Olá! I'm back from my vacation although not very tanned because I'm allergic to the sun (Damn it!). I went to Lisbon and Costa da Caparica, really beautiful beaches there and many tourists too! Mainly British, French and Germans. Watching them trying to speak Portuguese is hilarious, we often end up speaking english. My generation is mostly fluent in English, not my parent's generation, they only had 3 years of French in High School.
Anyway, the new chapter is done. I hope you enjoy it!
The Chakra Thread
チャクラのスレッド (Chakra no sureddo)
When he removed the hood, Naruto pointed a finger for Gaara to sit in his chair in front of him, separated by the old table. The Kazekage was the one who had proposed that place: an abandoned shack a few miles from Sunagakure. Outside, sheltered from the sand storm, Gamakichi waited impatiently, toads did not belong to the desert.
"You came alone?" Naruto asked.
Gaara nodded.
"Nobody followed me. I also didn't tell anyone about the letter that you wrote. "
"I knew I could count on you. Thank you... "
Gaara rested his elbows on the table and stared at his friend. Naruto had grown since the last time he saw him, didn't appear to have starved or faced difficulties. In other words, he did not show signs of fatigue from a rogue ninja.
He had been startled when a frog appeared on top of his desk with a letter around the neck with a stamp that read: "Open when you are alone. Naruto."
Only when he arrived at home, locked in his room, did he open the letter.
"Gaara,
I hope you can read this letter without anyone finding out. I don't know if you know (you should know) but I've been missing for five months.
Tsunade Baa-chan gave me the mission to eliminate Sasuke as he continued to destroy villages to attract me. She didn't want to, but I ended up convincing her to give me the mission.
I found Sasuke and fought against him, however, a strange thing happened and that prevented me from returning to the village.
I have not deserted the village! I will never betray Konoha or any of my friends. I was wondering if I can talk to you alone, I need help.
You can give me your answer with the toad. And please do not tell anyone that I contacted you. Even Baa-chan.
Thanks,
Uzumaki Naruto"
Gaara knew he was betraying Tsunade's trust by hiding the information that Naruto had contacted him. But finally agreed to the request Naruto and arranged a meeting.
Now that they were face to face, Gaara could only think of one question.
"What happened, Naruto?"
Naruto stroke his forehead.
"Ah... Where shall I start? I don't know how I'll tell you this..."
"You said you had fought against Sasuke. Temari told me that squads were sent to search you and that they had lost your trail in the ruins of a village in the Land of Mountains."
"Well... I fought against Sasuke there. Then I asked Gamakichi to summon me to Mount Myōboku."
Gaara nodded slowly. Now everything made sense.
"You were there all this time?" Kage said.
"Yes. I mean... I go out occasionally to go shopping, but always in small villages and never for a long time" Naruto replied.
"You were hiding."
"Yes... It wasn't my intention. But I had no choice. "
Gaara put his hand underneath his mouth and watched Naruto. He had to ask!
"Did you kill Sasuke Uchiha?"
Naruto's eyes widened. He was not expecting to have to tell him so soon.
"I ... Not exactly ..."
If he had eyebrows, Gaara would pucker them.
"Not exactly?" he repeated. "What do you mean?"
"I... didn't kill him..." Naruto finally said.
The young Kazekage sighed deeply. Naruto had matured but was a fact that he thought too much with his heart. Gaara didn't blame Naruto, he saw Sasuke as his best friend and the blond loved him as if they were family. However... Sasuke was a threat to the lives of many innocent people.
"The attacks stopped after you're gone" Gaara said. "If Sasuke did not die, then what happened?"
Naruto looked at his hands and sighed.
"Did you convince him to stop, Naruto?"
"No..."
"Where is he?"
Naruto looked up and stared at his friend. His blue eyes were solemn.
"Right here"
Before Gaara could answer, Naruto bent down and lifted a basket that was under the table. The young Kage got up and looked inside the basket with wide eyes: a raven-haired baby was sleeping peacefully, wrapped in a blanket.
"Ah! Ah!" Naruto laughed. "It's the first time I see you like that! It looks like your eyes will pop out of your head."
The Kazekage pulled himself together and turned to Naruto.
"Naruto... You're telling me... that this infant is Sasuke Uchiha?"
Naruto nodded.
"It's Sasuke teme, alright..."
"How...?"
"While we were fighting, Sasuke used the Tsukuyomi genjutsu but instead of working, Itachi appeared before us."
"Itachi? Uchiha Itachi? Sasuke's older brother? "Gaara asked, confused. Naruto nodded.
"I know he died... But before he died we had a sort of conversation in a genjutsu. He asked me if I was willing to kill Sasuke to protect Konoha. When I told him I'd save Sasuke and protect Konoha at the same time, he made me swallow a crow and said that he had transferred some of his powers... When Sasuke attacked me those powers were activated. "
"What happened next?"
"It was very confusing... black feathers went out of me and did a whirlwind around Sasuke. Then I felt as if my chakra was being stolen and I lost consciousness. When I awoke it was morning ... I was alone and there were no signs of Itachi. It was then that I found Sasuke's clothes on the floor and I approached them and saw him! He was... like this. I couldn't kill him, Gaara! Not in that state! So I took him with me."
Gaara sat down again, moving a hand across his eyes. Naruto wasn't lying, that baby was Sasuke Uchiha. He could feel his chakra even though it was so small it could pass unnoticed.
"You gotta believe in me, Gaara. I..."
"I believe in you..." the Kage interrupted."I understand why you did it, Naruto."
Naruto smiled, relieved.
