A/N: Sorry for the delay, but at least this chapter has decent size, right? So don't get sore at me! I'll try my best to post the next chapter asap~

Enjoy!


Kakashi observed older Naruto carefully. There was a hint of guilt and sadness in the teen's expression as his gaze followed the three genins. Did he feel uncomfortable with the way things had turned out? Was he sorry about finding no better way of getting his younger self's attention than kidnapping him? It did not really look like it. The reason for his melancholy seemed to be graver. When Kakashi watched the illusion, he felt different emotions radiating from the blond. Fear, guilt, hopelessness, but also hatred. Not towards the villagers or even Sasuke, but towards himself. Naruto loathed himself for failing not just some people, but all his beloved ones. The future, which he had taken part to create, the choices he had made in life - all his actions had brought nothing, but a disaster. Was he cursed? All he did was just a means of being acknowledged. Just how on earth did the realization of his childhood dream lead to something this dreadful was beyond his comprehension. As for Kakashi, if someone had asked his opinion on whether or not his student could become hokage, he would, probably, have answered that, even despite the boy's legacy, he did not have it in him to become one. Things sure change. Now Kakashi knew for sure what the boy was capable of. From an obnoxious kid Naruto eventually grew up into one of the most powerful adults. But that was his curse and the reason that had brought the village to its downfall. There were just too many enemies lured by the strength of the jinchuriki. And when that jinchuriki became a hokage, well one, probably, could not think of a better set-up to do both: settle their score with Konoha and gain the power to rule the world. All that seemed awful and really very sad. Kakashi sympathized with the boy, though he wondered if he had the right to. Somehow, he felt guilty for not giving Naruto enough attention even though the boy was the son of his precious mentor. Could he still make it up for him, he wondered. Well, he should try; it is not like Naruto here is the only one who is getting a second chance in life. After all Kakashi had seen, he just has to do something to prevent this dreadful future from becoming his reality. Not just because his life literally depended on it, but also due to his selfish wish. The jounin could not bear to see any of his comrades suffer and die again.

Kakashi heaved a sigh. It was time to ask questions. However, he still could not dismiss the uneasiness he felt. Learning your future all of a sudden seemed scary and even prohibited. There was no going back, though.

"Well, would the most unpredictable ninja mind telling me about his adventures?" Kakashi asked in a sing-song voice. In contrast to his inner building uneasiness, he tried to appear calm on the surface to encourage his student.

"Do you really want me to?" Naruto turned to face Kakashi and chuckled nervously. "It's not a pleasant story."

"All more the reason to tell me. I'm your teacher after all, I can help."

"Ah, thanks, Kakashi-sensei."

"Good" Kakashi smiled beneath his mask. The fact that Naruto still called him sensei was pleasing and reassuring.

"Where should I start?" Naruto asked. "I mean, when you casted a genjutsu on me did you see it as well?"

"Yeah," Kakashi admitted, "sorry about all that illusion thing, but we thought you were an enemy and-"

"It's alright; at least I won't have to go in detail at this part of the story."

"Then, what I've seen weren't just your subconscious fears?" The jounin's voice was quiet now. He hesitated to learn the truth. Rather, up to the last moment he tried to believe that whatever he had invoked in Naruto's memory was just his worst nightmare. "How much was real?"

"Pretty much everything. The village had been annihilated by the Akatsuki. I wonder if you've heard about them. And then there was Uchiha Madara or whoever he might have been. He had been planning that attach for years, I think. And the Uchiha massacre was partly his doing as well. I dare say he's on the move even now. Because of that bastard, Sasuke, he... Madara manipulated him and Sasuke ended up hurting our comrades, hurting you and Sakura-chan. I stopped him. But it was already too late." Naruto's voice dropped to a bare whisper as he forced the last words out. "I couldn't save anyone. Sasuke, you, Sakura-chan... I've failed you… I've let you all die!"

To stop the tremor in his hands, Naruto gripped tightly at the fabric of his pants. Unable to look Kakashi in the eyes, he was staring at the floor. Would the jounin hate him now? Can he ever forgive him? The visions from the illusion swept through his mind. He felt a chill ran down his spine.

"Don't blame yourself." Kakashi said, looking at how knuckles on Naruto's tightly clutched fists were turning white. "You're not in that nightmare anymore. We are not going to blame you for what had happened. In fact nothing has happened yet. Save us! That's why you came here, right?"

"I-" Naruto's eyes watered.

That is right. He is not here to seek forgiveness. He came here to erase his sin, no, to prevent it from ever happening. Kakashi trusts him, his team trusts him. They really did believe that he had come from the future. They believed that he is Uzumaki Naruto and not some impostor, who wanted to deceive them. Why did he acted so silly at the beginning and used henge to hide his identity? He was afraid that they would not believe him or would think he is insane. But he should have known better. No matter what, there is still a strong bond that links the members of Team 7 together. Aside from Iruka-sensei, they were the first people to understand and acknowledge him. That is why they always would remain precious to him. If they are by his side, everything is possible.

