A/N: Suprise!

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Twenty Five: The Collective Unconscious

-Kisaki-Mama-

The matches for the Tournament were about to start. Kisaki-mama sat in the assigned booth assigned for the Fire Daimyo's family. The Daimyo's sons Shuji and Mitsubachi sat in the seats closest to the railing. The Daimyo sat up in the higher seat with Himitsu at his right. Madame Shijimi had taken ill and couldn't make it. Kisaki-mama had been invited to sit in the private booth to watch the tournament, seeing as she otherwise would've been in the regular seats with the pair of guards Mori sent along with her and Suisei. The Daimyo's personal invitation reached her as she had entered the stadium and he suggested they were family and had her and Lady Suisei join him.

"This fights should prove to be entertaining." The Daimyo casually commented and stared at the Chunin hopefuls, his dark heavy lidded eyes widely gleaming as he excitedly anticipated the fights.

"Yes. I'm particularly interested in the first, second and third fights." The Daimyo eyed Kisaki-mama curiously.

"Oh?"

"Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke and Haruno Sakura are very good friends of Hachiko-hime. In fact she's trained with them occasionally." Kisaki didn't miss the small joyful gleam in the Daimyo's eyes.

"Oh, I see. So Hachiko-hime is more than a pretty face. That's good. With assassins and danger posing to a clan heir, I can see why such measures were taken. I myself wanted Shuji to learn at least the Art of the Sword but my dear wife was opposed. I was so happy to hear my Himitsu let 'Bachi learn from Mori. I hear he's quite the natural too. Where is Mori? I was hoping he'd be here. come to think of it, Where are Jun and Lady Mimori?" Kisaki-mama nodded.

"They preferred to stay behind and watch over Hachiko-hime. She's still ill." Kisaki hoped the Daimyo wouldn't push for questions. To everyone else, Hachiko was ill. No one knew she was actually poisoned at the end of the party and now in a coma now. Very few knew of her actual condition.

"Oh the poor girl. I'm sure she would've been quite excited to watch her friends match." Kisaki-mama nodded.

"They're about to start." Kisaki heard Mitsubachi excitedly say. Kisaki noticed Suisei beside her looked a bit pale but she wasn't staring at the two genin who were announced… No, Suisei's eyes were resting in the waiting area for the genin hopefuls. Kisaki's eyes widen.

Yashagoro… Feathers?

As feathers descended upon the stadium Kisaki's vision blurred and her eyes drooped.

-Kage Booth-

"It's starting. He's not waiting by the looks of it." Hiruzen mouthed and gave the signal to his ANBU. It had been a good thing that he had started emergency evacuations of all women and children earlier in the day and as subtle as possible. The only women and children present in the stands were those who proudly wore their ninja headbands and a few noble children who were safely behind a barrier that activated upon the casting of a genjutsu.

"I see. Well I hope he doesn't mind that I shared his plans with you. It's time for Suna to make amends for breaking our treaty with Konoha." Rasa said and gold sand began to pour out of his sleeve and into the ground.

"Speaking of the devil." Rasa commented as a giant snake, Manda, blew the competitors area wide open with a series of explosions going off in several locations outside the stadium. Debris flew into the stadium and the two genin, Naruto and Neji dodged and moved on Genma's orders. Hiruzen noted that the other genin got out, with minor scratches but by the look of blood on Sakura's ear and onto her shoulder, some obtained damage from the explosion.

Sound Ninja poured in and were halted by the barriers that were up around the audience. Those that infiltrated the audience were easily taken care of by the ANBU within the barriers.

Hiruzen's eyes connected with Orochimaru's. He remembered everything his puiil had done to not only other children but now it was personal, Orochimaru had poisoned his great-granddaughter. Hiruzen felt it. Today was the day he'd do the right thing and kill his pupil.

-Naruto-

"Listen up, there's an invasion going on. Oh Shit." Genma mouthed and jumped away. Everyone jumped away from the usually happy blonde as yellow chakra started to engulf him. Naruto's blue eyes took on a fiery orange as his eyes landed on the snake bastard he was waiting all day for to show up.

