Disclaimer: Naruto and its characters are the property of Masashi Kishimoto. However, the original characters and plot of this fic belong to me.

Author Notes: This was later than usual. I kind of got tied up with other things and didn't get time to write this up. But i have now so that's a good thing. I give you the latest update, enjoy.

Chapter 30: Awakening

Naruto's eyes snapped open, a gasp escaping his mouth. Startled by the light, he quickly shut his eyes again. He sat up slowly, his body feeling heavy and fragile. He began to open his eyes, this time slowly so that he could adjust to the brightness. As everything became clearer, he felt some confusion and surprise. He was back in his home in the Confederation.

Sighing, the fear he felt when falling through that chasm was now disappearing. What was that experience? He couldn't explain it but it wasn't normal, nor did it feel entirely like a dream. His conversations and pathways back into his past felt so real that they were worrying him.

Grimacing slightly, he moved off the bed and stood up. Stumbling, he quickly regained his balance. His legs almost felt as if they weren't even there. Deciding to sit back down on the bed to get used to the new feeling, he put his hand in his pocket. He wasn't disappointed, pulling out a packet of cigarettes and matches. Quickly lighting one of the cigarettes, he put it in his mouth.

It was then that it struck him what he had come back to; the betrayal by Hajin and his plans, as well as the loss of Yuka. He dropped the cigarette from his hand, his stomach churning. Rushing to his feet, he ran to the bathroom next to his room. He flung his head into the sink, throwing up.

His felt disgusted, opening the tap and swallowing the water. He tried to get rid of the unpleasant taste in his mouth. Continuing, he washed his face before wiping himself with a towel. Discarding the towel, he froze when he saw his own reflection. The crimson eyes which shared the traits of the Kyuubi were staring back at him. Naruto didn't think of what he was doing, slamming his fist into the mirror. The shattered glass fell into the sink below.

He walked back into his room, a tear falling from his eye; he felt lost. Taking a seat on the table, he took out another cigarette and began smoking. Blowing some smoke out of his mouth, he observed the piece of parchment on the table. He picked it up, recognising the notes.

"Your understanding of seals is remarkable." Hideaki was standing at the entrance of the room.

Naruto placed the parchment back onto the table, "The fear of death makes a person desperate."

"People don't often use their power as well as they could but when confronted by something which threatens their existence, they try their hardest." Hideaki walked inside the room. "You were close to dying but we managed to reinforce the seal."

Naruto looked at the old man, "Why did you bring me back?"

"You wanted to die?" Hideaki had a questioning expression.

Naruto shook his head, "You only delayed the seal from breaking. What's the point? Hajin destroyed the only thing which could've helped."

Hideaki clasped his hands, "You think it was a waste of time?"

"I have nothing left; what's the point in living a few more months? Do you want me to dwell on my loss some more before I finally die?" Naruto's anger could be heard through his words.

Hideaki watched the man, taking in his despondent state. Turning around, he made a move to depart, "We'll continue this conversation later."

Naruto didn't pay attention to the leader of the Confederation leaving. Instead, he closed his eyes and began to concentrate; he had someone he wanted to meet. His body began to feel light before his feet were surrounded by water. He stopped focusing and noticed he had reached his destination. Beginning to walk through the gloomy corridors, he eventually arrived in the chamber of the Kyuubi.

The towering prison was still an awe inspiring sight but the atmosphere inside had changed. There was no longer that feeling of security; instead the air was filled with malice.

"Show yourself!" Naruto shouted.

The sound of his paws thundering against the ground became closer as Kyuubi appeared behind the bars, "Another visit from you? Are you here to beg me not to destroy the seal?"

"The seal has been strengthened." Naruto spoke in a calm voice.

"You know as well as I do that I'll break through it soon enough." Kyuubi was grinning.

Naruto was gritting his teeth, "Do you think I'm afraid of you?"

Kyuubi growled, "I've had to endure your speeches of hatred towards me for a long time; claiming you'll make sure I get what I deserve, how I'm responsible for everything that's happened to you." He licked his lips, "You've made it apparent that you're afraid of me."