"Thank you, Kakashi-sensei! Thanks for believing in me!" Naruto bowed his head. "I won't fail you again no matter what, you just watch me! I will definitely save all of you! Save Konoha!"

"I like the determined you better." admitted Kakashi, seeing that usual gleam in the boy's eyes again. He had seen that look before, when Naruto was speaking about his dream or proclaiming his rivalry to the Uchiha. A serious look, brimming with determination. No matter what kind of unrealistic things he was saying, his words appeared surprisingly trustworthy. It was like he was making you have faith in him. 'Don't forget this look, Naruto. Don't lose hope! I wish everything works out, and you won't show that sad expression from before ever again.'

"Before I'll tell you everything in detail so we can work out a plan or something, I have a question." As Kakashi nodded at him, Naruto continued. "The chuunin exam didn't take place yet, right?"

"You can tell?"

"Yeah, Sasuke's a good indicator." Naruto replied with a knowing smile. Actually he was really happy to notice that Sasuke was missing his cursed mark. "So, when's the exam?"

"A week from now, I was about to tell the kids that they can participate." Kakashi replied. His intuition immediately suggested that there must be something bad about the exam if Naruto had mentioned it.

"Will something bad happen?"

Naruto gave him a curt nod, "Yeah, the very thing that had started this mess. At least for Sasuke."

Sasuke's face from the illusion flashed before Kakashi's eyes. Cold glare, which makes you want to avoid facing him. It suggests you to run away or better die right on the spot, so the Uchiha would not have to endure your presence. And then there was the mocking expression that crossed his features, when he spoke. Kakashi could tell that Naruto hated it the most. Because, even when the Uchiha addressed him, he did not see him; as if he was nothing, Sasuke's deep charcoal eyes were looking past the boy. So, that was how Naruto remembered Sasuke from his time, Kakashi assumed. 'Just where are you looking, Sasuke? Does your goal really lie somewhere far away in the darkness?'

Kakashi shook his head in disappointment. "Was it his brother?"

"Partly" Naruto pondered on how to explain the case of the two brothers better. "Actually, many things had happened between them. But the fact that Sasuke succeed in killing Itachi was his greatest mistake."

"You mean to say?"

"Itachi left the village as a traitor after killing the whole Uchiha clan, that's what you think, right?" Naruto suggested. "It's not that simple. Shinobi should always see the truth behind the truth, isn't that how you taught us?"

"So, what is the real truth then?"

"The village was involved." Naruto blurted out the top-secret information at once.

"How did you learn that?" Kakashi hesitated to be convinced.

"From the enemy, surprisingly. Actually, you also were there, when Uchiha Madara told us the truth about Itachi."

"You think we can trust him?"

"I guess" Naruto looked thoughtful. "I don't think how lying to us would have benefited him. If he had made up this story so that Sasuke would turn against the village, why bother telling us? Besides, I've met with Itachi a few times. I don't know, but to me he didn't look like a total maniac, who had willingly wasted all his siblings."

"Appearances are deceitful." the Jounin reasoned.

"No, I can tell, really." Naruto sounded convinced. "It's thanks to him that I'm here. And you know why he helped me? He really was sorry for Sasuke, he still cared for him more than anything. So I promised him that I won't let Sasuke down this time!"

"When was the last time you've met Itachi? Didn't you tell me that Sasuke had killed him?"

"Well, that's quite complicated. Itachi was already dead when he helped me. I know, how it sounds, but… Uh, well, I'm not good at such explanations. The last time we met, he kind of left a bit of his power within me." Naruto gulped down nervously, remembering the way he had received that power. Seriously, he wondered if he would have to fight the urge to cover his mouth and run away whenever he sees a crow for the rest of his life. And toads too. That was traumatizing.

"And so somehow with the Kyuubi's help he managed to send me back here. I have absolutely no idea how the jutsu he used works, though, Kyuubi complained that it took a hell lot of his chakra. But otherwise it's fine, so it wasn't a trap or anything." Naruto finished.

Sasuke was right on the money, Kakashi thought, and the bloodline really was involved. Anyway, what done is done, and since the blond had safely come here, the Jounin only hoped that no hidden danger would turn up later on.

"Alright, let's say you convinced me that Itachi is a nice guy."

"I'm not trying to defend him like that. He's still a murderer, although against his will. But, I just believe that we shouldn't let Sasuke kill him. Actually," Naruto paused. 'I want to try returning him to Konoha.'

"Well, never mind. Let's deal with problems at hand first." Naruto decided. Whatever he was going to do about the older Uchiha could wait till after the chuunin exam. For now his priority was saving Sasuke.

"So, first of all- Eh? What is it, Kakashi-sensei?"

The jounin gestured him to stop talking for the moment and nodded at the slide door. Naruto turned around to follow his gaze and saw his younger self in the doorway. The boy was silent. Somehow he looked really tense, an unreadable expression crossing his features as he was glaring at the floor.

"Hey, is something wrong?" Naruto started. "You look wei-"

"Was it really you?" Younger Naruto shot out. "Tch, how could you-!"


TBC

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