Hello again! I know it's been a while.
So for those of you who aren't following my other story, I'll fill you guys in. I just took on a second job, and I now work 60 hours/ week. Needless to say, this is going to push back my update time quite a bit from now on. Hopefully this set up won't last too long, but I'm struggling with financial troubles at the moment, so it had to happen. I'll continue to write and update my stories, but it won't be quickly like before, unfortunately.
BUT I love writing, and I love hearing from you guys, so I'll keep going! :)
Anyway, the beginning of this chapter will take place several days before the final round of the exams. We'll see some stuff from Hinata and Team 8, SasuSaku, Naruto & Jiraiya, Hiruzen, Danzo & Sai, Kakashi, and more! Lots of people to catch up with! I'll also include some stuff from Gaara! I worked really hard to get this chapter the way I wanted it, so I hope you guys like it!
On to Chapter 11!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters. Naruto is owned by M. Kishimoto.
"Eight Trigrams: Air Palm!" Hinata shouted as she thrust her palm forward, repelling a wall of insects in the opposite direction. She grinned as she noticed how much more powerful her Air Palm had become, considering that just a few months ago, she couldn't do it at all.
Shino stepped forward, pleased with her progress, "Excellent Hinata. Your Rotation and Air Palm have become strong in our training. Neji will have his work cut out for him.
She felt a fresh wave a nerves slam into her at the mention of Neji, "I hope you're right Shino-kun. You've gotten a lot stronger too!"
"Hey! What about me! I'm training with you guys too!" Came the annoyed voice of Kiba, Akamaru barking in agreement.
Hinata giggled, knowing Kiba couldn't help but interject. He was feeling a bit down that he was the only member of Team 8 not in the finals.
Shino turned toward him, his emotions unflinching under his sunglasses, "Kiba, you have gotten better, but it's irrelevant at the moment. Why? Because Hinata and I are in the finals later this week, and you are n-"
"I know! Shut up Shino!" Kiba yelled, cutting him off. Hinata just laughed again, feeling somewhat sorry for her teammate. It was just unfortunate that he had been matched up against someone like Neji.
"Okay everyone, I must be going now, it's getting late," Mentioned Shino, noticing that the sun was beginning to set, "Same time tomorrow?"
"You bet!" Responded Kiba.
Hinata nodded, "Yes, that sounds good."
"Alright then, I'll see you then." Shino announced before turning walking towards his home.
Hinata was gathering her things, when she heard a cough from behind her. She turned around and saw Kiba standing there, avoiding her gaze and fidgeting nervously with Akamaru next to him, nudging his leg with his nose.
"What's wrong Kiba-kun?"
Suddenly, his cheeks turned pink, "W-well… it's just…"
"Yes?"
Kiba stopped his fidgeting, a sudden look of determination washed over his features.
"Hinata-chan… I really like you. I know that you probably figured that out already, but I'm saying it anyway. Hinata-chan… would you at least maybe consider going out with me?" He asked her, his cheeks still aflame.
Hinata herself was feeling quite embarrassed. Of course Kiba liked her. Everyone knew it, he asked her out all the time, practically drooled over her on occasion. But she didn't want to have to deal with it outright, not yet. But she couldn't lead him on, she had to be honest with him.
She gave him a sad smile, "Kiba-kun, I'm sorry, but I just can't return your feelings."
His eyes turned sad, "Is there something I'm doing wrong?"
"No!" She assured him, "It's not that, it's just, well the truth is, I'm in love with someone else." She admitted, her cheeks colored pink.
Kiba perked up, "Who?"
Alright, she needed to be honest with him. He deserved to know, "It's Naruto-kun."
Kiba eyes went wide, "Naruto?!"
She nodded,
"But Hinata-chan, Naruto hasn't been back to the village in months, you don't even know if he will ever come back!" He countered.
She narrowed her eyes, "Yes I do know. Naruto-kun has a lot of issues that you or I can't begin to understand. But he will be back if I have to drag him back myself!" She took a few deep breaths, calming herself, "Kiba-kun, I'm sorry. But I already gave my heart to him, and I can't take it back. I care about you, you're my teammate and friend, but that's as far as it can go." She said firmly, leaving no room for argument.
Kiba nodded, eyes downcast, "I see. Well, Naruto's a lucky guy, even if he doesn't know it." He gave her sad smile, "I believe that you love him, but I'm not giving up. Just know that I'll always be here Hinata-chan."
She smiled at him, "I know that Kiba-kun. Anyway, I should be going now. Father must be expecting me for dinner. I'll see you tomorrow." She said as she began to walk away.
Kiba watched her figure disappear, until she was gone completely.
"Yeah. See ya…"
Cerulean orbs watched from the shadows as he too ran off to home.
Naruto had seen everything. Team 8 training, Hinata showing off her moves, and then how she rejected Kiba, saying she was in love with him. His emotions were swirling like a hurricane inside of him.
