I've always been a person that's had the freakiest anime dreams ever! I tell them to my friends and they are like 'what the hell are you on?!' It's quite scary… it all depends on what I was reading before I went to sleep. If you have ever had a weird dream that can rival me then send me a message and I'll see! Anyway, hope you enjoy my next chapter!

Chapter 2

The forests were scarier than he thought they would be. After not being able to sleep Naruto had managed to reach the opening. He could finally figure out what was wrong with the being in there. When he kneeled down to reach inside, he was attacked by beings he couldn't see. The invisible attackers laughed as they held a small seven year old child; a girl with curly blonde hair and light blue eyes, shimmering with fear. Her pale skin was glowing whiter by the second. He could feel the tears in her eyes and he wanted to help her. He could also sense the invisible aggressors circling him, preventing him from reaching her. He saw her being taken away. The girl also had other emotions lingering in her eyes; Naruto could see guilt and sorrow in those light blue pools. She bit the hand covering her mouth and in those few precious seconds, she screamed she was sorry to him in a high pitched squeal that held fear but also fault in that she could not help. The girl was slapped by her kidnapper and dragged before she disappeared. The attackers were no longer invisible. Naruto fought back and even though he managed to summon his clones in time, he still got quite badly hurt. He stood there, bodies littered around him. He held on to his bleeding arm and all he could see was the image of that girl – the reflections of pain she felt and he wanted to help her. He walked as far as he could in the direction he saw her being taken before collapsing.

Naruto awoke in a cold sweat and screamed, "Don't take her!"

It was then he saw Sasuke opening the door to his bedroom. He looked at Naruto worriedly. Naruto avoided his gaze.

"What happened, Naruto?" Sasuke asked gently.

"Nothing, it was just a stupid nightmare. I better get dressed and ready if I want to meet Tsunade", he said, gazing at the clock to his right and noting the calendar. He needed to go and meet Tsunade.

"What you doing here anyway Sasuke? I don't remember making plans to meet". He looked questioningly at Sasuke. Sasuke avoided his stare.

"Well it was just something that Sakura and I were talking about yesterday that I wanted to check on you to make sure you're okay".

"What were you talking about?"

"To be honest I don't understand myself. She was being quite cryptic in her speech so I just wanted to come and see you". Sasuke rubbed the back of his neck nervously. Naruto didn't sound like Naruto again – he sounded almost like himself.

"Oh! Okay", Naruto jumped out of bed and hugged Sasuke. Sasuke was taken aback about the sudden change in mood but felt better knowing that Naruto had returned to himself again. Naruto was thinking it was better to distract Sasuke and change the subject so he wouldn't have to talk about what he had dreamt.

"Naruto, what's this?"

"Huh?"

Naruto froze as Sasuke had spotted his painting that he made last night. He had left it there to dry properly before he put it away and he never did.

"Well, I…umm…you see I painted it yesterday because I couldn't sleep. I was too excited about news from the Pervy Sage so I decided to paint for a while". Naruto mumbled uselessly. Sasuke would see the picture of himself that Naruto had drawn and he didn't want him to see. Those were his private collection after all.

"Naruto, why didn't you tell me about your hobby? I suspected it as much from the way your personality is and from the Tsunade drawing and from the odd paint stains everywhere. Why?"

"Well, it's a private hobby and it's something I just didn't want people to know about generally so they couldn't make fun of me for. I did want to tell you; I mean you have seen more than anyone else. No one else even knew I could hold a paintbrush rather than actually paint pictures quite regularly". Naruto stared at Sasuke. It was easier to keep the topic away from his dream even though what they were talking about wasn't something he wanted to discuss either.

"But Naruto you're amazing! Why not share a talent like yours", Sasuke asked. He knew the reason but he didn't want to say as Naruto didn't like to talk about it. Everyone in the Hidden Leaf Village hated him for a reason that wasn't his fault. Apparently Naruto didn't even know.

"Because I don't want people to know I paint. No one would ever want to buy pictures I've drawn or even look at them knowing that I did them". There was a hint of sadness and exasperation in Naruto's voice that Sasuke wished he couldn't detect.

"Well anyway, you have to show me some of your other works and if you don't I'll punish you", Sasuke said, wrapping his arms around Naruto's waist. Naruto locked his arms around Sasuke's neck and pulled him in to a kiss.

"Make me!" he said afterwards with a giggle.

Sasuke smiled and then growled slightly.

"Come on, you gotta get dressed", he said.

"Oh yeah, crap", Naruto said. He let go of Sasuke and felt Sasuke reluctantly letting him go. He started dashing around his apartment trying to get ready. Sasuke made some breakfast for him as Naruto got changed and made his appearance suitable to go out in. he came out, ate his breakfast at record speed, even for Naruto and made his way for the door.

"On second thoughts…" Naruto raced and opened the window. The building was at least three storeys high if not more.

"See you later, Sasuke. Can you lock the door on the way out?"

"What are you doing you…?" Sasuke gaped as Naruto jumped out of the window. He ran forward to see Naruto had landed just like a cat. He turned and looked up and smiling, waved and made his way to meet Tsunade.

He is something Naruto. Sasuke did what Naruto asked and left through the normal way, locked the door and also made his way to go and meet Tsunade. He met up with Sakura halfway and the two walked up chatting and wondering what this secret was of Jiraiya's that he couldn't say it in front of them.

