Chapter 6: The Sacrifice of an Old Forgotten Friend

Kabuto, hiding in the trees, growled from his failed task, "Kuso, Sasori and Deidara sacrificed themselves with sentiments for that Haruno girl, and Kankuzu and Nagato got defeated by some handy recruits." He summoned another person, "I see how your friends will react when they see you." He controlled him going to the Leaf shinobis' direction, so he will watch them how they will react and hesitate to fight him.

(~~~~~~)

Then, rain poured and everyone looked up; also the sun was still out and clear clouds. Sun shower? They all were confused why rain appeared and during the sunlight; then they heard a cry from a kid. They all looked around to find him, but the crying sounds were everywhere. Karin and Aimi used their sensing to locate and both pointed where it was coming from, and everyone saw a dark kid coming forward, sobbing.

"Who's that?" Shikamaru asked.

Akamaru barked at him, and Kiba looked at him confused. "Huh, you know him?" he asked his dog who barked happily. Everyone was clueless why they don't know him, but why Akamaru only knows him?

"Shadow Strangle Jutsu!" Shikamaru wrapped his shadow jutsu to hold the kid, and the kid tried to break away. He cried out more, and the rain poured hard.

Everyone groaned feeling their chakra draining and couldn't move. Gaara wanted to make a sand barrier on themselves, but water was stronger than sand; therefore, the sand will turn into mud and dropped on everyone. Suigetsu felt his body melting and couldn't feel himself, and his family was holding him for support. Jugo and Choji dropped on their knees, groaning in pain. Lastly, Kiba used his arm on his forehead but it was no good, and Akamaru lied down so he wouldn't suffer.

The Uchihas held onto their katanas as their children hid under their coats (one for each); similarly, Naruto used his coat for his children but Hinata didn't cover herself. Naruhina, Inosai, and Nejitenten covered their children underneath them. Shikamaru lost his jutsu from the hard rain, so he and Temari covered their daughter. They all kneeled down with sudden fatigue and rain wet.

"Shikamaru! Choji! Ino! Sakura! Naruto! Kiba!" he shouted out six names as they looked at him. "It's me!"

Ino wondered, "How does he know our names?"

"I don't know him," Choji said.

"Me neither!" Shikamaru said next.

Sakura groaned while trying to stand up, "I've never seen him before!" Sasuke and Itachi were concerned how the kid knows Sakura and why she doesn't, and his kids were curious themselves.

"Who is he?" Naruto asked.

"I'm curious myself, too" Kiba said.

Then, the kid ran up to them and flew from the left to right, and plucked six on the forehead. "Itai!" the six winced painfully and held their forehead.

Afterwards, they gasped from sudden shock and looked at the kid. "You're…I remember!" They said in unison, "Yota!"

Yota turned around and grinned widely.

Yota: tan skin; constant blush; spiky waist-length, brown hair, short bangs over eyes and chin-length strands on both face sides; pupil-less green eyes; sharp tooth sticking out on right side mouth; dull green robe; dull brown cloak; bandages on wrists and head, along with purple headband; and wooden geta

Yota, that's right. We remember you. Shikamaru thought as the others stared at him.

(~~~~~~)

(Episode 313) Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino were in the woods looking for some missing kunai sets of Choji. Until rain poured while the sun was still out, Shikamaru got confused from it. Then, they heard a cry and followed toward it. They found Yota hanging on the tree; Choji's kunai were holding him. Shikamaru and Choji climbed to get him down, but they were slipping down. Yota dropped his lower body after his kimono ripped off from the kunai, and he cried more. The rain dropped hard. Shikamaru fell back and hit his head, but Choji still climbed up for wanting to get his kunais. Suddenly, the rain water started breaking the tree, making it to fall. The tree crashed, but Choji and Yota were alright. Yota laughed humorously, also made Choji laugh. The trios stared at him, and Yota introduced himself to them. Shikamaru questioned where he was from and what village he lived, but he received nothing. He thought about to bring him to the Leaf; instead Choji objected because he recalled when stranger entered the village without authorization, it will be big-big trouble. They sighed for finding it true and began to think what to do. Yota laughed after calling Choji 'big-big', surprising him; then he called him a 'fatty fatso'. That angered Choji and scared Ino and Shikamaru; thus Choji jumped to attack him but missed. Yota laughing skipped around, while Choji tried to get him. Then, Yota collapsed for feeling hungry, so they brought food. He finished and asked for more, still hungry. They tried to convince, yet he complained for wanting more. Ino shouted him to stop, and Yota cried in tears. Rain came back. Shikamaru remembered and figured that the rain was caused from Yota crying. Ino cried apologizing and Choji next cried for feeling sad with him. Shikamaru last cried feeling the same. The next day, Sakura spotted Ino snatching lunch meals from the students' bento, also Shikamaru and Choji. She grew curious about their action, so she followed them to the forest after school. After they reached to a tree, she watched them calling for someone and saw Yota coming out from the tree. Also, he spotted her by the tree and called her out as 'Forehead'.

