Krystalanimeheart- Back with the next chapter! I hope I didn't keep you guys waiting! I tried my best to update soon, but you know I have a life too! But of course I promised to update weekly, or when I have the feel to write! It all depends.

In Desperate Times

Chapter 2

-Mindscape-

Naruto's eyes slowly fluttered open, taking in the world around him. His head hurt. A throbbing pain coursed through it, a headache. His eyes wandered upward taking in the light blue sky. Around him were trees, each different from the next. Each carved like a bookshelf, books filled the spaces. Something was brushing against his skin, he looked down, orange fur. His eyes trailed up, to lock with bloody red ones.

"Kurama..." Naruto's voice was tender, his partner was still with him.

"You're still here...thank Kami." Naruto then fell back, landing again in the warm fur.

"No, I'm just a figure of your imagination. I'm sealed inside you, if you haven't forgotten." Kurama said sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

"I-I just thought that the plan didn't work...that you were yanked out of me and well haha...I'm dead." Naruto mumbled,

"No, you're fine. You aren't dead yet." Kurama replied,

"But I have no idea where we are." He continued,

"Wait! What do you mean that 'you have no idea where we are'!" Naruto shot up, his relaxed mood changing into a confused one.

"Well, before you awoke I had taken over. To make sure we were fine, not to mention the Uchiha as well." Naruto's face paled, now remembering that Sasuke was with him. Where ever they are.

"I came across a shinobi. To tell the truth, I was very disoriented at the time and attacked. No asking questions, just attacking. It didn't matter, I had to protect the both of us. Yet my actions were different, like how they were before I was sealed inside you. To much anger. I still have it but of course with your speech of us being partners I've changed...I think I know what has happened." Kurama looked down, staring deeply at his claws.

"Naruto...I think we might just be in the past." Naruto's eyes still stared at Kurama, his eyes widening. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to say next.

Sasuke's eyes shot open, he wasn't sure where he was. Sasuke's left hand went to his left eye, covering it. He was trying to remember what happened. The memories painfully came back:the forest, the strange shinobi, and Naruto.

'Naruto...where is he?' Sasuke wondered 'I need to find him.' His right hand hitting against something in his rush, his eye flew down. Now seeing the man he worried about, right next to him.

Naruto still had the bags under his eyes as Sasuke looked, but the wounds he had before were gone. Sasuke now noticed something new, there were seals on Naruto's body, strong ones. Sasuke's eyes narrowed, now thinking

'Where am I?' The room the boy's were in, was large enough for a full size bed and a small table to hold and set of 4 chairs with it. Sasuke's eyes then glanced at his arms, on each on his arms were seals. Sasuke could sense it now, how limited his chakra was, just enough to keep him alive. Sasuke grabbed his hair, and grumbled

"What the hell, how I'm I going to get out of this one? These seals...I won't be able to break them." Sasuke felt something, or someone shuffle in the bed, he peer downward. Naruto had now grabbed one of the pillows, and was now drooling. He was sleeping rather peacefully in a place he didn't know.

It made Sasuke angry for some strange reason, his eye twitched. He raised his hand in order to smack Naruto on the head, but caught himself. He was back to his old habits. If it was when the both of them were young, Sasuke would had gladly hit him and not care. However, now he was different, he didn't want to care about the blond. Yet the other still had an effect on him and he hated it. Sasuke proceeded to place his hand down, and turn away, staring at the wall.

Naruto moaned as he opened his eyes, he could tell that he wasn't home by how comfortable the bed was. He groaned and pushed his head into the pillow, but stopped as he remembered the conversation he just had. Naruto slowly rose himself from the bed, rubbing his eyes. Gathering himself, he peers down at his arms. Black ink was smeared onto his tan skin, lines connecting to create multiple symbols, repressing his powers. Naruto could tell that they were to seal most of Kurama's chakra.

Naruto continued to stare at the seals before he could finally conclude that only the person who placed the seal would be able to remove it. He sighed, he couldn't think of any person that could possibly be able to make a seal like the one he had. Naruto now glanced around the room, his eyes landing onto a figures' back.

"Sasuke." Naruto breath out, gaining the others' attention. Sasuke turned, his eyes narrowing, glaring at him. Sasuke remained silent, just using his eyes to speak for him.

Naruto noticed the look in his eye, he didn't want to be there with him. He wanted to leave, Sasuke didn't want to even spare air talking to him. Naruto didn't care though, he opened his mouth to finally talk to him in person, just the two of them, but he didn't get the chance to.