Naruto looked up at the demon fox, a sparkle in his crimson eyes, "What if I killed myself?"

Kyuubi was rendered speechless, not answering; Naruto's death would also mean his own.

"You've got nothing left to say now, huh? I'll tell you this; no matter what happens, you're going to die with me." He turned around and began walking away from the prison of the Kyuubi's. He could feel the demon flaring his chakra and begin thrusting himself into the prison bars, working on weakening the seal. Closing his eyes, he left the sinister location.

XXXXXXXXX

Sasuke stood knee deep in the sea, the water surrounding him. The fish were circling his legs, not disturbed by his presence. Paying no mind to the gentle wind, he lost himself to his memories.

Flashback

He was breathing heavily, surprised to be conscious. The last thing he remembered was a confrontation with Orochimaru, which resulted in him losing. He hadn't expected the attack, it was so sudden. Hearing a battle cry, he turned around to witness a grand battle occurring. Members of Akatsuki were fighting with ninjas from Konoha. He could make out Sakura engaged in battle with a blue haired woman. He was back now, no longer under Orochimaru's control.

Clutching his throbbing head, he tried to understand how he had returned to normal. His eyes caught the sight of a dead body next to his, it was Kabuto's. He blinked a few times, surprised to the see the dead man. Hearing a coughing sound, he moved his head towards another figure.

Itachi was lying across the ground, blood escaping his mouth. He was no longer in his Akatsuki robe. It was apparent he had been through a tremendous battle.

Sasuke was in shock before he recognised his own clothes were torn and bloodied. He realised what had happened. Standing up, he grabbed the kusanagi near him. Walking towards Itachi, he stared at his brother.

Itachi didn't move, staring right back, "What's wrong Sasuke?"

"Why did you save me?" Sasuke was confused, not knowing what else to say. He had wanted to fight his brother for so long and avenge his clan but now that he was helpless in front of him, he felt remorse.

"Finish me." Itachi was waiting for the final blow.

Sasuke didn't move, "Why?" He had wanted a clear answer for so long, he was almost pleading.

Itachi's expression was blank, "Stop dwelling on the past."

Sasuke gritted his teeth, repressing his tears, "You killed everyone! How can you expect me to forget?"

"What's done is done…kill me and set yourself free." Itachi finished speaking.

Sasuke readied his kusanagi, waiting to see whether Itachi would say anything else. A few moments passed in silence, his heart beating fast. Not thinking too much about it, he plunged the sword through Itachi's heart. It was there, for a second, that he saw a smile adorn the elder Uchiha's face.

Sasuke fell onto his knees, his hands shaking. He had taken the life of his own brother but it still didn't answer anything. He was still lost and without solace. He knew this was what lay at the end of the road but now that he was there, he felt more detached from reality than he had ever been. The battles around him continued but he paid no attention to them.

Soon, after several minutes, a roar echoed throughout the air. Sasuke was broken from his thoughts, directing his vision to the city of the Akatsuki. Jiraiya could be seen making his way to the inside. Sasuke noticed that the battles had all finished. The air was finally filled with harmony.

"Sasuke-kun…" Sakura was injured, standing a few feet away from him along with Kakashi.

End Flashback

Sasuke sighed, grabbing his kusanagi. It was weird that the weapon he held closest to him also reminded him of his most painful experiences. Something which was supposed to protect him also happened to cause grief. The words of Itachi were constantly replayed in his mind over the past 2 years but as much as he tried, he couldn't let go of his past. Time was serving to be his downfall; the more that went by, the further he felt himself drifting away from a sense of purpose.

XXXXXXXXX

"Am I hearing this right? He was one of the best shinobi that Konoha ever produced?" Konohamaru had some beef sticking out of his mouth.

Gai was seated across him, "That's right and he's Kakashi's father."

Sakumo looked at the curious eyes directed at him. The group from Konoha had made themselves comfortable at his table after Sasuke departed. They were slightly squashed but he wasn't complaining; he enjoyed the company. He laughed, scratching his head, "You're making me out to be a celebrity."

