"I want to be complete."
Yonbi's eyebrows rose at the comment. He did not for a second think he had misheard. He knew precisely just what Naruto had said. But the question was did Naruto know what he was talking about?
"Why?" he asked, his body expression unchanging. Naruto, sitting beside Yonbi, looked up at the rising sun.
"I am tired of being viewed as the Kyuubi. I remember the time when I embraced the Kyuubi's power to gain revenge on those who had kidnapped Hinata. I remember the hatred and evil coursing through my veins. Although I wanted revenge, that power, those feelings, were not mine. Years ago, when I training away from Konoha, I learnt many things, and when I came back to Konoha, a picture began to form in my mind. It slowly developed as my time as a Konoha shinobi grew. The missions I went on with my teammates showed me many facets of this world. I saw death, sadness, pain, anger, hatred, and misery, but I also saw joy, happiness, and life. The world is such a chaotic, incomplete thing, just like me. I don't want to feel like that. I want to help, but a deformed and incomplete vessel like me cannot hope to achieve that."
"Who are you to point out a twig in someone's eye when you have a log in yours," Yonbi quoted. Naruto nodded.
"Exactly. Before I can go on to do what I must, I have to be whole on the inside. That, to me, is more important than any training. It is the only way I can accomplish any of my goals."
Yonbi nodded. "I see. And I suppose you reached this conclusion on your own? You are very wise for such a small person, Naruto." For a second, the pain and sadness etched into Naruto's face disappeared and was replaced by a foxy smile full of life.
"Well, I had help," Naruto said, thinking back to the things the Fourth Hokage had left him. The square metal plate Sarutobi had given him in his dying moments, an event that seemed so far back now, he had used to open up a secret vault, and there he had found a scroll addressed to him. It had given him little information, but the bits it had given had proved invaluable. And then the life vanished from Naruto's face as he remembered recent events. The death of Taita-sensei at the hands of an Akatsuki member; the feud that had sparked up between certain shinobi the moment Sakumo-sensei and Jin-sensei had arrived back in Konoha, showing that they had faked their deaths; the revelation that Hinata had been cast aside to the Branch Family of the Hyuga Clan and was branded with the eternal Caged Bird Seal; Sasuke's defection from Konoha to Orochimaru; Naruto's fight with Hiarashi, in which he was beaten, badly; and finally, the sense of loss and failure Naruto felt for so many things.
"Konoha has no place for me anymore," Naruto said, and this time his manner had reverted back to the detached and cold behaviour he had exhibited after his training with his three senseis. "It will not be long before Akatsuki come looking for me again, and this time they will kill those who stand in their way. It's only Tsunade-baa-chan that saved me from being openly executed by the Council, or else being exiled from the village altogether. It's only a bit of luck that saved me from many harsh decisions by the Council, although no longer being considered a Konoha shinobi is very hard to bear. But, regardless of whether or not I'm a Konoha shinobi or not, Akatsuki will still come after me, so this is only a temporary measure. And I still need to bring Sasuke back. I will not let my friend sell his soul and let Orochimaru gain the Sharingan. I made a promise to Sakura and Hiarashi that I wouldn't mess things up, and I intend to keep it. But being stuck here with nothing to do will not help anyone. That's why I am taking Ero-Sennin's advice and training to get stronger, and this will only be the first step." Naruto let out a breath after such a speech. Yonbi had not moved at all, but now he slowly turned his head and looked straight into Naruto's eyes, and all signs of age and frailty were absent in his manner. Yonbi slowly nodded.
"It's time, then," he said. "Come, Naruto, let us leave. You have a very long journey in front of you, in more ways than one."
XXX
Hinata slowly picked herself from the ground, gritting her teeth against all the pain she was in. Her training clothes were in tatters, and she had several wounds on her body, and even more on the inside. Even with her Byakugan activated, she could barely see.