(~~~~~~)

"Yota…" everyone said his name. Besides them, the others want to know how the six met the kid. Yota cried out hard sending a big water wave, but everyone dodged it in time.

Choji cut through the rain bullet with his arm, "Yota…please stop!" Another bullet came and shot him to a rock.

Sakura shouted while blocking the bullet with Water Barrier Jutsu protecting herself and her family, "Yota! Stop this!" She vanished it but immediately got hit by another rain bullet. She banged her back hard on a tree, and her family went supporting her.

"How can we stop him?!" Sai asked.

Shikamaru said, "He's not doing this on purpose. He's being controlled."

"He has the ability to manipulate the weather," Ino explained. She jumped to avoid the rain bullet. "He makes rain from crying and snow from happiness."

One rain bullet went toward the two kages and team leaders, but Kankuro used Mechanical Light Shield Block from the Sasori puppet. Then, Gaara created a sphere of sand (Absolute Defence) around themselves.

(~~~~~~)

(Episode 314) Sakura met Yota the next day for following them, and then she slipped back after Yota called her Forehead. He created snow for liking her forehead and sang 'kon kon kon, it's snowing'. So, she played snow with them, snowball and igloo. Yota developed new friendship with Sakura. The next day, Sakura met up with the trios with food bag, apologizing for the wait; then she saw Sasuke with flowers attached on his bag. They all concerned about it and wondered if Yota came to the village. They went to him and asked him if anyone saw him; he said that a boy on the metal pole might have. They wondered if that boy was Naruto, so Ino told Yota not to go to the village or they will go separately. The following day, they found Yota's tree hideout damaged and suspected that Naruto was responsible. They went to him and brought back to the scene; however, Naruto was clueless and winced from their glares. For that, he ran off angrily; later he encountered ran and cry noise. He followed the sound and found Yota on a tree; he asked him who he was and what his problem was. Yota answered and poured hard rain on him, so Naruto ran from it and saw it as 'Sun Shower'. Yota came behind him for remembering him on the metal pole and whistling, so he asked him to teach him to whistle. Naruto gently declined, but Yota wouldn't give up. So, Naruto accepted; he explained and showed him several times. After many times, Yota successfully learned and said 'You're my friend' to him. They laughed, and Yota heard barking from puppy Akamaru. Kiba was there, too, and saw Yota. He told Yota to stop, but Yota created lightning striking Kiba and Akamaru away; therefore, Yota didn't like dogs. Sakura, Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji found them and saw Yota with lightning. Shikamaru figured it from Yota being angry, and everyone ran wildly from the lightning. It took some time for Yota to calm down and get along with Kiba and Akamaru, so they all played a fetching and hiding-seeking game. Afterward, Kiba found the group from hiding, but Yota was the only one left. They grew concerned for him; until they saw a rain shower. They thought that Yota was crying there and ran toward it; then they found him being captured by the anbu. They wanted to save him, but a male anbu approached and informed them about Yota's custody for trespassing and suspicion of a spy. They refused to believe the fact, yet the anbu next said that they will also be interviewed afterwards.

(~~~~~~)

Naruto shared, "He whistles to make wind." He remembered teaching him after becoming friends.

"Don't forget that he make lightning from anger," Kiba said while riding on Akamaru, dodging the rain bullet.

