"talk"

'thoughts(demon conversation)'

'private thoughts'

"demonic voice"

"demonic voice(clearer)"

Beta: Sithmaster56a

Chapter 18: Paradise Lost – Closing the wounds…

------------Last time --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"I am not from this world. So no car, plane, ship or train can get to my home."

"What? Then you lied to us!" she spoke harshly feeling betrayed.

"I didn't lie to you! I am a ninja, I came from a village like I said, I trained ever since I was young, I lived in a world isolated from this like I told you. I left out just one important detail: I was born on another planet. I didn't lie to you Diana; I just didn't tell you everything. But what is more important is that I am still your friend…" he argued looking right into her eyes.

"…I see. But what does this have to do with the Key to the Underworld?"

"Maybe I can use the stone to increase the power of my jutsu and summon some help to return home." He answered.

"How do you know it will work?"

"I don't…"

"'How and why', there hasn't been a day I have not asked myself that question."

"Don't tell the others. I don't want them looking down on me with pity or troubling them with my misfortune. I told you because I wanted you to know where I stand and that I value our friendship." he finished.

"We will definitely not loose!"

"I don't if you're the biggest idiot I've ever come to see in all my years, or one of the most devious ones I've ever meet. With just that, you covered your bases… I never knew you had it in you…"

"Let's see if this works."

"So… it… worked?" Naruto starred at the spot before placing his hands on his head and then extended them outward. "YAHOOO!!!!" he screamed happily.

"Tremble mortals! Your Lord has come at last!" spoke the dark god coming out of the flames.

"Welcome, Lord Hades. To honour you, I brought an offering." Spoke the kneeling Faust with a mix of admiration and slight fear, presenting Hypolita to the god.

"When will you learn to shut up!? ODAMA RASENGAN!!" screamed the blond hitting the god in the chest with the giant ball.

"(AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!)"

"Naruto… you're a fool…" spoke the fox looking at the beaten ninja.

"You are… weak."

Diana was just about to be sucked into the pit when a huge transparent hand grabbed her and pulled her back to the outside.

"KUCHIYOSE NO JUTSU", on the ground appeared a green frog looking around.

"Where the heck am I?" it asked.

Naruto pulled out a brush with ink and a scroll from his pouch and started writing fast. "There's no time. Take this to Fukasaku…" he answered quickly, giving the scroll back to the toad.

Rasengan in hand. "Aaahhhh" he slammed it in the key with all his might breaking it. "Go to hell!!"

With one last effort, Naruto pushed the last of his chakra into his arms and threw the amazons away, but he also lost the chakra in his feet and was now heading towards the doors and slammed into them with a decent amount of force. That combined with the incredible fatigue, lack of chakra, cracked bones and blood that was seeping out of his mouth, was more than enough to make him loose consciousness. The last thing he saw was Diana and the others rushing to his side.

'Sorry guys… I will definitely return one day…'

"Fukasaku-sama!" called a toad running to the elder.

"Calm down little one, catch your breath." Returned the elder.

"Sorry… Fukasaku-sama, you're not going to believe this… I was summoned, and not just anyone. It was Uzumaki Naruto!" spoke the toad.

"What!? What did you say!? Are you sure?" he asked.

"Hai, it was him." Returned the small toad.

Fukasaku opened the scroll and read it a few times confirming the handwriting and everything:

"I'm alive … Naruto Uzumaki."

---------And now the conclusion------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Tttss to imagine…"

"Eeahhhh tthhh keak that guy's asss…"

'Sounds… that's all I could hear… They made no sense to me… Most of them…'

"… A team of one…"

'"…a team of one"… "A team of one…"…that thought keeps echoing in my mind…'

------Dreamscape----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Do you think there's someone living up there?" asked a young boy looking at the moon.

"I don't know… maybe. Why would they?" Spoke a little girl.

"… I don't know… m-maybe they're wondering what it's like here…" wondered the boy.

"… I guess." Returned the girl.

