Chapter 4

Harry felt heat surrounding him. It felt like it was close to engulfing his entire being, but also standing still and teasing him. On another side it wasn't too overbearing. It was almost comforting. He could tell. Something was trying to wake him from a long lasting dream. There was an extra presence that he was becoming aware of again.

"Haru, it's time for us to wake up again. You feel the heat, don't you." A voice called to Harry.

Harry sighed nervously. After hearing the oddly familiar voice, he woke immediately, however he didn't open his eyes right away. He didn't wish to open his eyes. The voice speaking to him would make him wake up from his shell that was containing his memories, if he opened his eyes to the voice's command.

Harry was aware that there always seemed to be another presence in his life, even when he was physically alone. The presence had always remained dormant, until now. Never speaking a word to him, but always feeling another inside his mind.

"Haru."

He could clearly see within his mind, the end of his first year when he defended the Sorcerer's Stone from Voldemort. Seeing Voldemort's face in the back of Quarrel's head had been a disgusting sight, yet also a frightening experience. When he thought he was going to be choked to death, was when he finally felt the presence appear. It was a very subtle start, but Harry managed to catch it. He caught it when he saw the blisters in Quarrel's hand form and get worse, until the man's whole body finally turn to ash. In the beginning he didn't know what it meant, so he didn't bother to mention it to Voldemort, figuring that it was probably a magic most wizards could do.

But now he knew the truth. It wasn't his own magic.

"Haru."

'It's Harry now. I am not known by that name anymore.'

"Very well, Harry. Do you remember me?"

'I don't know. I am aware of your presence, but I don't think I recall why.'

"Do you remember the day you saved me from death?"

'Maybe. I know the memory is inside my mind, but I'm not sure if I can find it.'

"I think you can find it. Whether, the question should be, do you wish to?"

'I think so. How do I find it?'

"It's easy, just open your eyes. I'm right in front of you. Just open your eyes to see again."

'To see again... But once I get my memories back, what will I find?'

"As soon as you open your eyes physically, not just mentally, you will know immediately where you are. However, you will only remember what I managed to help you retain just before your death."

'I see.'

Harry nervously tightened his closed eyes. This was it. As soon as he opened his eyes and faced the presence in his mind, his blocked memories would be back. Everything he had forgotten will resurface. Was he ready for this?

"Whether you are ready for this or not, it matters not. This would have happened anyway. It is better that you remember everything now, than have it be gradual in the wizarding world and going into a state of panic, from memories that you cannot recall whence they happened."

'You are right, as you always are.'

"Of course I am."

'I see your attitude has not changed. What a relief. Okay then. Here I go.'

"Good. Now hurry up, before you set the couch you are lying upon, on fire."

"That story..." Sai trailed off.

"What about it Sai?" Yamato asked patiently.

"I think I've heard it somewhere before. Back when I was very young. I think my friend told it to me, before he died." He continued.

Naruto looked at his 'friend' as he spoke. He remembered some mention of a friend he used to have when they were on a mission to find Sasuke's location a month ago. It was the time where he saw Sai smile from his heart for the first and probably only time, knowing him. When he was able to remember the final picture that he wanted to draw in his book.

"Do you remember what your 'friend' said about the story?" Tsunade asked.

"A little. I think he said that the story was not completed for one reason or another, or he suspected that the story might be a fake and it's hiding the truth about something." Sai finished with a smile.

"A fake-" Naruto began.

"Nani? Does anyone besides me smell smoke?" Sakura asked giving a tiny sniff. She covered her nose to get away from the stench.

"Agh!" Naruto gasped and plugged his nose as well.

Kakashi whipped around to where the scent was coming from. He faced the boy and saw smoke coming off the couch near the boys hands. He was about to get closer, but then a small flame erupted from the boys hands. He heard Naruto, Sakura, and Sai gasp at the sight. He looked around and saw Tenzou preparing a water jutsu to extinguish the flames. That's when he saw the boy's eyes open. When he looked into his eyes he could see the burning red irises. They were so dark that he would almost mistake it for the Sharingan, but they didn't have the black swirling pins inside.

He saw the boy look down and jump off from the couch.

"Oops, sorry about that. I was just a little too late wasn't I?"The Harry said sheepishly. He stuck out a hand. "Return." Harry commanded the flames back to the palm of his hand. Everyone watched as the flames disappeared without a trace.

"We'll be right back. Harry must retrieve something before we may speak further." Pheonix's deep voice spoke.

Naruto's eyes widened. This feeling he was receiving from the other near the couch. It was quite a presence. It was making the Kyuubi inside him react in a strange way as well.

'What is this feeling?' Naruto thought.

Are you kidding boy? You don't know who is in that boy? Such a dumb vessel I have to be imprisoned inside. Kyuubi grumbled annoyed.

'Hey! It's not like I put you here!' Naruto shouted insulted.

The Kyuubi chose to ignore the boy's words and continued on.

He is... very strong. That's all I can say for now. I've only heard of him before in the other world, before I was summoned and imprisoned in your bag of bones. He is not someone you'll want to anger or it'll be your death Kit.