"I'm going to tear that snake bastard apart." Naruto growled and assured his tenant.

"N-Naruto he's a Sannin." Shikamaru beside him tried to make the glowing genin see reason.

"See that, he's missing an arm. I did that after he hurt my teammates." Naruto saw the shock in Shikamaru, Hyūga Neji, Shino who's head slightly moved back and the proctor Genma. Even the suna ninja who were a few feet away stared at him incredulously. Gaara though, he starred at Naruto as if he was a worthy opponent. Their small stare off was interrupted by Genma who spit his senbon and nabbed a Sound Nin and pulled out more senbon to attack the incoming wave of Sound Ninja's that were getting past the Jonin and Anbu in the stadium.

"Listen up, Uzumaki, even if you did that much damage last time. Hokage-sama had orders ready in case of this. All of you are to move to the academy and sweep it for any stragglers. Along the way escort any trapped civilians to the emergency evacuations routes. Suna Genin, your Kage simply said Code 4." The Suna genin nodded and disappeared.

"What about Sasuke. He didn't show up? What will happen when he does?" Shikamaru asked.

"No need to worry about him. Since he's a target, Kakashi has him busy elsewhere fighting. Everyone has a task and not one person was overlooked." The young Nara was satisfied and nodded.

"I'll give you lot an opening." Genma started taking down the first wave of sound stragglers and created a large fireball to make an opening. Naruto easily helped slamming around sound nin with his yellow chakra and Shikamaru quickly took the leadership position and directed them all out, while Naruto too the middle to stretch his chakra and make their way out. Neji took the rear easily; Shino and Sakura stayed close behind Shikamaru and took out anyone trying to get in around Naruto's swats and slams.

-Hachiko-

Where am I?

That single thought registered and I could hear, so many different kinds of noises that I couldn't make out. I wasn't sure what language was being spoken or what was being said, it was like background noise and the more I tried to focus the less the sound's made sense. It was so dark and I couldn't see myself or feel. I couldn't feel my limbs.

How the fuck am I supposed to sign if I have no hands!

"About time you got here." I froze. I knew that voice. That voice was… But that was impossible. That couldn't be, because I'm me, Nia.

"Oh it's is."

You can read my thoughts.

"Read? No, more like I can hear them in my, Nia's voice. I suppose that you've yet to… Oh, but you must be still in the middle of speech therapy, so you have no idea what you should, well what Hachiko should sound like. I really need to re-organize this place, you'd think after centuries of being here, I'd learn to buffer out thoughts and what not, but it's so difficult to work with and I'd rather just peek into everyone else's life."

Huh, Wait! How do you know that? Where the hell are you? Why can't I see you? See for that matter or feel anything? OH SHIT! ARE YOU BLACK ZETSU TRYING TO FUCK WITH ME AGAIN?

"WHAT! OI! I TAKE INSULT TO THAT. No way I'm that damn meddlesome weed… Anyways. Ah, let's see introduction to ease you. I'm Nia, well more like a copy of the 22-23-ish-year-old version of Nia, stuck in this place. Nice to meet you, Hachiko." I stilled and then proceeded to freak out.

What do you mean Hachiko? I'm Nia! You're an imposter! I-I woke up in Hachiko's body eight years ago!

"No. You're an Echo of me. Hmm, I think you'll understand better like this, I'm the back up of the original Nia, who's long dead now, from your point in time, and I'm the reason, well partial reason, that you Echo-Nia were thrust into the Shell of Hachimitsu Hachiko. Before we move on, any questions?"

WHAT DO YOU MEAN I'M A COPY OF A COPY AND THE ORIGINAL IS LONG DEAD?! WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO ME?!

"Sheesh, no need to yell out your thoughts. I suppose yells are better than nothing. Hmm, how do I even start this properly? Seondeok should've done this herself instead of me but she said I'd be "more effective". Beol would've done a decent-ah, never mind. She'd probably made things worse."

Beol? Hang on, Seondeok… As in Seondeok-mama?

"Sorry. I need to stop thinking out loud but can't help it. Nothing is a secret here in the Collective Unconscious."

