I currently have a pretty good idea of where this story is going, especially in regards to the characters and future story points. I always planned for this story to be more 'epic', what with all the themes of fate, war, and history running through it. And it's because of those themes that I ended up giving it the title that I did. Though for now, I'll leave it you guys to work out the significance of the title…
Anyway, I'd like to say thanks to Rose Tiger, Draco122, and Adngo714 and everyone else for taking the time to review this. Thanks guys!
THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY
Part IV:
"Something to Believe in"
Naruto walked into a clearing and sat down in the grass and unzipped and removed his black and orange jacket. He flipped the latches on a long wooden case and flipped it open. The young ninja reached in and lifted up a sword handle. It was about 12 inches long, bound in black ray skin and wrapped tightly in dark yellow sageo lace. Both the end-piece and the tsuba hilt were made from a dark golden colored metal.
"Because unlike you, I want that title someday... It's my dream to be the Hokage!"
He smiled faintly to himself as he recalled the early (and rather hostile) exchange between himself and Tsunade, back when he only called her 'Granny'. Naruto then set the handle down and picked up a long blade from the box. The metal was a shiny black color- the bottom 10 inches of the blade were tapered while the remaining 30 inches formed into long cutting blade with a subtle curve.
"You said to me that all things decay eventually, but you're wrong... There is one thing that will always endure, this feeling- it will never decay!"
Apparently, Tsunade had said that to Orochimaru right before all hell had broken loose and their massive six-person battle royal kicked off! Naruto then carefully slid two small metal pieces up along the tapered segment (where it met the cutting wider blade) before sliding it down into a narrow slot inside the handle. Once the blade was firmly in place and lined up, he carefully inserted wooden pegs into slots to hold it- effectively making it one solid object.
"The most important talent for a Shinobi is not the number of jutsu... The most important thing is having the guts to never give up!"
Naruto smiled, recalling his master's mantra as he held the sword up to the light to inspect it. He noted how blade picked up the light. The gentle curve of the razor-sharp blade practically lit up before him with the hair-thin apex seemed to glow in the light. He moved the sword around a bit, watching the light bounce of black metal. He slowly got up onto his feet.
"I'm doing this to protect Konohagakure... So from here on out, it's my life on the line! Because some day, this kid's going to be the Hokage!"
Tsunade had said that as she protected him from Orochimaru. He nodded to himself, thinking about how she'd put her faith in him. But even more significantly, she'd been able to believe in something once again- she'd gotten her faith back. He held up the sword, gripping the handle firmly in both hands and spread his feet apart. He slowly drew the sword back towards himself, then swung it back out in a quick fluid motion.
"When people are hurt, they learn to hate... When people hurt others, they become hated... But knowing that, pain also allows people to be kind. Pain allows people to grow."
He recounted Nagato's lamentation as he took a step forward and performed an almost imperceptible slash with the sword. He drew back, then advanced while performing a series of rapid slashes and thrusts- turning on his feet multiple times as he continued. Naruto then took a step back, holding the sword in one hand- twirling the sword in a flourish.
"I will break the curse... So if there really is such a thing as peace, I will find it."
"Those words...?"
He switched the sword between his hands amidst a series of flourishes. He started advancing with the sword in his right hand and performing thrusts. Naruto instantly turned the other way, putting his left leg and arm forward while pulling back and holding the sword horizontal. He then began performing lightning-quick slashes and thrusts. He stopped and turned around, swinging the blade in a crescent-shaped arch- creating a faint whistling sound as he did so.
"That's right... Lord Jiraiya wrote this book to try and change the world. In it, he says he was inspired by a pupil... You were that pupil, Nagato!"
Naruto performed a few more cuts and thrusts, along with various flourishes. Once he finished, he stepped back and bent his knees- moving the left foot back for leverage. He raised the sword up so that his hands were almost level with his chest. The blond ninja fixed his gaze intently on the blade and slowly began manipulating his Chakra. He continued to silently look upon the weapon, gradually feeling his energy flowing into his hands...
"The Main character's name... Naruto! My name is a precious memento given to me by my master... So I won't give up and trample over this memento! I will become Hokage, I'll bring peace to Amekagure... So please, believe in me!"
He recalled his promise to Nagato as he watched the blade start to go faintly. He could feel his Chakra slowing through his body and into the sword. Naruto narrowed his eyes and concentrated on controlling the flow of his energy. As the Chakra in the blade built up, a halo of energy formed around it. Then, in a split secant, he turned around and cut a wide downward slash at a 45 degree angle...
"Please accept these... It's my hope that these will serve as flowers of hope that will never die."
The Shadow Doppelganger, that been sneaking up on him, was violently thrown back by Naruto's wind-infused attack! The double vanished amidst an explosion of smoke. The blond stepped back and let out a sigh as he thought about Konan.
