The Pantheon of Nine
By: Finn Mertenz
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO. I DO NOT CLAIM TO OWN NARUTO.
Chapter 130: Escalating Conflict! The Konoha Nine.
Monday 10:27am, September 14th 58SSP.
Seated behind an ornate desk, Ōnoki was cloaked by a stacked pile of paperwork. With drawn and crimson curtains behind him, an opened window highlighted the horizon of Iwa.
Signing the official documents for Deidara's return, this elderly man worked alone. Accompanied by the consecutive tick of a framed clock, mechanical wheels spun while a bell chimed.
"Hmph..." Ōnoki sighed.
With a bulbous and wrinkled nose, the 3rd Tsuchikage scribbled with an inked quill. A 76 year old man, Ōnoki was permanently aged, living through the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Shinobi Wars.
Dressed in the white and earthy tone of Tsuchikage robes, the kanji for 'earth' was sewn on his back. While his hat rested on the desk, a bald scalp glimmered beneath exterior rays of sunlight.
Lowering his prickled pinion, Ōnoki inclined in his chair, gazing at the stone ceiling. Much had changed over recent weeks, revitalized by Deidara's startling return to his childhood home.
Suddenly, the transitioned click of the clock halted, freezing each arm into a rigid place. Filling the room with silence, Ōnoki breathed in relief, gripping his cranium before leaning backwards.
The Will of Stone... A single phrase polluted his mind.
Alarmed by his own veteran senses, Ōnoki leapt from his chair, impaled by a chakra-rod. Floating above, this senior shinobi examined his previous seat, stricken and torn with foreign might.
Veiled by elastic black robes with spiraled and crimson clouds, Naruto loomed in the corner. Infiltrating Iwa with hidden knowledge and secrets, the path was let open by defeated souls he drained.
Now, he stood inside the Tsuchikage's office, bypassing guards and patrolling ninja. He was a ghost in the shadows, moving unseen and striking at the unknown, a pinnacle of rogue shinobi.
Prominent whiskers and Rinnegan eyes, it's him. Ōnoki identified the intruder.
Clasping withered palms together, preforming the snake seal with visible liver-spots. Employing Earth Style: Earth Golem Jutsu, clumps of adjacent tile merged into one, forming a humanoid of rock.
Quaking the office under its advance, this behemoth of stone roared like an avalanche. Shattered by this torrential scream, surrounding glass was expelled, sprinkled across etched streets below.
Slugging a cemented fist, this figure of chakra and gravel was repelled by gravity. Overwhelming the technique of his opponent, Naruto dispatched this strange solider of living stone.
Dampened by the dramatic clap of senile hands, a sphere of white light erupted into existence. Demonstrating Particle Style: Atomic Dismantling Jutsu, dazzled chakra took the shape of a cube.
Directing this destructive structure, Ōnoki widened the girth of his olden palms. Launched forward, this degree of Ninjutsu was S-rank, a combination of kekkai tōta, three nature transformations.
Devised into a single attack, Earth, Fire and Wind Style were melded by Ōnoki's chakra. Seized by this display, Naruto's torso was pulverized into speckled dust, cloaked by flapping ravens.
Each blind with violent squawks, these birds swarmed a cubical crater of debris. Left-over from Ōnoki's technique, a scarred and miniature cliff was perched by black-beaked avifauna.
Reshaped into the distorted silhouette of Naruto, blond locks jutted in all directions. Shedding stygian feathers, his body took form, crouched atop the maple desk of the Tsuchikage.
"Iwa won't be an easy target." He made reference to Kiri.
That was Ōnoki's defining trait, his pride and faith in the indominable Will of Stone. He wouldn't stand aside while his village and nation fell around him, because he was the central pillar.
Emboldened by chakra, Ōnoki's weight was lightened with experienced Earth Style. Allocating this enhanced flexibility, the 3rd Tsuchikage flew past several slashes from a chakra-rod.