'Nothing? What do you mean? What the hell is the c-collective thing you just spoke of?'

"Right I should start from the beginning. Seriously you're very confused and it's just jumbling up my train of thought… Not good at dealing with this place, not like Seondeok but I suppose this was necessary."

YA! Get on with it… I'm only getting more confused by the second.

"Right, first off. On behalf of Beol, I apologize for your existence but at the same time, I don't because without Beol, you Hachiko, or Hachiko-Nia if you prefer, wouldn't exist. Secondly I'm here to clarify things that you've just been pushing to the 'back burner'."

Could you please stop pausing and just move the fuck on, my patience in this dark and shapeless place is making me rather uncomfortable.

"So I see being raised to be an heiress has done nothing for your crass language. Anyways, Right. So to start with, I know you're aware of Kaguya's Flower in fact. I'm not surprised how bad things have gotten but you being here isn't good. It just means things are going to get much worse."

Wait how do you know of that flower? And what are you on about?

"Right. I know because of this amazing yet horrid place. The Collective Unconscious. What do you make out of the name?" I heard the voice be quite amused.

A collection of unknown some things?

"Close. Try all the collective knowledge pushed back into the recesses of ones unconscious. The place where all knowledge builds up and is stored over time. It's a collective storage area where information is dumped and updated by several incarnations. Like a Hard disk on a computer if you will."

Incarnations? Oh no. You don't mean… R-Reincarnation do you?

"Yes. Ever wondered where all the brilliant geniuses get their creativity? The best writers, painters, even the best thinkers, inventors, they don't pull that shit out of their asses, they unconsciously go mad and reach the dark deepest pit of their selves and usually under the influence of certain substances find that place. While some of the more brilliant people, like oh say Masashi Kishimoto have the amazing effortless ability of pulling at information from the dark unexplored area of their mind."

The Collective Unconscious?

"Bingo. You're getting it. The Collective Unconscious is untouched by time and space, but there's like a firewall around it to prevent some if not most incarnations from knowing too much. But there are some exceptions, there's at least been three, you included from our incarnation line that have reached this place. I don't count since I'm just an accidental entity that shouldn't have but amazingly happens to exist here."

Uh, I think I'm going to regret this but, what's an incarnation line?

"What it sounds like of course! You're an incarnation of Seondeok, who's an incarnation of someone else, etc., etc."

B-But… Wait you said you're a copy of the Original Nia. So why are you here?

"Because of Kaguya's Flower. So you accepting you're just a copy of a copy yet? Or are you accepting that you are Hachiko?"

Shut up! This is a lot to take in. I mean with all that I've had to live through, you'd think nothing would surprise me but I'd be lying if I said that. That flower is going to haunt me all my life won't it?

"Pft. Try all you're incarnations after Beol. I'm not even from your time nor anywhere near your Era and I'm feeling the effects of that pesky flower."

'No where near my Era? Wait just how far down the incarnation line are you? Heck, how is the incarnation line thing possible! I'm… We're… Ugh. Nia, she's from a different world dimension where Naruto-verse isn't real! None of this is real!'

"Now that's just rude... Of course it's real. But I guess now you're asking the right questions. I'm… Let's used Doctor Who terms ne? My existence has to do with the fact that 22/23 ish Nia is a fixed point in our reincarnation line that keeps being crossed over, and over and over and over with other points on the incarnation line and it's all possible because of Kaguya's Flower."

WHAT?!

"It started with Beol. That insane incarnation, past for you, future for me, started this all. She got sick one time and she was given a small sip of a brewed infusion of Kaguya's flower to save her. That single sip caused our reincarnation line to become a tangled mess. She soon found herself wanting to taste more and as she grew older, brewed more of the flower. Drank it on a monthly basis, tangling the reincarnation line further unaware of the consequences."

She got addicted to it didn't she?

"Yeah, drinking it wasn't enough. So one day, she ate it. She tricked everyone that day. They assumed she was drinking the tea again but in reality she only soaked the flower in hot water and drank the flower whole with the hot water. That caused her to be thrown into the Collective Unconscious. Beol got stuck here and with no one back in her body, her body latched on to the closest conscious it could find through the Collective Unconscious... Nia."