Naruto walked over and picked up the sword's long black scabbard. "I'm not going to let anyone important to me ever by hurt by these people ever again." He remarked to himself in serious voice while he re-sheathed the sword.
...o.o.o...
Captain Yamato and Sakura, along with Sai, made their way down the corridor. The three were flanked by Neji and Kiba. The small group arrived at a locked doorway guarded by an Anbu wearing a feline mask. The Black-Ops looked at them for a moment, then exchanged a glance with Yamato. He nodded and opened the door, gesturing for them to enter.
They walked inside a large room where they were greeted by another Anbu, this one wearing a hooded cloak and a fox mask, and medic. The masked ninja nodded and stepped back from the medical bed that he'd been guarding. The others watched as Sakura set down her gear, grabbed her medical kit and approached the bedside.
The pink-haired kunoichi looked down at the occupant. Konan's mouth and nose were covered by a breathing mask. Her torso was wrapped up in fresh bandages and she was linked up to a blood transfusion unit and siphon setup. Just as she started to move her hand towards the woman, Konan suddenly open her eyes and reached up to grab her wrist.
"Konan-sama, please don't worry." Sakura began. "I'm here to help you... I'm a friend and teammate of Naruto Uzumaki." She explained to her.
Konan let go of her sank back down onto the bed. Sakura turned to the medic. "I heard that she was injured pretty severely... please tell me everything you can about her injuries."
"There's considerable internal damage..." He began in a grave tone. "Her left lung was punctured, and there's damage to the heart as well... She's bleeding internally. Additionally, there are also broken ribs putting pressure on her lungs." He explained. "We've got her in a semi-stable condition for the moment and we're draining the blood and replacing it with transfusion..."
The medic then paused for a moment. "Though, I'm afraid that's all we can really do for her... We're simply not really equipped to handle such serious injuries."
Sakura nodded. "Right, I'd better get started then..."
Konan reached up and pulled her breathing mask down. "When I die... Naruto will then be last of Jiraiya's students... he'll be the only one to... carry on what he taught us."
"You're not going to die, I promise!" Sakura exclaimed.
Konan took a raspy breath and looked at her. "Perhaps... Just... just in case I... don't make it..." She paused to take another breath. "...There's something I want you to... tell Naruto. He... he deserves to know the truth..." Her eyes watering as she spoke.
Sakura leaned in closer to better hear the female paper-user. "Konan-sama, what do you mean by 'the truth'? What are you talking about?"
Konan reached up and put her hand on the pink-haired medical ninja's shoulder and pulled her further down towards her. "It's about... Naruto... About who he... really is."
Yamato turned to Sai. "Go and scope out the area, see if you can find anything- vulnerable spots in the security parameter, details about what happened, things like that." The dark-haired teen gave him a simple nod before he left the room.
The Captain then turned to Neji and Kiba. "You two, come with me... I suspect that Sakura is gonna need plenty of space while she works." He explained to the two of them. "The Anbu can keep an on things here while the three of us have a little look-around."
With that, the three of them left the room...
...o.o.o...
Hinata smiled as she watched Naruto kneel down at the bank of the river. The energetic shinobi leaned down and dunked his head into the water. He snapped back up, sending droplet flying. She observed that the water had slicked his blond hair back.
She approached him and handed him a towel. Naruto smiled as he accepted it, quickly setting about drying himself off. He rubbed his hair till it started to resemble his usual spiky look. He folded the towel and set placed it on the ground near his things. Hinata blushed slightly as she looked at him- he was shirtless, so the subtle muscle definition in his youthful body was in plain view for her.
She averted her gaze and ended up spotting his sword resting in the grass. Hinata stepped past him and knelt down to retrieve it. She stood back up with the sword in hand and and looked at it, narrowing her pale eyes a little she examined the shiny black wooden scabbard intently. The surface was smooth to the touch and had dark yellow lace bound around it near the top.
Hinata smiled to herself as she looked at it- there were gold 'Leaf' crests evenly spaced along the sheath on either side. "This is really amazing..." She began as she looked at it. "You're able to channel your Chakra into the sword blade, which then allows to unleash a wind-infused attack."
"What can I say... It's A Kind of Magic." He replied, giving her a disarming smile as he finished with the towel and put his shirt back on. "Actually, I was sort of inspired Captain Asuma..." He continued, his tone becoming more subdued as she handed the sword back to him. Naruto then drew the sword from the sheath and continued. "He was a Wind-User like me..."
He held up the sword so she could see it. "He had these special knives that were made from the same Chakra-conducting metal that this sword's blade is made from." He explained as he re-sheathed the weapon. "By adding a change in form to my Chakra, I was able to create the Rasengan… When I add a change in Nature and Form, I can create the Rasenshurikan." He explained to her. "And this sword will allow me to perform a similar type of attack, but with a physical form to go with it."
