Chapter 38
Gaara was still shaken by the earthquake that happened earlier. The others weren't as badly affected but they still expected what was called an aftershock. They all experienced this before. It was normal. Not for Gaara.
He wasn't in total shock, but his adrenaline had never stopped since then. Mist tried comforting him, but it was a near futile effort. True it calmed him a little, but not enough to relax. He knew Raven wanted to talk to them both, but she was waiting for him to get over the shock. But the look on her face told him it could not be good.
"Are you sure you're okay, Gaara?" Mist asked for the tenth time. And he counted too.
"I think so," he lied. He wanted them to stop worrying about him.
"I know you haven't felt that before, but quit being a baby," Jamie scowled. Already Gaara and Mist's over-protective brother were on a bad start.
"Jamie!" Mist snarled. "Can't you understand how weird it must be to have the Ground itself move for the first time? Even you can't say you were freaked the first time you felt an earthquake!"
"Like I keep saying it isn't an earthquake!" Raven spoke up.
"Well than what was it? Earthquake seems like a real good answer," Beast Boy replied.
"It just isn't. It's much worse," she snapped.
"Please, explain," Robin pleaded.
"It wasn't an earthquake like I've already said. Gaara, you come from a different world, right?" Raven asked.
"Yes," he answered.
"You world and ours are colliding. If we allow this, then the end of both of them will come. You need to go back to yours if we are to save it. Mist must stay here; this is where she is from. If she leaves with you, the collision will occur immediately. There is no other way," Raven explained. The room went silent.
"What if one of us dies?" Gaara asked after a moment.
"If it is you, you'll be sent to a realm of darkness for eternity. For Mist, nothing will happen since she is in her own world."
"And if we go to another?" he continued.
"Then that one will collide as well," she said coldly. Gaara turned to Mist, stroked her hair and held her in his arms for a few moments.
"I just got you," he said. "But now the fate of both our worlds depends on us being apart. I'd rather put you first, but that would only make me a selfish monster. We'd both be dead I'm sure, and so would millions of others."
"I know," she replied, tears falling down her cheeks.
"If only there were another way," he pleaded, hoping Raven may have just known of one. Even if it were impossible, he'd still try.
"Only one, but I have no idea as to where to find the book with the spell, or even where to start looking. I'd also need to get about ten others from my homeland to help us. In other words, you only have one choice at this point," Raven growled lowly.
"How long do we have?" Gaara wondered.
"Since the fuse has begun, three days. By that time, the whole of this town, and the town you came from will be destroyed," she said emotionlessly.
"That would mean," Mist couldn't even form the words.
"We left next to Konoha, so Konoha would be destroyed," Gaara said for her.
"You'd better decide fast. Leave, or search," Robin told them.
"It's up to you," Mist offered.
"The question is… who wins?" he asked.
"You ask a lot of questions, don't you?" Raven tried lightening the mood.
"That one was rhetorical," Gaara threw back, also trying to lighten the mood.
"If you go back to your homeland, then Mist and I can search for that spell," Jamie offered.
"And us?" Beast Boy wondered.
"Convince him," Jamie spat, "To go back home." With that, he stalked out of the room, away from the shocked faces of his friends – and the other one.
Ever since becoming Hokage, Naruto was buried in stacks of paperwork. Not today. He smiled so proudly at the fact that he'd completed it all and before ten o'clock too. He knew exactly what he'd do to celebrate. Take him and Hinata out to dinner for once.
When he thought about taking Sasuke and Sakura with him, he realized how long it'd been since he'd talked to them. In fact, I'd been a long time since he'd talked to anyone but his family or secretaries. Perhaps he'd just go and see them all. He knew today that all were to be at the training field. Being Hokage gave him knowledge on these things.
But just before he was able to leave, an anbu rushed into the room. He didn't even wait to be told to speak to say, "Sir! The Kage meeting has been canceled. The Kazekage has left his post for a brief time. He left at least two weeks ago, but word hasn't reached until now."