"…Do you think we'll ever meet him?"

"(TTSZZZZ) (BOOOOMMMM!!!)" confusion, dizziness, imbalance, vertigo… I was feeling all of them while strange sounds and whistling were echoing in his ears… "Naaauuhfooo ahhhe uuu teeee!? Baak uuuf do uuu haeee viuuaal… Reauergddd! Naaauuufooo!!" I try standing and feel the earth in my hands and feet while everything is spinning around me. There's something coming my way… a ball of light... Where am I? The voice is finally clearing. "Aaaeeefff… CALL BACKUP NOW!"

"Any sign of Fox?!"

Oh yeah…

"No, sir! I think we lost him…"

"… not yet." The ninja crouches down before jumping high in the air avoiding the ball of light that levelled the ground below him.

He landed in a crouch and makes a mad dash for a mound of sand, jumping over it while making two blue balls in his hands to confront his enemy…

-------END---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Eyes suddenly flash open. They blinked once, twice, once more… the image is finally clearing. He sees… the ceiling, a dim lighted ceiling.

"Where am I?"

His hand moves to his sore head and… bandages…

Feeling is slowly starting to be restored followed by sound, taste and smell.

A bad taste is in his mouth, the dry taste of something metallic yet nothing solid, a bitter sort of taste that felt like the neck was caving in on itself… After a moment, a thought bubbled to the surface of his mind… blood.

He moves his head to see a bowl of water next to the bed. He tries to bend to retrieve it but his body is completely against it… a mixture of numbness, pain and muscle soreness overwhelmed him.

He lifts his arms in the air with some effort and only now sees that they are all bandaged up. His right arm is bandaged from the very tip of his fingers to his elbow, while his left only has the hand and joints bandaged.

He traces his hands from his face to his lower midsection and can feel bandages on his forehead, face, chest and legs.

Soon after, enough feeling has returned to his hands to risk making another effort for the bowl.

He moves and ignoring the pain manages to bring the bowl to his chest.

He tries to drink, but thirst and blood made his throat as dry as a bone. He chokes on the water and spills it on the sheets he's covered in.

After a moment he tries again and this time the wonderful liquid of life finally fills his body. He hungrily drinks the liquid like his life depended on it. After finishing the water he throws the bowl away and tries to remember how he got there and his last memories before waking up.

'Agghhh… Dream… no… a memory… maybe… I remember Diana… and fighting Hades…'

Having enough he tried to use his legs.

They could move but barely.

The ninja next tried to sit up.

A very bad move.

As soon as he was on his feet, he couldn't even balance and fell, luckily, back on the bed.

His injuries were just too much to handle without some help.

Now, a normal person would just sit patiently in bed and rest. But this isn't just anyone… and there's nothing more annoying that an impatient patient.

So out of stubbornness and with a little more effort, Naruto finally stabilizes himself on his feet and manages to support himself with the wall.

He followed it to the entrance which had two closed doors and finally leaned in with his full body on it for comfort and enjoying the cool touch.

However, before he knew it, the door was being opened away from him. Losing his balance he fell forward and hit something soft with his head but that didn't stop him from falling and before he knew it he was on the ground… but not hurt… he was on something soft… (AH!)

He heard something that sounded like a moan. Looking up, he realized what the source of the moan was... definitely female…

'Huh? White gown?' he wondered seeing the cloth up close.

He was on someone, a very female someone with his head on her breasts and his hands on her sides.

But more importantly, that someone was the queen herself.

"Sorry… this… I... this… is an accident…" he tried speaking but his mouth barely made a sentence.

The queen herself didn't know how to respond except maybe with an angry scowl.

"My queen!! Get off her, you barbarian!!!" spoke a young woman with long red hair in a ponytail and made a huge dash to the queen and this dirty violator.

"Hiya!" she landed a strong kick on the man's head launching him back into the room and into a chair, breaking it on impact and knocking him out… again…

This particularly unlucky man was Naruto Uzumaki.