Aoba picked up his glass of water, "You're a legend in Konoha so he's not lying."

Tenten agreed with the special jounin, "I've read all about your sabre; it's an interesting weapon."

"You know who he is?" Lee was surprised, having not heard of the man previously.

Tenten prepared to eat, placing a napkin on her lap, "I read about weapons often and the sabre of Konoha's White Fang is in most books. He's a part of our village's history."

Neji was quiet, listening to everything. He was interested to see the father of Kakashi but was wondering why he was no longer with Konoha. He didn't say anything however, finding the timing to be inappropriate.

Shikamaru had already finished eating; he was squashed at the end of the booth near the window. "Why aren't you still with Konoha?"

The atmosphere seemingly changed for the worse as Sakumo was clearly hesitant to continue further with the conversation. Aoba, knowing full well of his feelings, diverted the discussion elsewhere, "How is Naruto?"

Shikamaru raised an eyebrow at the sudden change in topic, but realised he had nearly forgotten why they were here originally. "Can we see him?"

Sakumo poked at his food, "He's not in the best of conditions at the moment. A lot of events occurred which have caused complications for us. If all is well, I'll take you to meet him tomorrow."

Konohamaru wasn't happy with the news, "Eh? We still have to wait."

Gai slapped his hands together, "Everything happens when the time is right. There's no need for us to rush; the Godaime and Jiraiya-sama are already being informed of the situation."

Aoba wiped his mouth, "Exactly! I'll show you around some of the places here."

Sakumo observed the group; they were so full of passion. It was an unanticipated sight to behold and different from his own time in Konoha. His experiences revolved around the mission and he didn't share much of a bond with his comrades. They never talked often or even as friends, it was always about something which was pertaining to the task at hand. Nevertheless, he always felt like he had to protect them and that was what led to him abandoning a mission for them.

"Lee, stop that!" Tenten was trying to get him out of her line of vision.

Konohamaru's laughter filled the air, "That's pretty cool!"

Lee had chop sticks sticking out of his nose, "What? You don't like it?"

Neji wasn't amused either, his face displaying his disgust. Shikamaru was trying not to get pushed against the window by Aoba, who was trying to avoid Gai's flailing arms.

Sakumo smiled underneath his mask; this generation of ninjas seemed to be very different from his own. He could tell they had formed a bond with each other and interacted like they were friends. Silently, he stood up and left without alerting the group.

XXXXXXXXX

Hideaki walked through the house, on his way back to the Godaime. He was disturbed by the state of Naruto but expected it. The blonde was in a fragile condition mentally and it upset him to see him in such a way. Arriving in the kitchen, Hideaki wasn't surprised to see everyone quiet. Tsunade was deep in thought along with Jiraiya while Sakura cleaned the dishes. Kakashi happened to be engaged in his book again. He cleared his throat before speaking, "Naruto is awake."

Jiraiya stopped tapping his chin, "Is he alright?"

Hideaki walked towards the sink, moving past Sakura and fetching himself a glass of water, "For the most part."

Sakura took a deep breath, having finished with her work. "I should go and check on him." She left the kitchen, wanting to see whether he had recovered.

Hideaki finished drinking his water, savouring the taste, "I trust you will need more time to come to a decision. Even though I would like to receive an answer quickly, feel free to think it over properly."

Jiraiya decided to take a seat on the table, "I wouldn't mind knowing some more about the Confederation."

Hideaki laughed, "If I'm asking for an alliance then that would be required." He tucked his hands in his sleeves, "I guess I should start from the beginning. Our foundation is rooted with the war between the Tengu and this dimension. When that finished, many shinobi spread to different parts of the world. The ones who stayed behind were our ancestors."

Kakashi shut his book, "So the original shinobi lived on this island."

Hideaki nodded, "Yes, the way of the ninja began here."

"What exactly do you do? You're separated from the rest of the world. You need to trade in order to survive." Tsunade was leaning her head against her palm.