It had been two and half weeks since he and Jiraiya had arrived back in the village. Only the Hokage and Kakashi knew of them being there. Jiraiya had told him that he didn't have to hide, that he could go see his friends, but he refused. He knew they would be better off without him, and him seeing Hinata again would only cause her more pain and heartache in the long run.
Before they had left, Naruto had managed to improve his taijutsu greatly. He had also learned a new sealing jutsu, one that seals up an opponent's chakra for four hours, rendering them completely unable to perform jutsus. He was excited he had managed to get that one down, it would definitely be useful, no doubt. He had dabbled in working with the sword, although he wasn't very good at all without proper training. He had brought it along with him, just in case.
He still hadn't mastered the new jutsu Jiraiya had him working on. He had been able to do it successfully a few times, but he still couldn't do it consistently. He would have to practice more, although he halted his training for now, not wanting to draw attention to himself.
No, he stayed hidden. But that didn't stop him from seeing Hinata. He followed her. From the time she left in the day to when she went to sleep at night. He berated himself constantly for becoming some kind of stalker, but he couldn't help it. He wanted to stop watching her, knew he should, but his heart cried out for her, refused to allow him to leave. He was so torn.
Hearing Kiba ask her out hadn't been any better. He had suspected in the past that he had a thing for her, and his suspicions were confirmed now. When Kiba had asked her, Naruto could feel rage bubbling up inside of him, his face was hot from anger. However, when Hinata turned him down, he was able to calm himself.
When she had told Kiba that she was in love with him, tears leaked from his eyes. She still loved him. Jiraiya was right. She still did. Even after he left her the way he did, she still loved him. The moment was as joyful as it was heartbreaking.
He wished he hadn't heard those words. He wished he hadn't heard Hinata profess her love for him. Because now it would be harder to stay away from her. It would be more difficult for him to leave. He gripped his chest, trying in vain to ease the horrible pain he felt. It hurt so bad, he swore his heart was literally breaking in two.
'Naruto.'
'I know.'
'You can't allow your feelings to cloud your judgement. If you continue to follow this girl, you'll end up regretting it.' Kurama claimed.
'I know! I know! I get it Kurama, I just can't help it alright! I'm in love with her! I don't know when the last time I see her will be. I just can't bring myself to stay away.' He shouted in his head.
'Hmph. You humans and your mates. It makes you become blithering fools.'
Naruto couldn't argue against that. He constantly chastised himself for still feeling like there was hope for him and Hinata when there was none. He was destined to be alone, to never have a family. He knew this, but yet he still yearned for it. Wanted it so badly his very soul cried out for him to just go to Hinata. But he fought it. He knew he could never drag her down the path he was on, he would ruin her life.
And just as Kurama had said, he was now going to prove how much of a fool he was, and follow Hinata home.
If Jiraiya knew how often he was doing this, he would be furious. His job was to keep a lookout for suspicious activity, namely something that may lead to Orochimaru. However, if he was being honest, he had hardly done that. Most of his time was spent doing this: being Hinata's stalker. He felt ashamed of himself, and yet he felt as though he couldn't stop. He was drawn to her like a moth to a flame.
So here was, yet again, watching her getting ready for bed while he sat in a tall tree right outside of the compound. He didn't watch her undress or anything, he wasn't going to stoop that low. He would just watch her write in her diary, watch her brush her hair, watch her lips occasionally curve up into a smile. All of it made his heart beat frantically.
Tonight, he noticed something different about her routine since he had started this strange tendency. She didn't smile or giggle as she wrote in her diary. She did something that made his heart ache and made his chest feel hollowed out.
It wasn't loud, he doubted anyone in the house heard it. Certainly had he not been paying close attention, he may not have seen it at first.
As Hinata wrote in her diary tonight, silent tears trickled down her flushed cheeks.
His chest constricted as he swallowed the lump in his throat. Her tears began to fall more quickly, until she shut her diary. She put her head down on her desk, covering her face with her hands and crying a bit harder. He could tell by the way her shoulders and back shook.
He could feel his heart crumbling as he took in the scene before him. She was sad, and he was almost certain he was the cause, that he had done it. He longed to go to her, wipe her tears away, and pull her into a tight embrace. He wanted to take on her sadness, bear it for himself, to relieve her of her pain completely.
But he couldn't.
His shoulders began to tremble as he squinted his eyes shut and grit his teeth, attempting to keep his own tears at bay. Realizing he was doomed to fail, he left the tree and leapt away into the night, back to his old apartment.
His place had been completely untouched since he had left, much to his surprise. He had initially wondered how that was possible, considering it should have been rented out to someone else by now. However, the Hokage had explained to Jiraiya that he had continued to pay Naruto's rent for him, just in case he ever wanted to return. While Naruto appreciated the gesture, he wished that he wouldn't have done it. Then again, it was nice to be able to stay in his own apartment while he was back.
Hearing his stomach rumble, he decided to rummage through what was left in his old pantry, hoping there was still some instant ramen left. To his relief, there were still a few left. He took one out as he put some water on to boil on the stove. He sat down at his table to wait, then he heard a knock at the door.
