belonged to a tall, strawberry blonde geisha dressed in a beautiful teal kimono. His long hair was tied in a half ponytail while the rest of it flowed freely; it was an unusual hairstyle for a geisha. Everything about him was unusual. The most unusual thing being that he was a male geisha.
"We don't know we just arrived!" Haku quickly lied. Haku looked truly distraught even Naruto believed it.
"It was probably someone looking to get even with the Uchiha family." The blonde tsked, "It happens. I'll tell Kakashi to have one of his men come collect the bodies. I mean who wants to see two dead guys when they show up to a party, am I right? Might as well go to a graveyard instead!" The blonde laughed obnoxiously as if he had just said the funniest joke to ever be told.
The bolted gate suddenly unlocked and swung open.
"I knew I heard your annoying laugh." A man stepped out. His hair was a striking silver color and he had a mask covering the lower half of his face and eye. He was dressed in a gray suit. He looked like an average businessman but the gold pin pinned to his jacket lapel stated his rank proudly. He was a samurai, not just any samurai like Zabuza, he was a captain. Captain samurais worked for wealthy families. They dealt with only the matters of that family so in a way they were like the property of the family they worked for. Most were born into that title and would never be able to change it. They could also never leave and if they did it was punishable by execution. It wasn't all that bad though, as a captain samurai to a noble family they were given a high respected title. Naruto had heard all about it from a drunk Zabuza once.
"Kakashi, I was just going to go look for you!" The blonde laughed that off putting laugh of his again. "I have a mess for you to clean up, dog." The blonde gestured to the floor where the two headless guards were laying in a pool of blood.
Kakashi didn't bat an eyelash at the dead bodies. He focused his one exposed eye on the blonde geisha. "What a coincidence I was also looking for you. I told Obito-san that I heard the beautiful laugh of his favorite geisha so I'd come fetch you for him."
"Why would you tell him I was here? You know how much I loathe that man!" The blonde fumed.
"That is precisely the reason why I told him." Kakashi's eye turned up into a crescent. "Now run along, Deidara-kun. You know he hates to be kept waiting."
"You're the worst! I hate you, dog!" Deidara cursed. He bumped his shoulder against Kakashi's as he stomped through the gate.
"Come, lets go Naruto." Haku grabbed Naruto’s hand and began to lead him through the gate but Kakashi put his hand up in a stopping motion, his face was now deadly serious.
"I can't let you enter until you send away your hidden assassin. I wouldn't be a good captain if I let you sneak a trained killer into my boss’ home now would I?"
Haku feigned innocence. "What assassin? I have no idea what you're talking about. Right Naruto?"
Naruto choked on his spit, he hadn't expected his mother to put him on the spot like this! He couldn't get his hands to stop twitching. He wasn't a good liar! "I-I-"
"Save it kid, I saw everything. I understand these two weren't the brightest. They had a nasty habit of putting their hands where they don't belong. Because of that I'm overlooking the fact that you had two of my men killed. But that's as much as I can excuse. I will not permit you to bring your assassin into the Uchiha home. Either you call him off or I kill him."
"Shikamaru, you heard the man. Come out." Haku called out dejectedly.
Shikamaru materialized at Haku's side. "Are you sure you want me to leave?"
Haku didn't want him to, without Shikamaru Naruto would be too defenseless. "Please permit me to bring him! You don't understand my son is an omega and unclaimed. I just want extra protection for him!"
Kakashi's gaze lingered on Naruto. The rarity of an omega geisha was something not many got to witness. One so young would be highly wanted at a party like this. "Sorry but no."
Haku hung his head. "Then you can leave Shikamaru. Don't worry, I'll explain it all to Zabuza later." He whispered.
Shikamaru nodded then in the blink of an eye disappeared.
"Can we go in now?" Haku glared.
"If you wish, although..." Kakashi's eyes were still on Naruto, "if I were you I wouldn't bring my son to a party like this. A boy who can't even lie will be swallowed up whole in there."