"That's enough for today." The cold voice filled with malice came from none other than one of her relatives, a branch family member. "You can barely move. We shall resume tomorrow. You may no longer be part of the Head Family, but the Hyuga still require strong shinobi." With that, he moved away from her. As soon as he was out of sight, Hinata slumped to the ground. The past few months had been a nightmare. Even her training sessions with Naruto had never been this exhausting and punishing. But this wasn't training, this was simply punishment. The branch family would finally have a little satisfaction at getting the better of the head family, and the head family would sleep well knowing an unworthy heir was getting her just reward.
"Hinata-chan." Hinata's whole body tensed at the voice. She slowly got up, her eyes on the person in front of her.
"Hanabi-hime," Hinata said bowing. Hanabi's eyes seemed to shine at the greeting.
"Father and I were watching your practice bout. He says that despite no longer being a part of the head family, you should still do your best as a Hyuga. He is not satisfied with your jutsu. You need to improve." With that, Hanabi gave a nod of the head in farewell before she turned and left as silently as she had appeared.
"Hai," Hinata said to no one. But it seemed that the surprises had not yet finished.
"You don't belong here, Hinata." Hinata's eyes widened as she heard the hurtful words from a person she thought cared for her. She whirled round, her eyes showing her panic and confusion.
"You do not belong here with the Hyuga." Sanhana walked forward from the shadow of the tree he had been standing under.
"Please, Sanhana, don't say such things. I swear I will get better. Just give me one more chance to prove myself to the Hyuga." Sanhana looked at her, and his foreboding manner disappeared and was replaced by the sigh of an old man.
"Listen well, granddaughter," he said as he walked up to her. "You are a true person, true of heart, but being a Hyuga will not promote that gentle nature of yours. It will only turn you into a cold shell, or worse a broken vessel. You are not safe here. Things are changing in the world, and the only way the Hyuga will react will be with military and political strength. You won't survive the trials you will go through now that your head family status has been revoked. You should leave while you still have the chance. Go far away from this place. Become strong in your own way. Help others, just like your mother, my dear daughter, used to do. Understood?" Hinata looked into the old man's eyes, and saw not coldness or pity, but genuine caring. She slowly nodded. Sanhana smiled.
"Good. I have already packed your things. Once you are outside Konoha, you will meet someone who will take you away from here and to a better place."
"But what about you, Sanhana?" Hinata asked in a worried tone. "Won't they discover that you helped me? What will happen to you? Come with me." Sanhana shook his head sadly.
"Alas, I can't. I am simply too old for such adventure. My time is drawing near. The only thing I can do is make sure my daughter's vision remains alive through you. Your mother's death affected Hiashi very much. He is not the man he once was. And do not worry about pursuit. With the Caged Bird Seal on you, no one will bother to look for you. It's sad, really, but it's perfect for your escape. Now go." Hinata's eyes filled with tears and she hugged Sanhana fiercely. After a minute, he gently retracted her arms from around him and shooed her away.
XXX
"Hatake Jin and Hatake Sakumo," Gai said, his voice its usual jovial self.
"Is that anyway to greet your sensei, Gai?" Jin said with a raised eyebrow. Gai paled slightly before bowing deeply in apology.
"Hai, Jin-sensei, I apologize!" Jin smiled a little. Gai had not changed at all after so many years.
"No time for dawdling, Gai! I hear you have a very promising student. Take me to him at once."
"Hai!" Both shinobi flickered before disappearing. Silence. The remaining two shinobi looked at each other, their expressions similarly blank. Their expressions were not the only similar thing they shared. They both had unruly silver hair, they were both tall, and they were both Hatakes. After a short pause, one of them reached into their weapons pouch and drew forth an orange book titled "Icha Icha Paradise", turned to a page and started reading.
"I see uncle Jin has not changed at all," Kakashi noted lazily. His eye was fixed firmly on the book, the only sign for anyone who knew him intimately – like Gai – that he was thinking very deeply. Sakumo looked at his son and did not know what to make of him. Here was Hatake Kakashi, one of the most revered ninja in the world. His eyes lingered on the hitai-ate that covered Kakashi's Sharingan. Sakumo, for the first time in ages, felt at a loss. He had missed so much of his son's life, and was responsible for quite a few of Kakashi's scars.