While they were dodging, three rain bullets were heading the young ninjas and women's direction. Super Expansion Jutsu! Just in time, Choji expanded his body size covering them all from getting hit. He winced from the hard hit on his arms, but he didn't give in. "Arigatou, Choji!" Temari thanked while holding her daughter. Hana and Mori held on together while guarding Ryosuke. Karin took her daughter, holding her; similarly Tenten held her kids.

Then, thunder occurred, and lightning bolts came striking. Yota became angry which causes it, but he was still grinning. Lightning went everywhere, nearly hitting them, so they all were avoiding and running around. "He's at it!" Kiba complained while riding on Akamaru, running away away from the bolts.

Furthermore, Gaara used Successive Shots: Sand Drizzle hitting every bolt coming at his way.

Meanwhile, Choji got struck on the hand which hurted him. He groaned from the burn, but he remained guarding his friends beneath. "Choji!" Ino came, "Don't worry, I'll heal you!" She used her healing jutsu on his burn spot.

Without Ino's notice, a bolt was coming behind but she didn't move. Choji was still hurt, so she needs to heal him. The bolt was coming close and about to hit her, but Sakura saved her a few seconds early. She blocked the bolt with lightning on her katana; in addition, Sasuke and Daisuke used chidori blocking the bolts. Kai also assisted by using his lightning clones covering Choji from them. As for the rest, they went under Choji for cover, including Itachi and Shina to stay close with Ryosuke. The four stood on top of Choji in case another bolt comes at them. Thus, they managed to stop every bolt they see coming.

Suddenly, Yota stopped the lightning and stood facing them, still grinning. What was he planning to do next? The four jumped off of Choji, who returned back into his normal size, and wait for the upcoming attack. Yota whistled three tunes, which Naruto recalled that whistle when he was teaching him, and warned his friends, "Minna, jump away!" A small but fast tornado was blown and hit a tree down, for their luck Naruto saved them. On the other hand to Gaara's sand, the bolts hit the sand barrier, but it quickly restores back.

Then, three wind bullets were blown toward Naruto, Sakura, and Ino. First, Naruto and Ino quickly pulled out a kunai and threw it at the bullet which cut it through. Sakura next used her katanas and crossed together, cutting the bullet. "Arigatou, Naruto!" Sakura thanked him who nodded without taking his eyes off from Yota.

Windy whirlwind swirled around Yota, and he send out small tornados at them. Itachi, who was holding Ryosuke, jumped towards the tree and hid behind one for cover. Everyone remained there, jumping away and cutting through the bullets. All the six friends tried pleading him to stop attacking them, yet it was no use.

(~~~~~~)

(Episode 315) It was the start of their parting with Yota and allowing his death. While they were playing Fetch-a-can-hide & seek, Yota got captured by some Konoha anbu. They stopped them but couldn't. Naruto was again alone, but his friends came to him. Naruto made a distraction on the Hokage Mountainside Images, ruining the Third with black paint; meanwhile, the others were inside the tower. Yota begged the anbus to let him go, yet they wouldn't listen. By sudden, they froze caused by Shikamaru's Shadow Imitation Technique. For a moment, the lights turned on and the shadow technique broke. The leader anbu appeared behind and threatened them that they will be treated harshly for assisting a spy (Yota). Naruto stopped and defended Yota, telling them that Yota was the first friend he ever had; however, the anbu hit him on the back. The group watched speechless, and Yota grew upset and created lightning on the anbus' heads. They dropped unconscious, so the group took Yota running deep into the forest. They came to a deep river, but they must cross it for Yota's safety. While crossing, Naruto, Shikamaru, and Choji fell into the water and drifted away with the strong current. Luckily, Yota used wind to pull two out and went toward Naruto, and took to shore. Naruto thanked him, but Yota dropped and went along with the river. The group ran down shore, searching him; until, they found him barely conscious. Yota moved a little, relief that his friends were alright and dying. The group started feeling ashamed for their recklessness and begged him not to die. Yota told them that they must forget, but they refused to forget him. Naruto grabbed his hand, so did everyone else, saying that they will remain together. However, Yota used Memory Erasing Technique, and they dropped unconscious. Thus, their lives eventually return normal from forgetful friendship, and Naruto end up alone again.

