Disclaimer: I so own Naruto *sigh* I wish. I don't own Naruto, belongs to Kishimoto-sensei.
Chapter 2
Naruto and Sakura traveled quickly through the forest heading towards the Village hidden in the Clouds, Kumokagure. Once they crossed over the borders of their country they would be in enemy territory. There was a Raikage, but it was still not peaceful between the two countries. They knew they were risking their lives on this mission, as they were on any mission. But searching for someone in enemy territory meant they would have to be on guard and most likely use all the skills they had.
They traveled briskly, Kiba at the back, Neji in the front, with Sakura and Naruto in the middle. It was Naruto's job to ensure nothing happened to their medic nin, the fact that she is his best friend and like a sister only made that drive stronger. Then of course there was the solid fact that Neji would kill him if anything happened to her at all. It was nightfall by the time they arrived halfway through the country. They would reach the boarders easily by tomorrow afternoon.
They'd kept to the forest to avoid any enemies or traveling ninja. This mission had not only be ranked S class, but top secret as well. No one would know what they were doing or where they were going. Other than the Hokage, council, and elders. Sakura and Naruto knew that if anything did happen to them, they wouldn't say what they were doing and probably make up some hierarchy to tell the village.
They thought that way simply because of the secrets they'd discovered during the war. Naruto had deciphered, with the help of Shikamaru, every book from Jaraiya. He'd gotten hold of every book the man had written in his life time and it took months to translate and put the pieces together. It would have taken longer if Shikamaru hadn't of helped him. They had written down everything in a scroll and Naruto had given it to Kakashi, Sakura, and Tsunade to read.
It spoke of the Prophecy of Naruto being the bringer of destruction or the savior of the world. It also had the location of his family's legacy, his parents journals, and even Jaraiya's journals. Naruto had put the entire series Jaraiya had written by order of the Toad King about the prophecy in a safe in his room. There was a seal around it, one that Neji and Sakura had helped him construct to keep anyone from touching it.
It was like he was reading about his own life, like he was the main character in the book. Truth be known, he was, the character had been based on himself. Jaraiya had gotten it all right, everything that had happened in the series had happened, all except for dealing with the rival. Naruto refused to let it end that way, he refused to kill Sasuke, no matter what. He felt a lump in his throat at the mere thought of ever having to claim Sasuke's life. How could you kill you're best friend, the very person that you focused on to get through the darkest of times when you felt as though the violence around you would suffocate you? How could you take the life of the one you loved and would die just to see one last time?
Neji signaled them from ahead to move to the ground, Naruto signaled Kiba and they all set to traveling by ground. Neji found a well shadowed spot and put up boundaries around them to keep the camp site safe. Naruto volunteered to keep the first watch, his mind was racing and he couldn't settle down anyway.
Not only had he found out his father had been the Yondaime, but his entire clan had been killed by the fox and his mother had died giving birth to him. When he came across his father's journals he realized why Jaraiya always told him he was just like the Yondaime. His father had been cheerful, kind, caring, a prankster growing up, and greatly valued friendship. He had been angry with Kakashi upon finding out that he had been a student to the Yondaime. He didn't want to say his name even in his mind because it made it so much harder to handle, loosing a father, knowing who he was had filled some of the emptiness. But learning about him, reading about his life, his thoughts, his dreams, made it hurt so very much. He would have been a great dad, he could have had a normal, happy life, if his father hadn't of sacrificed himself . . . but he did so in hopes that Naruto would have a happy life, so he would be safe.
The last journal entry suddenly came to mind, the one he must have read over and over again; 'This is really going to be the end. I lost her and she granted me a son . . . but I have to lose him as well. I refuse to let him die, he's going to grow up to be strong. My son . . . my son . . . I'm so sorry I can't be with you, I'm sorry I have to confine this beast within you. You're so very brave, loosing your mother and then sacrificing a normal life to save the village . . . I'm sorry it has to be you, it turned out that way. I almost thought about confining another child to this, can you believe that, how very selfish of me.'
'I was desperate, I didn't want to use my own son . . . But I have to, I am the Hokage, and even though I don't want to go through with this, I have to protect the village. I'm sure that Sarutobi-sensei will make sure you live a happy life, he'll protect you. You're more the hero than I am my son. Jaraiya will be proud and happy to know that I did name you after his character. He is your godfather, just as he was always a father figure to me. I know you may never read this, but if you do . . . I love you son, I know you will make me proud. This village means everything to me, and you mean the world to me. You are a hero, don't let anyone tell you different. Always remember that you, Uzumaki Naruto of the Namikaze clan, are a hero. Remember that I love you, and that your mother loves you. And one day I hope you can forgive me for resigning you to this life.'
