A/N: And so I take the plunge. Well, I'm sorry for this chapter being so late. I was out of town without computer access. Anyway, this chapter was pretty enjoyable to write, and I hope it's even more enjoyable for you guys to read :)
I once again apologize for being inconsistent in my use of Japanese; it's not at all a top priority to get it all straight, but if it really bugs you guys, please let me know.
I was blown away by the number of reviews; I never imagined being past 150 by my 12th Chapter, especially when my first fic was stuck at a meager 9 by Chapter 6.
As per traditon, here are the reviewers for Chapter 12:
cyanbilbo, Houkakyou, Crystalzap, OverLordRevan, TsubasaWitch, 1arigato, ShamaLamaDingDong, Circle of Phoenix, Buffy-CrazyaboutAngel, kaayou, yarra, Shinigami, wind dancer1981, Thousand Tailed Holy FlashFang, Frostius, I'm Smiley-chan, .Alpha, elvesdragon, empire14, 1ryeguy8, THE-complete-zelda-fan, Jamie-LuvsFanfiction, Anton, bakapervert, Icecce.
Wow. Look at it this way, guys: Last chapter alone scored more than TWICE the number of reviews as all six chapters of my first fic combined. Thank you all!
Speaking of my first fic, I'd like to make a note about that. Originally, I wanted to write this story side-by-side with my first fic, They Were Legends, which is a action-heavy Team 7 fic. I took the advice/criticism from that story and improved on it here. This story is actually inspired by imouto12345's "What If?", which is great and I highly recommend it to you all. It has since taken on a life of its own completely, and due to vastly popular demand, I will be working solely on this fic for the time being.
Now for personal responses:
Jamie-LuvsFanfiction: The whole idea is that the time travelers will change things for the better to the best of their ability. In other words, it will become its own story entirely over time.
1ryeguy8: Unfortunately, Sai doesn't really have a place at the moment. Like I've repeatedly mentioned, this story is not outlined. Sai being with the rest of Team 7 during Naruto/Sasuke's fight simply made sense, so he was there. As for the other stuff, I would try to be less extreme in your fandom...there's a wiki for a reason :)
Shinigami: Though not directly mentioned, it is implied that it was seen practically everywhere. Hopefully that will give you an idea as to the nature of the whitish-red light. As for Nagato/Jiraiya and Co., I never forgot about them. In fact, I had something planned for them all along (keikkaku doori). As for Danzo, you can't try the guy for crimes he's technically never committed. You would be forced to punish Nagato, by that same logic.
cyanbilbo: Thank you :) It's reviews like yours that keep me writing like this.
Without further ado...Enjoy!
Chapter 13: Never Alone In The First Place
The Yellow Flash of Konoha watched his son with pride and joy as Naruto taught his student his original jutsu—the Rasengan. The training method Naruto employed was rather bizarre…water balloons? He recognized the purpose shortly after the explanation, but laughed at his son's antics. It seemed that the blond teen tried to have fun with everything…but more than anything, that only confirmed his earlier fears. He didn't miss what his son had said his dream was as a new genin.
"My dream…is to become the greatest Hokage ever and make everyone in the village acknowledge my existence!"
That last part brought chills to his spine when he really thought about it. He was no idiot; he knew that jinchuuriki were often treated very poorly and downright feared by their respective villages. For Naruto, an orphan with the beast that had claimed so many lives sealed inside of him, it must have been bad. The teen's mindscape embodied his treatment and psyche; you could never see the whole picture, it was dark in a creepy way, and the water…
The water was a rather unique characteristic. It wasn't flowing, nor was it raining. It didn't represent some sort of lake or pool. No, once Minato put all of the clues together, the meaning became rather obvious. The whole thing was a sewer with very leaky pipes running along the infinitely long corridors. The water represented the neglect, the lack of care and maintenance, the emotional muck that clouded his mind. Thinking about it made his heart feel heavy and his eyes watery…but when he stared at his son, who cheerfully brought smiles to everyone's faces, his thoughts took a different turn. Naruto had faced hardship and loneliness and come out stronger because of it. He was able to find the good in anything and look past the negatives. For that, he held nothing but admiration and respect for his son.
