Disclaimer: I own nothing of this story but the plot, everything else belongs to their rightful owners.
Summary: When a mission goes horribly wrong, Naruto will give up everything to bring back the people most precious to him. But keeping this secret won't be easy when Konoha starts to wonder why he and his team never returned.
A/N: I'm here with yet another new story. Hope you all enjoy reading.
New Beginnings
Prologue
The forest was quiet except for the sound of labored breathing. The raspy breaths came form tired lungs; the lungs couldn't seem to pull enough oxygen into the battered body on their own. They couldn't seem to move it to the heart or lungs properly. They were just too tired; his whole body was just too damn tired to move. Pale eyes swept over their surroundings once again, before allowing themselves to close. He was hardly aware of the approach of familiar chakra.
Blue eyes, bright with worry, swept the body of their fallen comrade. Being careful of his friends injuries, Naruto knelt by Neji's side. He gently rolled the long haired male over to get a better look at his injuries. Blue eyes widened as they took in the full extent of his friends' injuries. The large hole in his side constantly poured out crimson blood, coating Naruto's hands and clothes instantly.
Tears coursed down Naruto's cheeks as he stood there by his friends' graves. He had lost all three of them; Neji, Shino, and Shikamaru. There was nothing he could have done. He had arrived too late to save them, and now there was no way he could make it up to them.
"You really wish to make it up to them that badly?" A frail voice inquired curiously.
Naruto spun around and stared at the petite figure standing behind him. Naruto frowned. "What do you want, baa-chan?" He asked, addressing the elderly lady.
The old woman just smiled and walked up to Naruto. She raised a boney hand and placed it tenderly on Naruto's cheek. "Relax child, allow this old woman to help you. I may be old, but I still know a few tricks from my days of a ninja."
"What can you do?"
"I can give your friends a new beginning, if you are willing, but it comes with a price."
"What kind of price?"
"First; I can only do this once a year. And second; they will no be who you remember them."
"What do you mean?"
"In order for me to do this, you need to be willing to be everything for them; mother and father. Are you willing to pay this price?"
Naruto looked again at the graves of his three best friends and then he once again looked at the old woman, "What do you need me to do?" he asked his voice full of determination.
The old ninja smiled and replied, "Here's what we need to do…"