"Well we wouldn't have to worry about that if you would've allowed me to bring my personal guard now would we, Kakashi-san?" Haku intoned sarcastically. "Come Naruto, looks like you're going to be sticking by my side all day now that Shikamaru is no longer here." Haku said as he pulled Naruto passed Kakashi and through the gate doors.
Kakashi shook his head. That poor boy was in over his head. Not even the elaborate costume of his geisha attire could hide his innocence. They were going to eat him alive.
Naruto was entranced the second he stepped into the Uchiha palace. He forgot all about the drama that had happened outside.
Everything was so opulent; the palace seemed to glow with a shiny golden veneer. Even the people who were littered about the entrance were lavish. They were ordinary maids and service workers but they still had a certain air to them. Like they were better than you just because of the house they served.
"All guests are to be escorted to the back." A maid instructed Haku and Naruto. "Please follow me."
They followed her to the back of the palace to a double door that led to the backyard.
"Please enjoy yourselves." The maid bowed and opened the door revealing a party in full swing.
Beautifully dressed people were everywhere Naruto’s eyes landed on. Some were sat at a long table enjoying some tea and sake while others were standing around playing an odd game where they hit a little ball with a stick and tried to get it into a hole in the ground. There were some people dancing elegantly in a gazebo and others were strolling around a koi pond. Naruto was trying to take it all in. He had never seen anything like this. He was once again struck by the size of the backyard. It resembled a field. With all the blooming sakura trees and elaborately dressed up people this could've easily been a flower viewing party. Those kinds of parties were held in actual fields though and not in wealthy nobles homes. Naruto scanned each face his eyes landed on, trying to find Sasuke. Where was he? Naruto wanted to see him. What if he wasn't here? Or-
"Don't be nervous, little duck." Haku caressed Naruto’s cheek, he was careful not to smudge the white paint on Naruto’s face. "I won't leave your side so don't worry."
Naruto nodded. His mother was right, he needed to calm down and stop worrying. Sasuke-san had invited him so of course he was going to be here.
"Well if it isn't my favorite omega in the world, Haku-chan!"
"Well if it isn't the drunkest doctor in the world, Jiraiya-san!" Haku mocked the inebriated doctor.
Naruto instantly recognized the man because of his long white hair and heavily scarred face. The last time Jiraiya had not been shy to voice how much he disliked Naruto so he prepared him self just in case the man said anything mean again.
"I didn't think you'd come. You never come to Uchiha parties!" Jiraiya gasped, "don't tell me-have you finally forgiven Ita-"
"You always speak such nonsense, Jiraiya-san!“ Haku cut the man off, "I came to show off my protégé."
"Oh yes, I forgot about your little foreigner child." Jiraiya said with a look of disgust, "What was his name again?"
Haku discreetly nudged Naruto. Naruto immediately understood what his mother was telling him to do.
"My name is Naruto, sir." Naruto bowed. "It's a pleasure to see you again. You look well."
Jiraiya turned his head in a snooty manner, refusing to even acknowledge that Naruto spoke.
"Is that any way to treat a geisha, Jiraiya-san?" A man said as he joined the group. He was short and unassuming in his appearance. If the man hadn't spoken Naruto would've never noticed him at all.
"Iruka, what a pleasure to see you." Jiraiya said in a false cheerful tone. "What are you doing here?"
"Sasuke-sama has asked me to come. He wants me to watch over Sakura-chan."
Naruto's interest was instantly piqued by the mention of Sasuke’s name. Who was Sakura-chan?
"That makes sense. I wouldn't believe the Uchiha’s would want you here for any other reason." Jiraiya guffawed.
"I could say the same thing about you. I don't know why the Uchiha’s would invite you when you treat omegas so badly. You clearly aren't sophisticated enough to attend parties of this caliber."
Haku let out a twinkling laugh. "I couldn't agree more!"
"Nonsense. I treat omegas just fine. It's just the foreigner ones that I detest."
"You're ridiculous!" Iruka rolled his eyes. He grabbed Naruto’s hand, "come with me, I'll take you to a group of alphas who aren't complete jerks!"