A grand expert of conflict, Ōnoki fought and battled legendary enemies in the past. Like Madara, Tobirama and the 3rd Kazekage, fabled warriors and shinobi in their own right.
However, one key fact rang true, Ōnoki never before set his eyes upon the Rinnegan. Rippled pupils that permeated ancient chakra and bygone swells, an aura of prehistoric power.
Gripped by gravitational walls, the squirming 3rd Tsuchikage was dragged forward. Pierced by the circular circumference of a chakra-rod, blood spurted from his mouth, the end of a Kage.
Two days later.
Hōzuki Castle, it was a nightmare to some, but a symbol of prestige for the Land of Grass. Their sole source of income, Kusa relied on Hōzuki for their survival, employed as prison guards.
Now, this distinguished castle was littered with smoked columns and damaged walls. Built atop a grassy cliff, the landscape was defined by treacherous ravines and dangerous whirlpools.
Serving a twin usage, Hōzuki Castle was originally designed to deter invasion, decades ago. This decisive degree resulted in death and dismay, exposing dozens of bruised and cut corpses.
Shrouded in crimson gore, fresh blood dripped from Naruto's whiskers, soaking the floor. Executing the plan of Itachi, he invaded Hōzuki Castle, otherwise known as the Blood Prison.
However, instead of using prisoners as a private army, he struck them down without remorse. Erasing old edicts, destroying sacred statues and historic settlements, Naruto garnished hatred.
This was a stark realization for Kusa, and the minor Land of Grass nation it housed. The fact that neighboring villages focused upon them, a calm before the chaotic storm on the horizon.
One day later.
Traversing the Land of Grass on a predestined mission, Lee, Neji and Tenten were grouped. Running through the tree-line, they were soon joined by Ino, Shikamaru, Hinata and Sakura.
"It took a lot of promises to come out here..." Shikamaru sighed.
Promoted since the loss of Kakashi, Shikamaru now served as Guy's revered advisor. Taking a leave of absence from Konoha, he journeyed to the Land of Grass, fueled by a sole ideal.
"But with all of us working together... After all we've grown." Ino chimed in.
Protruding like a crescent moon, Sasuke led his band of friends, each with unique motivation. Entangled by an urgent scroll from Kusa, they rushed to Hōzuki Castle, the Blood Prison.
The shinobi world was at the peak of suspense, a weary prelude that foretold conflict. Determined to meet this violence, Sasuke was going to prove Konoha's innocence, no matter the cost.
Two hours later.
Illuminated by beams of sunlight, foliage was punctured from overhead, showing grey clouds. Swirling across the horizon, sunshine was blotted out by deep rumbling, sprouting from a storm.
"She's found something!" Sakura bellowed.
Escorted by Tonton, this loyal pig was loaned to Sakura's service, a devote companion. Sniffing with a rotund snout, she led the path to Naruto, trailing after darkened hints of chakra.
This was it, the moment when Sasuke confronted his friend, and earned his answers. The same conclusion as Sakura, these Genin were all that remained of Team 7, a divided team.
Catching of glimpse of Shisui, this violet-eyed raven flew above them, squawking. Molting a bundle of feathers, he ignored the large host below, flying without any noticeable reaction.
"I see him!" Lee shouted, raising a lone finger.
Pointing through clumped trees, the Konoha Eight chased their childhood friend, Naruto. Surging forward, they passed a wide grove, abruptly cloaked by Shisui's flapping wings of sable coal.
Opening his prized left eye, usually closed, Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan was brightened. Engorged to a blinding sphere of light, everything was swallowed by an aura of scarlet.
Seven hours later.
"Uh, my head..." Sasuke groaned.
Resting in bed, this Uchiha roused himself, throwing the covers off and jumping to his feet. Soothed by the repetitive chirp of birds, they landed on an open window seal, cleaning their feathers.
Examining his surroundings, Sasuke stood in the same room he grew up in, a relic. The 2nd story of his house, it denoted his status as clan heir, second behind the bloodline of Itachi.
