Hello! So I got like more then halfway done with this chapter and it like disappeared. T_T I was sooooo sad because I had liked how it turned out and I'm one of those people who can't remember what they wrote so I had to start all over. Hope you all enjoy this short new chapter!

Jaz: Wow! I'm happy that it was strong enough to make you cry!

Wolf: Thanks for the review. I should have put a saku/sasu bash warning but I didn't. Sorry. :P

Chapter 2: Waking

Darkness enshrouded the blond shinobi. A stark contrast to the light he last remembered. He took in a shuttered breath and wondered if the night before had just been a dream or if he was truly dead. There was only silence as he was offered no sign as to which plane of existence he was on. That was until a soft chirping, a bird's chirp, sounded in his ears. Naruto opened his eyes and pushed himself up before he remembered the stab wounds and cringed expecting the pain. Oddly enough, none came. He let his hand drift up to his chest to rub the flesh over his heart. Shocked, Naruto pulled his fingers away and looked down at the wounds. The blue color did nothing to hid the dark stains which surrounded tares in the fabric of his shirt. He lifted his hand again to his heart and brushed his fingers against the flesh. A small hole, maybe two inches long, was torn into his skin. He swallowed while pushing at the swollen edges, closing the wound over. Hand still in place, he let his head rest against the floor with a sigh.

After a few moments, Naruto pushed himself to his feet. His confusion sparked again as he found himself in his room. The sheets on his bed were neatly made which is strange in itself seeing as how he never made the beds anyway. The desk he had been using for his office was no where to be found and the chairs he had pulled over to it were pushed back against the wall in their original places with plastic slip covers over them. A sheet of dust seemed to cover everything in the room and he noticed that as he took a step, his footprints were missing on the dusty floor. That is when he realized that his feet weren't actually touching the floor. He seemed to be held just above it by an unseen force. He looked toward the door and after taking a hesitant step, made his way over to it. He reached out to grab the doorknob but as his hand grasped for it, it slid right through. He quickly withdrew his hand and looked down at it, clenching and unclenching it. He looked at his curled fist before sending it at the door. As his arm slid through it, and closed his eyes and let the rest of his body phase through as well. He opened his eyes when he reached the hall. Covered furniture lay unused in the dark hallway, covered in dust and cobwebs. The scene left his vision as he made his way down the staircase.

"Arata?" he called, uncertain of the answer he would receive.

There was no answer as he reached the bottom of the stairs. The little boy would usually come charging after his uncle when his name was called. "Arata?" he called again.

No answer.

He glanced around and found that the entrance to the house was in a similar state as the rest. Dark curtains pulled over the windows, blocking the light. Dust covered everything. Plastic slip covers covered the furniture. Naruto turned to the front door, hoping to find answers elsewhere. He closed his eyes again as he passed through the door.

The spray of ruble that was left after the fighting had stopped, disappeared from the lawn. The grass, which he hadn't taken the time to cut, looked as though it had just been cut that morning. The yard and garden, while well maintained, was missing Ino's and Arata's personal touches.

The gate at the front of the estate which had been blown from its hinges and laid tossed some distance away, had been repaired and stood proudly as if nothing had ever happened. In fact the whole house had looked as if nothing had happened. Like he hadn't lived there with Ino or taken Arata in. It looked how the council left it after his parents died. He had never been there. He moved quickly away from the house, not receiving any answers from there, and without hesitation, not even a blink, he moved through the gate and toward town where he knew he would at least get clues as to what was going on.

~ ~ ( ( … ) ) ~ ~

Naruto let his mouth fall open as he looked around the market. Not only was it busy, but the buildings looked as if they hadn't even been touched by war. He walked slowly toward the busy road looking around as he went. Shops that had been closed reopened. Buildings that weren't there the day before appeared. And there seemed to be more people around then there had been.

