"NEJI! TEMARI-SAN!" Naruto shouted, his throat burning.
Shikamaru, Shizune and he were running through the woods. There was a strange fog, which had covered the entire area. Naruto could feel the intense humidity fill his lungs and he frowned frustrated for not being able to see farther than some feet.
"Shit!" he grunted and ran faster forward.
"Naruto, wait up!" Shikamaru yelled.
"NEJI! WHERE ARE YOU?"
Naruto halted by a clearing, where the fog seemed to be fading away. He looked around, the world spinning around him.
Had Madara Uchiha found them, he thought and felt his angst grow. If he had found them then…
Naruto stopped when he saw colors that didn't match the colors of the forest. He looked closer and noticed Temari, her blonde hair were shining under little vapor drops.
"HEY! I FOUND TEMARI-SAN!" he shouted and kneeled quickly next to the sand kunoichi.
She was unconscious, her fan still tied behind her back. He freed it and put her on her back. He leaned on her face trying to hear her breath. He needed a couple of moments to concentrate and forget of his anger and hatred about a specific someone. He could hear her. But it was faint.
He shook her from her shoulders.
"Temari-san! Hey, wake up!" he shouted.
"Temari-san!"
No response. She was motionless, her eyes shut, her face seemed tensed. He noticed her eyes flicker from under the eyelids.
"Temari? Hey, wake up!", but she didn't move. Her eyes continued flickering.
Naruto looked around and saw Shikamaru's and Shizune's silhouettes approach hastily.
"What happened?" Shizune wondered and kneeled next to Naruto.
Shikamaru let a gasp and scanned around for Neji.
"Her breathing is faint." Naruto informed Shizune.
Shizune signaled and placed her palms over Temari and a dim light hummed. The fog around it seemed to vanish. Was this a jutsu, Naruto wondered looking around the fog.
Shizune scanned Temari's body and after a moment she concentrated on her torso. She frowned with her gaze fixed on Temari.
"She seems to be under some kind of jutsu." She said silently.
"Genjutsu?" he asked, two bright red eyes appeared in his mind.
"Probably."
Naruto looked up to look for Shikamaru. He went towards him. He looked really nervous and his clenched fists were shaking.
"Where the hell is Neji?" he yelled at Naruto.
"We'll find him." Naruto said, not truly believing himself and he signaled.
"Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!" he shouted and the fog cleared as hundreds of Narutos appeared out of nowhere, covering the clearing and beyond.
"Guys! Go find Neji!" he ordered them and witnessed them all nod and disappear towards every direction in the forest that surrounded the Village of the Thousand Ghosts.
"Something's not right." Shikamaru whispered, his eyes fixed in a faraway spot, perhaps not even looking in this world.
"Yeah, this fog is spooky. It's definitely chakra made." Naruto said feeling all over his body the chill that reached his mind in a way no normal fog did.
"Why didn't I see it, damn!" Shikamaru grunted and glanced over his shoulder towards Temari and Shizune.
"It's not your fault, Shikamaru. They must have known our moves."
"You think the three thunder shinobi are just sacrificial goats?" Shikamaru wondered looking for the first time Naruto in the eyes.
Naruto raised his shoulders.
"Temari had placed kunais all around their hideout. If they passed by them they would blow up. The only path free was the one which I used to enter. Somehow they must have managed to get through this gap, but it can't be or else I'd definitely see them, so…" Naruto sighed "… they either found a way to get through Temari before she placed the kunais or transported."
Shikamaru looked at him shocked.
"He was there from the very beginning. He was fooling with us. He knew our every move and planned over it, just to make us think we had them. Damn it!" Shikamaru grunted forcefully.
"The only logical explanation is the last one, I guess." Shikamaru muttered after a silent moment. "Temari had made contact when she and Neji witnessed Ichirou and his dogs flee, so they must have transported. But why wouldn't they transport farther, why did they let themselves exposed to Neji and Temari?"
"Because they wanted to be followed."
"And divide us!"
Shikamaru and Naruto exchanged a long glance, realizing the tremendous powers of their opponents.
"Do you think Neji is…!"