Leaving behind his sword and headband, Sasuke rushed downstairs with uncombed hair. Tripping over his own feet, he faceplanted the ground, striking polished planks of lumber.
Running out the front door, Sasuke didn't notice the aroma of food in his home. Cooking a lovely meal, Mikoto poked her 32 year old face around a decorated corner, leering like a mother.
"Where's our son off too?" Mikoto muttered.
"Going to hang out with Ino, again. He's around that age." Fugaku groaned.
Reading the daily newspaper of Konoha, the head of the Uchiha clan was alive and well. Dressed in a blue bodysuit with a green flak jacket, the symbol of the Uchiha Police Force was sewn.
A distinct sphere of red and white, encompassed by a dark-emerald shape, like a shuriken. Drinking morning coffee, this prestigious Jonin enjoyed a wonderful breakfast from his wife.
The Uchiha, a famous and loyal clan of Konoha, sharing infamy with the fabled Hyuga. In the past, the Uchiha were weighed down by Madara's hatred, an inherited trait for the majority of their clan.
However, this lingering pain was broken by Minato, negotiating a permanent state to peace. This was the reality that Sasuke now lived in, a world weaved together with unsurpassable Genjutsu.
Meanwhile.
"I don't wanna say it... But, what a drag." Shikamaru talked to himself.
Counting several similarities and half truths, Shikamaru recognized the illusion around him. But he couldn't break it, fueled by multiple layers of separate and unique chakra, beyond him.
"If this is Genjutsu, why is everyone so happy?" Ino murmured.
Catching a glimpse of passing crowds, children laughed while parents smiled in joy. Clouds swirled overhead while the sun beamed with radiant light, a beautiful day in the Land of Fire.
Left utterly speechless, these ninja gasped as a group of Uchiha strolled down street. Presumed extinct and rare, the Uchiha walked about like average occurrences of life, chatting aloud.
"If they're alive... What else has changed?" Holding her chin, she stared at the road.
Enthralled by this chain of thought, Shikamaru raised his face, gaining wide eyes. With saucer-like pupils, they were focused on the stone face of the 5th Hokage, different from the one he knew.
Meanwhile.
"I don't trust it." Neji rejected an offer of food.
"I've been feeding you kids for years!" Teuchi mouthed.
Standing inside Ichiraku's Ramen Stand, Neji, Lee and Tenten accompanied one another. Seeking a meal to jog their memories, their Hyūga teammate distrusted every illusion he saw.
Scratching his scalp in confusion, Lee moaned while tilting his face to the side. During this, Tenten held her petite waist with one hand, studying each citizen that walked exterior streets.
"If you're on another one of your training diets, come back next week!" Smiling, Teuchi strolled into the kitchen.
"He acts like we've been here before." Tenten noted.
Despite the power behind this Genjutsu, it was easily noticed by the Konoha Eight. This knowledge helped little though, because no one could break it, or locate its caster, the perfect technique.
"We kinda have... You know?" Lee sniffed a bowl of ramen.
Led by a growling stomach, Lee swished steamy noodles down his throat. Tasting the familiar broth of home, he questioned his senses, second guessing the decisions of his team.
"Enough of this, let's find our sensei, and break free." Neji began his search for Sasuke.
Meanwhile.
I recognize this ceiling... Hinata's mind was slow.
Waking up at the Hyūga mansion, this princess of her clan lazily rolled from bed. With her messy jacket and unkempt hair, she felt lost, remembering nothing but the Land of Grass.
"You've slept in!" Hanabi laughed.
The 7 year old younger sister of Hinata, Hanabi was the jewel in her father's eye. Now, in this world, in this reality, both daughters were equal to Hiashi, and their mother that survived.
"Father said he'll teach us that secret technique today! From our clan!" She cheered.
