Chapter 4: Team Kakashi's Visit
Sasuke hadn't missed the look Naruto had given them.
"Sorry Naruto-sama," Kakashi said, sheepishly placing his hand behind his head. "I guess no one's told you."
"Told me what?" Naruto asked.
"What're you talking about, Sensei?" Sakura asked.
"Well, you'll understand once you've heard his story," Kakashi told her, then to Naruto he added, "I'll tell the story, you just rest."
Sasuke whistled when he'd finished. "So that's why you were surprised to see me," Sasuke said.
"It also explains why you blushed when you first saw me," Sakura added.
Naruto nodded gloomily. "Everyone knows Orochimaru's a sick bastard," Sasuke said hotly, "but this takes the cake."
"Sasuke," Kakashi warned.
Sasuke sighed, then said "Yes, sir."
Naruto looked from Sasuke to Kakashi and was about to ask when Kakashi said, "I know what you're going to ask," Kakashi took a deep breath before continuing. "As you might have guessed, someone else had been chosen as the fourth member of our team. His name was Hibachi, and Orochimaru killed him."
Naruto's eyes widened. Hibachi was the last member of the team? he thought, and Orochimaru killed him? Naruto remembered Hibachi. Although nearly everyone had bullied him in the academy, Hibachi stood out because he'd once tricked Naruto into thinking that he'd wanted to be his friend.
Still, Naruto mourned for him. "Well," Kakashi added, "it had actually been Orochimaru's attack on the village that had killed him, but..." Naruto gasped.
"Did you know Hibachi?" Sakura asked.
"Not well," Naruto said, "but, in the dream world, we were in the academy together, ya know. But I never really saw him again after graduation, since he hadn't made the cut."
Naruto, wanting to change the subject, asked about the others.
Kakashi, Sakura and Sasuke took turns informing him about what had happened in the real world. It turned out that not much, historically, had changed. In fact the only differences were that Sasuke's family was still around; no one knew why Gaara had a change of heart; and the only knowledge of the Akatsuki was that they were a band of mercenaries which meant that Jiraiya and Asuma were still alive as well as the fourth war never happening.
Naruto crossed his arms trying to process this when Tsunade came in and told them that Naruto needed rest.
Tsunade helped him lie down while team Kakashi wished him well as they left.
"You're as bad as your mother," Tsunade said once he was lying down. "She, too, would sneak out to train." Naruto just looked out the window, as Tsunade sighed. "I understand that you want to get back in shape, however your father will come and visit you later, so please rest until then, Naruto-sama." Naruto nodded as he closed his eyes. He was very tired.