Night Sun
Yuu: Yo! Srry, but I wont be able ta update as often cuz of school.
Yan: That really sucks nya! Stupid school nya.
Yuu: Yea yea, it's not the school's fault, so calm down.(scratches Yan's ears)
Yan: Purrrrr, o yea, right there, oooo that's purrrrrrrr.
Yuu: I dont own Naruto.
Yan: Purrrrrr.
Ch. 3-Discoverey
"He's breaking."
The team stared, stunned at the sight of Tsunade's tears. Hesitantly, Sakura slowly walked to her shishou and wrapped her arms around the woman, trying to comfort her.
"What do you mean he's breaking?" Sasuke demanded. They waited anxiously for her reply, knowing that if she was rushed it would take even longer to get an answer. Slowly, Tsunade's tears stopped flowing and she took a deep, shuddering breath, opening a drawer and taking out a bottle of sake. She opened it and took a deep draught, finally becoming more stable, though she was still shaking slightly.
Suddenly the window opened, revealing Jiraiya as he stepped in.
"What's wrong?" he asked, immediately sensing the tension throughout the room. He looked towards Tsunade, his face becoming serious as he took in her trembling form.
"Naruto's breaking, Jiraiya," the blonde murmured. "It's time they know the truth." Jiraiya nodded, and he crossed his arms, leaning against the wall behind his fellow Sannin.
"It happened 6 years ago," she said, looking up, "soon after Sasuke left." Sasuke flinched, not wanting to remember the time he betrayed the village to gain power from Orochimaru. "A strange man had appeared, looking for Naruto."
---Flashback---
It was dark, the full moon cloaked in clouds. Silence filled the night, not a thing stirring, not even the wind. It was as if nature was waiting for something, still with anticipation. Waiting for a secret long forgotten, finally about to reveal itself.
Out of the forest, as if made of the darkness itself, came a tall figure, pale skinned with dark eyes and waist-length hair. His eyes glowed on the outer edge of the irises, like the sun during a solar eclipse, blocked from sight. But there wasn't a scrap of light in him. There was something evil in the depths of those orbs. It was like the darkness that devoured light, bringing death to everyone and everything.
The man stalked to the front of the 4th Hokage's head carved into the mountain, not hesitating as his steps were filled with confidence. He didn't stop, not even when he reached the end, and stepped off. He didn't fall to his death, though. It was as if the darkness caught him before he made contact, gently setting him down in front of the Hokage tower.
He looked up, a light shining a few floors above his head. Tsunade had stayed up late, whatever for, it must have been serious. The man walked up the stairs and entered the tower, striding towards the Hokage's room. Once he reached the door, he stopped, and with a fluid grace and smooth confidence rarely seen in the mortal world, he raised his hand and knocked.
---
Tsunade was sitting in her chair, looking over documents Jiraiya had brought her containing his findings on the Akatsuki. Said man was leaning against the wall to her left (which means if we were facing her he would be on the right), eyes closed and arms crossed. The Sannin's face was serious as he was deep in thought, thinking about things that weren't perverted for once.
This is bad, Tsunade thought. Akatsuki's on the move, our spy can no longer stall them. They're coming. We've got to get Naruto out of here.
A knock resounded through the silence, jolting the two out of their thoughts, confused as they wondered who it could be as no one would come at this time of night. Especially tonight. Everyone should either be at home or on watch throughout the village, on edge since the last remaining Uchiha in the village had left.
"Enter," Tsunade called out warily, glancing at the white-haired sage. Jiraiya didn't move, seemingly at ease. But looks can be deceiving. If you looked close enough, the man was slightly tensed, preparing for any trouble the unknown person might bring. And trouble would be brought, no doubt about that.
Look underneath the underneath, Tsunade thought fleetingly. Since she was one of the best medic nins there ever was, she could see the chakra flowing in Jiraiya, gathering to be used.
The door swung open, and there stood the eerie figure that had ghosted through the night, stalking forward to stand in the middle of the room. The two Sannin were shocked by his appearance. No mortal looked like that, not any normal mortal at least. There was something wrong with this man.
His looks were unnatural, supernatural if you will. Glowing eyes as dark as the solar eclipse, pale alabaster skin that looked like it was made of moonlight, hair as dark as a moonless night. He seemed to be 25, at least. He was . . . beautiful, in a demonic sense.