-------An hour and 3 new bandages later------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The team had assembled in Shadowman's chambers along with Amazon escort. They were starting to worry, but the Amazon medic assigned to him claimed that he was going in and out of consciousness.

"Waahooo… Itai (trans. ouch)…"

"I think he's coming to…" spoke the princess hearing the ninja moan in pain.

"Finally…" spoke Flash coming in. "Hey, what's with the extra bandages?" he asked.

"Don't ask…" returned the princess. "Are you alright?" asked Diana standing next to the bed.

"Awww… probably not… What happened?" he returned. "The last thing I remember is… a crazy, psychotic woman almost knocking my head off…"

Diana found herself amused. "Yes… Artemis can prove to be rough, she told me everything… but if I didn't know you better, I might have done worse…" she returned with an angry scowl that promised pain.

The ninja turned an annoyed expression in return. "Diana, I think the only things I don't have bruised or bandaged are my teeth, eyebrows and luckily my… you know…" he stopped himself before making one big mistake that could prove fatal. Amazon = Kunoichi and using anything related to manhood in such a situation would guarantee pain.

Diana returned a relaxed sign with traces of embarrassment mixed in. "Well, you're pretty lucky. Not many have survived fighting gods… and even fewer live to tell the tale…"

"Don't count yourself lucky yet." Stated someone by the entrance.

Turning to the source of the voice, the ninja saw a fiery red head with her long red hair in a ponytail with a yellow sleeveless shirt that exposed some skin; she had brown pants that ended at her waistline and sandals on her feet. "Had the queen not stopped me, your head might have been lying where you rest… little man." She spoke.

Naruto felt a very familiar sense of déjà vu. 'This crazy chick reminds me of trigger… and if that's the case…' "You talk pretty big… for someone that picks fights with half dead people…" he shot at her.

He was answered with an angry glare. "… 'Talk big'? I don't know what that means but I know sarcasm when I see it… and even in your best shape, I would have punched your face off." she answered angrily.

"… I guess I can add 'idiot' next to crazy and psychotic… here's some advice, red, I can take you on your best day in my worst condition… and still mop the floor with your hair…" he smirked under the bandages.

"Naruto… you idiot… You have no idea what kind of person Artemis is…" thought the princess looking at the blond with some fear… "Alright, that's enou- (BOOM!!)" before the princess finished her sentence; the red headed Amazon was already in the air, going for a high-kick.

But Naruto somehow found the power to role to the side and fall out of the bed before the kick hit. The bed, however, was broken apart by the kick. "You mongrel!"

She would have killed him had he not jumped onto the ceiling. "You really are crazy! Trying to kill a man who is bedridden!?" he snapped at her with a mix of anger and surprise.

"Crazy? I'll show you! And you don't look sick at all, unless that's another word for stupid!" she reeled back in anger.

"That's a figure of speech, dumbass! Get your ass back to school, stupid!" he returned angry.

Artemis was gritting her teeth in anger. This bastard was not only mocking her and everything she stood for, he was making her look stupid in front of the princess and the other Amazons outside. "You… you….YOU'RE DEAD!! UAaahh!!" she screamed pulling out her sword and jumping to cut this outsider's head clean off.

However, just as she was about to leave him a head shorter, he disappeared from where he had been and appeared on the ground just below her. Reaching out, the ninja caught her leg and with some strain spun her around in one loop before throwing her into a wall.

The redhead hit the wall back first, she was a little shaken from the impact but she quickly regained her bearings. '…He used the ceiling as a ramp and twisted his body just before hitting ground…' She wasn't about to let it go… she retrieved her sword from the ground and pushed full speed at the man.

"Artemis, enough!" Diana had enough of the fighting for one night, and making a bad first impression was something shameful for the princess…

But her cries reached deaf ears; the Amazon completely ignored her and went for the kill…

Naruto wasn't about to let himself get killed now… He saw the Amazon behind him and in one swift rotation; he pulled the sword out of her sheath and charged at the PMSing redhead.

