\u201cAnd the next time I catch you down here, Little Fox<\/i>,\u201d Kakuzu whispered into Naruto\u2019s face, \u201cI won\u2019t be so nice.\u201d Then he dragged Naruto out and dumped him on the sidewalk. \u201cNow get outta here!\u201d His livid voice resonated down the street. \u201cAnd enjoy your new piece.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cafe goers and onlookers turned to the sound in unison and a police officer came running up before Kakuzu could duck back behind his gate. Pocketing the needle, Kakuzu straightened, smoothed down the front of his kimono coat and plastered on a bored look.<\/p>\n
The officer ran over and hoisted up Naruto, inspecting the lines that were weeping blood down his cheeks. Shaking and choking back sobs, Naruto slowly stood.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s going on here,\u201d the young officer demanded.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust a simple transaction,\u201d Kakuzu said easily. \u201cThe whelp has been pestering me for quite a while. Dropping by unannounced and practically begging for me to carve out his little design.\u201d<\/p>\n
Naruto swallowed a sob to shoot a murderous look at the old man. He was trying hard not to cry because it burned the gouges. But the tears came anyway.<\/p>\n
The policeman eyed them both suspiciously, trying to determine if this story was true.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe even paid me for the work.\u201d Kakuzua smirked and pulled out the roll of money \u2014 Naruto\u2019s<\/i> roll of money \u2014 and showed it off.<\/p>\n
The officer frowned then. \u201cIs this true,\u201d he said sharply, rounding on the boy.<\/p>\n
Naruto didn\u2019t answer. He scanned his surroundings, anger swelling in his chest. Deidara and Sasori had abandoned him. He was caught by their \u2018old friend.\u2019 Maybe the three of them were even in on it together. Was this<\/i> why Deidara said he \u2018chose him\u2019\u2014<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course it\u2019s true!\u201d Kakuzu grinned like a cat who\u2019d finally caught the mouse. \u201cWhy else would he be down here every evening if he didn\u2019t want some work done on him?\u201d<\/p>\n
Naruto blinked, tears and blood drying on his cheeks. He was caught. He couldn\u2019t admit to a police officer that he\u2019d really been nicking things from the old man, even if it was only a prank. He\u2019d be thrown in jail, even for a couple of hours. And it would ruin his chances of getting into the academy\u2014<\/p>\n
Another thought crashed down him\u2014 The academy, the police force, his future<\/i>\u2026all of it\u2014 Gone\u2026.<\/p>\n
Kakuzu had sentenced him to something much worse. And he knew it. Naruto bit back another sob.<\/p>\n
The officer glared at Naruto, waiting for an answer. Cheeks throbbing, Naruto dropped his gaze to the cracked pavement. His shoulders slumped in misery. He refused to answer, but to the officer his gesture was as good as a full confession. He fisted a handful of Naruto\u2019s shirt to lead him away.<\/p>\n
Kakuzu\u2019s smile widened until it was all teeth. \u201cWanted to join a gang this one. Even called himself the \u2018Little Fox.\u2019 So I just gave him some whiskers.\u201d<\/p>\n
The officer jerked Naruto hard by the shoulder, all previous concern gone, but aimed a stern look at Kakuzu. \u201cOld man, if I catch you working on minors again, it\u2019s lights out for you. Got it? You know tattooing \u2014 even scarification like this \u2014\u201c he pointed into Naruto\u2019s face, \u201cis illegal now in Konoha. You may like \u2018the old ways\u2019 but times are different. Even if a kid like this<\/i> does come to you,\u201d he pushed Naruto, \u201cyou still can\u2019t do it. Understand?\u201d<\/p>\n
Kakuzu put up his hands in mock contrition. \u201cOf course! My mistake! Won\u2019t ever happen again!\u201d<\/p>\n
The officer grunted wheeled Naruto around. The crowd of onlookers dispersed. \u201cWhere do you live kid? I\u2019ll need to speak to your parents.\u201d<\/p>\n
Naruto sniffed and cringed painfully. The movement stretched his shredded skin. He dabbed at his blood-wet cheeks, tears welling up at the pain. \u201cI-I live at the Konoha Home.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh\u2026.\u201d The officer was quiet for a moment. \u201cAnd how old are you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m 14,\u201d Naruto said, voice breaking.<\/p>\n
The officer narrowed his eyes, putting everything together. \u201cYou think I don\u2019t know what you\u2019re doing? Associating with a guy like that?\u201d Naruto\u2019s shoulders sagged, and the officer jerked him along without sympathy. \u201cI grew up in a children\u2019s home too, you know. So don\u2019t think you\u2019re so special.\u201d<\/p>\n
Naruto looked over at him in deep surprise. He never would have guessed. But the officer wasn\u2019t interested in making a connection.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, I guess going to an academy wasn\u2019t good enough for you? Going to make your name on the streets instead?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, that\u2019s not what I was\u2014 I never would\u2014\u201c But emotion stopped the words in his throat.<\/p>\n