"Yes," Sakumo replied. "He hasn't." Kakashi did not say anything, merely turning a page in his book.
"Naruto has grown since I left him more than a year ago in the Konoha forest."
"Ah," Kakashi said. "So it was you, Uncle Jin, and Uncle Taita that trained him then? I always wondered why his fighting style was like that of a Hatake. So you trained Naruto, but why?"
"We were following orders."
"Just like faking your deaths I suppose? Whose orders?"
"The Fourth Hokage." Kakashi stopped mid-way turning his page. After a second, he finished turning his page and propped himself off the wall he had been leaning against.
"I see," he said, still not looking away from his book, his manner still bored. "Well, I've got to go. Bye." With that, Kakashi disappeared in a puff of smoke. Sakumo sighed and shook his head, but he hadn't expected any more. Kakashi was a grown man who had spent most of his life in hurt and pain and without a family. If he wanted forgiveness, he would have to slowly earn it from Kakashi.
XXX
Five boys sat at the Ichiraku Ramen stand. They all had steaming bowls of ramen in front of them and chopsticks in their hands. They ate in silence, which was rare, considering that two of them were considered very loud, the loudest of their class. After they finished, they sat there in silence.
"I'm sorry." Four of them looked at the first to break the silence, shock written all over their faces.
"You all did your part, going as far as to risk your lives." Shikamaru, Neji, Choji and Kiba's expressions slowly turned from shock to understanding. There was a gruff bark, and a little white dog jumped from Kiba's head and onto the counter. "You, too, Akamaru," Naruto said, taking in all the bandages on the poor dog. He looked back at the four, absently scratching Akamaru. "You faced shinobi way above our league, and you won, but when it was my turn to face a shinobi from our own class, I couldn't complete the mission and bring Sasuke back. I was too weak. Sasuke and Hiarashi were right; I am a weakling. I just hope that you can forgive me, and that, in time, I can repay the blood debt." Naruto stood up and lifted the cloth that covered the stand as he prepared to leave. But even without facing them, the image of all of them bandaged, of Neji and Choji on crutches, was burned into his mind.
"I know of a way you can repay me," Neji suddenly said. Naruto stopped and looked back at the Hyuga. "You can look after Hinata-hime." Naruto's face turned to a puzzled expression, but before he could ask any questions, all six shinobi, Akamaru being the sixth, heard the approaching voices they knew very well. Naruto, not wanting to stay for the reunion that was about to happened, quickly nodded and left the Ramen stand. He only walked a few steps before he heard someone shout his name.
"Naruto!" Sakura shouted. Naruto then made a mistake. He looked. Only for a second, but it was enough. He locked eyes with Sakura. The girl he once had a crush on, but now merely regarded as a comrade. The girl he had made an eternal promise to, a promise he broke. Sakura saw the pain in Naruto's eyes, and realized that despite the talk they had had in Naruto's hospital room weeks before, Naruto still bore feelings of guilt. Before she could say anything, however, he suddenly disappeared.
"He must not have heard you," Ino commented, already walking toward Choji. She had never thought she would lose one of her teammates, but Choji's critical situation had made her aware of just how attached she was to the Ino-Shika-Cho trio. Shino did not comment, and Tenten only sighed before going to join the others. Sakura stood there for a moment, Naruto's tortured eyes still in her mind. Her resolve hardened. He wouldn't do it alone. After a moment, she moved toward the stand and joined in the chatter.
A few blocks away, three kids were walking down the street when suddenly a package dropped in front of the leader.
"Huh?" Konohamaru said out loud.
"What do you think it is?" Moegi asked.
"I don't know," Udon said, "but I think it's for Konohamaru."
"Why do you say that?" Konohamaru asked.
"This is the same way Naruto-nii-san told you about your grandfather's inheritance when he was off to a mission in the Land of Snow. Maybe he couldn't stop by and did the same thing."