Three masked figures appeared in front of the two. Each wearing a different mask, all of them having red and black markings designing them. Two of the three masked men forcefully grabbed Naruto by the arms. One of them with a bird mask the other with a cat. The last one, (who had a bear animal mask) stood in front of Naruto.

"The Hokage has demanded to speak with you. Now is the time to speak with him, the questions and answers he receives will decide your fate." Bear spoke, his voice having a condescending tune to it.

"Huh?" Naruto blurted out, disappearing seconds later. Leaving the black-haired in the room alone. Sasuke had no emotion on his face, he huffed, he was glad Naruto was finally gone.

Minato's day just went from bad, to worse, to horrible. He hated it, the information he had just got had confirmed his suspicions from before. Minato had to began to rub his hands against his chin. How was he suppose to deal with this? He wasn't going to kill the two men he had found before for no reason.

'There must have been a reason,' Minato thought,

'Also the boy with the Kyuubi like Kushina...How did he get that power? That chakra is not fake...Kushina could even feel it."

FLASHBACK

Minato ruffled his hair he had just gotten back from finding the men. The other blond was worrying him the most, the power he had couldn't had been the real thing. It had to be fake, there's no way that he could have the power, the only Jinchuurik he knew that could truly contain the beast was Kushina, his wife. Yet Minato had to confirm. Minato rose his hand and a man appeared in front of him, he wore a black outfit and a dog mask.

"I need you to go get Kushina, I have to speak with her. Now." The ANBU male nodded, and was gone, the next time Minato had blinked Kushina was now in front of him. A bowl of ramen he loved in her hand, and a pair chopstick in the other. Minato proceeded to tell the ANBU to go, he bowed and left.

"Minato? What happened? I was just about to eat!" She yelled annoyed, she was hungry, she wanted to eat.

"Haha it's nice to see you too Kushina. I'm sorry." He apologized, Minato knew how Kushina was when she was hungry, but he needed to find out if the two chakra's are in-deed the same.

"Did you feel anything weird with the kyuubi's chakra today?" Minato asked, hoping that the answer would be a no.

Kushina froze, her eyes widening as her previously annoyed face changed into a surprise one. Kushina's shoulders stiffened, her hands becoming slightly pale from how hard she was gripping the bowl.

"Why do you ask?" She questioned, her voice cracking.

"So something did happen." Minato concluded,

"Tell me, please Kushina." Kushina looked down, the grip on the bowl and chopsticks only tightening.

"He started to act up...but he wasn't his usual self. I tried to talk to him, he ignored me of course. Growling and telling me to get out. I didn't want to, but he forced me out, but I could tell. He's looking for something, or someone." Kushina finished.

'It must be connected to the male I met today.' Minato thought, he didn't want to tell Kushina just yet. It might freak her out even more than now, knowing that there are two Kyuubi's.

"Ok Kushina, thanks for telling me. But I'm going to be home late today." Minato finally said.

Kushina's eyes twitched, a dark aura surrounding her, her hair covering her eyes. Minato's faced paled he had expected the reaction, it still scared him every time though. Minato had promised her that he would be home today, so they can both have some time together. However due to today's events he couldn't. He felt bad of course, and not keeping a promise with Kushina is like signing up for a death sentence., He had to rely on his skills and her forgivingness to save him today. In a yellow flash he was gone, just hearing his name being angrily called behind him,

"MINATO!"

END OF FLASHBACK

Minato exhaled, his office was illuminated by a light from the table and one in the far corner. It was late, probably around nine thirty. The stacks of papers were no longer there, he had finished signing them, so he could get it out of the way, making his desk a lot neater. He loathed when anything was unorganized in this room. Earlier he had also sent out one of Konoha's fastest hawks to find his Sensei. He needed him to get here as fast as he could, if anything would happen to the village, because of the two beasts that were here. Minato also couldn't have any word of this get out either, chaos would erupt if he did.

Minato ruffled his blond locks, all this action today was going to be the end of him. He had also alert the Sandaime about what had happen earlier, The Third had told him he would come tomorrow in order to help him. This type of situation had never happened before, and of course Minato was still pretty new at being Hokage. Minato looked up, sensing a presence in front of him. His attitude changing immediately, or as Kushina had called it: 'Hokage Mode'.

A group of 3 ANBU stood there, the blond from before as well. Minato had noticed that his injuries were now gone.