"IAaaaHHH (cling)…" he caught her thrust in a parry. He stared her dead in the eye, green eyes meeting blue eyes…

Both stared into the other's eyes, both pressed their blades one against the other.

Naruto was enthralled by her beautiful eyes, and felt a sense of nostalgia pressing on his mind… … a very bad mistake.

In one swift move Artemis, showing great footwork, managed to spin her leg between his and trip him…

Shadowman tried to catch himself on his left free hand, but just as his hand touched the ground, the Amazon's rammed her knee into his ribs knocking him away in a wall…

She charged at her target and brought her blade up…

'His head would roll on the ground for his insolence!' she thought pushing for the cut…

"ENOUGH, ARTEMIS!!"

A voice full of authority that demanded obedience from Artemis shook the walls of the room and everyone inside. The queen had finally arrived…

Artemis pulled her sword back and sheathed it; even she couldn't go against the queen's orders, no matter the circumstances. "My queen…"

"Artemis, what is this discord that I hear from my chambers!?" she asked the captain.

"I was just sentencing this impertinent trash to what he deserved…" she said pointing at the troublemaker.

"Who's a 'trash'? You crazy bithmmm…!" before he could finish the others heroes were on him with Superman holding him in place and J'onn muffling his mouth with his hand.

'What the hell are you thinking?! Do you want to get killed?' the heroes wondered looking incredulously at the blond hero.

The queen fought back a smirk, this man was really amusing, or really stupid, but she couldn't lament him for now. "What exactly are the crimes that justify your sentence of death?" she asked.

"My queen! He tried to molest you with his filthy hands; he is a beast that deserves to be put down. He has also insulted my honour and provoked me with his forked tongue…" she stated firmly

"That's my line!! It was an accident, and you started it, you uptight whhhgmmm!" The ninja returned after breaking free for a moment, only to be held back in his place.

"Be silent, or I'll cut your tongue out!" shouted the annoyed redhead.

"Artemis, enough. Stand down; this warrior was essential in our victory against Hades. Had he not been there, I shudder to think how the outcome could have been different." Returned the queen with a commanding tone in her voice. "He is injured and our guest."

"But, my queen…"

"Accident or not, I have already forgiven him. Now stand down." Finished the queen. She turned to the Amazon medic. "Alexa resume your treatment."

"Of course, my queen. Please get back in the bed." said the medic.

Once back in bed, the Amazon started her diagnosis.

Naruto noticed her for the first time. She had red hair like the crazy chick from earlier, except that hers was long and flowing, she had a very kind face with light blue eyes. She wasn't as built as the other, so she probably wasn't a warrior. She was dressed in a white dress with short sleeves, reaching down to just above her knees.

"Your wounds have reopened, I'm going to have to change your bandages…" she said.

"Fine…" he responded leaving himself in her care. The young man then turned the others and stared.

They stared back for a moment, not knowing what exactly he wanted.

"I'm not dead… is there some other reason to stay and watch her take my clothes off?" he asked with a sarcastic tone.

The others stared stupefied for a moment; you could say a brick hit them square on the head. Changing bandages means getting naked again.

"Oh… um… sorry. We'll meet outside after you're done." said Superman leading everyone out.

Flash turned to look at his doctor and cringed. "See you soon…" He gave him a thumbs up and left. 'Lucky bastard…'

"Take care of him…" said Diana leaving.

"He's in good hands…" the doctor said.

After everyone left, the hero couldn't help but let out a breath that he didn't know he'd been holding. It felt really strange getting all the attention. He turned to the doctor and watched her take off his bandaged arm. He stared at her for a full minute, she didn't even look at his face, instead she was concentrated fully on the task of healing. He wanted to say something, but nothing came to mind… "…… sorry… for the trouble." He managed to pull out.