"However" Gaara continued. "Hiding in mount Myōboku is not the best solution. Whatever happened to Sasuke, you're lying to your village."
"And what do you want me to do?" Naruto said, frustrated. "I cannot simply hand over Sasuke! I also can't kill him!"
Naruto's cry woke up the baby who started to sob. Naruto grabbed Sasuke, who was dressed in a white shirt and blue shorts, waving his little bare feet, and cuddled him. Gaara stared at the two with curiosity in his face.
"Sorry Sasuke! Its okay "the blond whispered to the child who clung to him and started to suck on his thumb.
Sasuke was attracted by the bright light of the candle and turned to stare at it. His dark eyes fell upon Gaara, filled with amazement.
Naruto smiled sadly and looked at Gaara.
"He lost all his memories... I think the jutsu transformed him into normal baby. Now that I think about it, besides me, he never saw another human being. You're the first one!"
Naruto got up and came over to Gaara. The Kage looked at him with a mixture of confusion and anxiety when he handed him the child.
"Hold him! Don't worry, he doesn't bite."
A little apprehensive, Sabaku no Gaara took the baby on his lap. Both boys looked at each other in astonishment.
"Baahh..." Sasuke muttered, grabbing the white robe of the Kazekage and staring at his red hair, trying to grab it. "Daahh... Behhh..."
"His eyes..." Gaara muttered at last. Naruto blinked, confused.
"Huh?"
"Sasuke's eyes... are pure. I never imagined seeing him with an expression like this. "
"What did you used to see?"
"Pain, anger, loneliness... the need to prove his existence to the world."
"You identified yourself with him" Naruto said, remembering the Gaara that he met during the Chuunin exams.
"My eyes were like that... yours too" Naruto looked confused. "You had your feelings hidden, but it was visible."
"I think you're right..."
"My eyes have changed, Sasuke's not... they got even worse. His soul was as black as his eyes. He told me that his goal was in the darkness. "
"Gaahhh... Buuhh... "Sasuke gurgled, grabbing a lock of red hair and pulling it. Gaara, however, leaved him be and allowed the baby to put his arms around his neck.
"This child is untainted. There is no darkness in him" the red-haired ninja he said. "You've been taking care of him?"
Naruto nodded.
"Yes. It was a nightmare at first, but I think I got the hang of it" Naruto knelt down to so Sasuke could stare at him. The baby smiled and touched his whiskered face with his little hand.
To his astonishment, Gaara realized Sasuke's look on Naruto was filled with love. A child's love for his parent.
"Does Sasuke grow old?" Gaara asked.
"Yes. I was scared because I thought he would stay a baby forever, but he is growing normally"
"What do you intend to do?"
"I'm... looking for the name of the jutsu that Itachi used to make him younger. I couldn't hear the name of the technique so I had trouble. None of Ero Sennin's contacts heard of the jutsu. That's why I liked to ask you whether you could help me... "
Gaara placed Sasuke in another arm.
"Never heard of a technique like this."
Naruto looked down, disappointed.
"But I will try. If I find something, I'll inform you. "
"Really? Thank you!"
"Will you inform the Hokage?"
Naruto tensed.
"No ..."
"You have to inform her, Naruto. You're betraying the village by hiding information. "
"Once I find the jutsu, I'll tell her the truth."
"And what will you do with Sasuke if you discover the jutsu?"
"I ... I'll find a way to turn him back to normal."
"You'll bring back a murderer?"
Naruto felt his throat close as he observed the child smiling to him while rubbing his face.
"I have to... It's the right thing to do" he said sadly.
"If Sasuke returns, you will fulfill your mission and kill him?"
Naruto gulped. His heart ached.
"Yes ..."
Gaara promised to give his best to find out the name of the jutsu before handing Sasuke to Naruto. While moving away from the cottage, the Kazekage recalled the expression of joy he saw in Sasuke and sighed. Finally, his body vanished into sand.
Inside the hut, Sasuke looked drowsily at Naruto, his heavy-eyes opening and shutting. Naruto sat in his chair and pulled the boy's face to his shoulder. With his free hand he stroked the baby's hair.
Gaara and Tsunade's words sounded in his head.
"Are you able to kill him, Naruto? Would you accept the mission to eliminate Sasuke Uchiha? "
Naruto closed his eyes.
"If Sasuke returns, you will fulfill your mission and kill him?"
A solitary tear trickled down his cheeks and fell in the sleeping baby's cheek. Naruto felt his head heavy and fell into to slumber.
Without either of them noticing, a seal formed in Naruto and Sasuke's chest. Covered by the clothes, it was invisible. On Sasuke's back, also emerged a black bird's image, a phoenix.
Naruto's chakra waved and accumulated in his abdomen, forming a small lump that turned into a chakra string which in turn lengthened to join Sasuke's navel.
For several minutes, the teenage ninja's chakra was transferred to the child. Sasuke's few chakra undulated, slightly disturbed. However he received the new chakra, assimilating it and making it his own.
The majority of chakra element consisted of lightning; he did have a small percentage of affinity for the fire element. The arrival of the new wind element disturbed the existing ones, spinning each other until they founded stability. Within minutes, the wind element rushed through Sasuke's chakra channels with the remaining peacefully, although in very small quantities.
Naruto's chakra continued to merge with Sasuke's. The baby's chakra changed, assimilating it to perfection. Its three elements, lightning, fire and wind, ran in harmony as if he had been born with them.
Sasuke didn't even feel his new chakra. The boy curled up against his father's neck, continuing to sleep content.
I hope you liked it! Feel free to review!
