Disclaimer: Fan of Fanfics21 does not own anything.
The date went off without a hitch last night, and for that, Naruto was grateful for. But the main problem is Orochimaru at the moment; he's done some investigating on Orochimaru from asking Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Hizuren Sarutobi to piece together clues on what Orochimaru wants. He's heard of human experimentations, twisted research on jutsu, and the desire to master all the jutsu out there. For that, Orochimaru needed the Sharingan, but Jiraiya said that the immortality technique that Orochimaru uses needed him to switch bodies every three years. And the fact there are thousands and thousands of jutsu out there, including bloodline ones that can't be copies, it is impossible for Orochimaru to master them all with Sasuke's body if he actually succeeded.
In other words, Orochimaru is on a fool's errand. With that out of the way as he filed it for later, Naruto got ready and took Leo and Elo with him as he began to start off his rounds of missions that Tsunade-baa-chan probably has for him already.
Shikamaru Nara was no idiot, that role belonged to Naruto, or, used to. This guy, who looked like Naruto, wasn't the Naruto he knew since the Academy years. This one was ruthless, serious, and hardly smiled with a carefree expression on his face. No, it was a veteran of war he saw in those eyes, not those of a ninja, but of a warrior who faced many enemies without flinching. Shikamaru knew that it was still Naruto, but the question was, what was the catalyst that caused the sudden changed in his friend? To make him do something like that to Chōji, who can no longer be a ninja anymore due to the special 'bullet' Naruto fired at him, crippled his best friend for life. It was too troublesome to figure it out, but at the same time, he had to know, what made his friend grow up so fast that everyone else failed to notice it.
Kiba Inuzuka was a hot-blooded young man who followed his 'pack' ever since he got Akamaru. The ones he refers to his 'pack' is the entire Rookie 9 that entered the Chūnin Exams. He's seen many things in the short amount of time between his graduation from the Academy and his Genin days, but the news of what happened to Chōji put him in shock. He knew Naruto had grown stronger over the past few months, but enough to do that to Chōji who had eaten special medicine that greatly enhanced his abilities is unheard of. Now that he looked at it, Naruto was the Omega of the pack back in the Academy days, and was already going up the ranks. He'd say he was either Beta or Gamma in the order. It's only a matter of time before something else went down. But what bothered the Inuzuka was the change in personality of Naruto.
He used to be a loudmouth idiot who proclaimed of being the future Hokage, but now his scent…Kiba shuddered. Naruto's scent reeked of blood, metal, fire, and malice. It was inhuman, Naruto wasn't human. That scent did not belong to the Naruto he knew all these years in their younger years. Whoever this guy is, while he is in a sense Naruto, at the same time, he is not Naruto. Was this a clone of Naruto's? Or was this something twisted and complicated that he couldn't understand. For now, he'll observe the new Naruto, and from there, decide if he will be a friend, or an enemy.
Shino Aburame was a boy who followed things logically. Yet somehow, Naruto Uzumaki defies all logic before him. He was likened to one of his own bugs, unique and mutate with natural selection that would allow them to evolve into more lethal allies at his beck and call. Naruto was like them in a sense, for he had undergone a mutation of sorts, which pitted him against the naturally gifted, and evolved to a superior beast than the others. Naruto Uzumaki is, logically, a new generation of shinobi with his unique abilities. These abilities to use elemental powers without hand signs is a desire for most ninja, for flipping through hand signs would be time restraining and required focus. Naruto was the deus ex machina to this problem. If he ever had children, then would they inherit his ability as well?
Shino quietly mused; maybe the answer will show itself in time. For now, he'll observe the specimen known as Naruto Uzumaki, and see the results in the line of ninja evolution. Would this one person be the key to unlocking new potential in future generations of ninja? He'll just have to wait and see…
Ino Yamanaka was a girl of confidence of herself. She worked hard and went on diets to maintain a figure to attract boys, and she never understood how Sasuke never paid any attention to her. But, chasing after Sasuke now felt empty, without a rival, without a friend like Sakura, things will never be the same. Their rivalry turning into races of competitions, the insults, and the laughs and cries they shared. Ino would wear the red ribbon she gave Sakura long ago, who returned it to her as she declared her rivalry for Sasuke's affections. The ribbon was on her right arm as she would look at it now and then, remembering her beloved friend for life.