Naruto rubbed at his eyes as they tried to tear up. He cussed himself for thinking about something that he knew would make him feel depressed. Why did he always have to think anyway, could he just shut his mind down long enough to get a decent amount of sleep. In the last four years he had gotten used to getting only three or four hours of sleep, he hadn't gotten any at all last night. His stamina was shot most of the time, but he could make up for that in skill. He was quicker, he had finally learned how to have control of his chakra, it wasn't anywhere near the control Sakura had, but it was ten times better than what control he'd had before.
He had learned about natural energy, had learned the sage techniques. He still sucked with seals and genjutsu, but he was better equipped to deal with them and get out of them now. Not that you could actually get out of them if you sucked with genjutsu, that required another person. He knew his weaknesses, and he knew the weaknesses to his strengths. He knew not only how to make up for his own weak points, but how to counter the weaknesses to his strengths.
He wasn't a child anymore, even if he did act oblivious and childish at times. Once the war had started, during the war when he wasn't in Konohagure he didn't keep his smile or his obnoxious mask up. He wasn't oblivious, he'd tuned into the battle ground, had merged with it, had taken heed of everything around him. It was with those heightened traits that he had advanced to Chunin and then Jonin.
He had refused Neji's persistence to become an Anbu saying that he refused to do so unless Sasuke returned to the village and caught up to him. He knew he needed the experience of an Anbu, needed all he could get, to convince the council and elders that he could handle being Hokage. He did have his doubts, even if he was the Yondaime's son, he was still the host to the Fox, he was still a jinchuriki. Konoha was not Suna, they valued more than just power and strength. They wanted the Hokage to be well rounded and excel in all aspects.
Naruto sighed and continued to walk around the border, he still had so much nervous energy and his mind drifted off the scroll Sasuke had been adament that only he and the Hokage read. That had lead to Kakashi reading it later when he was appointed as the Hokage.
Tsunade had sent Naruto off on a vacation, dragging him with her to ensure he went after Kakashi was named Hokage. He had been suspended from missions after reading the scrolls. They were the journals or Itachi Uchiha and Sasuke. They told of their lives, their interpretations of their clans, and of the darker secrets of the council, elders, and previous Hokage's.
He had been relieved to find that the Yondaime was not mentioned among the corrupt leaders of the village. But Sarutobi-sensei was among them. He had allowed the corrupt leaders of the Uchiha clan to do as they pleased until the last moment. When it came down to it, he then ordered Itachi to make a choice. He was ordered to kill his clan, every last one, or the destruction of Konoha would be on his shoulders. The village or his clan, that was his choice. But he couldn't kill Sasuke, he couldn't kill his younger brother.
It had brought tears to his eyes when he'd first read it. He'd read Itachi's first, Sasuke had told him to do so because it would make it easier to understand. So he'd discovered that up until Itachi had turned thirteen he had admired his father and the other men in his clan, he had wanted to prove his worth and one day work at the Police Station with his father. He had adored his mother for her kindness and had loved Sasuke despite how annoyingly clingy the younger Uchiha was. When Itachi excelled at the academy and became a chunin, then jonin, then an anbu, it was different. He had the burden of learning the dark truth of his clan. The plans his father had.
Itachi had grown too strong for what they wanted to do, they worried about him taking down the one they wished to summon. His father started to resent him, to blame him, it was his fault that he had to use his younger son. His clan had wanted to summon Madara, to grant him a Uchiha with the Sharingan that had the potential to obtain the second and third level of the Sharingan. That was two, Itachi and Sasuke. They were the only ones that had that potential, the true heirs of the Uchiha clan.
They wanted to summon him and take over the village, feeling that they were meant to rule the village. Then they wanted to expand their power to take over all the countries. They wanted to dominate, were convinced they deserved it, that they were gods who were treated like mere mortals. The clan was insane and the women turned a blind eye to it all, supported their husbands and sons in their efforts.
Sarutobi-sensei saw this, he'd seen it during his first time as Hokage. He had watched it happen and never did anything to stop it. Itachi had gone to him pleading, trying to desperately find a way to save Sasuke. His father and the clansmen planned to sacrifice Sasuke to bring Madara back to his full power. The Hokage had told him to make a decision, to destroy his clan, or to loose his brother. He had said that he would kill Sasuke himself unless something was done.
Itachi had decided to kill his entire clan to save Sasuke's life, to save the village. He was worthy of being Hokage for such an act to Naruto. He'd felt so angered and hurt by the devotion Itachi had to his younger brother, by how much he had obviously cared for him. He'd lost all respect for the elders, the council, and Sarutobi-sensei by reading that. But he had reminded himself that there were people in the village that were not like that, there were people that were caring and hadn't let their hearts turn to ice.
