Forbidden Fruit
AN: Thanks for waiting, they reviews, and to see that I was welcomed back warmly. We're getting closer to the end.
I've been avoiding it, as we're coming to a close. Hope you all enjoyed, even have a clearer beginning, that will be revealed a few chapters before the end. XD
Warning: Same as before.
Disclaimer: Do we really need to repeat, go back and look at all the others.
Summary: Same as the disclaimer, you should know what's happening by now. So let's get it on.
"talking"
"Kyuubi"
'thoughts'
"flashbacks"
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Chapter 28: Modorenai ( You Can't Return)
The evening air was hot, and the crying of birds migrating could be heard. Wings, buzzing, and the smell of decay were fresh in the air.
Wondering around through the neverending sea of trees, he stopped finally finding what he thought to be what he was looking for.
"Can you see it?" The small voice spoke, echoing from the darkness, "Can you smell it?" Turning, the color of gray eyes an ash-like hue was the only thing penetrating through the darkness.
"The price that must be paid for the level of knowledge you possess." The outine of the figure was shown, "Now, Naruto chase me in the dark, and see the world as I once saw it." They ran into darkness, brilliant green hair trailing behind them.
His eyes snapped open, as he pulled himself out of the pool of water that half-consumed his body. Naruto was sure of it now, anger becoming an apparent issue at the fruastration he felt. To him it was better than feeling confusion, as his weakened body somehow found strength.
"Imaru." The name passed his lips as he knew in that moment where he was. The cool air threathened to take a full hold on his shivering wet body, and he did just as she commanded. Placing one foot in front of the other, his pace slow, quickened as he broke into a full run. "I'll find you, I swear." His breath could be seen, while he puffed out hot air ready to finish this once and for all.
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"Get away from him!" The yelled words were violent, packed behind it the chunks of earth that came up, destroying the land. Anger was the only thing the female felt as she knocked the kids back, wanting nothing more than to tear them apart.
"How the hell?" Katsuragi's eyes diverted from its originally prey, taking in the damage. Concern falling over the figure that laid on the ground, almost quiety. The other, croutching down by it, anger was sparked.
"Don't think, I'll forget about you. This isn't over, Sai." The words were spoken with deep hatred, as his eyes laid on the femal figure standing behind the fallin ROOT member. "I won't forgive you either."
"Who said that I was letting you go?" Her eyes slinted as she pulled out her kunai knives, sutra's embedding toxic gas, ready to go off any moment. Throwing them, she watched with ease as they missed the legs of the male. She smiled as it wasn't her original target, the knives backfired in the blast of gases being realeased like the dropping of an atomic bomb.
"Shit." The male spoke, grabbing his two siblings as fast as he could before they could inhale any of it. Looking around for an exit, his eyes landed on the other females' who were with the female. "We'll meet again." He spoke evenly, disappearing from all of their sights.
Safe in her arms was the body of the passed out jounin. Moving him away from the clearing smoke, her fingers glowed, ready to access the damage and heal.
"Nice going, dweeb. You let them get away!" The female joked around lightly, walking over to meet her. "Who were they?" She asked voicing her concern at seeing the hurt art user.
"Isn't it obvious? Danzou's boys no doubt." The shorter female announced while allowing her own medic-nin skills revive the injured male laying on the forest floor.
"Yeah. But then, why would they attack him, if he's suppose to be one of them?" The medic-nin moved hair behind her ear, standing, she faced her old opponent of love.
"I'll explain it in a moment. Right now, we need a place where we can lay him down at, until he can regain his strength." Immediately, he sat up. his hand latching on to her. "How did you get here?" His voice shook from the brief pain he was feeling, "Sakura?"
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"Already, they've been gone for almost two weeks." The worn out woman said, taking a seat in her chair. Her position, legacy, and part of her history known.
"Shizune!" She yelled out, half way scaring the female out of her skin. "More, Sake! Now!" Her eyes lit up, happy to celebrate something only she knew.
"But, you're not suppose to be drinking, remember?" The femal half-cried out her concern, while holding the empty tray she had close to her chest.
