[Mockingbird] Chapter 2 - Naruto's BLEEDING heart (Patreon)

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Fate. They belong to their perspective owners.

Chapter 2- Naruto's BLEEDING heart

Preparations ready, time was perfect, wavelength ideal.

By performing the summoning when her mana was at its peak, she would get a saber ever without a catalyst.

Holding a few prana infused gems close to her chest, she then dripped the powerful liquid onto her summoning seal, lighting it up in a green ever glow.

"For the elements silver and iron.

The foundation for stone and the archduke of pacts.

And for my great master Schweinorg.

Close the four gates, come forth from the crown, and follow the forked road leading to the kingdom.

Fill. Fill. Fill. Fill

Repeat five times, but when each is filled, destroy it!

Set.

Heed my words, my will creates your body, and your sword creates my destiny.

If you head the grail's call, and obey my will and reason, then answer me.

I hereby swear, that I shall be all the good in the world and I shall defeat all evil in the world.

Seventh heaven, clad in the great words of power.

From the binding circle… thou, guardian of the scales!" Rin Tohasaka incantation, as the summoning circle began to change to a multitude of colors.

Suddenly, smoke and red lightning began to reverberate around the room.

And the Tohsaka mage was confident in her work. Rin knew she had done well, done what she had wanted.

She would pull the saber class, the strongest of all the seven classes. She didn't need a catalyst, and she would do the work her father had entrusted her to do.

There would be no failure, she would claim the holy grail. She would…

Something was very wrong.

XXX

(With Naruto)

She didn't let go… ALL NIGHT

The little girl had quite the grip on her too, he had to admit.

And it seemed that every time that he tried to wrestle himself free, the girl would start whimpering, and it broke his little old heart when he did.

It was times like these, he would often wonder what Kurama would do in this situation. He was always the smarter of the two, not that he would ever admit it.

Sadly, Kurama was gone.

Well, not gone in the traditional sense, but it seemed that when he had arrived in this world, the overgrown mutt decided to take a pretty large power nap.

Some Bijuu he was.

Nevertheless, he wouldn't let a little girl stop him.

He was the seventh Hokage, the mightiest of them all. And he punched a goddess with nothing but his Harem jutsu and some quick planning. He defeated pain, broke obito's mask. He wouldn't let a little girl stop him…

Curse his bleeding heart.

It seemed that once again, when he tried to wrestle himself free, her soft breaths turned into saddened cries.

She slept soundly, not a trouble to be had. As the soft rising and falling of her chest laid against him, clutching him for warmth in her small, vice-like grip. He had just decided to take up residence on a chair within his residence.

The young girl looked so peaceful, so happy.

He guessed it was a small price to pay for a sleepless night. But hey, what was one more?

Sadly he hadn't even been able to open up shop for the day. But he supposed he could take the day off, maybe send a few clones to run it a bit later on:

It seemed his movements caused the girl to stir. As she slowly began to move, revealing her vibrant, golden eyes.

The young girl peeked her head up, and that's when she noticed him. Cutely looking towards him, as she rubbed her eyes with her tiny palms.

Instantly, a large smile began to grow across her face, as the silence was broken.

"It is you! It wasn't a dream~!" She squealed, instantly leaping up as she immediately glomped on him.

Unfortunately, the quick motion and fast distribution of weight sent their chair falling back, as they both fell to the ground in surprise.

"Woah," Naruto groaned, not expecting to suddenly be on the floor at the moment

"Owww~" Kiyohime winned, as she nursed her slightly bruised head.

Before she looked towards Naruto, her pain being forgotten, as she tried to tackle him once again.

Naruto put a stop to it, as he held his hand forward, catching the girl in her assault. "Woah there," he called out, rising to his feet.

But the girl only clutched onto his outstretched arm.

Naruto sighed, expecting this to be common practice for the girl.

But even still, he needed to question her on a few things. From what he had seen, this girl wasn't normal, by any stretch of the word.