Meanwhile, Naruto had reached Tsunade's office and knocked on the door, gasping for breath.

"Come in brat", he heard the response.

Naruto walked in to see Tsunade sat behind her desk with a lot of paperwork to be getting on with.

"Here!" he called happily.

"What's wrong?"

"What do you mean?"

"Something was wrong with you yesterday and something is wrong now. I gathered it was on your return trip from your mission because that went smoothly. The other two seem fine so it is obviously something to do with what you saw yourself. Plus the fake happiness is annoying and yes it is a sham; I can see through it. You can smile all you want but I can see it in your eyes".

Eyes…light blue pools filled with fear, guilt, sorrow…nothing I could do…screaming…hurt…kidnapped…killed?

"Naruto, what's wrong?"

Tsunade's voice was distant. He couldn't hear it clearly. His eyes seemed unfocused and his head span. His heart pumped loudly and his brain was screaming at him.

"NARUTO!"

Naruto's head snapped up and he looked at Tsunade. "Yes?"

"Don't 'yes' me, what the hell is wrong with you?" Tsunade snapped. She then paused and her face softened. She spoke again, gentler this time. "Are you sure you're okay?"

Naruto answered that he was fine and then caught a look at himself in the mirror. His face had paled quite a bit.

"What did that pervert want anyway?" Naruto asked.

"Oh he wanted to pass on a message saying that your training won't start for another week. He's been caught up on a research trip".

"Research trip my…" Naruto muttered.

"Naruto! Language".

"Sorry".

"Well the others should be here so open the door and let them in".

Naruto opened the door and the other two were indeed waiting. They all stood in line in front of the desk. Tsunade surveyed them all. She could still see that Naruto was slightly distracted but he was still paying attention.

"Well these are your mission details. You have to go a little farther out today. You will need to pack; the trip will be a few days and the mission I'm not giving a deadline. It might be difficult but I only have a shady knowledge of what's going on. Read the details and head out. I hope you are prepared".

She shooed them away swiftly complaining about incompetence and all the work she had. The trio left her office quickly and made to sit in a place where they couldn't be disturbed. They pulled the sheets of paper out of the large envelope and began reading the mission details. Naruto didn't seem to be paying attention much to what the other two were doing and reading. They were already discussing tactics for the mission and every time Naruto was asked his opinion, they received no response. He was too busy dwelling on the dream he had and the odd sensation he had when he was in Tsunade's office. It was strange; something to do with that opening. They were going to pass it again on their way to their next mission so he was going to check it out this time.

"Naruto?"

"Hmm?"

Sasuke and Sakura looked at each other. This distracted Naruto was worrying them slightly.

"Will you please look at the mission details?"

"Yeah, sorry. I'm just getting lost in my head". Naruto read the mission details and was surprised to see that they had enclosed a picture of the family they had to help. There was a father, mother, grandfather and a small child; a young boy with scruffy brown hair and brown eyes.

"Wait a minute", Naruto studied the picture closer. There was a scar on the eye of the boy that Naruto recognised. "Oh my God, that's Inari!"

"Who?" the other two looked at him oddly.

"That's Inari. He's from this family; I saved him a little while back when I was on a journey. The little boy was about to be attacked by a robber and I knocked him out and brought the little kid to his family. I told him I'd visit again soon. Yay, this is great".

"Since when did you go on a trip?"

"Did you not notice? I'm upset now Sasuke". Naruto said, his face looked upset for a minute or so before he smiled again.

Sasuke looked puzzled at Naruto. When had he gone on a trip? It must have been at least two days long for the distance between here and their mission destination. Going on a walk? Sasuke didn't think so. Naruto was becoming more mysterious every day, oddly enough.

Sasuke smiled at Naruto, at least he was cheering up.

They set out a few hours later and were chatting happily, rucksacks on backs and walking at a steady pace. Soon they had reached where Naruto saw the opening. He waited back a bit to pretend he was adjusting the straps of his shoes and took off his rucksack and crawled in to the opening. It was a small cave, big enough to hide a small child. There wasn't anything in there that looked out of place. There were plants growing inside with some grass and a few weeds. There was moss on the roof and a few stones littered on the floor from the ceiling but nothing looked out of the ordinary.

Except a bracelet.

It was silver chain, with lots of little star and moon charms attached. It was quite small, about the size to fit a small child – a girl by the looks of it. Naruto looked at it softly, and picked it up. An image appeared in front of him; the girl from his dream. She spoke softly.

"Thank you for finding it", she whispered. It was the same voice of when he was there yesterday. A tear rolled down her cheek. Naruto tried to touch her, to see if she was real and she shook her head and disappeared. Naruto clutched the bracelet close to his chest. He crawled out of the space and sat on the floor. Sakura and Sasuke hadn't noticed he wasn't walking with them yet. He stared at the opening and then looked to the bracelet on the palm of his hand. He smiled sadly and put the bracelet in his pocket. He got up and put on his rucksack and pretended to adjust his sandals again at the moment Sasuke turned around.

"Come on!" Sasuke yelled. Naruto looked up and jumped, running ahead to catch up.

Sasuke noticed something had happened to Naruto. He looked happier than earlier. He also heard a slight jingle in his pocket. Wonder what he was doing? Sasuke dismissed his thoughts and returned to the conversation on their way to their destination.

- - - - -

Reviews please! I'd love to hear what you think…x