Eight Trigrams: Sixty-Four Palms, the hidden jutsu that Hanabi spoke and dreamed of. And she wasn't alone, she strived to share in life and praise, with the older sister she cherished.
Meanwhile.
"Everything is different, but the same." Sakura stroked her scalp.
Standing atop the tip of a streetlight, this kunoichi glared out across her childhood village. Irradiated by rays of sunlight, strands of pink hair rustled beneath a breeze of leaves.
"Oi! Is that really you?" Ino cried for her friend.
Calling from streets below, this pale blond shinobi was joined by her Nara teammate. Leaping down to meet these ninja, Sakura hugged them both, asking what happened, and where they were.
"I don't really know." Shikamaru shrugged.
The genius of his generation, a prodigy of intellect, even Shikamaru was stumped. Never before he had experienced such dominant and totalitarian resolve, the power of absolute chakra.
Detailing the length of Genjutsu, and its custom reach, this group crowded in silence. Scheming and thinking of an escape, they all came to the same collision, only Genjutsu could break Genjutsu.
"Neji or Sasuke would know." Sakura proclaimed.
Risking a gamble, if these ninja were sent here, than so were their prized friends. Splitting up to locate their companions, one group became three, searching Konoha's streets.
Twenty minutes later.
They aren't real, none of them. Sasuke ignored a group of Uchiha.
Oblivious to Sasuke's inner turmoil, these ninja approached Fugaku's son, praising him. Complimenting his mastery of Senjutsu, they joked about the first Uchiha Sage, a legend to their clan.
Trailing along to a restaurant of dango, Sasuke watched this fleeting group of Uchiha. A sight for sore eyes, it was like he saw a ghost, startled memories from five years in the past.
Tackled to the ground, Sasuke was nuzzled by the fair-face of Sakura, giggling aloud. Sitting up on his lap, she combed messy locks of cherry-colored hair, pining one hand over her blush.
"Isn't this amazing?! It's like a dream come true!" Sakura was ecstatic.
"Some things never change." Shikamaru moaned.
Standing in the background, Shikamaru and Ino stood together, members of the same team. Investigating the odd circumstance they were trapped in, the day was young with a bright sun.
"I'm glad Sakura's happy... But that doesn't help us." Ino mused.
Stuck in a peculiar world with a familiar setting, it was Konoha, but eerily different. People who once died, now thrived, old rivalries and distrust were eased by the former Hokage, Minato.
"Last thing I remember is that weird raven." Shikamaru cleaned his ears.
Ambushed and dazzled by the crimson light of a Mangekyō Sharingan, from Shisui. Reality took a jarring turn, losing track of the rogue shinobi they followed, Naruto vanished.
"That settles it, we have to find Shisui." Sasuke labeled the raven.
Sasuke knew of Shisui's allegiance, and the rippled violet pupil in his right eye. But, he didn't know or understand this bird's loyalty, asking how Naruto gained possession of a Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Geez, talking behind my back?" Naruto joked.
Missing the red clouded black robes he previously wore, an orange jacket was his replacement. Matching his carrot-colored pants while blue shinobi shoes were stained with dirt.
Defined by jutted whiskers and Rinnegan eyes, spiky strands of blond hair protruded. However, instead of a naked forehead, the headband of Konoha was horizontally strapped against his scalp.
Charging his friend, Sasuke curled each fist around the white collar of Naruto's outfit. Interrupted by a sole hand, Sasuke was yanked into the air, suspended in place like a child.
"Are you two fighting again?" Shisui laughed.
A legendary shinobi, Shisui was 22, four years older than his bestfriend, Itachi. Earning the rank of Jonin at the age of 8, his skill was beyond belief, a true prodigy, once in a century.
Reaching a level of prowess, Shisui's three-tomoe Sharingan were permanently activated. Framed by short, unkempt and needle-like black hair, a Konoha headband was displayed.
The grandson of Kagami, Shisui was descended from Uchiha royalty, a pureblood. Wearing a short-sleeved black shirt with a raised collar, it was an identical hue to his pants and shoes.