His brows creased, hoping it was Jiraiya. He felt a twinge of fear that perhaps he had been discovered by someone, and that they had followed him here.
He hesitantly made his way to the door, looking through the peephole to see who was waiting to enter. To his surprise, he saw none other than the Hokage.
Hiruzen stood outside in his robes, patiently waiting for Naruto to let him in. The blonde sighed, hoping the Hokage just wanted to give him some info regarding Orochimaru. He turned the knob of his door, allowing Hiruzen to enter.
"Hello Naruto. May I come in?" He asked pleasantly.
Naruto nodded, not saying a word as he stepped to the side allowing the Hokage to come in. Hiruzen strode over to the couch, taking a seat, gesturing for Naruto to take a seat next to him, which he did.
"It's good to see you, Naruto."
"Thanks. You too, Gramps."
The two sat in a bit of awkward silence, which was broken by a whistling sound. Naruto jumped up.
"Oh. I'm making some ramen. You want any?" He asked.
Hiruzen shook his head, "No thank you."
Naruto went into the kitchen to remove the water from the heat, pouring some into his cup of ramen, then covering it with the lid to let the noodles soften. He then returned to the couch.
"Old man, not to be rude, but why are you here?" Naruto questioned him, getting straight to the point.
Hiruzen's expression turned serious, "Naruto, I've seen you. I know what you've been doing."
The blonde's eyes widened, before he reigned in his surprise, "I-I don't know what you're talking about."
"Yes you do. I know you haven't been keeping an eye out for trouble all this time. You've been doing it some, but most of your time has been spent watching Hinata Hyuga. Am I wrong?"
Naruto shifted his gaze to his lap, watching his own hands fidget with the hem of his shirt. To say he was embarrassed would be an understatement. Of course the Hokage was keeping an eye on him. He should have seen that coming. Naruto shut his eyes and nodded, and new wave of sadness flowing through him.
"That's what I thought," Hiruzen began, "I can't say I'm surprised. You must care for her as much as she cares for you."
Naruto lifted his eyes to stare at Hiruzen, "Gramps, is she- I mean, does she… does she ever ask about me? Talk about me? Do you know?" He hated himself for asking, for dying to know.
The Hokage smiled softly, "All the time. In fact, many people do."
Naruto was shocked to hear this, "Really?!"
"Yes. Hinata is on a mission though. She wants to bring you home, and she's not alone. Your old teammates seem to have joined her in that quest." He explained.
Naruto couldn't believe what he was hearing, "You-you mean Sasuke and Sakura-chan? They want me back too?"
He nodded, "Indeed. They have come to me multiple times asking for permission to go after you. Of course, I denied them. I doubt they would be able to, and I think the mission too dangerous for genin to undertake. So, as you can imagine, they are all taking the Chunin Exams quite seriously. As you know, all three are in the finals, a remarkable feat for rookies."
Naruto allowed the gears to turn in his mind, absorbing this new information. He thought back to that dream he had, remembering how Hinata fought. Was it possible that it wasn't a dream after all? That it was real?
After Naruto hasn't responded, Hiruzen continued, "Naruto. I'm here to tell you that there's no reason for you to torture yourself. You can come home. Put this heartbreak behind you, and be with the girl you love."
Naruto felt his cheeks get incredibly hot, "You know?"
Hiruzen chuckled, "I can see it. There's no doubt. Even though it is rare to see at such a young age, both you and Hinata have had to grow up quickly, especially you Naruto."
Naruto let the Hokage's words sink in, when he heard another voice.
'Don't let your feelings interfere Naruto. You know he doesn't understand you. Even if he wants to. Remember what can happen if you stay around these people that you love? Remember the Akatsuki? What if they got a hold of the Hyuga girl to get to you? What about that Danzo bastard? They all want to use us, use me.' Kurama chanted in his mind, attempting to get him to see reason.
Naruto shook his head, clutching his knees and squinting his eyes shut, "No, Gramps, I'm sorry. I can't. I want to, but I just can't. You wouldn't understand."
"Naruto-"
"Can you please leave?" Naruto asked him, interrupting him. He couldn't hear anymore. Kurama was right, he couldn't stay here and risk getting others into trouble. Just the thought of that happening, especially to Hinata, made him feel ill.
Hiruzen frowned, but stood and made his way to the door, heeding the boy's request.
"One more thing," Hiruzen spoke before he exited, "We suspect that Orochimaru will dispatch his henchmen to make a move soon. Please, be careful."
Naruto nodded, a despondent look still etched onto his features. Hiruzen sighed, then walked out closing the door behind him. Naruto trudged over to the kitchen, wanting to at least a little of his ramen before bed. Although his appetite had all but left him.
Afterwards he crawled into bed, closing his eyes before drifting off, seeing pale lavender in his dreams.
Danzo was a patient man. One of the most patient men alive, you could say. That's what made him so dangerous. He would wait however long it took for his plans to be implemented, and when it was least expected, he would strike.