"Don't you argue with me, I make the rules!" Her voice was commanding as she sat behind her desk, "Besides," She continued on, "We're celebrating something special." Another bottle was pulled out from no where, the younger female making a note to find a new place to stash the alcoholic beverage.
"Like what?" Shizune's voice was almost meek, as she approached closer into the room.
"It's a secret, but soon it'll get out. Well, part of it anyways." The fifth hokage spoke, pouring another shot. "We're celebrating the recovery of a friend." Tsunade smiled to herself and the mischeif she held behind the words.
"Huh?" Shizune's expersion was blank, not entirely confused by the display of happiness, but to who it could be that recovered? Tsunade grinned again, taking the woman by suprise by wrapping her up in her arms. Hands soon caressing skin lightly, before they grabbed closed hands, feet moving as they began to dance.
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"A cabin?" The voice stopped short of approaching it, stepping near he could hear the sound of a bell lightly clinging against the winter wind.
"So, you've finally found it? Enter if you must, the truth awaits." The voice was soft sounding and cruel at the same time. Something was off to the boy who stood outside, gathering his nerves he opened the door. Snow falling behind him, the wind blowing hard, and the door slamming shut. Shortly after a candle was lit, next to it rested a fireplace without a flame.
"From the time before we met, I was assigned to watch you. I was there the first time Kabuto and you redevouzed at the appointed time. In the background, studying you, and wondering how you could play the role in the rebirth that we all needed; but could not see?"
His body shivered, the cold slowly taking over his form, mixing itself around the dread of the tale being told by the female still hiding in the shadows.
A rocking chair slowly started to rock, blue eyes wondering over to a fire rekindling the light of the fireplace. A shadow appearing across the floor as dark green hair could be seen, flowing down from the form sitting in the chair.
"Come sit closer, the flame will heat you up."
Walking cautiously, the feeling of confusion couldn't be helped. "Why do you dwell inside of me?" The question was asked shakily, the figure never taking a seat by the female rocking softly in the wooden chair.
There was silence, the rocking ceased, the sound of the wind still could be heard blowing against the wooden structure. "I once told you a tale, about two lovers destroyed by a village. Do you remember?" The chair she was currently sitting in disappeared, the fire dying, being replaced by the smell of decay.
Dead and frozen leaves laid about, scattered across the floor. "It was a lie." She spoke it calmly, a look of pure cold covering her feautures. If he could, he would mistaken the grey in her eyes to be like that as silver.
"We weren't ordinary beings, who held the key to immortality for a price. The man that girl fell in love with, was no one other than a relative that was unknown of. A half brother, who saved his sister from killing many boys on the way home. Her powers beginning to awaken, the hate she felt for many, remorse fading, humanity failing out on her. It's what he wanted to protect, but he dies for a different cause over and over in her head."
The smell of blood was becoming annoyingly sweet, words couldn't be formed inside of the space resting inside of the pale teen's head. A faint smile could be seen somewhere in his mind, and he knew the decieving it held behind it.
"Get out!" The words were spoken lowly, cruel, and pained. Naruto looked up, catching her figure falling through the air. Landing in front of him, a crippled body, bleeding, broken in many places; Imaru Rin.
"Get out of my head!" Shutting his eyes at the illusion, the tears that he held were frozen, barely making it pass his eyes to roll down his cheeks. Anger replaced him, as he had to figure out, who the hell this being is?
"Please, do forgive me if I offended you in anyway, Naruto," Her playful manner fading into the background. "I only meant..." The words trailed and she sighed, clearly knowing that if she continued to test her boundaries, he'd without doubt break her world that rested within him,
The fire started back up, the room becoming lively with the flames, "Please, I beg you. Take a seat, you're going to need this if you want to find out the truth."
Naruto remained where he was, not trusting the being who played inside of his head for the many weeks. It was her doing that he'd almost lost his mind, trying his damndest to reach her.
"About the time before that story? You said you were in the shadows, where?" The question was asked almost gently, his hardened face stoic. She sighed at the sight, knowing that there was no need for covering up anything.
