Chapter 4

"Geez..." Naruto muttered as he tapped his digivice. The compass was spinning like crazy. "I can't locate Yamato's digivice." Hikari, who was stood beside Naruto could only be amazed by the style Naruto's digivice acted compared to their own.

"It must be something in these woods." Koushiro spoke as he looked back to Naruto.

"I think we should take a break somewhere and wait for him." Tailmon spoke up. "Everyone wants to be alone once in a while."

"No." Taichi responded. "We have to find Yamato."

"But everyone is tired." Jyou spoke up. "Why don't we sit around here and rest our legs?"

"Just because all eight of us should be together and fight..." Mimi muttered. "Everyone else had to die..." Palmon glanced up as it over heard the comment.

"Mimi-chan..." Sora spoke as a yell of hello broke through the air.

"He's here..." Naruto muttered looking up to see Pinochimon sitting in a tree.

"Pinochimon!" Taichi spoke.

"Hey, Takeru!" The mega called out. "I'm glad to see you again!"

"Well, I'm not!" Takeru spoke. "I won't play with you anymore, so don't ever bother asking!"

"Don't be stupid!" The mega spoke. "Playtime is long over! Get them, Garbamon!" As the three digimon slid into action from out of the forest. Naruto didn't want to get drawn into a fight; he palmed his hands together as the Kyuubi noted this action and the blond palmed the ground.

"Doton!" Naruto yelled as the grounded exploded in dust as the Garbamon fired their poop bazooka. As the dust settled they found the group to be gone.

"Don't let them escape Garbamon!" The Garbamon nod and take off after the children. Naruto ran at the back of the group as he glanced back to see Garbamon in hot pursuit.

"Damn it..." Naruto palmed his hands together. "Kyuubi..." The fox nod as Naruto hopped and turned round and flipped backwards into a crouch. "Doton!" Naruto yelled only for nothing. "Damn it... Not again!"

"Poop bazooka!"

"Hell flame storm!" The attacks were countered as Naruto flipped seals for another go.

"Katon! Housenka no jutsu!" Naruto yelled as he fired through. The Garbamon evaded and found the area to be empty of the boy again.

"Don't think you can escape!" The Garbamon called.

"Kyuubi, go on ahead and prepare a counter." Naruto called as he palmed his hands together again, but Naruto seemed unaware of this action.

'He's doing that more often now... That's not normal ninjutsu...' "Okay!" Kyuubi spoke taking off. Naruto turned round and quickly thought of a quick diversion. He couldn't keep wasting chakra. "Come on... Work! Doton!" Naruto called as he palmed the ground. It sparked to life and Naruto pulled out a weapon made of stone. "Woah..." Naruto mussed, he didn't expect to do that. Naruto turned to the Garbamon and swung the bladed staff. 'I just need to give a minute's time.' "Come on!"

Kyuubi landed by the digidestined. "You ready?"

"Where's Naruto?" Hikari spoke up.

"He'll be fine. Now..." The group nod as their digivices glowed and the digimon followed suit.

"Agumon."

"Palmon."

"Gomamon."

"Tentomon."

"Piyomon."

"Shinka!"

Agumons small dino form was replaced by a large full grown one with blue strips on the body. A brown face guard formed with two horns on the head and a horn on the tip of the nose. "Greymon!"

"Togemon!"

"Ikkakumon!"

Tentomon was replaced by a large blue insect with no back shell but had a large black helmet with a large horn. "Kabuterimon!"

"Birdramon!"

The champions hid quietly as Naruto came sprinting out into the open area and turned as skidded backwards to face his chasers. He took several breaths as the staff crumpled. "Damn it..." Naruto spoke.

"We've got you now!" The attackers announced as they went at Naruto.

"Go!" Kyuubi called.

At that the champion digimon appeared and attacked. The Garbamon were surprised by the sneak attack.

"Meteor wing!" Birdramon called out as fire rained from the wing.

"Mega blaster!" Kabuterimon called as a large blue and white bolt flickered out of the large gathered sphere of energy.

"Harpoon Vulcan!" Missiles rained down from horn capsules.

"Chiku-choku bang bang!" A flurry of needles rushed their way.

"Mega flame!" Greymon roared as he unleashed a fire ball.