'It must had been the Kyuubi's doing, there's no way he should be moving. He had just been hit by a rasengan yesterday.' Minato thought, he had just intertwined his hands, placing them in front of him, his eyes narrowing toward the fair-haired boy taking in his features. His looks were too similar to Kushina, the roundness of the face, the shape of the eyes. Not to mention the color of his hair and eyes were uncanny to his own. The young man could easily pass as his son.

Naruto's mind was freaking out. Of course one of the reasons was because well he was in the past. The thing is Naruto didn't know how far back he was in, however seeing the man in front of him just told him just how far back he was in. Naruto's throat clamped up, he wanted to cry, his father was alive and in the flesh in front of him. Naruto was happy, then that also meant that his mom was alive, both of them.

"Kit don't forget that he doesn't know you yet. In his eyes you're a stranger that attacked him." Kurama told him.

"Thanks for ruining the moment." Naruto resisted to roll his eyes,

"Couldn't have let you jump into the hands of your past father."

"Whatever Kurama. But to think...he's alive...I just...I-"

"Kit your going to make yourself over think things now."

"So what's you're name young man?" Minato's voice broke through the conversation between Naruto and the tailed beast.

"Don't tell him your real name, it might-" Kurama didn't even have the time to finish before Naruto had blurted out without thinking,

"Naruto!"

"Damn it Naruto!" The beast had growled, once Naruto was back in his mindscape he was going to get a piece of him.

Minato eyebrows shot up, surprised at how easily the other had told him his name, yet again this 'Naruto' might had been lying. Nevertheless he continued,

"What were you doing before?"

"Uh, I don't remember." Naruto replied blinking, it wasn't a complete lie. He doesn't remember at the moment,

"Were you trying to infiltrate our ranks?"

"No. What gave you that idea?" Minato balled his fists, this was useless.

"This is why." Minato said, he then opened the drawer on his left pulling out a black object and holding it up. It was Naruto's Konoha headband. Naruto's hand flew up to his forehead, he had completely forgotten about it, he tched. Grabbing Minato's attention. That it was true, he was probably a spy.

"So you are a spy." Minato assumed

"No! Wait! I'm not a spy!' Naruto panicked, but Minato heard none of it. If the boy was a spy he was a danger to the village, it didn't matter if he was young. Minato was the Hokage he had to do anything to protect the villages' people.

"Take him to the interrogation room. Also get Inoichi for me." Minato demanded, with that all four disappeared before Naruto could say anymore to convince his to-be father he wasn't a spy.

Naruto opened his eyes once he felt himself on solid ground again, he couldn't ever get used to how fast the ANBU move. Naruto was then pushed down onto a chair, his hand strapped tightly onto the arms. The room he was in was large, behind him was a stone table shape in a half circle. The chair he sat in, had large metal wires that ran from the back to connect with the stone table. Three men were standing on the other side looking curiously at Naruto. He turned his head forward again, other than the devices in the room it was rather plain, nothing special. The two ANBU stood beside him as the last masked man appeared with another person. Naruto took in the mans features.

He had light blonde hair that was tied up in a ponytail, the hair was long, making its way till mid-back until it stopped. The mans face that Naruto now recognized was Ino's father, Inoichi. He was younger, probably in his late twenties. He wore the standard flak jacket over a black outfit, complete with hand-guards, forehead protector and a sleeveless red haori.

He walked up to Naruto and sighed, placing his hands on his hips.

"This is probably going to take all night, tell Minato that" he grumbled toward the ANBU men. All three nodded and were gone.

"I'm sorry it ended up like this young man." Inoichi felt bad for the boy, if he manages to find out any information if he is a spy, he was going to be killed. Of course he should had know when he took up the task, Inoichi thought.

But Naruto wasn't listening. He had his eyes closed, he could hear Kurama's voice.

"We need to place up mental barriers if we don't want him to find out what happens in the future Naruto."

"But Inoichi-san a pro! He was great even when he was young! There's no way I can keep him out of my head for long." Naruto replied,

"Don't forget it's US, not just you. Have you forgotten that the most powerful tailed beast is here with you? If we work together we can keep him out, or push him out in the end."

"How could I have forgotten? We are partners!" Naruto grinned internally,

"We need something strong, a lot of emotions Naruto. Is there anything like that? It could serve as a barrier, I'll reinforce it." The Kyuubi asked,

"Well there is that, but I rather not resurface those memories..." Naruto mumbled,

"I'm sorry kit, but its the best we have for now. You ready? He's going to enter any minute." Kurama stated.

