“When you turned two...She died. She gave her life for you.” Iruka said slowly, letting the words drip out of his mouth like poison.
“So tell me.” Naruto said, sitting down next to Iruka. “Tell me what happened.” Naruto seemed interested. His eyes were wide and his mouth was near-dropping. “I’ve never heard...of someone like this.”
Iruka nodded. “She wasn’t...Like most people.”
“So tell me what happened!” Naruto said impatiently.
Iruka wiped away the tears that were starting to form. “She was captured by...by Orochimaru.” He began. “He...He wanted your body, but Tsume hid you before he could get to you. She was captured...” Iruka shut his eyes tightly.
Naruto gripped his fist. “Orochimaru...”
--
The Third, some ANBU ops and Iruka, carrying Naruto, burst into Orochimaru’s house.
“Orochimaru!” the Third yelled.
Orochimaru smirked. “So I’ve been found out.”
Everywhere you looked in the old snake's house, there was a body.
And so, a fight ensued between the Third Hokage and the former Konohagakure ninja. Iruka looked on in awe.
As Orochimaru escaped, Iruka looked around. “Where’s Tsume?” he yelled.
“Right...h-here...Iru...ka...kun.”
Iruka looked around. He saw Tsume, on the ground, covered in her own blood.
“Tsume!” Iruka yelled.
“Mama!” yelled Naruto.
Tsume smiled gently as Naruto ran up to her. “Shh……Naruto, it’s okay.” She said, hugging him. She looked up at Iruka. “Iruka-kun....Naruto found you...?”
Iruka looked away sheepishly. “He kept tugging at me, saying ‘mama’ and ‘snake-man’. I was only worried about you.”
“Iruka...Listen...Please, love Naruto.”
Iruka looked at his former classmate in surprise. “What are you--?”
“Iruka...I’m not going to make it.” Tsume said sadly, her eyes wetting.
“D-don’t say that!” Iruka yelled. “You’ve got to make it! Naruto--!”
“I’m sorry...” Tsume said quietly, as she closed her eyes, her smile never fading. “Please...Love him.”
And with that, the woman died.
“Mama?” Naruto looked at Tsume. “Mama, mama, up!” He said, shaking her. “No naps!”
“She won’t wake up, Naruto. You don’t have a ‘mama’ anymore.” Iruka said quietly, getting down to Naruto’s height.
Naruto sobbed and ran into his future sensei’s arms.
--END FLASHBACK--
“So she was killed by Orochimaru.” Naruto said quietly. “And I can’t remember.”
Iruka patted Naruto on the back. “She did love you.” He assured Naruto. “And...These pictures...Tsume would want you to have them.” He said, shoving the box to Naruto.
Naruto looked up. “Sensei, did you love Tsume?”
Iruka blushed. “W-w-wha--?”
“You’re crying….Did you love her?”
Iruka sighed, then nodded. “Yes, Naruto...I did. I loved her very much. But she did leave me something.” He then smiled a little. “Come on, Naruto. How about I buy you some ramen?”
“Now you’re talking!”
Tsume did leave me something...She left you.
END
A/N: I apologize that the last chapter is so horribly written...