As all attacks collided, they thought they got them. Pinochimon laughed from above the tree tops. The spot they struck at was devoid of any digimon. "Did you really think those puny attack could hurt them?" The mega called out. "Look behind you." Mimi and the others looked behind them as the Garbamon attacked.

"Got you now!" One yelled as Mimi yelled out at the thought of being hit by such an attack. The digivice and crest glowed on Mimi's person.

"Togemon, chou shinka. Lilimon!" The ultimate moved Mimi aside in time and then moved to attack the ultimate, but as Lilimon got close another Garbamon came from behind the other and both fired. Lilimon dodged both as a third appeared over head. But stepping on Garbamons face, and using it as a step ladder, Lilimon got in close and fired point blank. "Flower cannon!"

"All right!" Taichi called out. "Now!" With that his digivice and crest glowed.

"Greymon, chou shinka!" The dino's body grew larger and the left arm turned to steel as a chest plate appeared and the heard turned to metal and red hair came from the back. Purple wings sprouted from the back as the tail gained a bit of metal. "Metalgreymon!" The large digimon stood proud for battle and the chest opened. "Giga destroyer!" Two large missiles fired and the Garbamon countered.

Sadly, the poop shot bounced clean off and from there the ultimate saw a bright light before being wiped out. As the explosion echoed the area, Pinochimon held on tight to the tree. Sadly though, that same poop that bounced off the missile. Landed between the mega's eyes and the mega let go in surprise and flew off in the wind.

As the dirt settled Naruto released the earth wall he'd used to block the blast from the others. The final Garbamon jumped from its dustbin. "I give up!" Naruto shifted his stance as the Garbamon smirked. "Just kidding!" The Garbamon yelled holding up its bin. A power vacuuming force began to pull on everyone as they grabbed something to hold on. Naruto crouched as he stuck to the ground with chakra. "There's a black hole inside this thing! I'll suck all of you into it!"

"Damn it..." Naruto growled as he held on tight. "He still had this ready..."

"Onii-chan!" Naruto looked back as Hikari came flying his way. Naruto grabbed out and caught her and Tailmon grabbed Hikari.

"Hikari! Naruto!" Taichi called from where he held on.

"Damn..." Naruto growled as he felt his feet skid. 'I'm past my limit. I can't hold on. Damn it!'

"Cocytus breath!" The Garbamon turned white as it froze and the wind stopped pulling. Naruto fell backwards as he had tried to stay still. The remains of the ultimate crumpled under its deep freeze.

"Metalgarurumon." Naruto looked up at that to see the mega level form of Gabumon. Which resembled an armoured Garurumon to Naruto. Yamato walked out of the forest and while others were happy. The look on the males face was anything but happy.

"Yamato! Where were you this whole time?" Taichi called as Metalgreymon became Agumon again. But Yamato held his gaze as Naruto sat watching. He really didn't feel like getting up.

"Thank you!" Agumon called as it ran up. "That was a real close one!" Metalgarurumon's eyes glowed and a blue beam fired out and made Agumon jump as it hit the ground beside it. Everyone looked surprised by this and looked to Yamato to explain. "W-why?" Agumon asked Metalgarurumon.

"Agumon, fight me!" Naruto looked to Metalgarurumon surprised; this wasn't the time to be fighting. "Evolve to mega!"

"No thanks." Agumon retorted, not amused by this sudden event. "Why do I have to fight you?" The mega said nothing as it fired two missiles to either side of Agumon.

"D-damn it..." Naruto growled trying to stand. Only for his body to give out from exhaustion, he could fight, but his stamina was nothing now.

"Naruto, you okay?" Hikari asked as she was the only beside the young male. Naruto took a breath and looked his palm. His hand was shaking as he tried to draw on chakra, guess his body was really at its limit.

"Damn it..." Naruto muttered as the fox watched as he tried to figure out what was going on with the boy. Something was wrong; Naruto was past his limit from the way the boy was acting. But yet he still kept drawing on more power. Kyuubi pondered if Naruto was till drawing on the vast amount of chakra in his system, but his body was rapidly fatiguing from it. His body wasn't as good as it was when he was 12. So it must be a backlash from the chakra maybe?

"Yamato." Taichi spoke as he and Sora tried to stop this event. "Hurry up and stop him!"