And from what he had sensed, she also passed a large amount of energy, much more than that of a normal human. And while it wasn't chakra, it was similar in nature. It almost reminded him of the energy that Shirou and Rin seemed to exude, just far more potent.

Then there was that white haired man, who held a similar energy.

Which left him to question just what was going on with the two.

Raising his arm up, as the girl clutched onto him tightly, he met the joyous girl at eye level, as she seemed to be in her own happy little world. He tried to gauge anything, but there wasn't anything to be seen, and he doubted she would give any answers.

Sighing, it was then that another Naruto walked into the room, this one now holding a fresh bowl of ramen, just as he had instructed.

The scent of ramen filled the area, as the shadow clone placed the dish across a nearby table.

Kiyohime seemed to notice this, as her stomach rumbled. Just as he had expected, she had slept for a while after all.

And she was hungry, he had assumed as such.

Nobody could resist the deliciousness of ramen.

He nudged her, "well, go on then, you can have it," he told her.

As all the hesitation in her eyes left within an instant, as she tentatively walked up to the bowl. She still kept an eye on him, making sure he was still there.

But that was until she took her first bite, and then her second, and third. Soon, the bowl's contents in front of her disappeared before his very eyes.

Naruto felt a satisfaction looking at the scene, something he had seen several times before. He'd often wonder if this was what Teuchi felt whenever he served someone.

Maybe that was why his eyes were always creased? Like Kakashi's eye smiles.

The girl seemed to notice his subtle, teasing smile, as she blushed in embarrassment.

She had definitely not acted like the prim and proper Ojou-sama she was supposed to be.

But she couldn't help it.

She was just so happy.

"Alright," Naruto called out, gaining her attention. "Now that you're fed, I think you should answer a few of my questions, can you do that?" He asked the young girl.

"Mhmm~!"She nodded, as Naruto smiled.

"Good, now, what's your name?" He asked, trying to get to know the young girl.

As the horned girl realized, she hadn't introduced herself. She had to make a good impression, after all, for her destined one.

"My name is Kiyohime, or Kiyo if you like..." she introduced, as Naruto nodded. It was a good name.

But it seemed Kiyohime hadn't finished her introduction. "Dear… lover" she finished, as he flicked her forehead.

"Ow~" she winned, rubbing her forehead.

"Look, Kiyo, I don't know what you were thinking, but you don't introduce yourself like that," he lectured, as she pouted.

"But it's true, you're my destined one after all, the one I've dreamed of," Kiyohime told him.

She just knew it, from the bottom of her heart.

"Nope~," Naruto sang, as he flicked her forehead once again. "I don't know what you're thinking, but it's not going to happen, I'm old enough to be your dad after all."

This was what he would usually do. Having had many fangirls back in his day, before he had married Hinata. All you had to do was clearly lay things out for them. He could tell this girl was clearly developing a crush. But she couldn't be no older than 8, so he realized it would be best if he put a stop to it now.

But Kiyohime only blinked, listening to his words.

As her golden, slitted eyes stared at him for what seemed like hours. The gears in her head turned, as she tilted her head.

'he was old enough to be her father?' She could work with that.

"Dad?" She questioned.

As Naruto jolted from the shock, nearly falling in his place.

As the blonde fervently shook his head, "No, that's—"

"Papa?" She interrupted, testing the words in her mouth.

She liked how they felt.

Naruto tried to put a stop to it, "Look, Kiyohime, you got—"

"Father?" She inquired, still stubborn with her desire.

"No," he denied.

"Daddy?"

"Nope!"

"Lover?"

"NO!" He told her adamantly.

And that's when it happened. It was slow at first, barely noticeable. But his father instincts kicked in, and he knew exactly what was about to happen.

No! No, no, no, no. She was about to—

"B-but…" tears started to build up in her eyes, as she took a deep breath, ready to unleash an onslaught of whales.