"Oh yeah, I forgot about that," Naruto said nonchalantly.
"Sir, we also need to address the issue on Ichime," the anbu continued to say.
"I know. I've got the best people out on watch for her. Now please," Naruto added. "Stop ruining my good day."
Naruto and Hinata walked to the field, the sun warming their backs. Their hands intertwined, they glanced at the fall trees. The March air was crisp and cool, so they wore their jackets. Naruto wore his classic black and orange jacket, but he also had his new Hokage cape around him.
Hinata was wearing a new light purple coat they'd gotten for her. It wasn't really her favorite style, but there wasn't much to choose from. The maternity wear had few items nowadays, at least not in Konoha.
As they strode along the dirt road, they came across Chouji and Ino. Greeting them, the four chatted as they continued to the training ground. Naruto realized that he'd missed so much since he became Hokage. Sai and his girlfriend were engaged, and apparently Shikamaru was thinking about moving to Sunagakure to be with Temari.
"So what's been happening with you two?" Ino asked, smiling slyly.
"Trying to get more dirt, huh?" Naruto teased.
Seeing Ino pout in dismay, Hinata looked up at him and whimpered, "Naruto!"
"Aw, I'm just kidding," Naruto reassured.
"It's true. Him and Ino have been going at it since academy days," Chouji added.
"But really, anything going on? I've heard about that Ichime person," Ino persisted.
"Yeah, that," Naruto didn't want to talk about that.
"Ino, please don't go into that kinda stuff," Chouji asked, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Er, right. Sorry," She apologized.
"It's okay," Naruto forgave, his voice still gruff. He didn't mean to, its just even Ichime's name angered him beyond belief.
"Anyway, exited for the baby?" Ino tried to change the subject.
"Yes, very," Hinata nodded.
"Won't be for a few months yet, but I can't wait!" Naruto laughed lightly. Hinata smiled as she felt her child move slightly at the sound of his voice. She had been feeling soft movements all morning after going for her appointment earlier. Not too long now, they said, sooner than September or August they hoped.
"You guys know what you're having?" Chouji asked.
"Sakura hasn't told you?" Naruto furrowed his brow in confusion.
"No," Chouji replied.
"Because," they heard a voice from behind them. "I'm sure they'd want to tell everyone else themselves!"
Everyone turned to see Sakura and Sasuke striding up to meet them.
"It's true. She hasn't even told me," Sasuke said emotionlessly. But everyone sensed the edge in his voice that told them he was dying to know.
"Well, if everyone wants to know, why don't you tell us all?" a voice suggested from the front of the path. Everyone once again turned to see Kakashi sensei standing in their path, book in hand. They peered beyond him to see they were at the Training ground.
"It's good to see you sensei!" Naruto laughed, hand scratching the back of his head, much like Kakashi himself did.
"It's good to see you too, lord seventh," Kakashi said proudly.
"Hey, Naruto is here!" they all heard their good old friend, Rock Lee shout.
"Don't forget about Hinata, Ino, Sakura, Sasuke, and Chouji too!" Tenten called.
Everyone stepped into the field to hear everyone greeting them with joy and cheer. Naruto and Hinata were a bit confused as to why everyone was so happy to see them. Nonetheless, they were happy to see everyone else too, just confused about everything.
"You can thank me for all this!" Sakura explained after seeing their befuddled faces.
"What do you mean?" Naruto asked.
"I slipped you the paper that said everyone would be at the training ground today to get you to come. Plus, I know that you wouldn't go anywhere without Hinata. Which, of course, was the most perfect plan to throw you two the best surprise shower!" Sakura exclaimed.
"T-thank you! Hinata breathlessly replied. She was nearly at loss of words.
"It's no sweat kiddo. Er, well, not so much anymore, you're all grown up now!" Hinata heard one of the most comforting voices she'd been dying to hear for the longest time.
