Original Summary: He was a Jinchuuriki who was murdered by his best friend. But Fate has other plans, and Naruto wakes up in his five year old body. KakaNaru Yaoi
New Summary: After his death in the Valley of the End, Naruto wakes up in his five year old body and the ideals and responsibilities of his father's clan fall upon his shoulders as he becomes the bearer of the impossible Yochigan. As his mind threatens to break under the strain of the legacy of the Kazama clan, his only hope in salvation lies in the hands of the one person he pushes away due to his overwhelming love for them. Can Kakashi get close in time to preserve Naruto's deteriorating sanity? KakaNaru Yaoi
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
SS's Notes 2: sorry about the long wait. My life has been ridiculous, what with classes and evil teachers, my house burning down, y family being fucking indecisive so we move back and forth and in and out of a house/apartment, more classes, dealing with a stalker old nough to be my father and life in general, life has been totally hectic! But I have a new chapter for you all, and I would like to say, thanks for being so patient with me! Hgs and cookies for everyone and hands out kakashi plushies.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Previously on Soundscape…
Madara was an Uchiha first and foremost. And when the Oracle called for his kinsman and Guardians the Uchiha, they answered. The Oracle had summoned him, Madara would answer, and then, like Itachi had, he would swear his fealty to the Impossible Yochigan as he had sworn fealty to Soramaru so many years before.
---
It was only a matter of time. The Oracle would call Madara, and then the Oracle would call for Itachi, and both would answer. Itachi sat, he meditated, and he waited for the summons from the only person to whom he would willingly entrust his entire being.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Chapter 35: On the Precipice~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Madara grunted as he pulled himself out of the rubble that had once been Hidden Sound Village. It was incredible how quickly the young Oracle could get himself into trouble, the Uchiha thought wryly as his bond with the Oracle fluctuated between active and dormant; a sure sign that the Oracle's control was failing, and that his time was drawing to a close. Despite that, Madara smirked as he held up a severed head by its raven locks. Despite his nearing end, Madara knew that his Lord would be pleased to receive this gift.
After all, how often is it that one receives the head of the very person one most desires dead from one's vassal?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Itachi stood up as the pendant around his neck warmed. He walked calmly out of the cell, and the oinin on duty, noting the play of colors over the pendant's surface, reached out, snapped off the collar and handed over a box containing the Uchiha's things. The elder Uchiha calmly stripped in front of the oinin and pulled on his clothes and stashed away his weapons and left after signing the form the hunter handed him. He set a black porcelain mask with the Oracle's emblem carved on the forehead on his face, and left.
The Oinin watched as the Uchiha's form faded into the dusk, and left to report to the Hokage. The Oracle had summoned his servant and the Uchiha had gone to serve his master. There was no doubt that both would return and by all means, there would be one less threat to be dealt with when the Oracle finally returned to Konoha.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The darkness was thick around him, and the water seemed to have risen in the time that he was gone. While the mindscape had changed with time and care, the modest house on a grassy hill was all but swallowed by the dark water.
There is no longer time. If your mind is not stabilized and soon, you truly will descend into insanity.
He knew it well enough. The difficulty he had moving in his own mindscape was enough of an indicator for him, not to mention the flickering of different scenes of different futures fluttering about in the air unasked for. He was tired, incredibly so…
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It was a terrified and war torn Konoha to which the Oracle returned, and the assembled Team 7 were intercepted by Uchiha Itachi who guided them not into the village proper, but around it and into the shelters in the Hokage Monument, where they moved ever upwards in the mountain until they came out in a vast cavern carved out of living rock, magnificent limestone pillars holding the ceiling aloft and carefully carved and disguised windows let in light and air while keeping out the elements. On the ground, inlaid directly into the living rock were minerals of different compositions, sliced with thinner than a sheet of paper then cut and polished and set with only the most delicate of care to form the sweeping lines and delicate curves of the Oracle's emblem.
Footsteps echoed through the chamber and Itachi threw open several shutters and light poured into the chamber, illuminating white cloth draped over furniture in various parts of the room, and the elder Uchiha didn't hesitate as he hastily stripped a bolt of cloth off what is revealed to be a plush daybed. The footsteps come closer, and the Godaime and Sandaime storm into the chamber even as Itachi took Naruto from Yamato's arms and laid him gently on the daybed in question.
Sakura could only stare at her teammate, aware of only one thing. In the seven days and nights that the team had been traveling, not once had the Oracle opened his eyes.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
He knew better than anyone what was causing the rapid deterioration. He was holding far too many seals active. If he wanted to survive, if he wanted to heal, he would need to let some of the seals go. But which ones? As he watched as the water crept higher, he came to the conclusion: Most, if not all the seals had to be released. He could potentially stabilize his mind and powers if he released several seals and allowed his powers to rest. He didn't even have to release all of them. In fact, if he released all but two or three, he could likely slow the deterioration and turn the rest of his energy toward fixing the damage that the overuse of his powers had caused.
With that in mind, he allowed himself to slip beneath the surface of the dark waters, and drifted. As he moved slowly through his mindscape, carried by the water's current and the Kyuubi's own force of will, he began dismantling the containment seals he'd cast all around the village…
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Tsunade received the reports of the ROOT ANBU being released in concern. The Oracle had sealed them to prevent them from causing damage, so why was he releasing them? She received her answer when a tired, but marginally more refreshed looking Oracle staggered into her office in the shelters.
"Nice to see you're awake," she said softly.
Naruto smiled tiredly and said, "Holding as many seals as I had was speeding up the deterioration of my mind. Releasing some of them has lessened the strain somewhat, but I will need more Anchors if I intend to stay sane long enough to see Konoha to the end of this ordeal."
"How many more do you need?"
"I can't be sure," Naruto sighed as he took a seat across from the Hokage. "The number varies from one Oracle to the next. All I can be sure is that the minimum of Anchors I require has barely been met."
"Then we must endeavor to find you all of your Anchors then." Tsunade smiled, "And within the quickest possible time. The longer you live, the better. Your well being is important, not just for your eyes, though goodness only knows how valuable they are, but because there are people here in Konoha who would miss you if you were to die. Now shoo. Get some more sleep, Naruto."
The blonde smiled and stood up and left the office.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
TBC …
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Totally Random Babbling: Ok, another short chapter… Sorry I can't give you more, but life has been hectic, and my muses seem adamant that I work on BLEACH fics instead of Naruto fics. In either case, I will do my best to get out new chapters as often as I possibly can. No promises though. Real life comes first after all…
SanadaSayuri