00.000.00
"You already have great chakra control, Rin, and your medical expertise is quite good for your age. But from what your sensei tells me, Rin, your combat ability is rather lacking. So that's where I'm going to focus my attention and training."
Rin looked at Sakura with anticipation. She'd heard several times that medic-nin were ill-suited for combat, and the few known exceptions were genjutsu experts. Obviously, the woman in front of her had different ideas.
"First, I'm going to teach you how to use your already-excellent control as a weapon. What you'll need to do is gather your chakra into your fist. Then, you need to compress it as tightly as you can, and at the moment of impact, you transfer your compressed chakra out of your fist as quickly as possible. Like so…" She punched rock next to her, which shattered into dozens of fragments. "Now, go ahead and give it a try. You can start against the ground, since it will be much softer. It also helps to yell as you strike."
Following her sensei's instructions to the letter, Rin yelled as she hit the ground, producing a result that surprised her. There were several cracks in the ground, and while it was nowhere near the level she had just seen her sensei perform, it was far better than she had been expecting.
"It seems that you're a natural. With practice, you'll be able to use more chakra per strike and your timing will improve, allowing you to produce a result like this," she said, pointing to the shattered boulder behind her.
00.000.00
Taking a break, they all gathered in the middle of the training ground. Minato decided it was time to get some answers on a matter that had been bugging him since Team Kakashi's outburst earlier. "I'm curious, Naruto, Sasuke—you made it seem as if you only took the Chuunin Exams once, and judging by your current ability, it was probably quite some time ago. Why haven't you taken it since then?"
To his surprise, Naruto and Sasuke's expression immediately darkened and they both looked at the ground. This did not go unnoticed by anyone present.
"We took the Chuunin Exams when we twelve," said Naruto, his face still distant. "Shortly after that, I went on a three year training trip with Ero-sennin."
Sasuke looked at his old friend in surprise. Why hadn't he mentioned his defection?
"That still leaves two years, though, so what happened?" Minato didn't want to leave everything vague.
Naruto sighed before answering. "After that, I never got a chance, and it just didn't matter. It was just one thing after another, and at some point, I just stopped caring. Rank meant nothing when I was fighting people like Nagato anyway."
Minato turned his stare to Sasuke, who knew that he had to come clean. It might as well be now, he thought. "Following the Chuunin Exams, certain…things happened that reawakened feelings that I had only just begun to suppress. I could go on for an hour about why I did it, but I defected from Konoha in search for power. I was…focused solely on power and revenge at that time, and I even went as far as to accept an offer from Orochimaru for power. Three years later, I killed him and searched for my target. Many things happened along the way and after I killed him, including learning about a…truth that changed how I viewed everything. I swore revenge against Konoha, leading Naruto and I to fight about a month ago. Our fight accidentally resulted in us being sent here, and well…I've changed a lot since then. There's no reason for me to go back to my old ways."
So this was the dark secret they were all avoiding, thought Minato. And I don't blame them. You'd never guess from seeing them interact with each other…
"That's all behind us now," Sakura spoke up from behind. "We're Team 7 once again, thanks to two idiots who never knew when to quit." Though everyone on Team 7 smiled, everyone else looked at the trio, confused. How could such treason be forgotten?
"Oh yeah, I can't believe I forgot to ask…" All eyes turned to the blond teen. "Who'd you take the Chuunin Exams with when you passed, Sakura?"
She smiled as a nostalgic look plastered across her face. "Kiba and Hinata…so much easier to work with. Even if Kiba smelled terrible the whole time. You'd think with his sense of smell, he'd notice, but…" They all chuckled at the memory.