"No! They will definitely use him against us. They know he's too valuable for us. Shit!" Shikamaru grunted once more and scanned around once more with his eyes, checking every tree, every shadow, every bush.
Naruto felt his breathing fastening as memories and experiences from several shadow clones reached his conscience.
"What is it?" Shikamaru wondered worried.
"Nine shadow clones fell into traps, but the traps are all around. And there are no trails. No trails, no signs, just traps all around the forest." He said seeing the traps, the blow-up tags, the pits, the chakra strings in his mind, like he himself had lived through all of them. Fortunately he didn't feel the pain of each shadow clone.
Naruto looked at Shikamaru, noticing his eyes glow with tears as he was staring at Temari, who still lied unconscious in Shizune's arms.
"What's the plan?" Naruto asked, his voice soft.
Shikamaru glanced at him, his face altered with anger.
"The best move would be to return and inform the Hokage. We must heal Temari and find out what she saw. Only she knows what happened. And we'll take the thunder shinobi as hostages. It would be too reckless to go and find Neji!"
"But we can't just leave him here, with Madara!" Naruto protested.
Leave a friend behind? No way!
"I hate it as much as you do, but we would only be running towards our own deaths." Shikamaru hissed.
"Leave me behind. I'll track him down!"
"Naruto, this Madara wants you dead, remember? You won't last a minute against him."
"But…!"
"No, I lead and you follow! Understood?" Shikamaru used his threatening, piercing tone, which Naruto knew should not underestimate. Although Shikamaru was the kind of person who would preferably avoid any trouble, he could turn into a real beast, when it was about his team's safety.
Naruto knew he was right, but something inside of him burnt as he thought of Neji imprisoned and tortured by a bunch of crazy thunder shinobi, and Madara Uchiha.
He had never left a friend behind. But he had now learnt with the hard way, that sometimes someone had to be wise and surpass such burning feelings and emotions take over. Neji wouldn't be murdered. The Hokage trusted him, as he was, he is one of the best jonins of his generation. But it was Madara they were facing, and Naruto was expecting anything from this monster.
For heaven's sake, he had killed his family, Naruto grunted.
Shikamaru approached Shizune. Her beautiful face was tensed and her eyes tearful.
"I cannot revive her. She's into some genjutsu. Only Tsunade can heal her." She said with a trembling voice.
Naruto noticed Shikamaru wipe a tear and lift Temari in his arms.
"We will return. Naruto leave your shadow clones behind, let them gather as much information they can. We go home." He ordered and ran forward, Temari in his arms.
Shizune glanced worried at Naruto and together they followed Shikamaru.
Naruto hesitated and glanced over his shoulder, hoping he could see any sign of Neji. The fog played games with his mind, it seemed to him in the middle of the clearing it got denser forming a figure. Naruto blinked and halted. Could it be…
He turned to face the fog, but it seemed normal again, like a cloud had fallen from the sky.
"Naruto-san!" Shizune shouted.
Naruto frowned staring at the fog. He could hear his heart pounding in his head, his hands sweat, his stomach burn.
A ghost that floated calmly in the slight breeze, forming shadows and fake silhouettes. A ghost that hummed and whistled as it caressed the leaves of the trees beside it. A ghost that reached Naruto's conscience and guided him through a velvet cloud of smoke, where everything seemed suddenly dark, only little freckles of grey scattered around him.
He gasped and looked around to search for any sign of the world he knew. The fog was still there, but covered into darkness. The trees were naked, the bushes burnt, and the ground beneath his feet had turned into ashes. His heart jumped, when two red spots glowed in the haunting twilight.
Naruto gasped when a face appeared. Thin, with a pointy chin, and hair short and spiky, with a dim, dark blue glow. Tall and muscular, a long black cloak over his shoulders. Two red eyes, no pupils, only red, as bright as the sun.
Naruto felt his eyelids shut, like he was disappearing into a deep sleep. But something didn't feel right. He couldn't identify what it was. What burned his insides, what made his brain ache. He grunted and unwillingly passed out…
____________
"We must return. The Hokage must be informed so that we can continue with the investigation. We can't just stay here, so that I can have the surgery. It's-!"