"Greetings, Hokage-sama, Jiraiya-sama," he said softly, voice deep and luring, captivating, dangerous. Dark. "My name is Tori Yoku. I am a Motomu Jitsu nin, a Truth Seeker, if you will."
"A Truth Seeker?" Tsunade repeated. What is that? I've never heard of this. Seeing the confusion on her face, Yoku decided to elaborate.
"A Truth Seeker, Hokage-sama," he confirmed. "They are-"
"-those who seek the truth, so-called scientists, Tsunade. The name should be enough to tell you what they are. Tori Yoku, Greed in the Heart, huh? How fitting."
Tsunade and Yoku looked towards the one who spoke, surprised that Jiraiya knew of them.
"Oh? You know of us, Jiraiya-sama?" Yoku looked bemused. "That's surprising, not many know of our existence anymore."
"I met someone who knew of things not known in the worlds anymore. A feminine man with long silver hair, warm amber eyes, and skin as pales as yours, Tori-san."
"Please, call me Yoku," he said. His eyes were narrowed, suspicion in them. Of what? Only the man knew. "Please continue, I'd like to know of this man who knows of us." Jiraiya nodded, he already knew that Yoku knew of the man he had once met.
"I met him while I was traveling, searching for information on the Akatsuki. He told me of them, and more. He told me he was a Jitsu no Mori, a Keeper of Truth." Yoku snarled, hatred filling his eyes as his hands clenched into fists.
But there was something else. Longing, loneliness, love, eyes softening a bit. The confused emotions swirled in his eyes in one vulnerable moment before they were engulfed by hatred.
"Kakushi . . ." he hissed, voice menacing as he voiced his bitterness and hatred.
"Yes, Tori Kakushi, Hidden in the Heart. Your twin brother."
"He is no brother of mine! He betrayed me, abandoned me as he went against the wishes of our village! Instead of shedding light, he decided to bring darkness instead!"(A/N:wow, I've turned him into Sasuke . . . cool! Kyahahahahahahaha!! XD)
"Some things aren't meant to be brought into the light, Yoku-san. Isn't that what your aniki told you?" Jiraiya looked at him sympathetically. "He didn't take you with him in order to protect you, you know that."
Yoku's eyes softened for a moment, something flashing in the dark orbs before he smirked.
"Enough, things are getting out of hand. This is not what I came for," Yoku said, brushing off the conversation. "I've come to ask you of a favor, Hokage-sama."
"What favor is that, Yoku-san?" Tsunade inquired. Yoku smirked, his expression filling the two elder people with apprehension.
Whatever it is, it's not good, Jiraiya thought, actually having the same thought as Tsunade.
"I want you to give me Kyuubi-kun," Yoku stated. The two started, eyes widening. He WHAT?!
"Kyuubi . . . you want Naruto?" Tsunade was shocked.
"Ah, yes, I want you to put Naruto-kun in my possession. It's time the light be shed upon the capabilities of the Jinchuuriki."
"You . . . you want to experiment on him?" Tsunade whispered, astonished. This man was just like Orochimaru with his experiments. Her expression grew angered, glaring at the man who dared to suggest she give him her beloved blond.
"Put it as you like. Will you give him to me?"
"Never!" the two Sannin shouted, their outburst in sync.
"Are you sure? I'm sure you also want to know more about the Jinchuuriki as well, their capabilities, how to control them."
"I'll never give him to you! That boy's been through a lot, he doesn't need to go through this!"
"Very well . . . If you won't give him to me willingly, I'll just have to take him by force!"
A gust of wind burst through the room, Yoku's laughter echoing as the two shielded their faces and he left in a swirl of darkness.
"No!" Tsunade shrieked, running to the window and leaping out, Jiraiya following closely. "We can't let him get to Naruto, Jiraiya! We've got to stop him!"
"He won't be easy to stop, Tsunade! You go, I'll get some restrainers Kakushi had given me. He knew this would happen, he knew!"
"Quickly Jiraiya! We've got no time to waste!" Jiraiya nodded and turned, heading towards the hotel he had been staying at as Tsunade followed the strange darkness that was Yoku's chakra signature.
She was getting closer and closer to the edge of the village. What was Naruto doing there? Shouldn't he still be in the hospital? Suddenly Tsunade caught a scent as wind blew past her. Blood.
Naruto! she thought in panic. No! Images of Dan and Nawaki flashed across her mind. Not again! I won't lose another precious to me again!
Tsunade saw two figure's up ahead, one on the ground and one staring down at him.
"Naruto!"