S-So you… You're really not Nia?

"Yes and No. Like I said, I'm the copy of the original. I got stuck here in the mass of darkness. Had centuries to learn and tap into various languages, don't know how but I managed to feel when Beol ended up here and her body began to die. So I did what I had to do and made a copy, an Echo of myself and shoved it into Beol's body."

How the hell is an Echo a Copy of one's self even possible?

"Oh that's easy. Backup Nia, me, as a fixed point that all our past lines cross multiple times, became a place in our incarnation line the easily synchronized with the Collective Unconscious when Beol pulled on the original Nia. That's how I ended up stored self in the Collective, like a Back-up Disk if you will. So making a copy of myself here is quite easy, so much left over chakra from all out past lives resides here except it's raw, very raw chakra. I guess if I had a physical body, I'd be dead thrice over. I made a copy of myself three times and boy does that leave me exhausted."

Three, Beol, Seondeok-mama and Me?

"Yes. I'm so interwoven with this place that when there's a threat to our line, this place begins to tremble sometimes even show signs of stress. I feel it and have to do something lest our line cease to exist. I mean, I could know exactly how it all ends but I refuse to ever see or peek that far into the end. I came close to once but instantly pulled away when I felt this place start to fall apart. Well, it should've ceased from existing had I gone further and witnessed it. I don't know how, the exact details and don't care since it's not valid anymore, but Hachiko was supposed to be the end of the incarnation line… But I couldn't let her go. Being here, knowing, feeling when the end is near, I became a little selfish and had to set up things accordingly to make sure Hachiko did wake and Hachiko did exist."

You changed the future. You changed the timeline as I knew it. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU'VE DONE?!

"YA! RESPECT YOUR ELDERS GIRL! I DID WHAT I HAD TO DO. DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG I'VE BEEN HERE? CENTURIES! I MIGHT NOT HAVE A BODY NOR WORRY ABOUT AGING BUT I DO WORRY ABOUT EVERY SINGLE INCARNATION. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. I DID WHAT ANY HUMAN WOULD DO GIVEN MY POSITION."

Let's say I believe you, that you had the "best intentions" but why now? Why show up now of all times. Why not when I was a confused 6 year-old or a terrified 7-year-old when I was contemplating my role in Naruto's life or in the timeline? I needed guidance then, and you know who I went to? You know don't you?

"Ha! Know? I met him. No one gives Uchiha Itachi the credit he deserves. He was here when he sealed away parts of you. He sealed your access to me, to this place. He figured I was the cause of your stress and existence. You know what he told me? If the future didn't turn out the way I saw it, if his brother walked the path of darkness then he'd come and evaluate the seal on you and if he found me free to influence you, he'd take your life and finish what he had first intended."

You… No. He wouldn't. Itachi wouldn't.

"Oh? Last I recall you wanted to 'maim' him. You, well I pose a threat to his plan. He's still going headstrong into it. He's under the assumption that you failed, and he's going to come looking for you. Mark my words, I have seen it. He knows Sasuke has the snake hickey on his shoulder and he's going to deem that you, well I failed."

Just fucking great! I have an Uchiha on my ass now because you just had to ruin the timeline and aggravate him when he showed up huh?

"Wow there, Calm your undeveloped tits down! I didn't aggravate him. He just didn't agree that you having knowledge of the future through me, was a good idea. I merely suggested it and he shot it down, something about knowing too much corrupting your mind."

He's not far off the mark. I'd go nuts on the information, even I know that.

"Yeah, well not my fault he misinterpreted. I did it as a test to see if he was hungry for knowledge and to see how he'd go about protecting the village. I bet if I made the same offer to Shisui, he'd consider it and support what ever you decided."

Ugh, even though you're making a point and I know I should agree to your nonsense, I'm beginning to think this is all a figment of my imagination to rationalize my existence in Naruto-verse.

"Careful with those kinds of thoughts. You voice them out, well in your case sign them out and everyone will start thinking you've gone mad. Beol did it and look where that got her… She became the outcast, no one took her serious when she started to make claims about the future. Even her best friends abandoned her and you know what happened to her? Black Zetsu."