He had felt pain when he noticed the fading mentality, Itachi's approaching death, in the way his words were written after that. He had joined the Akatsuki to try and keep them from going after Konoha and his younger brother. Itachi continuously proved to them that Sasuke was none of their interest, that he wasn't worthy. It cost him every time, a stab to his heart every time he cause Sasuke pain. But he wanted Sasuke to hate him, needed him to hate him so that it wouldn't hurt so much.
Then he had come to Sasuke's journal. It had started out as a little boy, a boy Naruto never knew and would never know. He had been innocent, happy, care free, enthusiastic. The first had said that his older brother had told him he should keep a journal, it was a good way to learn how to read an write better. Then how he'd admired his brother and how he wished his father would notice him. How much he loved his aunts and uncles. He was the youngest in the clan so he didn't get to play with other kids his age until he went to school.
But he'd still been indifferent and cocky at school, something that his father had instilled in him. Uchiha's were better than everyone else, so you should treat them as such. Early brainwashing that Itachi tried to undo, tried to change. The real truth as to why Sasuke acted distant and cold was because the other kids had treated him that way because he was an Uchiha. Everyone had treated him that way, but he had noticed that his name was mentioned.
Sasuke had written about how lonely Naruto looked and that his father had told him to stay away from him. He had told Sasuke that he was a demon and that it would dishonor his clan to be friends with someone like him. It wasn't until Itachi had told him differently before he had killed the little boy Sasuke had been by killing the clan and then forcing him to watch it over and over again in his mind.
He told of his time in the hospital, he'd been treated as though he had a disease, or like he would break. He'd hated that no one seemed to talk about it, was bothered that everyone had turned a blind eye and the stained streets of the Uchiha district had become a haunted, forbidden part of the village. Sasuke lived there alone, with the nightmares, and no one caring until he'd become a genin.
Naruto felt his heart warm at what went through his mind. Even though Sasuke seemed frustrated and torn between hating his brother, killing him, and feeling drawn to Naruto. He seem angered, enraged that his focus had been broken when he was around Naruto. He hated that he was always getting stronger, that he was always trying to beat him. It drove him insane, he couldn't figure out why he felt so damn drawn to him.
Then he was surprised by the dream, a dream he'd had during the time that Sasuke was fleeing from the village. A dream of them as little boys, standing together, warm smiles on their faces, two of their fingers hooked around each other. It was symbolic of Naruto having saved Sasuke from his loneliness, making him feel alive again.
Sasuke had then said that his feelings weren't right, that they were dishonorable to his father so he fled. He couldn't do anything, he had to focus on Itachi because Naruto didn't care about him in that way, in the way that Sakura had said she did.
He'd thanked her for caring, two words he'd said that was thanking her for caring so much, for wanting to be there for him. She'd been willing to go with him, willing to give up everything to be with him. After he'd read that, he'd resigned that he would tell Sasuke that the feelings were mutual, that he would give up everything for him.
He'd received the journals after he and Gaara had happened. Then he'd read, felt the heartache of learning the truth about his brother, about his clan. His mind was dazed, his thoughts cynical, he didn't know what he wanted to do, what he could do. He'd given in to the lifestyle of an avenger, setting his sights on destroying the village that had cost him his brother and his clan. He'd blamed the village and their leaders for all the losses and pain he'd endured.
Then it came to him and Naruto meeting up again, and he'd given up the idea. But he didn't want to face going back. He couldn't bring himself to do it. It would mean he would have to face everything and he worried if it would break him.
Naruto stopped and turned back to the camp, he'd been pacing for hours now, it was nearly midnight by now. Sakura was there waiting for him, warming up a bowl of instant ramen for him.
A warm smile came to his face as he sat down on the stump next to her. She turned to him with a smile, "I figure you were lost in thought and would notice how hungry you must be when you got back. Eat up, then get some sleep, I'll take the patrol now."
He took the bowl from her and the chopsticks and watched her as she stood up and stretched. She looked back at him with another smile, this one affectionate, "Rest up, we both know you'll need all the strength you can get if you want to bring him back with us this time."
He laughed softly and nodded, "Thank you Sakura-chan."
She nodded and patted him on the shoulder as she moved to patrol. He watched her disappear under the shadow of the trees around them and set to eating the ramen. He cleaned up the dishes and instinctively removed all traces of the fire or the food. Then he went to his pack sitting next to Sakura's and pulled out his bed roll, laid it out on the ground and removed his shoes, vest, and hiate, folding them and arranging them neatly next to his pack.
He got into his bed roll and rested his head on his crossed arms behind his head and gazed up at the sky. He could make out a few stars through the trees. He let his sight fade somewhat and whispered softly before closing his eyes and giving into the exhaustion; "I will save you from yourself Sasuke, it's the promise of a lifetime."