"No." Yamato stated. "I won't." Taichi looked surprised by that comment.

"You... Won't?"

"I won't miss next time!" The mega called as the two digimon faced each other. "Now... Hurry up and evolve to Wargreymon!"

"You're... Being serious." Agumon growled as it eyed the mega. Every one watched on nervously while Naruto tried to stand. He had to do something; this wasn't what should be happening.

Up above the trees, Pinochimon sat watching as he arrived just in time for his show. "Now, this had better be entertaining."

"Onii-chan..." Takeru muttered as he looked on at his brother. Why was he acting like this? Jyou walked up worried as he tried to calm the tension of a possible battle.

"Q-quit kidding around, Yamato. We're all friends here, aren't we?"

"Friends?" Yamato asked as he looked to the older male.

"That's right, friends." Jyou responded in hopes to reason with the blond male. "We're all chosen children, so that makes us friends." Yamato scoffed at this comment.

"Then here is a question." Yamato asked Jyou. "Who chose us?"

"Well..." Jyou had no idea.

"If you don't even know that, what makes you think we're friends?" Yamato retorted.

"You have a point there..." Jyou muttered as he found no way round that.

"Jyou..." Taichi spoke. "There's no use arguing with him. Yamato is always like this."

"Always like this?" Yamato questioned as he looked to the brown haired male. "What the hell, do you know about me, anyway?"

"I know you. This is your way of throwing a tantrum, isn't it? Just because things aren't going the way you want them to." Taichi stated.

"Well, aren't you amazing?" Yamato retorted sarcastically to Taichi's surprising knowledge of the dirt blond. "I don't even have any idea what kind of person I am, but you do."

"Hey..." Sora spoke as she tried to settle this down. "Let's stop this, you two."

"You don't need to tell me that." Taichi responded glancing to Sora. "Yamato's the one picking a fight with me." Taichi said looking to his digimon. "I don't need to listen to this guy." Agumon glanced over to Taichi then to the mega and back before walking off.

"You've grown really mature, Taichi."

"That's not happening!" Metalgarurumon spoke as he moved round to stop the rookies retreat. Agumon looked on annoyed as Taichi glanced to Yamato.

"This is becoming a real pain, Yamato."

"Then fight me."

"I told you, no." Naruto sighed as he stood on uneasy feet. He wasn't going to be able to jump in if this fight got underway.

"Naruto..." Naruto glanced to Hikari. "I heard the voice..." Naruto raised an eyebrow.

"Where?" Hikari glanced off while everyone remained focused on the two males.

"Over there somewhere... It's calling out... Come on." Naruto glanced from the forest back to Kyuubi who gave a short nod and Naruto followed Hikari as he tried to get his bearings. Kyuubi would keep an eye on the group.

"Man, you just don't get it, do you?" Taichi continued.

"You're the ones who don't understand!" Metalgarurumon retorted as it turned to Taichi.

"Are you serious?"

"Taichi!" Agumon called. "Get back." With that Taichi's crest and digivice glowed as the mega turned to Agumon. "Agumon, warp-shinka! Wargreymon!" With that both mega's took to the sky and the fox watched a mussed by the human's antics as both Taichi and Yamato beat each other up.

'Heh... Humans... Always making war with yourselves. No matter what world you're from, wars are an everyday thing.' The fox digimon looked to the megas and then to their partners. 'At this rate they'll get themselves hurt and Pinochimon will make a meal of us...' The fox sighed as he followed the other rookie digimon who followed the mega's fight. 'As long as I get stronger, I don't care.'

"You sure you can trust this voice?" Naruto asked as he walked along side Hikari. He was recovering, if only slowly. But he really didn't like the fact he was so close to losing his grip. Had he really, gotten so weak?

"I... I don't know, it just calls out..." Naruto sighed as he looked up.

"I hope you're right..." Hikari nods.

"But you'll protect me right?" Naruto crossed his arms.

"I think I could only get a good 100 yard dash at my current state." Both came to a stop. "I've been running on will alone pretty much. I used most of my chakra fighting Metalseadramon. I'm still learning jutsu and one I keep using is really taxing and only lasts moments. Plus I'm only eight. My stamina can't match the chakra in my system. So I'm just willing to keep going..." Naruto muttered glancing down.

"Oh..." Hikari muttered. "What was it like back in you world?" Naruto sighed as they started walking.

