A/N: Well, there's the second chapter. Sorry if I made you wait.

Naruto couldn't tell how long he has been falling. He started to doubt whether he reaches the bottom at all. The pace at which he was going down was slow – more like he was actually drowning. Everything around him was pinch black. The air felt viscid, inhaling it was making his body numb. Somehow it felt really soothing, and eventually Naruto gave in, letting his mind drift into unconsciousness.

When he came to, it took him a while to realize that he wasn't falling anymore. Lying in the supposedly non-existent bottom was very comfy. 'Is it grass?' Naruto pried his eyes open. Greeted by bright sunlight, he hissed and turned to his side, looking around. He found himself in the grass field. Alone.

"Shit," Naruto cursed, jumping to his feet.

In front him – only grass. He turned around – three old logs, which seemed strangely familiar. A bit farther to the side was a river and the rest of the view was blocked by the forest. Apart from these the place was completely empty. No trace of Sasuke being brought here with him.

"Sasuke!" he shouted just in case his eyes were deceiving him. Despite Naruto's wish, the Raven didn't show up. Finally convinced, Naruto called out to another being which was bound to answer him.

"Kyuubi, where is Sasuke?"

'He's not with us' the voice growled in Naruto's head.

"Thanks, I can tell that much!"

'You do? I'm surprised' the demon chuckled.

"Oh, would you just stop it. Where is Sasuke?" Naruto raised his voice again, not caring to receive suspicious glances as from the outside it looked like he was arguing with himself. Not like anyone was close enough to hear him though.

'Sorry, but I don't feel like telling you, Kit'

"Wha… Why?"

'You won't like the answer'

"No, you don't mean that Sasuke is…"

'Dead' the demon-fox deadpanned, leaving his next thought inaudible to Naruto. 'There is still the slight chance, but… no, I better won't let you cling to a delusion'

Naruto stilled for a moment, a look of horror marred his face. And then he just dropped down on his knees, letting the tears freely flow from his reddening eyes. 'No, that can't be true'

"Sasuke" Naruto sobbed, fisting the grass beside him. 'After promising that everything will be alright, I failed you'

'What's wrong with me? Can't even keep a single promise…' Naruto's breath quickened as more dismal thoughts flooded his mind. 'What am I supposed to do now? I don't want to be alone… Sasuke… '

'Listen, Kit' the demon began, but his words didn't seem to reach Naruto.

The Kyuubi, being fed up with the crying blond, who at the moment was nearly hyper violating, sent a powerful surge of chakra through Naruto's body to gain his attention. That did work as the boy gradually calmed down and felt his stomach warily.

'You still can make everything right, Kit'

'How?' Naruto asked disbelievingly, not actually uttering the word, but in his mind.

'That man, Uchiha Itachi, has given you a second chance. With his sharingan technique and the better part of my chakra he was able to send us to the past. I can't feel his presence inside you anymore, though'

'All this stuff sounds crazy'

'Like you didn't fight with Uchiha Madara and witness with your own eyes his space-time migration technique '

'So what? I didn't expect other Uchihas to know it.' Naruto complained. Even more vexed, knowing that Sasuke might have also been able to use such a technique if Kyuubi aided him with chakra.

'So how far back did we travel?' Naruto inquired.

'Five years or so'

'This much' Naruto replied absentmindedly. His gaze was turned to the logs, which he has finally recognized. That was team 7's training ground, the place where his life as a ninja began.

'In this time team 7 is still together right? They probably didn't even take the chuunin exam yet'

Naruto stood up and headed for the village.

'What are you planning to do?'

'I just want to see them once again' Naruto smiled. 'Besides there's something I want to say to my younger self'

'You can't expose yourself, you know. Your appearance might raise suspicion, which will be dangerous for both of us. I'm still quite exhausted and won't be able to help.'

'Well, I'll figure something out' Naruto stopped, making some hand signs. 'How about this?'

The cloud of smoke covered Naruto for a moment and, when it dispersed, Naruto was no longer himself. He didn't change much, but now he had no whisker marks, his hair was dark and less spiky, eyes gained a shade of green. His tattered clothes also were altered. Now he was simply dressed in black pants and a T-shirt.

"Better right?" Naruto voiced, looking himself over. "Let's go then"

TBC

Thanks for the reviews and adding this story to your favourites!

tray125, thanks. I'll do my best to make this story worth while.

Crystalzap, thanks for your remarks. P.S. I really love your story 'An Unexpected Beginning'. I guess, it was one of the stories that inspired me to write a time-travel fic.