"Kurenai sensei!" she smiled when she saw the person who had supported her and was like a mother to her through thick and thin. It had been a long time since they'd seen each other. Too long.
"Sorry I haven't seen you, I've just been busy with Moriko. She's in those independent threes right now," Kurenai explained.
"Oh no! Those are one of the worse times," Hinata chuckled, remembering her younger sister Hanabi at that age.
"'Independent three's'? I don't think I've heard of that," Naruto said embarrassed.
"It's happens when a child is about three years old. They want to do everything on their own. I'm sure you two will have so much fun with that!" Kurenai teased.
"Speaking of children, what are you guys having? We're all dying to know!" someone from the mob around Naruto and Hinata asked. They weren't sure, but they thought it came from Sasuke.
"We're going to have a little girl," Hinata announced.
"Wonderful! Congratulations you two!" some shouted. Other cheered in joy for the couple.
"That's ironic!" Kiba laughed. "Tami and I are having a little boy!"
"You two know when?" They heard someone call from the distance. It was Iruka.
"Iruka sensei!" Naruto shouted. He hadn't seen him in ages, at least, not during a happy event like this.
"It's good to see you too, Naruto," Iruka smiled, his speech impediment as obvious as ever.
"Hey, Iruka!" Chouji greeted above the uproar. "Back from your mission?"
"Yep. I came to say hi to my favorite knuckleheaded ninja himself!" he laughed.
"Well, at least I've got some things right," Naruto replied smugly.
"That you have. Look at you, all grown up, Hokage nonetheless. Even a father too!" Kakashi congratulated.
"Yeah, what happened to the hyperactive knucklehead constantly demanding missions?" they all heard the voice they'd missed so much. They also heard that beloved, Oink! The whole crowd turned to see Tsunade, Shizune, and even Tonton coming to see them.
"Well, I just wanted to see how the new Hokage was. And it's good to see you all too!" Tsunade waved to everyone. Shizune had gone off to talk to everyone, while Tonton had taken a place next to Akamaru. They talked amongst each other in their own animal language.
"It's great to see you grandma Tsunade," Naruto smirked.
"My, you're looking as healthy as ever!" Tsunade turned to Hinata, ignoring Naruto's comment.
"Yes, all thanks to you and your hospital though I wish I didn't have to spend any more time there," Hinata smiled warmly back.
Everyone was happy and enjoying themselves, not a care in the world as they caught up with old friends and comrades. All were preoccupied with Hinata and Tami, wanting to feel the soft taps of their unborn children. Both were a little reluctant, but knew this was only a once in a life time moment since this was their first pregnancy.
After a while, Naruto and Kiba were beginning to get annoyed, and stay near them, making no one want to mess with them anymore. After a while most had left, needing to make dinner or pack for the next mission. It was just Naruto, Hinata, Sai, Sasuke and Sakura left.
The frogs by the pond Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura had had their first training session with Kakashi, were singing. The sun was going below the line of trees Naruto and Hinata had talked to each other a year before. Fireflies soared above the hill they'd first met, when Hinata's mother died. All of the memories flowed into their minds from first kisses, to great sparring victories.
They wished that this place would stay forever. But fate never goes the way people want it to, always unpredictable. As they each lay watching the stars, chatting about old times, another earthquake began. They all felt a tugging around them, pulling them apart, but also pushing inwards. Screams of shock and fear filled the air, but also dampened it.
Unsure of what was happening, and as reality seemed to be collapsing, everything suddenly stopped. Sasuke, Sakura and Sai landed in a heap, while Hinata managed to land on top of Naruto. Each out of breath, they looked around them to see they were surrounded by large city buildings in shapes they'd never seen before.
"Whoa," Sasuke said after disengaging himself from the pile of bodies on top of him.
"Well, Looks like we're not where we're supposed to be," Sai smiled, unsure of what else to do.
"Who are you?" a stern voice snarled behind them. A large shadow fell over them, and they realized, they might not go without a fight.