She turned surprised at him just to catch his face turn away from hers. She expected many things, some out of reason, some lecherous, some even imagined, but she never expected an apology. "… There is nothing to feel sorry about, this is my duty…" she returned with a small smile.

"…" he returned his gaze to her with some interest; he didn't exactly expect her to respond.

"In fact… it is we that should apologize for all the trouble caused. Diana and the queen told us how you were the one that faced Hades, and how you were injured… we owe you our lives." She finished wrapping bandages around his other arm.

"Well… it wasn't that much of a big dead…" he returned.

She turned in a blink to his face with the biggest eyes she could muster. 'He fights, survives, and defeats a god, and he shrugs it off like it was a horse-ride around the island… is this man crazy?' she wondered. "P-please stand up…"

He did and raised his hands so she could wrap the bandages. As she did he could smell her feminine scent. 'She smells like dry paper, ink, mixed with fresh spring flowers…'

After she unwrapped his old bandages, she stared at his wounds and checked his ribs… "(WHuaa!)" She was surprised by the discovery.

"What is it?"

"Your wounds… with the exception of the serious ones, most of them are healed. What magic do you use?" she asked looking at him.

"No magic… I just heal fast." He answered quickly.

Hearing the sharpness of his response, she didn't press him on it any longer. She lightly wrapped some bandages on, and finished.

"It might be nothing… but I want to change the bandages on your head as well." She returned.

Naruto stood still, even though he was expecting her to tell him to turn around.

She didn't, maybe she was too impressed by his ability to remember.

So, now he was stuck watching her well developed chest while she was working… the lucky bastard.

"Why did you tell them that?" she asked him checking his head for any wounds… it wasn't even swollen.

"Tell what?" he asked slightly distracted.

"That you had to undress? I didn't tell you to undress and there is nothing to bandage…"

"I just wanted a little privacy…" he returned. "What's the damage? Am I going to live?" he asked amused.

"Well… that pretty much depends on you…" she responded amused as well. "But not today."

"Thank you. Can I leave now?" he asked.

"I would recommend you stay in bed for a few days… Truthfully, I didn't expect you to be even able to move… HEY!" while she wasn't looking he was already on his feet pulling his shirt and clothes back on.

"Sorry, doc. But the best medicine is always the one that makes you cringe…" he said feeling a little sore. He tried to walk and felt some soreness in his muscles, but all was well.

Before leaving he turned to her with a smile… "Thanks, my name is Naruto…" he said holding his hand open for a shake.

She looked at his open hand and then back to his smiling face. "I'm Alexa…" she returned but didn't shake his hand.

He pulled back his hand feeling a little awkward and left.

He expected to find a clear room, but true to their words, they were outside waiting to get back in.

They all carried surprised faces; they didn't expect him to come out to them.

"Shouldn't you be in bed?" asked Diana.

"I'm fine… some exercise will do me good." He returned.

"Man, you're like Wolverine from the X-men, minus the metal bones." Mused Flash with a smile.

"I'm kind of wishing I had them…" replied the blond.

"You had us worried for a while…" said Superman feeling at ease.

"Thanks, but you shouldn't worry too much, it takes a lot worse to take me down." Answered the Uzumaki feeling tough.

"It was your healing factor that saved you, without it, you would be dead." said Batman looking emotionless but the ninja could feel the scolding in his voice.

"You don't have to be so worried." He said rubbing the back of his head.

He turned to an exit and saw he was in one of the islands huge buildings. They were currently being repaired by the amazons to the best of their abilities; he took a seat on the stairs followed closely by the others "My mind's a little fuzzy. What happened after I passed out?"

Diana felt that she should be the one to tell him since she felt responsible.

"Well, after you were forced to break the key, the doors to the Underworld began closing. We were just about to get crushed when you mustered the strength to pull us out. But it looked like you lost your footing and were pulled toward the abyss. Fortunately, the doors closed before you could be sucked in and you survived…"

----------Flashback--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Diana reached the ninja who was already unconscious, followed closely by Batman. She reached the ninja and pulled him up so he was leaning against the doors. "Naruto! Are you alright?"