They walked the rest of the way in silence. The officer knew exactly where to go, even taking a few shortcuts. Finally as they approached the orphanage the man sighed. His voice softened a notch. \u201cWell, whatever you were trying to do or be\u2026none of it matters now.\u201d He nodded towards Naruto\u2019s wounded face but didn\u2019t let his eyes linger. \u201cThat\u2019s your burden to bear, kid. And everybody\u2019s got one.\u201d<\/p>\n
Naruto tipped his eyes up at the officer, unsure of his meaning. In the light of the dank stairwell up to the floor that housed the orphanage, Naruto saw a huge mark across the man\u2019s face. A scar right across his nose.<\/p>\n
The officer glanced sideways at him. \u201cYou looking at my scar? Yeah, well this came from fighting<\/i> those men you aspire to be like!\u201d The man\u2019s anger reignited. He pointed at the Naruto\u2019s cheek. \u201cBut these things mark you for life. No one will even to hire you with that on your face! You know that?\u201d He shook his head. \u201cGeez kid, why\u2019d you go and get it there<\/i>. Only the gangs will take you now\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI, I\u2014\u201c Naruto finally found his voice when they were at the landing. \u201cI wasn\u2019t going to join a gang! I want to go to the police academy and, and\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n
The door cracked open and the Konoha Home\u2019s sweet house mother peered out. But her round face immediately distorted into horror. She took an involuntary step back, clutching her chest at all the blood before she realized who was beneath it and threw the door open.<\/p>\n
\u201cNa-Naruto? Child, who did this to you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Naruto bit his lip, but he couldn\u2019t stop the tears. \u201cO-Okaasan, I\u2019m so sorry\u2014 I didn\u2019t mean to\u2014\u201c Bloody tears fell off his chin in fat red droplets.<\/p>\n
\u201cOfficer Iruka Umino, ma\u2019am. Unfortunately, he did this himself. Or rather, he paid for it.\u201d Naruto hung his head and sobbed quietly, but he didn\u2019t deny it. \u201cApparently he had thoughts of joining one of the local gangs?\u201d The officer\u2019s tone had softened, as if he hoped he was wrong.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, he was going to go to academy,\u201d she said pulling Naruto over the threshold and peering at his wounds. \u201cPolice track, if I remember\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n
Naruto nodded miserably. The officer cleared his throat. \u201cI don\u2019t see how that\u2019s possible now\u2014\u201c But he stopped himself. \u201cWell\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n
Naruto looked up desperately, scanning his face for any shred of hope. But Officer Umino had none to give. Above his scar, his eyes held something like pity.<\/p>\n
The house mother ushered them both inside and set to cleaning Naruto\u2019s wounds. The office spoke about Konoha and its history with gangs\u2026and, delicately, quietly<\/i>, about how the boy might expect to be treated now\u2026.<\/p>\n
The house mother tried to stay positive, but it was harder and harder in the face of everything the officer was saying. \u201cWhat about his final exam? He was hoping to join the police\u2014?\u201d<\/p>\n
Officer Umino shook his head.<\/p>\n
The house mother\u2019s sigh hitched. She placed her fingers to her mouth to stifle a small cry. \u201cOh\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n
Naruto went numb.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell\u2026good luck kid.\u201d Officer Umino rose to leave and the house mother walked with him, stopping to talk furtively at the door for a few minutes, glancing back at Naruto several times, before she thanked the officer and he left.<\/p>\n
Naruto didn\u2019t feel anything. It was a different kind of shock than the stun gun. It felt like it wasn\u2019t happening. That thing were just moving around him. Only the occasional stab of pain at his cheeks and drying of tears on his skin reminded him that this was real, not a terrible nightmare.<\/p>\n
His okaasan returned and rechecked his wounds, wiping away the fresh ooze of blood. She cried and fretted, asking why he would do such a thing. But he didn\u2019t speak. There were no answers he was proud of, and it would only hurt her worse.<\/p>\n
It was only when Sasuke awoke in the middle of the night to find Naruto weeping alone in the tiny bathroom that he confessed what had happened \u2014 all of it\u00a0\u2014 and that he knew exactly what the officer meant. He would never be allowed to join the police force now. It would be a miracle if any academy would take him. He was marked like only the gang members were. The officer said he didn\u2019t know what life would hold for him now, except that one thing was certain, it would be hard.<\/p>\n
Sasuke said nothing. And Naruto knew there was nothing he could say. Nothing could make it better. He had finally been caught\u2026and this was a life sentence.<\/p>\n
Naruto\u2019s bandages were wet with tears. Without a word, Sasuke carefully peeled them back. They stood together and looked in the dim mirror as Naruto turned and inspected the scabbed lines stretching from center of his cheek back to the edge of his jaw \u2014 three on each side \u2014 looking exactly like whiskers.<\/p>\n
Naruto\u2019s chin crumpled. The movement hurt his wounds, but he didn\u2019t care. Sasuke wrapped an arm around his shoulders and let him cry.<\/p>\n
Their heads, dark and light, huddled together in the mirror, was what Naruto remembered long after. Not the scars or the tears. Just the two of them, together. It would be the last time.<\/p>\n