"You can act like an adult, but to me, you'll always be little." He pinched Sasuke's cheek.
Lowering his old student to the ground, Shisui tossed Sasuke's hair beneath a firm hand. Swatting this palm aside, he bared his teeth, insulting an illusion of the person he once loved.
"I'll just leave you with your girlfriend, have fun!" He pushed Sasuke and Ino together.
Disappearing in a flash, Shisui moved with unparalleled teleportation, a blur. Surpassed only by Minato, the 4th Hokage, this Uchiha was a credit to his clan, a hero from the Land of Fire.
Fumed with rage, Sakura hastily separated these ninja, enamored with envy. The center of attention, Naruto emanated an awkward aura, glared upon by a group of four friends.
"Sometimes, you guys are weirder than I am." Naruto scratched his whiskers.
Extending a bandage draped forearm, Choji wrapped this limb around Naruto. Chewing a mouthful of potato chips, this Akimichi clan member was alive and well, living a happy life.
"Auuhm. Auuhm. Auuhm." Choji spoke while eating.
With propped jaws and twitching eyes, Ino and Shikamaru fell into mental shock. Presumed dead, Choji breathed with vigor, inhaling chunk after chunk of salted chips, tasting of potato.
"Yo, yo! The class all in one place." Kiba and Shino strolled up.
Symbolizing the past, these Genin were dressed in their distinguished attire. Joined by Akamaru, this puppy snored atop Kiba's skull, napping with closed eyes and floppy ears.
Greeted by her teammates, they waited outside Hinata's home, escorting her. Now, the reunited Team 8 journeyed as one, a fleeting image from their childhoods of youth, warped by conflict.
"My parents cooked a big meal at the house, let's have a party!" Naruto encouraged.
More than Shisui, Choji or Fugaku, even Minato was alive, alongside his wife. Single-handedly ending the 3rd Shinobi War, Minato led Konoha for ten years before retiring to a quiet life.
"Parents...?" Sakura stuttered.
Naruto was the son of the 4th Hokage, a classified secret to some, including Sakura. But, children such as Shikamaru, Shino and Sasuke had known for years, deduced by their intellect.
Ten minutes later.
"I'm so excited, all your friends are here!" Kushina cheered.
A 35 year old mom, Kushina was a veteran of the 2nd and 3rd Shinobi Wars. However, that part of life was behind her, she was nothing but a mother now, working hard to love her family.
Her fair-face was flawless with dark violet eyes while scarlet hair ran to her waist. Adorned in a sleeveless white blouse, it was placed under a loose-fitting green apron, hung to her ankles.
As crimson hair was refrained by a black clip, Kushina hovered over an iron sink. Washing dishes while children ate, the Konoha Eleven stood behind her, gathered inside Naruto's mansion.
"You always do this, just relax, honey." Minato kissed his wife on the cheek.
Almost two years older, Minato was the senior member in their relationship of love. A week past his 37th birthday, his eyes were as blue as sapphire, more vibrant than the exterior sky.
Sitting down at the kitchen counter, Minato snagged a newspaper and opened it. Wearing a traditional green kimono, the Namikaze symbol was sewn across the back, complimenting his blue pants.
"Thanks! Mom!" Naruto smiled, sharing the same hair as his dad.
Spread across cushioned furniture and wooden floors, the Konoha Elven became Twelve. Assembled as one group, this depiction was a startling reminder of the past, inside the Konoha Academy.
While Shikamaru chewed, Hinata swallowed and Choji burped, they ate fresh sushi. Washed down with maple cups of sweetened tea, the room was filled with cheer, a respite of joy.
"Sorry we're late!" Rin bowed her head.
Entering the front door, this 25 year old Jonin had fair-skin with shoulder-length brown hair. Wearing a black blouse with a white skirt, it dangled above her knee-high blue shoes.