A pain in his chest started to form.

Naruto just palmed his forehead. Signing, as Kiyohime momentarily stopped her tears to look at him, "Look, don't you have anyone else to look out for you? Or anywhere to go at all? Or do you have any information on that man from before," He questioned.

Kiyohime thought about it, before she inevitably shook his head. "I don't, Papa," she answered.

Naruto sighed once again, but he supposed it was better than what she had called him before.

Honestly, he didn't know what to do with the girl.

That white-haired man was still out there, and he guessed the man had accomplices.

The girl was still in danger.

What would Kurama do?

"Alright," he exhaled, "there's a spare room over there, I guess you can stay here a while," Naruto pointed to a nearby room.

Currently, he was staying in the upper floors of his restaurant, Ichiraku's. Using it for residence considering he didn't need that much space.

And even though it was small, he had a few spare rooms, considering he didn't need that much living space.

He supposed he would let the girl stay here temporarily.

Curse his bleeding heart.

As soon as his words left his mouth, Kiyohime had the brightest smile across her face. "Thank you, Papa…"

Naruto nearly tripped in his steps once again, but he supposed it was a lot better than what she had called him before.

Thinking about it, he supposed he would need to prepare some arrangements. Taking care of a young girl, even if it was a few days, wouldn't be so hard.

This, Kiyohime, still had torn clothes. And he obviously didn't have any clothes in her size.

"Okay, I'll go head out and get some supplies. Why don't you stay here until—" he said, preparing to head to the store, as he was going to leave a few shadow clones with the girl?

But it seemed Kiyohime didn't like that, as she gripped onto the hem of his jacket, stopping him in his place.

"No, Kiyohime, you have to stay," he told her firmly.

But the girl only pouted, shaking her head vehemently. "I don't wanna!" She winned.

But Naruto had to remain firm.

"No, Kiyohime…"

"I don't wanna!"

"No!"

XXX

Hours Later.

Your daughter, she's really adorable," a nearby older woman complimented, as he blinked.

He hadn't really heard that in a while… or ever.

And now that he thought about it, he didn't really ever get to spend time with his children all that much.

Don't get him wrong, he knew he loved them very much. With Himawari and her adorable antics, and Boruto and his mischief that honestly made his hair gray.

But between his Hokage duties and overall just trying to keep the Elemental Nations from not fighting each other every five minutes. He rarely got to see his children. And when he did, he was sorely exhausted, all because of his Hokage duties.

He knew that was just a poor excuse, though.

If he had really tried, he could have made more time for his family. He could have used his shadow clones, or used more of Shikamaru or Sai's help for it all. But he tried to shoulder the effort all on himself.

Sai and Shika had families too, why should he be the only one to see his?

And now they were dead…

He would never get to come home to Hinata or Himawari's smiles ever again. Never get to hear Boruto's tsundere-like greeting as he tiredly walked in the door for a nice home cooked meal.

That was what hurt the most.

He had failed, and it was his fault his family, or any of the shinobi in the elemental nations no longer got to take any more breaths. To live, to experience joy, he had failed.

He was a failure as a Hokage. Unable to keep Konoha alive by any means necessary.

And yet, here he was, alive and well.

Unlike everyone else…

A small, soft palm interlocked with his own, interrupting his thoughts in their interiety.

Looking down, he saw the small figure of the strange girl he had picked up. It was as if she had sensed his turmoil.

Strange was the only word he could use to describe her.

She had that strange energy to her, plus the even stranger horns atop her head. Honestly, he wouldn't be surprised if they were getting strange looks from the surrounding customers who went about their shopping.

But he guessed they thought it was some weird cosplay, or princess' crown given her royal demeanor.

He didn't know.

But a stray though did enter his mind as they shopped throughout the market district.

Maybe taking Kiyohime in wouldn't be so bad?

XXX

Later.