"Then I must accompany you, so that you can freely inform the Hokage and I'll prepare for the surgery with Sakura-chan." Rin argued, her hands on her hips. Her determined look made Sakura smile proudly. She couldn't persuade Kakashi-sensei herself, but obviously Rin had a greater influence on him.
"You will come back to Konoha?" Kakashi wondered, surprised. His mask twitched.
Chie beamed listening to it. Turo smiled back at the little girl.
"Yes! Why?"
Kakashi lifted his eyebrow and chuckled.
"Well, it's your decision! But I cannot promise you that I'll have the surgery the time we arrive. We could be sent onto the next mission right after."
"Oh, I'll talk to the Hokage myself if I need to, but I'm sure she'll listen to Sakura. No logical person would let you walk around with your condition." Rin said smiling.
"Well, it's the Hokage we're talking about!" Kakashi muttered.
Sakura chuckled. Tsunade was the last logical person in the five great shinobi countries.
She noticed Kakashi look at her and she looked away.
"Let's leave in an hour. We have a long way ahead of us." He said calmly and walked towards Yamato.
"Chie, come. Pack your things." Rin whispered to her daughter and together vanished in Chie's bedroom.
"Sakura, come here please!" Kakashi said and the four of them sat by the kitchen table.
Sakura sat next to Kakashi and felt a chill run down her spine.
"I want to ask you to tell nothing about Kuroi or anything considering the mission to Rin-san and Chie. Let's keep it between us. It could only bring them to trouble knowing more than needed. Turo, send a message to the Hokage, do not mention details, only that we faced Kuroi. Tell her we'll be there in five days."
Turo raised his eyebrows.
"Five days?" he wondered.
"Rin-san and Chie are more than capable to keep up. We don't have the luxury to lose more time." Kakashi said using his serious tone.
Yamato, Turo and Sakura nodded.
Turo stood up and scribbled on a piece of parchment the message for Tsunade. Yamato left to pack up his things, while Kakashi just sat next to her, breathing calmly.
Sakura locked her fingers in front of her.
"I hope I don't become a burden." She whispered, mostly to herself, remembering Kuroi's words. Words about an unknown truth and about revenge. Words that haunted her mind ever since Kuroi vanished into thin air.
Her injuries were yet to be healed and she wished they wouldn't slow them down.
"I'll carry you all the way, if I need to!" Kakashi said with his cool tone.
Sakura chuckled and felt her cheeks heat up. It seemed to happen more often lately. She couldn't imagine how it would feel to let Kakashi-sensei carry her for five days back to Konoha, like he had carried her last night. Being so close to him, touching him, feeling his heart pounding and his chest rising with every inhale, it felt…
Sakura…!
"I-I hope you won't need to." She said nervously and left to pack her stuff.
As she walked away from him, she was sure she could feel his stare. She felt her stomach jump and couldn't help but smile, imagining being back in his arms.
An hour later, Sakura ran through the woods that surrounded the Village of the Blue Tree, with Chie by her side. Kakashi, Turo and Rin were ahead, and Yamato ran behind them.
They were following a different route through the forest, just to keep away from their tracks that led to the Village of the Golden Path.
Sakura smiled noticing Chie observing Turo-san , who was talking with Kakashi-sensei ahead of them. The girl had blushed and glanced at Sakura.
Sakura chuckled with her nervousness.
"I'm jealous of you!" Sakura said silently.
Chie frowned.
"What do you mean?" she asked, her voice slightly trembling.
Sakura smiled.
"It's obvious, Chie-chan! You keep staring at him too much, even the trees know it!" she said.
Chie blushed even more and came closer to Sakura, keeping the same pace with her.
"Really? You think he knows?" she sounded really scared. Sakura couldn't help but smile. She hadn't felt this rush for a long time. Well, not that long, but she couldn't count it as the same, all this weird tickling inside of her when she remembered Kakashi-sensei's embrace.
"I can't tell, to be honest! But he likes you as well, that I know!"
Chie gasped and glanced at Turo.
"Argh, you're fooling with me!" she complained.