"It's not something I like to talk about. As I said, I had the nine tailed demon sealed in me. Every day was hell from as far back as I can remember... People saw me as a thing to fear and... And I hated them for that reason. I gave back the glares and hateful looks. But there were some who treated me like a human being."

"But you don't seem like a bad person." Naruto smiled with a chuckle.

"It was a front to be honest, when no one saw me. I would be crying in my apartment alone with no one there to see me, to comfort me... It was during one night that I looked in the mirror and decided I wouldn't be a cry baby anymore. I wanted to be respected. To be treated like a person..." Naruto sighed. "But it wasn't going to happen..." Naruto gave a hollow chuckle. "I'm nothing."

"But you're not, nothing." Naruto glanced over to Hikari. "If you were nothing, you wouldn't be here, you wouldn't be with us." Naruto looked to the sky.

"There are different kinds of nothing. I'm not from here, so what exactly can I do? I have no identity, no home or family..." Naruto muttered as he looked down.

"But you have friends... If you have friends, you're somebody to them." Naruto glanced over. "If you mean something to somebody, or someone, then you're not, nothing, Naruto. We'll find away to help." Naruto smiled. "So please, don't be so upset. We may not know what you're going through... But..." Naruto grinned.

"That's okay... Thanks..." Hikari smiled and glanced to where the voice was and followed to the source. Naruto looked up at the still fighting mega. "It's like me with Sasuke... Always arguing and competing till..." He stopped behind Hikari who was blankly staring at the air. "Hikari?" Hikari glanced back to Naruto then forward. "I see..." Naruto muttered.

"Are you people, our friends?" Naruto glanced about as Hikari spoke before he tried to gather anything left he could still tap into, "Or, our enemies?" Naruto saw Tailmon and Koushiro walking their way.

"Who is Hikari-san talking to?" Koushiro asked Naruto.

"I don't know."

Hikari nods. "Okay. So you're not bad guys..." Naruto saw a glow flicker past his vision as he was looking at Tailmon and Koushiro and turned to Hikari who seemed to be glowing.

"Hikari!" Tailmon called as Hikari pulled out her crest and held it up. It glowed and Naruto, Hikari, Koushiro and Tailmon followed by everyone included the now intraining megas were dragged into the bright light. When the light faded they found themselves in endless white.

"Where are we?" Taichi asked.

"What's going on?" Yamato questioned as Naruto shivered. After being in a room like this once before. He really didn't want to be faced with the same task as before.

"Wherever there is light." Naruto turned to Hikari with a raised eyebrow. "Naturally there will also be darkness. Darkness and light are like two sides of the same coin. But if the power of darkness grows larger..." With that their shadows expanded and the world of light went black.

"It's turned into night." Mimi spoke up first.

"Where is this place?" Jyou asked. "Did we get sucked into another dimension." Naruto really hoped not. Sora glanced to her left as she noticed something.

"Hey guys... What's that over there?" Everyone looked as a city appeared.

"That's... Hikarigoaka!" Taichi spoke as Naruto looked on amazed at what he was seeing. Everyone noticed the two digimon in the sky.

"That bird is the one we saw four years ago!" Koushiro spoke as he looked at his laptop on Parrotmon. Naruto on the other hand was looking everywhere round him at the world these digidestined had come from. "He's ultimate level." Koushiro muttered as Hikari walked up.

"Four years ago in your world, a digiegg passed through a tear in the dimension by mistake." All but Naruto looked at Hikari curiously.

"What are you talking about, Hikari?" Taichi asked.

"It's not Hikari who's talking." Tailmon answered as it and Koushiro turned to the group.

"Someone is using Hikari-san's body to speak to us."

"I am a being who wishes for balance in the digimon world." Hikari spoke as she turned to them.

"Could you be the god of the digimon world?" Sora asked as she stepped forward.

"No, I am not." The being in Hikari replied. "I am identical to the digimon in that I am made up of internet data. But unlike the digimon, we are unable to take form. In other words, we don't have a physical body. That is why I am borrowing this person's body, to speak to you."

"Why Hikari?" Taichi asked.