"Yeah, I guess that's it," Konohamaru said with a shrug. Inside, he was disappointed. Ever since he found his inheritance with Naruto's help, and with the help of his teammates and Ebisu-sensei, his growth had dramatically improved.
Konohamaru opened the package, and to his surprise, he found Hokage robes, the ones his grandfather used to wear, except his size. He also found a black gi he could use for training and fighting, and some armour and a helmet that had the Konoha symbol on the front. It was an exact copy of his grandfather's attire. On top there was a simple note written in a flowing hand and in red ink.
"You are the honorable grandson, a Sarutobi.
But you are also Konohamaru. Never forget that.
Train hard and become strong, someone your grandfather can be proud of and Konoha can depend on.
Show Konoha the Sarutobi Clan did not die with Old Man Hokage.
I will always be there for you,
Naruto-nii-san.
"What does it mean?" Moegi asked.
Konohamaru's hands shook and there were tears in his eyes.
"It means our boss has finally left."
XXX
Hinata waved at the guards by the gate as she walked. They waved back before returning to their game of shougi. Normally they would stop anyone from leaving or entering unless they saw official documentation, but Konoha's economy was severely depleted, and the only way to regain its former glory was through missions, and stopping shinobi every time the left or entered would only slow down the whole process.
After she was out of sight from the gate, she sighed in relief.
"Going somewhere?" Hinata whirled, her hand reaching for a kunai from her pouch. She saw an old man standing in front of her. he had long silver hair, a curious horned hitai-ate that read "Oil", a sleeveless red jacket, and green clothing. It was Jiraiya, the Gama Sennin.
"You're Hinata, right?" Jiraiya said, propping himself off the tree trunk he had been resting on. She nodded, her eyes fearful and defiant as well. Jiraiya nodded.
"Naruto has told me quite a bit about you. He went to great lengths to make Tsunade come back and heal you. Of course, the effort was wasted, seeing as your father's seal seemed to have done the job of waking you from your comma." Jiraiya's eyes momentarily lingered on Hinata's forehead where the green seal was visible.
"Sanhana seems to also have some nice things to say about you, and last time I checked, he was still a cranky old man, so you must definitely have some good qualities!" Jiraiya laughed, easing the tension Hinata had been feeling. Jiraiya-sama knew Sanhana, which meant…
"I'm the contact, yes," Jiraiya said as if reading her mind. "But I won't be taking you anywhere. The Council has respectfully asked for my continued presence in Konoha to help the regeneration." Hinata knew what he was talking about. The Council had ordered Jiraiya to remain in Konoha so as to increase the military strength and dissuade any nations from attacking. Also, Jiraiya and Kakashi had been assigned as Hiarashi's personal senseis until further notice. There were murmurs Hiarashi was already being groomed as the next Hokage, despite the fact that it was up to Tsunade to choose.
"Since I can't go, I have arranged for someone else to take you seeing as you're going to the same place. But before I go, I need you to give someone a little present." Saying that, Jiraiya formed hand seals too fast for her to see. After a second, he opened his mouth, and to her shock and slight disgust, a toad's head emerged from his mouth. But the toad opened its mouth as well, and something began to emerge from the mouth. After a second, she recognised that it was a scroll, a very big scroll. It was half her size in height and twice her girth. How could something that big fit inside a man? It must be the power of a Sannin. When the scroll dropped onto the ground, the toad retracted back into Jiraiya's mouth. Jiraiya smirked at her expression. He winked.
"Well, I've got to go. See you around, Hyuga Hinata." It was only after he disappeared in a puff of smoke that she realized he hadn't told her who to give the scroll to.
XXX
Naruto looked back at Konoha. Even in the dark, it looked beautiful. The moon accentuated every building and landmark well. To his surprise, he found that his eyes were moist. He had grown attached to this place. It was his home. So much had happened here in such a short time. He had made friends and enemies. He had settled down here. But now he had to leave, maybe forever.
"Goodbye, Konoha." Naruto turned his back on Konoha and walked away. Yonbi looked over his shoulder at the slumped figure of Naruto.