His attention turned to a man, pushing a cart his way. "Excuse me.." he began, turning toward the man. But the man didn't stop. He kept walking toward Naruto then walked straight through him. Naruto looked down, putting his hands to his chest as the man continued on his way. A small shiver made its way down the blond's spine. He looked back toward the mass of people. "CAN ANYONE HELP ME PLEASE!" he yelled at the top of his lungs. No one stopped. No one even looked his way. He truly wasn't there. He let his legs carry him down the busy street, but he didn't pay attention to where they were taking him. A familiar smell drifted into his nose and he stopped. Looking up from the ground a smile formed on his face as he saw the small ramen stand.

After making his way inside and taking his usual seat, Naruto looked around the wall into the kitchen, searching for Ayame or the old man. When he didn't see them he slumped in his chair before calling for them and waited for one of them to appear.

Ayame walked out of the kitchen and a smile pulled on Naruto's face. "Thank Kami Ayame." he said with a sigh. "It's so strange no one seems to.." Naruto stopped as he watched her begin to wash the counter. She didn't see him either.

What kind of dream was this? He found himself wondering what to do next as he walked out of the stand back out to the road. He stood there for a moment not knowing what to do, when he felt another person pass through him. He turned to see who it was and almost fell over from shock. It had been Hinata. If he had been able to, he would have rushed over to her and hugged the woman. But there was something strange about the whole situation. She seemed to be at least seventeen years younger then the last time he saw her.

"What on Kami's green world is going on?" He muttered to himself as he watched the girl disappear in the crowd.

With one last look in her direction, Naruto turned and began his walk down the road again. Losing himself in though again, he paid no attention to where he was going. He simply walked. His mind clouded with unanswered questions. Where was he? What was going on? Why was Hinata younger and seemingly alive?

'Am I dead?' he wondered as he placed his thumb under his chin and the side of his finger against his lips with his elbow supported in his other hand. It would only seemed to answer one of his questions if he were dead. If he were dead, wouldn't he be in heaven or hell. He didn't think either were Konoha. Maybe in his younger days he would have thought so but not now. He finally ruled that out and decided he was just dreaming. This was a dream he didn't like. He didn't like being at the estate because there was nothing there. No signs of life. He didn't like being in the market. To many people walking through him and the risk of seeing some other people of his past. There was really only one place he wanted to be at the moment. He stopped and looked around to see where his legs had taken him and sighed with relief. He stood outside his old apartment complex. He moved through the door and saw the terrible old lady that ran the place sitting in the lobby hoping for new tenants. He shook his head and made his way to his small apartment.

This was the only place he would want to be besides awake at the moment. As a child, this had been somewhat of a refuge for him. And while his old home had been attacked multiple times, it never seemed as bad then when he was in town. It could hold back some of the abuse. And right now he just needed a place to stay until the nightmare he was in finally ended and he woke up. He stopped outside the door and frowned. The fresh coat of paint did little to hide the carved letters of Demon on the door. He passed through the door and looked around the familiar apartment. The floor was a mess with tossed cloths and instant ramen cups. The worn wood could use a fresh coat of stain and sealant. The furniture was as worn and terrible as ever. The paint on the walls was chipping off, showing signs of past break-ins and vandalism. Run down as ever.

Resting on the couch, he found the old goggles he use to wear and has he picked them up he smiled. He slumped down into the couch with a sigh ans he rubbed his eyes before placing his head in his hands. In the silence, Naruto could hear a soft noise coming from the bedroom. He pushed himself up and made his way back to the other room. He paused before pushing on into the room. He looked to the bed and froze. Sprawled out on the bed was a young blond haired, whisker cheeked boy. He was tangled in the sheets as they were draped and pushed off of the bed. His soft snoring stopped for a moment as he turned over in bed. Naruto backed into the wall, mouth hanging open with shock.

"I'm dreaming." he muttered to himself. "I'm dreaming."

"Sorry to burst your bubble," came a voice, "but you aren't dreaming my friend. You are dead."