'Wow. You almost sound afraid. When was the last time you called me Kit?' Naruto thought teasing.

Oh shut up! You better take my warning to heart! Understand brat?!

'Yes, yes.' Naruto replied lazily.

Tsunade sat slightly stunned, but didn't show it. She certainly didn't expect a two different voices to come out of the boy's mouth. She quickly snapped out of it as soon as she heard him say that he needed to retrieve something. What did he need? Whatever it was, she couldn't very well allow him to go off on his own. There was so many things to be asked and to be said. What would this boy do? How powerful was he? If he is the Phoenix then where has he been all this time if he is immortal?

The reason she knew of this books existence is because her grandfather was the second Hokage. Her grandfather told her that it was rumored that the Phoenix came to Konoha when the first Hokage was still alive. But when he's not around, no one knows where he goes or what he does. There was no way that she could allow him to sneak off again.

"Kakashi, go with him." Tsunade ordered after seeing the boy leave through the open window.

"Right." Kakashi said as he left through the window as well.

"Hold it. Sakura go with him. Just incase something happens, you'll be able to heal if anyone gets hurt."

"Right. Tsunade-sama." Sakura replied and left after her sensei through the window.

'Sigh. What is with everyone treating that window like a door. Ugh, I need a drink. Not to mention Jiraiya. He'd be a big help. He was always curious about the mysterious phoenix.' Tsunade thought. She felt a headache coming on when she heard Naruto interrupting her thoughts.

"Oi. Can I go to Grandma Tsunade? Huh? Huh?" Naruto asked.

"No Naruto. Stay here." She replied.

"Just be patient Naruto. They should be back in a bit. Kakashi and Sakura are following him after all." Yamato said.

"Hmph." Naruto grumbled.

Patience was the one item of his being that he could never find and he wasn't very good at it, but if he didn't he'd get another painful experience from the old hag and he didn't want that. He subconsciously rubbed his cheeks remembering painful experiences he had with her. They pretty much happened every time he had a meeting with her for mission assignments or physical check ups at the hospital. Also all the times he got hit by Sakura. He shuddered at the incredible strength the two women possessed and decided to do his best to wait.

"Should we say something sensei?" Sakura asked as they followed Harry.

Kakashi sighed. "What can we say? We don't know anything about the situation yet." Kakashi hated missions like that. "No, I think the best thing we can do is follow him and see where it'll lead."

"But what'll we do if he's trying to escape."

"Don't worry I'm not trying to escape." Harry said from above.

They looked up and saw that he was on top of the Hokage mountain. He was sitting on the first Hokage's head, he looked like he was seemingly waiting for them to catch up to him.

'Well I guess the best thing we could do is talk to him.' Sakura thought.

Kakashi and Sakura dashed up the mountain and caught up to the boy.

"What's your name?" Sakura asked.

'Hmm. Not a bad start Sakura. I imagine anyone would get annoyed being called boy or girl all the time.' Kakashi thought glad of the girl's assertiveness.

Harry stood up from his spot. "You can call us Harry. We don't go by Haru anymore, like the story said we did. We haven't been called Haru in a long time." He replied.

"What do you mean by us and how long?" Sakura asked.

Kakashi narrowed his eyes slightly at Harry's statement. The way he spoke sounded familiar. However Harry didn't respond to the question and kept walking.

"What are you searching for." Kakashi asked after a minute.

"We were looking for this." Harry said as he lifted up a chest that was etched inside the wall. "I know where we are. I have memories of this place. We're in Konoha, no?"

Sakura and Kakashi nodded.

"Good. Don't worry miss healer. I wouldn't let anyone get hurt. I also had no intention of escaping. We've always liked this village quite a bit." Harry said. He didn't elaborate why and they hoped that he would explain when they returned.

"How... How did you know I was a doctor in training?" Sakura stammered in shock.

"Your soul magic tells me. Oh wait. You don't call it that anymore. What's the correct term for it now? What did Shodaime call it again?" Harry said scrunching his eyebrows trying to remember.

Kakashi's eyes widened. How old was this boy? Soul Magic? That phrase hasn't been said for a few centuries. He even knew the Shodaime Hokage.

"Soul magic? Kakashi-sensei was that ever mentioned at the Academy?" Sakura asked. She was the smartest girl of her year, but she never heard or read about it from Iruka-sensei.

"It wouldn't be anymore. It's just an old term that's been replaced with-"

"Oh right. He called it chakra." Harry said.

"Right." Kakashi said blinking.

'Look for your clothing and protector.' Phoenix said.

'Hmm. Okay.' Harry opened the chest he placed on the floor while he spoke to the other two. He opened the chest with the secret combination that it was coded with. 'Yep everything is there. My clothing and leaf protector.' Harry thought.

'Good. Let's go back. We owe the hime a little explanation if we plan to stay here for a while. We need to find out what our mission is this time. This will also help give you a chance to get your body back into shape.'

'Hmm.'

Harry picked up the small chest when he closed it. "Okay we're ready. Let's go back." He called out.