"I know something that can cheer you up," he said. Before Naruto could ask, they stepped into a clearing, and to his surprise, there stood Hinata, a huge scroll next to her.
"Hinata!" Hinata looked up at him and smiled. She knew now who the scroll was for.
"Naruto-san." Quickly, they traded stories. Naruto listened with disbelief at Sanhana's sacrifice. He knew that if he was ever found out, he would be killed.
"Don't worry," Naruto said. "You'll come back and see Sanhana soon. I'll come with you." Hinata nodded with a smile.
"Where are we going, Naruto-san?" Hinata asked.
"To Hi no Tera, the Temple of Fire. Ero-Sennin and Yonbi-sama have a contact there that will keep us safe for a while until we get stronger. But I will have to go to the Land Of Water before long. A friend needs my help." Naruto did not elaborate, and Hinata did not ask. She had learned long ago that Naruto only told you when he was good and ready. Naruto thought back to the letter he had gotten the previous week. Haku was alive and well, and she was going back to her clan with Inari. They would be safe there, and Haku would finally have a family. But Naruto also knew that Zabuza's dream of assassinating the Kirikage lived in Haku. The Kirikage was a dangerous and malignant man. She would try to overthrow him, but she needed his help if she was going to be victorious. Naruto hefted his scroll.
"Alright, let's go," Yonbi said. All three shinobi disappeared.
XXX
"Naruto's gone missing, and so has Hinata."
"What?"
"There's no need to shout, Sakura."
"Hai, I apologize, Hokage-sama."
"Don't worry about it," Tsunade said dismissively.
"What are we doing about it?" Sakura asked, keeping her eye on the fish in front of her. Tsunade sighed.
"Nothing."
"What?" This time, Tsunade did not bother reminding Sakura about her manners.
"There's nothing we can do. We are already stretched enough as it is, and Sasuke's defection cost us a lot of missions. The Council overruled any idea of sending a search party. There is nothing I can do about that. But Jiraiya has assured me Naruto is alright and in safe hands, so we can only hope he comes back soon. Sakura looked down at her fish with tears in her eyes.
You won't do this alone, Naruto. The green chakra around her hands increased in intensity.
XXX
"So, he's gone," Hiarashi said, her tone unreadable.
"Hm," Kakashi replied in a non-committal way. Hiarashi did not bother with pestering her lazy sensei. She knew she would get nothing out of him.
"He should have been killed long ago," she said coldly.
"Oh?" Kakashi asked, his eyes still on his book.
"I accept it now, he is not the Kyuubi. But still, he has Akatsuki – a group of now ten S-rank criminals, thanks to the three Hatakes for killing three – after him, not to mention Orochimaru and any other ninja out there after the demonic power of Kyuubi. He should have been killed to remove that threat, and if it hadn't been for those genin interfering, I would have done it myself when I fought him."
"Well," Kakashi commented after a pause, "he is alive, and out of reach, so there is nothing we can do." Hiarashi shrugged.
"If he has any sense, he will stay hidden."
"I am curious about your behaviour though, Namikaze Hiarashi" Kakashi continued.
"Why is that?" asked Hiarashi.
"Well, I was just wondering why you would want your brother, the only living relative you have, dead, instead of helping him." Silence. In her shock, Hiarashi's concentration dropped, and all five shadow clones she had summoned dispersed into smoke. Kakashi turned a page in his book.
"You didn't know? Oops." Kakashi turned another page.
XXX
Naruto looked at the massive gates in front of him. There were huge symbols written on the gates. Yonbi went up and knocked gently at the gates, then sat down and leaned against the gates. He closed his eyes.
"You might want to settle down," he offered to Hinata and Naruto. "The opening of the gates only happen twice every twenty-four hours." Hinata activated her Byakugan. She gasped at what she saw. There was a very large and weird chakra operating on the gates. In fact, the chakra surrounded the entire temple site.
"What's this?" she asked. Yonbi opened an eye and looked at her.