"This all sounds so incredible…" Hinata began with a smile. "But why are you suddenly spending so much time on new jutsu?" She asked him. "It's almost like you're expecting something…"
Naruto nodded in response to her statement. "Yes, you're right… I am." He replied as he slipped his jacket on. "I can't hope to stop Sasuke's Fire attacks, but my Wind can utterly destroy his Lighting." He explained in a somber tone as he zipped up his jacket. "I have to face facts… The next time I meet Sasuke, it will probably be on the field of battle."
"Back when I encountered Itachi, he asked me if I could chose the wellbeing of the people of the village over my personal beliefs- to do whatever it took to protect Konoha, even if that meant killing Sasuke." He paused for a moment to look up at the sky.
"You know, the way of the Senzu is one of compassion. I want to bring peace to this world, but even I realize that some people can't be saved..."
"Naruto, what are you saying?" Hinata asked.
"Real peace is within my grasp, but it won't come without a price..." Naruto began, exhaling as he glanced downward. "It's not a matter of power, it about whether or not I have the strength of will to see this conflict through to the end." He looked back up at her. "You see, in the end, the only way that I can bring about peace... is by killing Madara and Sasuke."
Hinata chewed her lip and looked away for a moment. "I'm sorry that you're carrying such a heavy burden with you..." She began in an uneasy voice. "I wish there was something I could do or say to help you feel better." She added.
Naruto walked up to her and reached out to cup her cheek gently with his hand, looking at her with a serious expression. "Hinata... Do you love me?"
"O-of course I l-love you, Naruto..." She replied adamantly, even as a faint blush coloring her cheeks as she continued. "More than anything, I've loved you from the very start!"
His expression softened and he smiled. "Just to know that someone like you loves me is more than enough to keep me going." Naruto replied as he leaned in towards her. "I love you, Hinata." He said softly as he kissed her.
...o.o.o...
Sai silently turned to look as Yamato suddenly appeared beside him, atop the roof of the building he'd been standing on. "Sir?"
"Did you find anything?" The captain asked.
Sai shook his head. "There are no signs that anyone forced their way in." He replied. "Though, I did not expect to find any trace of Madara, given his level of skill and experience."
Yamato crossed his arms exhaled. "Don't worry, I didn't believe that we've find anything either... I just had to be certain." He replied. "Oh, I thought you might want to know that Sakura is still busy working on Konan- it's going to still be a while, but Sakura is optimistic about her chances."
Sai nodded simply in response. "I'm afraid that there are things about human behavior that I still find particularly difficult to understand." He began. "I have attempted to understand Naruto, but much of his actions still confuse me... If he is an individual of such inscrutable morals, then how can he still feel such concern for Konan when he knows about her past?"
Yamato scratched his head. "That's a tough question..." He began. "I'm not sure if I'm cut out to explain these sort of things, but... I think the reason he cares so much is because he's experienced so much pain and loss first-hand." He explained. "It's that experience that allows him to empathize with the pain and suffering of other, regardless of who they are what they may have done."
The Captain continued. "Our ninja training might sometimes lead us to think that sentiment is a weakness, but it can make people stronger at times... After all, people fight the strongest when they're protecting something or someone important to them."
"Then it is these feelings that help Naruto be stronger, because he is fighting to protect the people that he cares about?" Yamato nodded as he continued. "As a member of Root, we were taught that that what our actions were justified because we were protecting Konoha... And yet, since I became part of your cell, I have seen things that caused me to question much of what I was taught."
Sai's expression became almost earnest as he looked at Yamato. "Tell me sir, if those teachings were wrong, then would that make me a bad person?"
"Sai, I'm no saint... As Black-Ops, we've done things in the line of duty that many would consider inexcusable and unjustified." Yamato replied somberly. "But as for your question... No, you're a not a bad person. You were a Shinobi of Konoha, doing your duty." He offered. "And despite your Root training, you are still a person... The fact that you're questioning your actions proves that you're human because you have a conscience."
"You're part of our team now, you have the chance to fight for something more than just simple duty." Yamoto added. "You're not here now simply because your part of my cell, you're here because Kakashi and I believe that you are someone that we can trust... You are someone who would keep Sakura safe- not out obligation as her teammate, but out of loyalty as her friend."
"Thank you Captain, for... your faith in me." Sai replied with some effort. "You have been very helpful to me in understanding human nature. But there is one more thing I am curious about..." He paused for a moment. "What do you believe, Captain?"
The former Black-Ops was quiet for a moment as he thought. "What do I believe..." He mused out loud, before giving the teen a smile. "I believe in Naruto, and I believe in you and Sakura as well." Yamato added with a note of pride in his voice. "And I can say this because I believe in Konoha and what it stands for." He finished.
...o.o.o...