(~~~~~~)

"Yota…we never wanted forget you." Naruto said. "If we did, we rather live with the guilt of letting you die…"

Sakura stood with her katanas in battle stance as the other four pulled out a kunai. Except for Kiba. "Do we have to…make you suffer on more time?!" Naruto secondly asked.

The six friends dropped and lowered their weapons down, along with Akamaru whining sadly. "How could we bear that?" Naruto finished while shaking.

No word spoken for a small moment until Yota whistled a small tune which Naruto recognized it. "That's…" he remembered it when Yota learned his first whistle after he taught him.

Minna…it's me. Yota! Yota spoke in telepathically.

Everyone opened Yota… A wind bullet went at them which they jumped away with their weapons. This is my secret tin can telephone between me and you guys. Whoever is controlling me won't be able to hear us.

Ino widened The voice is our heads!

Everyone called out Yota! and Akamaru barked happily.

Inside the telepathic world, all six friends, including Akamaru, were taken and in front of Yota. Outside of it, they were still dodging and avoiding the wind blasts.

Nice to see you all again, Yota started.

Gomen…gomen, Yota! Sakura sadly apologized.

Yota asked, Why are you apologizing?

We let you die, Naruto explained.

We couldn't save you back then, Ino said sadly. Even though, we tried.

No, don't worry ourselves over that, Yota assured them. When I met you, I was already dead. I was reanimated.

He started sharing his past, I was born in a clan that possessed the ability of weather control; we travelled from village to village. Selling weather was our trade, and I was especially good at it. However, I was born very weak and eventually died from an illness. I died but wasn't allowed to. He remembered Orochimaru tested the Summoning Jutsu: Reanimation on a kid and turned him into Yota.

To Kabuto:

Kabuto was grinning as if he was enjoying the fight Yota was putting while he was controlling him. Yota…Be useful.

To Team Konoha:

The snake and glasses man tested the Reanimation and left me in the Leaf. I was so sad. He stopped sending out wind bullet but kept the whirlwind around him.

"Yota…" Naruto said after the wind bullet stopped. Everyone also stopped moving and looked at Yota, and they all felt sad for his past and lonely life.

Ino commuted Yota…we're so sorry we couldn't stay with you.

No, don't be. You know it was so tough when I was alive... Yota stated. I was always alone no matter where I went. After I died, I wasn't alone. I met you all, I had so much fun. I resurrected at the river once more, and I had to live alone again. But my memories of you all were never forgotten. It was hard, but I get to see you all again! You all grew up and doing well.

Everyone went close and kneeled in front of Yota. Naruto first started, Yota, don't care about the reanimation. Let's have more fun.

Sakura agreed next, With all of us together again, and be friends with our children.

That's right, it will be like old times! Ino next said.

Let's be happy, sad, and angry together, Choji encouraged.

Shikamaru insisted, You can be one of us! Be part of the Leaf!

Yeah! Don't you want that? Kiba asked him, and Akamaru barked persuading him.

However, Yota didn't answer; it made him feel happy from their offer. Suddenly, the six friends snapped back into their world and noticed snow dropping.

To Kabuto, he stopped for sensing something happening from Yota Nani?!

"Kon kon kon…kon kon kon," Yota sang his winter song as the others took caution. I'm so happy…I'm having fun… The snow started covering him from feet to head (they still could hear him).

"Yota!" his friends cried and ran to stop him, and Akamaru barked running. They figured what he was going to do to himself, so they need to stop him before it's too late.

Minna, arigatou! Yota thanked them as he was fully covered in snow. I'm going to go while I'm still happy. I'm happy because I am having fun. This time, don't forget me. I want you all to remember me.

"Yota! Don't do it!" Sakura shouted.

"Don't, Yota!" Naruto screamed.

I have no regrets now…I can finally die. Minna, bye-bye! Yota says his final words. I hope tomorrow will be a sunny day.

"Yota, no!" they all shouted as they got close. A lightning bolt stroked him early before they reached him, leaving them shocked and speechless. They were staring at the spot and hearing Yota's laugh, the same laugh they recalled back from their childhood. The others behind watched them, feeling sad for their loss of a friend. They took a moment to recover for their loss and narrowed their eyes straightforward; in addition, they will never forget their dear friend.