"Leave then, you were becoming an eyesore anyways." Jiraiya said uncaring, annoyance was muddled in his eyes.
Naruto bumbled along as the plain looking man yanked on his arm. He glanced over his shoulder to make sure that his mother was following after them. Haku smiled at Naruto, assuring his son. This was good. Hopefully Iruka would lead them to some alphas where Naruto could make good connections.
Iruka led Naruto to a table. There were two men seated around it. One was smoking a pipe, he had an uncanny resemblance to Shikamaru except his eyes were a lighter shade. The other man had fairer skin and was speaking animatedly with the tan man.
"Excuse me, I brought you alphas some entertainment." Iruka smiled as he gestured to Naruto. All dressed up in his geisha attire Naruto looked like a present being offered for the two alphas taking.
The two alphas turned their full attention on Naruto. Naruto stilled. The scent these two men were suddenly letting off was making him feel odd. They hadn't smelled like that a few seconds ago. Had they deliberately let that scent out? Lately he had been noticing scents, he had never noticed them to this degree before so why now?
"This poor omega is being mistreated by mean Jiraiya-san. Can you boys give him some good company?"
"Of course we can." The older looking tan man smiled and gestured to the open seat at the table.
"An omega!" The lighter skinned alpha exclaimed. He shot up and without asking for permission buried his nose in Naruto’s neck and inhaled. Naruto attempted to push the alpha away but the man was too quick. By the time Naruto realized what the alpha was doing he was already done.
"Fuck, he really is an omega. I thought he was a girl." The man’s face turned red. "No wonder he smells so good."
"Please refrain from scenting my son without permission. It's incredibly rude. If you do that again I might have to do something drastic." Haku threatened menacingly.
"Your son?" The darker alpha raised his perfect black eyebrows.
"Yes this is Naruto. He's my protégé and also my son." Haku replied simply. This man didn't need to know the specifics of his and Naruto’s relationship. It was none of his business. For all intents and purposes Naruto was his son.
"Well then please have a seat as well and join us. I'm Kakuzu and this is Hidan."
"Sorry about that. I was shocked I've never met an omega geisha." Hidan apologized as he scratched the back of his neck in an embarrassed manner.
"Then I'm about to blow your mind Hidan-san. I am also an omega geisha." Haku grinned playfully.
"W-what!?" Hidan roved his eyes up and down Haku's small form in disbelief. "I thought you were a woman!"
"A common misunderstanding many of us omegas get." Iruka sniffed from the side where he had been standing. "It's quite annoying."
"No one would mistake you for a woman, Iruka!" Hidan cackled.
Iruka’s eyes narrowed into slits, "I brought these omegas here because I thought you were both civilized alphas but I could see my assumption was wrong. I was only half right." Iruka glared the alpha down then stomped away.
"That was rude, Hidan. Go apologize." Kakuzu nudged Hidan to go.
"No way! Guys like him are fun to tease. They don't count as real omegas!"
"What do you mean he isn't a real omega?" Naruto didn't know there was even a difference between omegas. Didn't they all just come from noble families?
"Ignore what he said. He's just being rude." Kakuzu exhaled tiredly.
"No, the geisha asked a question and I'm going to answer it! " Hidan proclaimed dramatically, "You see Iruka is the Uchiha households nursemaid. That job can only belong to an omega for obvious reasons but what noble family would willingly give up their child if they were an omega? No one would unless they were financially unstable! Omegas are worth nothing without a noble family behind them because then no one would want to marry them. That's why Iruka isn’t a real omega!"
"That's...so sad," Naruto’s heart broke for Iruka. Why did status have to matter so much? "Just because he doesn't have money doesn't mean he's any less of an omega. I don't have a noble family so that would also make me the same as him!"
"Whoa, calm down beautiful. You're different than him because you can still have children."
"And he can't? He's an omega all omega no matter the gender can have children!" That was a fact that Naruto was absolutely certain of since it had been one of the first things he had learned about omegas. Tsunade had made sure of that when she had threatened him to never get pregnant.