"Oh yeah, I forgot you possessed the Byakugan." He sat up straighter. "Might as well turn this into a little lesson." Naruto groaned, and Yonbi smiled. "These gates are Seal Gates. They were made millennia ago to be a gate to another dimension."
"Another dimension?" Hinata asked incredulously. She had never thought such things were real.
"Of course," Naruto answered. "Where do you think the animals ninja summon come from? They do not exist on the same plane of existence as us. We have to call on them from there using the Summoning Technique, a very common but extremely powerful space/time jutsu, a dimensional jutsu."
"Exactly, Naruto," Yonbi said with a nod. "Anyway, the gates were built by the founder of this temple, whose statue you shall see once we are inside. These gates open up not into the dimension of summons, but somewhere inbetween the two worlds. That way, the Temple is apart from the world, yet still connected to both. The founder was interested in the summon creatures, for they were animals that could use chakra, just like us ninja. So he made these gates, which acted as a bridge between this world and the world of summons. In fact, he is the one who first used the Kuchiyose no jutsu. It was his creation."
"So you're saying that the Temple of Fire is actually located somewhere between two dimensions?" Hinata asked, disbelief still on her face.
"Yes," Yonbi said simply. "This is why you will see some strange things during your stay here. The laws that govern this world are skewered inside the Temple grounds, and are therefore either half-effective or non-existent altogether, like Time."
"Time is non-existent?" Naruto asked with a shiver.
"No," Yonbi said. "Time is a constant in the world. It exists, but our perception of it is skewered. It might seem like an afternoon lasted an entire year, or else the night was incredibly short. Thank the gods that the founder built this place smack in the middle of the dimensions, otherwise the monks here would be in big trouble. They could be stuck in time for eternity, or else age incredibly fast … ah, someone's coming to open the gates." Sure enough, the gates opened a crack. Yonbi slipped through, followed by Naruto and Hinata. They followed the monk in silence. Soon enough they reached a big marble temple, and many monks were engaged in different activities, walking to and fro. None of them paid Naruto and Hinata the slightest bit of attention, although quite a few people acknowledged Yonbi.
They were led through the temple and into a room. A man was sitting before a big statue of a winged man wearing a mask and holding a weapon in his lap. The man, like all the monks, was bald.
"It's been a long time," he said. "What name do you go by these days?"
"Yonbi."
"Ah, how apt. I suppose you are finally coming out of your shell?"
"Something like that, yes." The monk stood up and turned toward them.
"Thank you, brother. You can go now," he said, and the monk who had led them to the room bowed before he left. The monk bowed back.
"And who are your companions, Yonbi?" he asked. Naruto studied him intently. He looked no older than thirty, and he shone with an inner light, but his eyes suggested great age. He carried himself well, and Naruto instinctively knew this man could take on Yonbi or Ero-Sennin or Tsunade-baa-chan and win.
"This is Uzumaki Naruto, and his friend there is Hyuga Hinata." The monk raised an eyebrow.
"I see. Well, I am Matsuda, the Abbot here at Hi no Tera. Welcome. You have already met Chiriku. He was a former member of the 12 Ninja Guard of Fire, just like Sarutobi Asuma. I am sure we will all come to know one another … but be warned. We offer our graces to everyone, so there will be people and shinobi from all over here at the Temple, and some might have been enemies. Be careful, for although we try to maintain balance, but nothing is ever fully guaranteed."
"Hai!" Naruto and Hinata said.
The Abbot smiled. "Good. Now let's see what we can do with you. You are ninja, so undoubtedly you will want to train. We have excellent methods here, dating back centuries. We even have information on the Hyuga, young lady, which isn't surprising, seeing as Sanhana was once a pupil here, so don't worry about your Clan jutsu. You can still learn, and we have someone here to teach you. But, seeing as you are going to be students here, you are required to be respectful and pray as we do. You are required to join our faith. I know you can never be devout like some, but please show respect to our way of life and do not mock." Matsuda's voice had taken on a foreboding tone, but now it was back to normal. "Jiraiya learnt quite a lot from our faith, so perhaps you can as well, hm, Naruto?" Naruto nodded. He felt afraid in the presence of this person, a person who could rip him apart with a flick of a finger it seemed, but hid that power so well it seemed not to exist. He was sure the Abbot had purposefully let a small portion of his strength be seen as a warning to both Hinata and him, to show them not to mess around.