However, his patience with a certain subordinate of his was beginning to wear thin.
As he stood in the underground hideout of ROOT, a flash of black appeared in front of him, the newcomer bowed in front of him.
"Rise, Sai."
Sai slowly rose to his feet, looking the elder man in the eyes.
Danzo directed his cold glare at him, "Any news to report, Sai?"
"No, Lord Danzo."
Danzo narrowed his eyes at the boy. This was becoming too much of a pattern the past couple of months.
"Sai, you have given me no new information for many weeks now. Do you need to be reminded what is at stake?"
Sai shift his eyes to the floor, "No, Lord Danzo."
Danzo began pacing around the room, "This is all for the sake of Konoha. Nothing more, nothing less. The nine tails is something we must utilize. Therefore, it is essential that we find Naruto Uzumaki. You are needed to help me in this task. Do you understand?"
"Yes sir…"
Danzo noticed his hesitation, "You wish to say more?"
"Sir, I wonder… what is to become of Naruto? Once he is found?"
Danzo met his eyes, "I will persuade the boy to my cause, the way I do it is of no concern to you. However, I will do whatever is necessary."
Sai felt a chill creep up his skin. He didn't like the sound of that.
"Lord Danzo, what about what Naruto wants to do?"
Danzo seemed shocked that Sai would ask such a question, pausing for the slightest moment, "Sai, what is it that you have been taught by me?"
"There is only the mission. Nothing else matters."
"Exactly. The details are unimportant. You have a mission that you must fulfill. Now, can I expect nothing but your success in this endeavor?" He questioned him, his lone visible eye seeming to look through him.
Sai dropped to one knee, closing his eyes, "Yes sir, of course."
Danzo visibly relaxed, "Good. Dismissed."
He didn't think that his student's initial return would cause him so much stress.
Ever since he had been made aware of Naruto and Jiraiya's stay in the village by the Hokage, Kakashi had been dying to tell his students, to go to Naruto himself and implore him to stay.
But he hadn't done so.
Jiraiya had told him that Naruto needed to make that decision for himself, wanting to respect his wishes. The silver haired jonin knew it made sense, but his heart was telling him otherwise. It all just seemed so wrong.
He glanced to his right, then to his left, attempting to detect any unusual chakras or suspicious activity. He was standing above the Hokage tower with Jiraiya, planning on discussing a few things about the blonde knucklehead. When he knew for sure they weren't being spied on, he began to speak.
"Jiraiya, how is he?"
Jiraiya scratched his chin, "As good as he can be I suppose. I won't lie to you and say he's doing great psychologically, but his physical training has done wonders for him. If I'm right, he may be able to be strong enough to be out in the open in a few year's time."
Kakashi nodded, "You said psychologically speaking there are some concerns?"
Jiraiya let out an exasperated groan, "Yes, well, for one thing he hasn't exactly been able to stay on task since we've returned."
Kakashi quirked an eyebrow, "What does that mean?"
"Well, he's being a… well… a bit of a stalker you could say? It's the Hyuga girl. Hinata, I believe her name is. He's incredibly infatuated with her it seems." He explained.
"So… he's following her?" Kakashi deduced.
"Exactly. All the time. I'm sure he has no idea that I know, but I've been keeping an eye on him every now and then. It's not like I've forbidden him from making himself known to his friends, but he keeps saying it would be a bad idea. There's no convincing him otherwise. He's just as stubborn as his mother."
Kakashi couldn't help but smile a bit at that, remembering how hard headed Kushina could be.
Jiraiya's face took on a serious look as he continued, "He seemed completely heartbroken over her. They clearly have a special connection, although they're young. Not only is he dealing with that, but I'm not with him all the time. A lot of the time, he's completely alone with nothing but the nine tails as company."
Kakashi's eyes widened, "So he's making contact?"
Jiraiya nodded, "It would appear so. I have my suspicions that Nine tails wants to keep Naruto away from the village. Perhaps he's afraid of someone using his power, therefore is influencing the boy. This is all speculation however, but I think I'm onto something."
Kakashi didn't like the sound of that, but what could they do to stop it? Nine tails was in Naruto's head, constantly being able to talk to him. It would be easy to succumb to that kind of influence. It was no wonder Naruto seemed so serious about staying away from everyone. And not to mention what happened with Iruka had to still be affecting him. How was Naruto coping with all of this?
"I have to say, though, I'm impressed with him."
Jiraiya's comment snapped Kakashi out of his thoughts, "What do you mean?"
Jiraiya grinned, "Well Naruto has dealt with so much pain and heartache throughout his life, and continues to do so. Not only that, but he bears the burden of a jinchuriki and knows people are after him. That would be enough to bring most people to their knees, but not him. Sure, he has his bad days, but he continues to press on. I'm proud of him."
Kakashi smiled, taking some comfort in the sage's words but he still couldn't shake this feeling he had. His sensei's son all on his own, dealing with what he was? It felt so wrong.