Sakura emerged from the operating room, pulling her blood-stained gloves off as she spotted Kiba approaching her. The pink-haired medical ninja tossed the gloves into a nearby bin and reached up to pull her mask down off her face.
"The others will be here in a minute..." Kiba began, pausing to look at the state of her attire- noting the blood stains on the white surgical jacket she had on. "So, um, how is she doing now?"
Sakura exhaled as she removed the headband that held her hair back. "Well... it was touch-and-go for a while, but she's going to live." She replied, giving him a weary smile.
"Wow, you do look worn out..." Kiba observed with a small smile. "Just what sort of stuff did you have to do while you were back there?"
"Konan was in bad in pretty bad shape when we arrived... As you can probably guess by just looking at my current state." She began. "I had to do surgery on her as well as using my medical jutsu." Sakura added in a tired voice as Yamato, Sai, and Neji arrived.
She then continued. "I mended her broken ribs to get rid of the pressure and then I re-inflated and repaired the damaged lung so that she can breath properly..." She explained to the four of them in a shockingly matter-of-fact tone. "After that, I spent a good deal of time and Chakra repairing the damage to her heart." Sakura added, taking a deep breath.
"Wow Sakura, that's really incredible..." Yamato began. "You're being so humble about it, but you just spent the afternoon performing extensive emergency surgery on the Amekage."
Sakura shook her head and smiled at the remark. "I am the student of Tsunade-sama, she's the best and she taught me well." She replied. "Konan-sama really is an amazing woman... Not many people would have lived through what was done to her." She added in a serious voice. "I used my jutsu to seal up the surgical incision I made so there won't be any scaring."
The Captain (along with the others) watched her as she closed her eyes and rubbed the bridge of her nose and massaged her temples. "I'm guessing you must be pretty tired from all that, Sakura?" He asked her while Kiba exchanged a glance with Sai and Neji.
"I'm exhausted and drained..." She fired back. "I feel like I've been running a 10k marathon or fighting nonstop for hours..." She replied in a slightly flippant voice. "So now, if you four will excuse me, I'm going to find a table to crawl under and get some sleep."
...o.o.o...
Naruto arrived at the front of the archives in the central records building in Konoha. He looked around the area, eventually spotting a sandy-haired young woman in a long white coat.
Shiho turned around just as he approached her and smiled. "Oh Naruto, what a surprise to see you here of all place..." She began as she set her documents down. "What brings you here? Is there anything that I can help you with?" The bespectacled girl asked.
"Actually, there is something..." He began, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm looking for information on something and I was wondering if maybe you could help me to find it."
The young cryptographer beamed at the question. "Sure, we have extensive records on practically everything." She replied. "Just let me know what it is that you're looking for I'm sure that we can find what you need." Shiho offered cheerfully.
"I want to know about the Sharingan." He replied, slightly surprising Shiho. "Anything you have on how it works, how it effects people, everything." Naruto explained. "I want to understand it better to see if there's a way of resisting it."
"We do have a lot of information about the Sharingan... Because of the Uchiha." Shiho began in a hesitant tone. "But... as far as I know, there's no recorded information on resisting it." She continued as she motioned for Naruto to follow her.
Once Shiho brought him to a specific area of the archives. Naruto retrieved several texts from the large shelves, everything he could find with any information about the Sharingan.
Naruto turned back to Shiho, holding the numerous texts in his arms. "You probably think I'm crazy to be doing this... And to be honest, I probably am." He remarked with a smile. "But I have to do this- I can't face an enemy who can destroy me just be looking at me."
She shook her head. "Don't worry, you're not crazy..." Shiho replied with a smile. "You're Naruto, if anyone can work miracles, it's you."
(- End of Part 4 -)
The first version of this chapter had a few more scenes that took place after (what would become) the closing scene of this chapter. But it was rapidly getting way too long as it is, so I decided to end it here and move the remaining scenes into the next chapter.
There were a lot of callbacks in this chapter, plus a few references here and there. I'll let you guys know exactly what they are later on. Right now, I think it'll be fun for you guys to look out for them. And there may even be some in the next chapter... Anyway, I liked writing for Sai in this chapter, and enjoyed the scene between him and Yamato. I rewrote some of it a few times to make sure that it didn't come off as being too preachy.
Sai really is a blank slate, and he's proven interesting to write- for both humor and drama. His lack of human experienced allows me to explore human nature in a way I normally wouldn't be able to with the other characters. I was also happy to give Sakura more to do in this chapter- it's a chance to show her strength and compassion. And, of course, it was nice to finally have Kiba show up and say something in one of my stories.
I'm going to try and have the next chapter of "Between The Lines" posted before I continue with this. Anyway, please let me know what you guys though of this- your feedback and reviews are always extremely helpful and encouraging to me.
-Bojack727
