Chap-20 Homeland

The Kinsguard watched with great pride as the finely crafted Dragon banner alongwith the Uchiha Clan symbol now floated side by side alongside the Yamanaka Flag on top of the castle.

The fighting was over.

Nearly 43 Yamanaka had to perish in battle for this feat to happen but now the Uchiha had managed to gain the loyalty of two great clans thereby boosting their power and reputation across the elemental nations even further.

Naori Uchiha had herself arrived alongside Sakumo Hatake bringing with them the strength of the entire Hatake Clan and nearly 300 Uchiha fighters that proved enough of a threat to make the Yamanaka surrender.

Loud cheers could be heard across the town square as both the Uchiha and Hatake were praising the Kinsguard who led the assault and rescued Kiara Hatake as well.

Most of all, there were many among the Uchiha who were praising Naruto who stood beside his friends with his surprised expression hidden behind his facemask.

"THE YOUNG DRAGON!"

Naori couldn't help but smile when few of her clansmen praised her nephew by the name he was bestowed with years ago ignoring the crude name he was tainted with. And while those Uchiha were very few among all their fighters, it was a start.

For Naruto Uchiha had proved himself again and this time his victory was no small one.

"I asked him to do this quietly without alerting anyone especially the Senju of our involvement in my daughter's rescue. He broke our agreement!" hissed Sakumo silently, earning a sharp glare from Naori.

"You think we were going to take all this risk just to save your daughter? Lord Hatake, you conveniently want to serve the Senjus while taking the help of the Uchihas whenever your masters deny you justice. That will not be tolerated" warned Naori, her menacing eyes boring right into the heart of Sakumo Hatake.

''Where is my daughter?" asked Sakumo worriedly, and saw Naori smirk viciously.

"Safe with us in our stronghold. We will return her back to you once we sign the official alliance treaty with you and the Yamanakas" said Naori sweetly, and couldn't help but smile when Sakumo paled.

"You can't do this!" replied Sakumo angrily, his hand itching towards his sword.

"I have already done it, Lord Hatake. You work for us now and it will be best if you side with us quickly for the Senjus have called their allies and you won't like what they do to you if we are defeated"

Sakumo had gone deathly pale as he realized the consequences of his actions. He had hoped that Naruto would do this quietly without implicating the Hatakes, all this time he had assumed it was Naruto who was making the decisions.

But it was always her.

Naori knew the Hatake's couldn't afford to side with the Uchiha nor could the Yamanaka because their territories were right next to Senju borders.

Hashirama Senju would never allow the Uchiha's to have influence right across his doorstep.

Naori had reluctantly made Sakumo bring his troops to battle alongwith Uchihas as a precaution to safeguard his daughter in case Naruto failed. Her reasoning seemed true back then and he had agreed for he loved his daughter too much. Now that same love had implicated him.

The Senjus would never forgive him for this even if he betrayed the Uchihas.

He looked at Naori and couldn't help but imagine someone so beautiful could be capable of such deviousness. This woman also now held his daughter as a bargaining chip to make sure he didn't cross the line, while Naruto had somehow intimidated the Yamanaka so much that they had surrendered very quickly.

"You're good at this game..." said Sakumo finally with a resigned smile,

"I always play to win, Lord Sakumo. It is true that I made you believe that my nephew holds all the power which he does to an extent, I allowed him to make his battle plan because I see great potential in him. At the same time, I had to make sure the Uchiha Clan gained something significant from this engagement. Not all battles are fought with the sword" explained Naori honestly,

"You're a dangerous woman..." admitted Sakumo begrudgingly, making her smirk.

"That I am..."

Naori found her beloved nephew standing on top of the castle he captured a fortnight ago. She saw him staring at the vast forests surrounding the Yamanaka territory as well as the small celebrations conducted by their own clansmen with the Hatake's inside the town.

She stepped beside him and couldn't help but look at his face that seemed deeply lost in thoughts.

"I kept my promise"

Naori smiled at him and took his hand in hers giving it a gentle squeeze.

"Thank you" she whispered gratefully, knowing that it was her turn to uphold her own promise made to him.

"What was my mother like?''

He looked in her eyes and all she could see was a curious child and not the man who could make his enemies cower with his mere gaze.

"I'm sure many have already told you over the years that you look like her" reminded Naori, making him nod in confirmation.