"Jiraiya, please, Naruto is so young. Just… can't you make him stay? Stay where people care for him?" Kakashi pleaded.
Jiraiya furrowed his brows, "I could, but I won't. You know that Naruto can't be so out in the open right now with the Akatsuki looking for him. He and the village are both safer if he's not here. If he wants to stay, however, I won't stop him. It's up to him. But I would rather train him up as best I can first. Besides, you and I both know that not everyone here cares for him."
Kakashi sighed, that was true. While some people had come to regret how they treated the boy, some were happy that he was gone. It was sad, but it couldn't be denied.
"Don't worry Kakashi. I'm keeping an eye on him. I won't let anything happen. In the meantime, keep a close eye on the Uchiha boy."
Yes. Of course he would. He had, after all, been training him ever since he had regained his strength. He had been watching him closely ever since Sasuke had been given the curse mark.
"Good grief, why can't any of my students be easy going?" Kakashi groaned.
Jiraiya laughed, "You can handle it Kakashi. I have the utmost faith in you." He declared as he placed a hand on the jonin's shoulder.
Kakashi appreciated the gesture. He just hoped that Jiraiya's faith in him wasn't misplaced.
It was constant. Agonizing. Never ending.
It wouldn't let him sleep, the dark bags under his eyes evidence of that fact.
It spoke to him, willed him to do it.
To kill.
To kill to continue existing, to thrive.
The urge gnawed at his soul, never letting up.
There was no reprieve, no breaks. He was either killing or seeking out new prey. It was his life as a demon, a monster who loves only himself.
Gaara. A cursed name. A name that destined him to be what he was.
Even now, as he sat in the silence of his temporary room, he could hear it.
Mother.
Calling to him, demanding the blood of new prey.
"I promise, Mother. Soon."
But it was never soon enough. Mother was always pushing him for more. Bringing the monster out in him. Bloodlust flowed through him at an alarming rate, a murderous intent rolled off of him in waves.
Soon.
'There's another.'
His green eyes widened.
'Another?'
'Another like you. A monster. He's here.'
Mother told him that someone else like him was nearby. Was it true? It had to be. Mother had told him so.
'Kurama.'
"Kurama?"
'Kill him. He is like you. Like us. There can only be one. Kill him.'
"Yes. I must. I will continue to exist."
He could feel the uncontrollable desire welling up in him. The moon would be full tonight. Perfect.
"I promise, Mother."
Naruto sighed, angry with himself for failing once again. Failing to stay away.
There he sat, disguised with a transformation jutsu, at a table in the corner of a cafe. Watching her.
She was dressed casually today, he guessed she hadn't gone to train yet. She was sitting at a table with Sakura, eating a cinnamon roll and drinking tea.
She was wearing a lavender dress that flowed down to her knees, and plain black sandals. It was such a simple outfit, but to Naruto it brought out her inner beauty. Her cheeks were a lovely shade of pink as usual as she chatted with Sakura. Naruto was listening intently, disguised as a grown man with black hair and green eyes.
"How is your training going Hinata-chan? Are Kiba and Shino pushing you?" Sakura asked her while taking a sip of her tea.
Hinata nodded, "Yes. I'm pleased with the progress we're making. How about you? Have you seen Sasuke-kun at all recently?"
Sakura's expression turned noticeably sad, "No. Kakashi-sensei said he's fine, but I haven't seen him since he disappeared from the hospital."
Naruto frowned.
'The hospital?'
Sakura continued, "I've been keeping an eye out for him, but it's no use. I just hope…" She lowered her voice, and Naruto strained to hear her next words, "I hope he's gotten that curse mark under control. That encounter with Orochimaru really terrified me."
Naruto's heart stopped. Dread nearly slammed into him. Orochimaru? They ran into them? Did Jiraiya know about it?
"Yes, I agree," Hinata began, "But if Kakashi-sensei says he's alright, then I'm sure he is. And we'll see him at the finals. I'm worried about him too Sakura-chan, but don't worry. He's in good hands."
Sakura allowed herself a small smile, "You're right, I know. I just can't help but worry. You must know what I'm feeling. You never stop worrying about Naruto, right?"
Naruto's breath caught in his throat as his heart began thumping erratically in his chest. He wanted to hear this.
"Of course I never stop worrying about him. But there's so much uncertainty with Naruto-kun. But… well... it's weird."
Sakura raised an eyebrow, "What is?"
Hinata hesitated, but continued, "Lately, it's almost like I can feel his presence. Like, I don't know, like he's here." She confessed.
Naruto was shocked. He couldn't believe it. He hid his disbelief well, but he couldn't stop himself from listening in more. He wanted her to continue.
"It's like he's actually near me. Even right now, I can feel him."
Sakura giggled, "You're such a hopeless romantic Hinata-chan!"
Hinata's face proceeded to burn a fierce crimson, and Naruto smiled softly. Seeing her blush over him made him feel warm inside.
"S-Sakura-chan! Stop! I mean it!" She squealed as her pink haired friend continued to laugh, "Seriously, I feel as though we're connected. I just hope that no matter what, my love is able to reach him."