What the hell did that little shit do?

"Beol to everyone else had an Identity Crisis, my Nia Copy freaked out much like you did and because of that mass freak out, many passed Beol as crazy. When Beol returned to her body and fused with the Nia Copy, Beol made the mistake to trust Indra in futile attempts to end the rivalry between Indra and his younger brother, Asura. Beol shared with Indra what she knew would become of his descendants; he didn't believe her and through him Black Zetsu learned of Beol; Beol suffered a great deal with Black Zetsu after her knowledge… Beol killed herself and left a note for the two brothers. It was a message calling out for peace but Black Zetsu changed her message. So Beol's death became another reason to further fueled the rivalry of Indra and Asura. Asura loved her so much despite that they weren't siblings by blood, Beol was Asura's important person and her loss hurt more than losing his own father."

So Black Zetsu has been behind more fuckery than I imagined.

"Yes. Seondeok was the only smart incarnation to put land and sea between herself, her family and it. Then again, Seondeok is a different kind of incarnation. Unlike Beol who was an adult when she ate the flower, Seondeok was a child and a brilliant one so when she was given the flower tea infusion, with an open mind she accepted Copy Nia and made herself one with it. Seondeok was a genius since she was small and with all that the Nia Copy knew, she figured out how to reach me in her sleep. She agreed with my plan to preserve the incarnation line. She befriended Lady Suisei, documented all knowledge of the flower in some scrolls but all that was written in Korean, so no one but Seondeok could read it. Of course she read it to her children and some of them managed to make loosely based translations but none actually accurate. Seondeok allowed it so that one day, based off what I knew of the future, a certain Snake would be come interested and his apprentice Kuroyama Duelo, your father would have access to said knowledge and the flower itself."

You. You're fucking scary you know that!

"Well you are a like me and I've heard a certain bridge builder call you that too. Even a certain Uchiha has said it too. We're not that different. I did what I did to keep our incarnation line going. You've used what you know about the future to your advantage to help Naruto. So how is that any different from what I've done?"

I do what I do for someone else not myself.

"I'm doing the same. It's not for me that I'm doing it entirely, no. So far, I've watched several incarnations grow, in chronological order might I add, I had time. I watched them be born, take their first steps, utter their first word, watched them have their first crush. I've always wanted to be a mother, you know that. This, watching over our line is the closest thing to it. So when Hachiko's body started to fail, it was breaking me. The second time, was enough for me to stop watching over her and get into action to prevent it."

I-I'm sorry.

"Oh?"

I didn't realize being stuck in this dark place was… I probably would've done the same you had. I mean. I'm not a mother but… You and I are the same just,

"Different. You're in every sense your own person now. Hence why I call you Hachiko. I am sorry that my careless way of speaking prevented me from reaching out to you. Normally, Beol and Seondeok reached me through dreams but you, Itachi cut you off completely with his seals."

You know, as much as you've convinced me. I'm not 100% convinced that this is real.

"Come on Hachiko. Think. I know you can do it. Use that pretty little intelligence you have."

It's strange to hear my voice call me Hachiko. It's just too weird.

"Look you're Hachiko whether you like it or not. I know you've accepted you're Hachiko so why do you fight it now?"

Because it's easier to fight it. It's so much easier to deny anything you've claimed.

"It's easier but you know very well you are Hachiko. Nia-the-Copy may have been shoved into a 5 -year-old's body but for the past 8 years now, you've changed, You're not a Copy of Nia anymore. You've created an identity for yourself, developed bonds, given the name 'Hachiko' life. It looks like you've even allowed for love to blossom between Asura and Beol this time around with Asura's current incarnation, Naruto."

Naru… UGH! I'm still confused! I was so sure this, Naruto-verse was a parallel universe thingy and somehow I ended up here by chance or insanity!

"You're close, come on, keep ranting."