"Kiba…" Naruto looked up at the sky bittersweetly. "He never did get a rematch with me…"
"Maybe you will, someday." Naruto looked at his pink-haired teammate, perplexed, but understood her meaning after some thought. Kiba may not exist in the same way, but there could still be a relationship. Who knows, maybe he'd even be his jounin sensei? Now THAT is a scary thought.
00.000.00
Sakura entered the Hokage's office with Rin. She'd given it a lot of consideration, but it was the least she could do for her future-sensei.
"You wanted to see me, Sakura-san?" asked Minato.
She struck a formal pose, which Rin copied. "Yes. I'd like to take Rin with me on an extended mission."
The Yondaime's eyebrow raised at that. He became more relaxed, leaning on the front of his desk with his arms crossed. "And what kind of extended mission would that be?"
Sakura thought about it for a moment before deciding on something all too appropriate. "Search and Rescue." Tsunade was quite capable of defending herself, but she was definitely lost and in great need of an emotional rescue…something she would provide no matter what.
"For whom?"
"Tsunade." The name was enough for the Yondaime's expression to change to surprise and concern immediately.
"How? Even if you find her, she doesn't want to return. Trust me, we've tried."
She smiled at him. "Your son managed to pull off that particular miracle when he was 13. As her student for several years, I hope I can manage to do the same."
Understanding crossed his face. "You do realize that you could be gone a long time."
"Yes, I do. Which is why I came to ask permission to take Rin with me; I want to train her all the while."
Minato sighed as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I see no problems. Just take good care of yourselves, and be sure not to be gone too long. I wish you the best of luck; you're going to need it."
00.000.00
"You're what?"
"I'm going on an extended mission and training trip with Sakura-sensei."
"But…" Obito pouted, his thoughts becoming obvious to everyone around him.
Rin placed her hand on his shoulder, giving him a big smile. "Don't worry, Obito-kun. I'll be fine, and I won't be gone too long." Obito froze under her touch and visibly blushed at her use of the honorific at the end of his name.
Kakashi-kun stepped out of his casual pose to say goodbye to his teammate. "Take care of yourself, Rin."
"I will."
Kakashi-jisan walked up and whispered into her ear. "Rin…whatever you do, don't pick up her attitude. She still scares practically everyone she comes across." Rin nodded, her expression knowingly fearful.
"You know, Sakura, this seems oddly familiar…" said Naruto, his face full of mischief.
Sakura returned his smile. "Yeah, except in reverse. You kept your promise after all...and so here's mine. I'm going to bring her back, no matter what."
They said their other goodbyes before heading out. As they waved to the departing pair, Kakashi-jisan casually spoke to Naruto.
"You know, Naruto, I think it's time."
The teen in question turned to look at his sensei in confusion. "Time for what, sensei?"
"Timeskip no jutsu."
"Timeskip no what—"
00.000.00
-One Year Later-
"I've always wondered what Konoha looked like."
"I always pictured it hot and desolate, considering it was in the Land of Fire…but it's the exact opposite."
"And you're supposed to on a diplomatic mission? Who put you in charge?"
"I seem to recall that you did."
Laughter erupted from the trio. "We're almost there, you three. Any last questions before we enter the village?"
"Who's the current Hokage?"
"Well, it has been more than a year since I left, but last time I checked, it was my sensei, Sarutobi Hiruzen."
Nagato looked at his sensei in disbelief. "Your sensei is the Hokage?"
"Yup. He's a good natured man who loves peace. You'll have no trouble talking to him, Yahiko. Or should I say, 'Amekage?'"
Yahiko looked at the ground, still embarrassed to be addressed by his formal title. "I don't understand why you think I deserve such a position, sensei."
Jiraiya looked at his student with a serious face. "A leader isn't someone who rules because he or she is strong…a leader is someone who rules because the people want him to. You have led your people to peace and a better life, and they have put their hopes into you. Power has nothing to do with it."
They walked in silence for a while, contemplating his words. "Are we going to meet your future student, sensei?"
The Toad Sage grinned at the question. "Indeed we are."
00.000.00
Chidori!
Rasengan!