'It is.' He thought.
"And when he needs me, I'll be there no matter what."
'I do need you.'
'Naruto.' Kurama said in warning.
He sighed, 'I know. I should go. Can you sense anyone with the Sharingan nearby? Are you even able to do that?'
'You're looking for the Uchiha brat…'
'So what if I am! They said they had a run in with Orochimaru. I need to go investigate.'
'Whatever.' He growled in exasperation.
'So can you do it?'
'Head southwest. I'll tell you when to stop.'
'Thanks, Kurama.'
The fox snarled, 'Don't thank me! It weirds me out!'
Naruto simply rolled his eyes, 'Whatever you grouchy bastard. Let's get going.'
Naruto took one last long look at Hinata before exiting the cafe, his chest feeling hollow again. But he actually had something to distract him now. While it's true that Naruto needed to investigate, he was also worried about Sasuke. Something he would never admit out loud, but it was true nonetheless.
He followed the fox's directions towards the outskirts of the village until he came to a cliff-like rocky area, one he had surprisingly never been to before. He hid himself well behind a large boulder, listening in intently on their training.
When he heard what sounded like chirping birds combined with lightning, he peered out slightly to get a better look.
There stood Kakashi and Sasuke, one looking rather exhausted, the other simply reading a small book. Kakashi peered up from his reading for a moment and Naruto feared he had been discovered, but when Kakashi didn't say anything, he figured it must've just been his imagination.
"Alright Sasuke, give it one more go." Kakashi spoke up.
Sasuke, who was still breathing harshly, nodded and got into a stance. Naruto watched intently as Sasuke began to focus chakra into his right hand.
"Remember, focus the chakra, then change its nature to lightning!" Kakashi reminded him.
Sasuke focused even harder, beads of sweat dripping from his face. Suddenly, small blue sparks began forming in his hand. They grew bigger and bigger until…
"Great Sasuke! Now focus the attack!" Shouted Kakashi.
Naruto's eyes grew wide as he witnessed this technique. Sasuke's hand was shrouded in a blue lightning, the sound piercing to his ears. When Sasuke took off in a sprint, it was clear the lightning made him incredibly faster.
Sasuke gritted his teeth, using all of his strength to keep the attack going, then thrust his fist forward into a boulder.
"Chidori!" He screamed as his lightning shrouded fist made contact with the rock, smashing it into a thousand pieces. Naruto had to fight the urge to jump up and down and scream about how awesome that was. At the same time, he could feel jealousy clawing at him. Sasuke mastered things so easily. It almost seemed unfair.
Sasuke collapsed on the ground, completely spent, attempting desperately to fill his lungs with oxygen.
Kakashi closed his book, placing it into his back pocket, "Well, I think that's enough for today Sasuke. You've worked hard. How about we head back?"
Sasuke simply nodded, still breathing too hard to answer verbally. He had finally mastered the chidori, although it still needed to be fine-tuned. He would be ready to face off against Gaara.
Shakily, Sasuke got to his feet and followed Kakashi back towards the village. Naruto made sure to remain hidden behind the rock, making no sudden movements until both were out of sight.
He exhaled, letting himself relax. Okay, so Sasuke was okay. More than okay, he had mastered a cool new jutsu for crying out loud! Naruto felt extremely envious, and yet happy at the same time that his former teammate was okay. He wasn't sure if he and Sasuke were ever friends, but for some reason he still cared.
'Caring for these pathetic humans will simply get you killed.' Rang a familiar voice in his head.
Naruto scoffed, 'Anyone ever tell you that you sound like a broken record? And since when do you care if I'm hurt?'
'I don't! But I do care if you're killed because that would kill me as well! Baka!' He retorted.
'Yeah yeah I get it.' He thought, rolling his eyes, 'But since I control this body and you don't, I'm calling the shots. I won't make myself known and put anyone in danger, but that doesn't mean I can't protect them from the shadows.'
Naruto heard a deep growl inside his mind.
'You're a fool.'
'And you're annoying. Are we done?'
Naruto took Kurama's silence as an answer as he raced back to the village, eager to once again resume his watching of a certain Hyūga girl.
Sakura stood patiently outside of Sasuke's home, bento in hand. Something Hinata had said at the cafe stuck with her.
"I just hope my love is able to reach him."
That really struck something within her.
'Has my love been able to reach him? Am I trying hard enough?' She thought to herself.
That's why she had decided to make a dinner for Sasuke. Not in the hopes that he would finally like her back, or that he would invite her to eat with him, but because she wanted him to have a good meal. Sasuke lived alone, he probably never had anyone cooking for him.
So, there she stood, in front of his door where she had been for the past hour. He had to come home sometime, right?
Just as the thought entered her mind, she heard footsteps making their way up to the corridor. To her delight, it was none other than the object of her affection. She immediately smiled.
"Sasuke-kun! Are you okay?" She asked him.