Batman was the second to arrive. He kneeled next to the Amazon and used his medical knowledge to give the boy a quick diagnosis and determine any serious injury.

The others soon joined in.

"Is he okay?" asked Flash.

Batman concluded his diagnosis and got up. "He's got a concussion, with 5 cracked ribs, no spinal injuries, burned and bruised hands, no ripped muscles, bruises, cuts and general trauma on his body… He's busted up pretty bad but his healing abilities are working on it… He's going to need rest and I'm going to need some bandages…"

"That's a relief…" signed Superman feeling a weight lifted off his shoulders.

"Ugh…" Diana turned to her mother who was waking up herself. She left Naruto in Batman's care and rushed to her mother.

"I got you, mother." Spoke the princess holding her mother in a resting position in her arms.

"… and Hades?"

"He's where he belongs…" answered the princess turning to the gates.

The queen followed her direction and saw the young man on the ground bleeding. 'He must have been the one that… but I thought he was dead…what is this boy?'

"What did you ever see in him?" asked Diana astonished that someone could actually love such a demented man.

Hypolita took a moment to think to herself. 'I was young and stupid…' "Ancient history… Thank Hera it's over…"

"Is it? What about our petrified sisters?" asked Diana.

The queen responded with a saddened face, having remembered the fate of her warriors.

"We should get back to the surface. Shadowman needs rest and maybe we can find a solution to restoring them…" said J'onn turning to the women.

"Yeah, let's blow this hellhole…" cheered Flash.

Everyone else agreed, and soon they were back on the surface with Naruto in Superman's arms.

On the surface the team and queen could only look on the remains of the island. Faust's invasion left a pretty deep mark in the once paradise that used to be their home…

"What are we going to do?" asked Diana.

Flash suddenly had an idea… "I still have this snake disky thinking…" he said showing the medusa amulet.

"But only Faust knew the spell." stated J'onn.

The sun was rising and before they knew it, said amulet started to light up and get hotter by the second. So hot, that Flash had to release it from his hand.

It continued to shine and the statues were beginning to glow as well. Stone started to transform to flesh and in a few seconds the Amazon warriors were restored.

Diana's face lit up. "Look! They're transforming back to normal."

"Faust's spell must have had a time limit." Said J'onn.

Shadowman started moaning and became restless "Ughh…. (Cough)(Cough)" he coughed up more blood and returned to unconsciousness.

Batman was by his side in a flash and checked him out. "I need to stabilize him! I need a bed, now!"

------------End Flashback------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Thankfully, Batman was able to apply first aid and my sisters woke up. I told them about what you have done and have since been treating you." She finished.

"…that's good." He muttered.

"You don't sound very pleased." Questioned J'onn.

"O-oh no… it's not that… I'm just a little tired." Shadowman answered.

"Now that you're up, we should leave…" said the dark knight.

"'Leave'? You gotta be kidding me…!" whined Flash feeling outraged.

"Yes, mother would want to thank you personally…" said the princess.

"We did what we came here to do. The tower isn't going to be watching the Earth itself…" returned the dark hero.

"I have to agree with Batman, Flash." Added the man of steel.

"What? Now you too? What is it with you guys? This is a one in a lifetime opportunity!" complained Flash.

The other heroes returned his ideas with a critical eye. 'Oh yeah, of course: A boy scout, a loner and a Martian, who am I talking to?! Unless!' "Hey Shadow! You're with me on this, huh, huh?" said the Flash placing his over the hero's shoulder.

"I have to stay. I got to gather my gear from the basement, anyway." he said looking at the floor.

"Okay, so it's settled, we stay a little longer." Cheered Flash.

"Not me, call me if you need help…" said Batman turning to leave.

"I got to go too. Someone has to watch over Metropolis." Said Superman closely following.

"Come on, J'onn, you can spare a day…" pleaded Flash.