"Yea, the Hokage keeps us on a tight schedule." Obito held his girlfriend's hand.
A 26 year old Anbu of Konoha, Obito wore a full-bodied black suit with a grey flak jacket. Partially wearing a porcelain white mask, it covered the left side of his face, shaped like a raven.
"Their lying, Kakashi got distracted with porn." Anko cut in.
Using her tan trench coat as a dress, Anko paraded her silver-haired boyfriend. Dressed in the twin attire of Obito, Kakashi was his bestfriend, always close by or a stone's throw.
His unique feature was the headband of Konoha he wore in a slanted angle. Sprawled over his left eye, a clothed and black mask concealed his mouth, drawing attention to his right pupil.
"This latest novel is amazing, Jiraiya-sensei gave a gift to the world." Kakashi's nose was buried.
Seeing everything as a faux illusion, Sasuke didn't even touch his offered meal. Instead, he lazily stood up before walking outside, entering the afternoon streets of Konoha, alone.
Six hours later.
"That was a good meal... I've never met Naruto's parents." Hinata blushed.
Traversing the sparse roads of Konoha, rays of moonlight irradiated the night horizon. Citizens were locked in homes while shops closed, getting ready for a deserved break and nap.
"Yes... It would appear they never died, along with others." Neji commented.
"There you are!" A middle-aged man spat.
A 32 year old Jonin from the Hyūga clan, he was a mirror image of Hiashi, Hinata's father. This shinobi was Hizashi, the previously deceased parent of Neji, he originally died nine years ago.
Dressed in a white kimono with the Hyūga seal on his back, a green haori was on top. With a naked forehead, the Hyūga Main Branch Juinjutsu was scribed against his skin, a cursed seal.
"You should've been home an hour ago, you too, lady Hinata!" Hizashi chastised.
Hugging his son before dragging him away, Hizashi also gripped Hinata with grace. Left utterly speechless, Neji's mouth twitched while limbs trembled, paralyzed by his father's voice.
Meanwhile.
Throwing open the door to his home, Sasuke kicked off each shoe with a slouched back. Pinching the bridge of his snow-white nose, reptilian blue eyes were closed as he released a deep sigh.
"You've been out all day... Dinner is ready." Mikoto smiled.
Standing under a wooden arch that led into the kitchen, she offered motherly food. Ignoring this illusion without any glance, Sasuke strolled upstairs, refusing to look at his fake mom.
"You're not real." Sasuke whispered.
Retreating into his room, Sasuke barricaded the door with an ornate dresser. Sitting down on the floor, he curled both arms around his torso, gazing at the floor with empty and snake-like eyes.
Searing the doorway with heated flames, it dissolved into cindered ash and black embers. Prancing through this fiery entrance without any concern, Fugaku possessed unblinking Mangekyō Sharingan.
Snagging his son with firm hands, Fugaku shoved him against the wall with force. Grinding teeth in a vicious sneer, eyes oozed scarlet light, forcing Sasuke to choke on his own spit.
"Did you disrespect your mother?! Fugaku gnawed.
"I will bury your ass in the backyard!" He poked Sasuke's head through an opened window.
Pointing at a distant and freshly dug hole, it was the precise size and shape as Sasuke. Brandishing stern eyes and a downcast leer, Fugaku ordered his son to apologize too Mikoto.
Taking an abrupt shift in persona, Fugaku's demeanor became relaxed and fatherly. Allowing veteran eyes to revert back to their black tone, he chuckled before rubbing Sasuke's scalp.
"Now run downstairs and eat, your mother worked hard." This family duo journeyed down the hall.
Five minutes later.
"Don't play with your food, dear. It will get cold." Mikoto mused.
Retrieving a folded napkin, she used this fabric to clean her son's dirtied cheek. Oblivious to this inaction, Sasuke's eyes were empty and snake-like, peering with an unbroken gaze.
"I guess him and Ino had a fight." Fugaku grumbled.