"Madara, Inabi, and Yashiro took after their Father in looks and character. But you and Izuna were Hikari's truest sons, she loved her family more than anything. Her boys meant the world to her and for their sake she was willing to do anything, even if it meant giving her life or taking those of others" explained Naori patiently, and saw him ponder over her words.

As the wind softly ruffled his silky hair, he gave out a wishful sigh.

"I wonder what she would think of me now after all the things I've done..." he suggested,

"She would love you just the same even if she never knew why you did what you had to. Mothers are like that..." promised Naori,

"Like you?" he asked amusedly, making her grin.

"Yes"

They both became silent after that and settled for gazing at the celebrations happening across the town. Their only solace being the soft intertwined hands of theirs.

"Will you be there for the trial of Iwashi Yamanaka?" asked Naori seriously,

"I doubt anybody wants to see the Kinslayer actually be involved in matters of justice. It'll be a cruel joke..." he answered sarcastically, making her frown harshly back at him.

"That's not true. And you will be there for me..." commanded Naori with a smirk, which elicited a hearty laugh from him.

"The things I do for my loved ones..." said Naruto amusedly,

"Does that include someone named Mikoto?"

Naruto paled a little when her sharp eyes looked at him knowingly. This woman...

"I haven't told anyone. Nor will I ever..." she promised,

"I don't love her..." clarified Naruto honestly, but could not understand why those treacherous words escaped from his lips.

Naori neither chastised him nor looked at him accusingly for his choice. She simply laid a hand on his covered cheek...

"Why don't you?"

Out of all the things she could have asked of him...this was probably the most strange one. Yet it also made him ponder as to why he didn't feel anything more than a curious attraction towards Mikoto.

The girl was beautiful, skilled and caring.

More than what someone like him ever deserved.

Everything was perfect yet it wasn't at the same time. A strange paradox, something which was a regular phenomenon of his twisted life which made him chuckle.

But contrary to popular beliefs, he respected women. He had kept the promise made to his Father of never indulging with whores or any woman as a matter of fact. Even with Mikoto, he had never went far beyond simple kisses.

For he knew his boundaries and knew if someone ever found out, it would not be him that suffered but her.

And he would never allow that, certainly not to someone he truly cared about.

He couldn't help but laugh at himself, for hours ago he threatened to wipe out an entire clan including innocents and yet his heart was fiercely protective regarding the fate of one girl.

"You're a wild dragon..." scolded Naori with a playful wink,

"I'll take that as a compliment" he replied cheekily, earning a bop on the head in return.

"I received word from your Father and he is very pleased with your accomplishment. He is proud of your loyalty to the clan..." praised Naori,

"That's all?"

She flinched on hearing his cold voice and those accusing eyes that burned so intensely with hatred. What made it worse for her was the fact that she knew he was right for harboring such feelings.

She could clearly see the resentment lurking in Naruto's eyes for never once had Tajima written a personal letter to him, only congratulating him on his victories and reminding him of not breaking any more laws. While Madara always wrote to his brother, Tajima never had and she could see it had hurt the boy standing before her.

Naori herself was ashamed of her brother for she had hoped after all that had happened to his own son, Tajima would surely show more appreciation and care. But then again, Tajima had only ever cared about the Uchiha name above everything.

Madara never cared if his Father gave him love or attention, but Naruto was a different story.

One made more complicated by the dark history shared between Father and son. The one only Naori and Madara knew...

She was still amazed at Naruto's loyalty despite everything that had happened to him. Never once had the boy broken his vows or promises to the clan, fighting for even those who despised him...

"You're an honorable man" she said sadly, but he shook his head furiously.

"Honor? I'm a dog, my Father's mad dog..." retorted Naruto fiercely, as his sharingan came alive.

"Naruto..."

All his anger, pain and hatred came alive in his dark red eyes as he glared at her furiously.

"The only reason I allow all these morons to mock me, judge me, hate me is because of one simple fact. All I have done till now and in the future is not for Father or our clan. It's for my brothers..." yelled Naruto,

He was shaking right before her very eyes, all the pain and frustration he endured everyday clearly visible in those immensely furious eyes.

She had no words that could comfort him or make his pain go away so she hugged him and felt him relax a little.

"I'll fight for Madara as long as I can enduring everything I can until my end comes..." he promised,

Before she could console him, he broke the hug and swiftly disappeared with a quick shunshin.