You shut up old lady! You said you were from the past… Far past. So I'm from your future and I'm here, living breathing as Hachiko because you meddled with things you shouldn't have and changed the timeline. Changes I had to deal with and you threw off what I knew of the original timeline. Not only did I deal with it alone but until recently I had to figure out what moves to make. All I've done is accumulate wealth under my name, gain political influence and through Shisui, have ANBU, ex-Root agents at my disposal. Wait. Freeze the hell up. Backwards, rewind. You knew this would happen. Oh my kishi!

"Finally! Took you long enough."

Silencio old woman! I was fighting the changes that were meant to be because of your meddling. I thought it was my fault but it was you! I was getting nauseous because of you. You caused them. You purposely made me sick. Orochimaru because of you, you set all this up, how the hell did you manage it and why?

"Oh, Orochimaru is easy to manipulate. I knew that Duelo taking the flower and using it on you would be easily deduced and Orochimaru felt like targeting you because of something bigger than you, I see the possible future and that was going to happen regardless of my meddling. I just used that and fueled it with him getting revenge on Duelo. I did all of that because I had to find a way to communicate with you and apologize and give you a gift but none of it would be possible without Black Zetsu."

What did that little shit do?

"He's what's making you sick. Not me. Well a little. I amplified that part of you that's the Flower. You're a byproduct of man and the flower. Your ancestors have drunk the flower, consumed it and you have drank the flower, pure extract. I guess you could say that it's the Hachimitsu kekkei genkai."

I'm a flower?

"Yep. You smell like one, lure in biju, calm them, soothe them just like Kaguya's Flower should and because of that, Black Zetsu is coming for you. Sure he could've just grown his own Flower but it would've died. Black Zetsu for being fused with a plant is shitty gardener. You though, are a walking breathing human flower and he want's to pick you but you're not ready. Well he's now waiting, he's hoping you'll go crazy enough for him to pluck you and shape you how he wants."

Why would I go crazy? Hang on, he can't grow plants?

"He fed you a Kaguya Seed. That's how you got here. That's how Itachi's silly little buffer seals broke down so we could communicate. When you wake up, you'll be feeling better. You'll find a little surprise, I have set up for you."

What did you set up? I thought there were no secrets in this place… Wait you still didn't clarify why I'd go crazy?

"Well I can manage to keep one secret, not many, it's too hard to keep many in this place, hard to keep my thoughts straight too. Anyways, He's hoping you go nuts because you're not the only one he's tried to feed a seed to. He's tried with others but it failed him. They went mad and some killed themselves. Others, it sort of became a kekkei genkai. Know Jugo? His mother was pregnant when the seed was given to her. She went mad, and Jugo, just a baby in the womb got the after affects. It's why he's so unbalanced. Kaguya's Flower, like all living things, takes in natural energy. Poor Jugo though, he'd be fine if he had someone to siphon and exhaust his wild nature energy."

Maybe I can do something to help him.

"Maybe but anyways, moving on before I lose my train of thoughts again. The Hachimitsu Line has been able to absorb the flower and it's properties quite well. Most Hachimitsu that are direct decedents of the matriarch have a good affinity at sensing. That's because it's in your blood to easily detect Natural Chakra and your body doesn't take it in, rather the flower traits easily filter the natural chakra in and out of your bodies with out nasty side affects like sanity and turning into stone; Huh. You lot could become quite the Mary-Sue type Clan had Seondeok changed the direction of the Clan when she had the chance, but I guess she did the right thing. You have no idea how much Seondeok worked to avoid becoming a Mary-Sue. Anyways, down the incarnation and Hachimitsu line you were born and are the epitome of a flower incarnate. The seed though, I had to get it into you somehow and the current seeds available are well from your point of view, is one, one you've ingested and there's two flower's in existence, not bloomed yet, Kaguya Flowers bloom in winter under a full moon."

This seed seems dangerous! Look what it's done to Jugo and others before his mother. Why so into getting that seed in moi?

"Oh fine, ruing my fun. The seed will remove all seals on your body. So bye-bye Itachi's buffers and bye-bye sealed physical energy."