Naruto looked over toward the door and there, leaning against the door was a strange man. His dark hair was pulled into a low ponytail that reached just below his shoulder blades. His face was angular and would have been handsome without other features. His eyes were sunken and ringed with a dark color like he needed sleep. He smiled showing sharp canines much like his own when using Kyuubi's chakra. The smile in itself gave the man a frightening appearance. He was battle hardened. His broad shoulders and most likely muscular build were hidden in the formal ash gray kimono he was wearing. It seemed to formal for the man. To stiff. How could he even see him? Loved ones and people he knew couldn't even see him. He was curious as to how this man who he didn't even know could but he knew he shouldn't be surprised anymore.

"I'm dead." Naruto echoed, looked back toward the bed. "They why am I here? Sorry but this isn't what I thought the afterlife would look like."

The man let out a laugh. "You're funny kid. I like you." the man said.

"How does liking me answer my question?" Naruto asked turning back to the man.

Smile still on his face, the man was about the say something but was cut off by a new voice.

"Leave him alone Shin." the woman said. "Sorry Naruto he likes to play with people."

She was standing in front of the window and as light flooded in, it seemed to giver her a halo. The woman had silky white hair that fell in curls to her slender waist. Her smiled lit her heart shaped face and her emerald green eyes sparkled with kindness. Her cheeks and lips were tinted a pale pink that stood out on her porcelain skin. The light pink lace sundress she was wearing seemed to show a level of innocents she had. The air she carried seemed gentle, kind, and warm in general. Nothing like the man.

"Hello dear Kami." the man dubbed Shin said.

"Kami?" Naruto asked turning the the woman.

"Yes." she said with a smile. "I am Kami and he is Shinigami."

Naruto's jaw fell open again as words left him. This caused Shinigami to let out another round of deep laughs.

"I take it you are shocked friend." Shinigami said, walking over to Naruto to push his jaw back up.

"Shocked could be an understatement." Naruto said.

Kami smiled and moved over to Shinigaim's side in front of the blond. "There is a reason we are here Naruto." she said.

"Yeah I died." Naruto said.

"And with that said I am sorry Shin played this game with you. You thought you were dreaming and it was wrong of me not to stop him."

Naruto brushed it off. "No harm down."

"And with that all wrapped up.." Shin said. "There is a real reason you are here and not the afterlife."

Naruto gave them an expecting look, waiting for them to continue.

"We came to the conclusion to give you an option." Kami began before Naruto interrupted.

"Option?" he asked. "I didn't there could be an option."

"Usually there isn't." Shin said. "You die you come to the afterlife but so many people died and it wasn't their time. We came to the conclusion when that pink haired woman killed you that you would be allowed this option."

"Naruto, you can either come to the afterlife, or return to this day and change the time as you see fit." Kami said. "Choose what you want Naruto. Do not choose for anyone but yourself."

"I want to come back." Naruto said right as she finished. "If I went to the afterlife now, to all those I failed, I fear I would never hear the end of it. Plus, two years with my wife is not near enough."

"Naruto, you have not failed anyone. Every person you have touched in your life thinks highly of you and wouldn't like to hear you say anything but. I am glad you chose this path Naruto. I am going to point out now that you are the only one that will remember anything about the future. Well, you and Kyuubi" Kami said.

"Past." Shinigami said. "It is now considered the past. There is one last thing we need to discuss Naruto. I spoke to Kyuubi and he did not wish to return, wanting to spend time with the mate and kits he lost, but agreed to if you choose to come back. We have given him permission to make deals with you and others when he wishes to return to them."

Naruto nodded. Kami smiled at him and disappeared in a cloud of fog like smoke leaving the two men alone.

"Shinigami?" Naruto asked, wondering if the man needed something else.

"Your parents made me agree to tell you something before I go." the dark haired man said.

Naruto tilted his head to the side with curiosity.

"Take this time by storm." he said with a smile before he too disappeared in a fog like smoke.

And he was left alone again, wondering what he was supposed to do now. It began slowly. A tingling feeling at the tips of his fingers and toes. A ringing started in his ears and as the numbness crawled up his arms and legs to his chest. The ringing and gotten louder and as the numbness reached his heart he could only hear the noise he hadn't known he was missing until he heard it. A thumping sounded in his ears as he felt the beats from under his ribcage. His eyes slammed shut and for a moment he felt like he was falling. Then floating. And then nothing.