"Good," the Abbot said. "Now, here at the Temple of Fire, we focus on the completion of the soul, of the inner self. Only then can a person affect the outside world. Our entire training regime, and way of life revolves around completion and balance, more commonly called The Five Elements, as you will find out…"
XXX
"Iruka!" The shout did not stop the maddened Academy teacher. He might have stayed in a classroom for years, but he hadn't lost his skill. Iruka deftly found a way through Kakashi's guard and punched the Jonin in the face. Kakashi's mask and hitai-ate were torn off.
"You bastard!" Iruka screamed, and he went in for another hit. Without his Sharingan, Kakashi was much more vulnerable to a shinobi of Iruka's caliber.
"I left my students in your care, I left Naruto in your care. And see what happens? Gone! Two of them, gone! Bastard!" This time Iruka used a kunai and twisted it expertly in Kakashi's right arm, making it completely useless. Years of droning the basics to young shinobi had made Iruka knowledgeable to a lot most ninja forgot. And now he as using his fundamental knowledge to his advantage against a shinobi of Kakashi's level.
Kakashi was in a bloody mess. One second, he has been sitting in deathly silence next to a shocked Hiarashi, and in the next Iruka had appeared in front of him, eyes screaming bloody murder. Kakashi could have dodged and fought back, but after so many weeks, the grief had finally caught up to him. He let Iruka beat him, which only angered Iruka more. Iruka jumped into the air, a kunai in hand aimed for Kakashi's stomach. He would make the pain last as long as he could make it.
There was a flash of red and white, and a moment later Iruka was caught in the grip of a tall and powerful man. Jiraiya looked into Iruka's eyes with sadness.
"Calm down, Iruka!" Iruka struggled with no result until he realized he must also be caught in a genjutsu. He gave up, but his body was still tense and primed. Jiraiya sighed and looked down at Kakashi. Kakashi avoided his eyes and slowly got up, grimacing as he did so. Of all the people in existence, only seven had ever seen Kakashi unmasked. Iruka was the eighth. He glared at Kakashi, wishing more pain upon him. After a second, Sakumo appeared behind Kakashi.
"I sensed a commotion and…" Sakumo was at a loss. Kakashi had been beaten up by a chunin level Academy instructor? But then he looked into Iruka's eyes and knew Iruka was capable of far more than a mere teacher.
"Everything is fine now," Kakashi said, his voice still lazy and unstrained.
"It doesn't look it," Sakumo commented dryly. Kakashi ignored him and walked away, slowly. Only then did Jiraiya let go of Iruka. Iruka dropped to the ground and was up again in a second.
"Listen, Iruka!" Jiraiya shouted. "I know you miss Naruto, but you can't take this out on Kakashi. He feels bad as well. He's going through the same thing you are."
"Good," Iruka spat. "He should. He failed. He deserves the pain." With that, Iruka turned and walked away.
"You can't go after Naruto!" Sakumo called after Iruka, and then sighed when Iruka did not acknowledge him.
"He's not going to the gates," Jiraiya noted. It was true. Iruka was walking in the direction of the Academy.
"I hope he doesn't do anything stupid," remarked Sakumo.
XXX
The chamber was dark.
"Sasuke-kun." Sasuke turned slowly and looked straight up into the yellow eye of Orochimaru.
"I thought you were going to give me power," he remarked coldly. "Get on with it."
"Ku, ku, ku, Sasuke-kun. Your impatience is understandable, but you need to calm yourself. It will be years before you are ready. But I suppose there is not point in delaying any further. Still, I am interested in how you managed to upgrade from the first stage to the second stage of the Cursed Seal of Heaven on your own, and then use my pills to go to a new third stage." At once, Sasuke's eyes turned red with three tomoe.