Seated around a polished table of oak, Fugaku, Mikoto and Sasuke lined a specific edge. Highlighting a deprived cushion, it was bare and devoid, missing the guest it was set out for.
Eating in silence, chopsticks struck and glided against glass plates, a stoic repetition. Bridged by the unlatched click of a front door, a pattering cycle of footsteps filled the house.
"He's finally home, another late night at the office." Mikoto swallowed.
"It's a busy job." Fugaku chimed.
Yanked from his own world, Sasuke's forehead was poked by two fingers, raising his gaze. Flabbergasted by scarlet and bleached robes, he was confronted by Itachi's smiling face.
Pulling the crimson and layered hat of a Kage from his cranium, he was the 5th Hokage. The first Uchiha to earn this rank, Fugaku was extremely proud of his first-born, bringing glory to their clan.
"A world of peace doesn't build itself." Itachi grinned.
Suffering the last straw, Sasuke sprang to his feet before flipping the table over. Labeling accusation after accusation, he denied the existence of his family, calling them liars and frauds.
Fleeing onto exterior streets of dirt and cobbled rock, a moonglow sprinkled down. Running without any destination, he had to get away, too escape from the fake reality he was stuck in.
One hour later.
Looming over a stoned cliffside, Sasuke's eyes were shrouded by spiky strands of hair. The favored training location from his childhood, he overlooked the Naka River, a stream that bisected Konoha.
This was Sasuke's safe space, his hidden grove, an area secluded from outside problems. But, the Genjutsu he was confined in couldn't be ignored, he knew that all of this was an illusion.
"Your parents said you ran away... I knew you'd be here." Naruto found his friend.
Clenching each fist in contempt, Sasuke remained focused on a rushing torrent of water. He didn't want to converse with a mirage, a hallucination and mockery of the reality he knew.
"Go away." Sasuke hissed.
"You left before, now do it again..." His words inflicted self-harm.
Sasuke lost everything and everyone he ever loved, the bonds that made him sane. Sure, he had Sakura, Ino and his students, but they weren't the people he praised, they weren't Naruto.
"I guess you and Ino got into another fight? I've never left." Naruto waved a dismissive hand.
"We've been through everything, together." Outstretching a single hand, he held Sasuke's shoulder.
A reality of familiar faces in distorted places, it was rejected outright by Sasuke. He saw the illusion for what it was, an external Genjutsu, cast by the empowered Mangekyō Sharingan of Shisui.
"You're not my bestfriend, not the real one." Sasuke protested.
Shisui had fallen, Itachi died from sickness, Kakashi fell in battle and Naruto left the village. The Uchiha clan was massacred, Minato was dead and Konoha was at the apex of brooding war.
They grew up with shared childhoods, and mixed experiences at the fabled Konoha Academy. Now, their recent paths diverged from one another, walking lonely roads of separation.
"I've always been here." Naruto reiterated.
These words carried nothing but truth, because Naruto never left his friend, not really. Constantly suspended in far-off shadows with secluded eyes, he kept watch over those he loved.
"My Naruto is a criminal... He left the village and the promise we made." Sasuke slurred.
They swore to rebuild their clans, together, the Uchiha and Uzumaki, side by side. This oath was strengthened by a pinky promise, their names inscribed upon the tree outside Konoha's Academy.
Explaining recent events, and the loss of a friend, Sasuke was drearily dull. Hiding his whiskered face from sight, Naruto was struck by each of these words, enamored with regret.
"It sounds like you've had a tough couple of months..." Naruto stoked his own scalp.
"But, you could always stay here, forever." He offered an eternity in this perfect world.
Rejecting this proposal, Sasuke had to get back, back too the past, back to reality. The world around him was an insult to its memory, a stain upon evocation's of the innocent bygone age.
"None of this is real! I have to rebuild my clan, in the real world!" Sasuke spat.
Spinning to confront the illusion of his friend, Sasuke sneered with pearl white teeth. He refused to accept it, the fleeting hallucination before him, the idea that Naruto was still his friend.
