Sapphire09: Here is the sequel for the story Missing. My warning is probably some grammar errors and OOC-ness.
DISCLAIMER : Naruto is owned by Masashi Kishimoto and the song New Divide is owned by Linkin Park.
~|Distance|~
by Sapphire09
Deep inside a dark chamber lays a figure with spiky blonde hair and whiskered cheeks. The sound of the rain pounding outside the chamber became a lullaby to his ears. The sound of footsteps then can be heard from the hallway outside the room. Before long, the door opened and another figure can be seen standing near the door.
"Naruto, the leader is calling for you," the figure said. The blonde's eyes then opened slightly, to show a pair of sky blue eyes. However, the eyes that once brilliant now are dull without life. Slowly, Naruto gets up and then began to stand on his two feet.
"Tell him I'll be there soon. I'll go change," he replied silently, but enough for the other person to hear clearly. The other person then nodded and turned to the hallway and closes the door, letting the darkness to engulf the room once more.
I remember black skies
And lightning all around me
He turned to his window to see the dark, stormy skies.
I remembered each flash
As time began to burn
Flashes of lightning can be seen now and then, illuminates the room every time they flashed. He can also hear the thunder rumbling in between the pounding rain.
Like a startling sign
The feint had finally found me
He turned and grabbed a black robe with the red cloud pattern on it. He stares at the robe before putting it on. He then opened the door and walks through the slightly lit hallway and start walking to the leader's room, located at the top floor of the tower.
And your voice was all I heard
That I get what I deserve
Soon, he arrived at the leader's room and he knocks three times before he went in. There, straight ahead of him, right behind the desk, sat the Leader of Akatsuki, that is also known as the ruler of Amegakure.
So give me reason
To prove me wrong
To wash this memory clean
"You called, Uncle?" Naruto asked indifferently. Pein smirked in satisfaction before he leans back to his chair. "Yes, I did, Naruto. It has been 2 years since you joined this organization. Have you… made yourself comfortable here, my dear nephew?" he asked. Naruto nodded.
Let the thoughts cross
The distance in your eyes
"Yes, Uncle. In fact…," he trailed off. His mind drifted to his days in Konoha years ago. The days when he felt emptiness and always looking for acknowledgement. "…I felt more comfortable here than over there."
Give me reason
To fill this hole
"Have you ever thought about your…'friends' from Konoha in your stay here?" Pein asked with indifferent tone, yet there's a hint of honest curiosity in it.
Ignite the space between
Naruto didn't reply soon. Pein thought he won't answer, but then he parted his lips slightly and then he replied.
Let it be enough to reach the truth and lies
Across this new divide
"No, I haven't."
They walk through the busy street of Konoha, under the bright blue sky and the shining sun. Constant greetings were said to them as they passed by through the stores and stalls. It was a perfect day.
There is nothing inside
The memories left abandoned
Yet, it truly clashed with the way they felt inside. The perfection of the day makes them see even more clearly the imperfection of them. Their eyes constantly downcast, yet they tried to hide their feeling of emptiness. The loss they had.
There was nowhere to hide
The ashes fell like snow
They then reached the red tower that has the kanji for 'fire' on it. They went inside, and soon they reached the office where a blonde-haired woman with honey-colored eyes sat behind the desk across them. "You finally come, Team Kakashi…," she said as he carefully scanning every one of them. Three of them had the same expression. Indifference, yet bitterness and hidden regret can be seen deep in their eyes. She then starts explaining the mission.
And the ground caved in
Between where we were standing
"… I believe you understand what your mission is. Now, go!" she ordered. They then disappeared in an instant, in three swirls of leaves. "I hope they'll succeed this time…," she sighed.
And your voice was all I heard
"Naruto has been gone far too long for Kakashi's team to hold on…," she muttered. Her eyes then saddened.
That I get what I deserve
"Didn't you realize that you hurt us too, gaki…?Or… you do intended to do it to punish us?"
Two figures can be seen jumping from one tree to another. Both of them are wearing the similar black cloak with red cloud patterns. They halted abruptly as a kunai suddenly appeared and exploded as soon as it reached the soil. The figures managed to evade the explosion.
So give me reason
Three figures leapt down to where the two figures are standing and surround them. The two figures whose faces are hidden beneath the straw hats they wore merely glanced around them. "Konoha nin," one of them said indifferently. Three of them wore jounin vest.
To prove me wrong
One of their ambusher growled silently. His black eyes turned red as his black hair swayed by the wind. Another one with gray hair prepared a kunai on his hand and already in a stance. The only girl in the group with pink hair looks ready to attack.
To wash this memory clean
"Oh! Isn't that your 'lil bro, Itachi?" the larger figure asked the shorter one. "Well, it seems we met again, aren't we? When is our last encounter? Hmm…," he said again as he remove his hat, along with the other one. The group tensed at that gesture. After their hats are removed, they now know who they are.
Let the thoughts cross
"Aha! I remember! It was two years ago, when we were supposed to look for the Kyuubi's vessel in Konoha! Such failure…," the blue-skinned shark-like man said as he shows his toothy grin and shakes his head. Sasuke gritted his teeth even more. "Where's Naruto?" Sakura asked in silent anger.
