Legend of the Dreamer

Chapter 1: Destiny Dreamer

By d4rk-ifrit

A Paramesh Fan-Fiction

Spoiler alert: You must be past the part in the plot where Shikamaru and crew have all gotten back from the mission Shikamaru lead out for Tsunade. If you don't know who Tsunade is; then your way behind and shouldn't read. Stuff will be reviled and you may not like it. That's around the 27th volume of the manga.

Italic words are: thoughts

Why…why is everything getting so dark? It's as if our friendship is fading.

The trees of the forest were moving in a fast blur. Naruto began to awaken.

Kakashi-sensei is that you? You came…to save me.

"Kakashi-sensei…What about Sasuke…?

How could Sasuke throw away our friendship for power? What blood-thirst could enrage him to act as such? He may have won this round but I'll never give up.

The hospital room was empty except for Naruto and his bed. He sat up with a sad look on his face. He glanced down at his headband. Someone had cleaned it and polished it for him. His reflection showed his many bandages.

My whole body aches. But this pain is nothing compared to what I feel like on the inside. I wasn't able to bring Sasuke-Chan back. I made a promise to Sakura-Chan and I couldn't keep it.

"I will definitely bring Sasuke back! That's the promise of a lifetime!"

That's what I promised. I failed her. She was counting on me to bring him back. Will she ever forgive me?

"Well well…you're awake," announced Shikamaru as he stood at the room's entrance.

"Shikamaru!"

Shikamaru walked over and sat at the edge of Naruto's bed.

"How is everyone," started Naruto.

"Everybody is going to heal just fine," replied Shikamaru.

"So…everyone's safe. That's good…"

Shikamaru paused.

"And Sasuke…Yeah…he got away…"

There was a long moment of silence. Then the door opened and Sakura and Tsunade show up at the door. They entered and shut the door behind them. Sakura appeared to be somewhat nervous.

Sakura-chan!

She spoke first, "Naruto…"

Sakura-chan, I'm sorry.

Naruto didn't speak back. He couldn't even look her in the eyes. All he could do was stare down silently. Shikamaru shot him a stare as if telling him to say something back.

If only I were stronger.

Tsunade was the one to break the silence. Her voice was kind. "I heard that you were severely wounded. But you're fine now."

After a pause Naruto spoke up while still looking down. "I'm…sorry…Sakura-chan."

"Why are you apologizing," Sakura said while giving one of her smiles she had gotten so good at faking?

…I let you down.

She walked over to the window on the other side of the wall and drew open the curtains and leaned against the window still. "You look really weird! You're just like a mummy. Aren't you?"

"I'm…sorry…I," Naruto said faintly.

"Listen, the weather is very good today. I opened the curtains, now…"

"Sakura-chan! I…I'll definitely keep my promise. I said that was…a lifelong promise."

"It's alright. Naruto…"

Shikamaru interrupted, "Sakura! He's trying to…"

"Like I said," Naruto stated, "I won't go back on my word! Because that's my Ninja Way…"

The room grew silent. Naruto let out a giggle.

"Naruto," Sakura said faintly.

She began walking towards the door. She stopped in the doorway. "I'm sorry Naruto…I had to make you wait a while."

Naruto had a surprised look on his face.

"Next time, we'll do it together!"

Sakura walked out of the room

"Come Shikamaru, let him rest," said Tsunade.

"Later Naruto," announced as they left.

Naruto lay in his bed contemplating his past, present, and future. He remembered back when he and Jiraiya went out on training and to look for Tsunade. How Jiraiya tried to teach him Rasengan Jutsu.

I was so weak then. I couldn't even form a complete Rasengan sphere. If it wasn't for my bet with Tsunade I probably wouldn't have been able to do it.

Jiraiya was leaned against a building. Tsunade and Naruto were on opposite ends of the deserted street ready to fight.

"Hey…kid," Tsunade said, "I'll ask you one question before you faint. Why do you get excited when you hear the word 'Hokage'?"

"Unlike you…I really want to become Hokage, and I will," Naruto replied, "Because Hokage is my dream!"