Undaunted by this hostile confrontation, Naruto stepped forward before sitting down. Seated on the edge of a steep cliff, stray droplets of water struck his face, stuck to jutted whiskers.
"When this is all over, will you save you clan?" Naruto questioned.
That was the point, the center of attention, the main draw of focus upon them. Would Sasuke rebuild his clan? Would he save and restore the prestige of the Uchiha, a clan as old as shinobi.
"I'm going to save Konoha, bring Naruto back, and we'll save both of our clans." Sasuke persisted.
Depressed by this revelation, Naruto lowered his face from view, veiled by silence. Because, he knew the correct answer, he knew there was no place for him in Konoha, not anymore.
"What if I never come back? Can't you move on?" Naruto suggested.
Embroiled into a heated argument, Sasuke denied and obstructed the very idea. The concept of abandoning his friend, like how Itachi abandoned him, was revolting at its core.
"You wouldn't understand, you're just a figment of my imagination." Sasuke snarled.
While one stood, and the other sat, these twin friends were basked by moonlight. Students of Kakashi, descendants of royalty, they were each the heir of their clan, symbolizing the future.
Meanwhile.
"Whew... Today has been exhausting." Sakura stretched.
Half-dressed and exposed, her bare chest was narrowly hidden by a white towel. Drying her hair and body after a refreshing shower, the day felt like a decade, spending time with everyone she lost.
Were these events real? No, and Sakura knew, but that didn't deter her from smiling. She had the day of her dreams, everything went perfect, everything except for Sasuke, lost as ever.
This kunoichi desired a life of purpose, of magnitude, she wanted other people to need her. Instead, she only had Tsunade, Shizune and Tonton, forever stuck in the shadow of Ino.
"Oink." Tonton comforted her companion.
Curled up atop the pink sheets of Sakura's bed, this duo was gathered in her room. Pulling cherry blossom panties from her dresser, it was followed by a matching skirt with a sleeveless red blouse.
"Thanks for saying that... I really needed to hear it." Sakura murmured.
Briefly knocking on the door, Mebuki slid it open, praising her daughter's skill. A quiet and caring mother, Sakura's joy came before her own, the sacrifice of a mother, the burden of love.
"I heard you're having boy troubles, let's talk about it." Mebuki snickered.
Giggling with girlish splendor, this mother-daughter couple were enthralled. Discussing vast swaths of info, they went back to the beginning, the moment that Sakura met Sasuke,
Ten minutes later.
"When this is all over... Don't worry about me." Naruto brushed Sasuke's worries aside.
He had to leave, too isolate himself from society, a desperate degree of thought. There could be no connection or trace back to Konoha, the village he prized and protected above all.
"Don't track me down, or ask questions, just enjoy the life you have." He counted stars with his fingers.
Even if he wasn't real, Naruto still consoled Sasuke, the Uchiha he grew up with. These fabricated words carried great weight, soothing the troubled nature of the young Sage beside him.
"As long as I can save my village, I'll do anything." Sasuke retorted with a dry tone.
Triggered by this declaration, the world began to melt and boil into ooze. Taking shape, the moon turned red, sparkling like a tabard of scarlet, overlooking the faux plain below.
Seven hours later.
Roused from slumber, Ino groaned while Sakura stretched and yawned aloud. Muffled by the repetitive counting of Lee, he preformed his daily routine, a morning workout at dawn.
"You guys won't believe it, but I had the weirdest dream." Tenten groaned.
"Me too, and all of you were there." Hinata twirled several fingers.
She was right, each of the Konoha Nine were there, gathered in space and time. Not eight, but nine, as Naruto's violet eyes bridged a crescent horizon of green, lush and dense foliage.
While old friends told vivid stories, detailed plots and joyful dreams, they sat together. The only detached member of this group was Naruto, still dressed in an orange jacket, the real Naruto.
