DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO OR ANY OTHER ANIME THAT MAY BE MENTION AS THE STORY PROGRESSES. THANK YOU.*bow*

Prologue

Konohagakure no Sato had proven itself to be the strongest of all ninja villages in all five countries. The Final Shinobi War had come and gone and yet the village hidden in the leaves had remained as much in tact as its shinobis could manage. And in the middle of the whole recuperation, it's Rokudaime Hokage watched as his precious people pick up pieces of their lives and slowly rebuild what the war had destroyed.

Namikaze-Uzumaki Naruto, Konoha's Rokudaime moved through the rubble, looking around to see if there was anything he could salvage and give to the survivors or his shinobis. Right by his side was his personal bodyguard and best friend, Uchiha Sasuke. The teme, in Naruto's words, had finally found out the whole truth and sought after Itachi to hear what Naruto himself had already shared. Both Uchihas returned to Naruto's side and had fought with him against the Akatsuki, Pein, and Madara.

Nara Shikamaru, Naruto's General Tactician, Rock Lee, his Ground Force Captain, and Hyuuga Neji, his Advisor, were right by his side as he helped the people to receive medical attention.

"It's over." Rock Lee said as took a deep breath.

They had lost Yugito, Yugao, Temari, Shizune, Sai, Kiba, Akamaru, Chouji, Ino, and Hinata when they fought Pein and the Akatsuki. Then they lost Kankuro, Killer Bee, Jiraiya, Tsunade, Sakura, Asuma, Shikaku, Tsume, Shibi, Inoichi, and Chouza when they battled Madara. There were more names of shinobis that gave their lives for the village like Iruka, Gai, Kakashi, Ebisu, and even Kotetsu and Izumo, the two Chuunin gate guards (dubbed as 'the forever chuunin duo'), who will be carved on the Memorial Stone with the rest of those who gave their lives for Konoha since it had been built.

After hours of working side by side with the remaining shinobis, Naruto sat in front of his table while Shikamaru, Sasuke, Itachi, Neji, and Lee were spread around the office, finding a corner for them to rest. Well, everyone but Sasuke really who was by Naruto's side ever since Naruto had managed to dragged the teme back to Konoha.

Even before Naruto became the Rokudaime, Sasuke had vowed to stay by Naruto's side and protect him as payment for everything Naruto had done for him. Even if Naruto told him that it wasn't necessary, Sasuke did it anyway. He had become an ANBU captain like Itachi. The older Uchiha had returned to his ANBU captain position as well and Naruto was glad that both Uchihas had been there to rebuild their village with him.

Gaara had also helped Naruto as well as Mei Terumi who had aided Konoha when he had asked for her help. They all had suffered so much lost but the end made them all realize that they had fought for a better future.

"Now that it's all over, we can start by rebuilding as much of the village as we can. We'll start with the walls. We shall have to erect thicker and higher walls to surround the village. I know that the threat has been dealt with but who knows what the future may bring. Better we prepare for it now than regret that we didn't do it later on." Naruto said as he turned to the group who nodded in agreement.

The Naruto before them was calmer, more patient, wiser, and yet still gentle and understanding. He had been made Hokage a few months before Tsunade had died. She had told him that Konoha was better off led by someone who had its best interest at heart from the day he became genin. The Rookie Twelve, or at least, what was left of them, cheered for their comrade who from the age of eleven, swore to be Konoha's Hokage. And at the age of twenty-three, he had achieved his goal.

"For now, we help the whole village rebuilt their lives as we all do the same. We had suffered a great lose but those we have lost now will forever be remembered as they had been part of the fight that had given Konoha its chance for a better future." Naruto told them as they all had stood up and bowed.

"Hai, Rokudaime-sama." They all said and he smiled gently back at them.

Before Naruto could even speak once more, his office doors burst open and three familiar faces ran inside.

"Hokage-sama! We found something beneath the Hokage Tower as we did our rounds to secure the building! You have to come quickly!" Konohamaru all but yelled frantically as Udon and Moegi nodded rather worriedly as the Sandaime's grandson.

"Yes Hokage-sama! Three floors down pass the cellar that was used as an archive for files since the building archives had burned down from the Akatsuki attack." Udon gave directions as he had a feeling that they were not going to be joining the Hokage back down there. Not that he minded. He didn't like the feeling of being trapped more than twenty feet below ground.

Naruto nodded and stood up with the rest right behind him. He stopped by the door and turned to the three chuunins with a smile.

"Thank you for your hard work. I know you three are tired from your rounds all over the village. Go to the resting room on top of the tower and get some well-deserved sleep. I will not take no for an answer." Naruto told them quickly as they were about to protest.

Udon sighed as he knew he had been right. But again, he was glad that they weren't going back down there.

Lee, Neji, and Shikamaru chuckled as the three nodded and left to get some sleep as they were ordered too. Naruto turned back to them and nodded. They all made their way down to the cellar archive and saw the stairs that the chuunins must have used. Itachi and Lee went down ahead before Naruto followed with Sasuke by his side and Shikamaru bringing up the rear.

When they had arrived to the very bottom, Naruto pushed open the door and they all went inside after Itachi had said that no one else was there. They all inspected the area that had nothing but torches on all corners of the room. Naruto then saw something shimmer at the very back. He made his way there and saw that there was a mirror suspended from the ground. It was attached to the wall which Lee confirmed was either glued or cemented to the wall.

"I wonder why a mirror is kept here. And I don't think no one has been here in a while. The webs we passed by were merely moved and I'm sure it was because of Konohamaru and his team when they came down here." Naruto said as he slowly raised his hand and touched the mirror with his palm.

To the group's utter shock, the surface of the mirror rippled and Sasuke instantly snatched Naruto's hand back away from the surface. However, the ripple didn't stop; it only got worse as a watery hand reached out and grabbed Naruto who was grabbed by Sasuke. Itachi grabbed his brother on instinct as well as Lee who grabbed Itachi and both Shikamaru and Neji grabbed Lee to pull back Naruto and Sasuke who was half way into the mirror back out.

No matter how much they tried, they all got pulled into the mirror. And the last thing they saw was the torch lit room before blackness overcame each and every one of them.