"We partake in trade every month. The border of Waterfall and Fire Country is the trading hotspot. Our merchants often go there and buy the necessary supplies. From there, they are shipped to us on this island." Hideaki was smiling.

Jiraiya understood, "You have spies and associates which help you out too."

"Indeed." Hideaki replied.

"Why not include yourselves with everyone? What's the reason for being detached?" Kakashi was eager to know of the answer, since his father had ended up joining them.

"We act as peacekeepers from the shadows. When an event occurs which could escalate into something terrible, we diffuse it." Hideaki answered without hiding anything.

Tsunade looked at the old man, "What about Naruto? Why did you kidnap him?"

Hideaki stroked his beard, "That wasn't originally the plan. We wanted the forbidden scroll."

"What did you need that for?" Jiraiya asked.

"Akatsuki." Hideaki resumed speaking, "Even though we could handle anything they may have attempted, we wouldn't be able to stop the Kyuubi if it was unsealed. The forbidden scroll contains the method the Yondaime used to stop it. We wanted it in case Kyuubi was to end up being extracted. However when that was unattainable, the shinobi I assigned the mission to abducted Naruto. If we couldn't stop Kyuubi's power, then the container being with us would help us ensure it remained sealed."

Jiraiya sighed, remembering the Sandaime, "I doubt even he suspected such a thing. The old man was troubled by Naruto's kidnapping but it seems it wasn't done for evil intentions."

"You've probably prevented a lot of conflicts. If you need our help at this point, you must really fear for the worst." Kakashi had a serious demeanour.

Hideaki acknowledged his response, "When a war is waged between men, it only takes other men to stop it. But this is completely different." He looked towards the direction from where he came. "Have you any other queries?"

Jiraiya shook his head, "No, we know what we need to. Though, what if one of your own was to try and disrupt the peace you try to uphold? It doesn't seem to me that your method is the best way to go about things."

Hideaki smiled, walking to the door, "You may be right about that."

Tsunade spoke after Hideaki left, "Keeping watch over the world from the shadows; not something which would sit well with most people." She closed her eyes, now having more fuel for thought.

XXXXXXXXX

Naruto watched the magnificent white bird land on the wooden railing. It looked peaceful picking at its own wing, attempting to clean it. Those eyes seemed to hold no troubles or doubts. Naruto moved his hand closer to the creature but it flew away before he could touch it. He had decided to come outside for some fresh air. He was now properly dressed since it was slightly cold, and it wasn't wise to be walking around half naked. He knew there were other people in the house, having felt their presence. Sighing, he took out his cigarette from his mouth and looked at the pond in the garden.

The fish seemingly played with each other, trying to snatch the food away. Their bursts of speed were interesting to observe; one moment they would be calm and the next they'd be extremely fast. Naruto was forced to part with his thoughts when the door behind him was slid open.

Sakura left the door open, walking onto the wooden boards, "This is where you are. You shouldn't be up so quick. You had a high fever, it's best to rest for a while."

Naruto put the cigarette back in his mouth, not feeling like responding to the woman. This was unlike him but he didn't feel interested in interacting with anyone for the moment. He wanted some time to be alone with his thoughts.

Sakura walked next to the retired ninja and leaned against the wooden barricade, "You're not listening, are you? This could be harmful for you."

"What does it matter to you?" Naruto didn't face the kunoichi when speaking.

Sakura raised her eyebrow, "What kind of question is that? I'm a medic-nin; I'm telling you what's best for you."

Naruto was beginning to get aggravated, "Did I ask for your help?"

Sakura stopped, realising he was different that usual, "No, you didn't."

Naruto faced her, his crimson eyes frightening, "Then stop telling me what's best for me!"

Sakura didn't reply, offended by the blonde. She had gone out of her way to help when she didn't need to. It was irritating to see someone be so unappreciative. Shaking her head, she turned around but found their altercation had been observed by Hideaki. She didn't greet the old man, instead walking past him into the house.

Hideaki stared at Naruto's back, waiting for any reaction, "Is that how you act towards those who've helped you?"