"Ah," Orochimaru said. "Of course. Those beautiful eyes of yours." Without any more words, Orochimaru brought his palms together. An evil chakra filled the chamber, and Orochimaru's short hair started flowing upwards.
"Kuchiyose: Edo Tensei! First, Second, Third!" Three coffins rose from the ground. When they finished, Orochimaru took three seal kunai and placed them through the coffins.
"Enjoy, Sasuke-kun. I cannot have inferior eyes, after all. This will make you much stronger, strong enough to endure my training. Goodbye until then. Kabuto will keep you company. I have other business to attend to." Orochimaru vanished into the shadows. Kabuto smirked.
"This should be very nostalgic, eh, Sasuke-kun?" Sasuke ignored him and watched as the coffins opened. Three figures stepped out, and Sasuke almost lost his composure and gasped. Almost. He looked at the three people with a cool gaze.
"Sasuke-kun," all three said at once. Sasuke nodded. The first was a woman, an old woman, but she radiated strength as well. The second was an old man, and the golden ring on his finger, matching the woman's, made it clear they were married.
"Grandmother, Grandfather," Sasuke said. He looked at the third person. A person who was a part of the family in more than one way. An ache nearly Sasuke sob. He gripped his purple robes at the breast.
"Shisui-nii-san. I will avenge you. I will avenge all of you, all of the Uchiha Clan." In that chamber, there were suddenly four pairs of Sharingan eyes blazing as Sasuke's Uchiha training began.
XXX
Seven Years Later…
Sakura walked down the length of the corridor with a clipboard in hand. There was a thoughtful expression on her face. What her last patient had just said was very troubling. She should report it to Tsunade-sama immediately. Apparently the Hyoton clan in the Land Of Water had been led by their new leader against the forces of Kirigakure … and won. Their leader was rumoured to be the most gifted possessor of Hyoton, and she seemed to have an apprentice who was nearly as powerful, although not of the clan. What was most surprising was that they were very young. And in the attack on the Kirikage, another ninja had shown his presence and affiliation. A ninja whose reputation had been growing in the ninja world in the past two years. Not much was know about this ninja, apart from the fact that he was called Fujin, and that he travelled with a very beautiful female ninja. All this she had heard from the ANBU team who had been sent to discover the status of Kirigakure and the Land of Water by the Council. They did not like isolation and silence Kirigakure had been giving. Only one member had survived. The fight for leadership for Kirigakure had been a ruthless one.
"Sakura-san." Sakura stopped and looked up. She smiled.
"Iruka-sensei. How good to see you. Where have you been?" As soon as she asked, she wished she hadn't ANBU did not discuss their missions. She still could not believe, after all these years, that Iruka-sensei had quit his job as a teacher, something he loved passionately, to go and join ANBU. What was even more surprising was that he was now rumoured to be one of the best operatives they had, on par with the Hatake squad, the only team in ANBU which consisted of three people. Technically, Iruka was part of the Hatake squad, which consisted of Sakumo, Kakashi, and Jin, but after the incident seven years ago, Iruka did not associate himself with Kakashi any more.
"Oh, the same," Iruka said with a shrug and a small smile. "Missions are missions." Sakura was worried about Iruka, and to a lesser extent, Kakashi. No ANBU stayed in constant service for this amount of time. They went mad. But Iruka seemed to have embraced the work, and so had Kakashi. Why, she could never fathom.
"Well, we should go out for some ramen sometime," Sakura suggested. She regretted that too, the moment it came out. A shadow flitted across Iruka's face, but after a second, it vanished. He smiled.
"I'll meet you at Ichiraku Ramen tonight at seven o'clock then. I've got a night's rest before my next mission. Until then, Sakura-san." Iruka waved before disappearing in a puff of smoke. Sakura smiled sadly. Even after seven years, the little blond boy's memory was still alive in all who had known him. She shook her head. She had things to do. Like reporting to Hokage-sama, for a start.