Two days later, the thin man from the Academy returned and Sasuke took the final exam. Naruto, cheeks still bandaged, stayed away. No one mentioned his name. It was as if he no longer existed.<\/p>\n
The following week, their round-faced house mother who had dutifully massaged ointment into the wounds in the vain hope that it might lessen the scars, pulled back his bandages. She sighed and rubbed her hand wearily over her head.<\/p>\n
But there was more bad news. She looked away, replacing the ointment in the first-aid kit and throwing away the last used bandages. She spoke quietly, as if somehow it might lessen the blow, \u201cSasuke\u2019s received his test scores. He passed. He\u2019ll be leaving for Academy housing soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
Naruto nodded robotically. He knew Sasuke would succeed. He never had a doubt. Things always worked out for him.<\/p>\n
Naruto turned to look in the mirror. The scabs were gone, and in their place were jagged pink lines. Fresh scars. They puffed thickly with new pink skin. There was no hiding them now.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve healed,\u201d she said, sadness beneath her words, as she looked in the mirror behind him.<\/p>\n
Naruto knew what she wouldn\u2019t say. Soon he would have to leave too. They were aging out of the orphanage. At fifteen they were supposed to enter into academy and another child would take their place. Another child who desperately needed their clean bed and warm meals and place to call home. But for Naruto, the future was as shattered as the face looking back at him.<\/p>\n
Naruto turned away without a word, leaving his worried okaasan standing there, clutching her hands. He stopped at the door. \u201cThank you,\u201d he said quietly. \u201cFor everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
She dabbed tears from the corner of her eyes. But there was nothing either of them could do.<\/p>\n
Sasuke left two days later. Naruto knew it was cowardly, but he stayed away, hiding on the roof until he was certain the Academy kids had gone. He couldn\u2019t bear the looks, the pity. He couldn\u2019t bear the thought of Sasuke wanting to save him again. When there was no way to be saved.<\/p>\n
That night, lying on the roof trying to pick out stars through the haze, he realized the allure of the night market had left him. For the first time in as long as he could remember, he wished he could just stay there. He would never go to the night market again if he could just climb back downstairs and find Sasuke still in the bed beside his. Tears leaked into his hair. But just like Sasuke, their time at the orphanage was gone too.<\/p>\n
Naruto was certain of nothing in his life now, save for one thing: He couldn\u2019t stay here. Technically, they couldn\u2019t ask him to leave until his fifteenth birthday. But that was still months away. And couldn\u2019t bear the thought of being there without Sasuke, waiting for his birthday like an execution date.<\/p>\n
So he slipped back into his room to pack. Sasuke\u2019s bed was flat and empty. And Naruto\u2019s heart ached. He had put on a fresh set of clothes and shoved whatever money he had in his pocket before he realized there nothing else to pack. It was foolish to take a box of treasures when he didn\u2019t know where he was going. He cracked it open, peering at the trinkets that had once been so important, then so slid it under another sleeping boy\u2019s bed. He left the text book under his own bed, hoping it would rot there.<\/p>\n
And for the last time, Naruto pushed out the screen, climbed down the well-worn foot holds, and followed the trail of gutter water to the market, leaving the orphanage and his old life behind him.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd the next time I catch you down here, Little Fox,\u201d Kakuzu whispered into Naruto\u2019s face, \u201cI won\u2019t be so nice.\u201d Then he dragged Naruto out and dumped him on the sidewalk. \u201cNow get outta here!\u201d His livid voice resonated down the street. \u201cAnd enjoy your new piece.\u201d Cafe goers and onlookers turned to the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2535","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-night-market","has-post-title","has-post-date","has-post-category","has-post-tag","has-post-comment","has-post-author"],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5hctF-ET","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swirlingpetals.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2535","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swirlingpetals.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swirlingpetals.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swirlingpetals.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swirlingpetals.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2535"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swirlingpetals.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2535\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swirlingpetals.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2535"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swirlingpetals.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2535"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swirlingpetals.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2535"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}