The figure looked up and she caught sight of whisker-shaped scars. Relief filled Tsunade until she got a closer look at the boy.
"Naruto?" The boy looked like Naruto, but his hair was a platinum blond, silver, the bangs reaching his chin and the back of his hair a couple inches longer. His eyes were a deep amethyst, not the cerulean she so loved. He was wearing pajamas from the hospital, just like Naruto should be.
"Close but not quite," the boy said softly. There was blood on his cheek, sliding down to his neck, more dripping from his hands on which claw-like nails were. Tsunade looked down at the figure and gasped. It was Yoku, lying on his back with his head turned to the side, hair billowing as he lay in a pool of his own blood. His chest was slashed from the left shoulder to the opposite hip.
"Calm down, he's not dead yet." As soon as those words were said, she noticed his chest rising slightly with each breath he took. "He's not going to live, however, if we don't get him to the hospital. How about some help, Jiraiya-sama?"
Whirling around, Tsunade saw Jiraiya behind her, his face grim. He nodded and picked up Yoku, and they were off, heading towards the hospital.
What happened? the two thought.
---
They sat in an empty room, a toad keeping watch outside. Yoku lay in a bed, bandages wrapped around his torso.
"Would you mind telling us what's going on?" Tsunade inquired, Jiraiya listening closely from his seat on the window sill.
"Of course, Tsunade-sama," the boy said. "Yoku-san is in a coma, as he was finally brought from under the influence of a mind control genjutsu that had been placed on him 15 years ago, since their betrayal."
"15 years!" Tsunade gasped. Ever since the age of 10! Of course he would be in a coma if he was suddenly snapped out of a genjutsu he'd been under for so long. The boy nodded.
"Yes, he was made to believe he had been betrayed by Kakushi-san, although in reality, it was the village who had betrayed their trust. Kakushi-san had learned of the horrid things their clan had been doing, and decided to become a Keeper of Truth in order to thwart them. Of course, Yoku-san found out soon after that and decided to join his brother. Unfortunately, the clan discovered their plan and caught Yoku-san. He was brainwashed as Kakushi-san was forced to leave as he was too weak to rescue his twin."
"How do you know all this?" Jiraiya asked.
"I have a guardian who is an acquaintance of sorts to Kakushi-san. He told me everything a few years back when I last saw him." Jiraiya settled back down, willing to let Tsunade ask the questions as he digested the information.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"If you are willing to not interrupt me, I will tell you my story." The two nodded. "Very well then. My name is Haruka. I am Naruto." As they opened their mouths, he raised his hand, effectively quieting them. "Actually, I'm a fragment of him, but not the Naruto you know. He is another fragment."
Haruka looked at the desk on his right, grabbing a brush and some paper, leaving an open bottle of ink on the table.
"It started when Onee-chan attacked the village. She is known as Kyuubi no Kitsune. She is not at fault for attacking the village. A man known as Uchiha Madara had attacked her family and placed a genjutsu on her, leaving her no choice but to attack the village. Madara is an immortal, how or why we do not know."
He took an empty tray that was on the table and put it upside down on his lap, placing the paper on it. He started to draw.
"When Onee-chan was sealed into the original Naruto, she unintentionally tainted him. Although she is not evil, demonic chakra does not bode well for humans. For example, Gaara-san was nearly driven to insanity before Naru-chan reached him. Onee-chan's chakra had touched the malice in Naruto, as there are seeds of light and darkness in every human when they are born. Naruto knew that if he didn't do anything soon, he would go mad and become evil, condemning all to death."
Haruka finished with a drawing and handed it to Tsunade, starting on another when she took it. It was surprisingly good, nothing like the chicken scratch Naruto used. The picture showed a Naruto with hair that reached his shoulders, longer than Haruka's. He looked emotionlessly at her, right arm wrapped around his waist with his left hand brought up next to his face across his chest, holding a mask with his thumb and 1st 2 fingers that looked like Naruto's peaceful face with his eyes closed and mouth shut. The boy was wrapped in chains from his neck to his ankles. Tsunade handed it to Jiraiya.
"So, he shattered himself into 3 separate pieces: Kirau, Naruto, and myself. Kicchan is our hate and malice. He is not willingly like that, but he can't help himself. Our guardian is the only one able to calm him, but she is not here right now. I am our loyalty and determination, the chains that bind the darkness within us. And Naru-chan is our innocence. He is what the original Naruto would have been, at least, when he would have fun. Naru-chan is our mask, he hides us from prying eyes. He's never what he seems."