"She was the only one who could hear me." The being replied. "The truth is I had wanted to talk to you ever since you first arrived on File Island." The group yelled as they were suddenly picked up and all flown across the city. Naruto didn't pay attention as he just looked on around him. Lights dropped from the sky and focused on small spots about the area. Taichi was to notice where one of the beams of light landed.

"That's, Hikari and me from four years ago!" Taichi spoke stunned as he looked at his younger self. Each one of the group spotted their younger selves watching from different spots about the place.

"What's with the lights?" Naruto asked finally taking a small note.

"They are scanning everyone's data." Hikari answered.

"But what for?" Yamato asked as they began to fly into the main light with Greymon and Parrotmon.

"Allow me to explain everything from the very beginning." With they entered the light.

Naruto stood at the back as he followed the group through a moment in the past. Seeing where the digivice, crest and digieggs of the digimon the group of kids had now, came from. Naruto had no idea of who Vamdemon was, but he was just there to listen. He had no connection to this so learning about the past was all he was really interested in right now.

Learning how they were chosen, like how it was the connection to the digimon, that Taichi and Hikari met, that the made it evolve to Greymon. How it is the group, that allows the digimon to evolve as they do, and not through the digivice and crests. How each crest represented their strongest quality those four years ago. And how each member of the group, beside Naruto, had a similar thing to Taichi and Hikari back then. But even they didn't know why.

They watched as Piemon attacked and went to steal the crest. But when Gennai appeared, Naruto could have sworn, the voice sounded different during his unconscious state back then. The group followed as Gennai took off with the eggs and digivices. And watched on, to how it showed the reason that Tailmon's digivice and egg were never with the group that day. And how after many years, the digimon waited on their partners till that day they came.

Naruto could only wonder if there was a reason for him to be there. He had hoped, only slightly, if he was somehow connected. But it was never mentioned. And he never voiced it. When all was said and done the being left Hikari. Though once she awoke, she didn't remember what happened.

Naruto watched as Yamato left to find his own path. And Mimi dropped from the group as she couldn't take the deaths of others anymore, and Jyou stayed behind to try convince Mimi, to keep going and keep her safe. Naruto wanted to say something, but he found that even if he tried, it wouldn't do a thing. So with Taichi, Hikari, Takeru, Koushiro and Sora. The group parted from them. With hope that when it comes to the final battle. Everyone will be together again.

"Trouble is... We've lost the aid of one mega and two ultimate level digimon... Taichi-san..." Taichi glanced to the x-ninja who looked at his palm and clenched it into a fist. "Do you think we're strong enough?" Taichi looked bewildered by possibly the strongest kid he's ever met to even take on a mega digimon like the Metalseadramon. "Even I... am no match for the dark masters. Maybe if I'd still been 12... I'd have a better chance."

"Hey don't worry Naruto." Taichi spoke. "We'll be enough. Now we just need to take out Pinochimon."

"That's simple." Kyuubi spoke. "Takeru..." The young boy looked to the fox digimon. "You know his mansion in and out right..." Takeru nods. "Then..." The ground shook at that moment and the group held onto something to keep balance.

"Something exploded!" Sora yelled when the noise reached them. Slowly the quaking calmed and the group semi relaxed.

"What happened?" Taichi spoke nervously as they held the trees. Tentomon returned from the tree tops to report.

"It was a meteor! And a huge meteor at that. It came crashing down here."

"A meteor?" Koushiro asked interested.

"Enough with the meteor." Sora spoke out before they lose track of their conversation. "Let's go back to what we were talking-about."

"Agreed." Kyuubi spoke. "Takeru, once we get there. We take advantage if he's gone and set a trap. If not we take him on before he's got a plan."

"Kyuubi." Naruto spoke. "What makes you think we'll have a chance?"

"Kyuubi has a point." Koushiro spoke. "Instead of waiting, we should make the first move and challenge him to a battle."

"I agree." Naruto looked to Tailmon. "Besides, we don't have time to waste in the first place. If we don't hurry, it'll end up being too late for both our world and yours."

"But..." Naruto muttered before he sighed as he looked down.

"Onii-chan." Hikari spoke. "Let's go." Naruto clenched his fist. Why did he feel so against this?

"Wait a minute, guys," Sora spoke. "Pinochimon is a mega level, remember?"

"But we have to fight him one day, don't we?" Takeru argued.