Sasuke hadn't even noticed her until she spoke up, too engrossed in his own thoughts. He looked up to meet her gaze, seeing her cheerful expression. His stare momentarily stopped on the bento she was holding, and suddenly it hit him how hungry he was.
"I'm fine Sakura. I was just training. What are you doing here?" He wondered aloud.
Sakura, all of sudden feeling nervous, looked to the ground as her cheeks flushed red, "W-well, uh. I hadn't seen you in a long time so I was worried."
Sasuke raised a brow, "Worried?" About him?
She nodded, "Yeah. I didn't know if you were okay. So I decided to wait here until you came home. And oh! I made you some food!" She practically shouted as she held the meal out to him.
He reached hesitantly for the meal, stomach growling, "For… me?"
"Yes." She said softly as she finally met his eyes. He seemed a bit taken back, but not unhappy. "I-I don't know if you'll like it. I'm not the best cook, so I got my mom to help me! And got some advice from Hinata-chan too! She's really good!" She rambled. She cursed her own nervousness, the words kept tumbling out of her mouth.
Sasuke didn't know what to make of it. She had gone through all that trouble for him. And how long had she been standing there?
"Sakura… thanks."
Sakura's eyes widened as her entire face turned pink. Sasuke had never thanked her so sincerely before.
"O-oh it was nothing! Anyway, I'd better get going!" She said, as she started to walk away.
Sasuke turned towards her, "You're leaving? Weren't you planning to stay?" He asked her. He didn't get it. If she didn't stay to eat, then what was she getting out of this? It made no sense.
She smiled warmly at him while she clasped her hands behind her back, "No, sorry. I promised my mom I would be home for dinner. And I'm already late. I just wanted to make sure you were okay, and that you had some good food to eat Sasuke-kun. I-I'll see you later!" She exclaimed as ran off, her nervous jitters causing her to run off faster.
Sasuke stood there completely speechless. He stared at the bento for a bit, not moving.
'She… she did this for me without expecting anything in return?'
Sasuke finally walked to his door and unlocked it, trudging inside. He was exhausted, but his mind was still racing, thinking about Sakura's gesture.
She really reminded him of someone, but he couldn't think of who exactly.
He opened up the bento, and a wonderful aroma slammed into him. Pork, rice, seaweed, and a medley of other savory treats inside. Nothing sweet, to his delight. Sakura must've known he hated sweets. He felt a weird sensation in his chest at the thought. He broke apart his chopsticks and began eating the food. He was happy that it hadn't gotten too cold, and it tasted wonderful.
How long had Sakura waited for him to get home? And how hard had she worked on this dinner? She had said that she got help from both Hinata and her mother. She must have really wanted to get it right.
For the first time since his family was around, he really felt as though someone was looking out for him, that someone cared.
His family…
That was it! That's what Sakura's gesture had reminded him of.
His mother.
He felt a pang of sadness at her memory. He hadn't thought of her or any of his family in a long time, except for Itachi of course. His mother had a special place in his heart. He missed her so much.
His mother used to make bentos for him like this all the time. He loved them. He could always feel her love for him when she made him food, or laid out his clothes for him in the morning.
Now that he thought about it, his mother and Sakura were alike in many ways. Both were stubborn and determined, both were quite strong, not to mention strong-willed. Both were kind and cheerful, and both cared very strongly about him.
A warmth spread through his entire body and settled in his chest. As he continued to eat his meal, he couldn't help the smile that was plastered to his face. What Sakura had done for him might not seem like much to other people, but it had really meant a lot to him.
He wasn't sure what to do about this foreign feeling that her kindness had given him, but he decided that he didn't want it to go away.
Sai sat in the hallway, attempting to sit still. He wasn't sure what this foreign emotion he was feeling was. He throat was dry, his skin was clammy, and he was shaking. He had a sense that something bad was sure to happen.
According to a book he had read, these were all the signs of nervousness, even fear. Was he afraid?
A door in front of him opened, revealing a young chunin with brown hair.
"You may enter now."
Sai swallowed and nodded, rising to his feet. He tentatively made his way through the large door, making sure not to make eye contact with the man before him. He kept his gaze firmly on the floor.
"Sai, it is good to see you."
Sai looked up to face the man, "Yes, Lord Hokage. It is good to see you as well."
Hiruzen smiled at the boy. For someone who had been trained not to show emotion, he was failing miserably. It was clear that he was nervous.
"Please, have a seat. I have a few things I'd like to discuss with you." The Hokage gestured to a seat in front of his desk, and Sai nodded. He walked slowly to it and sat down.
He gulped, fearing the worst. Had he been discovered? He wasn't ready for this! He had yet to make a decision on what he should do.
"Now," The Hokage began, "I have a few questions for you, Sai."
"Pervy Sage, I heard you the first time."
"I don't care! I'll tell you again and again until it sinks into that thick skull of yours!"
Naruto groaned in frustration. He was currently in the middle of getting chewed out by Jiraiya for his stalker-like antics. He wasn't surprised that Jiraiya knew, especially after talking to the Hokage.