All Naruto's thoughts came to a screeching halt as nearly all of his sensory abilities went in a panic.

Had that Sanson guy come back, or was it someone else entirely?

Stopping in his tracks, impeding the large crowd he and Kiyohime were a part of from flowing properly. The girl at his side seemed to take notice of this. Curiously looking up at him

Of course, had she been slightly taller, or just a tad bit more observant. She would have seen the small orange pigmentation that seeped across Naruto's skin near his eye-lids.

But what Naruto found with Sage mode was even more concerning.

Another person, with an energy similar to that of Kiyohime's and even Sanson's. But he soon realized that it couldn't be the white haired man, as this person was far too small. About Kiyohime's height if he had to guess.

But what was worse was the slowly diminishing life-force he felt near the person.

He needed to check it out.

And so, discreetly creating a shadow clone nearby, the copy did a quick substitution with him. He was left freely to check out the disturbance.

Kiyohime hopefully none the wiser.

XXX

Cold.

It's always been so very cold.

Freezing so hot it burned.

That cool, burning feeling seered throughout her entire body. It had been all she had known.

Nothing she had done relived her of that pain.

But why?

Why had nothing she'd done worked? She had tried so hard! She craved it… craved to feel warm, all she wanted was for this coldness to end.

But it never did.

It never went away.

It hurt, It hurt, it hurt, IT HURT!

Taking the departed flesh from her latest victim, a woman she had cornered in the nearby alley. She had seemed nice, friendly even.

But even still, the woman had ran.

She didn't like that.

But even still, she had asked the woman to be there for her, to be the mother she never had…

She didn't like the answer she had been given.

The woman tried to fight back. But she had proven to not be able to stand up to a servant like her.

Another woman had refused her.

All she wanted was a mother.

Someone, anyone? To be wanted...

Biting into the severed heart of the woman, blood seeping down her mouth, a small part of the pain ceased.

And when the pain ceased, all she had felt was numbness. Nothingness like no other. In some ways, it hurt even worse.

It was cold.

This was hell.

This was—

"Hey, you! What's going on over—" a tanned, tall, blonde-haired paused, as he surveyed the area.

Her yellow eyes stared out at him, as they sinned through the darkness.

The young girl cocked her head, even as the woman's lifeblood dripped down her neck.

"I wonder, will you be my mommy… or will you see me as a monster too?" she inquired.

But she was met with no response, as Naruto's cerulean eyes just stared back out her.

Jack took that as his answer, her head meeting the ground as her pale hair shadowed her eyes. The young girl readied her blade, as she robotically adjusted her form.

It didn't take long for the girl to begin to strike. Speeding towards the man in an instant, using the nearby walls to move even faster.

Leaping towards him, it didn't take long to reach him, and as she readied her blade, aiming it to strike his torso…

Squelch.

Her blade hit her target's chest, just as she intended.

It was cold, it was—

Warm.

She felt warm. For the first time, she had felt the warmth that she so desired.

Jack realized what had happened, as the man's tentatively wrapped his arms around her.

Looking up, she began to realize something else. The usual look of fear, hatred and sometimes even hatred, that she had begun to become used to, it was nowhere to be found.

The man just held a look of… compassion?

She didn't understand at all.

XXX

Never let it be said that Naruto didn't have a bleeding heart, almost literally.

He had sensed something amiss within a nearby alley, and once he had left the begrudging Kiyohime. Being carefully to leave a few transformed shadow clones, disguised as nearby objects, to keep watch on the girl.

As he rushed around to a nearby alley, the place he had sensed the disturbance, he saw it.

A young girl, hair as pale as snow and long, dark, and torn garments that had been bloodied by the freshly killed corpse that laid at her side.

How could one so young do this? No— could a young girl do this? He questioned in his mind.

But even so, he knew it was to be true. The bloodied danger within her palms didn't lie.

The girl looked at him, noticing his presence.

And that's when he saw her eyes, they were so filled with pain, filled with sorrow.