"Why don't we take a vote?" Koushiro asked having seen the split decisions. "All who think we should go to Pinochimon's mansion." Three agreed while Sora was against it. Naruto was questioning his thoughts. Taichi remained arms crossed and eyes closed as he questioned his decision.

'What would Yamato do at a time like this? What would he say?' Taichi looked to Naruto. 'I have no idea what he's feeling. But from what I can tell he feels like he needs to take much of the burden...' He then looked to Takeru. 'If something were to happen to Takeru, how would I be able to face Yamato?'

"Onii-chan?" Taichi looked to his sister.

"Are we going?" Tentomon asked. "Or are we not?"

'You won't go, right, Taichi?' Sora hoped but did not voice.

"All right, I got it." Taichi asked. "Why don't we take a look at the place first before we figure things out?" Everyone but Sora and Naruto nods before Taichi grinned and put a hand on Naruto's head. He may seem mature, but he seemed more like a little kid. "Don't put everything on your shoulders." Naruto glanced up before following Hikari and Takeru as Taichi walked behind and stopped and glanced back when he noticed Sora not coming. "Sora?"

"I guess there's no other choice, if that's what you've decided."

"That's not what I meant. If we find any danger there, Koromon and I will stop the enemy's attacks. I'm sure Naruto will, but he seems to be tired from what I've seen. I want you to lead the others to safety while we distract them."

"Taichi." Sora spoke surprised by this.

"I'm counting on you." Taichi asked.

"Okay."

The group walked quietly as Naruto walked at the back. 'After all my efforts to keep everyone safe, I'm the one who needs protecting...' Naruto frowned as he looked at his palm and clenched it before looking at the digivice. 'I can't even get Kyuubi to ultimate...' Naruto put his hand to his head. 'If only I knew how he digivolved to begin with...' Naruto sighed as he let his hand lower and he put his hand to his cheek. 'Everything that day is still a blur...'

"Naruto seems really down..." Koushiro muttered as he glanced back. "What do you think is wrong?" Taichi glanced to Koushiro.

"I think it's the fact that after so long..." Kyuubi muttered. "That he knows what he's now limited to and that he really can't do everything." Kyuubi sighed; he could tell the blond was too lost in his own thoughts to listen to anything. He'd had seen that look before when he was moving about with the kid. "Naruto's always put people before him. He knew he could go on for ages and keep fighting. But he's not had to fight for a long time till now. Normally we could escape and not come across a dark master for days. Then encounter one and escape when we had no choice... He's strong... But he's not ready... It's just eating him up that he's the one who needs to be protected again."

"I see... He feels he needs to be the one to put his life on the line." Taichi muttered and Kyuubi nods.

"That's how he's been when he was a ninja. He put his life on the line to protect his village. His friends and even to bring back the Uchiha..." Kyuubi muttered. "It's hard stepping back and admitting you can't do everything... He's still eaten up about that day, and I know that's the reason he strives to protect everyone to his limit. Now that he's hit it. He knows that he can't be the hero..." Kyuubi glanced back. 'Yet...' Kyuubi looked forward as Takeru walked at the front with everyone else.

'What can anyone really say to him?' Sora asked herself as she listened to the group at the front. 'Since we have no idea what his life was truly like, how can we help him...'

Hikari glanced back as she heard what was said. Everyone, even Kyuubi didn't seem to know what to say. But if they at least spoke to Naruto... Maybe they can get him back on track. He seemed friendly, but he kept some sort of wall to everyone. She at least asked him more about himself. So maybe, while he may say he had called them friends. Maybe he was just trying to make himself believe that so he could at least have a reason to fight? Friends try to help others and her brother had tried also to raise Naruto's spirit. So she should try again right? Maybe talking about it once more, will hopefully hit home how much of a meaning Naruto has to everyone.

Naruto didn't notice Hikari's pace come to match his own as she dropped back beside him. "What's wrong?" Naruto blinked and glanced over to his right.

"Huh?" Naruto asked as he seemed surprised by the sudden appearance of her.

"Just that you're not talking much... And seem so distant." Hikari muttered to Naruto as she looked down. "I was just wondering, why you're so different to before." Naruto glanced down.

"Just facing some demons about myself..." Naruto grumbled as he glanced aside.