"(Sigh), I guess Green Lantern and Hawkgirl are due to change shifts…" said J'onn.

"Good man, now first…"

"I'm sorry, but I would much rather explore these temples…" interrupted the Martian.

"Oh man…!" exhaled the red clad speedster.

Naruto got up on his feet and started walking outside.

"Where are you going?" asked J'onn.

"…Just to get some fresh air…" replied the blond with a smile but feeling a weight pushing heavily on his shoulders.

Diana stared on sadly as he left.

As soon as he was outside, he walked and watched as Amazons turned with scorn on their faces and hateful glances. 'Why do I feel nostalgic?'

As he got to the edge of the city, two amazons stood in his way.

"Are you going to let me pass?" he asked.

"We can't let you pass outsider. Our queen has ordered us to make sure you don't get lost in the jungle." said a blond haired Amazon with a scowl on her face.

The blond stared back at her with a scowl on his own on his face. "Why do you hide behind orders? Just admit that you don't trust me…" he questioned, his Killing intent unconsciously countering hers.

Her scowl only deepened and was about to pull her sword out and voice her threat…

"Stand down, sister." Said the princess flying in from behind the ninja.

He only responded with a small glance while the amazons visibly relaxed or at least were less intent on cutting off his head.

"Let him pass…" she said.

The Amazons responded with some curious looks on their faces and after some glances at the ninja, they allowed passage.

"Walk with me…" said the princess walking ahead.

The ninja gave the Amazons another glance before he left after his teammate.

When they were far enough out of earshot, he couldn't help but sigh. "They don't trust me, do they?"

"Is it that obvious?" she asked.

"The stares of death were a pretty obvious 'You're dead' sign." He returned.

"Please, do not judge us by their harsh words or strictness. Their hearts froze a long time ago when they were betrayed by men. They carry that hostility even now after thousands of years." She said turning sadly to her friend.

"They have a saying on my world.'If you don't bury the past, the past will bury you'." he stated sagely.

"… true, I can only hope that one day, they can reconnect with the world and forgive man." She returned.

The ninja stopped in his tracks and turned his sight to the princess. "Why did you follow me?"

She stopped and turned to meet his eyes. Eyes that had lost their shine. "I wanted to thank you… you sacrificed your way back home to save ours. We are deeply indebted to you."

"… I did what I had to do." He muttered walking past her.

"But, your home…"

"I found one way… who's to say there isn't another?" he turned to meet her eyes with a determined smile. "What kind of man would I be if I left like that?"

She looked at his smile with her own. "And when that time will come, I will help you however I can." She said.

Naruto held his fist in the air aimed right at her.

She looked at the fist with curiosity, not understanding his intent.

"Oh… when two friends trust each other they make a proper greeting…" he said.

Diana finally caught on and punched his fist… punched it hard…

He smiled but waved his hand around to relieve the pain while Diana looked at him with amusement and confidence.

"You know… you're not supposed to hit that hard." He said.

She smiled back embarrassed but amused.

"Why don't you go back, sort things out with your mother, I'll go for a walk and return later…"

"Are you sure you won't get lost?"

"It's an island, how can you get lost?" he questioned sarcastically.

"Alright, see you later…" she returned before flying away.

He watched her leave until she was out of sight… dark rainy clouds seemed to materialize out of nowhere in the sky… his smile faded, his hair fell over his eyes, his muscles tensed so hard they threatened to explode.

He fell on his knees… his nails growing sharp and finally into claws… he grit his teeth until they threatened to shatter… he closed his eyes so tightly that his skull almost swallowed them.

The wind started raging around him in a vortex of dust and earth, the very air around him grew so heavy that the very ground underneath his feet was collapsing on itself.

His eyes opened sharply and glowing red eyes looked at the ground with a savage hate and hostility… His hands scrapped two full hands of soil and crushed it in his hands until, whatever remained, became as hard as stone…

"Weak… I was… too… weak…"

----------TBC------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here it is… finally. I hope you enjoyed it.