"Didn't you hear what I said?" Hidan looked at Naruto with confusion, "he's a nursemaid."
"What does that have to do with anything?" Naruto demanded.
"Nursemaids can't have children. As a requirement for their job they are forced to have a procedure that impairs their wombs forever." Haku explained bitterly.
"Isn't that common sense, you should know that since you're an omega." Hidan chuckled.
"How cruel." The barbaric nature of it all stunned Naruto.
"It isn't cruel it's necessary." Hidan laughed louder, "You're an odd omega."
"Room for more at this table?" A man asked. He had unknowingly interrupted the heated discussion transpiring at the table. He had curly black hair and his eyes were a dark shade of red. They were like a watered down version of Sasuke’s eyes. This meant that he was an Uchiha! Naruto was sure of it. He had the same pale skin and noble accent as Sasuke too!
"What are you still doing here? I thought you were leaving early since you found that girl to go home with, Shisui." Hidan wagged his eyebrows up and down. He had completely changed his tone when addressing the pale man.
"I did but then she refused me so I bailed. That's how snooty omegas are though, they never want to open their legs for you just because their daddies have money."
"That's why it's better to stick with geishas so you don't have to worry about any of that!" Hidan sweat dropped as if realizing that two geishas were currently seated at the table. "Not that you lovely things are like that. I meant most geishas."
"I'm sure." Haku drawled dryly.
Naruto was convinced of two things. Hidan was a terrible person and omegas could never win. If you had money you were snooty and if you were penniless then you weren't good enough to hold the title of omega.
"Anyways looks like the funs just getting started here so I'm going to join you." Shisui sat in the seat beside Haku, "I'm Shisui, what are the both of you beautiful geishas names?"
"Nice to meet you Shisui-san, I'm Haku and this is Naruto."
"Haku? That name sounds familiar." Shisui pressed his lips, trying to remember where he had heard that name before. "I think my cousin mentioned a geisha named Haku once." A metaphoric light bulb went off over Shisui's head, "you're an omega aren't you? Now I remember! Wait here I'm going to go get him. He told me to tell him if you showed up." Shisui stood up, "what are the chances, I wouldn't have remembered about you at all if I hadn't decided to come sit with these two assholes." Shisui laughed then quickly went off.
"Your friend is strange." Haku summarized as he watched Shisui's large frame fade away into the crowd of people.
"Yes he is." Hidan agreed.
"He isn't strange. It's just that his mind is filled with nothing but business and women so socializing isn't his strongest forte." Kakuzu defended his friend.
"But he should be good at it by now. Itachi-san is the same as him but at least he knows how to socialize." Hidan whined.
"Itachi-san?" Naruto murmured. Hearing Itachi’s name out of the blue kick started his heart with a bolt of anxiety. He had completely forgotten that Itachi was even here because he had been so focused on Sasuke.
"Yes, Itachi-san is Shisui's cousin. Do you know him? Though I suppose that’s a stupid question since every living person in Japan knows Itachi Uchiha."
"Cousin?" Haku gasped.‘I think my cousin mentioned a geisha named Haku...He told me to tell him if you showed up.’' "Naruto, we have to go immediately."
"What-why!?" Naruto instantly became worried because of the tense undertone in Haku's voice.
"I'm sorry gentleman but we must be going now."
"Wait up! What about Shisui? He said he’d be right back!" Hidan asked confused.
"I'm sorry but we need to go. If you'd be so kind to relay our apologies to him please."
Haku pulled Naruto away; they sprinted through the throngs of people. It reminded Naruto of that time in the teahouse after they had met Itachi and Haku had dragged him down the teahouse hall.
"Mother, what's wrong?"
"That man Shisui is bringing Itachi to that table we were just at. We need to get away, there's no telling what he will do once he sees you!"
"When who sees who?" A deep voice asked amused. The mere sound of the voice alone made Haku and subsequently Naruto halt.
Naruto looked to the direction of the voice but he already knew who had spoken from the scent alone. That powerful scent wasn't one he could ever forget.
Itachi-san.