"I was revived for one purpose, to help Lord Orochimaru get back his proper body. It was a simple plan really, without all the scientifical calculations that are very complex." Her eyes trailed over to meet the body standing in the back of her, "You were the test subject, though you already know that, but you were just a basic of it. The true purpose was the possession of a child powerful enough to take control of. One that could possibly outmatch that of an Uchiha, the perfect one would obviously have to be one born from a demon."
Deep blue hues caught the ambers of the fire, knowing what it meant, "What better being to pick than the carrier of the Kyuubi no Kitsune, the most dangerous demon of all?" The question was asked with an air of sadness,and insides freezing over from the truth being told. Hands went to hold onto a stomach that didn't match that of the outside world, a stomach that was as flat as a board, toned with definition.
"Is he still after that, now?" The question almost startled the female sitting in silence, not expecting any further progress.
"Fortunately, no." Her voice was soft, she continued on with the approval she'd gotten. "You concieved well, not one child as the one that had been lost the first time. This was unexpected and seemed to being proceeding well."
"What changed?" Naruto asked the question watching as the girl turned to face him, no longer staring towards the fire. She stood, the chair disappearing, no longer suiting its need to keep any of them calm.
"There was an unexpected development that occured inside your body, one of the embroys started to change. We couldn't explain it, but it seemed that you were going to lose it. Fearing the worse, I was ordered out in the open to give you some sort of stability. Well, it worked fine until Akatsuki showed."
"What do you mean?" Naruto's concern grew more, building into a lump that pressed into his chest.
"The truth you know was revealed about my true gender. I was a puppet forced to combine with another. He was the one I loved when I was alive, it was the only way of staying and fulfilling the contract. If I could get him a body, then I would be promised one as well, to start a new life and forget the old. All of what I said earlier, was also truth. I lied at first about the situation, because I was afraid that you'd reject me."
"It didn't quite pin out that way I planned, as I became attached to you, and the other side of me coming back to light. It took over, leaving me in the background to watch. The words of emcouragement we gave, we meant. But in the end only one of us could go on, as you were starting to lose."
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"Here, try not to move too much." The voice spoke gently, while patching up the male sitting in front of her. "You were badly wounded back there, Sai." She smiled at him, eyes roaming over to the other occupants in the room.
"Nice to see you doing well," His eyes traveled too, landing on the females in the room, "Hinata." The girl looked away momentarily, not liking the look she was getting from one of them. But she stopped once the male tried to move from his spot.
"Wait. Don't get up, you're injuries aren't healed yet."
"It's okay, Hinata." Ino said looking at the girl who was hysterical not too long ago, left behind in the village in the trusting care of her family.
"For once, I'm happy that I followed gut instincts, and came back. Otherwise, I wouldn't have found everyone to be up and alive." Hinata blushed slightly, the look that she was still receiving from light green eyes, were those calculating? Wondering, if they should have really shared information with the girl?
"It's fine, Sakura." Her voice was sweet, as she could read just those thoughts spinning around in the female's head. "I swear." The dark-haired beauty spoke, trying her best to convince the pink-haired konoichi.
The look got Sai to stop his movements, only for that moment. He needed to get up and out of there. "Why didn't you stop them, Sai?" Sakura's distinct voice called out sharply to the male trying to escape their presence.
"You know them, don't you?" Her questions continues, her voice dying done the expression on her face softening. "Are you going after them, now?" Sakura's hand came out to help him up, "They're a danger to this mission aren't they?"
"You don't have to go at it alone. I'm sure if the other's found out that you pulled your alliance with Danzou, they'd more than likely help you." She tried convincing him to stay, even if for a little while longer.
"You dont have to explain anything, we'll keep those three all too ourselves. Just come with us, I'm sure Naruto would like to see you finally free."
"Thanks, but we all know what you're really planning to do." He finally spoke moving away from her, grabbing his weapons he was thankful for her helping him, "Well, must of us, anyways." Her eyebrows furrowered, as much as he liked her, she was safe now, so he was fine with fighting without restraints.
"You helped him escape, there's no way you don't have some kind of plan to do it again. You sacrificed alot, and I trully don't want to be there to see you crushed." Sai's words were harsh, though he held a friendly smile on his face, "Thank you for helping, and your concern." He bowed politely, making his way to the outside, he looked back at them. "I have no need of you all, not anymore."