Haruka finished the second drawing and handed it to Tsunade, putting away the utensils he had used. This one had the previous Naruto standing in the middle. Haruka was behind him, arms wrapped possessively around Kirau's shoulders. A woman with a pair of fox ears amongst her spiky waist-length hair and 9 tails stood behind him, looking out sadly as her right hand curled itself in Kirau's hair. Finally, Naruto stood in front of them, arms spread protectively, face full of determination. Once she was done, Tsunade handed it to Jiraiya for him to look at. Haruka sat back, left leg on his right knee as he folded his hands on this left knee.
"All those times you thought Onee-chan was taking over, it was actually Kicchan when he tried to break through and my grip on him slipped. My strength alone isn't enough, because as Kicchan's hatred and malice grows, so does his strength. So in order to keep him down, I took Naru-chan's extra chakra, which is why he has such difficulty performing simple jutsu that needs a small amount of chakra.
"Unfortunately, I could only do it for so long before he would, say, break. If he broke, I would eventually follow and Kicchan would be let loose. Naruto knew that, but he hoped that Naru-chan would grow stronger and prolong it until he makes a Soul Link, a link soul-to-soul to his soul mate. Links are rare, for people can rarely find their mates. Fortunately, Onee-chan is able to see the connection between mates, the so-called red string of fate.
"The 1st time Naru-chan found something to make him stronger was on his 4th birthday. He met a certain Anbu called Weasel, who protected Naru-chan from an angry mob. He trained under the Anbu until he left 4 years later when the Uchiha Massacre occurred. Then he met Sasuke-kun and a bond formed between them. Now he has left and Naru-chan is determined to get stronger in order to bring him back. If this keeps up and Sasuke-kun is still gone, I estimate that he'll stay alive until he turns 20."
Tsunade and Jiraiya sat there still trying to digest the load of information the boy had just dumped on them. Suddenly, Haruka fell forward, eyes closed as his hair turned a brilliant blond.
"Haruka!" Tsunade caught the boy as Jiraiya ran forward in concern. They looked at each other before looking down at the mop of blond hair.
"Naruto?"
---End Flashback---
"The morning after that we asked Naruto if he knew of his, well, siblings. It turns out he's known the whole time, he just pretended that he didn't in order to stay free in case people tried to lock him up. The only way to stop him from breaking is to have him merge with the other fragments, and the only way to make that possible is to create a Soul Link between him and his soul mate." Tsunade sighed and took a swig of the sake she was still holding, exhausted from all the talking.
"Soon after that I took Naruto and left the village to start his training. After all, I had just received yet another reason to make him stronger," Jiraiya said, seeing that his fellow Sannin was tired.
Team 7 stood there and stared at them, shocked at all the information they had learned.
"So . . . Naruto is just a mask, and he's actually one of three fragments? He's dying, and his evil half is coming out?" Sasuke asked hesitantly.(That's a lotta words for Sasuke, ne?^^)
"That is correct."
The Team whirled around, kunai in their hands as they looked at the one who spoke. Where Naruto should've been was a boy who looked like him, only with silver hair and amethyst eyes. They heard gasps and they looked at the 2 behind them. Jiraiya and Tsunade were wide eyed, Tsunade covering her mouth with her hand.
"It has been a while, has it not, Jiraiya-sama, Tsunade-sama?"
As Jiraiya kept staring, Tsunade swallowed and they all heard her whisper one word.
"Haruka . . ."
TBC
Yuu: Phew! Dam that took 4ever. Another cliffy, but the readers should be content for now.
Yan: That was so wicked, nya! I cant wait 4 the next one, nya!
Hien: Oi! Jeez, I came over to see wat the moaning and purring was, but I c it was just you guys.
Yuu: (blush)Hien!
Hichi: (pops outta nowhere)So watcha do 2 her? Huh huh huh?
Yan: Shaddup, the both of ya! Get outta here before I kick yer asses!
Yuu, Hien n Hichi: O.o
Hien: O shit, she didn't even say "nya"!
Hichi: We're so dead! Run 4 ur lives!
Yan: That's it! I've had it!
Hien n Hichi: Gyaaaaaaah!(runs 4 it w/ Yan chasin after)
(sweat drop)O great, now I've gotta save their asses, again. Sigh, well, I gtg n make sure Yan doesn't hurt them too badly. Review plz!