A clash of chakra and elements blew both fighters back into the dirt. As they climbed out of the ground, their sensei walked up to them to begin their lecture. "How many times do we have to tell you?" yelled Naruto, who was comically frustrated. "Those techniques are equal! You'll just end up throwing yourselves into the dirt every time!"
Obito rubbed the back of his head with a stupid grin plastered all over his face. "Yeah, but it's fun!"
Sasuke facepalmed. "I swear, Naruto, he's getting more and more like you, right down to the stupidity."
"WHAT WAS THAT, TEME?"
"And deafness too, apparently."
Naruto yelled as he formed a Rasengan in his hands and charged at Sasuke, who formed a Chidori to counter. The jutsu collided, sending the pair hurtling into the dirt. Kakashi-kun looked at his teammate. "Are you kidding me?"
"Shouldn't a sensei lead by example?" asked a confused Obito.
The sensei climbed out of their mini-craters and went back to their original positions, completely calm. "Dammit, when are we going to stop doing that?" asked the blond knucklehead.
An ANBU flickered next to them. "Hokage-sama has summoned you, Namikaze-san and Uchiha-san."
"Alright," answered Sasuke, "we'll be right there."
00.000.00
Jiraiya had been a combination of flabbergasted and overjoyed when he learned that his student had become his sensei's successor. The reunion was a happy one, but Minato's jaw dropped when he spotted the Ame trio. Throughout the meeting, Minato never took his eyes off Yahiko and Nagato and always hesitated when replying to anything they said. Finding this incredibly odd, Jiraiya asked for a moment alone with his student, but Minato ordered several people to be summoned before he could ask.
Within a couple minutes, Naruto and Sasuke entered the office casually. "Hey, Da—" he stopped dead in his tracks as he spotted the guests. Like his father, Naruto's jaw dropped right along with Sasuke's. Unlike his father, Naruto quickly gave a genuine smile. "Ah, Nagato, Yahiko, Konan…it's good to see you."
Confused as to why this stranger knew all of their names, Nagato spoke up. "You know who we are?"
"'Course I do. You did deliver my message, right, Ero-sennin?"
Connecting the dots, the trio's eyes went wide. "Y-you're sensei's future student!" Yahiko exclaimed, pointing his finger at his subject.
"Yup. So, what brings you guys here?" asked Naruto.
The new arrivals took their seats to hear the answer. "Well," began Yahiko, "Jiraiya-sensei approached us about a year ago, giving us a warning and a message. Knowing about Hanzo's trap, we ambushed his trap instead, and managed to kill him and all of his close supporters, who were part of the ambush. Without Hanzo's iron-grip rule through fear, Ame shinobi were quick to rally around our peace movement. Since I was the leader of that movement, they kind of appointed me leader of Amegakure soon after."
Jiraiya smirked, full of pride as his student recalled his story. Naruto, however, smiled out of relief and nostalgia. This, thought Naruto, this is the way it was supposed to be.
No longer hesitant, Minato joyfully offered his hand in an alliance between Ame and Konoha, and within the day, a treaty had been written and signed. Hiruzen joined them for the process of forming the treaty and was equally astonished by the current events.
After the long meeting, Jiraiya pulled Naruto aside to get answers for the questions he had had all day. "Naruto…how exactly do you know them? And why did everyone look at them like they had seen ghosts?"
The blond looked at his sensei hesitantly. "I know them because I've fought them in a time when they became very different people. I think tomorrow would be a good time to visit the memory room…you, me, and them. It should be…eye-opening."
00.000.00
"Awake at last, Asumi-chan," cooed Kushina. Picking her daughter up from the crib, she walked downstairs. A knock resounded from the door. "Just in time to see your father and brother!"
Opening the door, she was greeted by the grinning faces of her family. She pouted, feigning anger. "You're late, Namikaze."