"Shit." The voice was low, green eyes turning to meet those of different colors.
"He's going after them isn't he?" Ino voiced the obvious, looking towards the concerned female in the room. Wondering exactly what Sai meant about what Sakura was intending to do, and if Hinata knew.
"He's going to go and get himself killed, now that he knows you're safe, Sakura." Hinata voiced her thoughts, the three disappearing to head towards where the group should be.
"Fucking Idiot!" Sakura's anger was rapid, she didn't want him to go off and die.
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"I don't understand what you mean by lose." Naruto answered clearly, wishing the girl would stop speaking in riddles.
"I had only one shot at this, I transfered the curse into my old body, and purged my soul to enter into you. I saved the one that was dying. In a way, that baby was already dead." He could feel it again, the ice making way up his legs. The lump in his chest making way up to become dry in his throat. "All the blood that you couldn't keep down was not only your blood, but it was the child's too."
He couldn't feel anything anymore, his legs became numb, and he was unaware that he was falling. Imaru watched in slow motion as the teen fell to his knees on the floor, her body followed catching him, and seeing the tears that he tried to cover. "Naruto, please you must understand what I had to do? I did it to save the child living, still inside of you with a sound heartbeat."
The room started to crack around her, Naruto wanted to leave the place they were in, hating the smell that surrounded them. Sweet, rotting smell of decomposing flowers. The same one's he had put on her grave.
"Please, Naruto we don't have enough time." She watched in horror as the room started shifting, cracks appearing inside the walls, "Once you give brith all the knowledge I have, all that you want to learn will be lost." The room stopped it's transformation, but the cracks were still there.
"Explain it, why?" The words were far away, and tears brimming in the corner of his pained eyes. "What curse?" Grey colored eyes were revealed from behind bangs, meeting that of almost lifeless ocean blue.
"It was the curse that the Third Hokage placed on Lord Orochimaru, dooming him the use of his arms. Without being able to perform hand jutsu's he'd be useless. I took the curse from him, and I took the arms of another, Uchiha Itachi."
"Itachi? What'd you do to him?" Naruto asked, concern becoming apparent in his voice. His body tensing, a panic threathening to take over.
"I didn't hurt him, I swear. It's only temporarily, the curse he's gotten. I switched Orochimaru's arms with my own, then my own with Itachi. It won't last long, he will have his arms back to normal. Once I die completely, I will take the cursed arms to my grave. You see, that's why we didn't need to find a body for him to possess anymore. It was the last thing we planned together, once I realized that his emotions ran deeper for you."
"What?" Naruto gasped out, not believing what he heard.
"The plans were changed at the last minute. I couldn't see you get hurt either, I was betrayed by the one I loved, and wanted a family. You now have the chance that we never had, and it changed us."
Eyes stared around the room watching as the scenery was becoming transient like melting snow. Time was almost out, "We didn't follow the original plans, because you have a way of changing those around you. Even now, hearts are beginning to melt."
She disappeared in front of his eyes, the room becoming dark, the only thing left was the image of the falling snow slowly disappearing.
Standing, Naruto looked around searching for her. "Imaru!" He called out her name, not getting a respond he became worried, the sound of water drops brought him back to his surroundings. He now knew where he was, walking to the door, he pulled it open, the water returning to being knee deep.
Foot steps could be heard walking away from him, he followed the sound knowing that she had to be around there somewhere.
"Imaru!" He called out again, searching for the frame of a little girl. It passed by in the corner of his eye, he stopped and looked in that direction, slowly he walked into the darkness. An invicible light shining from somewhere clearly in the darkness leading him.
"Please understand, don't be mad at me." The little girl cried as his eyes finally landed on her small body, hunched over in the corner of the dark room. "I just wanted to be reborn again to forget all the bad memories and wrong I've done." The ball she played with was beside her, floating in the water that her body clearly was submerged in, but not touching.
"I'm sorry, Naruto-nii-san." The words were said in a childish voice, "I'm sorry." It shook reverberating throughout the room as Naruto approached the child, slowly knowing that she'd like to disappear out of fear.
"It's okay, I promise." He said calmly as he finally took a hold of her, watching as her grey eyes stared up in wonder at him. Asking for redemption, but expecting little mercy to be handed her way.