Naruto focused his Chakra into his right hand, formed his best Rasengan, and charged. But it was over before it even began. She deflected his attack with one finger and sent him down onto the ground. Naruto was down but not out. He sat up. The only thing really hurt was his pride. After his head stopped spinning he could make out what Tsunade was saying.

"…to teach him something he cannot do. And for him to believe you are his master. It's better if he doesn't think that way so silly kids won't joke about their foolish dreams of 'Becoming Hokage.'"

"It's not a joke," Naruto yelled while standing up, "You idiot! All I need is three days and I can master that technique…just you watch!"

"Heh…strong words…brat…a man's word should never be taken back."

"Huh? I won't take my words back…That is my Ninja Way."

"Well then let's bet on it."

"…Bet?"

"I'll give you one week. If you can master that Jutsu then I will acknowledge you can become a Hokage." She touched a pendent hanging from her neck. "I'll even give you this necklace."

I trained so hard for three days that near the end I passed out with exhaustion. And when I fought Kabuto I was able to form a complete Rasengan. And in the end Tsunade acknowledged my dream.

There was a loud thud outside. Naruto shot up and looked at his window. Jiraiya was sitting in his window. He had summoned a toad to use as a chariot.

"Perverted-Sennin!"

"Hey…I came to talk to you about an important matter. From now on, you're officially my apprentice. I will train you one-on-one for three years."

"Well if that's the case. Let's go after Sasuke! Orochimaru might have killed him!"

"Forget about Sasuke. Sasuke himself decided to go to Orochimaru. No matter what you do, he won't change. From having seen many Shinobi, I understand. Sasuke's the same type as Orochimaru. Don't think about bringing him back. That's the kind of thinking that a fool would do!"

How can he say this? Sasuke and I may not always get along. But were still fiends.

"He may be nothing to you but he's a friend to me!"

"Do friends injure their companions? Look at your current condition! If you go after Sasuke, training will be out of the question. Forget about Sasuke. Sooner or later you must face your fate. Forget him; remove him from your mind. It's not only Jutsu and power. As Shinobi's, we must make sure that we always have proper judgment and make good decisions. If you want to live as a Shinobi, you must be wise. If you're a fool the it will be a world full of pain that's reality."

Naruto paused for a seconded before responding. "I understand. If that's what it means to be wise then I'd be happier living as a fool! I'll invent cooler Jutsu and definitely get Sasuke back! And then I'll beat Akatsuki!"

"If you work alone the most you can do is think up perverted Ninjutsu."

Jiraiya jumped from the window to the top of his summoned toad.

"A fool is a fool. But only a moron would do something like that. When you leave the hospital, get ready, you big fool. See you."

"Alright!"

And with that Jiraiya left. Naruto sat back down in his bed.

Sorry Sakura-Chan. I'm going to leave you for a little while. But only so I can become stronger. I'll return soon enough. And then we can search for Sasuke. Together!

About a week later Naruto left the hospital to join Jiraiya for three years of training. Iruka and Naruto met at the Ichiraku Ramen for lunch. They talked over a bowl of ramen.

"So, you're going on a long trip then," said Iruka?

Naruto took another bite before replying. "Yeah!"

Just then Jiraiya came to let Naruto know it was time for them to leave.

"Let's get going Naruto!"

"Right! I'm off, Iruka-Sensei! The ramen's my present for my success!"

He and Jiraiya headed off for their long journey. They didn't talk much. But it gave Naruto time to think.

You just watch me Jiraiya. I'm going to become stronger. I'll find Sasuke and keep my promise to Sakura-Chan. I'm going to train hard so I can be strong enough to defeat Akatsuki. And then everyone will come to recognize me.

As they got near the entrance to the village Naruto looked up at the Hokage rock formation. He glanced up and pointed his hand at the Forth and made a fist.

"Watch me!"

I'm going to become stronger than you yet someday. Because; Hokage is my dream.

Next Chapter: Odium Dreamer

Sasuke betrays the Leaf, revenge, and the path to the dark side. Find out on the next installment of Legend of the Dreamer!