Sakura chuckled, glad that Chie kept her from thinking of Kuroi and his words of revenge.
"How old is he, by the way?" Chie asked whispering.
Sakura looked at Kakashi. For some reason he had got rid of his jonin vest and he was just with his dark, blue uniform. She wondered why he wandered around like this, when his torso was more exposed. Although there was no skin visible, he did look so much slimmer and somehow like a normal man…
What… man?
Sakura shook her head and glanced at Chie.
"Well, do you know?" she continued.
"Ehm , I've got no idea. He seems younger than Kakashi-sensei." She said simply.
"And how old is Kakashi-sensei?" Chei asked frowning.
Sakura wondered herself. She had actually no idea. He did seem mid-twenties, but that would make him nineteen or twenty when she was a genin. It didn't sound right.
"I don't know!" she said, feeling her stomach jump.
"You don't know how old your sensei is?" Chie chuckled.
"Well, it's not like we talk about such things, we usually train or go on missions, there is no time to speak about age or the horoscope or boyfriends!" Sakura tried to reason herself.
"Well, of course you don't talk to your sensei about boyfriends, but age… well it's one of the things I always ask first when I meet new people." Chie said serious.
"I don't, so don't push it!"
"Wait, I know how old your sensei is! Mama mentioned that she was one year older than her former teammates, so that makes your dear sensei thirty years old."
"What?" Sakura wondered out loud and blushed when she noticed everyone turning to look at her with questioning looks.
"Sakura-san! What's the big deal? He looks younger, but he's not fifty!" Chie chuckled.
"Oh dear!" Sakura sighed and wished the earth could swallow her and make her disappear.
She had been feeling this strange attraction for her sensei, who was on top of that thirty years old.
Sakura wanted to punch herself.
"I hope Turo-san is not thirty as well, or I'll kill myself!" Chie whispered forcefully.
____________
Naruto had woken up with a smile on his face. It hadn't happened for a long time. The last nights had been sleepless, and when he managed to sleep, nightmares of Tailed Demons tormented his few hours of peace in his apartment.
He woke up, the sun shining on his face. He had no mission today. Ero-sennin had left suddenly for some kind of investigation, so no tiring training today. Although Naruto would go and train. Probably he would ask Sakura to come along with him.
"Oh I will!" he said cheerfully to himself and stood up, ate breakfast, drank some bitter milk, put on his black shirt and jacket, his orange pants and tied his Konoha badge around his forehead. He smiled back to his reflection on the mirror and glanced at Team 7's photograph. Kakashi-sensei with his hands on Sasuke's and his head, while Sakura was beaming in the middle, looking so happy. Naruto chuckled with Sasuke's and his own expression.
These years, filled with rivalry between them. How stupid we were, he thought.
He put on his sandals and locked the door behind him.
The day was sunny and warm. He walked through the streets of Konoha with his hands in his pockets and smiled to every person he met.
"Hey, Naruto-san!" the baker under his apartment said.
"Good morning, Naruto-san!" the old lady who lived across the street greeted.
Naruto beamed at every one of them. It was such a beautiful day, he thought and crossed his arms behind his head walking casually into the village.
He reached the main market street, which was buzzing. Almost the whole village was gathered here every morning, when the shops were open, the restaurants were already sending their mixed scents all around. Naruto sniffed and smiled widely realizing what smelled soooo wonderful.
He ran towards the corner, where his favourite place in the entire world stood. Ichiraku's Ramen Bar!
"Here we are!" Naruto shouted shoving off the curtains from his face and sat by the bar.
Teuchi-san's face popped from beneath the bar and smiled at Naruto.
"Hey, Naruto-san! You woke up early today!" the owner said hiding some bowls in a cupboard.
"Ah, yap I did! And the earlier you wake up, the hungrier you are, right?" Naruto laughed hitting his fists on the bar.
"Ehm, are you sure? I see no teacher with you, who would buy you!" the man muttered with a frown.
"Come on, old man! I'm big enough to have my own money by now!" Naruto complained.
"Really?" the man smirked.
Naruto sighed deeply.