When she told Sakura's parents of what happened, they cried. The loss of a child was incredibly painful for them as they went into despair. But when Naruto arrived, presenting the blade that had Sakura's very flesh and bones imbued within it, Chizakura, she recalled the name, as the Haruno family looked at the craftsmanship of the beautiful blade as they saw the look in Naruto's eyes. She had seen them too, he had a childish crush on Sakura since the Academy years, and it was funny how Sakura always rejected his attempts to ask her out with a punch. But the last exchange they had before she sacrificed herself for the blade now presented to Sakura's parents was a deep understanding affection between the two. Ino had no idea what it was, but it was a sad ending to a love story if it ever was one.
Chizakura, blood cherry blossom…When Naruto named it that, it was out of tribute of Sakura and the blood sacrificed to make this blade. When Ino saw the weapon in all of its glory, it was beautiful, like a cherry blossom in full bloom. Naruto had tried to hand over the blade to Sakura's parents, but they refused, in a knowing way as from what Ino and others had told them, Kushina included, that Sakura cared for Naruto's well-being and made that choice. They sadly agreed to Sakura's choice, as they believe that Sakura's sacrifice to help save her friend and teammate from whatever situation he was in was a noble choice. Should he return the blade without being free from all burdens, they wouldn't forgive themselves.
He kept Chizakura, and told them that he would always remember Sakura with that very blade being her very soul itself. Ino agreed on the sentient, and whenever she saw Naruto, she would look at the katana on his waist and smiled at the blade, "You've bloomed into a beautiful flower, Sakura." She nor did the owner of Chizakura notice the blade glow faintly, as if it heard Ino's comment, as if recalling the words of an old friend once again.
Hinata Hyūga had heard of what Naruto did to Chōji, but in his defense, Chōji started it first. While said boy was in the hospital as Naruto was off on another mission, she couldn't help but wonder, how far ahead is he than the others? Her feeling, unrequited love was something that plagued her. She had admired Naruto's stubbornness and willpower and it grew into an innocent type of love. She wanted to be strong like her father, and kind like her mother, but she had only been able to be more like her mother, and could not be as strong as expected to be. It had pained her, but Naruto, he had nothing at the beginning, and refused to give in as he fought tooth and nail for her when she was in the Sand Ninja's grip, on the verge of death. It had strengthened her resolve to grow stronger.
She wanted to be at Naruto's side on his journey, but a powerful wind is pushing against her, as if testing her small pitiful strength, making her back away from the challenge. But then she saw him, he walked through the powerful wind without flinching as his coat and cape fluttered in the might wind. His back tall and proud as he looked over at her with a calm expression "Can you keep up with me?" he asked. It was as if to scorn her, as if to believe in her, to wait for her to reach him on the other side as he went on ahead.
Hinata had made her resolve, to never back away and never go against her word, for that too is her Nindo, her ninja way. And one day, she will make it to Naruto's side, or die trying to.
Sasuke Uchiha knows of burdens, and the weight they hold on people. His burden is to avenge his clan's demise from Itachi's hands. But what would that do after he was done? He restored his clan's honor, but what else was there for him to do? Naruto had revealed many things about his burden; the curse of the L'Cie, and of his sister, who was now trapped in another part of history rewritten for her. Naruto's sister was alone now, while Naruto had a mother there for him. Kushina Uzumaki, the one person who knew his mother while she was alive, and had told him that he and Naruto would have been good friends if the Nine-Tails Attack and the Uchiha Clan Massacre hadn't been made onto history.
Maybe it was a time of change, while Itachi can wait, it was probably time to make up with Naruto and start all over, to become friends, like how their respective mothers wanted them to be. It was the least he could do in memory of his mother, and as a best friend, he would do his best to help Naruto with his L'Cie burden in any way he can. Sasuke knows that by doing this, he'll be faced with painful dilemmas and painful choices, but he had already accepted this when he chose to become an avenger for his clan. Naruto had taught him two things that kept repeating themselves in Sasuke's mind. No one should carry all of the burdens alone, and that older siblings like Itachi, while their actions could cause their younger siblings to hate them, they would still love and care for them.
The latter one was what had Sasuke ponder about why Itachi did what he had to do. Once he got strong enough, he would ask Itachi to tell him the entire truth, no half-truths, no dodging the questions, just the plain truth. He will make his choice on how to kill Itachi, will it be out of hatred, or anguished forgiveness once Itachi finally falls dead at his feet. Forgiving Itachi will be painful, but if the answer he got from Itachi was what he needed, he could finally forgive his brother as he will shed tears of blood at the end of a strained, saddening relationship with his brother.
It was time for his next mission, Naruto was doing his missions as well; maybe it would be time for a team mission with him next time they're called in at the Hokage's Office. He'll be sure to request that, he's not sure when Naruto will turn into a Cie'th, but will try his best to make the best of memories with his friend before the end comes for him.