The distance in your mind
"We have no responsibilities to answer you," Itachi said indifferently. "You were the reason he left in the first place, anyway." Kakashi's grip on the kunai hardens then. "Tell us or we'll use force on you," he said as he forced himself to stay calm.
Across this new divide
"And what right do you have to force us?" Kisame asked as he looks down on them. "You were the one that left him."
"URUSAI!!" Sasuke yelled as he charged on them, or more specifically, Itachi. However, he easily dodged the attack. Sakura and Kakashi also charged to them, but they dodged it too. Both of them jumped back and staring them straight.
"You know as well—no, perhaps even better than we do, that he only wanted two things in his life. You were so close in giving those things, yet then you began taking him for granted," Kisame said. "Acknowledgement from his friends and people that he can see as a family, that's all he ever asked for in his life."
"It's pretty ironic that he got those two things from us, criminals, instead from you, those whose supposed to be his friends," Itachi said in monotone.
And every loss
"You, who said to yourself that you were his friends and he was your friend…"
And every lie
"What did you ever done for him? Have you ever set aside your ego to actually see him?" Itachi said again. Sasuke's shoulders are trembling then. "URUSAI!! We don't want to hear it from you!" he raged. Kakashi's eyes are averted, but still alert of them. His eyes clearly showed his shame. Sakura's eyes also held a deep, yet hidden, sadness.
And every truth that you deny
"He already did everything for you, to the point that he almost lost his own life. Yet, you left him alone at the end, especially when he needed you the most," he continued. "Even we aren't that selfish."
And each regret
"Urusai, urusai, URUSAI!!" Sasuke yelled again and charged. Again, Itachi dodged it. Kisame then jumped back to where Itachi is.
And each divide
"Heh. Truth hurts, isn't it?" Kisame mocked. "If only you gave him more credit that he deserves, this would never happen. Even a little acknowledgment would help."
Are some mistakes you pray to hide
"What do you know…," Sakura muttered. "What do you know about him?" she said through clenched teeth. She was angry, because she knew it was all true. But, she's angrier that those criminals, the one that supposed to be his enemies, knows more about him than them, his friends.
And your voice was all I heard
"He was easy to read, but you simply never notice it because you're too busy with your own business," Kisame said. He then smirked. "I need to say this, though. It seems you're pretty persistent and too stubborn, or perhaps you already too desperate to think straight that you even face us head on, with only three people." Kisame then hold his Samehada in front of him, ready to attack.
But I get what I deserve
The three-man team then got into a defensive stance. Suddenly, they hear a very familiar voice ringing in the air.
So give me reason
"How much longer you'll make me wait?" the voice said. It seems that the voice even startled the Akatsuki team. The one that seems most unaffected is Itachi, but Sasuke saw him flinched a little. They then snapped their heads to the source of the voice, while Sakura, Kakashi and Sasuke, hesitantly glanced to the source.
To prove me wrong
There, up on the tree branch, stands a figure with the same Akatsuki robe that their foes are wearing. The figure has the features that they know all too well. Whisker marks, spiky blonde hair, blue eyes….
To wash this memory clean
"Naruto-kun, what are you doing here?" Itachi said indifferently. Naruto stared down from where he stands. The blue eyes he held aren't the same with the one they remembered. The one they remembered are brighter.
Let the thoughts cross
The distance in your eyes
"Hakufu was wondering why it took you so long to finish the mission. He sent me to see your condition," his dull blue eyes then glanced to the team that he used to be with. "I see you met some troublesome obstacle."
Give me reason
"How long you've waited?" Itachi asked. "Since Kisame said 'Isn't that your 'lil bro, Itachi?'" he quoted indifferently. Itachi merely smirked.
To fill this hole
"Naru—!" Sakura exclaimed after she gotten over her surprise, but then Naruto continue speaking and disregard them, as if they were merely another ninja from another village.
Connect the space between
"It's better for you to go back soon. You know as well as I do that hakufu is bad at waiting," he said before he turns and about to leave. "Ch-ch-chotto matte!" Sakura called to him.
Let it be enough to reach the truth and lies
Naruto merely glanced back and stared at them indifferently before he disappears into the thin air. "Naruto!!"
Across this new divide
"Then, we'll also take our leave," Itachi said as he and Kisame also disappeared. Sasuke gritted his teeth in frustration. They have been so close, so close in taking Naruto back.
Across this new divide
"This is bad. Not even Pakkun can trace them anymore. They completely hid their presence," Kakashi said after he summoned Pakkun.
"But, how can that be? They only left very recently. There must be something left!" Sakura exclaimed in disbelief. "There's supposed to be something left. But, there's nothing," Kakashi said.
Across this new divide
"DAMN IT!!" Sasuke punched the nearby tree and growled in frustration. They were so close! SO CLOSE!!
Yet, why is it seems that he's still too far away?
Glossary:
Gaki – kid
Urusai – shut up
Hakufu – parent's younger brother, uncle
Chotto matte – wait a minute
Sapphire09: Well… that's the sequel! Sorry if it's random or the song didn't really fit well…
Now that I think about it.... It seems in this story Naruto and Sasuke switch places.... Neruto left and Sasuke is the one that went looking for him....
Anyway, please tell me what you think!! Constructive criticism is absolutely allowed!
Flames will be used to roast marshmallows