WHAT?! I HAD THE SEAL PLACED BECAUSE IT WAS DANGEROUS FOR ME TO MIX MY CHAKRA. HALF KYUUBI'S ENERGY, A THIN SLICE OF MY OWN PHYSICAL ENERGY AND MY SPIRITUAL ENERGY EQUALS DISASTER!

"Okay, maybe I should've started like this. Kaguya's Seed is re-allocating Kyūbi's chakra to a less conspicuous area and evenly distributing it so it's not harmful, if anything, ensuring that the next generation is strong and adorable. Ahem, at the same time, re-storing the physical energy you should have. Meaning?"

WHAT. Wait. You said I can, I can use chakra… OH SHIT I'LL BE ABLE TO USE CHARKA AND DO MORE WITH SEALS AND… That's why you wanted me here. That's why you were setting me up to have all the resources necessary to seal Black Zetsu.

"Yeah. It's the least I could do to help you. All the bad things that happened to you, I can take the blame for it all but I at least wanted to give you something useful."

Thank you. Say, if I'm here. Who's in my body?

"Oh, Since you're already a copy of me, your body is in a coma as it adapts to the changes from the seed. Yeah, I apologize once more because everyone is imagining you'll be in a coma for a while…"

A violent shudder rippled out and the voices began to clear up.

I can hear metal clashing. I can sense… You're right the little shit is here, but why is he waiting?

"It's time to wake up soon. The poison in your body is gone now but the effects of it will take a while to go away."

"No. N-Not you Mi-hi... I-I didn't, why did you get in the way?"

I know that voice… WHAT THE HELL IS HE DOING HERE!

"It seems I didn't see this coming. I'm sorry. There was chance it would happen but… The future is never a certain thing. It can change. It-"

Who's Mi-hi? What do you mean it's not certain!?

"There are fixed points that have to happen. Sasuke getting the curse mark, fixed. Him becoming Orochimaru's Apprentice, Fixed. How else would he get the Snake Contract and become the Legendary Snake Charmer? Pein Attacking Konoha, Fixed. No way that can change. Naruto… He's going to lose it, he must to see his father and you're going to cause it, that's a fixed point."

Wait no, I. Naru can't. I can't, I promised I'd prevent him from getting emotionally torn. Sasuke leaving will break him. Me causing him emotional pain, I can't do that.

"It has to happen. Naruto has to realize just how much you mean to him, just how far he's willing to go and he has to meet his father. That is a must. No if, and or but about it."

Does it have to be that way?

"I said Fixed, it doesn't matter how it happens but it has to. He has to tear the seal off himself in a desperate move, he has to reach his lowest before he can rise to his highest."

I see…

"Look. I know you love him and that you want to protect him but you can't coddle him and impede his growth as a ninja, as a man. What you can do is be there by his side and be the hand that leads, pushes and holds him together. His journey is a painful one, you've always known that and just because you're in his life now, unlike in the old timeline, it doesn't mean it'll be easier, just more bearable. That is the difference between you at his side and Hyūga Hinata at his side."

B-But what if he doesn't want me, when he finds out that I'm, that it's the flower in me that attracts him? What if in the end he wants Hyūga?

"He already knows and you know what, he doesn't care at all if the flower was what brought you together. He knows he loves you and you love him and for him it's enough. Yes, there's a chance he'll notice Hyūga but only if you let him go and push him away that he'll notice her. Look I'm not supposed to say any of this but Hyūga only ended up with him because you didn't exist in the old timeline."

You're divulging information of the future knowing full well that it can change why? What did you see?

"You're finally using your brain. Black Zetsu will take advantage of any dark facet in your heart. The moment you let go and break his heart, you know what will happen, it's what you're so afraid of. You'll regret it and it will make dark emotions in you ignite and like Amaterasu, nothing will stop them. With your new found ability to use chakra and seals, everyone will fear you. You know perfectly well what I mean. This world is far more cruel to strong dark figures and history tends to turn them into monsters over time."

I-I see.