And she had said those words.

"Will you be my mommy… or will you see me as a monster?"

Honestly, his heart reached out to the girl, as he had been left stunned into silence at the question.

It seemed she had accepted his silence as his answer, and that's what seemed to pain her the most.

That only seemed to make her feel sadder, as her head looked down, her short, spiked haired shadowing her eyes. Almost like—

'That's the boy, isn't he?' 'He should just go away.' 'He needs to disappear.' Nobody wants him here.' 'The demon.'

It was like she was just like him.

Just like how he was in his youth.

Her eyes looked so familiar to him because he once had the same look. The look he had before he met people to take his pain away.

The girl attacked.

Jumping at him, her blade at the ready. A sad look remained across her face; realizing the girl's intentions.

She was like him, like Gaara. So much so that it almost hurt to look at her.

He knew what he had to do, this would be the only chance he would get for a sure way to get close to her.

He also knew Kurama would be on his ass when he found out about this.

Squelch.

Her blade pierced his chest. And surprise, surprise, it felt as if he had been stabbed. Hurt like a bitch, even if it technically hadn't been the first time he had been stabbed in the chest, at least it was this choice this time.

The girl way moving far to fast for him to stop her without hurting herself. And if he did that there was no telling how she might retaliate.

No, he knew this was the best way.

To tackle things at the heart of the problem

Fortunately, he had been smart enough to dodge the girl's blade just enough to make sure she didn't hit any vital organs.

Slowly, he raised his arms up, the pain within his chest nearly overwhelming him.

As he brought his hands up to reach around her frame.

Instantly, he felt her body freeze in place. She seemed to notice what he was doing.

"It hurts being alone, doesn't it," Naruto reasoned, as he held onto her frame even tighter. The blade in his chest pushing deeper into his frame as he did so, he didn't mind. "There, there, it's alright," he soothed, telling her the words he wished someone had told him when he was younger.

When he had looked at the girl, she had reminded him so much of himself, of how he had felt when he was younger, before he had met his precious people.

It looked like his gamble had worked, as instantly, as his words left his mouth, tears left the white haired girl's eyes.

"I-I..." she stuttered out, unable to comprehend what was happening. Dropping onto the ground and soaking his orange jacket as she did so.

He didn't mind, his heart reached out to the girl.

XXX

Elsewhere.

"I ask of you, are you worthy of being my master?" A blonde woman inquired, as she stared down at him.

Shirou Emiya's fay had been strange.

Sure, it had been normal in the beginning. Naruto's shop having been strangely closed for the day, not that he minded.

He had found a bruise on Sakura's cheek, and as he confronted the likely culprit and one responsible, Shinji Matou had denied him. The sea-weed haired boy had even requested him to clean the archery dojo in his place. And as much as he didn't want to, he had still done it, as was the duty of a hero.

That's when all the strangeness happened,

A battle between a man dressed in all blue, wielding a crimson lance, and a tanned, white haired man dressed in red, as he battled with twin swords.

Their battle had been insane, a thing of legends, a battle in ways that no mere humans could.

That's when he had been spotted.

Running, he couldn't remember much else, but he faintly remembered being stabbed. And the face of someone resembling Sakura.

Finding a strange, gem necklace once he awoke. Believing it all to be a dream, he had returned to his home.

That when the blue haired man with a lance returned, it hadn't been a dream.

And as he tried to fight the man off, using his reinforcement magic to try to do so, that proved to be no match.

But that's when something even stranger happened, accidentally falling into his father, Kiritsugu's, old stuff. The room was lit into bright lights, as a new figure appeared within the room.

Shirou blinked at the question he had been asked, as he gazed up at the figure who had appeared within the strange summoning circle.

Blonde hair, pale skin, and she was adorned in the strangest of medieval armor, the color of shining in the moonlight…

As piercingly dark golden eyes stared down at him.

End Chapter.