"Yah, I am." With that Naruto placed every emotion into the barrier, once Inoichi had placed his hand on his forehead.

'A barrier like that,' Naruto thought,

"No one will break through." Naruto said aloud right before his world spun, and faded into his mindscape with Kurama.

Sasuke was lying on the bed, hand placed behind his back. He had nothing to do. He exhaled, and turned over. Now on his side. Sasuke had gotten into this situation because of Naruto. He couldn't escape. he hated it, he felt trapped, thats what Sasuke loathed the most.

Sasuke's mind started to wander about how exactly he got to where ever he was with Naruto.

FLASHBACK

Sasuke wiped the sweat that had started to gather on top of his forehead as he finally arrived to the battle field. In front of him an extremely large crater was form, going in a few feet before settling completely into a flat surface. Sasuke's eyes traveled up taking in the large form of the eight tails; Naruto's small figure beside him, his body coated with a golden light.

Sasuke knew that the war was currently going on, lives being lost and bloodshed, but wished to not get involved he had his own revenge to carry out. This war is between the Shinobi Village's , and Madara*, he had no part in it.

Yet Sasuke had thought it would be interesting to watch a bit before he had to go and continue his current mission to meet up with the others. This would probably be the last time he would see Naruto before his last fight with him, taking Naruto's life as well. Sasuke had to measure how powerful Naruto was, he had to in order to get stronger, to beat him. If indeed Naruto was stronger, which is impossible; he had to just get better. By this time the other tailed beast were starting to overpower the two jinchuurik. Sasuke's eyes were now just focused on Naruto. He could see the others' mouth moving and smiling up at the eight tails before stepping forward flashing a bright orange color and forming into something. Once the light had faded, he could see the form of the Kyuubi in front of him. Sasuke's eyes widened, he didn't think that Naruto could truly control the monster, but it seems that the rumors were true.

The battle continued, Naruto was now dodging Madara's attacks. Jumping easily to avoid them. Sasuke analytically tracking his motions, Sasuke's head now turning as the ground began to rumble, seeing a wooden figure crawling its way from the soil. As soon as the figure was half way out Naruto was in front of him, his speed allowing him to meet the other creature in time. Its claw was now descending down, yet it stopped suddenly.. Chains were wrapped around Kyuubi's body, and arms yanking Naruto forward. Naruto reacted quickly digging his tails into the ground to help him from being pulled in, another tail, this time the Hachibi's tail was warped around his midsection providing extract support.

What Sasuke couldn't understand was how Madara came about to get Naruto in that situation. However Sasuke stopped, time seemed to slow down. The scene in front of him reminded him of something. A memory, it was during Team's 7's first C Rank mission that gone wrong. The time that he had jumped in front of Naruto in-order to save him. The feeling he was getting in the pit of his stomach was very similar to how it occurred last time. Naruto in his weakest state, Sasuke's mind panicking, yelling to go and save him. Although Sasuke knew better, he wasn't the same person he was before, he had new goals, different then how they were when he was younger. Naruto wouldn't die now, he would somehow find a way, and get out.

Sasuke shook his head, closing his eyes, getting his thoughts cleared. It didn't matter, the war would be over soon enough, his revenged will be played out soon. His eyes opened again only to see the Kyuubi's form disappearing, the chains gripping Naruto frame, pulling him in. That's went his body reacted without him fully understanding what he was doing. Jumping into the beast just as Naruto was pulled in as well, the large wooden statue clamping its jaw shut.

His younger self had cracked through the surface of what he had put layers, and layers of hate, and anger, just to save Naruto, his former best friend. Sasuke couldn't. Naruto had such a large effect on him. he had thought that now he was over Naruto's whole act of "I"m going to bring Sasuke back to the village." act.

The Sasuke, Naruto knew was dead. No longer to be found, yet there he was. Trying to save Naruto, what a lie. A lie that he could ever bury the bond he made with Naruto. A lie that he could make his former self disappear. Yet somewhere in his heart he was sort of happy that Naruto was still going after him. That at least one person cared about him were no one else had.

END OF FLASHBACK

REVIEW PLEASE

Krystal- Omfg finally it's done! To tell the truth it took me two days to write haha, well I hoped you enjoyed it! Next chapter will be up soon~

*~Sasuke doesn't know that 'Madara' was actually Obito at the time.

TBC