"Don't be afraid. Even if you were to go rogue, I'd never stop guiding you. I know very well what depression does to you but you, as you are with Naruto… You'll never go that way. Not if I'm here to stop you from doing something stupid. Besides, didn't you listen to me earlier, you'd be making a mistake if you were to break up with him over something stupid like an old timeline that no longer exists. You two are meant to be. Asura and Beol, Naruto and You. It's meant to be. It was meant to be in your past lives and now it's no different. Not to mention it would give Beol a peace of mind to know that in another life, she did end up with Asura."

"GET AWAY FROM HER!"

That was Jun-jiji. The ripples are getting stronger.

"It's time."

You sound faded…

-Moments Later-

I felt something warm hit my face. It was dripping onto my face. I struggled but managed to open my eyes. I felt my heart drop. Another crimson drip caused my tears burst out.

"M-Mi-im." I managed to cry out, despite that my throat felt parched and tight.

There was the end of the sword through Mim's chest. She was hunched over me and had a small smile. She wasn't afraid, nor sad. She was relieved and from her eyes her tears lightly dripped down. Blood from the corner of her mouth streamed down. From the blade, the point, more blood dripped onto my face.

"Y-You spoke. A-At l-least I-I w-was abl-le to h-hear th-that. I-I love you s-so m-m-much."

As much as I wanted to move my arms. I couldn't. I wanted to hold her hand. I stared into her hazel eyes as she straighten out. I wanted to cry out and demand she not move but as she moved more blood oozed out of her lips. She smiled proudly and I watched as the light in her eyes collapsed. It was like watching a star collapse into itself before her pupil dilated and she fell to the side.

"She wasn't supposed to die… Not you Mi-hi. My Mi-hi. It was only supposed to us to live. Why? Why couldn't you have just accepted my proposal! WHY JUN? WHY NOT ME?!" I stared at them an screaming at Mim's body. His hair had gotten shaggier and it was half up and half down in a messy bun. He wore black baji and a single black long jokki vest. His cold insane yellow eyes narrowed as they connected with mine.

"I'm going to enjoy cutting your pretty little face and gouging those eyes of yours. You don't deserve to have my Mi-hi's eyes." As he took a couple of steps forward I was hit with nausea. Sand, no Iron Sand swirled around him in a manner that reminded me of Gaara.

'No. He can't- H-How can he do that. The only one that is able to do that is dead. Sandaime Kazekage. Unless Kisaki-mama. Oh Fuck. I'm gonna to die.'

Akuzetsu's snarling smile immobilized me. His KI was strong, not Kyūbi's strong but still enough to make me freeze. As the iron sand gathered above me and spun coming down my eyes remained wide when I saw it out of the corner of my eye.

Akuzetsu let out a gurgle and blood came out from his mouth a black had was through his chest holding a heart and then the heart was crushed.

"I never did like meddlesome fools."

A/N: And Cut! How do you like this cliffhanger? Ten Princess Points to whoever guesses who that was at the end. Anyone?

First off. Yeah, I tried to take a hiatus but depression does shit to me, creatively that is. So you all got an unedited, raw chapter. I'll come back and edit later. I seriously felt bad for not posting, so better late than never ne?

Moving on!

This chapter had a few answers no? Hachiko's Reason for Existence.

Seriously would love to know how some of you are taking the 'Collective Conscious' thing. I had that idea for years but never really thought it through until now!

Also took a stretch and incorporated Reincarnation to purposely set NaruHachi. Omo! What do ya'll think of Beol and Seondeok? What about Nia? I would really love feedback about that.

Gotta love Nia, she purposely did so much, like damn. Black Zetsu can't compare to her. Heck, anyone noticed Itachi was so weary of her influence on Hachiko, that he did what he did to keep Nia at bay from Hachiko? Gotta love that sexy Uchiha and all his genius. Seriously the man hardly gets his due credit.

Thank you all so much for your support and reviews. Seriously without some of you's encouragement, I wouldn't have been able to get through this and other hard times. So really thank you. Full commentary is up, go check it out

(unless you already did and then came this way when you saw it and were like: 'We knew she couldn't stay away!').

Seriously. I write because I love it and post because you guys love it. Glad to know my insanity is appreciated somewhere.

Until Next Time (might be sooner than you think, not tomorrow soon but like 2-3 days soon),

-Anbu