"Remember the story I told to you about the two lover's, it was a lie." She said her voice shaking, "Those boys came, it was a test, I was six. I killed almost all of them with the power's I'd been given but couldn't control."
"Souji, the name they called out, it was his name. He stopped me from killing them all, at that time he was my teacher. When you saw him, he was the other half to the puppet that sacrificed himself to give me the promise of this life." For some reason she was having trouble breathing, the memory was hurtful to her as she relived her sins.
Her grey eyes started to become dual, the tears felt hot on Naruto's skin. "Souji was my older half-brother that I didn't know about, to protect me and my humanity he killed many keeping me safe with him. I learned many techniques from him by the time I was eleven, so I followed behind him."
The body in his arms began to shake, the feeling of coldness slowly started to claim the skin of the young girl. She tried to bury herself deeper inside the warm body she was pressed up against.
"When I thought he died, I wanted revenge, and I started to kill. I'd watch many drop at my feet, blood escaping away from there bodies. Then, something was unexpected, it pierced from the inside of my body, and I died."
The look she had in her eyes, was the look of a lost child. Wandering around for their missing family, asking why they'd been abandoned?
"Not by the hand of an enemy, but by the hands of him. I hadn't noticed at that time, but I was becoming the demon they wanted me to become, and he stopped me. That's why I couldn't hate Souji, I loved him too much. He saved me, and I just want to forget."
"And now, even in my afterlife. I need to be saved again. Once more purified, in order to be accepted in the process of reincarnation. "A hand almost as cold as frozen ice came up to lay itself on the warm cheek, covered in tears, "Please, you must kill me."
The words got him to look down at the girl, still surrounded by the water. Standing up, with hands still touching his tear-stained face. The fear of losing someone close again became overwhelming. "Surely, you too can understand how it is to be persecuted because of your differences? To be betrayed by those who you love, and how much the one's you care about die around you."
"Please, I just want to be reborn again, to live a normal life." She clung to him, pouring her heart out, letting the truth be known with her tears. "Please, I just...Kill me now, before it takes control!" The color from her body faded, becoming pale, her breathing slowing more.
"It's okay, I promise." The tears kept coming and he couldn't stop them as he placed his hand on the body of the child. Watching as she closed her eyes, beginning to be submerged in the water. At first, there was no reaction, then soon after bubbles escaped from her mouth as she opened it. Screaming, she needed air, but it wasn't being premitted as the otherside tried to come out. Wanting to declare the body it laid claim to, but couldn't take control of as it was attached still to it's current host.
"It's okay, I promise." The words again were repeated calmly, as he watched her stop stuggling completely as a small smile graced her feautures befor disappearing. In his arms she dispersed into beads of water. Her body no longe there, the tears that dropped from his own eyes couldn't be helped at the hurt he felt coming from her body. But, now he knew the truth. And he knew that now, he could face them all much clearly.
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"So, was that your plan all along, Lady Tsunade?" The voice sounded through the room, tea in hand, sipping on it lightly. The taste she wanted to savor, but more than that were the lips of the one she loved.
"You're quick to learn as ever, Shizune." The woman chuckled bringing the other female in close, "She woke and disappeared, along with her disappearance was the Hyuuga girl. It only makes perfect sense. Sakura's fine and okay, they all are. There's nothing we can do about any of them either, not anymore as they are the youth and future of this country." She smiled, mirth being seen clearly in her eyes as she pressed her lips to the dark haired female who was just about to start protesting.
"Shut up," She pulled away watching the blush that lit up on her favored cheeks, "You like it." They dove back in, claiming what was there's.
"Just, don't let him know. Jiraiya is still very fond of you."
"Oh, he'll like this. Believe me."
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AN: OH NO! EVERYTHINGS COMING OUT! AND FOR THE FANS WHO SAKURA, REMEMBER I HATE HER TOO, BUT SHE'S STILL NEEDED! AND AS FOR IMARU, WELL, SHE'S DONE WITH!
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING WITH ME THIS FAR ALONG! FINALLY WE GET TO THE NEXT MAJOR CHAPTER!