"Just because you're not as strong as you used to be, doesn't mean you can't protect your friends..." Naruto sighed. "You're a nice person Naruto. Though..." Hikari glanced aside. "Maybe, a little thoughtless in your actions…"

"Huh?" Naruto glanced over confused.

"Well... You keep putting yourself in a place where you could be killed. Don't you care about our feelings?" Naruto blinked at the question.

"Um... Well..." Naruto really didn't know what to say there. "It's just... How I've lived. Death is what I've been around a lot of my life." Naruto looked down as he finished.

"But it's not the same here... What do you think would happen if you get killed?" Naruto glanced up. "I know you say you won't. But you've come to the term yourself. You're not who you used to be. But if you get killed, it will affect everyone. I told you, you're someone to us. You're not a nobody, your somebody. You're Naruto Uzumaki, our friend and companion." Naruto scratched his head amazed he was being talk to like this. "Everyone has a limit, everyone has a time when they cannot fight a fight where others can. And there will be times when someone else will be the one to take your place to fight a battle and not you. But you can get stronger from this. Just... Stop feeling so down because you can't fight, we're all trying our best. You've done so much. Don't feel bad because of unforeseen events."

"Hikari..." Naruto muttered as he glanced aside once more. "Why, why do you care? Why would you go..."

"Everyone needs someone to lean on. That's what friends are there for... Right Onii-chan?" Taichi nods. Naruto blinked as he found himself walking amidst the group. He had been so focused on Hikari talking to him to notice.

"She's right Naruto." Taichi replied. "True you haven't been with us long. But you are as much a friend and teammate as everyone is."

"You've lived a harder life." Naruto looked to Sora. "Even though you're older than your age now and know more..." Sora said as she looked forward. "You shouldn't feel you need to be the one to take it all on. Friends are there for a reason."

"..." Naruto remained quiet as he looked down.

"Knowing when to fight, and for what reasons do begin to cloud a person's motives..." Koushiro spoke up. "You are strong Naruto. But if you don't have a proper reason to fight, you can't progress. All you've done is hide and survive from one day to the next. You've seen more than we have. But just because you've suffered, doesn't mean you should keep us at arm's length."

"You've got to accept it Naruto." Kyuubi spoke up from behind the blond. "You have to push the past from you now. You are given a chance to make amends. You've gained friends and they've accepted you're different. And they're willing to form a bond. So drop your shield and embrace them. I won't be there forever kid. And we are even barely close as it is." Naruto closed his eyes as he clenched his fist.

"..." Naruto took a breath. He didn't know what to say. Even the demon of the seal was trying to help him. Yet...

"Come on Naruto!" Takeru spoke. "If someone feels down, those round them feel the same."

"Cheer up Naruto. If you keep sitting in the darkness of your past, you'll never fully push forward." Tailmon stated. "You're standing alone. But you've got friends willing to stand beside you. Look forward to a better future now. True, don't fully forget the past. But don't live in the past..."

"But... What can I do?" Naruto asked. "As I've said... And you all know. I don't exist, I'm not meant to exist. What will I do when I go to your world?"

"We'll figure out something. That's what friends are for." Taichi answered. "Now cheer up Naruto. You want to help? Then stand by us now and keep getting stronger. Help us defeat the dark masters. You've beaten one. We've got three left."

Naruto took a breath. As he opened his eyes there was a soft glow at the base of his iris, like a moon reflecting off the water. He smiled. "Arigatou..." Naruto took a deep breath. "I'll do my best!" Naruto roared.

"That's it! That's the attitude we need. Now let's get back up to speed!" The group nod as they're pace returned to normal from their slow walk.

'I'm twelve... Yet I'm treated like a little kid... Guess I shouldn't hope to be treated seriously if I don't prove I'm capable of moving on from those ties that hold me back.' Naruto smiled as he felt a bit better.

Hikari could only be amazed by the glow she could see from the blond's eyes. She smiled, she had done everything and with the help of her brother, friends and even the Kyuubi. They'd got Naruto back on track.

"Yosh... Let's take Pinochimon down!" Naruto called out. Kyuubi grinned.

"Now that reminds me, of the old hyper active ninja, from Konoha." Kyuubi stated as Naruto smirked.

"Least it's not knuckle head..."

"We'll see..." Kyuubi commented as the group walked on. Their next fight was only round the corner.