"I'm hungry! I've got money, here! Now bring it over!" Naruto shouted, feeling all the energy filling his lungs, but not his stomach which grumbled like a monster.
Naruto placed his wallet in a shape of a fat frog on the bar and stared at Teuchi-san annoyed.
"Ok ok!" the man cried and started cooking with the speed of sound. His hands were moving automatically, while he was staring outside. He threw lots of different things, and Naruto could feel his saliva reaching his shirt.
The smell filled his nostrils and he smiled widely, when Teuchi placed a bowl of ramen in front of him.
Naruto grabbed the chopsticks from Teuchi forcefully and ate with all his might.
He ate only five bowls, as his frog got thinner and felt pity for it.
When he felt his stomach somehow relieved, he waved at Teuchi and left happily.
His feet were moving on their own, following the roads of Konoha, as his body knew them without him even guiding his feet.
He found out, after long minutes, that he had reached the gates of Konoha.
He turned around to see a wave of pink hair behind him.
"Oi, Sakura-chan!" Naruto shouted, waving at the pink-haired girl. She walked up to him, and he observed her move her hands and legs so beautifully. She was always beautiful and she sparkled like a cherry blossom under the morning sun.
"Hey, how did you sleep?" he asked when she reached him.
Sakura frowned, looking annoyed.
"And why do you care?" she asked.
"Oh, well I had a wonderful night and I think people who are deeply connected share these kind of stuff, you know!"
"Deeply connected?" Sakura growled.
Naruto looked shocked at her, what did he say this time, he wondered.
Sakura was about to punch him, but she held it the last moment making Naruto flinch. She laughed with his reaction and he complained.
"How come you're not training with Jiraya-sama?" Sakura asked while they walked towards the gates.
"Oh, you know, he left for one of Granny-Tsunade's secret missions. I guess he fooled her to go write his new book. He seems so lost with these stupid stuff. He says it'll be the last book of his perverted series. Can you imagine Kakashi-sensei's disappointment? What will he be reading then? The newspaper?" Naruto laughed.
He imagined Kakashi-sensei sitting by a tea-shop drinking tea and reading the newspaper like the old ladies do.
He chuckled, as did Sakura.
"Hey guys!" Naruto heard a voice and turned to see a familiar face greet. He was one of the guards at the gates of the village. Naruto could never remember his name.
"Hi!" he said simply.
"Good morning, Turo-san!" Sakura said politely.
Naruto sighed and looked at the woods surrounding Konoha.
The world disappeared, Sakura's and Turo's muttering was so distant, it felt like he was trapped in a balloon, where the air was dense and the sounds faint.
Could it be…
Naruto felt his arms fall on his sides numb. All he could hear was his heart pounding so loud.
Could it… be…
Sasuke…?
"S-Sasuke!" Naruto heard Sakura gasp.
"Who is this?" Turo said worried.
Naruto didn't respond, he just walked towards him. Towards Sasuke.
He was there, he was walking towards him as well. He was still faraway for him to see his face clearly. He was wearing a white cloak and his chest was bare. Purple pants, which were ripped. He was barefoot.
Naruto walked and walked, his pace getting faster. He could hear Sakura's footsteps trying to catch up with him.
Naruto was panting.
Sasuke was close enough for him to finally distinguish the details on his face. His raven black hair was messy and strands were hiding the sides of his face. His eyes staring at him.
Naruto missed a heartbeat noticing a faint smile on Sasuke.
But it was no smirk, no threatening smile, no smile of superiority. It was a… sad smile.
Naruto gasped.
"Sasuke." He said silently and forcefully, like he was afraid he'd wake up. Like this was just a dream, that he wasn't back.
"Naruto! Is this a-an illusion?" Sakura whispered. She was next to him, obviously shaking.
Sasuke approached them, he seemed cautious, but the sad smile was still on his face.
He was standing a few feet from them, and Naruto saw the glow in his eyes. Sasuke looked relieved.
'Sasuke!" Naruto said and smiled.
"H-hey!" Sasuke said. Naruto felt a chill hearing his voice, deep and calm, but nervous.