They were currently in his apartment, where Jiraiya had been meeting up with him.
Jiraiya sighed, "Look kid, I know it's hard for you, but we didn't come here so you could watch your girlfriend. We came here to keep an eye on Orochimaru. I know you've done some of that, but I also know that that majority of your time has been spent watching her from a tree or something. That isn't helpful to us!"
Naruto nodded, "I know… it's just… what if the next time I see her is the last? We won't be back for long, and I don't want to waste the time I have." He admitted, his eyes sad.
Jiraiya's expression softened, "Look, how about I promise you something?"
Naruto's eyes met Jiraiya's, urging him to continue.
"I promise that I will allow you the time to watch Hinata's match in the finals."
Naruto's expression went from surprised to elated in a matter of seconds. He grinned from ear to ear.
"You mean it?!"
Jiraiya chuckled at how much he sounded like a normal little kid, "Yes, but only if you start taking this job seriously."
Naruto threw himself at Jiraiya hugging him tightly. Jiraiya was shocked at first, but smiled at the boy.
"Thanks so much Pervy Sage! You won't regret it!" He said, running out of the apartment.
'Now, where is that boy off to now?'
Naruto was heading off to the Hokage mountain, to get the best view of the village he could. It was night, so he would need all the help he could get. Thankfully, it was a full moon, so the extra light helped him to see.
If fulfilling this mission to the best of his ability would guarantee he got to see Hinata's match, then he would go above and beyond. Once he was sure he had the best vantage point, he cleared his mind and became completely silent.
He was now committed to take his job more seriously, and wanted to see if anything suspicious happened. He was keeping a sharp eye out, listening intently for something. Anything.
What he heard wasn't what he expected.
'Naruto! We've got trouble!'
"Huh?!" Naruto shouted out loud as he heard a sort of growl coming from the woods behind him. The second his head turned, he was tackled to the ground.
"What the hell?!"
There, standing above him, was a boy. He recognized him from somewhere. He had bright red hair, a gourd on his back, and the kanji for 'love' on his forehead.
This boy was in his dream of Hinata!
"Who are you?!"
The boy simply stood there and began to laugh, "I'm Gaara… I'm just like you… a monster…"
Naruto's eyes threatened to pop out of his head, his heart seemingly stopped. What did he mean by that?
'Naruto! I sense Shukaku inside of him! A tailed beast! This boy is a jinchuriki!'
Naruto's breathing became labored as dread raced through him, flooding his veins. This boy was like him?
"You're a jinchuriki too? Then why are you attacking me?!"
He was confused. Wouldn't he want to know more about him? Get to know him? This was wrong!
"There can only be one… Mother demands your blood… Kurama's blood… I will not cease to exist… I must kill!" He screamed in a menacing tone that sent chills down Naruto's spine.
"Wait!" Naruto pleaded with him, but it was too late. As Naruto had shouted at him, the boy named Gaara leapt towards him, ready to strike.
"Lord Orochimaru! I have news!"
The snake Sannin shifted in his seat, getting to his feet. He turned his sickening smile on his subordinate.
"What is it, Kabuto?"
The silver-haired genin smirked back at his master, eager to please him with this new information.
"It seems we were correct. Jiraiya is back in the village, and he has brought the nine tails jinchuriki with him." He explained.
The Sannin chuckled to himself, giddy with the new intel, "Excellent work Kabuto. This will help us greatly. I am curious about the boy. He may be of use to us at some point, along with Sasuke of course. We have already made use of one jinchuriki, having another would be magnificent." He speculated.
"Would you like me to keep an eye on him my Lord?"
The snake simply shook his head, "No. Right now our attention must be focused on the Uchiha boy. But we must keep note of the fox boy for the future. In the meantime, I'll have to keep Jiraiya off our tracks. You are dismissed, Kabuto."
"Yes, my Lord."
Orochimaru smirked to himself, thrilled with the new information.
'The nine tails is quite powerful. And if I could obtain the Sharingan, I may be able to control it. I would be unstoppable!'
He chuckled evilly to himself.
'I think I'll have to set a new long-term plan into motion.'
Author's Note!
Interesting! So Naruto's a stalker, SasuSaku is cute, Gaara wants to kill Naruto and Orochimaru is as creepy as ever. Pretty much sums it up.
I have to apologize again. Since I'm so busy now, there's a good chance I won't be able to respond to everyone's PMs and reviews like I had been in the past. I'm sorry! I'll try my best but if you don't get a response please don't take it personally.
I'm happy that I finally got this chapter going though. I'm already started on the next chapter of How Can We Go Back, and as soon as that's finished I'll work as quickly as possible to get the next chapter of this story out. Leave a review, let me know what you think, and if you have some suggestions for the story, let me know! I really to listen to them (if it fits in with the story).
Next chapter will see the encounter between Naruto and Gaara, more time with Hinata, more SasuSaku, and more info on what the heck was said between Sai and the Hokage!
Anyway, see you guys next time!