Naruto flicked his cigarette out of his hand, "What do you want?"

Hideaki cleared his throat, "You wanted to know why I brought you back, no? I'm giving you a chance for redemption."

Naruto laughed sardonically, "Redemption? I'm too weak for it. I've learnt that from these past 2 years."

"And did you forget all the years before those? What you learnt then." Hideaki could see he struck a nerve, "When I first placed you under Yuudai's care, I hoped that the responsibility thrust upon him would help him change. But it wasn't that which made him change…it was you."

Naruto didn't like the direction the conversation was heading in. Being reminded of the past in his dreams was disheartening enough, "Don't…"

"No, I will. You two had a complicated relationship but in your eyes, it was worth it. You finally had someone there for you. I sometimes wonder when I look at you now, whether it was a mistake not sending you back to Konoha. Maybe if you'd never gotten so attached to Yuudai, you wouldn't be in the state that you're in now. There's a chance you'd never suffer as much as you have these past 2 years." Hideaki looked towards the ground, "You could have led a better life."

Naruto wiped the tear from his eye before it could trickle down his face, "Why are you telling me this?"

"Do you know what Genkei is doing right now?" Hideaki asked.

Naruto turned around, "What are you talking about?"

Hideaki resumed, "He's undergoing his metamorphosis."

Naruto was confused, "Metamorphosis?"

"Did you think you've seen Genkei's true form? Every dragon that is in line to become a Celestial, at one point has to undergo a transformation. A change into their true form which makes them fit for their position." Hideaki answered.

Naruto shook his head, "What does this have to do with anything?"

Hideaki sighed, "Genkei was supposed to undertake this trial 2 years ago. He didn't though and even I was confused. He never told me why but now I know. It was because of you, he didn't want to leave you like this."

"Leave me? What the hell are you on about?" Naruto could feel his heart beating faster. Wherever this exchange was leading, it wasn't going to be pleasant.

"The dragons that have the potential to become a Celestial beast do so because they have a special ability. A time comes in their life when they can transform to their final form which makes them leave behind everything; attachments, memories, bonds." Hideaki realised that his words had finally hit home.

Naruto's eyes were wide with shock, finally understanding, "Why? Why did he do that?"

"Because he wants the power to help you realise your dream. I've never seen it before but Genkei was different. He wasn't eager to transform like most, instead he seemed happy with what he was." Hideaki smiled, "It was because of the time he spent with you. He enjoyed how things were and that was the reason he didn't undertake the trial 2 years ago. But now, he's left behind what he wanted to help you achieve what you need. Are you really going to let all of this go to waste?"

Naruto was speechless, his feelings were conflicted. Why was it depressing knowing that Genkei was gone? He should've been happy that the dragon was willing to do this for him but he wasn't. He was angry that so much was happening around him without him knowing.

Hideaki walked inside the house, "What you decide is entirely up to you. Do you want to die stuck in that little prison of yours, or do you want that chance to fly? There are people willing to help; you only need to accept it from them."

Naruto heard the footsteps fading away. Gritting his teeth, he slammed his fist into the wooden railing, "Damn it!" That feeling of being completely alone, the one he feared and made his life hell when he was young; it was clutching him by his throat.

Recognising another presence, he faced the entrance to his front garden. Sasuke was staring at him, visibly surprised to see him. Naruto stared into the eyes of the ninja, recognising that longing for freedom but it was painful. Turning, he walked away wondering what he had to do. Did he really have the power to find his redemption after failing for so long?

Author Notes: So, some more things are becoming clearer. Genkei is undergoing his transformation and you know how Sasuke was able to kill Itachi and escape from Orochimaru's grasp. Basically, Orochimaru had taken him over and attacked Akatsuki. Him and Itachi fought and the Uchiha elder managed to bring Sasuke back by banishing Orochimaru. This left him close to dead which gave Sasuke the chance to finish him off. You also know why Sasuke feels so lost, because he never found a proper answer. Anyways, much to write yet and i don't want to be late again. The next chapters are what i've been waiting to write. Until next time, laters.