Minato threw himself at her, embracing his daughter and wife while kissing the latter. Naruto looked upon his family with a huge foxy grin. His new younger sister, Asumi, carried her mother's blood-red hair but bore her father's deep blue eyes. The past year had been surreal for him, but in a good way—seeing his mother through her pregnancy while spending time with his family brought a slew of experiences he would forever cherish. He recalled the day his sister was born…
"You're even worse than Kakashi-kun, Naruto." The blond in question scoffed at his mother, but looked at his baby sister in wonder. She was so small, like she would break if he just held her.
Both Kakashi's smiled at the moment. This time,they noted, there wasn't a nine tailed demon coming to rain down destruction upon everyone, and the Namikaze family was elated. "Go ahead, Naruto, you won't break her. Besides, I'm sure Minato-sensei would catch her should you drop her."
He seemed terrified at the mere thought of dropping his sister and froze. "Honestly, Naruto, you've pulled off MUCH harder things than holding a baby. Take her, it's okay," said Kushina.
Slowly and fearfully, he took his sister from his mother's arms. She was so light; was he really this small at one point? After getting over his initial shock and wonder, he smiled brightly at his sister. This was him, he realized. Who he could have been. Who he wished he could have been. "I'm going to protect you, imouto. I'll always be there for you, I promise you that. And I always keep my promises." His parents beamed at the moment, for the first time feeling like a complete family.
"I think we should let Kushina rest for a while. She definitely needs it," said Minato. Her labor had been long and intense, and she was barely awake as it was. As the Kakashi's, Hinata, Sasuke, and Obito cleared the room, Kushina passed out from exhaustion. Her husband kissed her forehead and turned to his children. "Thank you, Naruto."
The teen looked up at him questioningly. "What for?"
"If it hadn't been for you, this moment would have been very, very different…as you know all too well."
Naruto nodded, his expression uncharacteristically solemn. But as he looked down at his sister, his smile returned. For some reason, he no longer felt alone in the world. It was as if by having a sibling, he was never alone in the first place.
00.000.00
"Ready?"
The blond menace looked up threateningly, but her pink-haired companion ignored the glare. "Good. Then we'll head out right now." Tsunade didn't say a word, but began keeping pace with her.
Several hours into the trip, Sakura noticed her sensei's growing unease as they neared Konoha. "Don't worry," she said, "it won't be as bad as you think it will. There are a lot of people who will be happy to see you." Finding the Legendary Sucker had been rather easy, but helping her had been another problem entirely. The woman was deeply affected by the losses of her brother and lover, and the way in which it happened made it unbearable. It was not the quantity of loss, Sakura realized, but the quality of it that determined how much of an impact it had. Over the course of a year, she had slowly helped Tsunade overcome her grief and hemophobia while connecting her back with her village. She revealed her true background shortly after their first meeting, which she was able to prove by a handwritten note by the Sandaime Hokage himself.
Rin walked side by side with Shizune, someone she had grown close to over the past year. Shizune had become something of an aunt to her, and advised her in all sorts of matters, from training to romance. When she left, an odd dilemma had presented itself. She previously had a crush on her stoic, silver haired teammate, but everything changed on that mission to destroy the bridge. She vowed to make the most of her time with her teammates after learning of their demise, especially Obito's. In the weeks following that mission, she had begun to see him in a different light. Rin idly wondered if that had anything to do with no longer living in the stress-fest of war and destruction. In peacetime, the strength and steady personality Kakashi offered wasn't nearly as appealing as Obito's fun loving nature. Remembering Kakashi-jisan's hints, she considered the possibility of them as a couple, and with Shizune's guidance, she was eager to try it out upon her return.
Which, apparently, was not very far off.
A/N: Yes, I did the timeskip I've been talking about for a while. And yes, I just broke the fourth wall.
I think I'm forgetting something...oh well.
EDIT: Now I remember, at least one of the things. "Asumi" literally means "beautiful tomorrow". I thought it was particularly fitting.
And I'm going to be taking a few liberties with the timeline, since it's very unclear (even Minato/Kushina's age is not known) and I'm trying to make everything work.
Until next time!