Sasuke looked at Naruto and then at Sakura, and back. His eyes tried to digest his image, if it indeed was an illusion, or not.
But he could feel him, he was real. Standing in front of them. Breathing, smiling.
"I-I'm sorry! I had to go, I had to leave you and let you believe I followed another path, a lonely path. But… now it's over. I-I'm back!"
Naruto stood motionless, tears, hot as the sun, falling down his cheeks, reaching his chin, his neck and down his collarbone.
"Sasuke!" Sakura said behind a sob and fell on her knees, hiding her face in her palms.
"Sakura!" Sasuke said worried and kneeled next to her. Naruto observed how he hesitantly placed his hands on Sakura's shoulders and then stroked her cheeks. He cupped her face in his palms and lifted her head, so that she could see him. She was crying as heavily as Naruto was.
Naruto felt his airway blocked.
"I hope… you don't hate me. I understand if you do. I caused you so much pain, and I regret it. I regret it every day!" Sasuke whispered. Tears sparkling on his face as well.
Sakura let a sob and her face disappeared in Sasuke's embrace.
Sasuke hugged her and looked up at Naruto.
"I-I wish I had found another way!" Sasuke said staring at Naruto.
Naruto kneeled next to Sasuke and Sakura, who was shaking in Sasuke's arms.
"All that matters is that you're back!" Naruto managed to say and he threw himself on him.
He tightened his arms around him, feeling his warmth, feeling his tears.
Sasuke hugged him with one arm and held Sakura tight with the other.
Team 7, they were together again. Like one. One embrace, one love. Three persons who had found the beauty in life into each other.
Naruto felt his heart beat with so much force, like it was ready to explode with happiness.
If I die now, I won't mind, I'll die happy!, he thought and chuckled.
Sakura and Sasuke chuckled as well, and they laughed happily each into the other's embrace.
The happiest day, the happiest day of my life…
_____________
Tsunade grunted and took a long sip of her sake. She felt the sweet liquid burn her insides and felt a strange excitement fill her soul.
She looked up at Jiraya and smiled at him.
"I think back at that day every moment I spend in this damn office, in this village. What had I been thinking, huh?" she wondered out loud, remembering clearly the day Jiraya had found her, accompanied by a young and annoying Naruto.
Jiraya smiled slightly and approached her by the window staring at the surrounding view of Konoha.
"You were thinking of your home and of your beloved ones, Tsunade." He told her with his calm, deep voice, which she so loved to hear.
Tsunade shove off the strands of her face and looked up at him.
"What shall I do? I have no power no more. I can't think clearly." She whispered.
She could feel him so close to her. He was huge and it made her feel protected, but not from her dark thoughts.
"That's because you've been drinking again, dear!" he chuckled.
Tsunade chuckled, feeling glad listening to his laugh. It always made her feel goose bumps, though she had never admitted it.
"Help me! Please help me and guide me!" she had never asked for someone's help. She always stood up for her own, on her own. She had the appropriate self-conscience and power to depend on herself, but now… now Madara Uchiha was back, she could only feel fear and the lack of power to face him.
The message she had received a few minutes ago from Kakashi's team and Shikamaru's team, had made her fall into a strange half-sleeping state. Like all this was a nightmare and she knew it was one, but couldn't wake up from it.
All her conclusions on Madara's plans had been turned upside down. Something told her that Madara would show himself to Kakashi, or even Sakura, but not at Hyuga and the Kazekage's sister. Hyuga was gone. And then Kuroi had appeared to Sakura. She wanted to scream.
Madara Uchiha knew their every move, her thoughts. He had read through her mind.
How could she face him. Konoha and everyone she loved, was in danger, and she couldn't do anything about it. Of course she needed help.
She felt tears form and pressed her palms on the warm window.
Konoha…
She felt Jiraya's hands on her back, and she shut her eyes feeling his touch on her bare shoulders.
"I'll help you, I'm here!" he whispered.
Tsunade shivered and let herself cry. She hated being vulnerable, but Jiraya was here and he would protect her.
As would she…
I am Hokage and this is who I am…
Thank you all for reading! Can't wait for your opinions...